Here is a before and after photo of our backyard after Tennessee Valley Authority has cut down our 100+ year old oak trees, leaving holes in the yard and killing the grass.

Tennessee Valley Authority Should Be Shut Down!

At this very moment, our neighborhood is being destroyed by Tennessee Valley Authority. There is a transmission line easement through our backyards and has been since 1942. All of us who live here were aware of the easement when we bought our homes. Every 5 years or so, TVA would send reps out to check the vegetation growing near the lines and they would ask us to trim our trees. We have oak trees that are over 100 years old in our backyard, as do many of our neighbors. We have always complied with their requests and have enjoyed the shade and privacy our trees and shrubs have provided us. That has changed. In June, we were informed that TVA is clear cutting along their easement. That means that no vegetation that has the potential to grow over 6 feet tall will be allowed under the transmission lines. Nothing that can grow over 15 feet tall will be allowed along the remainder of the 75 foot easement. The reality is that they will cut down anything they want to. We are losing 4 massive oak trees that are between 60 and 70 feet away from the lines, dogwood trees, crape myrtles and a dwarf butterfly bush. Our neighbors are losing or have already lost sycamores, oaks, maples, bradford pears many shrubs. One neighbor's wood fence was cut and shoddily repaired after his trees were cut down. They don't care and don't think they owe us anything. These crews come in at 6:15 AM and start getting their chainsaws ready to destroy. They have cut down trees that were previously tagged by their "Specialists", but they have cut down a dwarf butterfly bush in our backyard that wasn't tagged. We have been lied to and disrespected by these "Specialists". Whenever we ask questions, they give us scripted replies, that have nothing to do with the questions asked. We have talked to 4 groups of 2 reps at different times, and they recited their scripts each time. We heard them so many times, that we were able to recite along with them. TVA has a presence in 7 southern states. They claim our electric rates are lower, but that remains to be seen. TVA is not environmentally friendly. TVA still operates coal fired plants. They are not replacing "unacceptable" vegetation with "acceptable" vegetation, they are just destroying millions of trees and causing erosion and air pollution. They have several nuclear power plants that were scrapped or deemed unsafe and abandoned. Now, they are wasting millions on this destructive clear-cutting along their transmission lines. TVA has a deficit in excess of $25 BILLION dollars, yet Washington keeps pumping more into this monster. We should all be protesting to our Congressmen and Senators to stop this waste of our tax dollars. Even though TVA operates only in the south, everyone in the USA is paying for TVA's waste. President Obama wanted to shut TVA down and privatize it. He should! TVA SUCKS!

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Special!

I am having a special in my ArtFire shop (GlassFancy)for Black Friday/Cyber Monday. From Friday, November 23rd through Monday, November 26th, free shipping on all jewelry. This special is only on my jewelry section. Lots of fused glass pendants! Some are Christmas themes, some dichroic glass, millefiori, decals. http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/GlassFancy/1/7/11707//

Goodbye Ruby Tuesday!

Just got back from Ruby Tuesday. It is really disappointing to see how they have gone downhill. Their $5 drinks now come in on the rocks glasses (yet the menu shows them in tall glasses) and we got a big plate with two tiny little turds of cold dried up biscuits on it. We didn't eat them. Our plates had no garnishes, so my crab cake looked very lonely on that big old plate all by itself. The crab cake didn't slide off the plate because it was stuck on the plate with the remoulade sauce. Very appetizing! My husband ordered a fried shrimp plate and what he got was the shrimp and a baked potato on a big plate. Very plain and unappealing. They were cleaning 3 tables beside us when we came in, but left all the trash on the floor. Nice looking at a shrimp tail and various sugar packets, skewers and straws getting stepped on while we ate. Not worth it even with a coupon. We noticed that the restaurant was not even half full, a far cry from what it was two years ago. Sad that they ruined it by being stingy and cheap. Goodbye Ruby Tuesday.....

I am enjoying having a kiln. Fusing glass is addictive! These pendants are available in either my Etsy or ArtFire shops (links in the left hand column).

So Long, 2011!

I sit here, wondering when I will take down the Christmas tree and decorations. But, there's no time limit, so it will get done when it gets done. I no longer make New Year's resolutions, I make revelations. I realized that I was always pushing myself and staying in a rush for no good reason. No more of that.

There were a couple of nice changes in 2011. We adopted a young male lab/pointer mix as a companion for Gremlin. They are inseparable now and sleep in the same bed much of the time. He has ended up being more like a moose than a dog and eats like one, too.

I also bought a glass kiln. I wanted to move away from stained glass, into glass fusing. So far, I have slumped wine bottles. My next project will be fused glass pendants. I'm ready to learn!

Recycling Bottles

I bought a kiln this year. I will eventually be fusing glass, but at the recommendation of some of my fusing friends, I have started out slumping wine, beer and liquor bottles. The are really cool! They can be used as snack or cheese trays and beer bottles make good spoon rests.

It has helped me familiarize myself with the kiln. I know that it's going to take 5 hours for the program to run from start to finish. The hardest part is waiting for the kiln to completely cool down so the glass is room temperature. Have to wait until the next morning.

I guess the neighbors think we are lushes, there are boxes of bottles people have saved for us in the garage. The laundry room looks like a liquor store with cases of bottles stacked. At any rate, I'm having fun!

Nashville Zombie Walk 2011

Parrot Panel Installed!

I finally finished the parrot panel and it has been installed. It is the focal point of a bathroom in Kentucky. The beautiful glass looks great day and night. This was my final leaded panel, and I am proud of the way it turned out. I painted the parrots' facial features on the glass on both sides. They would have been such tiny pieces of glass, and would have been lost if leaded. The beak of the 2nd parrot is a foiled overlay onto the window. It gives some depth and dimension to the panel.

My next project will be with glass fusing. I just bought my first kiln and although I have a lot to learn about fusing, I am excited about trying something new. I will still make stained glass suncatchers and do some mosaics.

SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS!

On my way home this morning, I saw two dead kittens who had been hit by cars on a remote stretch of road, where they had evidently been dropped. They looked to be no more than 3 months old. It breaks my heart that these little guys never had a chance. I only hope there aren't litter mates still nearby having to fend for themselves.

I get angry when I see abandoned animals. There is no excuse for it. There are low-cost spay and neuter clinics available. All one has to do is call their local Humane Association or animal shelter. In Tennessee, there are several mobile clinics that travel to neighboring counties, as requested. If one can show need, it can be done free of charge.

It is unbelievable how many dogs and cats are being abandoned today. Whole litters of puppies and kittens turned out. Pregnant, old, young, large and small. Even more are being euthanized because the shelters are full. There is no need to bring more animals into the world when there are so many available for adoption. The 3 little girls in the photo are waiting for a home. They were abandoned.

Please, spay and neuter your pets!

Parrot Panel Progress

I got caught up from my trip and found some time to work on the parrot panel. I got one parrot leaded, which is a little tedious. Pictures help me keep up with my daily progress.

Traveling With A Pit Bull

I just got back from visiting my youngest son and took my pit bull, Gremlin with me. Her experiences with riding in the car had previously been to the vet or the lake. I was a little nervous about the 2 hour trip and staying away from home for several days. My worries were unfounded. She had the entire back seat of my car to herself, didn't mind being tethered to the seat belt and slept or watched the traffic during the trip. She was the perfect house guest. She didn't mind when we went out and left her alone in the house and didn't bother anything. I am very proud of her.

I took her because I wanted her to meet a 9 month old lab mix named Smokey. He was abandoned at a drive in market when he was just a few weeks old. I saw him last August when he was about 8 weeks old. Boy, has he grown! I think he's a horse pretending to be a dog. He needs some training, but he is sweet and eager to please. He and Gremlin had a ball together, but she wasn't used to playing with a dog bigger than she is. She needs a dog friend and Smokey will be a great playmate. He will be coming to live with us in April.

I still get angry when I hear another "all pit bulls are bad" story. I own a pit bull. I know what they are like, how they behave and how smart they are. Pits love people. Our veterinarian says Gremlin is a perfect example of what a pit bull can be when loved and treated well. I think I will always have a pit bull, now that I live with one. They are remarkable dogs and great companions.

Love Catchers

I have a friend, Su who has a delightfully creative mind. She comes up with some of the coolest glass creations. She sells her glasswork as Squidglass on ArtFire and Etsy.

Her latest endeavors are fused glass hearts that look like mesh, like they came out of a waffle iron. Now, as I understand it, these are very special hearts. They are love catchers and they capture love and good vibes, but let the heartaches go right on through. Very magical hearts, these are. They come in black, blue, pink and for you traditionalists, red.

I know I love mine!

Granite

One of my boys works with granite. They fabricate and install granite countertops, backsplashes, fireplace hearths and surrounds and windowsills. The company has weathered the economic slump, but it was rough.

Looking at the growing pile of scrap granite, my son decided to use the sink cut-outs for cutting boards and trivets. Since I already sell my stained glass online, I listed some of his cutting boards in my ArtFire shop. Some are 8 inch square, some are 12 inch and there is a 4 inch trivet. Each one is 3/4" to 1 inch thick and all have plastic or felt "feet". They are heavy and the weight makes shipping out of the US too expensive. They are only available in the continental US and are shipped in Priority Mail boxes. My ArtFire shop is www.artfire.com/users/GlassFancy

I have had one of these cutting boards in my kitchen for awhile and absolutely love it. It's not going to scoot around and is going to last forever. I have another that I use under a large planter, to keep it off the carpet. Works great and looks nice! Recycling these granite scraps is a great idea.

Made Up My Mind

After thinking about and considering my alternatives, I have decided to cut back on my stained glass work. I will be concentrating more on the mosaics. For the past year, I have been having problems with arthritis in my hands. Some days I can barely make a fist and the affected fingers ache like they've been whacked with a hammer. It is especially bad in the winter after I've been out in the cold. Foiling glass is almost impossible when my hands are stiff and I am not satisfied with anything but my best.

I will still make my 3D butterfly plant stakes and some of the snowflakes with the bevels. No more small suncatchers with tiny pieces and absolutely nothing with foiled marbles or glass nuggets. My thumbs hurt just thinking about foiling a marble!

At first, I was disappointed. Then I was angry that the only joints with arthritis are in my hands. I wasn't ready to admit it was time to move on to something I could manage. I'll admit I haven't made much for about a year. But, I'm ready to move on and take another direction.

I have completed the pattern for a stained glass panel for a friend's birthday in March. It's two parrots in the jungle and will look great in his bathroom window. Sort of my last hurrah in stained glass.

Merry Christmas!

Goodbye, Briley

On Christmas Eve, fourteen years ago, some cold-hearted, sorry excuse of a man tossed a 6 month old puppy out of his truck, onto the median of Briley Parkway and drove off. My brother happened to see it happen and quickly stopped and grabbed the puppy and took him to my parents' house. This little guy was appropriately named Briley. He looked like a miniature golden retriever, was very scared and shy. He was terrified of the broom and of men in uniforms. He seemed to be content and loved to chase tennis balls in the backyard. He stayed with my parents for 4 years, until my mother passed away in 2000. I took him home with me when my father sold the house.

Briley adapted well to becoming an indoor dog after spending 4 years outdoors. Of course, he needed a bath if he was going to stay inside. He quickly learned that baths made him feel good, so he would hop into the bathtub for me. After he was dried and brushed, he went to the cabinet where his treats were. He always knew when he had been good.

He was my constant companion. He followed me around the house, standing guard at night at the foot of the bed. He watched from the deck as I cut the grass. He loved walking around the block and pranced with his chest out and head held high. He was so grateful and happy.

Four years ago we noticed he was slowing down a bit and sleeping a lot more. My husband brought home a stray 6 month old American pit bull puppy that had showed up at his workplace. Briley was intrigued, and quickly decided he wanted to impress this little girl. He showed Gremlin the ropes and they became fast friends. They were always together, exploring the backyard, napping on the deck, play wrestling. She was just what he needed to perk him up and get him moving again. Age finally caught up with him this past year.


Almost deaf, going blind, arthritis so bad he could no longer navigate stairs, Briley was struggling to do anything. He tried so hard, and it was hard to watch. For all the love and companionship he gave us, we owed him a peaceful, dignified end. It would be selfish to allow him to get worse, maybe suffer pain. My heart is broken, but my sweet little guy is at peace. It was the last thing I could do for him.

Bobtail Babies!

It's been a year since I began volunteering with New Leash On Life and helping take care of the cats up for adoption at PetSmart in Providence Place. I've even adopted Sabrina, a beautiful black cat.

One of the other volunteers recently found a pregnant female cat and her 6 kittens abandoned on the side of a busy road. They came right up to her so she took them home. She took them to the vet, had them check out and all have been spayed and neutered. The kittens are 5 months old and all but one have bobtails. The mother is also a bobtail. I am fostering 2, actually 1 because I'm keeping Bubby, the grey/black tabby. Dawn (who found the kittens) and I are being picky about who gets these little guys. There will be no charge for them, but they must be kept indoors.

Bubby and Milo, who is white with a grey striped patch on his head, have been here for a week and a half and are just adorable. No trouble at all, they are very well mannered. I took them for their booster shot yesterday and both weigh 6 pounds. I may end up keeping Milo if he's not adopted soon. UPDATE: I'm keeping Milo too, and his new name is Bunny!

I have to wonder what kind of a person would abandon a cat and kittens beside a busy road. Do they sleep at night?

Briley, the old guy.

Briley is getting old. He is 14 years old. He had a close call this past week. I thought he had a stroke because he couldn't get up and kept leaning to the left. I had to help him walk by holding him up with a towel under his midsection. He has always stayed near me and was still trying to follow me around in the house. His eyes jerked back and forth all the time and his head swayed even when he was laying down. I took him to the vet yesterday expecting to be told it was time to put him to sleep. I had tried to tell myself I had to let him go.

Briley is still with us today. The vet asked if he was still eating and relieving himself, and said we ought to give the old guy a chance. Briley is suffering from vestibular syndrome, which is a common ailment in old dogs. Dr. McCormick said it's like being on a carnival ride, spinning round and round, without stopping. We're trying him on medication for 5 days.

This morning, Briley's eyes are not jerking back and forth. He is still wobbly and needs to be carried down the steps. I had to hold him up with the towel while he peed. He stood on his own while he ate and got up to get a drink of water by himself. Right now, he is in his usual spot beside me. He is able to lay down comfortably and actually sleep.

I am grateful that Briley is still here. Making the decision to euthanize a beloved pet is one I hope I never have to make again. Briley had a rough start in life. He was rescued by my brother as a six month old puppy tossed from a truck on a busy highway. My parents had him for 4 years, until my mother passed away. I brought Briley home with me and he went from being an outside dog to living indoors. He made the transition very easily.

Briley has been my guardian and companion for the last 10 years. He has always protected me from male strangers, but loves women. He sleeps in his bed near my bed. He has always been eager to please and seems so grateful for the attention. Wherever I go, he is shadowing me. I will never be ready to let him go, but when it is his time, I hope he goes peacefully in his sleep.

The Bluebird House

We've always had bluebirds passing through the neighborhood. I've seen them waiting on the phone lines to fly down and catch insects stirred up by lawn mowers. Last year we put up a bluebird house at the back of the property line. We mounted the cedar house on an aluminum fence post to keep squirrels from climbing it. The only thing that tried to nest in it was the house sparrows. I did see a bluebird go inside, but no nest.

This spring I cleaned out the trash the sparrows brought in almost daily, until last week. I opened the nest box and noticed a neat nest constructed of pine needles from my garden. I kept my eye out to see what kind of bird was building this nest and soon saw a bluebird with a mouthful of pine needles lighting on the box. Another quickly lit on the top of the nest box. They are fiercely guarding their nest. A bluejay lit on the top and was attacked by the bluebird pair.

As I sat on the deck watching the pair yesterday, one dove from the oak tree to hover directly in front of me. I noticed a big caterpillar on the railing and moved it a little farther away from me. The bluebird came back and grabbed the caterpillar.

Just now I saw her fly into the next box with pine needles and now he is standing guard on top of the box. I hope they succeed!