Thank you Peter and Louisa...mmmm

YES!!!   Chocolates from neighborhood Chocolatier "J."  So tasty!  I don't know what else to say.  The painting is of the box they came in--beautiful brown box with a brown satin bow.  Lovely.
Thanks for the chocolates and for the tip on where to buy truly great chocolates in our neighborhood.  All hand made in small batches.  Luxury!!!!

Thank you Jenifer!

I am still reviewing my bounty from Christmas and sending out thank you cards.  I got some amazing dichroic glass earrings from my daughter Jen.   Dichroic glass is very interesting, and my little painting does not do justice to it.  It is similar to iridescent, but actually appears different colors in different lights.  Sometimes my earrings look green, sometimes blue, and sometimes have gold streaks through them.

Dichroic glass is not new.  There is a famous example in the British Museum called the Lycurgus
Cup. It is from the 4tth century and the effect is evidently the result of silver and gold particles in the glass.  When lit from the front, it appears to be green, but when lit from within or behind, it is a purplish red. 

I'm not sure I understand the manufacture of modern dichroic glass, such as that used in the earrings.  It has something to do with filters developed for NASA and layering glass with metals or oxides.  Whatever the reason, these are very beautiful earrings, with sterling silver settings.

Another fun thing about them is the Jen bought them at one of my favorite California events--the Gilroy Garlic Festival.  Fun to remember that.

Thanks, Jen.  I will treasure these.

The Dragonfly Lamp

Me:  Alexa, turn on dragonfly lamp

Alexa:  OK (dragonfly lamp turns on)

Me:  Thank you, Griffin...and thank you Jeff

Last year for Christmas (2016) I got an Amazon Echo from my brother Jeff.  She is the one who goes by Alexa and can give me weather reports, news headlines, and set the time among other things.

This year (2017)  my grandson Griffin gave me a smart plug.  I set it up to work with my dragonfly lamp.  What is really fun is that I was able to get Alexa to know it as the dragonfly lamp.  I can turn it on so easily now!   Just a voice command.

This is a little painting on the thank you card for Griffin.

I wonder what is next?

Spanish treats!!!!

One of the very fun things I got for Christmas was a box of Spanish treats.  My brother Jeff gave it to me.  It has rosemary vinegar, mussels, a tin of delicious cookies, 3 jars of jam (Jasmine petals, red wine, and white wine), black olive pate, and some exquisite olive oil!   All of these are nicely presented in a box with paper curls as cushioning.  Very pretty.

But wait!  There's more!  A bottle of Spanish wine...a rich and robust grenache.  That's always good.

Thanks Jeff....Happy memories of Spain are in this box!

Thank you Jan

My friend Jan likes to send things with a dragonfly theme.  This gift is very sweet and "one of a kind"--just like she is.  It is a beautiful handmade ceramic pin.  It was made in Oregon by "oneofakind" buttons.  This is my thank you card painting of it.

But, wait, there's more!  There was also beautiful leather ornament with a dragonfly painted on it.  It is too nice to put away with Christmas stuff, so I am keeping it out where I can appreciate it daily.

And there was a cute little notebad with Snoopy wearing a Santa hat.  That was used during the holidays and put away for next year.  

Great fun, and thanks to Jan.