While today was gloomy, gray & rainy… it was still the First Day of Spring!!! Nothing good going on outside… but luckily I have some beautiful African violets still blooming at home.

Thanks again to Nancy & Rick who gave me this plant during the holidays… and it hasn’t stopped blooming since!!! Guess it’s happy living in my dining room window???

Some smaller wall pieces by metal artist Darlys Ewoldt. Each one perfect it it’s own right… but even “perfect-er” when grouped together. I mean… more is more, right?!

Two AMAZING sculptural metal wall pieces by Darlys Ewoldt… hollow constructed forms with amazing color & patina surfaces. Just one of the talented artists at the Pop-Up Gallery Show this weekend at Space 900 in Evanston.

Just a couple of Sarah Chapman’s sculptural wall pieces… each with an actual pendant necklace that works into it now… but can easily be taken off to wear out as a piece of jewelry!!!

So good to spend time with my talented metalsmith friend Sarah Chapman this afternoon! She was here for a quick Pop-Up Show in Evanston at Space 900. Three talented artists working together to put on this gallery “sculpture” show… Sarah Chapman, Darlys Ewoldt & Steve Skinner.

It was a beautiful sunrise this morning… and I just LOVE that some of my wonderful “followers” thinks of ME when they see a beautiful sunrise. Ha!!! So much so that they sent me a photo of the view from their window… with one of my flower pots waiting for the sun to come up further to make that plant even happier!

Thank you Sheila for sharing your view this morning!

HAPPY MUGSHOT MONDAY… with Instagram greetings from friends in Colorado who were apparently snuggling down on a cold Winter’s night with a mug of something frothy & yummy! Thanks for sharing Kristin & Camden!

Gotta love post-Christmas get-togethers with Talented Friends… specially when they make you “sweet” gifts!!! Like this handmade spoon from my friend Pam… who I co-teach a summer camp for kids with where they make a full placesetting in clay & utensils in metal! Kinda like this spoon…. but not quite so “refined” shall we say! And of course some of my favorite ice cream to help the spoon fulfill its destiny!

A fun end to Boxing Day yesterday “storming the castle” with my friend Pam at the Mercury Theater. A fun musical for Monty Python fans… and for those who “always look on the bright side of life.”