I've been counting and recounting the number of posts I've written because I just can't believe this is my 100th! This has got to be the epitome of "time flies when you're having fun". When my sister, the "other" Kim, of Savannah Gourmet, first suggested I start a blog, my intention was simply to keep a running record of all of the ludicrous, bizarre, unbelievable things that could only happen to me. While there has been a bit of that, my blog has evolved into the place where all of the wacky, eclectic components of my personality (and my life) converge to paint a picture of my world. The coloring is definitely outside of the lines...and sometimes goes right off the paper!
This journey has been amazing, though. I can look back and see where I've wandered off the beaten path and, all along the way, there was one (or more) of you to 1.) walk alongside of me or 2.) gently pull me back onto the trail. Odd though it may seem, to "outsiders", the friendships I have formed with my blog-buddies are as significant as any I have formed in my "real" life. What astounds me, on a daily basis, is how intertwined our lives become and how familiar we are with the details of each others daily routines.
I'm so grateful, to each and every one of you, who has reached out to me and allowed me to be a small part of your world!
Now for the give-away part: initially, it was my plan to assemble (what I'd hoped would be) a wonderful collection of my handmade creations for the winner. This afternoon, I switched gears a bit. Yes, the give-away does include some handmade goodies, but the "theme" is: "These are a few of my favorite things". For those of you who don't know me well enough yet, here are some hints...
I love...the beach, fairy tales, all things Victorian, whimsical sillies, girly bath products, jewelry, photographs, accessories, things that simplify my chaotic life, miniatures, sparkles, comfy cozies...and surprises! So, that's what I'm going to do: surprise the winner with some of my favorite things, which will, hopefully, be some of her favorite things. Please leave a comment, if you would like to be entered, and one of my kids will randomly choose a name on Monday. Why Monday? Why not?
My wonderful new friend, Sharon of SharDonExclusives, has rendered me positively speechless. Since I discovered her amazingly, fantastically stunning jewelry, I have been transfixed by her talent and imagination. She, who turns a piece from a broken stained glass, church window, into a pendant that is truly a work of art. Who, beside Sharon, could even imagine such a metamorphosis? I posted earlier that Sharon and I instantly "clicked", via email, followed by a phone chat that confirmed (to me at least) that we were just meant to be friends. I had sent Sharon some beaded jewelry that I knew she could transform into something far lovelier than it was. She seemed pleased with her new goodies and let me know that a little "love gift" was on its way to me. I wasn't expecting the package until tomorrow, but was THRILLED when it arrived a day early. "Little love gift" my.....eye! The main gift was the most gorgeous necklace I could imagine and exactly what I would have chosen for myself. How did she know? She also made me a beautiful pin cushion (such a misnomer for this lovely piece). I don't have a pin cushion. I store my pins/ needles in an empty film canister and prick my finger EVERY time I open it. How did she know? Then there was one of her fabulous eye glass cases. I just got a pair of reading glasses and have been carrying them, in my purse, wrapped in a paper towel because I didn't have a glasses case. How did she know?
When you make a true heart connection with another person, you just know. Thank you, Sharon, for....well, you know :-)
I am very unhappy with the quality of the pictures. I tried to snap them before the sun went down. I also had my son attempt to take some pictures of me wearing the necklace, but they didn't turn out well. We'll try again.
I am holding off on sharing the cards Sharon made me for another post as I have to attend to my Gretel. The puppy has had a bit of a rough day. Back to the vet to get hers pain meds changed (they were causing some...ummm..."plumbing" issues) and have her checked over. Everything looks good, according to the vet, but the healing process is a bit harder now that her initial excitement, over being home, is over.
I was just stopping by Margaret's blog: The French Bear, to leave a comment about some fabulous goodies she had made for another blog friend. Her post for today was called "Pay it Forward". I love this idea and am thrilled to participate! Margaret, by the way, is paying it forward after a visit at Karen's blog: Extroverted Introspection. Thanks to both ladies, for such a terrific idea!
Here's how it works: the first three people that leave a comment, along with their addresses etc. will receive a handmade goodie from me. All you have to do is put this link on your blog and do the same for the first three people that leave comments for you. Let's see how far we can pay it forward. Let the fun begin :-)
***"Where is the link?", you are probably asking. Your guess is as good as mine! I am just hopeless when it comes to blogger bells & whistles. I am hoping that Margaret will give me some guidance with this. The "rules" should still work, though. The first three people, to leave a comment, will get a surprise from me. Then it's your turn to pay it forward. Has everyone seen that wonderful movie??? It's a definite must-see! The concept is one I try to implement as often as possible. We don't have any toll roads, in CT, but I (almost) always pay for the car behind me when I happen upon a tollbooth. I also love it when they sell fund raiser lottery tickets outside of the grocery store (local volunteer fire dept, etc.). I purchase several tickets and ask the people at the table to give them out to others who stop by to buy a chance for a prize. What are some ways you give to others, expecting nothing in return?
There is still "room" for more Pay it Forward participants, as two of the comments were left by Margaret....who is already doing her own P.I.F. and one was left by my big sis :-)
I am, normally, so excited to cozy down in front of my computer when I am beginning a new post. Not so much this time! I'll try to make this as quick and painless, for myself, as possible. As I have mentioned, repeatedly, the vet bills to get Gretel fixed are through the roof. Obviously, I hadn't planned well for this kind of (near) catastrophe. Being unemployed is a mixed blessing right now: I'm able to be home with my pup while she heals, but that doesn't do much in the way of covering her medical costs. Like so many others who are in similar positions, I have been actively looking for employment and am hopeful that something will work out. In the meantime, I have realized just how much "stuff" I have that I neither use or need. If the vet accepted Prada shoes, as payment, I'd be all set :-) I spent quite a bit of time listing on ebay today and ask, humbly, that you take a moment to peruse my goodies. I know how tight budgets are right now, but I have some fabulous jewelry "up" right now. The watch, for example, was informally appraised, by my jeweler, for $2,500-$3,000. All of my listings are "Buy it Now" with a best offer option. I have been selling, on ebay, for years and have found that format works well for those buyers who are impatient (like me), but still enjoy the negotiating/ auction feel of a sale. I would be a lousy car salesman as I find this kind of self-promotion excruciation!
***I just realized that this is my 97th posting. Until I come up with a fabulous give-away for my 100th (I know I don't have to do a give-away, but it's such a great way to celebrate), I'll keep adding a "P.S." to various posts. Is that cheating? I also wonder if I'm breaking some sort of blog record, with close to 100 posts in...what has it been...3-4 months!?
I was absolutely THRILLED when my name was chosen as one of Monica's Easter swap partners and had such fun putting together a basket of goodies for her. The postal transit time between CT and Italy pushes my patience to the limit, but when her package arrived at my doorstep, it was well worth the wait! Her wrapping job is so beautiful that one is tempted to hold off on opening each package. I may have been tempted, but I am not stupid :-) Inside were such beautiful, carefully selected treasures...all lovingly made by my thoughtful and very talented friend! I started the unveiling with the wonderful Easter card, in which Monica gave me a bit of background information on several of the presents. I was in tears before I even removed a single bow on the packages. Monica, by the way, ties bows that would have Houdini struggling to get through...adds to the anticipation! Prior to taking pictures, this time, I chose the perfect spot for each item. The only exception is the adorable bunny she made, who is sitting in a metal basket that hangs from my kitchen window. I couldn't get the lighting right, so I plopped her on my comfy bed pillows for the photo session. The little, handpainted bell and trinket box have joined another bell, from Monica, on my dresser. The "Wish" bunnies are nestled in their egg, hanging on the curtain rod, in my bedroom. The nest, which Monica found in her garden...and is my absolute favorite...is...where else? In the vintage birdcage I have in my living room. Once again, Monica, you demonstrate an uncanny ability to select the perfect gift. The morning the package arrived, I had been playing around with different items to put inside the cage: silk flowers, different types of greenery, candles, baubles & buttons, ribbons & lace. I got slightly frustrated with cage renovations and decided to leave it empty until I could find something that worked. I laughed so hard when I opened the bird's nest...utter perfection. I'm sure I've forgotten something....ohhhhhhh, the soap cone: a fun, whimsical cone filled with springy soaps...such fun! I love, love, love everything and am so very grateful for the friendship that has evolved all because of this fantastic forum. What an amazing thing it is to come together, in this "vast" arena (special smiles for you, Monica) and make such true friends!
Caroline just got home. Gretel was clearly happier to see her than she has been anyone else. I took only one picture of the two of them, as I couldn't wipe the tears from my eyes, in order to focus the camera.Caroline checked the puppy over, gave her a hug and the picture was snapped right after she said: "Thank you, God, for leaving Gretel with us"!
I'll begin this posting by asking for a bit of patience and understanding if I appear to be a bit more scattered than usual...good luck, Gentle Readers :-)
The last 4 days have been the longest and most emotional I've faced in the last several years. First & foremost, my pup is turning out to be an absolute powerhouse in the recuperation department. While she still spends quite a bit of time resting her broken bones, she is able to bear weight on her legs and takes a few steps (with some support). The vet instructed me to "follow her lead" as far as her ability to increase mobility, but didn't expect her to be making this kind of improvement for a week or so. The sun was shining today and it was warm enough to spend some time outside, which both Gretel and I relished. She more than I, I'm certain, as she has been confined to a cage for the last 4 days.
My daughter has been with her dad this weekend, so she hasn't seen the puppy up and about. I'm sure she will be thrilled and, I pray, this will erase some of the nightmarish images she has embedded in her sweet little head!
The reality of the ordeal is slowly sinking in as I try to figure out how to pay Peter now that I've paid Paul. The vet bills, 80% of which needed to be paid upfront, were astronomical. I have not a single regret about doing whatever was necessary to get Gretel the medical care she required, but I was completely unprepared for the enormity of the bills that would ensue! One of the lessons here: pet insurance! A second lesson: it helps to maintain a friendly relationship with your ex-husband (my deepest gratitude, to my daughter's father, for his willingness to help cover the surgeon's bill)!
The puppy is resting, so I am able to get some chores done. As I was straightening up, I came across some goodies I picked up at the dollar store and thought they were a terrific share for Pink Saturday: various pink floral file folders (which came in pkgs. of 3/ $1), floral pens (also 3/ $1....but I could only find two when I went to take a picture), tiny gift tags and a cute mini clip-board. I'm not sure what I'll use it for, but it matched the pens and files, so I couldn't pass it by.
Gretel and I got home a little while ago and she's trying to get herself acclimated, so this will be brief. After 45 minutes of listening to strict instructions from the vet, I finally was able to see my pup and hold her in my arms. It was the second best feeling in the world.The only thing that topped it was holding my babies for the first time. I will spare you the pictures, but she truly looks like Frankenstein, with all of the staples holding her back end together. My little FrankenFluffer! She's not terribly thrilled about having to stay still and wants desperately to careen around the house with her cat. She was less thrilled, however, when she actually made an attempt to try it.
Unless I am lieing (laying? I always mix those up) next to her, she's pretty whiney. I don't mind it one smidge, so that is all we have on our agenda for the day. Maybe, if she falls asleep, I can get some housework done...maybe not :-) Who cares? She's alive...and home...and I got to hear her sweet puppy sighs as soon as I picked her up! Boy, does this ever bring back those newborn baby days!
I hope Beverly, at How Sweet the Sound, doesn't mind terribly that I'm "joining" her Pink Saturday extravaganza...in a roundabout way. Anyone who has been following my blog knows that this week has been insane for me. I never got a chance to sign up, with Beverly, properly, but felt the need to add my two pink cents. I will sign up for next week, to make it official.
In between tedious chores & trying to keep my mind off my puppy's surgery yesterday, I did squeeze in a few little projects...and they just happen to fit Pink Saturday. I decided the "wart eggs" (as my son aptly named them) were just not going to beautify, no matter what I did to them. Into the garbage they went and I started over.
"Simple, simple, simple", I kept reminding myself. I painted some blown-out eggs the lightest pink, then added a touch of shimmer with some glass sparkle. I plopped them in a ceramic bowl, added a few millinery flowers and that's the end of that!
It never dawned on me that I could change my sweet teddy bear's attire and the blue frock she has always worn was looking a bit off in my pink & white bedroom. I dug through some of my daughter's old baby clothes and found an adorable ensemble that now matches my bedding. Two minutes of creating a new hairbow and I think she's looking like a whole new girl!
My last show & tell required no work, at all. It is my collection of silver & crystal do-dads that sits on my dresser. The pretty pink & gold rose is one from my good friend, Monica, and is the perfect compliment to the other trinkets...don't you agree?
The surgery is done and Gretel made it through with flying colors. The vet said this far surpassed the best possible outcome he could have imagined. I saw her (from afar) very briefly. She was still dopey, from the anesthesia, but such a sight for sore eyes. I'll pick her up tomorrow at noon and we'll begin the recuperation process at home. The vet gave me a mile-long list of instructions, which I will gladly follow to the most minute detail. My heartfelt thank you, yet again, to all of my sweet blog friends, for your prayers & support!!!
I am now going to take a nap :-)
I'm having a tough time focusing on even the most mundane, simplistic chores right now. Hopefully, that will change once I hear from the vet's office. I was browsing through the archives of E-Mail Ministry's messages and came across this one, which has always been one of my favorites. Seems to fit me perfectly right now. It's a bit long, but worth reading.
PUPPY SIZE
"Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. We've been back to this animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since we started all of this," the mother told the volunteer. "What is it she keeps asking for?" the volunteer asked. "Puppy size!" replied the mother. "Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for." "I know...we have seen most of them," the Mom said in frustration...Just then Danielle came walking into the office.
"Well, did you find one?" asked her Mom. "No, not this time," Danielle said with sadness in her voice. "Can we come back on the weekend?" "You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there's always a supply," the volunteer said. Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door. "Don't worry, I'll find one this weekend," she said.
Over the next few days, both Mom and Dad had long conversations with her. They both felt she was being too particular. "It's this weekend or we're not looking any more," Dad finally said in frustration. "We don't want to hear anything more about puppy size either," Mom added.
Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning. By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the section that housed the smaller dogs. Tired of the routine, Mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages. There was an observation window so you could see the animals during times when visitors weren't permitted. Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look. One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one. One by one she said, "Sorry, you're not the one."
It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup. The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer. "Mom, that's it! I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!" she screamed with joy. "It's the puppy size!" "But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held over the last few weeks," Mom said.
"No not size ---- the sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed," she said.
"Don't you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sigh!" The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a little of both.
"Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms," she said. Then holding the puppy up close to her face she said, "Mom, he loves me. I heard the sighs of his heart!"
Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that makes you sigh. Take the time to stop and listen; you will be surprised at what you hear. "Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath."
-- Author Unknown***From the first time I took her from the cage, at the pet store, Gretel has sighed and snuggled into my neck while I hold her. She still does it, every morning, when I get her out of her crate. I sure do miss those "puppy size".
I'm trying to keep myself productive and busy, while I wait for the surgeon to call (evidently, he hasn't gotten to the vet's office yet...it's gonna be a long day!). I'm puttering around the house: changing bed linens, doing dishes, folding laundry, etc. and I happened to look out the picture window in my living room. Oh, HECK NO.....that is not snow falling from the sky. Not on March 20th and certainly not when I need some sunshine today. Did someone neglect to fill Mother Nature in on this whole seasonal change thing....the one where spring follows winter...and so on??? I actually closed my eyes, thinking I could wish it away. Take a look at the pictures and tell me if it worked.
You all have no idea how much your prayers, encouraging comments & private emails have meant to me over the last 36 hours. Gosh, it feels like my world has been running in slow motion. Surely, it's been at least a week since our pup was hit by the car...feels that way! When I'm having a chronic period of sadness, I find myself coming back to my computer to check for new comments and to re-read the old ones. Your support has given me such solace and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Gretel will have surgery, first thing this morning, to repair her pelvis. The vet has been very pleased with the strength she has shown and feels she is stable enough to undergo the operation. Because of the timing of the accident, they'd rather get it done today, than wait until Monday. I hope it's not premature, but am putting my faith in the doctors and pray God is guiding them in the right direction. :::laughing::: Okay...HE always guides in the right direction. I hope they are following His lead :-) I will update as soon as I know more and, once again, thank you!!!! Such small words, but I trust that you can feel my heart in them!
I hadn't planned on posting, before I had something definitive to report...until I was reminded of the power of prayer. Over the course of the last 18 hours, I've prayed and cried myself into an empty vessel condition. Now it's time to call in for reinforcements!
Yesterday afternoon, while my 7 year old was playing outside with our puppy, Gretel (pup) ran into the street and got hit by a car...which never bothered to stop. I'll spare you all the heartwrenching details, although the tape keeps playing & playing & playing, in my head. Gretel is alive...I should have started with that. She is very seriously injured, though (pelvis broken in several places, broken hind leg, serious concussion) and will need surgery. They stabilized her, overnight, at the emergency clinic, then we were back to our regular vet first thing this morning. She was alert and SO happy to see us when I picked her up. The surgeon will evaluate her this afternoon. That covers my fluffy baby's medical condition.
What weighs as/more heavily on my heart is my daughter's emotional state. She is, obviously, haunted by the images/ sounds of the car...she blames herself...and she's negotiating fiercely, with God, about leaving Gretel with us (she asked that He count the number of puppies He already has and reminded him that we only have one). The vet bills are already through the roof and will surely climb higher. As much as I hate that reality, as a single mom it is my reality. The best case scenario: the surgery will be fairly simple and Gretel will fully recuperate. The not-so-good scenario: she will live with chronic pain & have limited mobility. It then becomes a quality of life issue. I hate the way that sounds/ looks..."quality of life"...who am I to determine (for another living being) how good or how challenging their life "should" be?
Oh, my brain and heart are so muddled right now. I'm trying to juggle what's best for my Gretel, for my daughter and for our family as a whole. Rarely do I have moments where I am so uncomfortable doing all of this "alone", but this sure is one of those moments.
***I didn't include a picture of my son with Gretel because...well, he isn't terribly fond of her, so we don't have any :-(
Sometimes you hit upon a project idea where everything clicks...and sometimes, in spite of your best efforts, you just lay an egg :-) The collages I worked on yesterday, while I was home with my son, came out rather nicely. The eggs, which I have been working on for a week...not so much! The problem with the eggs, I think, is I should have stopped while I was ahead. With each step, they just didn't seem right...so I kept adding different elements. Now, as my son pointed out, they look like rotten eggs with warts on the ends. I put so much work into them, however, that I am still displaying them on my fireplace mantle...until I am fully prepared to admit defeat.
These pictures are particularly off, as I'm rushing to get ready to play nursemaid this morning, then am off to the shop for the afternoon!
It was another beautiful, if not terribly warm, early spring day in Connecticut. My son was home with a touch of the stomach bug (which I narrowly escaped...I HOPE), so I was able to get some yard work done. I also spruced up my new patio a bit. I'm so eager to get flowers planted, but they're calling for frost on Thursday, so my patience will have to stretch a bit further. I made two bench pillows, using body pillows that we no longer use. They're not quite big enough, so I'll have to pick up a third. I had a huge amount of the brown fabric, from my friend Melody's shop. When I got it, I had no idea what I would use it for, as it doesn't match anything in my home...outside is an entirely different story. It goes perfectly with the stain on the patio and the planters I picked up at the dollar store. There is, apparently, a method to my madness...even when I'm not aware of it! Now, if I can just get some flowers planted. What was it I mentioned about patience??? Almost forgot: I was given buckets of those cool wrought iron pieces, on the back of the bench. They were left over from a job a contractor friend was working on. He figured I could put them to good use, so he saved them from dumpster doom. Initially, I was going to try to remove the rust, but decided I rather like the aged look. I stuck them on with a little Gorilla Glue...I love the unique touch they give the bench!
It's amazing, to me, how people's talents are expressed so differently. I had a bunch of (scrap) pressure treated wood stacked next to my garage, a dozen or so slat squares and a good friend who is extremely handy in all of the areas I am not. With the help of my two children, my friend, John, built me a patio with a ten foot bench...all in 4 hours! He also used some "left-over" flagstone to create a pretty, winding walkway around to the front of the house. To say that I'm amazed and so thankful is an understatement. Now, I'm "doing my thing" and making seat cushions out of two old body pillows we don't use and some fabric I bought at my friend, Melanie's, shop. This piece of fabric was really big, matched nothing in my home, but I just knew I'd someday put it to good use :-) Pictures of my handiwork will follow!
As difficult as it will be, I promise to exercise restraint when it comes to inundating my blog with pictures of the new baby. I have to remind myself that 1.) I am not the Grandma of baby Lyrik and 2.) people will only tolerate having to "Ohhhhhhh" and "Ahhhhhhhh" over baby pictures for just so long. I promised Jessica (the new Mom), however, that I would post these updates to show how much he's changed in 36 hours (no more blue, bruised face and his nose is starting to pop into shape). Did I mention that I get to spend the day with them tomorrow because the "real" Grandma has to work?
