I'M DEVASTATED & MY HEART IS BREAKING - I HOPE HAVING A GIVEAWAY WILL HELP

Just when I think I'm going to get a break

God throws me another life test.

I wonder how many I'll have to experience

before He thinks I'm all that I should be.

Actually, I know the answer to that.

It will be until the day I die and join him in Glory.

March of this year has been an adventure.

An adventure on top of five years of medical adventures.

(Don't age. It's not worth it.)

I long for April and tulips blooming.

April will be better even with a cast and

no weight on a leg instructions.

I long for April.

March. . . . .

I passed out and fractured several bones in my right foot and tibia.

That's adventure no. 1.

My studio has a mind of it's own

and is determined to keep that crack house persona.

That's adventure no. 2.

I checked a give-away today that I participated in;

it was so involved and so very time consuming.

I thought I would win something.

I didn't win squat.

That's adventure no. 3

Adventure no. 4??

We must have our most precious

 Ben put down in just a few days.

*Now I'm crying

and I didn't even cry in the hospital when

I found out that I couldn't be discharged until

I pooped.

And that took three delightful days.*

I digress. Back on point. . . 

You know Ben.

My studio dog.

Always by my side.

He never did learn that if he laid that close

to my chair that he'd be told to

"jump up" when I had to roll down my work table.

Up and down, up and down, all day.

Remembering that makes me smile.

He came to us from the Humane Society Animal Shelter.

When I adopted him, he had had heart worms twice.

He was adopted and returned twice

because his new owners thought he was too aggressive.

He was older, no longer a puppy.

He was a yellow lab mix.

I adopted him.

He isn't too aggresive.

The UPS man is afraid of him,

but I like that.

When he doesn't think I'm home

he'll throw my packages onto the

office porch if Ben's outside.

He doesn't know I've seen him do that.

That makes me smile as I cry.

Ben is very protective of me.

He loves me unconditionally.

He never judges me.

He always wants to be with me.

He's a dog, not a person, and that's why.

I wonder if

that make sense to anyone but me.

That's why I rescue shelter/abandoned/mistreated/etc. dogs.

And my beautiful master bedroom smells like a kennel.

I don't care because

they love me every day

all day

and all through the next day.

Ben is my dog.

He's always been "my" dog.

And early this week we have to have him put down.

I'm crying again.

He has been sick for a while now.

We knew something was wrong,

just not what.

He's going downhill so quickly now

that I constantly look at him

to see if he's breathing.

He has lymphoma.

"Oh, God", I cry

"my heart is breaking and I hurt so badly."

And, I wonder if Ben

hurts as much as I do.

Is he in pain?

His lymph nodes are enlarged.

He never whines.

But, he's not eating or drinking

much so I wonder

in my heart of hearts

if putting him down isn't the

best gift I can give him.

So, pray for me, won't you?

Okay. Deep breath.

So. I thought I'd have a giveaway

to take my mind off of things. *happy face*

I love to have giveaways and

I haven't had one in quite a while.

And, I'm going to make this really easy

so that lots of people will enter

without having to spend hours

jumping through hoops

in an effort to win my giveaway.

Claudine Hellmuth.

One of my artist queens.

I'm going to gift one special

reader of my blog, her amazing book,

Collage Discovery Workshop,
along with lots of treasures. Lots!

I ordered it 'specially for this giveaway.

I love this book and wasn't

willing to gift mine to anyone, so,

you're getting a new one.

It's a virgin and you don't find

many of those anymore.

All you have to do to enter is

to, well, enter. *smiley face*

If you want to start following my blog

because you read a couple of posts

and think it would be a good idea,

then I can't wait to get to know you.

If you want to be a fan of my blog

on facebook, I thank you.

If you want to sign up for

the newsletter that I have yet to start,

thanks.

If you say something about it

on your blog, let me know and

I'll throw in another entry for you.

If you buy something in my Etsy shop

then it will help me afford

to go junking when I'm allowed to walk

again.

See? it's all good.

Life is good and I am so blessed.

You have until April 1st to enter.

That's when the tulips will be blooming.

xoxo,

Jan

I'VE HAD A BABY!

Well, okay, I didn't exactly have a baby...
What I did have, what I do have is a new puppy!

Excuse me?
What??
I said that I would rescue any dog, but no more puppies??
No 'mam, not me, too old for a puppy, too much work, noppers.
Give me a house trained mutt that needs a home and I'm there.

Then God introduced me to one of my dearest friends, Pam Warden, a (licensed - woohoo!!) artist with an amazing gift and a heart unlike anyone I know.
So, her dogs, a Yorkie and a Cairn, get married and have puppies.
She sends me pictures, I fall in love and claim "that one!".

When I drive up to my mom's in Michigan after Christmas, I make a detour through Madison, Wisconsin, to meet Pam and John, her husband, and snag the newest member of our 'kennel'.

5 weeks old

We had a great evening and breakfast the next morning. They were in Madison for an art show and because they drove through blizzard-like weather to get down to Madison, we didn't have as much time to spend together. But, it being the first time that Pam and I had met in person (we had been emailing and talking on the phone for what seems like forever) it was a wonderful time! We noticed that we both tended to talk at the same time and I told her it was because neither of us stopped talking.

See that one sharp tooth?? She has FOUR of those - we call them razors.

When I picked her up she was this wee little thing and she couldn't have weighed more than two pounds. Cutest thing you ever saw 'ceptin' for my boys.

Beautiful little girl in pink (is there any other color??)

It's been amazing watching her change color since I picked her up. When I got her, she was pretty much a little black girl. Now, she's getting that Yorkie coloring on her legs, neck, face, and, well, okay, her behind. That means it always looks like she just took a poop and got it all over herself when I look at her from behind real quick. It makes my heart skip a beat thinking that she's had yet another accident. Then, I realize that it's just her coloring.

Well, sometimes it's not just her coloring. Sometimes I can smell that it's not just her coloring.

8 weeks old and I'm totally smitten!

Did I mention that just God and I knew about this new addition to our family at this point? Just wondering if I had mentioned that I was planning on surprising the Tank with our new puppy. No?? Well, that was the plan, so when it was time to leave for home with my mom in tow I also had mom's darling Maltese, Sophie, in tow, but also the new puppy for our very long trip home. I must say that the first hour and a half in the car with puppy in the kennel in the backseat of my convertible and me in the front seat wasn't very pleasant for anyone within hearing distance (and it wasn't me screaming - it was HER!) But, after that initial period she settled down and the rest of the trip was great.

I was really, really glad she got over her separation anxiety because I was NOT looking to have another appendage - my laptop's enough.

Finally home and finding peace in chewing on a throw-away box instead of mommmy's *bloody* hand.

She is settling into ranch life just like you would expect a puppy to.

She bugs Ben until he shows his teeth though he's now too old to growl (Ben's a dog).

She plays with Killer and Baxter which lasts about 5 seconds until they run for the couch *because she can't reach it*.

And, she is making Maytag, the cat that thinks she is a dog, neurotic. She will not leave her alone and the poor kitty doesn't have any claws in her front paws. (However, if I WAS Maytag, I'd swat the heck outta that puppy - I think it'd just take one time...)

Oh, and by the way, boys, this is your little sister. hahaha

As you can see, we are starting to look alike - both laughing a LOT!

I haven't told y'all her name, have I?

Her name is Sister.

Sister Mary Tina after my precious friend, Tina Wright.

Oh, and she's Catholic.

Blessings, y'all, from the kennel!    

I love you!!

Jan

     

                                                            

P.S. The Tank went to hug and kiss me when I walked in when we got home and I was holding a wiggling Sister behind my back and when he reached his arms around me for his hug he felt her.

His reaction?

"Uh, oh, I KNOW what that is!!" hahaha - he loves her and wasn't a bit surprised:)

ONE SMALL DOG + 7 OZ. CHOCOLATE =

Y'all remember when your kiddos would throw up wienies and red Kool-aid? It's happened to all parents. Well, I'm going to change it up a little bit. I'm blogging this mostly to pound out my frustration on the keyboard and to share a fascinating afternoon in my life, with you. . . . .my readers. You want to know the good and the bad, don't you???

Okey dokey!
Well.
This afternoon has been oh. . .so. . .pleasant.
Remember GiGi, the Bichon that we rescued the first of September? The dog that cost us $1,000.00 (emergency surgery) the first week we had her because we were "taken" by the previous owners?

The dog that has gone on to cost us a bundle because of vet visits, a steroid shot, followed a month later by prednisone pills, all because of a skin condition that she came to us with, oh, and let's not forget the when said dog, G., is on the pred pills that she can't control her bladder......I'll spare you the details.

But it's all good. She is getting, and has gotten, the medical attention that she needed and continues to need and we adore her.
Well, "we" adored her until this afternoon. . . . .

Picture, if you will......go with me in your mind's eye to my studio......

It all started with me walking through my studio to the garage to snag a diet cherry Dr. P. from the fridge out there. As I approached the studio I could see that someone, excuse me, some DOG, said dog being G., had completely destroyed a really sturdy sack that was full of gifts that I received at the Paper Whimsy retreat I went to last month. She had gone through each item in the sack to get to the bottom where there were two 3.5 oz. specialty bars of milk chocolate that I had bought as gifts.

Now, I realize that at this point I should be showing you pictures of the mess in the studio, the chewed up chocolate bar cardboard sleeves, a picture of me on the computer looking up, "small dog eats chocolate", me calling the vet's, so many photo ops. But, I couldn't/can't be bothered right now - I'm too busy pounding the keys on my laptop getting my frustrations out!

In an effort to remove myself from the situation I am going to tell the entire story in bullet form and in third person. . . . .

• small 15# dog eats 7 ounces of specialty milk chocolate
• upon discovery and being anal retentive, owner cleans up mess first, after scolding said small dog
• owner researches symptoms of "a small dog eating lots of chocolate" on the Internet
• calls vet immediately after finding out that it can be oh, so dangerous
• vet tech tells owner to get said small dog to drink Hydrogen Peroxide and then bring her to the clinic
• owner asks vet tech, "What??! Put it in a bowl and say, 'Here, G., drink this! It's good!'?"
• owner gets H.P. down said dog with a turkey baster that will make some garbage man's wife a nice stocking stuffer
• vet tech did not advise owner that it could take several minutes for the H.P. to work
• "work" meaning "make said dog throw up the chocolate"
• in a rush to get to the clinic, owner covers the bucket seat on the passenger side of owner's most loved convertible to protect the leather seat if said dog needs to spit up
• owner puts said dog on the towel on the seat in the beloved car and tells her not to spit up
• just before owner is able to start beloved car, owner's cell rings
• the vet is on the phone and starts asking questions about the incident
• at that moment, said dog has turned into the exorcist and is spewing chocolate vomit all over said beloved convertible as the vet yaps on
• not meaning to be rude but fearing that said dog's head may start turning a 360, owner yells at vet that owner will call back as owner throws down the phone
• there is vomit everywhere it could possibly be in a small, enclosed area.
• working quickly and throwing up in the back of owner's throat during the entire ordeal, owner gets beloved car cleaned up and kills said dog
• oh, alright, owner didn't kill said dog, owner called the vet back
• "She threw up that much, huh? Well, I really don't think you need to bring her in. Sounds like she's gotten most of it out. Watch for more vomiting, and, oh, she may have some diarrhea tonight."
• "Thank you. Thank you so much."

WE'VE ADOPTED YET ANOTHER ONE...

Yes, it's true, we now have five rescue pets - four dogs and one cat.

Our newest addition to our menagerie is GIGI *called "GI"*, a bichon frische.

And, yes, she's *believe it or not* a "rescue dog".

Here's picture no. 1 of her Preciousness! Is she a doll, or what? Such a sweetie!

Her "parents" are going overseas and can't take her with them so, to make a long story short, which for me is a real stretch, we adopted her through the rescue dog organization I belong to.

She loves to take naps on the ottoman under the window in the sitting area of my bedroom. She and Baxter fight over it.

She's 9 years old, in relatively good health and so, so precious.

She sleeps at the foot of our bed on her pillow with a twin sheet bunched up around her so she can burrow. (Hey, she's not burrowing in my bed)

Her very favorite place to be is attached to my hip, but I draw the line, so she props herself on MY ottoman leaving me about 12 inches for both legs! She'll just curl up there and sleep while I blog. Pretty stinkin' cute.Now that you've met the newest member of our flock and you feel compelled to send money to help with vet bills, grooming bills, flea meds, heart worm pills and dog and cat food, feel free.

And, as usual, I thank my loyal readers for taking the time to read about the latest happenings in my very exciting life! Next post is about the June/July giveaway - check back because it's a BIG one.

xoxo, Jan

WHY I LOVE TO BLOG!

The letter "B" can stand for a lot of things (Burp, Bookie, Big Lots, Barbie, Bairy Queen Blizzard and, last but not least, Barack [all complaints concerning any implied political "B" satire should be sent to Oprah, the anti-Christ]
.....{okay, I just want you to know that my SIL and I are sitting here unable to Breathe Because we think we're so stinkin' funny. I know we're not, But we're old and it takes so little to Bickle us})
....I'm so digressing.....Back on Bask (hahaha)......

Seriously, back on task........*clears throat lady-like* but, for me, today at this par-tay, "B" stands for "Blogging" because we're having a WHY I LOVE TO BLOG PARTY!

And, you know what? Sometimes it feels like a party when I post! Sometimes I'm so excited about what I'm telling you that I feel like I have on my party hat and a cupcake in each hand!
And, then there are times when I blog that I'm feeling despair or great sadness.

But, that doesn't answer the question of why I love to blog; of why I love sharing with you, my precious readers.
I simply adore sharing my art, my life and especially my humor with you!
I could easily keep a journal and call it a day, but, instead I decided to become a part of the blogging world, geez, quite a while ago.
I wasn't sure anyone at all would read my blog, would care to see my creations, to hear about my life, my family, my adventures....to put up with me when I think I'm funny!
But, I went ahead and started writing. How was I to know that I would actually have readers? Sweet, consistently loyal readers, stick by me through my bragging about my creations, my soapboxes *children living in poverty *rescue dogs*. That's why I blog. That's why I'm concerned when I'm not able to get a blog post written. . .in the back of my mind knowing that yet another day has gone by and you have possibly taken the time to look and see if I have posted and I haven't! AUGHHH!!
It kills me to think that I am not keeping up with my part of the deal like I should!

Blogging is a way for me to let off steam *rarely*, rant about the injustices of the world that make my heart bleed, to show you what I've created in my studio that soothes my soul and hopefully, at times, lots of times, make you laugh out loud or giggle in your heart.

I know y'all are aware that I'm a believer, a child of God, a prayer warrior, daily growing in His spirit. My blog allows me to gently touch my reader's hearts and show the love of God. That's a vitally important part of blogging to me.

So. Those are the reasons I blog! And, you, my loyal readers are the reason I continue to do so - it's so much fun sharing with you and reading your comments *those of you that aren't just lurking! LOL* I just love y'all so much and many of you I've never even met or 'talked to on the computer'!, but, some of you have become dear, dear friends!!

Some of you have been with me through horrible health adventures and have encouraged me through your post comments, your emails, your cards, your "just because" gifts, your birthday and half-birthday presents and your phone calls!! Isn't that just the coolest thing? All of us, artists and art lovers and people that simply love us, sharing our lives with each other???

Is it any reason that I love to blog??

So, have fun at the "Why I Love to Blog" party! Be sure and go to http://www.cupidscharm.blogspot.com/ for the complete list of the bloggers putting on the party so you can visit their blogs! There's like 70 of us! YIKES!!! Isn't that cool?

And, thank you for coming to visit me today. (Please let me know you came to my party! Post a comment! Even you lurkers! It's fun!!) You know I adore you!

. . .Oh, and next week I should be posting a NEW BLOG GIVEAWAY! Those are just so much fun and I love doing them so much that I'm making the giveaways a monthly thing! Whatchathink about that? LOL

XOXO, Jan

IT'S WORTH RE-TELLING. . .OH, YEAH, THIS IS FUNNY! . . .POOR BAXTER. . .

I originally posted this "Poor Baxter" story below earlier this year. But my sister, Jean, emailed me about this picture of Baxter I had sent to her *and others* several days ago. She had never seen a picture of Baxter before and just thought he was the cutest thing.
Well, when I realized that she had never seen a picture of Baxter, I realized that she has not been keeping up with my blog as well as she should *which will be reflected this Christmas* so I sent her the POOR BAXTER story.
Then I re-read it because I've had a hard day and I knew it would make me laugh.
Oh, my gosh, I died - all over again - it's still funny. SO funny!
I decided that I needed to re-post it.
I know some of y'all could use a good gut wrenching laugh - so here it is, for the second time, POOR BAXTER:

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

POOR BAXTER
*disclaimer: this story is a lot like the short stories I used to write in the past......a bit of sick humor........if you have a love of animals that is so strong that it would not allow you to see the humor in a story entitled "Poor Baxter" knowing that Baxter is a family pet, a dog, then don't read this.If however you can appreciate me laughing until my stomach hurt and I couldn't breathe, read on and enjoy yourself......

*do not look at the pictures yet.....first read this:

We own a dog named Baxter.
He was found running around the Office Max parking lot in Kerrville in the middle of the summer about three years ago and a friend picked him up because he had no collar, no tags, and it was over 100 degrees.
To make a long story short we ended up adopting the little dog.

This was Frank the Tank's idea, not mine.
Baxter didn't seem quite right and I couldn't get past the fact the he never closed his mouth and his tongue was about 1/2" too long so you could always see it.
Oh, and he had an underbite.

He looked ridiculous.........he had these Fruit Bat-like ears, too, and he walked like an armadillo (really slow and rocking-like) - he was a goober.
I let Frank keep the little mutt but I got to name him.
Thus, his name "Baxter" *from Anchorman*.

This afternoon I was working in my studio and a friend stopped by - Amanda Jones.
After we finished visiting and she was fixing to walk out the door to the driveway she looked out the window in the door and said to me *as she giggled*,"Baxter looks dead!

"NOW YOU MAY LOOK AT THE PHOTOS BELOW"

I looked out the window and sure enough, Baxter was dead.

You can see by where the truck is parked that Frank evidently hit him when he pulled in to park going his usual 110 miles per hour.

Oh, my gosh, Baxter was dead.
Oh, wait.
No he wasn't.

That's just the way he looks when he sleeps because his mouth never closes, his tongue always sticks out and his underbite shows.
It's quite confusing to visitors, but Baxter was simply napping.

The visual, however, was enough to send Amanda and myself into a fit of giggles.
I couldn't breathe.

Oh, my gosh. We were dyin' here.
Why, we must share this reason for laughter; what with Hillary and Obama duking it out for the presidency we are always looking for reasons to laugh.......what could we do?

Oh, I know what we could do.
We could make Frank think he had run over Baxter and killed him.
Oh, stop it. It was funny.

The problem was that Amanda wouldn't run into the living room where Frank was, yelling, "Frank, Frank, you ran over Baxter and he's dead!!"
Well, I couldn't do it, I'm married to the man.
What could we do????

Oh, I know.
We could prank the boys!
Craig's home for the weekend and he and Clay were both home.............I knew I could handle this because I wouldn't have to look in their faces as I pranked them - I could just yell through Clay's bathroom at them.
And that's what I did."Craig, Blake, Craig, Clay. HURRY!! Baxter's dead!! He's been run over!!!"
Craig comes running.

Amanda and I have taken up our "backs to the room" pose at the door hoping that he would think our shoulders were shaking because we were sobbing....Craig is followed by my mother who is followed by Clay who is followed by Frank.

They all realize that it's a joke after Baxter raises his head and looks at all of us crowded around the window.
"BAXTER! PLAY DEAD!!"

We're all laughing.
Oh, okay, my mother wasn't laughing but I know she thought it was funny because she had a wee bitty grin on her face.

We're all looking out the window at Baxter who is sitting there with his mouth open, his underbite glistening in the sun and his tongue showing about 1/2" too much and we're dying.

In the middle of our laughing Frank says, "Let's shoot him. Make sure he's dead."

We were on the floor.

The End - tell me you laughed................again:)



Please be sure and leave a comment - they're like presents to me!


XOXO,

POOR BAXTER

I was pulling up this particular post for a friend of mine tonight and before I sent it to her I re-read it for like the hundreth time and found myself still laughing as I finished it.
I've re-posted this once before but it's been a long time ago so, knowing we could all use a laugh right now, I'm re-posting it again.
Enjoy yourself and pee before you start reading...just sayin'.

*disclaimer: this story is a lot like the short stories I used to write in the past......a bit of sick humor........if you have a love of animals that is so strong that it would not allow you to see the humor in a story entitled "Poor Baxter" knowing that Baxter is a family pet, a dog, then don't read this.
If however you can appreciate me laughing until my stomach hurt and I couldn't breathe, read on and enjoy yourself......

*do not look at the pictures yet.....first read this:*

 

POOR BAXTER

We own a dog named Baxter. He was found running around the Office Max parking lot in Kerrville in the middle of the summer about three years ago and a friend picked him up because he had no collar, no tags, and it was over 100 degrees. To make a long story short we ended up adopting the little dog.


This was Frank the Tank's idea, not mine.

Baxter didn't seem quite right and I couldn't get past the fact the he never closed his mouth and his tongue was about 1/2" too long so you could always see it.

Oh, and he had an underbite.

He looked ridiculous.........he had these Fruit Bat-like ears, too, and he walked like an armadillo (really slow and rocking-like) - he was a goober.

I let Frank keep the little mutt but I got to name him. Thus, his name "Baxter" *from Anchorman*.

This afternoon I was working in my studio and a friend stopped by - Amanda Jones. After we finished visiting and she was fixing to walk out the door to the driveway she looked out the window in the door and said to me *as she giggled*,

"Baxter looks dead!"

NOW YOU MAY LOOK AT THE PHOTOS BELOW

I looked out the window and sure enough, Baxter was dead.

You can see by where the truck is parked that Frank evidently hit him when he pulled in to park going his usual 110 miles per hour.

Oh, my gosh, Baxter was dead.

Oh, wait.
No he wasn't.
That's just the way he looks when he sleeps because his mouth never closes, his tongue always sticks out and his underbite shows.
It's quite confusing to visitors, but Baxter was simply napping.


The visual, however, was enough to send Amanda and myself into a fit of giggles.
I couldn't breathe.
And I was using stomach muscles that only get used when I laugh like that - um, at least once a day!
Oh, my gosh. We were dyin' here.


Why, we must share this reason for laughter; what with Hillary and Obama duking it out for the presidency we are always looking for reasons to laugh.......what could we do?


Oh, I know what we could do.
We could make Frank think he had run over Baxter and killed him.
Oh, stop it. It was funny.


The problem was that Amanda wouldn't run into the living room where Frank was, yelling, "Frank, Frank, you ran over Baxter and he's dead!!"
Well, I couldn't do it, I'm married to the man.


What could we do????
Oh, I know.
We could prank the boys!
Craig's home for the weekend and he and Clay were both home.............
I knew I could handle this because I wouldn't have to look in their faces as I pranked them - I could just yell through Clay's bathroom at them.


And that's what I did.
"Craig, Blake, Craig, Clay. HURRY!! Baxter's dead!! He's been run over!!!"


Craig comes running.
Amanda and I have taken up our "backs to the room" pose at the door hoping that he would think our shoulders were shaking because we were sobbing....
Craig is followed by my mother who is followed by Clay who is followed by Frank.


They all realize that it's a joke after Baxter raises his head and looks at all of us crowded around the window.

"BAXTER! PLAY DEAD!!"

We're all laughing.
Oh, okay, my mother wasn't laughing but I know she thought it was funny because she had a wee bitty grin on her face.
We're all looking out the window at Baxter who is sitting there with his mouth open, his underbite glistening in the sun and his tongue showing about 1/2" too much and we're dying.


In the middle of our laughing Frank says, "Let's shoot him. Make sure he's dead."


We were on the floor.

The End - tell me you laughed.

I love you!! Jan