This yellow tree is my favorite #autumn tree that I can see from my house. It's probably about a quarter mile away as the crow flies. To the left of it is an apple orchard. The yellow trees in the orchard are a different variety than the main trees, which is why they are changing color earlier. (They are pollinators; I can explain if you need me to.) The tall trees to the left usually turn a nice yellow, too, but they're not looking very good this year. They might be dying.

#DogsofMastodon Some sisters can be close.

Out my window right now.

#FirstLightIsBestLight #panorama #photography

There's a male elk bugling much closer than usual this morning. I don't know much about elk; is the bugling a mating call? If so, there's a definite possibility of me being able to witness elk sex in my side yard this morning. 😳 oh man

The sound is incredible and I wish I could capture it and share it here. Sadly, I don't think my instance allows video uploads; I've never been able to do so.

They are out there again! I think there's probably about 20 of them. Female #elk. It's a lot darker out than this photo suggests. (I gotta love the camera on my iPhone.)

Some food for thought on creativity and having many — too many? — interests. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69z-xnx-M6k&feature=youtu.be #art #creativity #CreativeMinds

I use pre-made niobium ear wires for the copper earrings I make. I used to be able to buy them from my regular #jewelry supplier, Rio Grande, but they stopped selling them. So now I buy from an AZ company called Reactive Metals, which sells metals like niobium and titanium.

https://www.reactivemetals.com/findings

The problem: they have regular business hours (M-F, 8:15-4) and do not have online ordering. I FINALLY remembered to call and place an order today.

Got my first credit card chargeback for the online order I processed on Saturday. And I rushed the order and shipped with Priority Mail at my expense! I've got plenty of evidence to prove the charge is legit. I hope the bank and Square don’t screw this up. It’s $85.

The elk were out in my side yard again this morning. This time, I had the foresight to look for them with my spotlight before I let the dogs out. I counted about a dozen females. The light got them moving, so by the time I came down with the dogs, they were pretty much gone. It's hunting season here and I'm wondering if they know that it's safer to stay up in the hills than to go down into the wildlife corridor that abuts my property. Could they be that smart?

I don't know what's with me today but I am ready for a nap at 12:10 PM. I slept nearly 8 hours last night. None of this makes sense. I'm going to try to get one hour of sleep and maybe get productive this afternoon.

November 2026 Classes Announced

Jewelry making classes this spring.

https://mljewelrydesigns.com/2026/10/25/november-2026-classes-announced/

I'm also trying to figure out how I can incorporate a camping table with a built-in sink that I already have into a wet lapidary production area. My new trim saw arrives tomorrow and I want a water-friendly home for it. My brain is telling me to build a wheeled platform for the camping table to stand on so I can easily move it around the garage. I think I have enough spare wheels to get the job done.🤔 (2/2)

On tap for today: photographing all of the styles of earrings, bracelets, and rings I have available for sale. And then updating my online shop to include them all, with accurate inventory numbers. This is incredibly tedious work, but I'm pretty sure I can finish it all today. That'll leave me open for more interesting work for the rest of the week. (1/2)

6 AM and still dark out. December 21 is going to be brutal for me if I stay home this winter.

The elk are bugling again, but off in the distance this time.

I don't recall hearing them so often in October. I usually leave to go south sometime between November 15 and December 25th and I thought that's when they moved through the area. Is it possible that they are moving through earlier? I don't know.🤷🏼‍♀️

Tonight's dinner is grilled Atlantic salmon, Armenian rice pilaf made with black rice, and a simple mixed green salad with tomatoes. #IKnowHowToEat

Here's my #jewelry Photo Booth setup. Very basic. The pictures are coming out pretty good. I'm using my iPhone 17 Pro for a camera. #photography

Had a bit of a panic this morning when I realized that I had sold something on my online shop about a week ago and I have never been notified. I hustled to get the item packaged and shipped out. My local post office is only open for an hour and a half on Saturdays. Mission accomplished. I'm glad I didn't sell that item yesterday!

A really nice local lady just called me out of the blue and offered to give me a bunch of jewelry gift boxes. She used to make jewelry and sell it but doesn't do it anymore. She's moving and she wanted to get rid of this stuff. I expected a couple dozen boxes tops but she wound up giving me probably close to 200 boxes in various sizes. Way more than I would never need; I'll probably give a lot of them away to fellow jewelers. Folks like getting jewelry in a box when they give it as gifts.

And, in case you're wondering, that is definitely NOT a photograph of my boat on the front cover of the magazine.