This morning, as we all sat drinking our coffee and tea, we discussed all of the entries for this week's contest. Lots of good ones, and everyone had different opinions on what it should be, but it came down to Willow's entry of "Peace, Baby". Everyone agreed it's a winner!
Recently I was commissioned by one of my Patron-Saint-Customers to make them a necklace - "something they would love". That makes me crazy - so I decided to 'sleep on it' rather than sweat about it....that night I dreampt about this necklace (interestingly, that next morning was when I received the comment from Jenny that she, too, was having dreams about necklaces...)
It has a glass bauble soldered in the middle of a piece of etched copper. The word "Dreams" is stamped on a piece of sterling silver which is riveted on the inside and shows through the bauble...
"Dreams Are The Window Of The Soul" 
People around here think I'm nuts, I'm sure. When I take walks I take along a big walking stick. It's to protect myself from squirrels, bunnies and toads. So this morning I'm looking out the window to see if its good walking weather and quickly decided my stick isn't going to protect me this morning - so I'm skipping the walk. How would you like to have this family of Longhorns come up behind you while you're strolling down the road? 
This image has everything a person could ask for...sweet child, a bird, a flower, neutral colors...it's just lovely. AND it's this week's necklace contest image. Make a comment with a suggestion for what you think should be on the back of this image. It can be sweet/snarky/inspirational whatever you think you would like to have on the back if you were going to wear it. On Friday a winner will be chosen and will be rewarded with a soldered glass pendant on a chain to wear proudly.
After rendering everyone speechless for two days, it became clear that Mary's comment of "Toucan Wine Better Than One" was not only intimidatingly clever, but just downright cute. Thanks to all who played. Mary - don't forget to e-mail me your address so I can mail you the bird! (rachel@twodogpond.com)
I took Rumple for a long walk this morning. He loves that - except for the part where I have a heart attack if a vehicle passes us (which is rarely) because he tries to bite the tires....idiot.
He also loves to bounce through the garden...so much for fresh beans.
"ducks in a row" The are just visiting after last night's storm.
Nothing bad happened....except I ran out of wine. 
Tuesday several of the women that were at the first Fine Silver Workshop came back and we worked from 9am-10pm... The fire extinguisher came out after I caught the carpet on fire, but before the wine...
some small charms....bad photo...both cameras were going dead.
Shelley's pendants.
Carolyn's pendants
Norma's Necklace. 
The view from the Chicken House
Two Dog Pond Vineyard
Birdhouse Gourd Blossoms
Freaking crop duster dusting the neighbors fields right after I hung sheets on the clothes line.
This is Poonie. 
Something completely different this time. I love this image - probably the grape leaves - and would love to have a pendant made from it with a lovely saying on the back side, wouldn't you? Just enter a saying/word/thought/quote for the back side and if your suggestion is the winning suggestion when we choose on Friday, you will win a necklace! 
It was a no brainer to decide on the winner this week - there were lots of good suggestions, but a real mermaid? So - the winner is... Mermaids of the Lake with the suggestion of "The Water's Fine. Wish you were here." Let me know what your mailing address is and I will send off your necklace. Notice the cute little pewter mermaid? Bonus!!
This week's pendant image is from an old postcard from Florida ~ one of those clubs where you could have a cocktail and watch mermaids swim in a giant aquarium behind the bar. But - these aren't mermaids....they have wings. and yellow tights. This is more like one of those bizarre dreams you have after eating too much pickled herring on New Years Eve...
Members of the Nebraska State Tourism Division, the Lincoln Visitor's Bureau, Snitily Carr Marketing and Seward County Visitor's Commission came out to Two Dog Pond as part of their first Seward County Familiarization Tour hosted by the Seward Chamber of Commerce. 
I was so nervous about them coming out that I forgot to turn on the oven to bake them some cookies -- it always takes longer that way. The Oatmeal~Craisin~Chocolate Chip Cookies were pretty ding-dang good... and a good way to distract the group from my nervousness.
Special thanks to Pat Coldiron for arranging the tour! The group also visited the Liberty House in Seward; Prairie Spirit, BC Town Square and the Hardware Store in Beaver Crossing; and Gatherings on the Blue in Milford.
This week's winner is T Lee with her entry of "My Friends Will Get It". Further proof that we all need to surround ourselves with the people that understand and love us despite of who we are or how we dress. So - out of curiousity, if you knew this guy was going to come to your party dressed like this, would you still invite him?
Yesterday, the most delightful family from Arizona and Nebraska came to visit The Shop at Two Dog Pond.
"The Shop at Two Dog Pond"
Rumple was jumping all over everyone the other night ~ especially my pregnant niece, Jackie. I thought perhaps a leash would be a good way to keep him down. He's never had one on before.
...at least he sat still for a photo...
He must have perceived the leash as a punishment because he immediately looked so sad.
I encouraged him to take a walk with me...
Have you ever seen anything so pitiful?
Here's a bizarre old postcard image - just perfect for a pendant!
In the words of Larry the Cable Guy "I don't care who you are, that's funny." This is funny. Very Funny. Funny with a capital F, Funny. Thank you to Danita Warren for this great pendant idea! Danita - send me your address {rachel@twodogpond.com} and I'll send you your winning Darwinistic Pendant.
He grew up to be the best dog ever. We'll miss you Reese.
1996-2009
