Regency Mystique

Posted on December 25, 2013 by Nancy
Regency Magic A deceptively simple design but a necklace with elegance. A Swarovski crystal diamond shaped crystal wrapped in filigree adds brilliant sparkle to any occasion. This can be made in jet black, black diamond (grey), golden shadow, or clear.


Regency Mystique Necklaces   A deceptively simple design but a necklace with elegance. A Swarovski diamond shaped crystal wrapped in filigree adds brilliant sparkle to any occasion. This can be made in jet black, black diamond (grey), golden shadow, or clear.

I love the simplicity of these pieces. I wear them all the time, dressed up or casual. And of course, I can’t stop with one color so I made them in black, black diamond, clear, and a golden shadow color. I always make sure that both sides of earrings (and necklaces for that matter) have some design or color because jewelry always flips over and shifts around. I figure, take the fact that we are always moving and accentuate that motion by adding another dimension to it and Voila!

Regency Magic Earrings
Regency Mystique Earrings Swarovski diamond shaped crystals wrapped in filigree dangle with brilliance and depth. These too can be made in jet black, black diamond (grey), golden shadow, or clear.
Regency Magic Earrings in Golden Shawdow
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A beautiful Christmas day

Posted on December 25, 2013 by Nancy

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It’s a gorgeous day here in Morro Bay, California! Everyone’s out walking, the seals and otters are playing in the bay, surfers, kayakers and paddle boarders abound. There are peregrine watchers checking out Morro Rock for sightings and ducks are paddling happily in the water. Perfect!

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Holiday happiness!

Posted on December 25, 2013 by Nancy

 It’s Christmas Eve and the neighborhood is in full swing here. It’s been a long tradition on this street for one of our neighbors to dress as Santa and toss presents from the roof of his house to neighborhood children. Totally charming and hilarious and disarmingly touching at the same time. The parents, who have given Santa and his helpers (his teenage sons) presents in advance, gather with loads of neighbors and friends to watch Santa entertain the little ones who are besides themselves with glee! So much fun for all!

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Holiday spirit

Posted on December 15, 2013 by Nancy

A couple of days ago, Santa came to visit. The police department decorates the cars, the town trolley carries Santa and his elves through the town, up and down all the residential streets. They stop at every corner and the kids come running out in their pajamas and slippers to meet him. It’s freaking adorable! Even the teenagers saunter out and hang around the trolley. Some try to be cool but the others are just having a lot of fun. The neighborhood comes alive and confirms why I love living in a small town!

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Morro Rock

My husband took this beautiful shot of Morro Bay. The sunsets have been  gorgeous!

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Midnight

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Nancy

Midnight

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Spectacular Sunset

Posted on November 23, 2013 by Nancy

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Last night’s display of clouds and color was breathtaking! Here’s another shot coz we can always use another dose of beauty!

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I have been working on earrings for the holidays. Sometimes when I start one, I feel compelled to try it in another color and then another paint calls to me and another. And I end up looking like I have been fingerpainting, not a fingernail unstained with black or amethyst or blue. Such a sight!IMG_0938

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Regency Romance

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Nancy

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For some reason unbeknownst to myself, I am in the mood for Regency Era novels and historical reading. Books on the period abound on my shelf. So it only seems fair that I try to design a few period pieces. Jane Austen, here I come!

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A Beautiful Day

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Nancy

Today is a supremely spectacular day on the California Central Coast, too beautiful to keep to myself , so here’s a peek. Enjoy!

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“When we contemplate the whole globe as one great dewdrop, striped and dotted with continents and islands, flying through space with other stars all singing and shining together as one, the whole universe appears as an infinite storm of beauty.”

— John Muir

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Lovely to See You Again

Posted on November 6, 2013 by Nancy

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I just went to a Moody Blues concert and am reveling in their wonderful music so y’all get to revel with me in their goodness! As they write on The Threshold of a Dream album:

“Wonderful day for passing my way
Knock on my door, even the score
With your eyes

Lovely to see you again my friend
Walk along with me to the next bend”

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Kaluha Cake Recipes

Posted on September 29, 2013 by Nancy

Since it came up in a couple of times the last two days, I am passing on my Kaluha Cake recipe. The original one was from my mother back in the 70s. I have played with it and changed it several times. All three cakes are baked in a bundt pan. Enjoy!

Original Kaluha Cake recipe (Black Russian Cake) 

1 package Duncan Hines Yellow cake mix

1 package small instant chocolate pudding

3/4 C strong coffee, cooled

1/4 C vodka

1/4 C Kaluha

1 C vegetable oil

4 eggs

( 6 oz chocolate chips optional)

Nancy’s Kaluha Cake Recipe

1 package dark or devils food chocolate cake mix

1 package small instant chocolate pudding

2 C sour cream

4 eggs

3/4 C oil

1/3 C Kaluha

6-12 oz Chocolate Chips (the more the merrier!)

Triple Chocolate Cake

1 package dark or devils food chocolate cake mix

1 package small instant chocolate pudding

1 C sour cream

4 eggs

1/2 C water

1/2 C oil

6-12 oz Chocolate Chips (the more the merrier!)

Directions for all recipes:

Mix the  chocolate chips, if using, with a tablespoon of cake mix to keep the chocolate chips from falling to the bottom.) Combine all ingredients and blend on low speed for one minute, scrape down sides, blend on medium for 2 minutes. Pour into greased bundt pan.

Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes +/- depending on your oven

You can just use powder sugar on top when cooled or add the glaze for a richer cake- Bon appétit!

Glaze for top

3/4  C heavy cream

6 oz semisweet chocolate chips

Bring cream to a boil over high heat. Remove from heat and add chocolate. Let’s stand one minute. Whisk until chocolate is smooth. Let cool five minutes and drizzle over barely warm cake.

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