The Best of Times, The Worst of Times

Last week both of the Grands got very sick with the Flu.  Fever, coughs, runny noses.  Sara and Blake had taken off many days already this year so last week they needed help.  Grandma to the rescue.  I washed my hands, got lots of sleep and took all my vitamins.  BUT...I still got the flu! UGH!

I'd love to say I looked this cute in bed, but I do not!  The fever is gone but now I've again lost my voice.  It is my progression to healing.

Also as I lay in bed yesterday I cried a few times while thinking about my Charlie.  It was one year ago that he crossed the bridge.  I miss him so much!

So enough of the Worst of Times

I thought I would update my goals for 2017 since we are in February

~I got lots of things out of the house to the thrift shop.  More boxed for a friend and lots for the church rummage sale.

~Started organizing the craft supplies.  Much more still to do on that but I have a box full of things for a young friend who loves to craft and scrapbook

~Taking better care of myself has moved up the list.  I've got to get well and get my immune system back up.  So far my Mom hasn't gotten sick and I'm so thankful for that. I started probiotics and hoping that will help.  The flu has run through the school system here twice so I'm on track with that, but I don't want to be!!

~I finally took some time to work on lesson one of my watercolor class.

It's not much but learning how much water to mix to get different color values and how your brushes work is fun.  I'll do this exercise at least one more time before moving on to the next lesson.

~I'm a little behind in the book reading.  The fever made me so woozy I slept a lot and then just binge watched some TV shows.   I did read a book I highly recommend

It is about this lovely family that has five boys, only the last boy is transgender.

The way the family deals with this is so true to life.  I cried, I got angry and I rejoiced. The author has a transgender child and states clearly that it is not her child's story, but it has certainly given her much insight into how hard it is to navigate this path.  She is living it and so am I. Many of you know this and those that don't well it's scary to put things out there like this for the haters to attack.  I didn't plan on writing all this but it just poured out of me.  I emailed the author and told her how much this book meant to me and she emailed me back.  We are a special group of parents who have a transgender child.

~Still not blogging as often as I hoped.  I've been thinking I want to change back to my old D10 camera and see if that helps me enjoy taking photographs more.  I'll let you know how that goes.

I hope you are feeling good and I'll see you soon.

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

Thrifty Friday On Saturday!

I didn't thrift shop much last week but I did find some thrifty frames!

Michael's had frames for 70% off so I went and found a frame for the watercolor of Charlie!

I love the color of the frame, it is perfect for this watercolor.  I was thinking white or black but this frame is just right! $6

While shopping I decided to finally buy a frame for a large photo of a Paris flower market I took 3 years ago on my trip to Paris.  

Sorry for the glare from the glass but I'm so excited to have this framed.  I'll hang it in my bedroom.  frame $10

On a junkin road trip yesterday I stopped at this filled to the brim antique/junk store! 

Diggers come on in!  I had a great time and found a couple of treasures which I will share soon! 

I haven't seen the Grands in a week so I'm off to spend some time with them today! 

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

Friday Finds and Some Gifts!!

I'm back again and doing another Friday Finds post.  I'm also going to share some really special gifts I've received!

It has been almost too hot to thrift shop!

Almost!

At my cheap thrift store I found this pink baking dish that matches some other little custard cups I have!  $1

The little cordial glass was .50 and matches another one I have.  When we set a special holiday meal with wine I use these glasses for the Grands (they get grape juice or sprite).  So nice to have another one of these.

The bell was also .50 and I just wanted it!  I imagine the next time Tiger comes to visit I might be sorry!

I found this very chipped but oh so cute early McCoy pottery planter and since it will fit in the cubbies I just had to have it.  

"paid too much" 

My favorite finds this week!  I stopped at the Habitat for Humanity and found nothing and was heading out the door when these two cuties caught my eye.  They were up by the cash register.  So for $3 total I knew they were bargains!

The flower with the bird in Royal Copley and I have a few similar pieces I need to research.  The orphan salt shaker joins that collection.

Now for the gifts!

Three years ago I was in Paris!

Enjoying my dream of a lifetime trip! 

Everyone knows my love of all things Paris and especially the Eiffel Tower.

Recently one of my friends gave me these salt & pepper shakers.

They are so cute!  Thank you Brandy!

This is my chromebook that I love (a gift from my daughter Ashleigh) and a new PINK mouse!  My Mom bought me the mouse when my old one stopped working and I was complaining about how hard it was to edit photos without one!  I love it and it's cordless! 

But my best gift by far came from my dear friend Claudia.  We both lost our beloved furry children at the beginning of 2016.  One of Claudia's readers, Shanna does beautiful watercolors and gifted Claudia with a picture of her wonderful dog Scout.  I've longed for a watercolor of Charlie and this week thanks to Claudia and Shanna I have one!

I can't wait to get it framed and on my wall.  Thank you both for this most precious gift! 

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

Charlie Kitty 1998-2016

I am not sure when, if ever, my grieving will end.

The last few months have been so hard.

Losing my brother before Christmas and now Charlie.   The last couple of months have been a watch and see kind of life with Charlie.  

He has been losing weight and going downhill but he still had light in his eyes.  Friday night that light was gone and he looked deep into my eyes and said, Mama it's time.

I always say 'our eyes met across a crowded PetSmart and he was mine and I was his'

That never changed and never will.

I held him and loved him until his last breath.

I will never be the same.

He has taken a piece of my heart with him.

How do you thank and honor a sweet kitty that has been with you through so much!

Always a beautiful boy and early on he knew how to 'pose' for the camera

Years later he could still 'strike a pose' and make my heart melt

Always more then just 'a cat' he was my constant companion.  He filled that empty place when my girls left home.  He comforted me through a divorce, deaths and much loss.

Now I mourn his loss.

Sleep well sweet Charlie!

Goodbye Sweet Charlie...

1998 ~ 2016

My heart is broken. 

I will write a tribute to my sweet boy soon.  

Right now I just need to grieve. 

Love to you all,

Linda

A Trip To Texas

This has been a rough week! 

First Charlie getting sick and thank goodness he is better

and now...

I am flying to Texas tomorrow because my brother is seriously ill.  If you remember several years ago he was not expected to live but a few more months.  Well he beat those odds and has done well until lately.  I got a call this morning that he is in the hospital and I need to go.  I am the one who makes his medical decisions when he can't.  My Mom wants to go but at 85 and with her health issues traveling isn't always easy.  She has decided to stay here and let me go and take care of things. 

I am honestly not sure what will happen, but we are probably going to be calling hospice.  

I ask for prayers and good thoughts for my brother Richard 

I ask for strength and peace for myself

Charlie is doing well and I am so thankful but he will be going to board at the Vets and they will watch him and administer his meds.  It is so hard to leave him right now, but I must.  

Since I am flying out tomorrow, my daughter brought the Grands over so I could see them before I go.  I decided to give them their Christmas presents!  Tiger was thrilled with his light saber and star wars legos!  Scout got some hairbows and a car that played music.  She loved it! 

Sara took these photos!  I know they will have a wonderful Christmas and they are visiting the other Grandparents in So. Ga. next week!

I will post updates on Facebook and here when I can.  

Linda

Let's Party

Last week was a fun party week!

It started with our annual Atlanta bloggers luncheon.  Sue of Rue Mouffetard was our amazing hostess.  Her home was decorated to the nine's!

Love her tree

Some of her nutcracker collection

The tables were decorated in such a fun way!

 I love how she used a quilt as the table cloth

Each place setting had a sweet journal and a towel sitting on a plate.  Now Sue has a great collection of state souvenir plates.  We had to find our birth state to find our place at the table (such a cute idea). 

This was Joyce's place.  NYC! 

My Texas plate!  We also got to take home our plate!  

Such a clever place card! 

 Of course no get together is complete without food!

Sue cooked the lunch 

and the rest of us brought something to share!

Our hostess SUE!!

After appetizers we exchanged gifts!

So many cute things were received by all!

These are my fun gifts! 

One of the guests and a neighbor of Sue's is an artist and she gave each of us a tile with one of her artworks on it. 

I love it!   Her name is Maureen Kerstein and she is listed in the Artful Home catalog and on line here.

I took bags of 'junk' to share!  I was downsizing some things (all of it good mind you) and thought instead of buying some little something for everyone I could give them a good bag of stuff.  So I did.  

They loved it! 

Each bag was different and random and so they just picked one and opened it.  So much fun!

Surprise I said!   Now we may make this a new tradition with everyone bringing a bag of good stuff and doing a fun gift game! 

We then had some fun playing BINGO with prizes!

Ladies can get quite cutthroat I might add!  It was all in good fun and I even won one game!

Now on to the main course!

Oh my!

Great food, great friends!

I brought a few of these home!  So good!

I made Tiger fudge!

I love Sue's little Red VW cookie jar! 

Thank you Sue for such a fun time!

Many of you follow me on FB or Instagram and know that yesterday I had a big scare with Charlie Kitty.  He had a seizure and I thought this was it.  I rushed him to the Vet and she examined him and thought he was doing OK.  We decided to give him fluids and some meds and see how he did.  Well he is back to his old self today.  I appreciate all the prayers and good thoughts for Charlie.  At 17 I know we don't a lot of time left together, but looks like he isn't quite ready to cross the rainbow bridge.

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

A Little Christmas Here and There

I've been doing a little decorating 

and the tree in the living room is done! 

It is a 4ft tree on a table

I put my little kneehugger elf on the top again

Two of my favorite ornaments

I have three leaves that are dipped in gold

this one is the evergreen tree

Of course I have an Eiffel Tower ornament.  While editing the photo I saw the 'peace' ornament in back of it, how appropriate! 

I love homemade and bought ornaments and of course photos of my Grands!

I made this in 1986

and some fun ornaments

Charlie sleeping under the tree near his ornament!

A close up of the Charlie ornament.  A friend made this one for me from a photo of Charlie!

It's been a busy week and I hope to find some time to take some photos and share more soon! 

Wishing you JOY,

Linda