Sharry Miller

Silly Daughter

Is it possible that there's too much talk about creativity and crafting in my family's life? Thane asked me to mail a letter today. I realized when I jumped in my truck, however, that it didn't have a stamp on it. Rowan was just coming out of the house. "Rowan, run back inside a get me a stamp, please." "A stamp?" she replied, her face a study in perplexity. "Yes, a stamp. Hurry up!" I... Read more →

Just Six Words

Apparently The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin resonated strongly with me because I keep bringing it up. She really did have many thought-provoking things to say. I recently started getting a Facebook feed from her (I signed up for it on her website found at, unsurprisingly, www.happiness-project.com). Today's was intriguing. SMITH Magazine (www.smithmag.net) teamed up with The Happiness Project to ask readers to share their "secrets to happiness" in just six words. Apparently, Smith is... Read more →

Ho Ho Ho

It was a merry Christmas and everyone was very happy with Santa. Actually, we don't really do Santa, but not for any real reason. My family didn't really do Santa when I was growing up, either. We had a very set ritual for opening gifts on Christmas Eve. First, we got to open one present after dinner and before we went to church. After church we opened the rest of them, always taking turns in... Read more →

Christmas Eve in Valdez

The sun highlights the mountains in alpenglow, but the howling wind and 9 degrees prevents spending time outdoors to enjoy the beautiful day. Time spent indoors with the moms is good, too, however, and we're making a head start on Christmas dinner preparations. They came to Valdez from Eagle River and Wasilla for the weekend. Rowan loves having both of her grandmas here! Lyla (my mom) and Carol (Thane's mom) enjoy a coffee break Mom... Read more →

Happy Yule!

In Alaska, the winter solstice has to be one of the happiest days of the year. We eagerly greet the shortest day of the year, and then cheerfully let it quickly pass us by. This year, we gain a whole five seconds of daylight tomorrow - the upward swing begins! Just the knowledge that the days are getting longer and warmer weather is on its way makes the many months remaining in winter go by... Read more →

New Use for Booze...Bottles

Let people know you're looking for interesting bottles to melt in a kiln and you never know what will come out of the liquor cabinet. I have developed quite a collection of alcohol bottles in my studio, but unfortunately (maybe) not from my own consumption. I've learned that I need to start drinking with Roy (bottles from four different kinds of good rum - I couldn't convince him to give them to me full), and... Read more →

Creative Girls

Rowan gets a package every month from a company called Creative Girls Club. Each one has two craft projects. Some are disappointing - you just end up with another dust collector, but some are pretty cool. My main complaint with them is that there really isn't a whole lot of creativity involved - you just follow the directions and make a project that's essentially the same as the picture. Not my idea of fun, obviously,... Read more →

Tequila Christmas Cake

Once again this year, I've had requests for my Tequila Christmas Cake recipe so here goes: 1 cup sugar 1 tsp. baking powder 1 cup water 1 tsp. salt 1 cup brown sugar Lemon juice 4 large eggs Nuts 1 bottle tequila 2 cups dried fruit Sample the tequila to check quality. Take a large bowl; check the tequila again to be sure it is of the highest quality. Repeat. Turn on the electric mixer.... Read more →

Geo Bee with no Buzz

Oh, I hate to do it, but I'm going to comment on the state of education in America today. I don't normally go along with most complaints about education because I think too few parents are involved enough in their child's education. We can't expect the teachers to manage the entire education of our young people in a vacuum. I was a tad shocked today, however. Rowan won the opportunity to represent her fourth grade... Read more →

Learn One New Thing Each Day

It's a good philosophy to try to learn one new thing each day. I don't know that I always manage to do so, or at least to recognize when I have learned something new, but I'll keep trying. Today my one thing was knowledge I was actively seeking. I wanted a way to post my fused glass class list for the upcoming months in a way that would be permanent and visible. I searched my... Read more →