Update on Mom

We both had a good night's rest and are feeling better this morning.  
The doctors all explained that when someone is in A-fib, the treatment is putting them on coumadin (blood thinner) to prevent a stroke.  However, Mom's age is against her.  Coumadin has to be regulated and can be very dangerous, so baby aspirin will be the treatment for her at this point.  Hopefully, two baby aspirin a day will keep her blood thin enough.  Right now, on top of this new ailment, she has a cold and is having a lot of pain from her spinal stenosis.  
I am happy to have her home and will be making an appointment with the cardiac specialist soon. 
Your thoughtful notes and prayers are appreciated.  Thank you SO much.  ♥

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Amber !!

You are looking mighty good, Amber!  All that hard work you've been doing at the gym has paid off.  You have changed your life around and I am proud of you and I know Patrick is VERY proud of you.  I feel certain he is watching out for you and helping you along the way.  It has been a difficult road, but those three dear beautiful daughters are sure filled with love and happiness to have their Mom with them.  Hold them tight, Amber ~ they are treasure.

I hope you have a beautiful day.  

Just home from the ER - took Mom to Urgent Care at 2 this afternoon - they sent us to ER.  Mom has A-fib, but she is back home now and tomorrow I will begin an even closer watch over her.  Please say a little prayer for her.  Thanks.  Going to eat a little something and hit the bed.  I am beat.

FOLK Magazine

Ben Ashby's FOLK

I recently subscribed to FOLK Magazine, received my first issue last week (WINTER 2013), and I love it.  FOLK Magazine presents real american living with content headings such as SHARE, CREATE, STORY, GATHER, and JOURNEY.

The stories are interesting and the photography is splendid.  I would have to label this magazine "fresh".  I'm hooked.  I look forward to receiving the SPRING issue which will soon be out.

If you've read about this magazine on facebook, don't hesitate to subscribe.  I know you will be pleased with the content.  You can "like" the FOLK Magazine page on facebook to receive notifications in your feed.   Perhaps this will give you a better idea of what the magazine is all about.

There are good recipes in each issue, too.  We all love a new good recipe!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Patty !!

Happy Birthday dear sister of mine

we always have fun when spending time...

I wish you a beautiful day and a wonderful year

and please know that my love will always be near.

Mom just told me that you are sick with a bad cold.  I am sorry to hear that you will spend your day inside coughing and not feeling well.  I know that you don't like celebrating your birthday, but nobody should be sick on their special day. When you are feeling better, you must celebrate your birth.  Think of all the places you have visited during your travels, the beautiful children you brought into this world, the wonders that God has given us here on earth, and your good health that allows you to find joy in many things.  There is reason to celebrate YOU!!

I know this will make you smile.  I am in my office.  Mom is in her chair in the living room with Jake on her lap.  She has been singing to him for quite a while now. She probably doesn't realize that I can hear her with my door closed.  How sweet is that?

I hope that you will feel better soon.  Happy Day, Patty!!!      ♥

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Deb !!

Cheers to a spunky, beautiful, brave, strong, loving 60 year old !!

It was stated on the news today that since we are all living longer, 72 is the new 30. Wow! That means being in our 60's is a very good thing. 

 Look out world!!

Happy Day, Sweet Deb!!   

♥ ♥ ♥

BIG Rabbit

Herman

Meet the World's Biggest Rabbit

This rabbit's name is Herman and he lives with his owner, Hans Wagner, in Berlin, Germany.  German Giants are domestic rabbits.  They do not exist in the wild and can live as long as 12 years.  Herman can eat a bale of hay per week.  He weighs in at 22 pounds and measures a little over 3 feet.

This information came from www.infoatinternet.com

Hilarious Facts, Pictures, Quotes and Information at Internet

HAPPY 6th BIRTHDAY, Savannah !!

Problems High Above Us

 Meteor explodes over Russia

A Meteor AND an Asteroid all in the same day??  

Don't we already have enough to worry about?

Valentine's Day ~ 2013

Happy Valentine's Day!

♥ ♥ ♥

Road Trip

 My sister and brother-in-law are back visiting.  It was misting and cold today, so we decided to go on a road trip to Lexington, Virginia, where there are two very large Antique Malls ~ THE ANTIQUE MALL and DUKE'S LEXINGTON ANTIQUE CENTER.  It was fun.  They were both VERY large and there was much to see.  We would have to go back in order to see everything.  It would be easy to spend almost an entire day in each one.  Duke's was very interesting and museum-like.  There were life size things all around the mall and hanging from the ceiling.  Of course I had to take photos to share with you.  Enjoy!!

 This guy is solid heavy cast iron.  When you lifted his arm, his mouth would open and his eyes would bulge out.  Creepy, but great!

 Mr. Gargoyle was way in the back of the mall, very close to the high ceiling, watching over things.  I suppose shoplifters would be a good snack for him.  

 You probably can't tell in this photo, but this guy was VERY LARGE!!  I was not tempted to hug him. 

 Several times I lost sight of Pat, Jim, and Mom.  This guy was helping me look for them.

 You might have to click on this photo to enlarge in order to see the foot in his mouth.  

 Just swinging up there minding her own business.

 Not one of these creatures looked real happy about hanging 

around.

 

 He's not looking too happy even though Easter is right around the corner.  He is the biggest bunny I've ever seen.

This must be Rudolph's resting stop after a long flight in December.

Even the restroom doors were interesting.

There was much more to see and photograph.  Next visit!!!!

Beauty

Beauty is not

in the face;

beauty is a light

in the heart.

♥

Kahlil Gibran

Orchids in Winter

 I know very little about Orchids.  After mine last bloomed, I moved them to the basement because they were unattractive with their roots hanging out of the pots and the tall green stems with nothing on them.  I didn't expect to bring them back upstairs until Spring.  But, the last few weeks have brought them back to life and they are beautiful.  I guess I should do some reading about Orchids.  I'm thinking they liked the cooler temperature downstairs.

The new growth on my cacti cuttings is growing rapidly every day.  I am wondering if the single cutting is going to be able to withstand the weight of all the new arms.  And, how large will the arms get?  Do I need to transplant the new growth?  It seems I also know little about cactus.  I have books that I need to dig out and do some reading.  Now that I think about it, many of my plants in the kitchen are succulents.  They do very well for me and I love watching them grow.  I better investigate into these particular cuttings as they are new to me.

Hope Flags Carry ‘Bits Of Love’ To Newtown

Hope Flags Carry ‘Bits Of Love’ To Newtown

How rewarding it is to see that the Hope Flags we all made were delivered to Newtown and are now on display in the Library.  If nothing more, they will add bright color to areas in the Library and will help to uplift the spirits of those who enter those doors.  The terrible loss of that awful day is etched in our minds forever.  Click on the link to read the article and see photos.

96 Years Young

 

 Mom is 96 today.  I took her to one of her favorite restaurants ~ Ragazzi's~ for lunch and then for a wheelchair ride around Buy The Season (consignment shop where I have my consignment space).  We are back home now where it is cozy and warm getting ready to have lemon cake with fresh berries on top.  She is a very cute 96-year-old with an amazing mind.  I took this photo of her a few minutes ago ~ she loves Jake to pieces.  

 This beautiful arrangement arrived for Mom from a special friend in Ohio.  Thank you, Susie.  It is a gorgeous bouquet.

This colorful vase of Peruvian Lilies arrived for Mom from Grandson Casey and his wife, Amanda.  Mom has loved flowers all of her life and these colorful arrangements will bring her a lot of happiness.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Mom !!!

    ♥

A Surprise in the Bitter Cold

On Monday I started Physical Therapy for some neck issues.  This morning my appointment was at 8:00 and it was BITTER cold outside.  For some reason, I did not sleep even one minute last night.  I laid in the bed all night trying to go to sleep... but no luck.  So, I dragged this tired body out the door at 7:30 into the COLD COLD wind.  There was a spattering of snow on the ground and the wind was WICKED!  Much to my delight, there, right in front of my car, was this beautiful form of a heart.  It put a smile on my face and made the trip to the PT Building much more bearable.

Works in Progress

On Saturday I attended a Mixed Media Workshop at the 2nd Helpings Gallery in Roanoke.  We transferred photos onto contact paper and then applied them to our Mixed Media piece.  This is my completed 12 x 12 piece and, no surprise, Jake was my subject.  It was such fun to get out and be with other artists.

The workshop was hosted by The Double Line Painters of the Blue Ridge.  I hope they decide to have more workshops. I sure enjoyed this one.

I am taking a Creative Workshop online class from Jodi Ohl right now.  It is called Fun with Faux Encaustics.  We are doing 4 canvases (mine are 8 x 8) depicting the four seasons.  The photos show how far along I am right now and I would say I am only about 1/2 way through ~ just layering to make an interesting textural background.  I will post more photos when I finish them.  

Here are my cacti cuttings showing new growth every day.

HAPPY 8th BIRTHDAY, Jonathan !!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Constanza !!

Many good wishes to my beautiful friend out west.  It seems like you live on the other side of the world.

You are a beautiful lady with a beautiful soul.  I love that your home is filled with beautiful whites, creams, and floral pieces.  I hope your birthday brings you inner peace and I hope that Our Lady blesses you with good health and happiness.

Happy Day, Constanza!

♥

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Mita !!

I never dreamed that I would have a special friend across the sea in Indonesia.  Your friendship is one of many blessings that blogging has bestowed on me.  I am sending you love with hopes that this Birthday will be special and happy, filled with many good things.  Make many memories today, Mita, to hold close in your heart always.

♥

Snow Day

Our beautiful "snow day" last Thursday is already a thing of the past.  The sun that shines most all the time here in the Roanoke Valley has melted almost all signs of it away.

 View from the back of the house.

 View from the back of the house.

 View from the back of the house.

 View from the front of the house.

 Large clumps of heavy wet snow had put a lot of weight on all the greenery and the branches were bowed to the ground.

 

 Visitors to the woods in the back were easy to spot in the white beauty.

 

 Jake LOVED romping in the snow.

 Still some snow on his nose when entering the house.  So cute.

Getting warm and dry in the sun once back in the house.

Jake and I both hope there will be more snow days in the future.