AND...I did almost all of the un-summer things you need to do like remove AC from windows, take in patio furniture, and take in potted plants...started the fall things like raking & pruning

Planning to insulate in the basement even, but that may fall by the wayside if anything interesting peaks around the corner :D

For something super fast
put a handful of baby spinach in your bowl
almost boil about 2 c water & remove from the heat
stir in a spoonful of your favorite miso paste
pour over spinach

Check that there isn't something stored in the oven already then turn on oven to 350deg F.
Find a roaster pan; there are several in the house of various sizes. The 9x9 "brownie" pan is good for most of the birds I buy. (Note for others out there: I usually buy small birds 3-4 lbs.) If you can't find it, the Corning Ware French White oval is good too. It is under the mixer.

Take one (unfrozen) chicken out of the grocery store wrapping over the sink (there will be water in the wrapper.)

If the bird is frozen * STOP * place chick chik back in fridge & make pasta.

Remove the paper baggie of "whatever-it-is" from the large hole. Put the gunk in a plastic baggie & put it in the meat drawer of the fridge.
While you're at the sink rinse off the bird ~ inside & out.
Take ONE paper towel and blot the bird after rinsing.
Salt, and pepper spices are kept right by the range. Salt and pepper the bird all over. Gently, Use maybe a spoonful of each of them. There is no correct exact amount.

Now, this is the tough part.
The breast of the bird is often considered the top. You can tell the breast side because the legs point up in the air on that side. OK?
Because it's not a party & we're not making a cookbook of amazing photos ~ cook the bird "upside" down.

Put the timer on for 80 minutes.
When the timer goes off, re-set it for 10 minutes and begin preparing your side dishes. Rice instructions are on the box. Frozen veg is a rinse in water in a large ramekin in the microwave.
When the timer goes off this time, very carefully, turn the bird over and cook for another 15 minutes.

Remove it from the over at that time. Take the bird out of the roasting pan and put it on the cutting board for 5 minutes before you try to cut it. It can sit longer if needed, just tent a piece of tin foil over it & shoo the cats away.

Keep rice covered; zap veggies for 2-3 minutes; I'll be home soon.

The extraordinary MFA hosted an exhibit of Art Nouveau Jewelry. So I had to go.

The MFA is one of the few major museums to have a curator specializing in Jewelry. How cool is that? Yvonne Markowitz is the MFA's curator of jewelry; she did a great thing in organizing the show. I especially appreciate that oriental influences, contemporaneous 2-d art, and some sculpture was also shown alongside to reinforce/illustrate the influences. The jewelry work shown was certainly of the zeitgeist of the time. The at the end of the handcrafted home~based artisan - at the beginning of the studio and design/manufacture decorative arts...Perhaps this is why there aren't more jewelry exhibits that can be associated with a movement? (I'll leave that hanging there, I'll have to think about it.)

The catalog includes additional influences, and the photography is wonderful. (I'm making some notes for myself) But I recommend you go and physically see. The front & back, the size and detail is best appreciated in person. The shear dazzle of a diamond flash on your retina.
There are articulated hairs on the damselfly legs! It would be unsurprising to find that she up and flew away. The serpents gave me a shiver. I hope they were intended to protect the wearer, and not a personality familiar, or personification.

Sebastian Smee in The Globe gave it a glowing review in words I can't compete with for elegance and wonder.

In the Torf Gallery until November 9. MFA for details

For Product Packaging I used to only use recycled kraft paper boxes. They are still easy enough to get, and I stamped them with my logo & wrapped them with a bow. Pretty, but not very zesty.

So I put on my creative hat, for a bit ~ did some on-line 'window' shopping, and tried out different boxes, and bags, and wrapped packages, and came up with the clear pillow box, bright zesty tissue paper, big confetti and ribbon. The mini bag is for goodies, coupons, a little customer gift and my contact info.

What do you think? If you have fun with your packaging post a link in the comments.

I lost some beads & of course, someone ordered them. It's actually crazy.
Every thing is placed in a bag, labeled ~ numbered with description ~ and placed in a container when I list it. If I relist something in my supply shop. I must have it in my hands prior to relisting,
Just to make sure my numbers didn't get mixed up.

I even asked StAnthony for help looking...Murphy's got them I'm sure. They will turn up right after the customer leaves bad feedback :(

Tall wedding band.

I like the thinner gauge profile and made some similar while I was at it. The longer seam was tougher to align, but I'll make more since it is a nice width for the square gems I have and for other structures.

Loooonnnnnggg quote.

It was terrifying, and got scarier as I went...what if I got distracted for a second & stamped the wrong letter?! ugh. I prepped two cuffs just in case. I like the text density on this and am considering offering the option it in my "zestyb" shop.

The patina can be applied, but sterling naturally reacts with the environment to develop a patina or tarnish over time. If you want to keep your piece bright, or maintain the high contrast in a piece of jewelry, I've compiled some suggestions for you.

There are a couple ways to keep sterling sparkling. Wearing your jewelry often is the best way to prevent tarnish from building up, but proper storage and cleaning are super helpful.
* Store each piece in an airtight plastic bag, tarnish resist bag or box with anti-tarnish paper. Exposure to air, light and humidity will encourage tarnish, so eliminate the environmental factors as mush as you can. (I include a strip of anti-tarnish paper in my jewelry orders. It is good for about a year.) Another benefit of storing your jewelry in individual bags is to reduce scratching ~ most metals & gemstones can be scratched over time.

* Try not to get any cleaning or make~up products on your gems & precious metals! Some of them can interact with the metals. You guessed it ~ discoloring or marking them. Chlorine from pools should be avoided. And of course for safety, you should remove jewelry when doing handy work, gardening, and other heavy physical work.

* Buff with a plain soft cotton cloth or a polishing cloth after wearing. Mild dish detergent and water is gentle enough for removing any heavy dirt. The jewelry specific cloths often have a cleaning compound embedded in the fiber. These are available at jewelry, grocery, large department and some hardware stores. ZestyBeads.etsy.com is another source.

* if you notice tarnish, start with gentle cleaning. Try the jewelry cloth first.

* I don't suggest coating/sealing or the silver polish solutions. Sealing can wear unevenly. Solutions are intended for silverware and leave residue on the surface. But if the coloring is deep, you can try an old home-made solution:
Hot tap water in an aluminum pan ~ add 1t salt & 2t baking soda and soak the ring for 10 minutes. Remove and dry throughly with a soft cotton cloth.

The big task is Watering ~ especially the containers. Picking is the other ~ thinning early fruit lets the later fruit get bigger. Lastly is checking that the bug & bird covers stay to cover the bushes and vines. For my couple hours of work I'll earn berries, tomatoes, squash, eggyplant, peppers ~ oh ~ all manner of produce.

Feeding "Princess" the 18 lb cat is also on the list. She is so lovely dovey when you open the can of food...but if you take too long to scoop she whips out the dreaded double paw claws of pain. I planned & escaped the prod, but was very sure to put on my long sleeves when it came time to return her to the basement.

PostCrossing lets you receive postcards from around the globe ~ just for sending them out!

Pick up some good cards from your town, Art museum, local attraction ~ anything you like really! Pick out a few. Purchase some stamps ~ local if you want and international. Go to the web site and after you sign up, Request an address. PostCrossing emails you an address of some new friend and a special code that identifies your card.
Some folks have little bios & suggestions for a postcard they'd like. Write them note & mail it off.

Now the good part happens; When your card is received that special code is registered.
Your name is now at the top of the list to receive a post card!

You will get a post card from someone else ~ another new friend! ~ and so you go to the web site to register their card. (now they are at the top of the list ~ round & round.)

The site lets you sign up for 5 at a time, local & international options, link to your blog & give a little bio. There are even a few different flickr group/communities to share your cards.

Such a small nice thing ~ a reason to look forward to the mail.

You can indulge once in a while. This is one of my indulgences.

I inherited a post card collection.
My grandfather started it; my dad organized and added to it.
There are examples from every state, most of Canada, and Mexico, some from countries that don't exist any more. French post cards, penny post cards, and the travel cards from trans-Atlantic crossings are there. Artist Show announcements, musical events flyers, and tourist attraction postcard books are included. It is a smörgåsbord of post cards.

I wanted to be able to contribute to the collection, with more than just the reminders to visit the vet. I was at bit of a loss, people don't seem to send them much anymore, even if you ask them; I could send cards to myself ~ which seemed wrong...or at least just weird.

A colleague suggested PostCrossing, and I looked into it. It is perfect! you send cards and you get cards. I"ll show you how tomorrow.

TTFN!

But not in titanium.
Titanium is lovely. It's dark gray, but lighter colored than graphite. It's light and doesn't scar easily, so perfect for something worn everyday like a wedding band.
Why not? well Titanium cannot be soldered with any of the tools in the Zesty Betsy studio - it needs higher temperatures, vacuum or lasers, and nasty acids for cleaning off oxides ; nor do I have the bigger drill bits/press needed to make rings.

I'm still learning so much about copper, silver & gold. So, while I've worked with titanium findings, glorifying pieces, and incorporating it into some designs... Custom orders are limited to the metals I can work and source readily.

What would you try?

IF it can make it in my yard, under my lack of care...it will make it anywhere. I'm interested in having pretty plantings, and yummy fruits & veggies. I am, really. It's just too hot for me to be really working out there after Memorial Day.

Anyone interested in DayLilies? Oregano? maybe some maple weeds?