Can you widget?

What is a widget, and what does that have to do with beads? From what I can tell a widget is an ad on to your blog that works in some mysterious way to link your blog to a set of photos or something else. I have tried to use a widget here on this site. I am trying to link some of the items from my etsy store to this blog, and I can't make it happen. I'm sure that I am doing something wrong. I copy the what I am told to copy and I put it into the html. I am told that it won't work because the widget information is not done right. All I did was copy! Hmn-m-m-m! I'm going to paste the widget here and see what happens. Here we go.

Etsy Buy Handmade rosebud101

I don't believe it! It worked! It was an accident for me! I guess I did something right, but I don't know what. It worked!
I still don't know what a widget really is. I only know that this time, it worked! Now, my beads are linked here, and I have a widget, a real widget! Wow! I'm going to have to do that more often! I wonder what else I can widget? Is widget a verb?

I've Got to Clean my Closet!

But I'd much rather be making beads! It's that time of year when it's important to recycle and discard the old to make way for the new and other seasonal items in my closet. I know I have to do this, but I'd much rather be making beads! This morning I made beads. I looked at my kiln when I was finished, and there were hardly any beads in it, even though I worked for 2 3/4 hours. Then I realized one bead, an encased floral bead, took almost 1 hour by itself. It's still in the kiln, cooling right now. I can't look at it yet. But I can hardly wait. I have to clean my closet, though. It's a tough choice to make because I know what I'd rather be doing, and I know what I have to do.
If I go downstairs to look at my beads, I know that I'll turn on the torch. If I turn on the torch, I have to make beads. I guess that I have to clean the closet. Can it wait until tomorrow? Not really. But I want to wait until tomorrow. Maybe? No, I have to be strong. I have to clean my closet now. Maybe I can post some photos of beads. That would be all right, but it's still not making beads.

It's March 31st, and, here in Minnesota, it's still snowing! This morning, when I got up, there was no snow. I was happy with that thinking the predicted snow had missed us! Then, about 8 AM, it started to snow heavily. It's still snowing! I can't believe this. The robins are back, and we are covered with snow instead of beautiful spring flowers and green grass. What happened to spring? I don't know. I wish it came back.

On a more cheerful note, our LEST team on ETSY is having a sale beginning tomorrow. Check out our stores for more details.

The Robins are Back!

This post has nothing to do with beads or bead making, or maybe it does. I'm not sure. This winter has been one of the longest winters I can remember in Minnesota. It doesn't want to go away. It's been more of a typical Minnesota winter. It's been cold. It's snowed a lot. It's been somewhat icy. It's been going on FOREVER! I've waited and waited for the first sign of spring. There have been teaser days, when the temps got up into the high 30's and low 40's, only to have the cold and snow return with a vengeance. March is our heaviest snow month. I keep reminding myself of that as I look at the forecast for tonight and tomorrow. Snow, snow, and more snow! Today, it warmed up into the low 40's. It was warm enough for me to take my dog for a walk. I wore a heavy sweater and no coat. Even with the little bit of wind I felt, I was comfortable. We walked our mile, and as we approached the half way point in our mile, I saw them! There were at least 10 robins in the park on the lawn! That is truly the first real sign of spring for me. The robins came back! Now, when I make beads, I know that there will be more sun. The days won't be as cold. I won't freeze when I go outside to turn on my propane. The days might even warm up enough to leave a window open when I torch. As I look out into my backyard, I'll see birds flying and hear them chirping. Now, I might enjoy the days as I torch. Maybe, my beads will reflect that. Indirectly, this blog is about beads. More importantly, the robins are back!

My Dog, My Beads, and Me

No where is it written that you cannot find inspiration in those you love. As I sit writing this blog, I am becoming more and more inspired to find some way to express my creativity in my beads. My dog is here with me demanding attention. He is a very neat dog. He is very tidy. He has his toys in a corner in front of my desk. When he sees me at the computer, he comes in and puts a toy in my lap. If I ignore him, he puts another toy in my lap. If I throw the toy for him to fetch, he looks at me with a face that says, "You've got to be kidding! I'm not going to get that toy. If you want it, you go and get it." Then the cycle begins again. Toy. Toy. Throw toy. Toy. Toy. Throw toy, until I decide I had better do something creative with my time. He is my inspiration. Instead of wasting my valuable creative time sitting at a computer and posting beads for sale, I am inspired to light up my torch, clean beads, or make jewelry. Yes, I love my dog. He is my inspiration. Oh, oh, toy, toy, throw. I'm off to clean beads.