I {heart} . . . Kit Carson jewelry

I first started collecting Kit Carson jewelry in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

I have four of his pins, wonderful engraved desert animals, classic western engraving with a whinsical twist. 

I rediscovered his work and he's added wonderful stones and more funk.

Must have a raven piece.

Traveling in southern California

J. and I are traveling in southern California this week, a mix of business and fun.

We're going to steal some time in LA to visit the Getty Museum and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Meanwhile here is an archive photo of a piece I'm repeating (in progress) - I love the nearly transparent carnelian cabochon - I am still on a bracelet kick!

25 Years

Today is our 25th wedding anniversary.

What joy in that!

I {heart} . . . this little guy

Tommy T

Newest cat ambassador for the Cincinnati Zoo

see CheetahDays.com

Journal page ~ Fire on Elkhorn Ridge

There has been a fire on a ridge in the Baboquivari Mountains west and south of us . . . we watched it grow in the night, an eerie string of fire-pearls creeping up the mountain ridge. Now it is threatening Brown Canyon and the house where we used to live . . . and Elkhorn Ranch, owned by Mary and Charlie Miller . . . the fire was started by an illegal immigrant, trying to signal for help. We are in California right now and are watching and hearing the news from afar . . . 

Journal page ~ Desert castanets

The seed pods on the foothills palo verde (Cercidium microphyllum) are drying out, and the wind today is turning each tree into a little band of castanets . . . click-click-rattle-rattle-clack. The colors are washed, pale yellow, soft green . . . 

Food as art . . . summertime lunch

Cold snap peas with chipotle mayonnaise; quesadilla (flour tortilla with melted jack cheese and chipotle salsa; queso is Spanish for cheese); and watermelon juice with lime. I had some lovely seedless watermelon go a bit mushy in the fridge, so I pureed it with a little lime juice . . . the perfect summer drink. The colors were so beautiful, I had to share.