Life Is Weird, And This Week Is Weirder!

Don't ask.....it just sort of fits the mood.....found on Weird Photos.

Would you like a little Monday WHINE with that cheese??? I was pretty sure I heard you say *yes*....... ;-D
And off we go!

• First off, it is hotter than HADES here. And I do not do well in heat. Ever since I got my brains scrambled once sitting in the sun, ad infinitum, ad nauseaum, at an airshow, I literally have NOT been able to take the extreme heat.
• Yes, 90+ degrees, plus humidity, is EXTREME to me. I am sick of inside, and too much of a wuss for OUTSIDE. Thank heavens the grass is dead. (insert evil laugh here)
• I have three days this week of *normal*. After Wednesday, life goes into *medical-mayhem* again, and I am crabby. Yes, I'm tough, but I'm also tired of all my social calls involving a *procedure*. I'd rather have a few that involve coffee or wine and good conversation, but I seem to be getting the guys in white coats. (no hand-warmers, though, hahaha!)
• Does the phrase *bowel cleanse* mean anything to you? (do not be in the area Thursday....you've been warned.....don't call, don't acknowledge I exist, because I am not sure what kind of response you'll get....just SAYIN'!!!)
• Friday, providing the gods of medicine see fit to smile on me, I will be doing the heavy duty work of THE-NEXT-STEP in this cancer journey. I can't wait. I want it DONE.
• Why is it they book you for afternoon surgery and then tell you that you can't have anything except liquids the WHOOOOLE day before??? (oh yes, the bowel cleanse......grrrrrr....)
• Why is it I have no fear of having my guts split open, but worry myself silly about my Budgies while I will be gone? Eh---maybe you shouldn't answer that one. Let's leave it at rhetorical.....'kay?
• Why is it when you KNOW you won't be able to be in your studio that the mind suddenly KICKS into gear and swamps you with ideas? I mean, come on! Can't we do this when I actually HAVE studio time??? (obviously not....)
• Why is it when I'm not going to be around I find a couple of cool new blogs and want to read them from stem to stern? Or sign up for swaps, or...or...or...??? You get my drift? The timing issue again. Pfffft!
• How can I be so lucky to have friends that actually show up to read this drivel AND comment too??? Seriously, I think y'all are just taking pity on me. (okay, at this point, pity is fine. I welcome it! LOL!)
• How can I ever say *thank you* enough to everyone who has contributed to keeping me sane as I walk this odd and circuitous path? I think there is no answer to that one other than you all hold a special and dear place in my heart. (far away from the bowel cleansing)
• How will I function until I can get back here and blog again??? 

Well, that sort of sums the craziness up here at Chateau Lockard.
I am not sure when I will post again, but until I do, seriously, I will miss all the mirth and madness that we find in our cyber-world. 
Blog friends are blessings.
And I am blessed.
And Friday, if you have a moment, please send kind thoughts my direction.
I am held aloft by love and prayer.
Until I see everyone on the flipside, I remain,

Your blogmistress & loving friend,

A Little Light Housekeeping.....

"Hello! Mom cleaned today when she wasn't sewing for Pastor Steve."

"Would you like to come in and see? I don't have guests often, but am happy to offer some honey treat...."

 

"Everything is so nice; I just have to show it off a little!

You don't mind, do you?"

"I should be humble...but it looks so nice and I like company!"

"Mom says you all make her smile, so I'm smiling back at you too!

Thank you for popping in thru the blog~~I wish it was in person and I would sing for you!

Say, do you TWEET???

Sincerely, Sweet Pea"

Well, in between my assigned duties of laundress, charwoman and seamstress, I was also birdie-mom-housekeeper.

I shot the first photo just to put on Face Book; it never got there because *little one* flew right down to the front perch to check out what was going on. She has no fear.....I wish she had a little, due to the single leg situation.

Some day, she'll hop right out that door....

And now I have to fly the coop and get back to work! ;-)

Pax.... 

My Work In Action.....

I have to admit, getting to see a piece of my handwork *in action* makes me look at it in a whole new way.
You have to understand that when something leaves the studio, generally I have moved on to the new project or am in a state of collapse and am trying to dig out the house. This was timed perfect; delivery late last week and then use yesterday.

Pastor Steve, with the bowl used for water for Confirmation and Baptism.

I managed a few shots that were decent.......I did not want to disrupt service and frankly, I figured I would land flat on the floor with the foot being, ummmm, uncooperative to say the least.

During the children's moment, asking them if they wanted to touch the water in the bowl.

I also learned something about myself. 
I am a worry wart of monumental proportions, as the above photo had me freaking~~what if WATER gets on the stole????? (I don't have children; my WORKS are my children and I am way too over protective.....omgosh....yes I am!) But all went well, I was able to breathe without a paper bag being put to my mouth......   ;-D

And I suppose at the end of the day I have but one question:
Next time, Michele, can you distract your husband long enough so I can put some LIQUID NAILS on the bottom of his shoes so I can get some shots IN FOCUS???? 
LOL!
Now I am off to clean and prep for the next project, and may be blog scarce. I beg your forgiveness~~I just do not have enough hours in the day right now, but I appreciate all of you who look and read and comment. I do; beyond words. You keep me going.
Grazie!




Pax....
  

The Blog Mistress.....

....Has been a bit preoccupied the past few days. It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it and unfortunately that somebody is ME......
I think I would rather make a trip to the dentist because I know when THAT will be done as opposed to the business of cleaning. I am not a Domestic Diva in any fashion other than being a good cook and even that is part time. So when Spring rolls around with all the remnants of Winter, oh, YUCK!!!
I had foolishly believed I could squeeze in a small tutorial while I was doing the house but really now, would I get back in there?
NO.
So I will stand tall, be firm, and continue the task at hand and all the while be thinking;

Well.....you know....*wink wink*......I'd really rather be making art....but that ranks a close second!
Don't tell me it hasn't crossed your mind when the sweeper bag blows up and there is a mountain of accumulated dirt everywhere, including IN the sweeper. I'm just not good at this and the thought that the sweeper bag should change itself is always in my mind. It just makes sense.
So until a bit later, when the blog mistress has it together a bit more here, El Milagro will remain a bit quiet.
*SOB*
No pithy comments, no rants about Blogger and it's plethora of glitches, no art.
*WAH!*
But I shall return.
SOON.
(Oh, in the meantime, I switched the music from auto-play to manual--see the top of the sidebar to get the cool jazz track that keeps me sane.....well, sort of)


Pax....

Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend! (no, not THAT kind!!!!)

Now that's more like it. 
THOSE are the type of *diamonds* I am talking about! The type you can WORK WITH. heeheehee!
I am a tool girl. I just love them, and recently made a quick trip into a local supply store, only to come out with a small, heavy bag and a lighter wallet. That seems to be the way things work. But, in my defense, it was full of things I had been waiting for a long while to buy.

I still am in search of the perfect pair of very tapered pinch nose pliers since I broke one of the sides off my good pair, but I did acquire some delightfully useful tools.  ;-) 
Not to be confused with people we call a *tool* for various reasons that have nothing to do with usefulness.....
A nice set of steel stamps, nippers, some electrical fuses strictly for altering into who knows what (glass tubes with metal--how can you resist???), cutting discs for the Dremel, along with ALL...THOSE...BITS...   *swoon*
And then the prize of the day, the baby pliers. Yes, a couple of pair of adult pliers had some quality time alone in the factory at night and thus was brought forth:

These little darlings! In three different tips shapes too....
I am always needing something small to retrieve things, and large pliers occasionally just can't do the job. I think my heart skipped a beat when I found these.
And the timing on all this was perfect as MDM put up the link to sing up for Art Lab #2 about two days later, so I am fully equipped! Well, except fot the leather tool apron, and that is still on my want list.
They didn't have any in black with shiny studs....just the boring split cowhide.
But I can dream.
An artist has to look good as they are deconstructing and reconstructing *things*.
Maybe just goggles and some opera length black leather gloves with heavy metal snaps.  ;-D
(it takes little to amuse me.....)
Ahem....sorry for the short digression. At any rate, I am ready to try out everything and start some serious destruction around El Milagro.
Hopefully nothing structural. I need my studio.




Pax....

Who Might THIS be???

Okay, I am such a *sucker*. Not in a bad way~~I just get things in the skull and cannot remove them.

Like Milo. I had a ball with that ornery little bug. So I foolishly did an internet search and naturally did not find the small, yellow guy.

But, I did find someone who must be his first cousin, is a little more colorful and quite a bit LARGER. (does this mean more mischief? I don’t know….)

Allow me to introduce, Melvin. I think he will fit in just fine here. JUST FINE…….

And  he’s photogenic too……but they both sure liked the computer area. Hmmmmmm……you think it’s cause for alarm???

Pax….

Welcomes, An "I WON!" Moment, and a Belated Mothers Day Story

(...or, Anne rambles all over the place on this blog post.......LOL!!! that's a better title!)

I had all the best intentions this past weekend of getting a lot of art done and doing an art post this morning (or late last evening.....for posting this morning). You know that line about "The best laid plans of mice and men...."??? Yep. That was the weekend.

First off, big warm WELCOMES!!! to new followers! I am six away from 100 and I suppose I will have to think up a give-away at that point. I'm also getting closer and closer to a 500th post, which I think HAS to be a give-away mark, so maybe the two will coincide and I can get my brain in gear on what would be a good prize, yes?

Speaking of prizes, I managed to win a good one over at Tristan's blog by captioning the picture below with:

"The Schlitz family realized early in life the bonding potential of daily 'Evening Family Beer Time'. It also helped to distract them from Father, who had most untoward desires and fantasies about the family pet parrot, Caligula.

"Father frequently tried to get Caligula drunk and coax him away from his perch, but thankfully, the parrot was the smart one of the bunch."

All I can say kiddies is THAT ONE was right up my alley!!! Especially the parrot.......  ;-)

And now for the reverant, kind, humane part of today's rambling blogpost.

Yesterday DH decided to wash my car for me, which was very nice but it was cold out and I was not of much help. I was standing around being useless when I noticed a robin with a mouth full of food flying about in the magnolia by the drive. I knew there wasn't a nest there, so I watched and watched until it finally felt safe enough to head to the nest.

Take a gander below.......

This is on the second floor of our house, above the family room (which is over the garage). That robin has sat there through wind strong enough to take the power down, rain so bad it made everything white and hail. There are at least two babies, as I could see their thin little beaks backlighted by the sinking sun, but by the time I got the camera, Mama Robin was having no part in showing off her brood. She hunkered down and was keeping them warm and safe from the unseasonably cold breezes we had yesterday.
If that isn't the one who should have received a Mother's Day bouquet (or worms) then I don't know who is!
Here's to a good week, everyone, and hopefully I will get a chance to check back in on the robin family, with camera!

Pax.

A Very Punny Day To You.......

After yesterday's post, it was quite obvious to me that I could not be as eloquently verbose again today, or possibly for many days, thus, one of my favorite things that can provide both laughs and groans....good puns. I cannot credit those who wrote them because I received them in an e-mail, so to  the brilliant souls who penned these, I thank you! You have made me both laugh and groan early in the morning mail reading! (and I really should disable comments on this post.....)

1. A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. The stewardess looks at him and says, "I'm sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger."



2. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. One turns to the other and says, "Dam!"


3. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.


4. Two hydrogen atoms meet. One says, "I've lost my electron." The other says, "Are you sure?" The first replies "Yes, I'm positive."


5. Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? His goal: transcend dental medication.


6. A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse. "But why?", they asked, as they moved off. "Because," he said, "I can't stand chess-nuts boasting in an open foyer."


7. A woman has twins and gives them up for adoption. One of them goes to a family in Egypt and is named "Ahmal." The other goes to a family in Spain ; they name him "Juan." Years later, Juan sends a picture of himself to his birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her husband that she wishes she also had a picture of Ahmal. Her husband responds, "They're twins! If you've seen Juan, you've seen Ahmal."


8. A group of friars were behind on their belfry payments, so they opened up a small florist shop to raise funds. Since everyone liked to buy flowers from the men of God, a rival florist across town thought the competition was unfair. He asked the good fathers to close down, but they would not. He went back and begged the friars to close. They ignored him. So, the rival florist hired Hugh MacTaggart, the roughest and most vicious thug in town to "persuade" them to close. Hugh beat up the friars and trashed their store, saying he'd be back if they didn't close up shop. Terrified, they did so, thereby proving that only Hugh can prevent florist friars.


9. Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and, with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him ... a super calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.

Small Amusements.....

(this is me.....I haven't done enough of this lately because I feel OLD.....)

I am so late today......and most unhappy that I did not take time to write yesterday, but I began rooting through FOUR YEARS of scraps in a scrap basket that was literally falling apart. In the studio clean-up, I made the brave decision to tackle that D*MNED basket, which--in reality--is a rolling, three part laundry hamper with the mesh netting and pop together PVC tubing on casters.

Or, pop apart, as in this case.

It was overflowing.....I was too ashamed to take a picture of it. All I could do as I emptied and emptied and emptied was ask myself why I let it get this far along...... (because you knew the work would suck, Anne, that's why!)....and how I could cram sooooo much in so little space.

I spent most of the day making three piles:

1. Keep and try and figure out how to sort

2. Good things that could be donated

3. The "what are these and why did I keep thems?" that promptly went into the trashcan

While this all sounds easy, it was a most unbelievable MESS. I had the freshly cleaned cutting tables piled high with fabrics that had to be reduced to semi-sorted pieces in clear plastic bags, so I knew what I had. I had thrown into the basket co-ordinated piles of fabrics that were quilt ideas. The oddest thing of all was there were only a couple of shreds of fiber that I did not know where they came from.

Now, considering the fact that after "Hip: Uno" and "Hip: Redeux" my brain is jello, I was stunned to be able to look at long buried tidbits of fabric and say, oh, that is from this quilt, and I remember doing that one, and my gosh, I didn't think I had ANY left after that large top. And most of these? They were gifts, donations, etc. Things I no longer have, and probably don't even have photos of.

Just these clear images floating within the jello in my cranium.

Most humorous......most annoying too, in that half the time I can't remember if I've left lights on, shut and locked the door or if I'm even dressed properly to go out.

Ah well.....

On to the image below.

Hopefully none of you remember my rant a good while back about the CC company that had my business for almost 20 years, and then due to their own bad investments in sub-prime mortgages, passed that pay off on to their customers in the form of exorbitant percentage rates.

Well, I went shopping for a new place to give my business, and yes, I found a new company, and yes, that IS my artwork on the card, and YES, I decided to offer it as a design others could pick too. Why not? I was going to keep it strictly as a one-of for me, but hey, we need a little more love flying around this world......put it out there. Have a good vibe about it.

As the post was titled, these are indeed small amusements, but sometimes, those are the best.

Now I'm off to put a bookcase together before my DH arrives home early today (I did not ask why, though I am sure he has work to do.....) and life as I know it takes an about face! LOL!

Sorry the brain dribble is nominal this morning, but somedays, there is only so much I can wring out of the grey matter! It appears to be a little on the arid side at the moment....

To all of you, have fun, be creative, and above all else.....

Pax.

Good Monday Morning......

A quick and late check in to Blogland; sorry this is a short one, and again I am behind visiting all y'alls blogs.....but this was too humorous not to pass along.

The other day in the throes of the worst of the IP problems, my friend Vicki posts the following photo on her blog.........just for ME! In fact, the caption below said photo was "Hi Anne!"

(copyright Vicki Miles, 2010. used with permission.)

I encourage you to take a quick click over......we both had a good laugh off it! I mean, at some point there has to be humor even in the worst of fit-throwing and connectivity issues!

I am off for another day of heavy studio work...If I don't check back in for a few days, well, they either tied me in a knot at PT or I have been swallowed by the carnivorous sewing machine, wrapped like a tasty Spring Roll in banner fabric and deep fried....sigh.....

I'd rather be blogging!

Have a good week, do something you love, laugh, enjoy Spring moments if you have them, and above all else.....

Pax.

Well........REALLY!!!!

.......LOL!!!! Love to all of you that stopped by and commented yesterday! That face is for y'all, as I am sure none of you would have expected anything less!!!
Things went great----it is strictly muscle issues around the patella and I will be starting therapy tomorrow. My bionic hip is perfect, I don't have to see the doc for a year (do you think he was SICK OF ME already???) which is standard proceedure. He did say all the tissue would continue the healing process for the year, and that therapy for the knee was much better than continuing to get cortisone shots which are a short term fix and useless after two months.
Did you know when your knees are x-rayed from a certain angle your patella look like little hats? Very much like the short little top hat as opposed to the tall? It was one of the most interesting things I have seen! And how they look when the film is taken from the back of the leg? I was in heaven, rooting through all my films while the doc stepped out! (yes, I love anatomy....)
And BY THE WAY......he did not, I repeat, did NOT want me using a cane due to the fact that he wants my gait back to normal.
That's what the above face is for....... (she smirks a bit as she is typing this.....)
Seriously, I do love you all for your concern! And Deb's voodoo doll earns points, especially where she was grabbing it. >:-) You go girl.......

Now today it is back to finishing the studio rearrange which is almost done. I guess if the hip was fine after moving furniture, I am okay. :-D

And for Ces, here is proof I am a mental ninja (or a ninja that is mental more likely....)

See? I even have a special cap to keep all that *mentalness* in!!!! LOL!!!! I am not sure if this was from a Catholic school, due to the plaid jumper. After a while, one plaid looked pretty much the same as all the others! And yes, I have survive a lot of hard knocks due to my totally inappropriate sense of humor, which continues to roll right along. (even when I'm flat on my back on the floor wallowing like an inverted beetle......)

Now my dearies, quit worrying and get out there and create something wonderful, even if I am still playing "Bubba the Mover".

Have a wonderful day!

And I really do love all y'all!

Pax.

WOO-WOO-WOO....And We're OFF!!!

This is absolutely not a visual reference to the surgeon I have now, because he is wonderful; this is more about my life this past year, of going from pillar to post trying to get patched back up into a semi-normal state of being!

As you read this, I will be on my way to my follow-up, which I am hoping will go good eventhough another issue has reared it's ugly head from *previous* physician, A.K.A., The Abominable Dr. Phibes........the knee that takes vacations when I really need it's support the most.

I have been trying for almost a solid year to get this addressed, and it kept being blown off. I was hoping that maybe once the hip was back in the right position and the leg relengthened, that the knee issues would solve themselves.

Oh no. I am most definitely Curly, of the trio. The other day it landed me on the floor, and as I laid there on my back, I would like to say I was only shouting out "WooWooWooWooWoo!!!" but I am afraid a few other words slipped into the atmosphere, turning it a most lovely shade of blue.

(ahem!)

So once again, Anne is having more adventures than she would like, and not the type I would like, but that is why I like the Stooges...because too many of their stunts echo my whole life! At least my sense of humor is still intact and I don't think my funny bone is fractured. If I did not laugh......well.....you know how that goes.

Sometime before the next millenium, I might get to post art on here again. You think???

At any rate, I hope everyone has a fun day and a creative day and that you aren't having an "Anne-moment"........I really don't want to pass them around.

I'd like to keep my blog-friends.

Until later.......

Pax.

Anne's Accidental Incindiary Device---A.K.A. Gumbo!

Why, you might ask, after my last post being about the impending snowstorm, would I post this toasty photo here??? (no it's not my work..from a free site...) What would that have to do with a blizzard when I have no fireplace? And before you start to worry, I did not--repeat, DID NOT--set fire to anything! LOL!!!

Well, after sneaking out to shovel some snow without the knowledge of the DH, who was home all day Tuesday, and getting busted mid-driveway (hey, it was good exercise for my leg!) I made my way to the kitchen to get the cooking done. I figured I would have internet access later in the day, and could catch up on e-mail, blogs, etc then, and begin some studio work. Well there was an assinine assumption......HA! (add Grinch inflection to tone here)

At any rate, there were two main things I wanted to cook; gumbo and carrot cake. Both of these items require every pot, pan, bowl, chopping board, any possible kitchen implement owned, but none the less, it was heavy food that would keep us warm.

Now, I have a *vague* gumbo recipe. A couple actually, that I sort of have in the brain and change with the items I have on hand. It is always GOOD, and I do mean authentic New Orleans GOOD, but I always am alone when I cook.

DH, being the thoughtful man he is, decided to keep me company in the kitchen, due to the long and tiring process of chopping, roux-making, seasoning, etc etc that eventually turns into a bowl of pure heaven, fit for the gods.

Since he is at work during the day, I am totally accustomed to cooking alone.....i.e. my concentration cannot be lost. I can't talk and cook on things where there is no written list. Thus when it came time for the seasoning, and that is the most critical part of the gumbo next to the quality of the roux, I got a little lost.

Three times.

I put the cayenne pepper, HOT hot sauce and NOLA seasoning I make into the pot THREE TIMES.

The flame picture????? That's what the gumbo felt like on my tongue. I had sweat pouring off my skull. My eyes watered. I felt like I had snorted straight pepper up my snout. My throat burned. I could feel it going all the way down to settle in my stomach, beginning an attempt to remove the stomach lining, which began to warm and glow sufficient that I stripped down to my requisite winter men's A-shirt under-attire. That was not pretty.......

And I polished off a huge bowl.

Thank heavens for the carrot cake, which I ate with great gusto, in a vain attempt to smother the internal flames. And ate. And ate. Which now resulted in problem number two, sugar rush. My teeth ached not only from heat but from sugar. This did not stop me. On piece number three I was pretty sure one more bite would make me ill, and I threw in the towel.

Well, that was the kitchen part. Yesterday morning I wake again to no connectivity to the internet and feeling the need for exterior contact with the human race (and after rather interesting internal effects of previous meal........) I decided leaning out the upstairs windows with a dust mop, into the freezing cold to swab off the radio receiver for the broadband was a good idea. And it was until I almost fell out, then conked myself on the head getting back IN.

You see, DH has good reason to keep an eye on me at all times. I just get into mischief. It is in my blood.

So here is the report since I last posted:

Work on banners? None.

Work on a bazillion dirty dishes? Accomplished.

Work on countless piles of laundry? In process.

Work on allergy? Oh, still looking for a good, big flea collar......it would have to help!

Work on incindiary device known as gumbo? Trying to figure that one out.....maybe more chicken stock, and a second making of roux........or something to numb my innards.

Thinking about eating cake? Not yet......... >:-[

Hopefully I will actually get to the point of studio work, and be able to report such.

Again, I have to say, I work alone, and when I'm not, well..........you get stories like this instead. 

I apologize for not getting around to personal replies to all comments, but y'all know everything is read. Hopefully by tomorrow I will be back to blog hopping and a semi-normal state of existance.

I'm not holding my breath though.....there is still too much heat in me! I don't want to be one of those people who spontaniously combust......

Now go have a good one and a good laugh on your silly blog mistress!

Pax.

"Java Love": An Artistic Splurge & Anne's Usual Humor.....

("Java Love" copyright 2008, Anne M. Huskey-Lockard,

acrylic, mixed media on canvas. All rights reserved.)

I have, for a very long time, wanted to have some professionally printed postcards made, to tuck in with gifts, to give to friends, or just to look at on a *bad-art-day*. You know those days; nothing is going right in the studio, you wonderous brain-child art project has, you discovered, sucked rocks....or worse yet, someone else has told you it sucks rocks.

We have aaaaaaaalllllll been there.

Probably once too often.

So anyway, I had done this painting as a gift a long time ago and love it and miss it and thought, "Oh, that would be a perfect postcard, due to the shape of the canvas and the intensity of the color, and frankly, almost everyone's LOVE for coffee!" I had received a promo from an on-line printing company I had used for some other items and thought, gee, that price isn't too bad (it wasn't too good either!) and I won't have to get out and see locally what I would get stabbed, errr, charged for 50 cards. Heavy stock, gloss--front and back--off I go, typing in all the details, loading the pic, filling the background, then with shipping, it's a little more than I planned, but this was a splurge....remember?

So I click the *order* button and then begin waiting impatiently, in my normal state.

Today, as I sit having an early lunch I notice UPS throws (yes, THROWS) something on the porch floor, where--quite honestly--had I not been sitting in full view of the sidelights, I would not have known the package was there. So I stagger out, trying to figure where to plant the cane, the GOOD foot and then stretch the bad leg out behind to pick up this little bugger.

I see what it is and am sooooo excited! My postcards! YES! ♥

I open them, the photo is lovely, I turn them over and yep....you guessed it. Miz Dyslexic (since that first general anesthetic!) has managed to misspell *Miracles*. The new spelling, for the Webster and Oxford English dictionaries is, ahem, *Miralces*

DAMN.

Okay, I got my name, the painting name, copyright, and especially blog addy RIGHT, and I went over and over and OVER checking for typos, because I'm not joking, since the first surgery, I transpose letters all the time! And I never found it.

It's Anne-Luck.

Well, the front is good and so what...right? (insert pleading, whiny tone here)  Right???

So there we are. 50 lovely, lovely fronts and a fouled up back. Now I think I will check the other store I ordered business cards from--which I had forgotten about due to my glassy-eyed wonder at the sale e-mail--and see what they charge and get them printed right.

I--GIVE--UP.

At any rate, the heart pieces are all proceeding fine and I hope to have some finished photos on here tomorrow and there is no spelling on them, so I'm safe!  SNARF!!! I've rolled Paperclay and stamped it so that it can be painted, cut hearts from it with cookie-cutters (no digits missing...hmmmm....let me count....yep, all fingers accounted for!) and hope the four current canvas panels will soon be done.
Now to think of backgrounds for the new pieces. And remind myself: "NO WORDS"
My last word to y'all, my gentle readers and supporters of this crazy woman is, truly....

Pax.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! (and did you ever wonder.....)

....what happened to all those balls dropped on New Years Eves past???

LOL!!!! Hope you have a wonderful one!

(and don't have to wear this!!!!)

No Photos But Hospital Humor......

....forgot to mention yesterday that in my usual tongue-in-cheek style, the t-shirt I chose to wear in the Ortho Unit for therapy was, of course, my black one complete with anatomically correct chest bones that glowed in the dark!
The staff *got it* and thankfully not too many of the patients had to be exposed to it! LOL! All I can say is even going in for major surgery, they cannot remove this acerbic wit! (or, witlessness, as the case and day may be......)
Feeling good today after a difficult workout day yesterday but doing very well with stairs and relearning how to *do* things due to bending restrictions.
I did make it to the studio door this a.m. and shot a few nondescript snow pics which I will probably put up tomorrow. It is snowing beautifully at the moment and I am enjoying every flake! My own private snowglobe.
Glad to be back on blog, even if it is just to let the Giant Brain dribble out a little in the morning......  ;-)
Have a good, safe day and in the rush and bedlam of this time of year, from my heart, I wish you all........

Pax.

What A Day!

Sorry kiddies, no pics today--this is just to update y'all on my day yesterday in Ft. Wayne.
DH took the day off to drive me up, which was good because I had managed to work myself into such a lather that 1 mg. of my anxiety med barely touched my *state*.......now is that stupid or what??? I've known for a while what the options were going to be and still, I feel the need to do my "Hamster-In-A-Wheel" routine. ACK. And OY!
Actually, we ended up having a lovely day; found a half-price bookstore. DH came out with a stack of CD's and I came out with a stack of books--one on ATC's that I had wanted but did not want to pay $23 or even half price when some of the stores had coupons. There was soooo much intellectual material; I holed up in the medical section, looking at a book on Orthopaedic Pathology which was rife with quite interesting pictures! Came home with a more recent version of the Physicians Desk Reference, something I feel I *need* for full medication information.
The Dr. visit went well; I finally found the one. His P.A. came in first, we talked a long time and discussed the films, pain, history, etc. Nice young man with a sense of humor who was trying to keep it under control as I called the previous "person" (refuse to say M.D.) a jackass. I told him it was quite alright to laugh, and I could see the mischief oozing out in his smile and snicker.
The Dr. was fabulous; the consult was probably 30 minutes---no rush, asked the P.A. what he saw, I had copies of the post-op films for them to look at---then the options started. (I'm not listing that stuff here--hope you understand) I looked at him and said politely, "Look, I worked for a physician, I've had surgeons and M.D.s for friends; so no sugar coating." and that was when he kicked back and we REALLY talked. It was sooooooo productive!!! He was relaxed, I was happy, information flowed, concerns were answered and a course of action planned.
I felt relieved, for the first time in ages. Of course, poor DH was about green in the waiting room because of the time spent with me----I came out happy, he came out looking like he needed to head to a bar! (which we did not) Told him everything and that I was delighted to have ANSWERS. Then he calmed down.
Now for the humor.
Of course they wanted their own set of films since all the films I had brought were mine to keep (art-art-ART!), so they had me put on a pair of grey work out shorts to shoot the xrays, as the trousers I wore had a metal hook and zipper.
And there I stand, all 5'10" of me in grey knit shorts, black top, grey and black tight bolero sweater, 3/4 sleeves, white anklets with lace trim and black patent leather shoes with small heels a bit higher than kitten heels, and of course, my white, pasty legs going on for miles. I looked like I should break into a bizarre tap-dance at any moment! THAT is what I needed the picture of! LOL!!!
So for anyone who wants details, e-mail me and this evening I'll do a bulk e-mail about *the works*.
Today I have business I have to get taken care of, the dry studio to convert for the large banner fabric and then of course, dinner for DH.
And on much less sleep than I needed! Way much less... I am in Zombie-Land right now and the coffee is not helping.
Maybe tomorrow I can do a bit of a tutuorial on a discovery I made with German Glass Glitter and the continuation of what I am doing with the b.g. we did the tute on earlier. Depends on how today goes. It might require another day....... (sigh)
Thanks you ALL for your prayers, thoughts and energy; I know I was guided to where I was to be!
And now I'm to be at work or something like it, so I bid you all.....

Pax.

Short humor from yesterday--or--St. Joseph and the fur cap

I had driven in to church for the early morning service, was somewhat tired coming home (driving through thick fog always puts my nerves on edge) and pulled in the drive, glad to be ready to put the car in the garage. It was too grey a day to even really enjoy the reddening leaves; the sun was blotted out and everything was quiet and enveloped in a thick blanket of fog. I was doing the usual once-around visually as I waited for the door to open; the yard needs one more mowing, at least, shrubs along the drive did not get their yearly trim and a few look sickly from lack of water, the magnolia needs pruning....again!
And then my eyes settled upon the concrete statue of St. Joseph that sits on my steps by the front porch. (remember, I am sans camera.....as usual)
And atop the statue sits the *Chipmunk-From-Hell* that has ravaged my flowerbeds and generally made my life miserable in a chase to be rid of this varmint.
Sitting on St. Joseph's head, like a bizarre Daniel Boone cap, with it's tail wrapped around the statue's chin, giving him a fur beard! I rolled down the car window to send a few verbal blasts of disgust in it's general direction.
The chipmunk didn't move---cheeks puffed and feet secured on the concrete pate of the good Saint. Giving me a look of "I know who owns this yard, and it's not YOU, but thanks for the high refuge out of the wet grass....."
I still sat and looked, and thought, well, this pretty much sums up my life in general at the moment, and you have no control Anne.....just go with the flow. Of course, if I had been under the influence of any pain killing drugs, I would have questioned if I was hallucinating......
Happy Monday! Hope you see something interesting!

A quick update

Hi all,

Everything went good with my *Adventures In Various Radiologies* yesterday; I got into the spirit of things and wore my black t-shirt with the glow in the dark skeleton chest on it! I just found some great irony/humor at having to visit two areas that see inside the body in a shirt showing what was there! I know, I am one sick puppy, and quite happy!
It was a cool, rainy, windy day here, and that went straight through to my bones. (mine....not the ones on the shirt) By the time I was done from my second run into Peru I was dead for the day and after soup and ciabatta bread for dinner, I was on the couch and in bed reading by a little after nine. Mad because I wanted to knit and completely wiped out---too tired to do so.
I apologize for your blogs I have not kept up on to comment; I will as I can. Don't take offense. I am hoping to have some extra rest this weekend along with work in the studio......and hoping maybe DH will buy take out so I don't have to cook! I can always dream, can't I? ;-)
Anyway, I'll keep you posted as to what is happening.
Oh, a self-deprecating bit of humor.
You know you are overly tired when you are putting on the scrubs for the CT and discover you've been wearing your underwear inside out all day, and are too lazy to do anything about it.......Probably way more info than you need, but I just thought "Geesh! Do I now need someone to DRESS me in the morning before I leave???" (don't answer that....)
Have a productive day and hopefully you will be having beautiful Fall weather. I have my black leather jacket on the ready.....it will be Leather Weather soon! YEEEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!!
I bid you,

Pax.

Bad Bugs.......

Yeah, this pretty well describes my current condition. (and I have no idea where the image came from....something I dug out of the cobwebby corners of the computer) I'm not sure if that IS me, or if that is what is IN me, but either way, it's just not a *Happy Anne* time.
No studio work.
None.
Able to knit a bit, but the socks I thought I would have finished for today aren't.
Phooey.
The socks I though I might have started aren't.
Phooey.
Thankfully had enough leftovers to feed DH and myself, and still a large pan of bread pudding that I could live off of.....though a bit of hard sauce would be sooooooo nice! ;-) Maybe more than a bit.......
I can't even think up anything funny to whine about other than the fact that I am pretty sure a bull elephant sat on my chest and left a calling card behind.....that is precisely how I feel.
I hate being sick!!!!! I am an impatient patient!!!!! I want to be well (okay, as well as is normal for me....) RIGHT NOW.
Geez.....I can't even get a good rant going......someone put me out of my misery........
At any rate, I hope those reading are well and making arty-creative-things and generally enjoying the fine sunny days left, and I'll suck it up and put my big girl panties on and shut up. Have a good one; and take a few minutes of that and pretend you're me making something, okay?

Pax.