Silversmith Day!

Several weeks back, soon after we arrived at Valle del Oro, we signed up to take the Silversmith class. This all-day class is a requirement for using the very nice jewelry-making shop here at the resort. So at 8:30 this morning, we were opening this door --

It was a full class -- they have room for eight --

This morning, all of the places were set up with mandrels, soldering irons, knives and other tools --

In the afternoon, we each had a flat piece of silver, a scalloped silver bezel piece and a silver beaded strip along with both soft and hard silver solder.

This is Jim, one of the instructors demonstrating in the afternoon --

This is today's work product. On the left are the two rings made in the morning by the lost wax method; on the right are the ones with stones made by silver-smithing.

Forry's ring on the left has a rope design while mine has entwined hearts --

It doesn't show up very well in the picture, but my ring on the left is a very pale translucent green with a dark spot in it while Forry's is more of a tiger-eye.

It was a long day today! It was the first day we have been out and about since we got those nasty  colds. We had a hour break after the afternoon class and went across the freeway to McDonalds for some dinner before we had to go back this evening to watch the silver pour into our wax molds.

Another Day...

Today was another routine day. Except that, sometime between yesterday afternoon and today, I managed to misplace the the key to the mailbox! I have absolutely no recollection of what I did with it after I shut the mailbox yesterday...

I've checked all of my pockets, the basket on my trike, the area around the parking area, where I hung my clothes last night, etc. We went over to the office and checked lost and found, but no one has turned it in. They recommended at the post office we wait a day or two to see if it shows up, otherwise we can get a new one for $5...

We also went over to the Silversmith Shop and paid for the class we will be taking on January 7th. We saw this Christmas inflatable blown up along the sidewalk --

It's kind of fun as the door opens and Santa pops out --

We saw one like this in Florida last Christmas. If I remember correctly it was at a Mini-Golf course at Disneyland that we went to with our friends Leslie and Bill.

From the office we went to the Safeway store just a mile or so from the park. Today the Starbucks Outlet in the store had a Christmas special -- buy one drink and get another free. That's a nice way to end an afternoon!

Around the Park ....

Forry and Tom were up and out early. The Wood Shop has an orientation program on Wednesday mornings at 7:45 AM SHARP! (According to the information brochure that says to be there at 7:30 to register before the orientation.) Tom has done some beautiful wood-turning at his home shop in Albuquerque. Forry just went along to keep him company.

After they got back (and Forry had a nap), we took the bikes out and rode over to the post office annex to check for mail. Then we rode over to the main office to check out the Silversmith Shop. Their rules say you have to take a class before you can use the shop. But, they will not have any more classes until January... We did go ahead and sign up for the first class in January. Neither of us had brought our wallets, so we'll have to ride back over tomorrow to pay for it.

These hibiscus are blooming in a pot just outside the door of the shop --

We rode around the back side of the park where the softball field is. On the way back to Auntie Violet we saw this neat helicopter --

The propeller was spinning around -- so cute!