Family Traditions with Love

Family 

• What family traditions do you practice especially in Fall & Winter?  
• Have you started new ones as you have grown your family?
• What new ways are you sharing quality time with family this year?   

We started what became a tradition about 20 years ago.  Valentines Day dinner was planned ahead. We made a turkey from scratch with all the trimmings.  The dinner provided easy meals later and one in the summer on the deck with leftover turkey and stuffing with a glass of wine.  We did not know how much we would like to do this until we tried it.  no long wait and restaurant for not great food anymore for us.  

BLACK LIVES MATTER

 Free the People ROC is the group in Rochester, NY.  

 Free the People ROC

 

I believe in supporting my local community. As an ally I know we need to listen and show up to support local groups. Stand up and join local events, organizations and / or protests and learn about wheat is going on in your city. 

Buy Local & Shop Small

Why shop small?  For every $100 you spend at a local business,  $68 stay in the community

My Shop:  My Shop

Facebook:  PandaWire Facebook
Twitter:  Panda Wear Gems  
Instagram: Instagram 

 

This stunning statement necklace is made with a fund shell from North Carolina.  Always happy to work with found objects.

 picture by PIxel Wave

 

 

Support Local Business

How many friends do you know with a small business or a side gig? How do you help them grow? Do you want them to succeed? 

• Stand up & recommend them
• share their social media posts 
• write a recommendation

 

We all remember 2020.  We were reminded frequently to shop small & buy local. Small business need your support always.  In New York state we lost 25% of our small business during the pandemic.  That is 1 out of every 4 business closed their doors forever. 

 

Buy Local & Shop Small

My Shop:  My Shop

Facebook:  PandaWire Facebook
Twitter:  Panda Wear Gems  
Instagram: Instagram 

 

This stunning sterling silver piece is shown with a gemstone I personally cut.  

 

 

Why shop small?  For every $100 you spend at a local business,  $68 stay in the community

  

 

BLACK LIVES MATTER

 Free the People ROC is the group in Rochester, NY. 

 Free the People ROC

 

I believe in supporting my local community. As an ally I know we need to listen and show up to support local groups. Stand up and join local events or protests and learn about wheat is going on in your city.

 

 

Artists Feature

Monthly, I will feature a small women owned business.  I have been selling my work online and have a great TEAM of people whom I consider my second family. Here you will learn about the business and the creator of the idea.  This will focus on female members of my art family. 

 

Almost Summer in my Garden

 

SUMMER begins here is about 5 day on 6.21.22.  it is about 90 here today so feels like it is here now. plan to honor my summer traditions and eat meals outside to enjoy the season this summer & fall.   

We attended our first picnic of the season recently.  Double Chocolate Mocha Brownies.  Chewy, gooey goodness in every one.  

 

How are you spending this Pride Month? I have a trip to visit family nest week.  se excited to be able to see them in person.  Quality time with Family is PRICELESS.

Black Lives Matter

Free the People ROC is the group in Rochester, NY. 

 Free the People ROC

 

We must stand up and VOTE to support our sisters & brothers.  The massacre in Buffalo, NY  is horrific.  The hate fueled white supremacy was encouraged by the 45th president.  We need to talk to our friends & families and be sure they register and vote out those who do not want to bring our country together.   Search the below terms 

I Can't Breathe
Black Lives Matter
and read from fact checked news sources.   

 

Buy Local from the Maker

 

 My Store:  My Shop

Facebook:  PandaWire Facebook
Twitter:  Panda Wear Gems  
Instagram: Instagram

Why shop small?  For every $100 you spend at a local business,  $68 stay in the community

Pride earrings will support The Mochas Center all year. Donation of 25%  during Pride for the earring sales.

   Pride Earrings

Lilacs in Bloom

Happy to say my man is scheduled for his second Fauci ouchie today.  Sight delay because of the J & J delivery issues   He was originally scheduled for the J & J vaccine.   He decided to not wait & set up his appointments for another vaccine.  

Mother's Day has always been a different holiday for me.  It started out because of the way I was brought up.  My household was not the "normal " two loving kind parents I saw at my friends homes.  It was my reality.  I lost my father as a teenager and that has shaped my life.  For years I honored his mother on Mothers Day.  

She was an amazing women.  You may read more here:  Grandma

The Lilac Festival started this past weekend.  It was nice to see so many people enjoying the first outdoor festal of the season here.  I plan to visit Highland Park this week to smell the lilacs.  So happy to be able  to enjoy the fragrance of them.  For most of my life I needed allergy medicine 12 months of the year. . In 2014 I had a knee reconstruction which made me rethink how I was living.  I radically changed my life for the better.  One of the benefits was no longer needed allergy meds and the stupor of being on them. No this is not about taking other pills or special powders to strengthen my body.  organic healthy for is what I use.

Black Lives Matter

Free the People ROC is the group in Rochester, NY.  FB page  Free the People ROC

I invite everyone to stand up, listen to others, be kind and be ready to support our sisters and brouthers.  

#bekind

#blacklivesmatter 

#stopasianhate

#standup

#listen

Buy Local from the Maker

My shop:  Panda Wear Website
Facebook:  PandaWire Facebook
Twitter:  Panda Wear Gems  
Instagram: Instagram

Why shop small?  For every $100 you spend at a local business,  $68 stay in the community.

One of my commissions to raise funds for Women Build.  Please reach out if you want a pair of these.  a few are ready to ship.   

Welcome Spring 2021

Happy dance here SPRING arrives this week.  As a gardener, it is the best time of your wheneverything wakes up.  Five more days and it is SPRING 2021! This is will be fantastic.  It is off to a wonderful beginning.  

We took a walk last week before all the snow melted on a nice 50 degree day and enjoyed the robins at Genesee Valley park.  One perk of being an entrepreneur is I set my schedule. When I need a walk in the afternoon, I take a break and walk.  I love being a woman small business owner.  

Afternoon garden

My garden layout was finished a few weeks back and the seeding are looking great.  Tomatoes, peppers, kale, collard, mustard are all sprouted.  I planted some annual flowers that should sprout by next week.  Harris seed was perfect for the few seeds I need to resupply this year.  My favorite thing is they are in my area and their seeds do well in my backyard garden.  I shop local whenever I can.  

This is a pic from last year in my garden.  these bulbs are a regular beautiful blend every spring.  when my crocus finish, I see these.  there are a few crocus peaking out now that all the February snow has finally melted.  

We have learned the value of small business during this pandemic.  It has been a full year.  We have learned so much.  The list of what is important has changed for many people.  I believe we are closer as families because of what we have been though. 

This is "where is my head" snowman from Genesee Valley park last week.  so nice to be outside enjoying the fresh air an a nice dry day.   

Black Lives Matter

 For Education  please Search 

 I Can't Breathe
Black Lives Matter 

and read from fact checked news sources.  As a supporter I am speaking up.  Please join me. 
BE KIND

 

It is time we listen. Let our Sisters  take the  lead & show us what we need do to help them.. I know we can fix this and become one nation again.   It will be a process and it will take time.  Be patient and show your love of others now more then ever.  

Buy Local from the Maker

 
My shop:  Panda Wear Website
Facebook:  PandaWire Facebook
Twitter:  Panda Wear Gems  
Instagram: Instagram

 

Why shop Local (small)?  

For every $100 you spend at a local business,  $68 stay in the community!  Yes Over 2/3 stays in your local community!Free the People ROC is the group in my area.

 FB page  Free the People ROC

I took this great pic one week ago downtown in ROC. I love my city, Rochester, NY.

Black History Month 2021

We need to listen and be ready to stand with them.We have a local Black Lives Matter group in our city.  Free the People ROC is the group.  the FB page of the group Free the People ROC

Black Lives Matter in ROC

The Group in my city is Free The People ROC

 I invite everyone to stand up, listen to others, be kind and speak up. 

#blacklivesmatter

#standup

#speakup

#listen  

We are in this together. Wear a Mask, Stay home, Stay safe, Flatten the curve, Facts Matter.

 

Alice Malsenior Tallulah-Kate Walker is an American novelist, short story writer, poet, and social activist. In 1982, she published the novel The Color Purple, for which she won the National Book Award for hardcover fiction, and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Black History Resource

As Covid contines I know many are having trouble.  there is help outstare.  remember if you know someone who sounds different reach out have another friend reach out.  Send a letter, snail mail is very uplifting.  

NSP link

Help NSP

Buy Local from the Maker               

My shop:  Panda Wear Website
Facebook:  PandaWire Facebook
Twitter:  Panda Wear Gems  
Instagram: Instagram

Why should we all shop small?  For every $100 you spend at a local business,  $68 stay in the community.

this is Biggs jasper I hand cut into this beautiful gemstone.  I am happy to help with Valentine's month gifts.  

Mental Health Awareness

October is domestic Violence Awareness Month.  Willow Center is the place in my city Rochester, NY helping the community.  Step up and support them.  

 #withWillow    End Domestic Violence #EndDV Domestic Violence Awareness month #DVAM
https://willowcenterny.org/

 

When you #WalkWithWillow your support means emergency shelter, counseling, and housing
assistance for thousands of survivors each year. Please join the virtual MOVEment to help end domestic violence now. 

 

Register at   

http://bit.ly/WillowWalk 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reach out to your friends.  This pandemic has harmed us in ways we have not seen before.  staying home and sheltering in place is difficult for many and impossible for some.  Domestic violence is rising .  send a text or make a phone call to a friend you have not heard from recently.  

 

Help is here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Group in Syracue NY is Vera house.  I first learned about them many years ago at the NYS Fair by their t-shirt display at the fair.  I was moved by the incredible  shirts made by the survivors.verahouse

Their annual Gala is online this year.  link to help is below.  

 

 Vera House No Show GALA 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Buy Local from the Maker 

My shop:  Panda Wear Website
Facebook:  PandaWire Facebook
Twitter:  Panda Wear Gems  
Instagram: Instagram

For every $100 you spend at a local business,  $68 stay in the community. 

Remember Black Lives Matter!

We are in this together. Wear a Mask, Stay home, Stay safe, Flatten the curve, Facts Matter. 14 days until the election.  Please vote. I have.

Proverbial Monday - Hello September

Hello September

Yes it is Tuesday 9/8/20 but it feels like Monday, proverbial Monday to many of us.   The day after Labor Day in the USA has been the beginning of fall for many because of back to school children for years.  Schools and our lives are different this year because of the pandemic.  

Remember to Wear The Damn Mask!  Nobody enjoys it but it is a small sacrifice for the larger good of our nation.  Many you stay safe, practice social distancing and flatten the curve.    

No Justice No Peace

As many of you know, I reside in Rochester, NY.  We have been in the news recently.  

Black Lives Matter!  No Justice No Peace. Participate. Stand up. 

Wear A Mask. Stay Safe. Practice social distancing. 

 For Education  Search 
 I Can't Breathe
Black Lives Matter 
and read from fact checked news sources.  As a supporter I am speaking up.  Please join me. 

Small Business

For every $100 you spend at a local business,  $68 stays in the community. Women use you buying power wisely.  

Many of my readers ask why does a small business speak about topics not about their industry?  As a business owner in Rochester, I join others is posting out the injustices I see.  We need to work together and VOTE in November.  Take America by the Ballot Box.  We as women have the power and we need to use it.  

Suffrage Centential August celebrations

 Herstory

15 Women Voted in Rochester, NY in 1872 and were arrested:  Susan B Anthony, Charlotte ("Lottie") B. Anthony, Mary S. Anthony, Ellen S. Baker, Nancy M. Chapman, Hannah M. Chatfield, Jane M. Cogswell, Rhoda DeGarmo, Mary S. Hebard, Susan M. Hough, Margaret Garrigues Leyden, Guelma Anthony McLean, Hannah Anthony Mosher, Mary E. Pulver, and Sarah Cole Truesdale.

Susan B Trial

Proud to live in one state to fully enfranchise women two years before the 19th amendment - 55 years later guaranteed to all with this:
Voting Rights Act of 1965

2020 Celebration

Proud to honor the Centennial of the 19th amendment this year.  Wish we could all join hands in the streets and celebrate this anniversary of such a huge milestone in our democracy.

This is a candid with  an organization whom came to Rochester at Susan B. Anthony Square to film for the 2020 Suffragist Parade. Thank you Women TIES.  Happy to be part of this celebration by women Business Owners in my city.  Many are entrepreneurs and the lady in charge of the group celebrate 25 years in business in 2020.





For every $100 you spend at a local business,  $68 stays in the community.

Social Justice

Black Lives Matter!  Flatten the curve. Wear A Mask. Stay Safe. No Justice No Peace. Participate. Stand up. Practice social distancing.

 For Education  Search 
 I Can't Breathe
Black Lives Matter
and read from fact checked news sources.  As a supporter I need to speak up.  Please join me.

Calico Hammers Women Build

I miss my time with my Women build team helping Habitat for Humanity build homes.  This pic is a few years old and is at the end of the day.  The group is a fun bunch of ladies to work with.   I am in the red shirt & purple hard hat on the right side of this pic. 

Flower City Habitat for Humanity (FCHH) is our local Habatat.

Want to know how easy it is to help build with us?  A little goes a long way.  

You can donate to help here:

Kim's Page

Calico Hammer will be back as a team in 2021.  We are helping in many ways this year as individuals.  

      Buy Local from the Maker 

My shop:  Panda Wear Website

Facebook:  PandaWire Facebook
Twitter:  Panda Wear Gems  
Pinterest: Pinterest 
Instagram: Instagram

For Education  Search 
 I Can't Breathe
Black Lives Matter
and read from fact checked news sources.  As a supporter I need to speak up.  Please join me. 

 Black Lives Matter!  Flatten the curve. Wear A Mask. Stay Safe. Practice social distancing.

Welcome August 2020

August has arrived in my western NY garden.   The hazy, hot, & humid month of summer is here.  On the positive side we have has a few visitors recently I wanted to share with you.  Two stunning examples Mother Nature sent me this week.  Blue dragonfly and yellow swallowtail butterfly.  It is great to have these minders of the beauty and delicate nature of teh creatures around us always.  we may not see them but they are near by and they are worth taking notice of.  Stop and enjoy the moment. 

For every $100 you spend at a local business,  $68 stays in the community.

 

Black Lives Matter!  Flatten the curve. Wear A Mask. Stay Safe. Practice social distancing.

I did virtual back flips yesterday when Presidential candidate Joe Biden announced his pick for VP,  Kamala Harris. She is an amazing congress woman and she will be a fantastic VP.  I ask all of you to please vote in November.  Be sure your friends are registered and that you all vote.  Here in NY they have made it easy by sending absentee ballots to all registered. 

I will end with my recommendations for all of us to become educated and support our sisters this anniversary of the 19th amendment  Celebrate the centennial the way our fore-mothers did and stand together in unity. 

       Buy Local from the Maker 

My shop:  Panda Wear Website

Facebook:  PandaWire Facebook
Twitter:  Panda Wear Gems  
Pinterest: Pinterest 
Instagram: Instagram

For Education  Search 
 I Can't Breathe
Black Lives Matter
and read from fact checked news sources.  As a supporter I need to speak up.  Please join me.

Almost April as a Women Business Owner

For all the new readers & followers of this blog,  I am an avid gardener and lapidary.  Most of my inspiration comes from nature as can be seen in my work.  Whether it is the arch of a branch, the stem of a bush or the pattern of moss.  As a lapidary, when I am cutting a stone my design became the feature I find in the natural stone.  Moss on a Lava rock in my backyard garden.  


Expanding the gemstone/rock side of my business.  I sell rocks! Do you know a jewelry designer or small local Jewelry store?  Being a lapidary, I custom cut my own stones into one of a kind cabochons. Retail & wholesale options for you to buy the gems.  Please feel free to contact me if you have a friend with a shop who uses one of a kind gemstones.

Today March 31 is National Equal Pay Day.  
We had a local rally scheduled to bring more visibility to the fact that Minorities & Women are drastically paid less than men.

learn more here:  Pay Equality Coalition
  
Another way to support women is the ERA now ratified by the 38th state.  I a a proud bard member of Rochester NOW 
NOW Rocheter NY




What does it mean to be a Lapidary?  Definition: The art of cutting, polishing & engraving precious stones.  

To the left is a slice of the Unakite I found as a rough rock in St. Lawrence county NY.  It has been sliced into this slab of rough gemstone.  Below is the finished polished cabochon showing the beauty in this stone.  
details of the process here:  
Lapidary process




As a small business owner I know how difficult it is at this time in NY state and around the US.  As a women owner business it is more difficult to generate the income necessary to keep the business going.  We are counting on the local community to remember to support all local business.  For every $100 you spend at a local business $68 stay in the community.  We are in this together.

I will end with a quote from my favorite president, Barak Obama. 

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek".   


Buy Local  from the maker

My shops:  Panda Wear Website
                   Cabochons and Beads

Facebook:  PandaWire Facebook
Twitter:  Panda Wear Gems  
Pinterest: Pinterest 
Instagram: Instagram
Habitat:  My Page Women Build

Happy growing and enjoy your week.  

New Normal and Garden Update

Spring Garden Update

Patience is a virtue .  We are reminded of the importance of this virtue in the month of March . My garden is asking for my patience for my snow peas to sprout.   My bulbs are not waiting for April to show us it is spring. Thanks to the climate crisis the bulbs are earlier every year.  I have mini daffodils opening their blooms in my backyard garden.   Seeing the blooms at the same time as snowdrops lets me know the flowers are confused.

Plan to transplant some of my mustard into the ground next week.  need the ground to dry some before cultivation.



New Normal

This has been a difficult blog to write at this time in our nation .

 With the pandemic taking its toll on the world as well as the huge impact on my state of NY I struggled. Should I share my quandary and show how an artist reacts to this or stay silent?  This was my quandary this week.

common terms this spring new normal, pandemic, stay home flattenthecurve.  Not comfortable with this but surviving with my focus on the positive.  Creating art is not a daily occurrence.  Working to get back to my lapidary creations.    

The upside is the ability to appreciate things we used to take for granted.  A walk along the canal path with my sweetheart earlier this week & I have this beautiful pic of the sky.  we small business owners are hit hard by the changes we have all had to make.


We Artists are creating art - look for it.  Please make an extra effort to buy from local business especially artists to support small biz in your area.

Pond resident, Ferdinan announcing it is spring.  His winter nap is over and he is happy to sun himself in the top of this pot.

Buy Local  from the maker

My shops:  Panda Wear Website
                   Cabochons and Beads

Facebook:  PandaWire Facebook
Twitter:  Panda Wear Gems  
Pinterest: Pinterest 
Instagram: Instagram
Habitat:  My Page Women Build

International Womens Day

Yesterday was International Women's Day, how did you celebrate?  I reflected on some fantasict women I admire such as Susan B Anthony, Elizabeth Warren, & Kamala Harris.

As we move thru this month, I am beyond excited. It is almost SPRING,  10 MORE DAYS!!! This lettuce from 2017 says it best.



Elizabeth Warren quote,"Choose to fight only righteous fights, because then when things get tough - and they will - you will know that there is only option ahead of you: nevertheless, you must persist "  Her passion is resonating through out these United States of America in the hearts & minds of all of us women. She had the courage to do something some only dream of  run for President of the USA.




As this Mustard in my greenhouse shows, it wants to grow despite the fact it is winter.  The seed was planted last fall and is growing now that it is warm.  I watered it so it can become a full plant &  be large enough for a salad soon.   Followers of this blog know by heart my favorite Susan B quote, " Failure is Impossible "  I feel that here in this green. I did not expect it to have survived the winter but it persisted.

My indoor greens are only sprigs right now.  Three to six weeks  until they can be planted into the veggie garden.  Hopefully the peas can be planted by the end of March like last year.

Buy Local  from the maker

My shops:  Panda Wear Website
                   Cabochons and Beads

Facebook:  PandaWire Facebook
Twitter:  Panda Wear Gems  
Pinterest: Pinterest 
Instagram: Instagram
Habitat:  My Page Women Build

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