It's just impossible for me to sit still while watching TV, even the new Blu-Ray Hi-Def blah blah blah movies, so I got out one of those round hat making looms and some fat Wool-Ease yarn and have been making hats. Lots of hats. This is a small sampling of the hats - I need an intervention to stop this hat-making madness...
Especially for my family in Southern California - those in Seattle are experiencing more snow than we are and retain bragging rights, but here is a tiny tour of Two Dog Pond in the Winter...
In the Summer we use enjoy this chiminea while sipping Two Dog Pond wine...
... the Beach area. OK, so technically it's not really a beach since there's no sand yet, but someday....
The Pond Chica Casa is "toasty" on the inside - the stained glass windows are completely frosted over....
Rumple waiting for me to catch up and go down to the pond
Reese absolutely loves the cold weather!
It is so cold out here at Two Dog Pond {it's exactly 0 degrees right now} that I thought I just had to find a beach scene for this weeks contest!
Meanwhile - this is a bracelet I made for Lisa at RetroStyle - it's hard to see the images, but the picture of the kids are a hoot! I'm hoping she loves it and adds lots more fun stuff to it. 
Congratulations to Cheryl - From The Pines for winning this week's contest! Again it was a toss up between a few - but not Bee's "My Feet Hurt" - for pity's sake, woman! {just kidding - she's my seester - I won't make fun of anyone elses comments...} But really - this is harder than it looks! All these clever quotes and flits and floats - it's hard to choose. You're all winners, but Cheryl wins the necklace...send me your address From The Pines and I'll send you a necklace from Two Dog Pond. rachel@twodogpond.com 
In my haste to attempt to get all the Christmas shopping done in one day, I totally spaced off posting this week's contest picture. Last week's was so bizarre, that perhaps something sweeter and gentler will make us all feel better.
Congratulations to Jenny S - "Whoa Nellie" says it all! 
All you have to do is make a comment with a suggestion for the back of this image - something you would like to wear... The winner gets a free necklace. See the rules for details - oh wait! There aren't any details, just have fun!
The winner will be chosen on Saturday since I have an Open House all day Friday - which you are all invited to!
Congratulations to Vikki for winning the Week Seven Contest by submitting the winning phrase "Live the Dream"
Congratulations to Joni Kaylor on the official opening of Pleasant View Art Gallery. If in Lincoln, go visit her and enjoy some wonderful art. Leah of Moxie Photo has cards and journals there, Juli Pooster has beautiful silver jewerly, there is a plethora of fabulous gifts available in the gift shop (including Two Dog Pond soldered charms!)
There is a new Art Gallery in Lincoln called Pleasant View Art Gallery. It's in the Haymarket area, right above Crescent Moon Coffee. They are having their "opening" this Thursday night - so if you are in the area, stop by and see the wonderful art and shop for my fabulous charms! These ornaments are one-of-a-kind with images of Joni's art.
Remember when you were a kid and your parents took you to some giant man-made lake in Florida where there were pyramid water skiiers and you wanted to be one? Now, instead of being the skier, you can come up with a clever saying for the back of this potentially witty and wonderful soldered glass necklace charm and if your entry is chosen, win one! The contest rules are on the side.... put on your thinking caps (but don't get stuck on the sailor in diapers...)
Seriously - this was a tough one...I had to call the boys in to help me decide. There were four top choices - Jenny, Lauren, Vikki and Miss ScrappyJ - all great entries! but - we went with the one we thought would appeal to the masses the most - Congratulations goes to Lauren for her entry of "Vanity is my favorite sin". We like the fact that it implies that the wearer has other sins she likes also - but that one is her favorite... 
Does anyone else still play with the dry ice that comes with the Omaha Steaks? My sister sent us a delicious box of steaks (a box of delicious steaks?) in case we get tired of turkey leftovers...Sam said he had never played with dry ice before! Wha?? So....Auntie Rachel said "hey - watch this" and the fun began.
Completely different picture than last week...
Recently we moved my mother to a one-bedroom apartment which meant chosing things she loved to move and 'gifting' the extras. She had a Victorian looking lamp with a foo-foo glass shade she loved because my father had given it to her years ago. The glass shade/globe was broken, so my sister and I convinced her not to move it, but to let me make her some jewelry to wear out of it. I just finished it .... pearls and all.
This was the hardest picture yet - so everyone that came up with anything is a winner! But - two are getting necklaces: Sarah Rising with her entry "After today, I'll bet Santa takes a shovel to the reindeer stalls to fill your stocking." - Bill Watterson; and Mollie Spieker with her entry of 'For a moment, Santa pondered his own spotty past.' (in real life these charms are not so blurry...) Thanks again to all who played - and remember - Monday is a new contest! Jill (I mean Jenny..) intends to kick everyone's b*tts and win - put your boots on ladies!
I went outside to play with the dogs right at sunset - then ran back in to grab my camera...
The reflection of the sunset in the kitchen window was like an impressionistic painting - very cool!
"Look at me! I can stick 2 tennis balls in my mouth"
With Christmas right around the corner, I thought we should do a Holiday Necklace. This Victorian postcard image is quite bizarre... not your typical jolly St. Nick card!
Did you see Leah and Jill both slide in at the last minute? Both with sassy comments - - but I absolutely LOVE this one - it's a Helen Keller Quote : "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." Not that we recommend the Helen Keller blindfold, look ma no hands or underwear while riding a motorcycle, but that is a good quote. Thank you Leah! 
It's a busy day in the Two Dog Pond Micro Sweatshop. Kim, the City Girl Gone Country (above) and Sam are helping me get ready for the The Seward Junior Women's Club Craft Show in Seward tomorrow. It's HUGE!
Sam is painting the great room a beautiful shade of dark brown/gray that exactly matches the mortar between the stones of the fireplace. It's a work in progress so you can still see where the paint is wet, but I am really lovin' it. 
The ornament - the front is a 3"x1.75" bevel which catches the light beautifully - I added some pounded scrolly wire and some vintage chandelier crystals. It's hanging from a red satin ribbon - ready to make some Pollyanna rainbows all over the pine needle riddled floor under my tree. These will be added to my website as soon as I can get someone to go outside to take a decent photo. Hey Leah....
Meanwhile - I just ate the rest of the peanut butter. We got Mom moved to a new apartment after her bout with pneumonia, then broken ribs, then worse pneumonia... My nephew Sam is coming to hang out at Two Dog Pond for a while - I'm hoping to get him to work in the Two Dog Pond Micro-Sweatshop we've got going in the basement....I'm almost caught up on orders, so if you've been waiting - "it's almost done"...Rumple (the puppy) has now eaten everything in the garage. He's still alive after eating 3 fat candles, a windshield wiper blade, a box of smooth black rocks (for a mosaic I was going to do), 2 small shovels, Tim's favorite fishing hat, my snow boots, and several pieces of firewood. Reese? He ate two of my chickens. They are so tame that they just "jumped right in his mouth" at least that's what he claims....All in all, Life is Good!!
Miss Mary is the Winner of Week #3's Pendant with her entry of "To have faith is to have wings." That is just so true. {Or as we Lutheran's like to say "This is most certainly true"}
Let's go a little different direction here - the last two images were quite "Westerny", which is my favorite, but not everyone else's.... so here's a more Victorian style image taken from a vintage postcard....
Today is the "Boutique" sponsored by CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for children) in Seward. Miss Moxie, Leah, and I will be there from 9am - 2pm along with other vendors selling our products to support this incredible cause. Come see us and join in the fun! The best part of the day for me is hanging out with Leah! You should see the new journals she's creating - it's what all my kids are getting in their Christmas Stockings!
...and then I just had to add another line....
Again - thanks to everyone who participated! This was great fun - but hard work choosing from all the great entries!
I'll be posting another image on Monday - come back and play again!
Miss High - please send me your mailing address so I can get your necklace in the mail to you!!
rachel@twodogpond.com
This is one of my favorite images - isn't she great! 
LISA B with her entry of "Girls just wanna have fun"!
