Your flag and my flag, And how it flies today In your land and my land And half a world away! Rose-red and blood-red The stripes forever gleam; Snow-white and soul-white - The good forefathers' dream; Sky-blue and true-blue, with stars to gleam aright - The gloried guidon of the day, a shelter through the night.
Above is a calendar page I made for a 2004 RR that my friend Aileen hosted. And also, a few years back, I participated in an Altered Book RR whose theme was "Color" - my friend Jean chose "Red/White/Blue" - above are some pages I did in her book.
I recently bought some Pan Pastels http://www.panpastel.com/ and love them. I played a bit with them and my Twinkling H2O's - I printed out the clip art of the birds on 140 lb. water color paper and then had fun.
One year ago today, I was undergoing a total hysterectomy due to uterine cancer. When I started my blog I declared to myself that I would only write about meaningful things – mostly happy things – and that I would NOT complain about all of my health issues. But I am making an exception today. A year ago, I underwent cataract surgery (very successful!) a colonoscopy and an endoscopy (I have several problems, but I can deal) and a D&C. The result of the D&C determined that I had uterine cancer - thus, the hysterectomy. I will never forget how I felt when my doctor announced those dreaded words: “It’s cancer”! My whole world crumbled around me, I was sick to my stomach with fear and uncertainty. I remember the days that followed the diagnosis and I kept thinking it was not really true – just a terrible dream. But it was true and I had to hold myself together and pray that the upcoming surgery would “get it all”. It did!! I am so very blessed that no radiation or chemotherapy treatments were required, although I must have quarterly CT scans. I recently read Moon Willow’s blog http://moonwillow.blogspot.com/ and she had a link to this beautiful slide show: http://thesurvivormovie.com/ - I think it is very powerful! So now that I’ve completely recovered from the cancer and surgery, all I have to deal with health-wise is my 24/7 indescribable pain from fibromyalgia and arthritis. I also fight depression but fortunately my meds have it under control. And as with most fibro sufferers, I have chronic fatigue. My obesity is also a real health challenge too. But I have learned to get by one day at a time and deal with the pain and immobility and being home bound for the most part. I have a wonderful, loving family, my precious furbaby and dear friends plus I enjoy my art and other pastimes - life is good! Today I cut up a myriad of medical bills and other health-related stuff and created the collage above. It's not my best work, but it will be a happy reminder of where I've been and how many blessings I have to be grateful for!
I just love Christine Kane - (http://christinekane.com/blog) I love her music and her uplifting essays and her self-help emails. My new favorite song can be seen on this YouTube video - "4 Legs Good, 2 Legs Bad" - funny!
If you're like me, you love free stuff! I am a font fanatic! I collect them and store them and sometimes use them! Someone from one of my Yahoo groups shared this link a couple of years ago and I thought maybe there are some who don't know about it - you just send a blank email to this address: fontpacks-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and then about every week or so, you'll get an email with a link so you can download dozens and dozens of free fonts - all kinds of cool ones! Enjoy!
I love Vidalia onions! Only available for a few months of the year, they are the sweetest onion ever! I took the photo above the other day after my dad's visit to the local curb market.
For anyone not familiar with them, here is some info from the Vidalia site:
SWEET FACTS ABOUT VIDALIA ONIONS This unique onion known as "The World's Sweetest" gets its flavor from the sandy, low sulphur soil and temperate climate found only in southeast Georgia. Availability Fresh Vidalias can be found not only in their peak season-from late April to mid-July-but often through December thanks to atmosphere-controlled storage. Buying Tips These sweeties have a golden brown skin, white interior, are slightly rounded on the bottom and somewhat flat on top. They should be firm and dry with no blemishes or soft spots. Storage Tips Store in a cool, dry place separate from each other. For long storage periods, wrap each onion separately in a paper towel and refrigerate.
I like to have them year long so I chop them and spread them on a cookie sheet and freeze them. After they are frozen, I store them in a freezer bag - it's easy to scoop out the amount needed since they are "flash frozen" and don't stick together.
I found this video on youtube.com - it was taken at Georgia's "Vidalia Onion Festival" - I am crazy about the Blue Angels and was lucky enough to see them perform in Pensacola, FL, last year - WOW! They are amazing!
I really enjoy visiting http://hazelruthes.blogspot.com/ and this week Cathy has challenged us to show our wedding dress. I can't find my wedding album so I'm sharing a couple of snapshots.
I was married in 1968 but after a wonderful 23 year marriage, he ran away and I haven't seen him since. But I have happy memories of our wedding and life together. These photos don't show my dress very well, but I thought it was so beautiful! It cost $150.00 at Pizitz. I still have it around here somewhere, along with the veil. And oh how I wish I was that size again!!
"Touch the earth, love the earth, honor the earth; her plains, her valley, her hills and her seas; rest your spirit in her solitary places." (Henry Beston)
I am blessed to reside in Alabama about half of the year and in Panama City Beach, Florida, the other half. I enjoy time with my family and friends. TV-watching and reading and internet browsing are also important to me. I love creating and altered art and learning from my artist friends. Life is very good!
