The Changeling - Irish Myth Project - Anais Nussaume

"A Dead Rose" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Story Round Up

A Dead Rose by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)

O Rose! who dares to name thee?
No longer roseate now, nor soft, nor sweet;
But pale, and hard, and dry, as stubble-wheat,---
Kept seven years in a drawer---thy titles shame thee.

The breeze that used to blow thee
Between the hedgerow thorns, and take away
An odour up the lane to last all day,---
If breathing now,---unsweetened would forego thee.

The sun that used to smite thee,
And mix his glory in thy gorgeous urn,
Till beam appeared to bloom, and flower to burn,---
If shining now,---with not a hue would light thee.

The dew that used to wet thee,
And, white first, grow incarnadined, because
It lay upon thee where the crimson was,---
If dropping now,---would darken where it met thee.

The fly that lit upon thee,
To stretch the tendrils of its tiny feet,
Along thy leaf's pure edges, after heat,---
If lighting now,---would coldly overrun thee.

The bee that once did suck thee,
And build thy perfumed ambers up his hive,
And swoon in thee for joy, till scarce alive,---
If passing now,---would blindly overlook thee.

The heart doth recognise thee,
Alone, alone! The heart doth smell thee sweet,
Doth view thee fair, doth judge thee most complete,---
Though seeing now those changes that disguise thee.

Yes, and the heart doth owe thee
More love, dead rose! than to such roses bold
As Julia wears at dances, smiling cold!---
Lie still upon this heart---which breaks below thee!  


Loans to needy worldwide boost cultural education at Joliet West

These teens didn't just study those living in poverty. They became part of the solution to improving lives.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/23864909-423/loans-to-needy-worldwide-boost-cultural-education-at-joliet-west.html  


Seminar aims to aid veterans

Business organization helps veterans receive financial assistance

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/23929352-423/seminar-aims-to-aid-veterans.html


Channahon volunteer known for helping veterans, animals

Few individuals had the "I'm here to help" air more than Bob Waters.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/23938245-423/channahon-volunteer-known-for-helping-veterans-animals.html


Success is in the cards for Plainfield dog

Rufio is a winner with a heart for helping, over and over and over again

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/23940835-423/success-is-in-the-cards-for-plainfield-dog.html


Harvest Bible pastor's path was not typical

And neither are his results with church planting

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/24016327-423/harvest-bible-pastors-path-was-not-typical.html

Three Great Quotes That Express My Feelings This Thanksgiving

"Thanks to those who hated me, you made me a stronger person. Thanks to those who loved me, you made my heart grow fonder. Thanks to those who envied me, you made my self esteem increase. Thanks to those who cared, you made me feel important. Thanks to those who entered my life, you made me who I am today. Thanks to those who left, you showed me that nothing lasts forever. Thanks to those who stayed, you showed me the true meaning of friendship." Ritu Ghatourey

 

Be Thankful!

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.  If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something, for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.  During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations, because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge, because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.  They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you are tired and weary, because it means you’ve made a difference.

It’s easy to be thankful for the good things.

A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.

---Author Unknown

 

Dare to Be

When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully.

When there is darkness, dare to be the first to shine a light.

When there is injustice, dare to be the first to condemn it.

When something seems difficult, dare to do it anyway.

When life seems to beat you down, dare to fight back.

When there seems to be no hope, dare to find some.

When you’re feeling tired, dare to keep going.

When times are tough, dare to be tougher.

When love hurts you, dare to love again.

When someone is hurting, dare to help them heal.

When another is lost, dare to help them find the way.

When a friend falls, dare to be the first to extend a hand.

When you cross paths with another, dare to make them smile.

When you feel great, dare to help someone else feel great too.

When the day has ended, dare to feel as you’ve done your best.

Dare to be the best you can –

At all times, Dare to be!”
― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

 

Buskers And Vampires At Thanksgiving

Try This for Your Thanksgiving Turkey This Year

Steve’s Roast Turkey and Stuffing

 

Turkey Brine

By Rachel Buchanan Savicz

 

7 quarts (28 cups water)

1 ½ cups coarse salt

6 bay leaves

2 tablespoons whole coriander seeds

1 tablespoon dried juniper berries

2 tablespoons whole black peppercorns

1 tablespoon fennel seeds

1 teaspoon black or brown mustard seeds

1 18 to 20 pound fresh whole turkey, patted dry, neck and giblets reserved for stock, liver reserved for stuffing

1 bottle dry Riesling

2 medium onions, thinly sliced

6 garlic cloves, crushed

1 bunch fresh thyme

 

Bring 1 quart water, the salt, bay leaves, and spices to a simmer, stirring until salt has dissolved. Let cool for 5 minutes. Line a 5-gallon container with large brining or oven-roasting bag. Place turkey in bag. Add salt mixture, remaining water, and the other ingredients. Tie bag; if turkey is not submerged, weight it with a plate. Refrigerate 24 hours, flipping turkey once. Yield: Brine for an 18 to 20 pound turkey.

 

Roast Turkey

By Rachel Buchanan Savicz

 

1 18 to 20 pound turkey

Melted butter

Wine

1 teaspoon each, salt and pepper

 

Preheat oven to 425 degrees, with rack in lowest position. Stir together melted butter and wine in a medium bowl. Fold a very large piece of cheesecloth into quarters so it is large enough to cover breast and halfway down sides of turkey. Immerse cloth in butter mixture; let soak.

 

Place turkey, breast side up, on a rack set in a roasting pan. Fold wing tips under turkey. Sprinkle salt and pepper inside turkey. Loosely fill body and neck cavities with stuffing. Tie legs together with kitchen twine. Fold neck flap under; secure with toothpicks. Rub turkey all over with softened butter; season with salt and pepper. Remove cheesecloth from butter mixture, squeezing gently into bowl. Reserve butter mixture for brushing. Lay cheesecloth over turkey. Place turkey, legs first, in oven. Roast 30 minutes.

 

Brush cheesecloth and exposed turkey with butter mixture. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees. Roast, brushing every 30 minutes, 2 ½ hours more; cover with foil if browning too quickly. If making gravy, add giblets and neck to pan 1 ½ hours after reducing temperature; roast 30 minutes more and reserve.

 

Discard cheesecloth; rotate pan. Baste turkey with pan juices. Roast, rotating pan halfway through, until skin is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 180 degrees and stuffing reaches 165 degrees, about 1 hour. Transfer to a platter. Set pan with drippings aside for gravy. Let turkey stand at room temperature at least 30 minutes. Garnish, if desired. Yield: About 12 servings.

 

Stuffing

By Virginia Schonbachler

 

2 16 ounce packages Brownberry stuffing mix

2 16 ounce cans chicken broth

1 stick butter or margarine, melted

1 8 ounce packaged sliced button mushrooms (may substitute chopped onions and celery for the mushrooms)

 

Mix together. Add hot water if dry. Spray aluminum pan with vegetable spray, scoop stuffing in pan, and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

 

From the official BryonySeries cookbook, "Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony."

 

Proceeds donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties (www.bbbswillgrundy.org). Order the cookbook at http://www.bryonyseries.com/Dalton_s_Dry_Goods.html

 

 

A Snippet: Forward from "Staked!" by Author Tom Hernandez

Soon, my pretties, soon...

And now, the excerpt:




Generally speaking, I am not much for fantasy or science fiction.

Sure, I’ve enjoyed several Ann Rice books – who, after all cannot love Lestat? – and a few Ray Bradbury classics. I am aware of the genius of Isaac Asimov, though, I confess I have not read anything of his.

I have watched the first three of Peter Jackson’s magnificent “Lord of the Rings” saga. Still, I have not read any of Tolkien’s master works. After seeing the movies, I don’t think I ever will, though the entire collection sits right now in my attic library. Just too much…I don’t know, “complication” for my brain, already stretched, strained and stressed with reality’s many rigors.

Staked! hits many of those fantasy/science fiction notes

Yet I loved it.

Truth be told, I loved both of its predecessors, too.

The first, Bryony, told the tale of a 1970s teenager, Melissa Marchellis. Missing her recently-deceased father, Melissa falls head-over-heels in love with the idea of love – or, more precisely, the vampire who embodies it, and offers it to her. That love comes at a steep price, but the girl is more than willing to pay it, as so many teen girls are.

Visage continued Melissa’s story, now as a young adult. Melissa heads off to college, her vampire fling having ended in flames. Even there, though, Melissa cannot – or does not want to – leave her past in the past. So, when she falls for a hot music professor who bears an uncanny resemblance to her dead (un-dead?) vampire lover, well...

Complicated books, sure. Overflowing with elements that don’t usually trip my literary wire, certainly.

Yet I enjoyed them precisely because they aren’t really about what they seem to be about.

Tom Hernandez, Author

Chocolate Cows and Purple Cheese, and other tales from the homefront
http://www.amazon.com/Chocolate-Cows-And-Purple-Cheese/dp/1440137986
 

Vampire Lullaby

Evil Leprechaun Fan Art

"Phantom of the Opera" by Gaston Leroux and Two Weeks of Story Round Up

My youngest son Daniel is a huge Phantom of the Opera fan; tonight we watched the original Lon Chaney version. He had never read the original story, so I sent him this link. So far, he's enjoying it.

How about you? Have you ever read it? If not, here ya go:

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/175/175-h/175-h.htm


Support group helps parents of special needs kids

Understanding the challenges and blessings of raising a child with special needs, this mother forms a support group for other parents in similar situations.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/23606225-423/support-group-helps-parents-of-special-needs-kids.html


Lemont business owner was a father first

And he ran a tight ship in both areas.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/news/23627329-418/an-extraordinary-life-lemont-business-owner-was-a-father-first.html


Dog's life is a real page turner

He's an author's writing companion, a character in her medical mystery series, and a therapy dog, too.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/23606444-423/pet-story-dogs-life-is-a-real-page-turner.html


More than a jewelry sale: friendships also forged in class

This group of perpetual students learns and loves together.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/23706267-423/more-than-a-jewelry-sale-friendships-also-forged-in-class-at-jjc.html


Book event centers on caregiving

The benefits of caregiving, in plain and simple text, perfect for children and adults.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/23606072-423/book-event-center-on-caregiving.html


Joliet West teacher embraces technology positivity

English teacher Maggie Maslowski eschewed all forms of social media until she discovered the potential to her students.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/23605940-423/joliet-west-teacher-embraces-technology-positivity.html


Historical footage changes Joliet West teacher's lesson plan

With his new position at a broadcast museum, this teacher hopes to change the way social studies is taught in the United States.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/23605657-423/historical-footage-changes-joliet-west-teachers-lesson-plan.html


Spirituality was nun's musical accompanist

Did the angels reserve a heavenly cello for her? Read on, and decide for yourself.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/news/23783148-418/an-extraordinary-life-spirituality-was-nuns-musical-accompanist.html


JJC program an rx for cats, dogs

These stray pets get healthy AND find a forever home.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/23782805-423/jjc-program-an-rx-for-cats-dogs.html]


Advice in store for youths at Joliet Job Corps

Straight talk about business from one that successfully owned and operated fifteen Hallmark stores.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/23863470-423/advice-in-store-for-youths-at-joliet-job-corps.html


"Write" of marriage: zombie book collaboration

The pros and cons of co-authoring a book with your spouse, from a couple that worked together on a zombie novel.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/23864289-423/a-write-of-marriage-zombie-book-collaboration.html


Heart attack followed by a survival surprise

She should not have survived, but she did...and thanked the off-duty firefighter that saved her at a special surprise luncheon to honor him.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/23864010-423/a-heart-attack-follwed-by-a-survival-surprise.html


Former Joliet residents turn kids' ghost stories into novel

It's a mental zombie apocalypse.

http://www.buglenewspapers.com/joliet/article_ccc2b20a-4651-11e3-af51-0019bb30f31a.html

We Are Misfit Toys...

...according to WriteOn Joliet member Tom Hernandez as he expressed his appreciation for the writing group at our first Thanksiving potluck celebration this evening hosted by Ken McGee, another member.

Much like the Marchellis family in Bryony, Tom's family has a tradition where everyone has an opportunity to offer thanks for certain blessings received in the past year.

I found Tom's comment interesting because I have privately thought similar thoughts. By the world's standards, serious writers are not gregarious social butterflies. Our society is the privacy of our thoughts and that interior world we attempt to recreate on paper for the exterior world to meet.

How ironic that, in the two years since Kristina Skaggs and I founded the group, we'd truly become a group, bound by love for the writing craft, because ages, backgrounds, and individual interests are so varied, they alone would be sufficient to separate us, again by the average clique standards.

By ours, those dynamics enhance and strengthen the very fabric of our group and foster the spirit of encouragement that is ever present at our meetings.

Right on, WriteOn!

 

Meet My Cats

I often mention my cats, so I figured you'd like to meet them.

 

 

The first is Frances, a 9 month old stray wearing a red jingle bell collar, that wandered into our yard in October, 2005. She is very clean and very aloof but very attached to us at the same time. She used to cross the line on the electric fence to roam the neighborhood and canal and then take the shock to recross it to come home, where she knew she belonged.

 

 

 

 

Second was Midnight, a 4 pound, skittish stray that my son rescued in early 2007 and persuaded us to take. She was full of ear mites and tapeworms; we did not expect her to survive. But survive she did, and before Midnight was healthy enough to be spayed, she sneaked out of the house and conceived Faith, Hope, and Charity

 

 

 

 

Like, her mother, Faith is very skittish. She has a nervous tic, and she squeaks. Faith lets me share my desk chair, and, if I'm foolish enough to leave ice water unsupervised, she will dip her paw into my glass to play with the ice. She also embellishes my stories with typewritten words of her own, again, when I'm so careless as to walk away from my computer and leave the screen open.

 

 

 

 

Hope is our "Babe Didrickson" of cats. She is very athletic, very smart, very independent, and very mellow. She likes to think she's "top dog" and advances on Frances when I recite the cats' mealtime prayer. We quickly send Hope back to her place. Frances is first, always has been and always will.

 

 

Charity, our cat that used up all nine lives, with Rebekah in the background.

http://bryonyseries.blogspot.com/2013/05/goodbye-charity.html

 



Alex belonged to my oldest son, Christopher Baran, owner of Channahon Computer Repair. Alex is the sweetest, most friendliest, most loving cat you'd ever wish to meet. He snuggled with me at bedtime and guarded me while I slept, with one paw resting gently on my forearm. Unfortunately, my cats did not accept him, and he now has a new home.

 

 

Vampires:The Delectable Art of Enchantment

Coca Cola Commercial - I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect H...

"Once Upon a Time" Birthday Presents

No, it's not my birthday, but it was last summer, and good presents can often take some time to make, as in these two Once Upon a Time pieces BryonySeries web administrator emeritus Sarah Stegall and made and brought to me this evening, all the way from North Carolina. :)

Fans of the show will get it. Nonfans can just admire Sarah's creative handiwork. As one can guess, Rumple and Belle is my favorite couple.

Potion bottle and journal:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Missing Ed Calkins:(

The Steward of Tara has been silent far too long. I'm concerned he might be experiencing trouble overseas. I even sent him a telegram last week, but still he has not responded.

I'm nearly at the point of calling him, but I'll give it a few more days, just in case he's been busy writing limericks and being ruthless.

I surely hope he's not been staked...

Visage Book Tralier

So YouTube Responded...

...and said it will only talk to the official email on the account.

Except we sent the email from the official email on the account. We're going to try one more thing, but I'm thinking we may have to delete the account and begin anew.

In the words of Brian in Visage when Melissa shared the happy news that he was to become an uncle: "Joy."

In the meantime, if you'd like to view the Visage trailer, fan our BryonySeries Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/BryonySeries.

The "Visage" Trailer is Complete, but YouTube Locked Me Out of My Account

Please be patient while we resolve technical difficulties.

In the meantime, the trailer is posted on the BryonySeries Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BryonySeries. You will have to scroll back several posts, though.

In the meatime, check out the piano keys Dragon Alexander of Blackwood X Productions acquired for the project.

 

In a Funk

Too much up in the air tonight for clear blogging.

Just when I have to purchase a new health plan--because mine is being discontinued due to the new changes--there's this:

http://www.robertfeder.com/2013/11/11/sun-times-plans-to-jettison-joliet/

I'm sure I'll have a clearer head in the morning, after the funeral I will be first attending.

'Night all.

Life Lesson

"He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." 2 Corinthians 3:6

Just when I thought I got it, I received an opportunity to "get it," just in time for the Nativity Fast that begins November 15.

Time to clean house, make ye old soul a fitting abode for the Holy Spirit.

Danse Macabre 2010

"Children of the Corn Intro as C.S. Lewis Might Have Written It," by Timothy Baran and Story Round Up

Children of the Corn Intro as C.S. Lewis Might Have Written It by Timothy Baran

 

It all starts with two people and a long drive in a car, the kind of drive that everybody looks forward to, not an unpleasant drive to work or to the doctor's office. This drive had no obligations behind it. It was the kind drive where one leaves all their worries behind, and only excitement is in front of them. They were trying to save a marriage. Now you might think, isn’t that an obligation? But really, no more than putting your shoes on in the morning. 

Now this story also starts with a boy ,but, unfortunately, like a bad scrape on the knee when you’re playing at the playground, this boy gets run over by the car. He dies. Now this boy was a rather interesting boy with an interesting item in his bag. Now I won’t mention this item because it’s kind of horrible and rather unpleasant, and you parents probably wouldn't approve.

The man and his wife decide to stop in the town down the road to tell the police, those good loyal people who uphold our law, about the boy. Now a rather strange situation unfolds here. A town is always a bit of a busy place with people going about their lives; children going to school, mail being delivered, and candy shops selling tasty candy, not nasty candy, but good, nice candy. (You must remind me to tell you the story of my wonderful adventure in an exciting and slightly magical chocolate factory.)

If an empty town sounds bad, imagine if this was a scary empty town filled with all sorts of wicked things. For instance a town filled with mean, devil worshipping children who kill you with their dirty farm tools. It’s not as if they were killing with good, clean farm tools. No these children didn’t like to clean up after themselves, and it shows. Doesn’t that just sound awful? I mean really, what their mothers would say?

Subdivision takes tradition to the streets

For nearly fifty years, one Joliet neighborhood has offered an annual holiday parade, complete with representatives of the police and fire departments, as well as the local Legion Riders.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/23472693-423/joliet-subdivision-takes-tradition-to-the-streets.html


Birth days special to this animal rescuer

Meet a man that rescues pregnant pups from and fundraises for various groups, photographs pets, and is studying to become a veterinary technician

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/23477586-423/birth-days-special-to-this-animal-rescuer.html


Mokena man helps Joliet WWII vet to a special day

Two men a generation apart in age met by chance at a coffee shop and became good friends, giving the younger man the opportunity to give the elder the memory of a lifetime.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/23181337-423/mokena-man-helps-joliet-wwii-vet-to-a-special-day.html


Painting the town red

Joliet is getting its first Santa run, a non-competitve, family-friendly event that will benefit programs for local high school students.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/23577052-423/painting-the-town-red.html

Irish Werewolves

Irish werewolves, like Irish vampires, are not like regular werewolves. Read on:

http://www.gdfalksen.com/post/66055779645

"I'm Still Alive" S1E1

The "Visage" Trailer is Nearly Complete

Every scene is filmed, and I saw a preview of the credits today. Looking good!

A different creative team produced this trailer, and, of course, Visage, is a very different book from Bryony. So expect a different sort of trailer. Think "scene" and "emblematic."

What stays the same is quality and James Onohan, the official musical voice of BryonySeries. If you haven't yet heard his all-original piano music, "The Best-Loved Compositions of John Simons," you're missing a real treat. Download the CD at www.jamesonohan.com.

BryonySeries Facebook fans will get the first glimpse,s o if you're not a fan, now's a good time: www.facebook.com/BryonySeries

Finally! Progress on the Prequel and a Surprise Photo

Although I conceived the idea for Bryony in early 1985, I never began work in semi-earnest until the fall of 2007 and serious composing never commenced until January 2009. Being my first novel and my first serious attempt at fiction since junior high school, I was all over the place with it--no direction at all--and having glorious fun!

By the time I got to Visage that summer, I had a good idea of the whole novel writing thing and the process was much smoother. By Staked!, I was feeling like a pro, an amateur pro albeit, but a pro nevertheless. I wrote two-thirds of the book by Christmas, received my first round of editorial notes for Bryony from the publisher, and completed rounds one and two before I returned to Staked!, which I finished on Memorial Day. I couldn't wait to tackle Before the Blood.

And there I stumbled. 

For those of you familiar with the BryonySeries, each book is thirty chapters long, not counting its prologue and epilogue. Double that for Before the Blood (well, still just one prologue and epilogue). I found myself once again over my head, and work has limped along since then. 

Then I realized I didn't need better discipline. I needed an new writing plan. I now have one, and Before the Blood is finally an official work in progress. I've made some decent headway on it these past few weekends, and I can't wait to return to it.

Here's what I'm doing. I'm expanding the outline I created for Before the Blood several years ago and adding more detail to it on each pass so that I become more and more comfortable with the overall story, its nuances, plot pacing, etc. My goal each weekend is to make one complete read through, but the book is too long for it, even with staunch dedication and focus, but  I am making two sweeps twice a month, probably the best I can do right now with work, family life, church life, having a life, and other writing projects in various states of not done.

With each pass, I add to my homework lists: one general, one character, and one research. I'm also compiling a timeline to keep events in order. Because of Before the Blood's complexity, I'm also considering publishing a couple of companion pieces--A Who's Who Guide to Munsonville and a Timeline of Events--which the reader may wish to consult.

On the other hand, photography for Cornell Dyer and the Missing Tombstone and Bertrand and the Lucky Clover got stalled, but we have plans to shoot in earnest this weekend. Here's a rough one from Bertrand:

 

Talking Kitty: No Pets Allowed

A Field Guide to Irish Fairies

Bookmark this link. It will make a handy reference for BryonySeries books to come.

http://www.irelandseye.com/animation/intro.html

"A Gipsy Prophecy," by Bram Stoker and Story Round Up

WriteOn Joliet's Tom Hernandez read this at last week's "Witches Night Out" fundraiser, and his presentation so "wowed" me, I've included a link to the text.

http://bramstoker.org/txt/stories/03guest/05prophecy.txt

Short list of stories this week, as I have quite a number of pieces in various modes of "not quite done." That's okay; Bram Stoker will more than compensate for it.


An Extraordinary Life: Bolingbrook man carved out quite a niche

Life begins at forty? How about ninety plus for a man who's created a legacy that will be appreciated for generations to come.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/news/23351848-418/an-extraordinary-life-bolingbrook-man-carved-out-quite-a-niche.html


Meet Bosley, one resilient retriever

He can do more with three legs than many can do with four.

http://napervillesun.suntimes.com/news/petstory-JHN-10292013:article


Event at theatre a holiday memorial to loved ones

Complete with a unique, glass blown ornament in my favorite shade of blue

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/23452316-423/event-at-theatre-a-holiday-memorial-to-loved-ones.html