A Beautiful New Year

Happy New Year everyone. I know I'm a few weeks late but I want to send love to all anyway. I have just experienced a wonderful two weeks traveling. John was attending a conference in Las Vegas for 1 1/2 weeks so I accompanied him. We took the Airstream and stayed out at the RV lodging at Nellis AFB. It was a beautiful facility. We also had the pleasure of meeting up with one of John's AFA classmates, Allan Herzberg. We'd seen him at the reunion in November but before that it had been years---lots of catching up. He's single so I think he enjoyed the companionship and the meals. He told me he usually eats box dinners-yuk...

Anyway, while John was conducting business during the daytime, I spent my time researching and reading up on silversmithing and jewelry design. It was an opportune time for me to just "chill out" and re-group after the holidays. I really was able to relax and reflect. I took the time to realize just how fortunate I am and what a wonderful life I've been living. I became so filled with enthusiasm and excitement that I thought I was going to burst right on the spot. I spend hours sketching and thinking about pieces of jewelry I want to create.....I am so happy to be home again and back in my studio that I could just scream with delight - maybe I will (no one in this neighborhood would hear me anyway-tee hee).

So my little chickadees-love to all and take the time to thank God for the gifts you've been given and use them to make him proud. Off to pour a cup of tea and get busy....yippee!!!! Hugs and love, Sal

God Bless America and all of Her Beauty

I can't believe it has been over a month since my last post. Believe it or not there is a reason and I will try to update you on our happenings of late.

We took off in the Airstream on September 8, destination of the day was Canyon de Chelly. What a magnificient canyon. We set up camp and proceeded to take the driving tour and enjoy the numerous spectacular viewpoints above the canyon floor. The sun was beginning to set and the reflections of the shadows off the geological wonders was very spiritual. The national monuent, which actually includes Canyon del Muerto, Monument Canyon, and Canyon de Chelly (pronounced - Canyon de shay), has housed people for more than 1,500 years. Numerous pictographs, petroglyphs, and ruins tell the tales of the people who once made their homes their. The style of living has changed from the circular pit houses of the Basket Makers to the cliff dwellings of the Anasazi and Pueblos to the hogans of the Navajo (who first came here in the 1700's), but the regard for the cliffs as a spiritual place has always remained true.

One of my favorite sights was the Spider Rock, an 800 foot spire said to be the home of "Spider Woman".

These beautiful words are on a pedestal overlooking Spider Rock:

"...with beauty all around me, I wait.....

Navajo Night Chant

Listen

Smell the pungent juniper.

Feel the gentle power of beauty.

Ancient Black Rock hunches on

the distant horizon.

A dark cloud above means rain

will soon be upon us.

The awesome monolith at your feet is Tse No ashjee ii - Spider

Rock. Holy Spider Woman is an

important deeity in Navajo

mythology. It was she who taught

the People how to weave.

There is purity and strength here.

And places sacred to the people.

Places strong in the oneness of

earth and sky and of all things.

"I am indeed its child

Absolutely I am earth's child."

Navajo Song of the Earth.

It makes me smile just to remember this beautiful day. If you haven't had the priviledge of a visit to this monument, you need to schedule one.....It is one of many of our wonderous treasures to behold.

Off to work in my studio today so I will sign off for now. Hugs to all and it's good to be back.

I almost forgot to tell you about my experience at the Visitor's Center at Chelly. There is a Navajo silversmith who has worked creating his beautiful wares at the center for over 35 years. He spent quite a bit of time with me and showed me his hand made stamps, the tree stump that he has used forever to form his metal and many tricks of the trade. He was such a delightful man and I really wanted to spend more time with him. I might just go back there some day to soak up some more of his expertise.....there is so much to learn and so little time to study....Enjoy the moment!

Oh, It has been so long my friends

It has been so long since my last blog. I don't know where life goes some times. We have been so busy with this house renovation that we haven't had time for ourselves. I will attach the pictures of the finished product tomorrow and you will know why we are so elated!!!

I joined the White Mountain Women's Group last month and have been very busy ever since. We are preparing for our annual Fall Home and Garden Tour along with a wonderful boutique and bake sale. As everyone knows - if you want to give to others, it takes time and effort. I love it.

We (John and I) are preparing to depart on Tuesday, 9/8, for a month long trip in our Airstream trailer. We are going to trip through Utah, Montana, Idaho and back home to Arizona. I will be doing a daily post of our activities. We are going to Idaho to visit friends and relatives that I have not seen in many year - too many. I can't wait.

It is getting late so my salutation to you is this - cheers my dears and enjoy life as it is the biggest thing we have going at the time!!.. Love

Hello Out There

Wow, I can't believe I haven't blogged since May 15th. It has been a busy summer and I am having a great time. I just returned from a wonderful trip to Idaho where I attended the wedding of my cousin. It was in a beautiful setting at a resort ranch, Wildhorse Creek Ranch in MacKay, Idaho. I was also able to spend some quality time with some of my cousins that I hadn't seen in almost 18 years, Where does time go? We all agreed that we would do better at keeping in touch with each other and even spoke about organizing a Wallace family reunion next year. It will be such fun getting this generation and our children/grandchildren together - some for the first time. Unfortunately, since the last Wallace reunion in 1990, we've lost many of our parents, aunts and uncles. We miss them terribly but will always remember them with big smiles. The Wallace family is always full of smiles and laughter so I look forward to getting this reunion on the road. I also spent time with my best friend from high school and the maid of honor at my wedding, Joanne. We never seem to change and I think that is about as good as it gets. She drove me all around Boise and I was able to take pictures of my previous homes - they looked as good as ever too. John and I are planning a road trip in our Airstream in August to go back to Idaho and enjoy the great outdoors it has to offer.

We've been very busy with the Pinetop house renovations this summer. John has been working right along with the contractors on the new decks, patios and stonework on the front of the garage areas. It is beautiful and we will be enjoying it for many years to come - soon. He has no trouble keeping right up with the 30 year olds so that makes him smile alot.






I had a terrific garage sale recently and made enough to purchase my last 2 big tools I've wanted for a long time - a Foredom Flexshaft Power Tool and a Smith Little Torch unit for soldering. Now I need to get busy and create some wonderful pieces of jewelry from all of this luxury. Can't wait.

I'd better sign off for now but it feels good to be back. Hugs and good soldering to all of my silversmithing friends and hugs to all. Sally

Packing....Packing....Packing

Gads, it's been a while since I've blogged. I have been very busy packing for several trips. I'm leaving tomorrow for NYC/DC for 3 weeks to visit family and friends. Carolyn of Autumn Leaves and I are hoping to get together and do a Vlog for everyone. Should be fun. I return from that trip on 4/25 and pack for the next trip which will be to San Carlos, Mexico for a week. We have friends coming from Ohio, AZ and Ga to join us. This has become an annual ritual and we always have a great time - who wouldn't with margaritas flowing all day??? As soon as we return from Mexico, we head for the White Mountains of Arizona for the summer. Then I should be in place for the entire summer - no more trips. Oops, I forgot that we are taking our Airstream trailer on a trip in July to attend a cousins wedding in Idaho. It will be wonderful to reconnect with family that I haven't seen in several years. I yearn for the days when families lived near each other and could visit often. I'd better tend to the washer and dryer now or I won't have any clothes to pack. Until next time, have a great week and hopefully, soon the pollen will settle down and we can all breathe again. Cheers, Sally P.S. Some people are telling me that when they visit this blog and try to leave a comment, they getted knocked off. If this happens to you please email me and let me know so I can research the issue www.thebearaffair@cox.net