Thankful

Today I would like to express my gratitude to all who "adopted" my angels and other items.

I am busily creating more, but have so many things on my plate.  The progress is not as far along as I would like.

I appreciate your patience as I work toward completing them.

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate.

Glad I wasn't home

Last evening my sister called me at the house where I was pet-sitting.  

She told me that my neighbor came to her house and told her that this big tree had fallen on my house, 

but neither Dad nor I were home at the time.  

Luckily, Dad could stay with a friend for the night and I stayed put where I was.

It put a hole through the ceiling in his bedroom.

They are removing the tree today and the insurance inspector will be by.  

A roofer will tarp it to keep out the rain from the storm we are expecting this afternoon.

So long Pops

A fond farewell to one of my favorite people on the face of this earth.  My father-in-law Wally Higgins passed away yesterday morning at the age of 92.

Pops was a big-hearted man who rarely was seen without a smile.  He went through so much in his life, more than I can emotionally relay at this time.

Godspeed, may your reunion with your family in heaven be a joyous one.  I will love you always.  Thank you for making me always feel like one of the family.

First clay since arm broken

I could only manage one, but it makes me happy!  One is better than none.

Arm update

I will have my removeable Exos cast until sometime in mid August.

I am able to take it off to wash and to exercize my hand.  The doctor does not want me to lift anything, which leaves me dependent on my left hand's abilities.  Although I can do a lot with it, there are things I cannot. That is frustrating, not only to me, but to those around me who have to do what I am not able to.

The Mistletoe Market accepted my application again this year!  I think that once I get this cast off, clay will be good therapy, both mental and physical.

Continuing on...

I am back at work.  I think the pain has subsided enough so I can handle working a full day.  Yesterday was a success.

I also had 2 classes on the calendar.  One for this Saturday and one for next.  The one next Saturday was to be a clay cup class.  That one has been cancelled.  I cannot get my right hand into the clay to even make the samples.  This Saturday is an Iris Folding card class.  That, I was able to work with some of what I had and carefully chart some new patterns to some clipart shapes.  The four cards are pictured here:

I don't have the patience today to figure out why this is posting sideways... another time perhaps.

At least I was able to get something done so I didn't have to cancel that class as well.

I also have a cast that leaves my fingers and thumb more useable.  So, I am driving... short distances.  I can grip the steering wheel with my hand easily enough and I can turn the wheeel a bit.  Most of the driving is done with my left hand thoough.  This has allowed me to get back to house/pet-sitting!  I had to cancel one job because it was to start the day after my slip & fall.  That did not make me happy at all.  My friend was able to stay home while her husband went to work on the boat in FL. This time I am watching the cats of a friend as she spends her first summer vacation at the beach with her children and grandchildren, but not her husband.  His decline in health began while on vacation last year and he passed away last week.  This vacation was already paid for.

Back to work, I guess!  Thanks for checking in.

Life is what happens...

I want to create... but the rain soaked concrete patio had other plans in store for me a week and a half ago... my very first broken bone... that I am aware of.  It broke into at least 3 pieces near the wrist.

I have now "graduated" to a shorter cast and can move my fingers more freely, but will be in this particular cast another week, and who knows how long for the next one.

Being uninsured, this has taken all of my cash very quickly and I have not yet even gotten the bill for the ER visit.  Edit:  OMG!!!!! I took a look at the bill on line!  Even with basically a 40 - 50% self-pay discount - it is incredible how much this broken arm is costing me!  I've already spent nearly $500 and that is just a drop in the bucket compared to what I still owe. STRESSING about that now!

With my tax return, I made multiple smaller purchases since last years went to a new laptop and car repair (which was 3 times the cost of the computer!).  One was this GR Forms oval platter template.  I hope someday to be able to use it...

Keeping busy

I have been keeping busy with both creating items for classes, as well as some things for sale.  This little froggy critter was a sample for a class I had at the store.

These are some cards I designed for another class to be held later this month.

In addition to those samples, I have made some soap dishes for sale.

I really have a need to get more creative things done with clay.  I do have some people asking about some of my Ebonyware and I have not touched that in a couple of years... I need to start soon.  I have just been drawn to the hand-built side of clay and have found it difficult to shift gears.

I'm still here, I'm still creating, just not always clay and not always the clay people are asking for.

A rough day

On this International day of all things related to love, let me say that some people are not all hearts and roses and candy. 

I used to love this holiday, but now that I am alone, this day is filled with a broken heart and struggles to keep from crying.

Few people understand that when someone chirps "Happy Valentine's Day!" with all their cheeriness, it cuts like a hot knife into an already aching heart.