In France yesterday, while in Metz, we wandered into sort of a mall. In support of fashionistas everywhere, I offer these pics to show you what the hip French woman is wearing this fall.
Leggings and tunics are it. The leggings are pretty cool, with buttons and buckles and studs and hand painted designs. And that makes them expensive.
And if you are French, you wear black. That is pretty much your palette. That is how people knew we were Americans before speaking to us. We wore color.
Click the pics to see more clearly. 
Have you seen these shoes? They are called toe shoes. They are the rage here in Germany. The bottoms and the toes are heavy-ish neoprene rubber. There is a mesh on the top, but don't you think it would make your toes sweat? Apparently they are comfy enough that runners wear them on long distances. 
I spent most of the day shopping today. This is the Home Depot equivalent here. Have been there three times already....in a day and a half.
And of course, Home Depot. I was happy to note that the prices here are even less than at home. I am guessing that has to do with the lack of export charges or something. We bought a van full of furniture and miscellaneous stuff for under $500. It was awesome!
I had such a hard time with Orbitz and our plane reservations. I made seat assignments three times. In the end, we all had either aisle or window seats. But, when we got to the airport, two of us had middle seats. Oh. man. A middle seat for 9 hours. The ladies at the counter did not help us so we went to the gate. The discussion went something like this:
When my seat mate said she wanted off the airplane about halfway there, I was able to say, "You should not get off, it is -45 degrees out there!
The Hangar, exterior.
I love this long wooden dish that Sheila had on the dinner table. 
In Landscheid, on a walk after dinner tonight. It was a little chilly, loved it!
How does this happen? Yesterday, it was bath time.
Today, it is senior pictures. 
If you are old-ish like me, do you remember your senior picture day? We put on a nice shirt, sat in the chair and smiled. We were out in 15 minutes. 
I like the way senior pictures now show more personality of the kid.
This beaded curtain makes me think of Star Trek the Next Generation. Not you? I spent several evenings sitting at my desk stitching bead fringe watching episodes of Star Trek TNG. Now my brain associates bead fringe with Star Trek. That is just how it works. And that is fine because I like both stitching bead fringe and Star Trek TNG.
Scenes from my morning walk: I have not trapped a single varmint this summer, so I was thinking I was home free. But, what in the world do you think did this last night? It dug everything out of the pot and left the dead roots. This is a first in varmintland.
The leaves have been falling for a couple weeks, but today was the first day I saw a pretty leaf. Red. Isn't it just perfection. Yea fall!!!!!
I love this point in my walk everyday. It comes at almost one mile and only when the sun is shining. It makes me want to bring a piece of chalk and trace it for the shadey days.
Nancy's birthday. So the sign said. Do you think you rent all those flamingos or buy them?
Today, I packed 32 backpacks filled with school supplies into the car and dropped them off at Grace Centers of Hope. I totally missed the kids and had to just leave the backpacks. It was a bit disappointing. 
But, it was really encouraging to look inside the backpacks to see how everyone did. Volunteers each took a kid's name and filled a backpack. Some folks went way above and beyond the call of duty. Someone decorated personalized notebooks. Someone added a big bag of Smarties. Get it? Smarties. Someone added jewelry (OK, that was me). One backpack was so full we could hardly lift it.
While at CHA, I made a button ring that I called Ode to Ace of Cakes. It inspired us to have some fun. 
We are going to send a pile of button rings to the Ace of Cakes staff....in little cake boxes.
Cute idea, right? Think we will see them on an episode?
Keep watch for me and let me know!
These are my contribution to the pile of rings.
Ringmaker to the Stars,
Taught the spare tire bracelet class last night. Had 13 students and some fun!
All class fees are going to support my mission trip to Germany. Check it out to see where I am going and what I will be doing.
What I really like about a class like this is that using the same materials, everyone's bracelet looks so different. Personalities come out.
I might just teach this again!
I think the planets are not aligned this week, or something. Crazy weird stuff has been going on around here.
Last week in Chicago, I worked a make it take it on button rings for my most excellent friends at Blumenthal Lansing Co. I met 23543323 of the nicest, funniest, best singers and crafters. During our Donnie and Marie song fest (admitting I did not know much here) and our Sonny and Cher song tribute (I excelled here), I helped my new friends make rings, and I made some myself. I call this one, "Ode to Ace of Cakes." 
And this one, I am calling "The Seussical Ring."
This one needs a name. Any ideas?
I made these today for my winter column. Tomorrow, I will be making them into jewelry. Not sure what I will do yet, stay tuned. They look good enough to eat and were pretty easy to make. Those are the two keys to my beginning glass beadmaking column: if the beads look good enough to eat and are simple to make, they work!
T
