October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Following my breast cancer diagnosis a month ago, my sister Gayle and I had the luck of joining in on a HUGE fundraising opportunity~ The Susan G. Koman Race for The Cure~ to support breast cancer research and awareness. This is not us but a couple of wonderful Survivors. There were over 30,000 people participating in the race (we did the 1 mile fun walk) and they hope to have raised over 2 million dollars! We were 2 small peas in a huge pod of loving, caring women and we had the pleasure of speaking with alot of them. They gave me advise on my own treatment and lots of support as I wander through this new land. Here's a picture of me and Gayle after the race!

A new prim cross stitch!

Here is my latest stitchery and newest passion for my own home.

This is an adorable pattern by Stacy Nash (thanks Stacy!) and I am anxious to do some more of these delightful stitcheries. Halloween is my favorite holiday. I made this into a pocket and am still trying to figure out what I can stick inside. I began at 10 yrs. old with cross stitch and here I am again! This was stitched on osnaburg muslin with 2 strands of embroidery floss. Fun!

Halloween is on it's way!

Here are some cool earrings my friend Lisa gave me yesterday to get ready for Halloween! It is my favorite time of year and THIS year I am having a Halloween party. The decorations I have gotten are awesome! Hooray!

My New bathroom!

I finally have gotten some more color on the walls and here is my old and new guest bathroom. Guess I better post pictures of MY bathroom soon too! It is so much fun putting colors on my walls again and making my little cottage my own. Next, the bedroom before the new flooring comes in......

More Decorating!

Since it looks like I will be staying in my cottage by the sea for awhile, my decorating continues. Today I ordered new flooring for 1/2 of my house. Half of the house is already tile and the other half is a cream carpet. Not good with dogs and the beach, so I ordered the most beautiful laminate today! I can't believe it is laminate; what they are doing these days is amazing. This is really thick and even has ridges and planks like real wood. I am one lucky girl! I have pictured it next to my TV armoire..... pretty!

Surgery

Well, it turned out to be cancer so after TONS of painful tests and procedures, I had surgery on Friday. I had a lumpectomy and the lymph node they took was negative so I hope they got it all. I will find out on Tuesday. Meanwhile, I am bound up like a mummy. Praise God I was able to get this taken care of so quickly; my surgeon never operates on Fridays but was there for me. And the staff was excellent! If you ever have needs like this, I can't recommend Hoag Hospital's Breast Center more. They are world-renowned as is my surgeon and radiologist. God is good!

Possible Big "C"

I went in yesterday for another mammo. and ultrasound and I have a mass in my left breast. This AM I go back for a needle biopsy. Please pray that it turns out to be nothing otherwise I will have to have surgery this weekend because my insurance runs out on Sunday. THAT SUCKS! I don't want to have to spend Labor Day weekend dealing with this. I want to order new flooring!

Finally painting my home!

I have decided I can't live without MORE color than I already have going on (being an artist) so I am starting to paint. Here is my kitchen before and after paint. You can also see part of my vintage floral enamelware collection. I love them so and could not part with them when I moved. I skinnied down alot of my collections but this is one I didn't want to. I'm just getting started!

The Presidential Forum

I was lucky enough to participate in the Civic Forum between Obama and McCain, facilitated by my own Pastor Rick Warren! It was very exciting to be a part of this historic event. My friend Shirley and I were not allowed to bring in cameras or cellphones (even though some cheaters did!) so I have no pictures. But we got to sit in the most comfy, theatre-style chairs on the campus. It was like sitting at home and watching it on a huge screen. We got to sit in the newest building on campus: The Refinery. It is where teens hang out and it is beautiful. Everything went so easily for us it was amazing. The secret service and police were out in force and there were even snipers on the rooftops (even tho' we didn't see them. ) It was a once in a lifetime event that I wish everyone could've watched. I'm not saying who I am voting for (think of bam bam!) and I wouldn't have known how to vote had I not seen it. Rick did an awesome job and I'm sure he was very nervous about it, but you would not have known it. This was a HUGE undertaking for our church and they pulled it off beautifully!

A Mermaid is born.....

I just finished this sweet mermaid punchneedle. Isn't she cute? She is from a design by my friend Kathi @ Heart to Hand. Now that I live across from the beach, I thought I needed her! I LOVE to punchneedle! And I am keeping her for myself.

"Sewie" Swap!

I sure hope my swap partner doesn't look at my blog : ) I've been working hard on this and it is my first primitive cross stitch. Many thanks to Shelly Auen for a wonderful pattern with great instructions and a sweet pattern.

A new mini is born.....

Please meet "Magnolia"! She is a 3 1/2" miniature bear with her little ultrasuede floral collar and hat. She is available for sale on my website.

And watch for HALLOWEEN! It is coming and I am busy!

Off to the Fair!

My sister Gayle and I decided to go to the Orange County Fair yesterday. This is no small feat as a SATURDAY is SO overcrowded and usually really hot. It WAS very crowded as we mooed ourselves along with everyone else. I didn't get any pictures of anything, including the most amazing acrylic painting I have ever seen of a sheet of crumpled music and tape holding the corners of the music sheet down and some candy sitting on it. You had to try and peel the tape because it looked so real. I have no idea how to take pictures with my cellphone so I failed in sharing the day. But Gayle and I did have fun in one of those photo booths and you will notice she hogged the camera in each frame : )

My Kitty Candy

These pictures were taken this past weekend of my sweet 15 yr. old cat. Candy decided to lie still so I could catch some beautiful photos of her. She is in kidney failure, very slowly. I have been giving her fluids here at home 2 times per week since April 21 and she is still doing great. I'm SO thankful she has been a part of my pack for so long.

The Dinkster Grows Up!

Dinky has been with me now for almost 2 yrs. and he is such a clown! I took this the other day of him and his "binky", which is no more than a scrap of the stuffed toy it once was. He LOVES his binky and brings it to me everytime he sees me!

A new friend is born

Please meet my new Elephant friend! He is made from antiqued osnaburg and holds his own fabric flower. This guy is a swap for someone special through Prim and Rustic (hope she doesn't read my blog!).

One day a porch, the next a patio!

Since I moved into my little beach cottage, I have had nowhere for the dogs to just get to go outside and sit, sniff, roll, etc. And I had nowhere to sit and enjoy the ocean breezes without all of the neighbors staring at me. Ok, they probably don't even care I'm here, but when you have come from a big, private backyard you feel like all eyes are upon you when you sit out on the front porch.

So, I finally found something that would work perfectly; giving me the privacy I wanted and a secure area for Molly and Dinkie (and even Miko kitty!). Once the plants fill in it will be wonderful!

HAPPY EASTER!

As we celebrate our Lord's death and resurrection, I reflect on those I love and pray they are ready to go home. My Aunt passed away this week and it made me think of her. I hope she was ready......



These are the eggs I made this year. I wrapped them each with old dollies and twist ties and food coloring dye. Martha had them on her show last week. I think they turned out so purdy!

HAPPY SPRING!

He's all grown up now!

A Dinky update. He is now 1 1/2 yrs. old and weighs 10 lbs. What a pleasure he has been and a character! Anyone that has a dachshund knows what I mean. I am in love!

Happy 2008!

It has been another long year here in Huntington Beach, but boy did I enjoy the beach last year, even swimming in it! Hadn't done that for years.

As I start this year, I am faced with the return of my creativity and the patience to get to it again. This guy was for sale last year and it was hard to let him go. I have all kind of new ideas in my head and hopefully they will come out soon!