Close-up view of Pele's wrath

So the last two weeks I was on the island of Hawaii and my husband, his parents and I decided to do a 2-day, 1-night trip over to Hilo in order to see Mt Kilauea's current lava flow (which you can currently only see well from the water). Happening upon Lava Ocean Adventures, we decided to do the Sunrise Lava Tour.The tour was well worth it and our pictures in no way do it justice. You are so close to the lava, the air is warm and the boat captain takes you through a ride in the mist. The only pictures that really came out were these two (probably the farthest away the boat was from the lava and after sunrise), but the pictures on Lava Ocean Adventures home page (on the right side, top two) are what it really looked like when we were there.
They get you so close to the lava flow, I almost felt like I could use a yardstick to touch it. Now my in-laws have seen just about all of the flows since 1981, so this might not have been quite as neat when they could walk up to the flow, drop a coin, and watch it melt, but it was still a great experience. If you are out in Hawaii anytime soon, I fully recommend looking this small boat crew up.

For more reading on Pele's story, there is a good abbreviated version here and the Volcanoes National Park has some very interesting and up-to-date information on both the Volcanoes and their legends.

Beautiful Sea Glass... Etsy Product Review #9

Here's a different sort of product review... My mom bought me this beautiful set of sea glass jewelry from a Guantanamo Bay craft fair from the maker of Castaways Jewelry Design. I had the opportunity to meet this talented lady at a memorial day craft fair this year (My table was 2 rows behind and one to the right of her table). When I was comparing her packing up at the end of the show to how my mom and I packed up our tables, I decided she is much more organized that we have ever been :) Now, Castaways Jewelry has let her etsy shop listings expire in August, but hopefully she comes back soon! I noticed that this summer she has a new display in a Guantanamo Bay gift shop and I'm so glad because now people can buy this jewelry all the time versus just at craft shows.

Castaways Jewelry uses only sea glass found on the beaches of Guantanamo Bay to create her designs. My set was accented with amethyst and fresh water pearl beads on silver settings.

So if you're ever at a craft show and see Castaways, you definitely want to check out this booth!

This week's favorite.. ocean capsule

Just glancing at this pendant, I see an ocean wave...

I love how the labradorite and seems to reflect the faceted apatite stones - just like the valley between two waves. Available in the Ample Goddess Jewelry shop on etsy, you will also find lots of other fun wire and bead designs.

The Basil Fairy... Etsy Product Review #8

I've talked about the shop Aunt Jane Can in an earlier blog post. Now, I liked the shop so much, I had to buy this Basil Fairy Notecard. The Basil Fairy Card arrived in my mail box just a couple of days after I ordered it. Aunt Jane makes her own envelopes to mail her cards which is charming and probably a tip for how she keeps her shipping costs very low. The handmade envelope looked like construction paper (green to match the card) on the outside and was lined in white paper.

The electronic picture of this card does not do the beauty of this card any justice, but this is what I will have to live with as I have already posted the card to my grandmother (who in reality is a fairy grandmother).

Don't forget to check out Aunt Jane's alter ego, Blue Jane on her blog.

This week's favorite... pure and simple

Sometimes, I prefer flamboyant and sometimes I prefer the more simple.... these earrings definitely show simple beauty. These hammered discs are one of the many unique designs at Ana Kim's on etsy.

More Dinner Art

A pretty dinner always makes it taste better; don't you think so?

I've been on a bit of an "eat healthier" kick for quite a while (much to my husband's dismay), but recently, he's decided "eating healthy" isn't too bad. This meal was stuffed tomatoes and a white bean consomme with almond milk.I had one problem when I wanted to make it... where to get almond milk? I live outside of a relatively small town and am about an hour from any health food stores. With no time to drive that distance, I ended up researching making my own almond milk [and I buy almonds in 1 gallon size buckets, so I figured I'd have enough almonds on hand :)].

It was surprisingly easy - fill a glass jar with 1/3 almonds, 2/3 water and seal tightly. Leave for 24 (but no more than 48 hours). Run through the blender and then strain out the almond pieces (which can be used as a topping for oatmeal or yogurt). The liquid left is your almond milk. Its taste is bland and similar to unsweetened soy, but I bet if it was sweetened it would be better.

So enough rambling. Here is the consomme recipe:
2 cans (19 oz ea) white beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups unsweetened almond milk
2 whole cloves garlic
1 sprig rosemary
1 T each finely chopped parsley, chives, and tarragon

Combine beans, milk, garlic, and rosemary in a 3 quart pot over high heat.
Add 1 cup water, simmer for 10 min.
Strain beans over a bown; reserve the liquid.
Discard rosemary and garlic.
Puree 2 cups cooked beans with 1 cup of reserved liquid.
Combine puree with rest of liquid and whole beans in pot.
Heat and stir briefly.
Add herbs, salt and pepper; serve with crusty bread.

Bright Fire Notecard... Etsy Product Review #7

Looking at a neat treasury a bit ago, I ran across this firey peacock print on a notecard from ARTSHARYNE. I love the combination of brilliant colors and vibrancy of the illustration. I received the card from Australia in less than a week and it came in a resealable plastic liner and cardboard lined the envelope. Overall, I believe this is the most professional looking package I have received from any online order.

Sad to say though, the card is no longer in my possession as I have already written on it and posted it in the mail to an aunt who also appreciates artwork and loves animals.

If you like this illustration, check out her blog.

This week's favorite... baby slippers!

Well, as a mother to none and no closer to being an aunt to any child, I have no reason to look at anything kid-related, but aren't these little slippers just adorable!The slippers are available in Palmsprout's shop on etsy, you can also find all sorts of different gifts in her shop.

Goddess Ear Cuff... Etsy Product Review #6

A few weeks ago, I was browsing around and saw an article on a woman who makes ear cuffs and does it full time... so one day, when I came across a sale at Thyme 2 Dream, I couldn't resist getting my own goddess ear cuff :) At Thyme 2 Dream, she makes all items to order, so I was pleasantly surprised when my ear cuff showed up only 2.5 weeks after I ordered it. (I know she has some bad feedback from people who thought she took too long, but I guess for me, on made to order items, I expect 4-6 weeks for delivery because that is what it would have to be for me.)

The ear cuff was placed in a small purple jewelry box (and purple being my favorite color, it made me happy) and the box was shipped in a small bubble mailer. It all arrived in great condition and would work as a great gift (if I didn't like it so much and want to keep it myself!)

I enjoyed this seller and will definitely be back for any of my fairy jewelry needs.

Red Poppies Dancing in the Blue Sky... Finds from etsy

Combinations of Brilliant Red and Bright Blue are one of my favorites.

Do you have a favorite selection here?

This week's favorite... a picture of a beach

I love looking at beach photographs wish I could have all that I find...

Seeing this picture of a woman on the beach, in solitude, in the glare of the sun speaks to me. All noise goes away when I look at it and I feel the calm that I always feel when I am within the distance to hear waves crashing...

Called "Only the Sea" ... can cure the shattered human heart

Frances Melhop is the extremely talented photographer who has the Enchanted Pond on etsy. Like this print? Then you will definitely love these, too: All Summer Long, I Need a Holiday, and Dear Little Toadstool.

Wordless Moonlight - Selections from etsy...

The calmness and beauty of moonlight.

You'll find these moonlight items on etsy by clicking on the photos. Do you have a favorite?

I hate glue!

So yesterday I was trying to work on a large amount of notecards. My wonderful paper cutter, new punches, and scissors were all up to snuff...

However, the glue had it out for me!I cannot tell you how many photos I ruined and how much cardstock I had to throw in my scrap pile before I ended up with this little set of 3 complete cards...

So now, using every stick, bottle and tube of glue I own (except the hot glue gun and bottle of gorilla glue), I am going back to good old fashioned elmer's glue. It seems to never go bad and always works on my corners...

Sometimes I wonder why the simplest thing from when I was a kid always takes me the longest to discover again as an adult?

This week's favorite... look at those eyes!

Browsing around, I was intrigued by the big happy eyes of this polar bear...

He looks like he could walk right out of his shop and give me a hug :)
Created from clay using a pinch pot method, this bell is just too cute, as are the rest of the animals in Wisper On's shop.