a special visitor...

ok...guess who?
I first started this blog as an art blog, where I met so many of my art friends.  Well I have had the longest ever, art funk...I don't even know how long, that is how long it has been.
I got a visit from my long lost muse...
I saw some bookmarks I adored awhile back and kept saying ...someday...Well I ordered the supplies and when they came, I jumped right in.  I love them...I originally thought I would use vintage velvet, then I spied the striped ribbon.  Next lot will be more velvet, and less 'fussy'.

I dressed mine up with laces and flower ribbon.  Of course the clip findings screamed for vintage and costume jewelry.  I had the best time...

I might have to keep this one.
This is Steve's Grandma Jones' bible.  It is falling apart and brittle, but I love it.  She has notes inside and many scriptures are underlined.  Her writing in the margins, she was a wonderful lady.  Loved church!  And he will tell you, she was loving and firm.  I have some good memories of her, she was funny.  She spent time with her children as she aged going from house to house as they were spread over the states.  She would be in the bathroom for a very long time...and they only had one.  She would do her crosswords in there...hahahaha.
Happy Sunday to you all, I am happy to finally share some art! xo

I feel peaceful...

I feel peaceful...
It hit me in the shower today (this to me is funny, because I have a friend who talks to God in the shower, she is one on my 'trues'...and she knows who she is)  This feeling was very subtle the way it came to me, almost like anxiety, when it comes and goes... Not like a flip of a switch, how I would prefer things to be.  Well, the OLD me would.  But it was very much there and I am not sure how to explain it but at the same time I very much wanted to write about it, so I won't forget it.  I think it was a God's whisper.  I have a busy day ahead of me, but I wanted to take time for this.

Now I still have worry, we all do.  I am very concerned for my husband, he is more private than I am, so I respect that and haven't shared much of his health concern.  But I am fearful some days and have nervous times.  I am so far away from my parents, and this is the time of their lives when things are challenging, and how I would love to be close to them. Well, I am very close to them, in our hearts.  That to me is a blessing and always has been, you can live near your loved ones, and not have this closeness.  But close to them so I could be with them, and hug them and kiss their cheek, and help them...  Just help them... So I am not saying I am without conflict, worry, anxiety...but I feel peace.  I think it is God's grace.

I am not one to say you have to go to church, to love God or believe in him.  I am not a religious person, and I know people get uncomfortable with talk of religion.  But I was always the first to say, I can't "let go, let God"  I just can't.  Maybe that is because I haven't allowed myself to have a 'real' relationship with him.  I am learning now to do that.  I don't think I could have done it on my own, without church and the wonderful people I have met there.  Do you know how on your own?  I don't know...All I can say, is I have a few very special friends who have helped me...see a different way.  I love them, xo.

I know my husband will be fine, I believe it fully and he is well on his way with treatment.  I will take prayers for him.  :)  My mom and dad, are struggling some days but holding their own... I hope they find some help to come into their home, my sister is working on that.  But they resist a bit, it is hard to give up your independence.  But it would be someone else to chat with, take some of the work from my dad...just lighten their spirits. Thankfully I can talk to them...and if I make her laugh or just tell them how much I love them...then I will take that and be grateful for it.  I hope to visit them by the end of this year!

My anxiety is in a good place, I have a job I like, and I work for great people.  (now if you have been following me long, you know some of the jobs I had...lol, so this one is a good fit for me, I hope they feel the same)
So live goes on, as it has.  But I 'feel' I have a new perspective...Thank you God.
xo

after-thought...did you notice I didn't mention art once?  I struggle sometimes, as this started as my art blog, and I feel bad that I am not sharing art.  I have not done anything creative in SO long...and I didn't miss it much.  I am starting to get that urge once more and I have some  supplies on my art table as I type this.

Shaming the pooches...

These are so funny!
If you need a laugh today, well...here you go!

 

Oh, if we love them, we love them...no matter what they do.

slacker...

I am a blog slacker.
I still have the desire, I think.  I just don't take the time.  I blame Facebook...
Facebook gets the blame for so much these days, so why not.  Luckily I am not into Twitter, so I can't blame that.  I would love to blame Pinterest, but I don't know what to do there.  But that is another post.

I have looked high and low for vintage Pyrex refrigerator dishes.  I found some on a local sell/swap group on Facebook.  I love them.  I have banned all plastic from our cabinets.  Now if I have leftovers, they are in glass.  I am still on the look out for more., it is fun to have a treasure to seek again.

I found some fantastic grapes today, and paid an arm and a leg for them...no really!  I bought some fresh fruit salad at Fresh Market to take to work with my Friday.  Have I told you I am working PT again?  Another blog post coming.  Anyhow, this salad had the most wonderful crunchy grapes.  I went in today to find the grapes.  Of course they were organic, and rang up at the register for 10.03.  WHAT?  But they are THAT good, and I know I have bought a bottle of wine for more than that, so I treated myself.  My new found relationship with fruit, comes from my return to Weight Watchers.  Fruit is free now, no points.  Again, WHAT?  I am not really a fruit/veggie eater.  I must re-train.
You may remember I was on ViSalus.  I did the 90 day challenge, and then stayed on it for another month.  I did like the shakes, but I had a bit of trouble with the fiber, nuff said.  lol...

So I went back to WW to get this final10 (15?) pounds off.  And the new program is so easy, if you have a smart phone.  Oh my goodness...scan a bar code and it tracks the food for you.  Easy Peasy.
I weigh in Monday morning, we shall see how good I have done.  I had a wee gain, during our little get-away in August, and darn old Isaac added to it.  So this is me, back on track...

Off to go and blog surf a bit this evening.  I am hoping to be posting sooner than later. xo

beautiful words...

Back towards light

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be (possibly your roommate, neighbor, coworker, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger), *but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way.*

And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.

*Everything happens for a reason.*

Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck.

Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul.
Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become. *Even the bad experiences can be learned from.* In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones.

If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious when you open your heart.

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.

*Make every day count.*

Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again.

Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and actually listen.

Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high.

Hold your head up because you have every right to.

Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you.

You can make of your life anything you wish.

Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets.

*Most importantly,* *if you LOVE someone tell him or her, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store.*

And learn a lesson in life each day that you live.

That's The Story Of Life. ♥

~ Unknown

meaningful words...

“All you have to do is to pay attention; lessons always arrive when you are ready, and if you can read the signs, you will learn everything you need to know.” — Paulo Coelho

Joys of an allergic dog...

There is no joy...
For him, or me.  Poor Cisco, he is allergic and the vet believes it to be a food allergy.  So he was taken off his food and put on Science Diet Z/D.  The largest bag I could get, was 97.00.  Yep, you read that right, and it didn't even last a month.  Yikes!  Fast forward 16 weeks or so, and I called the vet to see if we could maybe try something else now.  So a trip to a natural dog food store, [thankfully we have one very close] gave me an education, for sure.  I selected a food and went back to the vet so he could read the label.  NOPE...it contained duck...blah, blah.  So we agreed on trying sweet potato and bison.

He was very excited about the kangaroo.  But they only had a sample.
What we don't do for our babies, huh?
I am crossing my fingers and toes, because if he breaks out with ear infections within a week or so, back to the other food for him.  This food will still be expensive, but about half as much as the Z/D.

Living up to his nick name, Money Pit.  xo