Fourth of July , on the 2nd.. At the home of teresa and Randy

There were all kinds of people of all sorts of sizes, and ages at Randy and Teresas' for the fireworks.. My brothers, that I don't see too often included... MOre later.

the newest photos of The Window.. Thanks for all the attention

I couldn't figure out how to

write on this page with a window on it.

So now I see the picture is just there, and I see sort of, how this part works.

Please have a look at our beautiful, wonderful window.


Made by (except for one high school boy) only women.Most with little prior experience in stained glass,one, my friend Marlene, came looking for a job.. and stayed on for almost two years to help us get this done.

We finished this window in early 1989.
It wouldn't have happened if not for my parents loaning me some money to buy the remains of a defunct stained glass studio, about ten years before that.

Our mom missed it... she left us in 1987.

Dad though, came down a few times to help with the soldering, and got to see it finished.. (didn't like it much) no Saints.

The church members had asked for water for Baptism.

I believe I was INSPIRED to choose the topographical map that for some reason,my neighbor in the building had asked me to save for him.

This became the basis for the window design, because of the proximity to Gull Lake, and the WATER.

Since building this window I have moved from Richland, MI where the studio was at the time, to the Park Trades Center, on Kalamazoo and Park Streets in Kalamazoo, MI.

the newest photos of The Window.. Thanks for all the attention

Glass class and breakfast.. with scampi mmm

Well, here we are.. it's been a few weeks.

Class seems to be going alright.
My new student, is liking the informality of our class times.

She, like others, came for the adventure, I suspect, and
stays for the fun.. and excitement.. of not knowing how things
will look when they are finished..That's what keeps me in the game.

So this is a class of two women, Kathy and Amy..Kathy had a headache
last night, and so I spent the evening lurking around Amy.
She's an amiable thing.. I taught her some tricks of the trade.
Such as:
why you need to wear bluejeans to make stained glass, and small assorted other
bits of information. I could tell you.. but then how would I
pay my exorbitant rent?

I made oatmeal the other day, trying to follow Petes' idea of adding much more goodness to the already pretty good thing.

He adds all sorts of chopped up fruits.. and nuts.. I think I'll have to get
him to tell me again.

I added some dried fruits chopped up and walnuts.. almost turned into
walnut butter. I think it tastes more of walnut when they are creamed like that.

Today, I started breakfast by opening up a box of shrimp scampi I bought at Aldis.

It sounds so good.. and since I'm the only person here who would eat it..

Breakfast is the place to try it... no noodles.. just a few shrimp in a pan for about 8 minutes.. I liked it, especially the ease..I didn't eat all that butter, but I think I got a little..mm mm

However, for me to feel full for the whole morning, I might need a little bit of the oatmeal.. so that's where I'm going right now.

It's been so long I forgot what to do.

Today it is already the 20th of january.

It appears that Ralph (silverralph.blogspot.com) is taking a vacation from keeping up with his story.

Like me

I have started new classes. my room is still a bit of a disaster... but they come and seem to make the most of whatever they get out of it.

I do have some photos of my room, but I can't put them in here that easily... so later with that.

Now I need to go to work, to order some tools for the new people, and some glass for some old friends, and new customers.

Tonight is the second class for the Wednesday night folks. we will have fun,I hope..

I will call my students by their initials.. K , for instance is a very fun woman.. and so.. so smart, and did I say fun.. wise, thoughtful.

But she is in the process of losing her dad.. also very fun, gifted cook, smart, smart, nice guy, but in the end stage of his life. We will miss him... we miss him already. We love him, too.

So lest I reveal too much, I'll be gone for the moment.. and probably a week or so.

The Gallery HOP and Ralph.. starting with Ralph

"Happy Thanksgiving!!!

We already did that.. but, I guess I forgot where I was.
My friend Ralph has been in a hospital.. It seems like he might be getting betterfinally.

Hey Ralph, keep it up.

I saw the Dolly the other day.. but not for too long.

I am nearly finished with my most recent big job..

Ralph keeps on giving news, and it's good.. also he sometimes gives us not news,
but stories of days gone by.. those are fun.. because his memory of these things
is totally clear..I believe.

Since hardly any of us knew him then.. he can say anything he wants.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There's a gallery hop in Kalamazoo every month on the first Friday.

Sometimes we skip around a little bit when that day conflicts with a REAL HOLIDAY.

You should try it sometime, if you live nearby. or come on in from Chicago..

We, however have the luckiest spot... the Park Trades Center..
It's an old factory building, with about 60 different (really different)
Artists..Good ones, too.

I was open, but didn't sell a thing.. that's the way with stained glass.

You have to make a spot for it..then you have to want it.. then usually somebody
needs to build it.

It's exciting. many beautiful new things are available in the Saniwax Gallery right now..

Waiting for Christmas, and new art owners to arrive.

See you soon. I have no idea how to end a blog.
Bye for now.





























May your stuffing be tasty

May your turkey be plump,

May your potatoes and gravy

Have never a lump.

May your yams be delicious

And your pies take the prize,

And may your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off your thighs!



Happy Thanksgiving"

The river we made of these blue flowers