anne beach

Herxing

2012-01-26T20:39:00.003-05:00

Ugh.

And so it goes on (and on)...

There's a long fancy name for this reaction...

Jarisch-Herxheimer

But it is (not so) affectionately referred to as herxing

and oh boy I am

definitely herxing.

With the introduction of a new medicine

my lyme symptoms flare...

and they flare hard.

God I am so exhausted.

Monday I was busy busy busy...

and working out...

and grooming dogs...

and cleaning barns...

and making jewelry...

and trimming goat hooves...

and running errands...

and working...

and training dogs...

and working on taxes bills laundry errands cooking dinner...

you name it I DID IT with ease.

Today, blah... it took the best of me

to finish our hour walk and throw up some paint samples

on the walls here

(new house redecorating project!!!!!)

and a couple loads of laundry and some computer work.

All stuff that takes minimal energy.

So forget it.

I have too much to do this weekend

so I'm stopping this

med until Sunday

when I'll have the time to suffer through

this exhaustion.

And so another day with lyme disease go by...

(I feel like I'm pretty close

to ridding my system of this shit but

I guess time can only tell.)

Bye Bye 2011

2012-01-01T12:10:00.009-05:00

I do find the need to state

for the record...

and now that's it's over

I feel it is safe to do so...

The Year 2011

SUCKED.

In retrospect it was a pretty challenging year

and some pretty sucky things happened.

Yes, of course in the scheme of things

I am alive, I have my friends and family

and I always have so much to be grateful for...

I live a charmed life some might think.

But really,

2011 just bit the big one.

And I am more than happy to leap into the New Year!

Here is hoping for a year of

health and happiness for all!

Changes

2011-12-29T19:19:00.003-05:00

This is Tessie...

One of my very favorite photo necklaces I completed this year.

This dog is intense and very sweet and

quite the athlete.

I have one more necklace on my bench to finish in

2011...

Then on to a New Year!

I have been thinking so much about this business...

How to grow

How to evolve

How to continue to create and

have a blast at it.

And I've realized there are some things

that are not working for me.

One is the Facebook business page fan page thingy.

So I took it down for now.

There are some other changes I'm contemplating too...

I feel the need to travel down

some different paths.

And I am excited about that!

Great Photos of Nelle : )

2011-12-08T20:29:00.004-05:00

This girl has taught me so much over the last 2 years...

She's got brains and beauty and

she's such a joy to live with.

She's THE perfect doggie for sure and

THE perfect sister for Pearl.

She's a hard worker

(most of the time ; )

and can weave her ass off when she wants to : )

And we get to go play once again this weekend,

our last trial of the year.

I really look forward to heading out with her

early Saturday morning.

Still dark out.

Just the two of us.

Out for a day of fun and sport.

Friends and pups.

Photos by Jim Poor - The Dog Sport Photographer

Daisy Duke

2011-11-29T20:26:00.003-05:00

So life is only okay for this girl of mine.

At times and especially at the end of the day

she can have a hard time getting around,

not to mention withstanding Bluebell head butting her around

in play.

But she hangs in there and does it with grace.

You can't but notice her crookedness...

I admire this little lamb quite a bit.

She struggles but never complains.

She comes over to say hello

and there's the familiar weight of her hip

leaning against me for support.

We just started her on another steroid treatment,

hoping for some improvement in her abilities

in the hind quarters.

So we'll see...

I have to admit it's hard seeing less than perfect

walking around the goat yard...

watching a disabled animal go about her day...

wondering if I shouldn't just euthanize her...

cringing when she falls down when she gets excited

or picks up too much speed.

But you see,

she GETS excited and PICKS UP too much speed.

She's REALLY happy to see me and to butt heads with Bluebell.

I hope we can help her out

with this treatment.

That would be amazing.

A New Day

2011-11-11T15:30:00.001-05:00

The week was just a terrible week.

It started out great.

Pearl was cleared by the surgeon to resume normal activity.

By mid week

Pearl was lame

on her right shoulder again...

This is the shoulder that was repaired through surgery,

that Shawn and I nursed back to condition.

We freaking slept in our living room for

two months so she didn't navigate the staircase.

We have put in so much extra time

to make sure she's happy

when she has been restricted to a leash for

four months.

And then she has a fleeting moment of freedom and

she's lame again.

She stepped in a hole in the field.

Pearl's luck has never been good.

And now she's back on a leash

hoping a little rest will be all she needs.

I am a little more optimistic...

today is a bright new day

and she's better than yesterday.

As Shawn says,

It is what it is.

And I will deal with it.

Whatever "it" is this time.

All Over the Place

2011-11-06T16:18:00.003-05:00

My brain,

my work,

my studio...

Seems like it's all over the place.

Just check out these photos, see what I mean...

Copper and Brass Dog Tags

(For the Dogs : )

Simply Silver and Citrine

Fine Silver Pendant

In addition to these pieces,

I've enameled AND beaded

these past few weeks.

And everything is spilled across the studio

still LOL

The photo necklaces are still really popular

and Christmas is coming soon so orders are

coming in...and that is so great and so fun!

I love when these necklaces turn out just perfect!

But at the same time I feel a split coming on

from a medium I have learned to love...

and a real pull toward traditional metal smithing...

saws, hammers and torches are calling my name : )

I am also finding a desperate need to sort out

this marketing thing.

NOW.

In the meantime,

I'll make some jewelry LOL

Jellybean

2011-10-25T19:32:00.005-04:00

So,

I am feeling better.

And

I am busy busy busy!

I can't catch up with my

TO DO

list.

And then this little creature we named Jellybean

finds his way here last week.

So cute.

We did our usual, back and forth,

back and forth,

should we, could we

keep him?

And then we chose the best for everyone

and that is finding a great home for

this itty bitty 4 week old kitten.

And we found that home

in a blink of an eye!

Perfect!

I'm working hard trying to clear the deck

so I can get into the studio and make new

fresh designs for a trunk show

in TWO WEEKS!!!

In the meantime I just completed

two beautiful photo necklaces...

these pieces are so great

I was inspired to call a

professional photographer

to photograph them : )

I can't wait to see

how he captures them!

Photo Necklace Winner!!!!

2011-09-30T12:26:00.002-04:00

The Winner is

Nicole B.!!!!!!!

Brothers

2011-09-19T15:58:00.006-04:00

GIVE AWAY!!!!!!!!!

Fine Silver and Citrine

2011-09-15T11:53:00.005-04:00

Fine Silver and Citrine, a photo by annebeach on Flickr.

I have been organizing and uploading photos to my Flickr account!

Check it out!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/annebeach/

More jewelry and art

to be added soon!

I finished this cross and chain

last Christmas

and it's been great to start to organize photos

of my work in one place!

(Even if some of the older photos aren't exactly stellar : )

The Bones

2011-09-15T09:30:00.005-04:00

I can see where my perspective is a little off here...

You can really see things

a little more clearly

if you take a step back and observe.

Photographing your work in progress...

Videotaping your self playing a sport...

Are really great tools

to improve one's self!

My newest art professor

(yes, I am back in college!)

is really an incredibly likeable, pleasant woman...

and plein air painter extraordinaire.

I am excited to see what I learn from her.

I am playing it her way,

blocking in

and sketching out

my painting

with my brush and a little burnt sienna...

Color is next!

Barn Hunting Part 2

2011-09-14T09:27:00.005-04:00

Beautiful Maryland...

Harwood, MD, a photo by annebeach on Flickr.

Unfortunately the light was pretty harsh yesterday...

I think I will revisit a few of these places

in the near future.

Barn Hunting

2011-09-12T17:16:00.004-04:00

Photo by Monica Shilling

I have a thing for old barns and old churches...

The worn wood,

the light flickering through

the boards as you walk by.

So it is not surprising to me

that I would like to paint landscapes that include

the countryside and barns.

(I am preparing for a landscape painting class

that begins tomorrow!)

Instead of searching through my computer files

I grabbed my camera and headed out today...

Barn Hunting.

And I came back with nothing!

When I searched my computer

I found this amazing shot taken

by my BFF!

And it's perfect

for my first painting!

I do plan to continue my hunt

and see what I can turn up

out here.

************************

This is the last painting I completed several years ago.

I paint with acrylic paint

but I am today contemplating

investing in some oil paints

for this course.

I actually like that acrylic paint

doesn't stay "open" (wet and workable)

for too long.

It is my impatience that usually leads me

away from the oils

since I tend to create a lot of muddy colors

by not allowing the paint to dry before coming back to it...

We'll see...

New horizons : )

The Day After Hurricane Irene

2011-08-28T20:18:00.003-04:00

The Day After Hurricane Irene, a photo by annebeach on Flickr.

There are many fallen trees up on our road.

Power is out.

But that's it!

Very grateful to wake up to a lawn filled

with debris and an intact roof : )

So Far, Lots of Rain

2011-08-27T22:50:00.002-04:00

So Far, Lots of Rain, a photo by annebeach on Flickr.

I hope this thing winds down some before she arrives.

Waiting on a Hurricane

2011-08-26T20:06:00.002-04:00

Waiting on a Hurricane, a photo by annebeach on Flickr.

Irene is less than 24 hours away from us and it's calm and quiet here.

Our farmer is out mowing his field down since he was growing nothing but weeds this season. I'm sure he'd like to get his equipment out of here before the storm.

I have a large stall set up in the garage if we want to move the goats and sheep somewhere other than the goat house during the storm.

We're ready!

Shake It Don't Break It

2011-08-25T20:43:00.003-04:00

Shake It Don't Break It, a photo by annebeach on Flickr.

Every time I go across the field and crouch down

to get to her level with my camera,

here come's Milkshake, aka Shake Shake, Shakers and Milky.

She makes it very hard to get a nice portrait

but Milkshake doesn't care about that.

She just wants to hang out with me.

Without fail, she leaves all her friends to just come do what I'm doing.

She is always following me around hoping for some extra hugs.

Yes, Milkshake likes to bury her head in my chest and

get lots of love and tell me about her day.

Good Friends Are One In A Million

2011-08-24T19:43:00.004-04:00

Daisy & Bluebell

Daisy on the left leaning on

Bluebell to support her weaker side.

Daisy is slowly improving

but gets weaker as the day goes on and

Bluebell has no problem lending

a big fat rump for support LOL

I love my animals.

Nelle is Two Years Old Today!

2011-08-23T18:40:00.005-04:00

And today we had an Earthquake!!!

We experienced the biggest earthquake I've ever felt on the east coast today!

Ok the ONLY earthquake I have experienced on the east coast!

It measured 5.8 or so

and I was in a freaking parking garage

for the 20 seconds of motion.

Cars were bouncing up and down!

I can't believe this beautiful puppy

has been with us for two whole years!

Happy Birthday Nelle Beach!!!!!!!

The Worm

2011-08-21T18:45:00.011-04:00

Bright and early Thursday morning

I loaded my lamb into a dog crate

in the back of my car

and drove 2 hours to the

large animal hospital at the

University of Pennsylvania

School of Veterinary Medicine.

It is really a beautiful part of the country

and I would have thoroughly

enjoyed the trip

but for a noise that

sounded like this

and lasted for 1o plus hours LOL

It's a good thing she's cute : )

They spent over 5 hours with her.
Ultimately they did a spinal tap and confirmed that she has an active infection
of a parasite called the meningeal worm that attacks the spine.

A local vet diagnosed and treated her for this several weeks ago but the spinal tap results suggest there is still an active infection (but the "numbers" are low) which probably means that the first treatment didn't kill it all. So she is now on super mega doses of dewormers and steroids.

They told me there is hope she will recover some or most of her mobility.
The worst case is she doesn't respond to treatment and gets worse and dies.
That would be very sad : (

The resident was really a super star.
She wasn't going to give up until she had a diagnosis.
After hours and hours with us there, they were so fed up with her lamb screams they let her have the run of the hospital LOL

I am super happy I went out there!

Now I'm hoping she gets better!

Custom Orders Paralyze Me

2011-08-16T23:21:00.004-04:00

For the most part this is true...

Funny thing to say when I have built a business around

custom photo jewelry LOL

But it is true.

And I now need to figure out

how I handle custom orders

when I want to just go into my studio

and create a bunch of stuff

and

hopefully someone wants to buy it LOL

I am redesigning, reconfiguring...

we'll see.

Wild Star Jewelry

is now just me : )

Daisy Duke

2011-08-06T20:20:00.006-04:00

Shooting in full manual...

an ongoing project for me.

Back to square one

where it all started...

high school photography.

Those days were film and no auto settings.

Working the shot out in the camera

all by myself.

And developing it in the closet in the art room.

Brings back lots of memories,

memories I am often short on

for some reason.

My subject here is my little lamb

named Daisy

who is still struggling to get along.

She is disabled at this point.

Not really any other way to describe

what's going on in the back end.

Neurologically lame

with no explanation.

Prednisone is helping...

Such a trooper,

a trier,

a survivor I hope.

This little girl has so much heart.

Trouble

2011-07-16T20:54:00.008-04:00

Who was it that proclaimed

"bad luck comes in threes"...

really, who?

He or she is seriously

wrong.

I have a list and we're up to about 7 bad luck things...

and we don't seem to be able to catch a break

or a breath in between.

My most serious worries today are about

one of the lambs and an unexplained

inability to use her rear end properly.

Consulting with a vet.

We added some loose minerals to their

diet in case this is due to a deficiency of some kind.

Now we wait and see how it plays out.

And the least of my worries

is the home theatre equipment

that was blown up

in a thunderstorm.

Of course our insurance won't cover it

we won't meet the deductible!

And Shawn is in mourning. LOL

Then there's the impending

expensive arthroscopic shoulder surgery

for one white poodle ...

And my husband's shoulder injury

that is causing him immense pain.

Nothing can relieve it...

And the thing we can do nothing about

at this point...

our little gray polish chicken

finished off by a raccoon : (

This bad luck streak all started with the

broken Air Conditioning unit

we replaced about one month ago...

I almost just wrote

"I feel like standing in the front field and screaming my head off"

and then I remembered

I've already done that.

I am becoming more in focus

more attentive

to everything around me

no more auto-pilot...

what else can all this shit mean?

Why does everything happen for a reason?

And when do you get to know the reason?

Sorting Crabs in Maryland

2011-06-30T16:07:00.005-04:00

Grow Your Own Food!

2011-06-24T19:00:00.005-04:00

I think you should.

I think everyone should at least try.

A tomato plant in a pot on a terrace counts

as trying.

And if you're going to go

to all that trouble ...

I highly recommend planting a BIG

strawberry pot with a beautiful

mix of herbs...

Go for it!

We once had big dreams of food farming

on a much larger scale here

on Beach Farm.

I see some glimmer of those dreams today.

So happy to go out to my garden

and pick a salad for dinner.

And hot peppers...

I mean come on,

if you're going to plant tomato, basil, oregano and some other herbs...

at least set a pot aside for a jalapeno

or a habanero plant if you're feeling super spicy!

My favorite hot pepper = Habanero!!!

I dressed this summer salad

with...

a drizzle of olive oil,

a lime,

a sprinkle of chili powder,

and a turn on the mill

of Himalayan Pink Sea Salt!

Best salt on the earth...

What's the Word I'm Looking for?

2011-06-13T20:38:00.007-04:00

Hmmm.

Can't come up with it.

I feel validated?

Not quite the right word...

I struggled for two days to duplicate

a simple enameling technique on these discs.

I REALLY over fired them it turns out.

But I struggled through it

until I figured out

I was cooking the crap outta them

causing the enamel to pop off as it cooled.

Geez of course...

it's fusing glass on metal after all.

So tonight I brought

some of the earrings I have been working on

to show a good friend

(and lover of all things jewelry)

and she BOUGHT these orange ones on the spot!

Gotta love that!!!

So I will be back in my studio in the morning cranking out

more new stuff...

getting ready for a show this weekend.

So what's the word?

I think maybe it's inspired : )

The Kiss

2011-06-11T20:55:00.011-04:00

June 12, 2004

Seven years ago,

we said "we do"...

on an amazingly beautiful day

with our house filled with friends and family.

I have been told by more than one guest...

that was one hell of a Kiss : )))

He really did take my breath away with that kiss...

Yes,

Shawn is teary eyed here, he's so sensitive : )

This on the other hand is a really awkward kiss...

Shawn is really trying not to crack up : ))

But oh my!!

Check out the detail of the back of my dress!

This is my grandpa...

who is no longer alive.

I have this picture framed in my living room in a beautiful

pewter frame so he's never too far from my thoughts.

We PROMISED each other we wouldn't do that

ugly cake smooshing thing!!!

Although I suspect it crossed Shawn's mind here for a sec.

My Mom and Dad ...

wow we were all so happy!

And wow there were a lot of really

fancy hats at my wedding...

my Dad is sporting one of them!

Getting a photo of the girls of the family ...

good luck LOL

I can't believe it's been SEVEN years...

time certainly does fly!

We are planting a peach tree

for our anniversary this year : ))

CHEERS!!!

It's a Nice Day for a Swim

2011-06-03T14:50:00.003-04:00

It is an incredibly beautiful day here!

Mid 70s.

Sun is high in the sky.

Life is moving forward : )

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month

2011-05-11T21:07:00.000-04:00

Oh Boy am I Aware.

And...

I am optimistic now.

I am getting better.

But this disease is really a hard one.

I hope HOPE

that there is some

new GRAND understanding and acceptance

of this disease sometime soon.

So many many many misdiagnoses...

and unsuccessful treatments...

I do know I am one of the lucky ones.

Harry Edgar

2011-05-09T18:07:00.011-04:00

Taking in an old, scared, sick dog...

that takes a certain kind of person.

A person not looking for much in return,

just doing the right thing

when it needed to be done.

Harry Edgar was found as a stray...

a sick old man

during a really cold winter.

And he somehow landed in a home

with wonderful people

who appreciated him

for who he was.

And they gave him the greatest rest of his life

he could hope for :)

His story has reminded me of the importance

of being open and receptive to the unknown .

And I will always remember that happy endings do happen.

Thank you Harry Edgar.

Rehab

2011-05-07T18:34:00.003-04:00

Not too long ago...

this was an unbelievably cute and quaint kitchen garden.

We intended to totally renovate this garden,

new raised beds and all

this year

but instead

I think we're going to rehabilitate what we have here.

These are "before" pictures...

WEEDS!

I spent the day weeding and planting some of these boxes!

YAY!

It's been at least 2 years since I've had the interest or energy

to spend a chunk of the day working hard out in the gardens.

And I am so happy I did: )

I also spent a large part of the day with our animals.

This little girl is the latest addition to the crowd...

she's about a week or two younger than Bluebell

and the two of them make quite the pair : ))

Meet Daisy Duke

Bluebell and Daisy doing what they do best!

A Balancing Act

2011-04-14T15:21:00.008-04:00

Family Hug : )

I get one lyme symptom under control

and the next rears its ugly head

LOUDLY.

But I have learned some very important things this month

about how I must live from here on out.

I much strive for a balanced life

always...

in every minute of every day.

I can't over indulge or over do it...

stressing needlessly is no more...

equally I can't under do things

or do nothing...

or else I become completely undone.

Pretty reasonable lesson really.

I'm extremely grateful for a good day today.

A sunny day.

A wonderful family.

Beautiful friends.

And our little lamb.

Another Saturday...

2011-04-03T16:12:00.006-04:00

Five years ago I really could not have predicted

I'd be soooooo completely sucked

into the agility world.

But here I am : )))

Me, my dog and good friends!

FUN!

My Little Lamb Chop

2011-03-31T20:45:00.007-04:00

about three weeks ago

this little girl was born on a friend's farm.

It was apparently a difficult birth

and the mommy sheep promptly rejected her.

She quickly became a lamb raised by humans

with a bottle of milk in hand every 4 or so hours.

On day 4 of this little lamb's life

she came home with me.

Shawn named her Bluebell.

Around day 8 of Bluebell's life

we were reminded that notwithstanding

how lovely our poodles are

THEY ARE DOGS

and Bluebell was just too much to

resist to chase.

It was a pretty bad accident

and I won't rat the dog out

but fortunately

Bluebell is tough as nails.

And

loves her new family.

She is trying so hard to fit in,

make a friend,

earn a spot in the goat house.

And it's really quite exhausting.

She will be joined by another lamb in the coming weeks,

two little lawn mowers in the making.

She is adorable : )

Nelle's First Qualifying Run!!!

2011-03-08T11:14:00.002-05:00

Nelle's second run in a competition

and she Q's!

Even with visiting the ring crew for a quick hello!

This puppy surpassed any expectations or goals

I had for the weekend.

I'm so proud of her!

Fun Weekend with My Dog Nelle : ))

2011-03-06T21:30:00.002-05:00

And the craziness begins! This is Nelle's first run at a trial...

I'm trying to catch her at the end before she poops LOL

I had soooooo much fun this weekend thanks to Nelle and a lot of good friends : )

A Milestone I Hope

2011-02-16T23:40:00.012-05:00

Today is the first day

in over a year...

I have almost

no pain

in my hips : ))))

And I celebrated!!!

We have a long history of

kitchen dancing here

Beach Farm.

(We did the kitchen dance in the city too of course)

I just happen to be solo here

with that glass of wine LOL

Amazing that I like Cake (the band) tonight

Sheep go to Heaven

Goats go to Hell...

whaaaaat????

LOL

I am so grateful to the amazing doctor

that helped me do this happy dance today : )))

XOXO anne

The Beaches

2011-02-12T18:41:00.008-05:00

Here we are

2011...

Mr.

and

Mrs.

BEACH!

and Ziggy : )))

Today I'm super grateful

for the men in my life.

This is a Really Long Story

2011-02-11T12:54:00.021-05:00

I'm not sure I'm ready to tell this story

but I feel like trying today.

At least to tell a little bit.

The beginning of this story is

riddled with pain, tears, missed diagnoses,

depression, feelings of helplessness and severe fatigue.

And Pain, did I say that.

Unbelievable pain.

The middle of the story is now

and

I am feeling better.

I finally found a doctor

who knows what is wrong with me.

You see,

I have lyme disease : (

And I've had it for a long time.

After months of treatment

(with still many more to go),

I can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.

But unfortunately it's one long ass tunnel.

But I have HOPE of returning to a normal me : )

A me that can and does walk miles and miles every day

just because it's one of my favorite things to do.

A me that when I laugh, I laugh so hard I cry.

A me that looks forward to the farm chores

and slinging bags of mulch around

(although those days may be over --

ok not super sad about that LOL).

A me that loves to have parties!

A me that has lost this 20 pounds around my gut.

In the meantime,

life goes on.

There is jewelry to be made

and chickens to care for : )

Today I am really grateful that the sun was shining

and my little sick chicken has taken a turn for the better.

Shawn and I unclogged her poopy vent

by bathing her

in my studio sink (ACK!)

(completely disgusting, poor chicken!)

That's definitely enough information on that one LOL

Target Practice

2011-01-23T19:24:00.003-05:00

My first day at the range!

Target shooting 101

and I did

*great*

according to my cute husband : )

And yes, of course I look super cute

Safety Goggles

and

Blue Ear Muffs.

Oh yeah,

I could have definitely been a cop...

or at least played one

on TV!

Fun day!

Sunday is a Good Day to Be a Dog Around Here

2011-01-23T18:47:00.002-05:00

a dog's life on a sunday

2011-01-16T19:09:00.002-05:00

It's Not So Bad

2011-01-14T13:56:00.007-05:00

Surprisingly,

brown rice pasta

is not so bad!

In an effort to follow one doctor's recommendation,

I'm avoiding gluten as much as is feasible.

So I had to start somewhere.

A friend's warning about the brown rice pasta

getting a little gunky

caused me to undercook it

just slightly,

al dente!

My dad would be so proud : )

Fresh raw vegetables added in

with some olives and goat cheese

and it is good!

Now we'll have to see what Shawn

thinks of this "fake" pasta when he gets home!

It's been a really cold week here.

So cold that my cat has slept snug up against me all week.

In fact our king size bed has

been crammed with creatures all trying to stay warm.

Pretty cozy.

And beautiful.

I've been experimenting some with my

new-ish camera lens...

these photos were taken with my macro lens

the lens I shoot the jewelry with.

Interesting...

Black Eyed Peas and Collard Greens

2011-01-01T19:03:00.014-05:00

In spite of Pearl's awkward pose in this no flash, iphone photo,

I love this shot of me and the poodles

New Year's Eve

December 31, 2010.

And boy did we stay up late!

After sleeping in this morning

WAY late which was really delightful,

I cleaned the kitchen,

trained some dogs

and then started a new project!

I have been sorely missing color in my art.

I love silver but my first love has always been

COLOR

usually in the form of paint or glass...

These glass beads

*tediously*

woven together into fabric

are just beautiful...

In the midst of me taking it easy

and learning the finer points

of working with seed beads,

Shawn was busy preparing a delicious

New Year's Day dinner

for two...

Crab cakes

and...

and

This is tradition on

Beach Farm.

I do believe corn beef and cabbage

is New Year's Day dinner of choice for my Irish family.

But for the little bit more southern Beaches

it's Black Eyed Peas and Collard Greens.

Luck and Money.

Health and Wealth.

That is what Mr. Beach tells me anyway.

And I'm hoping for all that

and then some

2011!!!

A Beautiful Morning on the Farm

2010-12-29T22:57:00.008-05:00

When I think about

all that I am grateful for

this place

is at the very top of my list.

This is my life

and

it is

beautiful : )

Pie

2010-12-22T22:50:00.003-05:00

mmmmmmmm....

We took a break this afternoon....

After a morning of finishing a pile of jewelry

and prepping for "the next step"

of our family Christmas gifts...

Jenny and I joined some rather lively and lovely ladies

at my mom's house

for a

PIE PARTY!!!!!!!!!

We all had such a great time

and each one left with at least one pie to call our own.

A new tradition that we will continue for sure.

So much still to do before Christmas!

Back to Chickens...

2010-12-11T22:31:00.014-05:00

People land on my blog searching for information about

chickens molting...

I completely understand this because

when a new-ish chicken person

goes out to a new-ish chicken yard

and finds naked chickens

weaving around the yard

research is in order!

This is where a lot of people enter my blog...

Chickens Molt.

And I still receive comments

about that post and it's over a year old!

So I thought I'd update my blog with a

post about an equally freaky experience

to those new-ish to chickens.

Here it is...

Sometimes They Die.

And you don't know why.

This happens.

Last week we lost a beautiful black Australorpe hen.

These are my favorite chickens,

they are some of the friendliest

feathered friends I have come across.

They are very social creatures.

Well she was sick.

So sick that the rest of the flock picked on her

when she was down...

HEN PECKED

is a real phenomenon

and

you must protect any chicken that can't carry on like normal.

So off to the chicken hospital she went

(a large dog crate in the garage with bedding, food, water and electrolytes)

and she perked up over the next day or two.

But she died.

And we don't know why.

Sometimes it just happens.

YES

by all means,

when faced with a sick, dying or dead chicken

research everything you can to try to identify the problem

focusing on common problems.

If you have a vet call him!

Egg bound, prolasped vents,

injuries consistent with being attacked by a hawk, fox

look for things like that...

Don't IMMEDIATELY conclude

you have some horrible bird flu going on

and freak yourself out.

Sometimes they do just die : (

Sneak Preview!

2010-12-09T19:13:00.006-05:00

I have finally finalized a design to accommodate

up to three subjects!

YAY!

And tomorrow...

Wild Star Jewelry

will be featured in the

Etsy Stalker

December Shadowbox Gallery!!!!

And we're offering a GIVEAWAY!

Please check it out : ))

WOOOHOOO!!!

We'll be there for the month of December!

Bangles!

2010-11-21T20:22:00.005-05:00

We had a great two days of jewelry shows!

Then the weekend to regroup...

And now, after spending a good part of the day in my studio,

I am happily overwhelmed

with the amount

of jewelry that has been ordered...

This bangle is my current favorite

piece of jewelry to slide onto my wrist

in the morning...

It jingle jangles : )

www.wildstarjewelry.com

This is Nellie (Not my Nelle LOL)

2010-11-09T16:55:00.004-05:00

Check, Check,

1, 2

Testing how these photos look before I send them on.

Lots more to photograph.

And update.

I'll be back soon : )

Beautiful Day

2010-10-26T21:04:00.003-04:00

Beautiful sky

Beautiful goat girl : )

Beautiful jewelry

Wild Star Jewelry

Come see us at

The Fenton Street Market

This Saturday

in Silver Spring, MD

9am to 3pm

Jewelry!!!

2010-10-12T18:08:00.006-04:00

Yes we have been busy at

Wild Star Jewelry!

Getting ready for a couple shows already

on the calendar

and

waiting to hear

from a few more.

I really hope we get into them!

We are making

lots of jewelry

with gift giving in mind...

so please check back for a major Etsy shop update soon!

www.wildstarjewelry.com

Smith Little Torch

2010-10-11T20:57:00.005-04:00

WOWIE!

Awesome new torch.

My previous torch that looked JUST like this one

had too many problems when I went to switch out the hoses.

Leaks and more leaks.

Nothing I or we did fixed the problems.

Soooo.

I decided to buy the torch I should have bought from the beginning

and

it is a great torch!

So much easier to light and regulate.

Really!

This is my soldering bench

that Shawn built

with scrap wood and an old stainless steel countertop,

with a handy compartment to hold

propane and oxygen canisters

of the disposable sort.

Awesome, huh?!

So You're Crafty, Eh?

2010-10-02T15:48:00.015-04:00

It's such a beautiful day!

And of course the turn out at this fair was nuts.

Carolyn and I made our way through the craftiness

and had a great time!

She even bought an AUTOGRAPHED print!!!

from "that guy" from Project Runway Season 1 ?!?!

That's all I can remember about that LOL

These are Cotton Monsters don't ya know : )

Awesome belt buckles ...

Of course local farms were represented...

And a Day of the Dead scene that seemed well...

i dunno.

It was a really good show.

The vendors seemed to be doing great

and

their booths were flowing over with

beautiful things

(LOTS of jewelry : )

and

people...

Beautiful to me...

2010-09-29T15:40:00.008-04:00

I could just keep walking down this road ...

There's really no place like it for me.

It's my ritual, my normal, the start of my day.

It's where I think ahead and also just be.

Where I unfunk any funk

and

get ready for the day.

Just me, my dogs and the salty breeze off the bay.

It's beautiful.

Training

2010-09-22T12:12:00.006-04:00

This video is of our puppy Nelle

getting ready for her big day...

her first agility trial.

She's not eligible to compete until she is 18 months old,

so thankfully we have many months ahead of us to prepare LOL

(and get some bags on that tunnel!)

My Bench

2010-08-27T19:53:00.007-04:00

I'm pretty sure I haven't

properly flaunted my new bench

to all you drooling jewelers out there LOL

I have been wanting a proper bench

for quite some time.

Couldn't really justify the cost.

But then again

I can't really justify the cost

to my body

of sitting up

at a full height work bench

crouching over and looking down

for hours at a time.

So in typical Shawn style,

he surprised me for my birthday

with a brand-spanking-new

BENCH!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love it : )

Happy Birthday Nelle!

2010-08-23T09:00:00.006-04:00

This is the same video posted

in a different format...

Love this puppy...

have I said that before LOL

I LOVE dogs

and

I definitely

LOVE my dogs.

From as early as I can remember

I have been fascinated by and in love with dogs.

I have lived with dogs since I was a kid

and can't imagine life without them.

And my interests continue to grow deeper : )

I may be freakishly

preoccupied with poodles

by other people's standards...

but I am preoccupied with them

just the same LOL

Shawn's Birthday!

2010-08-19T20:44:00.006-04:00

My honey is 40!

Finally old like the rest of us.

So we are celebrating Shawn's Birthday

for an entire week...

Maybe an entire month, we'll have to see : )

We took a short trip

tonight....

across that bridge again.

As I looked back to where we came from,

I was reminded once again

how incredibly fortunate

I am.

I have an incredible life

(even if we argued a little too much

about nothing much

going over that bridge tonight : )

Happy Birthday Shawnie

I love you!

Just for Me

2010-08-17T16:32:00.007-04:00

Fine Silver with Gemstones on 14kt Gold Chain

Not the most original of designs,

but I love it nonetheless.

A tiny nugget of silver

all dressed up for me.

Happy Birthday Mom!

2010-08-09T10:45:00.018-04:00

We took our celebration on the road this year...

To a beautiful Inn on the Eastern Shore of Maryland

This bridge is another story,

perhaps the subject of a post one day.

Not to disappoint I headed out with my camera

attached to my eyeball LOL

Our destination...

Hahahaha!

I can find chickens anywhere!

(ok, these might be guineas : )

This scene definitely would not be complete

without a wedding party

warming up for the evening!

(The guys' suits were just wrong

plus

they were wearing high top converse sneakers....

Come on!

Probably don't need to mention the yellow bridesmaid dresses LOL

Yeah, i can be a bitch LOL)

Wonderful garden around the corner...

full of cutting flowers and food!

Thistle...

We took our party to a local crab house for some local fun!

And then settled in for a late night of

MAHJONNG!

(did i spell that correctly Ha!)

Tons of fun and Mom won!

As usual,

Shawn is missing from the photo...

great excuse honey being the photographer...way to go : p

I always find the cool cats

to hang with...

He's winking at me : )

A New Perspective

2010-08-05T10:57:00.011-04:00

My everyday walk took me to a place

I haven't been in a very long time.

I ventured farther than I have in a while

stretching my legs a little more than usual.

With dogs in tow,

I blew right past our normal turning around point,

past the big red gate and

onto the rocky road

that was a little more unruly than I remember.

I forgot about so much of this place

a place that has been seemingly locked away for years...

Really beautiful.

Something about this place

on this morning

reached the core of myself

and touched my soul.

I emerged from that rocky road

and hit the pavement

energized

heart wide open

ready for what is to come

and

reminded

that

I am just a visitor to this place.

Some Time

2010-07-29T10:21:00.012-04:00

Wild Star Bracelet x 3

This bracelet was well worth the effort!

Lots of time into the design and fabrication of this one.

Jenny and I are thrilled with the result!

We will list this custom bracelet in the etsy shop soon!

Kids names, pets names, inspirational words,

Handcrafted just for you...

www.wildstarjewelry.com

And

in an attempt to avoid using traditional jewelers' "pickle"

on this beautiful fine silver bracelet

I tried a home remedy to clean the silver instead.

I've been meaning to try this for at least a year

But was too lazy to clean out my pickle pot.

So yesterday,

I cleaned out the pot,

mixed a batch of vinegar and salt,

heated it up

and gave it a try.

And yes it worked like a charm

and cleaned the oxidation and

gunk off the silver after soldering!

One less chemical in my studio and I'm happy about that : )

I feel like I have some time today.

Some time for me after what has seemed like a long week

Finishing up lots of orders : )

No complaints here!

I started today with a walk with a friend.

I think I'll finish up what needs to be done in the studio,

have a BIG salad for lunch : )

and

then head out to a book store for a while.

Jewelry & Dogs

2010-07-25T20:09:00.006-04:00

The two major forces in my life right now.

Jewelry & Dogs

and I am NOT complaining.

Love every second of every day of my life!

This shot reminds me of the Saturday Night Live skit

with Martin Short and bathing caps LOL

Synchronized Swimming LOLOLOL

I have so much fun with my dogs : )

I also have so much fun with my friends!

And last night we had a great night

of hanging out with one of our best friends Deniz.

Denizati (Turkish)

translates to

Sea Horse.

I LOVED how she was styling her custom Wild Star Jewelry Bracelet.

Worn with a load of

beautiful bracelets from Tiffany!!!!

Bling!

www.wildstarjewelry.com

So many designs in my head,

So little time : )

What a Fun Day!!!

2010-07-18T21:49:00.004-04:00

Fun, fun day

with

puppies

and

friends!!!

Nelle's first day dock diving...

went GREAT : )

Such a pretty girl : )

In 45 Minutes

2010-07-12T23:12:00.003-04:00

I'll be 42 years old.

This seems old,

although older people tell me I'm a baby LOL

I promise...

I will not

tell younger people they are babies when they are not.

No!

Only when I'm really old : )

ha!

Turkeys

2010-07-07T19:27:00.007-04:00

There is always something new going on here.

Of note this week...

one wild turkey and many babies showed up in our goat yard

presumably looking for food and water.

When I delivered their breakfast

they freaked out and took off.

But I do think they are still around : )

www.wildstarjewelry.com

Please check us out, the etsy shop

needs a major update with lots of new jewelry

waiting to be photographed!

Stay tuned!

Our credit card terminal was delivered today

but there is no software downloaded on it ???!!!

Hopefully this little hiccup will be resolved

and

we'll be up and ready when we need it!

This is Lulu one of our latest

Wild Stars...

I love this pendant so much.

It showcases a beautiful girl who is

missed tremendously by her family.

the goat yard is fascinating : )

2010-06-24T20:31:00.004-04:00

Once in a while...

2010-06-23T18:22:00.002-04:00

I download photos off my camera

and

I see a perfect picture.

goat games

2010-06-20T19:44:00.007-04:00

it's not unusual for

different species to form friendships and deep bonds

around here.

cat and dogs.

cat and parakeet (ok questionable LOL).

dogs with goats.

one dog obsessed with fish in the tank???

tiny dog and most other creatures around here.

this black goat has been trying to figure out

how to play with the puppy for days now.

she loves her : )

even trying to teach nelle how to head butt LOL.

nelle is a little intimidated

but it's only a matter of time before

they figure out their game.

it is so sweet to hang out with them at the end of the day.

Wild Star Jewelry -- The First Show

2010-06-19T15:58:00.003-04:00

We made a bunch of really great earrings

to take with us

last night.

I'm really liking our designs!

They meld the best of what each of us do

into something new.

It's refreshing to not be stumped for ideas

and that's what I have found working with another artist.

Our minds are continuously moving

and creating.

I have been jotting down ideas all day.

Ideas inspired by conversations last night about the jewelry.

People have such great ideas and really tell you what they want

if you just listen.

And when trying to promote a line of custom jewelry

we better listen : )

PRIDE

2010-06-13T20:23:00.015-04:00

(sorry if this video makes you car sick i was walking : )

What a fun time!!!

Shawn and I went into DC last night to celebrate our

wedding anniversary

and stay in our old apartment.

Our timing couldn't have been better as we entered the city in the nick of time

the World Cup celebration

met

the Pride Parade!

Whoa!

This is the infamous....P Street Beach

(this is Pride Parade attire, not the daily DC active wear LOL)

What a trip and what a fun night!!!!

This has got to be one of the longest parades ever!

They begin to set up on our street mid afternoon and the parade was in full swing past 10pm.

View from our apartment

Parade is in full swing -- P Street to Dupont Circle!

This is definitely my city,

I love DC.

Love the people

the energy

everything.

I know there is a stigma about DC

as a scary place,

but it really is such a wonderful city.

Scary parts, sure there are, but mostly it's a place of great people.

Too bad it was too hot for shopping this morning : )

New Jewelry & Random Thoughts

2010-06-12T11:07:00.004-04:00

Here are the next Wild Star Jewelry creations!

Personalized Bracelets!!!!

Say whatever you want!

Jenny and I are having a lot of fun creating creating creating!

And we're getting ready for our first show

I can't believe it!

But we are taking the weekend off to have some fun with family.

Shawn and I were married six years ago today.

The same spring we got our first baby chickens.

We were married on the front porch of our house

with our friends and family standing in the grass.

It was the most beautiful sunny day.

I love him.

I always will.

I'm starting to feel duplicative here with this blog.

I know,

not everyone is on facebook,

(including a certain someone who will remain nameless haha!)

but i only have so much to say to the world on a daily basis LOL

If you are on facebook

and haven't already,

please friend us at

Wild Star Jewelry.

New pieces are posted as they are finished!

I love this blog so I plan on continuing on...

Wild Star Jewelry

2010-06-04T17:47:00.006-04:00

www.wildstarjewelry.com

open for business!!!!!!!!!!

WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

now get on out there and heart this shop!!!

XOXO

want to see some pictures?

2010-04-28T16:01:00.012-04:00

what's been going on you ask?

well for starters,

maya is growing out quite a little beard.

sweet little goat.

i've been keeping a close eye on this chicken,

something seems off with her.

she's missing some feathers on her neck because

she insists on sticking her head through a fence all day to eat what's on the other side,

when it's the same stuff on her side.

silly chicken.

this is my favorite time of year,

and i love to take photos so....

peonies about to pop!

native columbine shining!

my puppy is growing so fast!

can't believe she's eight months old.

she's a great dog.

pearl and nelle have a ball together.

deutzia

and

johnson blue

my favorite geranimum!

How Does This Happen to Me Every Year???

2010-03-18T16:56:00.008-04:00

It's really a beautiful spring day here

mid 60's at the high of the day.

I am wearing jeans and fleece

because it was still chilly yesterday.

I headed over to the mall a little while ago to buy some things.

Well in a flash EVERYONE

(but me)

has traded in their wool sweaters and Uggs for

sandals and cute little cropped jeans.

Ugh.

And I'm still wearing the 10 pounds I've been

meaning to get rid of all winter!!!!

I seriously hate feeling like this.

Every spring.

Busting Stuff Up

2010-03-16T21:48:00.006-04:00

Anyone else do this?

I think I know at least a couple people like me

who just have to know!

I've been experimenting with

enamels...

torch fired enamels on copper and silver

to be exact.

And well I had to know.

How much until the enamel pops off?

If I don't counterenamel,

how much pressure can the piece take?

Ok, yes,

Shawn has a point.

Practice my demolition on a circle blank

or an old discarded piece,

enamel it and bust it up!

BELIEVE me

I did that too.

But there is NOTHING like taking the

finished piece,

the one you proudly wear out of the studio for the night,

and then not so gently snap it...

it cracked and well it should have.

I can heal the crack tomorrow

i promise : )

Now I know.

ENAMELS!!!

2010-03-05T19:24:00.004-05:00

I've decided to experiment with torch firing enamels for a while.

And wait to see if Paragon designs a larger bead collar door for my kiln,

one that allows me to safely get my pieces in and out

of this otherwise AWESOME

top loading kiln.

These are my subjects of the day,

little copper discs cut perfectly and cleaned

ready for the enamels...

And these have got to be

THE dorkiest

safety glasses I own.

(Shawn was making huge fun of me in these shades : )

My studio is definitely coming together.

It's a great space to work in and to just be in.

Shawn likes to hang out with me too

which makes it that much more fun of a place.

This is a shot of the entry to the studio, very cute corner but

I do need to get some artwork on the walls!

All for now.

Have a great weekend!

Sacred

2010-02-23T10:52:00.004-05:00

I feel like I've turned a corner

and

there's no looking back...

Never Say Never

2010-02-11T11:35:00.008-05:00

Despite swearing off shoveling for good

we dug ourselves out again!!!

Our neighbor is moving some snow off the road

so people can get in here to help him dig out.

At some point we hope to see a plow down here too.

And then hopefully

one day

a plow will clear our driveway.

Until then at least we can walk out to our cars again!

I hope everyone buried by this blizzard

is able to resume their normal life activities soon!

Stay warm!

I'm going to pretend I don't see this white stuff for a while

and

head over to my studio and fire the kiln!

**** UPDATE****

The snowblower has arrived!

The kiln is firing!!!!

And a tractor will be making

an appearance on this property soon!

YAY!

The Good News Is

2010-02-10T15:06:00.008-05:00

We have power

and we will be plowed out at some point!!!

But I think we have to say goodbye to our little path

that allowed us access to the world

to stock up for this storm.

You served us well.

We will be plowed out

when this storm slows down.

Who knows when

but I ain't digging no more!

More Snow

2010-02-08T19:50:00.014-05:00

well

they were right.

something the weather people around here are rarely.

RIGHT that is.

we gots lots of snow.

30 inches with drifts up to 4 feet deep!

and now they are forecasting up to 20 more inches????????

you have GOT to be kidding!

we have been snowed in for a couple days,

unable to leave by foot because

the plows are slow coming and

the snow is so deep and so heavy

and no

we don't normally have snow shoes in our garage

around here.

shawn dug us out.

"it's called survival"

he says

"there's no one else who is going to get us out of here"

Oh my god

he has incredible determination

and the strength of a mule.

while I did help A LOT and my aching body is proof

Shawn literally dug us out.

he cut us a path through fields of snow

so we could walk out to our cars

at the top of our driveway.

and then we waited for the plows

to clear the road.

the goats appreciated his hard work as well

pile up in the chute : )

this puppy of mine is just like shawn

both have incredible stamina!

you try to tire this dog out!

i dare ya!

and then the plows came...

but they needed a bobcat/front loader thingy

to actually move the snow

because the plow couldn't cut through the snow.

and shawn shoveled through that stuff !!!

WOW

i love him

i am always safe

when my honey is around : )

thank you shawn xoxo

The Storm of the Century?

2010-02-05T18:37:00.019-05:00

Hard to believe it was just weeks ago

when the Blizzard of 2009 came to visit.

Now enter

the Storm of the Century

(for these parts at least).

We'll see how this one unfolds.

It started as a quiet winter day.

One lone chicken braved what was left of the snow

to check out the goings on in the goat house.

Us humans began our preparations for this storm.

I cleaned the goat house and the chicken house.

Filled feeders and water buckets.

Took the dogs on an ultra long walk

and then tucked myself away in the studio.

While...

Shawn worked in the morning,

then he picked up a load of firewood,

marked off the driveway,

gathered as many electric space heaters as he could find

and

ran to the stores.

I am happy to report we have enough food and wine

to live comfortably for a month : )

He continued his snow preparations

and

made us dinner (super yummy!)

while I worked away

and now

the storm is here!

I'm crossing my fingers

we don't lose power.

If we have power, I will enjoy this weekend!

The real story of the century

is what happened in my studio this week.

Remember that "Annie MUST Do" list...

1. DONE update my display at local shop

2. IN PROGRESS photograph jewelry for the etsy shop

3. IN PROGRESS re-style and stock said etsy shop

4. (Uh, hmmmm) organize the business side

of this

jewelry stuff

5. IN PROGRESS make BRACELETS!!

6. DONE finish the handful of pieces sitting on my bench already!!!

7. DONE make prototype of a very cool design

i have been working out!

8. (Not Even Close) finish 3 pairs of beer/coke can earrings by request

9. MAKE jewelry

10. MAKE jewelry

11. MAKE jewelry

12. MAKE jewelry

13. MAKE jewelry

and finally

14. MAKE jewelry

YES I AM!!!!!!!!!!

and lots of it!

paw print (duh)

Alix if you're out there,

one of these horseshoes is for you!

Dog Tags

with a nugget of turquoise

Run Wild!!!!

Completely Custom

the blank tag can say anything you want,

mine will have all my dogs' names on it!!!

These are approximately the size of US Issue Tags...

(measurements to come)

LOTS of silver!!!

Turns out the Storm of the Century

is in my studio!!!

Things I learned this week...

lighting, white balance and I want to try Black Max!!!

Freezing, Snow Storm & Agility

2010-01-30T19:15:00.011-05:00

we froze our butts off today

in an unheated horse arena

to do this

that is what it looks like

when a VERY novice handler

and her dog get it together!

and this

is what it looks like when an easily distracted

poodle has had enough

and doesn't want to be corrected one more time!!!!

you can hear the judge deducting points

for missed obstacles

on the video!

i can so relate to pearl LOL

tomorrow i'll film some of the AMAZING runs

we see in these parts every weekend.

fast, fast, fast dogs

and

unbelievable handlers.

it's really incredible.

that will be IF i can dig my way outta here tomorrow!!!

Wake up Anne!!!

2010-01-29T15:59:00.014-05:00

There is work to be done!

So here's the list...

1. update my display at local shop

2. photograph jewelry for the etsy shop

3. re-style and stock said etsy shop

4. organize the business side

of this

jewelry stuff

5. make BRACELETS!!

6. finish the handful of pieces sitting on my bench already!!!

7. make prototype of a very cool design

i have been working out!

8. finish 3 pairs of beer/coke can earrings by request

9. MAKE jewelry

10. MAKE jewelry

11. MAKE jewelry

12. MAKE jewelry

13. MAKE jewelry

and finally

14. MAKE jewelry

and this frenzy will begin on Monday!

promise

(this is a promise to myself, not to you LOL)

in the meantime time,

my white poodle and I will be freezing our butts off

at an agility trial this weekend.

wish us luck!

and

sunshine : )

A Surge

2010-01-26T15:29:00.006-05:00

in the past a house was destroyed just to the left

thanks to isabelle.

needless to say that house has long been gone

and there's barely a trace it ever existed.

still it's not too often the shores of the bay

are flooded

like this here.

but again this road is impassable

at least for the day.

and then it rolled outta here

with the same drama that rolled it in.