Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Digital Photograph - A Stream
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| A Stream
My road trip with my cousin through the
Shenandoah Valley to Washington D.C. was
really fun. We started out on a warm day
and saw lots of snow and beautiful scenery.
Our visit with my Mother, brother, and
nephews was really nice. We visited, I got
my hair cut by my favorite hairdresser/Noi,
we cooked lots of good food, and
generally did the girl's week thing.
Unfortunately, coming home was not so much
fun. My poor Smudge was still sick after
spending a week or so at the vets. He had
developed a lump over his eye.
Time for a different vet. So almost two weeks after being diagnosed with a cold. Smudge had to have surgery, a biopsy, and fluid drained from the large bump.
Long story short he has lymphoma of the nasal and sinus cavity. We have brought him home. He looks pitiful. Thank goodness he has know idea what is going on. He is on steroids to get the lump from getting bigger and to deal with the swelling. Our fat boy has limited time with us.
His Mom/Miss Kitty and I have been crying and wailing in our own way. She knows something is not right. I am dealing with the knowledge of how sick he is. Trying to make everyone as comfortable as I can.
Adjustments are being made. Love is being handed out in large amounts. Tears are still being shed. So, this is why I have not posted in awhile. I have been dealing with things life hands out. I keep telling myself that Smudge has only known love. That something good has to come out of all of this. Right?
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Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Road Trip...
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| Renault
Just a quick "hello" to all. I will be
back later in the week. I am off on
a road trip with my cousin. I
will check in along the road with
some freebies, etc. for all.
Until then I hope you all have
a great week.
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Monday, January 21, 2013
Saturday, January 19, 2013
It has been a year...
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| Arlington Cemetery at Christmas
Last Thursday - January 17th was the one year anniversary of interring my father at Arlington Cemetery. The year of firsts is over. Yet the loss is still sharp lying underneath the surface. I have learned a lot about myself an others this year. I have learned a lot about grief and what loss does to you. But, most of all I have been thankful that somehow I was blessed with such wonderful parents. I could not have picked a better father. He was everything a father should be. Kind, loving, full of integrity. He was never afraid to do the right thing or to show us what was right. He loved my mother and treated her with the utmost respect. He was a POW, a war hero, a true patriot. He did not just talk the talk he walked it every day. I am so blessed. My mother has been so strong. After 68 years of friendship, love, and marriage I know it has not been easy. Here again she has shown us the way and I thank her for that.
This is a photo of Arlington Cemetery at Christmas. The wreaths on the grave are so touching. The large sculpture in the background in the Air Force Memorial. Daddy was a pilot so to look out over this makes us all happy. If you turn the other way you can see Lee's house up on the hill. It is truly a lovely spot. Most of all I am so honored that Daddy is with all those other men and women who served their country.
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Let me introduce you to Mr. Smudge
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| Yesterday I woke up and went to feed the cats. Mr. Smudge my very large male cat did not look so hot. His right eye was swollen and he was a little more vocal than usual. Off to the new vets we went. |
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| By the time we got to the vets his eye was looking better but Mr. Smudge or Fat Boy as we sometimes call him was still looking pitiful.[We have to take him out of the top of the cage as he is too fat to go out the door.] |
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| Out of the cage and on the examination table we have been weighed and our temperature taken. Yes! we have lost 3 1/4 pounds, down to 21 and 3/4 pounds. No, we have a temperature. Still feeling good about the weight loss and I like the new vet. |
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| The happy patient after the medicine in the eyes, and the oral medication administered. Diagnosis - a cold, with a little wet sounding chest. A few days of meds and we should be okay. |
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Mr. Smudge says pay the bill and take me home I missed breakfast. So, that is how my day started yesterday.
Before any one gets upset with me about his weight. He has always been a big cat. He had to stay with one of my sons for a year and a half where he got way too much food and not enough exercise. When I got him and the girls back Mr. Smudge went on a diet. You have to be careful with them when they lose weight. It has to be a gradual thing or they can get really sick. We are quite please with the weight loss and are working towards more.
Thought I would share Mr. Smudge with you today. We all are readjusting being back together. It was really odd not having a pet when I was traveling. Then finally getting to a point where I had unpacked enough and no one would get hurt here. Kitties like to play in and around boxes. I think every one is starting to finally feel like we have come home.
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Friday, January 18, 2013
Digital Photograph - Before the Storm
Thought you might like to see what a storm looks like rolling into the mountains. I took this yesterday around three o'clock in the afternoon. It was rainy and the temperatures were dropping. We did not get any snow where I was, just a lot of rain.I am sure if the temperatures had been lower we would have gotten a lot of snow. Friday/today was warm and sunny. The chili was great even if we did not get any snow.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
This Week's Freebies - Tin Types
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| I love her scarf and she has the longest fingers. Very pretty. |
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| Pretty little girls in their plaid dresses! |
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| I liked this relaxed photograph of this gentleman. The books on the table are there to imply that he can read. A big thing for someone in those days. Something we take for granted now. |
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| Aw families. The apple does not fall far from tree in this family. Love the gloves. |
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| Sisters so sweet. Love their matching dresses, haircuts and the little doll. |
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| She looks a bit stern in her beautiful dress. Again holding a book, probably a Bible, telling the world she is educated. This week I have been cleaning up a bunch of my Tin Types. I thought I would share a few with you. It is a hodge podge of images this week. Families, girls, men, etc. I think just the fact that they are all Tin Types is what holds them together. Please notice that a few are in fancy frames, some are not. I think it was what you could afford and also what has survived through the years. I have found them in some pretty strange places myself. As always I hope you enjoy these and have fun using them in your art, etc. |
I have been eating a lot of ...
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| Grilled Cheese Tomato Soup Pickled Okra
This is what I have been eating nonstop since I went to lunch with a friend before Christmas. I can not get enough of grilled cheese and tomato soup. I eat it for lunch, for dinner, for a late night snack. Crazy comfort food. Thank You Mary Beth for helping me find my way to this old favorite.
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Some things from around the house...
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| A few of my banks in my bank collection.This homemade bank is one of my favorites. I love how they painted the house pink and the tree is so cute. To get the money out you swing the house over the edge of the stand. I have a nice collections of old and antique banks. I unpacked them over the weekend. It was like seeing old friends. |
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| I have enjoyed collecting Ironstone since I was in college. I lived on several farms and the Ironstone pieces just seemed to fit in nicely. Ironstone goes with everything. It has such a nice patina. I have a large oak cupboard in my family/eating room filled with it. I decided that this little crane would go nicely on the shelf with some of my pieces. It is a chopstick holder but it seemed silly to put it inside a cupboard when it could go with all of my Ironstone. I have a large collection of birds and it just seemed right. |
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| In my study I have a large collection of green pottery. My grandmother started me off on this collection. These are three North Carolina pottery vases by a North Carolina potter by the name of Cole. The glaze is something his family was noted for. I have several pieces by the Cole family. I love the variations of the same theme in these vases. They make me happy when I sit and read or go through paperwork in this room. I hope you have some small things that make you happy. I hope you have enjoyed a few of my things. |
My Gratitude Page...
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| My first six days
I have started my gratitude pages. I find the ones in the morning are so much different than the ones at night. Maybe it is because I am tired. I do know that I am feeling and seeing the world a little differently. Hope you are enjoying this.
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Digital Photograph - The Farmhouse
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| The Farmhouse
It has been raining since Sunday. I love a good rainy day. It has meant getting a lot of inside things done and curling up with a good book in the afternoon. The weather is calling for more rain and 3 to 6 inches of snow starting in the early morning hours of tomorrow in the higher elevations. I am still not sure what my elevation is, but as I can see higher mountains around me I am assuming that I am not in the higher elevations. a little snow would be welcome. I am making a big pot of chili and some cornbread so bring it on.
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Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Woodland Freebies
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| Squirrel |
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| Rabbits |
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| Chipmunks |
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| Skunks |
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| Wolverine, Beaver, Otter, and Raccoon |
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| Deer |
Here are just a few of the animals you
might see if you were out walking in the
woods. Some you might only see in the late
afternoon or early evening.
Digital Photograph - A Walk in the Woods
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We are having warm weather here in the mountains. It is almost 60 here today. Yesterday I took a walk in some nearby woods. It was quite lovely, just me and the woodland creatures.
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Being outside like that can make you feel so small and insignificant. Sort of puts you in your place, It was a welcome respite from the cold and the boxes. It always gives me a time to think and put things in their place in my head.
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I sat down on a log for awhile and sorted things out in my mind. A gentle calmness came over me. The forest had been quiet then came alive. Filled with the sounds of those who lived there. I found several of these little bird homes. So neatly pecked out. Reminding me what a home is for - warmth, shelter, and a place to make memories.
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What I did with New Texture
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| Woodlands Just thought I would show you what I did with this new texture. I would love to see what you do! Have fun with it. |
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