Spectacular Earrings

These earrings are good for the Fourth of July, but they are getting kind of old and not as brilliant, so I could really stand to get some new ones. I also have these flag earrings and several stars that also work for the occasion. Have a safe and happy Independence Day!

Origami Earrings

Although it is Canada Day and I am actually wearing maple leaf earrings, today's post is a lovely pair of origami crane earrings that I received just now in the mail as a surprise from a friend.

I am also kinda surprised I hadn't made myself some origami earrings by now. When I was in college, a roommate once brought to me as a souvenir from Germany a book about the Japanese art of origami. Folding paper into 3D shapes is hard enough to learn when the diagrams are in 2D, but it's even harder when the instructions are in a foreign language.

Nevertheless, I now habitually make lotus flower coasters out of napkins and fold beer labels into cranes while sitting at the bar. I do it absent-mindedly, hardly thinking about it, but it's a good way to keep track of how many beers I've had.

Thanks for my newest pair of earrings, Amy! How cool!

Dad's Day Do-dads

These are my Father's Day earrings.

Flag Day Earrings

Happy Flag Day! Also, happy birthday to my husband's other wife, the Army.

Defending Your Freedom While I Do His Chores

Ok, I'll say it. Sometimes, as the spouse of an Army Reservist, I really don't feel like "supporting our troops." Sometimes, I get a little irritated that I have to do his chores while he goes off to school for three or six weeks or to jump out of perfectly functioning aircraft for the weekend or to see the other wife I'm convinced he has. In "Honduras." Sometimes I think I will strangle the next person who asks me where my husband is when I get bored enough to venture out of the house socially on my own for the thirty-dozenth time.

I know, I know. I'm supposed to think, "At least he's not deployed." Which is true. If nothing else, being a military spouse will teach you not to take things for granted. Although, for all I know, maybe they really did send him to another country. How would I really know? Sure, he said he was driving past the Gaffney peach on his way to jump school, but where was the photo?

They say art makes good therapy, so out of frustration, I made these little stickers, which I printed onto label paper in order to then stick onto some badges I have lying around the house. Perhaps I will make a t-shirt someday.

The Marjito

A triumph! Another in my collection of purple cocktails featuring Marie Brizard Parfait Amour, a liqueur that is purple but tastes like orange. This one, of course, is a spin on the Mojito. I used fresh mint from my brother's garden.

Cheers!





The Marjito
1 oz. white Rum
1 oz. Marie Brizard Parfait Amour
1 oz. fresh-squeezed lime juice (about one lime)
1 oz. soda water (Seltzer)
1 tsp powdered sugar
3-4 mint leaves (muddled)
Another sprig of mint for garnish
Crushed ice

Take 3 or 4 mint leaves and muddle them (bruise them with a muddle or the end of a spoon or something) with powdered sugar and about half the rum. Pour into tall highball glass. Add the rest of the rum, Parfait Amour, lime juice, and soda water. Fill rest of the glass with crushed ice. (You can use a blender to crush ice cubes.) Stir, stir, stir! Add another sprig of mint for garnish.

Salut!

Hang in There

A good card to send to deployed Airborne soldiers and/or their spouses, family, and friends. Deployment sucks.

Moms Like Jewelry

These are my Mother's Day earrings. They were actually meant to be some sort of gift tag.

First Saturday in May

I like to wear these saddles in honor of the Kentucky Derby, but should you run across some mint julep earrings, I'd be happy to have a pair of those, too.

May the Fifth Be With You!

A print-and-fold card for Cinco de Mayo.

And Also With You

These are my first Star Wars earrings, although I've had Star Wars necklaces since the 70s. I suspect someone made these from Pez dispensers.

May the Fourth be with you!

Coming Out Earrings

Happy Pagan Coming Out Day! I picked up these earrings in Manitou Springs, Colorado. I think they look like witch hats and will add them to my subcollection of Halloween earrings.