Return of the Night-blooming Cereus

Saturday night-Sunday morning bud just before opening

I love how the bud changes from so solid to looking quite hollow just as it begins to open

The lower bud opened Friday night and I missed it.
But it has held up post bloom due, I think, to cooler than normal temperatures

Flash photos made Saturday night as the buds began to open.

Collage of night images made with a flash as the current buds are opening.

It's that special time of year again. Time for my alien cacti from Tuscon to produce their annual flowers.

Last year, I posted about these special blooms, each open only for one night, that these special cacti create. And also last year, I created the music, video and photo collage about these amazing plants featuring music by my niece.

I don't know what I did different this year, except maybe some extreme benign neglect, because both of my plants have serious multiple buds-not just two or three. And tonight, two blooms are opening on one plant at the same time.

This year, it's been difficult to photograph because I hauled them out to the campground. Blooming on the deck at my house meant they were out of sight and out of mind. Here, in spite of unseemly 45 degree weather, we are keeping watch. However, trying to snap flash photos when all that shows through the viewfinder is pure solid black....until the flash goes off....is quite impossible, really. OK, so it illustrates the event, but the quality of the photos, on all levels, isn't up to par. But enjoy, anyway, this special annual plant happening! Happy Labor Day!

News & Notes

Open Heart Pendant, 2009 (sold)

new Open Heart earrings to coordinate with pendant
private commission

Lots of things are always happening here at the old WillOaks Campground and last week included quite a nice surprise. My jewelry business rarely intersects with my campground duties, but a couple of campers (& friends) who had stayed with us last year showed up. They had purchased a couple of my one-of-a-kind neck pieces last year and decided that coordinated earrings were going to be their next order.

I really enjoyed seeing my older piece again. The "Open Heart" pendant was a part of a larger series of pieces that I had made in early 2009 and it was challenging, but a lot of fun, to create this pair of earrings to go with it.

With Fall coming, my Made With Silk line will soon feature richer, darker colors

Mille fiori (thousand flower) glass is a personal favorite that I've used different ways in my
pieces and this fall, a new bracelet features this mixed with bright crystals in multi-colors

My friend also decided to pick up some new pieces to wear this fall and winter. Above is a coordinated long silk and pearl piece, in shades of dark blue, with coordinated earrings. A cuff style bracelet in colorful Mille Fiori glass that's been strung on fine black leather is a piece she chose to add for just that welcome shot of bright color during the shorter, darker days coming now. I've just finished coordinated earrings that will be mailed to her tomorrow.

And then, I asked her to model a few of my other new pieces for photos, including this new bracelet in red and black that I call "Wild Thing." I showed this piece in last week's Wordless Wednesday all stretched out and it's posted in my shop now.

So just a few other quick notes regarding my Wordless Wednesday post yesterday. Yes, I have driven the Ford tractor that I showed, Grace. I bought it about 6 years ago from a local guy who is very good at fixing and restoring these "antique" but working machines. But the reason it's all cleaned up for this photo is it's going up for sale. You see, we just bought a bigger, more powerful Massey Ferguson tractor, slightly younger (1966) with a Front Loader, which will be a huge addition to what we can do around the farm as far as improvements go.

And the drawing I showed yesterday was by my young nephew who visited me, together with his little sister, over the past weekend/early week. The campground is such a fun place for kids that I was pleased and surprised when these two slowed down enough to really get into using their art supplies. And I was very happy with the pieces they made to leave with Aunt Karen!

Wordless Wednesday

Tractor by Ford (1947)

Painting by Trenton (2010)

just a few random bits of my life