Anna Pokrzywnicka
Christine Cummings Ceramics
fineartamerica.com
carved canteen vase – welburngourdfarm.com
Holly Storlie-dailypaintworks.com
Twilight in the Wilderness-Frederick Church
saatchiart.com
The First Snow-Andrey Tutunov-urgetocreate.tumblr.com
Filed under Favorite Things
Jade Wheaton Lewis
A SHORT HISTORY: We married in 1969. Between then and 1977, we lost three babies to miscarriages. (Rh Factor) In 1978 we had our son. In ’79, we lost another baby to miscarriage. In ’80 we had our daughter and our family was complete. Two months later, on February 5,1981, we lost our daughter, Jade, to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
“Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby less than a year old. SIDS is sometimes known as crib death because the infants often die in their cribs.” The peak incidence of SIDS occurs between 1 – 4 months of age; 90% of cases occur before 6 months of age. Babies continue to be at risk for SIDS up to 12 months.”
She was “perfect,” and she was gone. Our minister said, “Jade was born, lived a little while, and then died.” I couldn’t listen to more.
The pain was so intense that we both seriously considered suicide, then decided we had to live for each other and for our son. I read everything I could find on SIDS, and discovered the experts knew very little about it – why it happens or what can be done to prevent it. The experts also told us we were lucky that our son was only 2 – that he wouldn’t understand or remember it. Soon after we lost her, he took Jade’s blanket across the room to the trash can, threw it in and said, “Broken.” So much for the experts.
Lasting effects –
There ARE some positive effects, though –
A really frustrating thing is that the experts know little more now than they did 42 years ago about SIDS. There are now baby monitors that are very helpful to parents. The experts now suggest that babies sleep on their backs. I haven’t found anything more about the shots that babies get at two months. I will never forget, though, that our pediatrician came out to the house when he heard we had lost her, and cried with us.
I hope that one day I will see Jade again, finding that her spirit is healthy and happy; and that one day the mystery of SIDS is solved.
Filed under Challenges, Changes, Family, love
“In the coldest February,
As in every other month in every other year,
The best thing to hold on to is each other.” (Linda Ellerbee)
Unsplash
Filed under love
Filed under ceramics, Clay Art, Peter Swanson Pottery
Depositphotos
It’s beautifully sunny this morning and the ice is finally thawing! My husband decided yesterday he would drive down the driveway – ‘damn the torpedoes – full speed ahead!’ and get the mail. He actually made it back safely. He did say it was too slick to do anything about the big trash can we’ve left down there since Monday for Tuesday pickup. Since it’s supposed to get to 58 this afternoon, we should get a bunch of thawing today. We’ll plan to get out and replenish supplies tomorrow afternoon.
We’ve spent almost 3 weeks now, supplying one day and then being trapped on top of our ridge line for the following week, one week at a time. I’m hoping that we can just settle down now and have the REGULAR Arkansas winter for at least a bit. I’m still feeling extremely lucky that our systems and back-up systems worked to keep us pretty comfortable through all this. When things dry out enough, we’ll move firewood into the holder in the garage so we’ll have plenty of firewood for more fires, if needed.
My husband didn’t mention any problems getting down or up the driveway yesterday, so I guess that means we didn’t have any more limbs or trees blocking our way due to the ice storm. We’ll still need to neaten up more from the quick and dirty job we did of chain-sawing things down that prevented our passage after the heavy, wet snow brought so many trees and limbs down the week before last. We can do that a bit at a time, though.
The sunshine brings my spirits up after all the cold, cloudy, and grim we’ve had. I’ll take some time and see if I can walk around outside today, smiling up at the sky.
Other than cheering on the beautiful day, I’ll make my husband’s request for chili for dinner tonight and continue working on our tax records. Be still, my heart. :0)
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Leashrly Life
Why am I like this? I’m far too old for it to be ‘cute’ anymore. I KNOW one thing in my head, but I ACT differently. I set myself up for failure by my all-or-nothing attitude, rather than taking things I want to change ONE STEP AT A TIME and then treating any problems/lapses/mistakes/weakness as an excuse to throw the day away, rather than looking at it and deciding to handle it differently next time. It’s embarrassing.
Yesterday I did well on my eating until my husband got out some chips after dinner. I wasn’t even particularly hungry, but like a lemming, I went into the pantry and got some chips, too. THEN, to compound the weakness, I proceeded to beat myself up mentally and emotionally.
I’m either ready for House Beautiful Magazine to come in and photograph or you can see tufts of dog hair wafting around as you walk across the dining area tiles.
I read a couple of articles yesterday on making improvements. It stressed not taking everything on at one time – making SMALL changes one at a time and building on that. I am TRYING to taking that to heart and practice that.
Filed under Attitude
When I posted about some really nice 3-D embroidery awhile back, Carol Jansons wrote to me, explaining a bit of how it was done and sending me some examples of her own work. I was really impressed. I’m delighted to tell you that I got her permission to share a couple of examples of her work with you. :0)
Truly impressive, lovely work by Carol Jansons. Thanks for letting me share, Carol.
Filed under Embroidery/Sewing Art
Filed under ceramics, Clay Art, Peter Swanson Pottery
Tenor GIF Keyboard
We’re supposed to get to 50 today, so we’ll finally get some much-needed thawing. Our driveway, of course, will be the last thing to thaw, so I’m hoping that we won’t need to deal with whatever has broken, fallen, or is hanging into the driveway until at least tomorrow.
This looks like snow, but it’s ice – tiny ice pellets now frozen together. You can HEAR Amber run across the yard.
I’m making a point of not trying to have any contact with this stuff. It’s super slippery. Our driveway pad is pretty clear now, but even before you get to the edge of it, there is still pretty thick ice. Mother Nature will need to get serious with the warmer temperatures before we have any chance of even LOOKING at the driveway.
Women’s Health
My BIL and SIL in Charlotte are driving today to get the new furbaby they are adopting. I’m so happy for them, even though they’ll have their hands full with new dog, adapting her to their home and lifestyle, plus teaching her to get along with their cat. Their lives will be richer and they’re excellent rescue parents.
Women’s Health
A shout-out to my dear friend Marsha. We met online almost 20 years ago. She listed her gorgeous pottery on Creative Artworks, my website. We’ve actually met face-to-face only once when my husband and I were in Florida for some reason. She came to our hotel and took me for an amazing afternoon. I think we could have talked forever. I just smiled and smiled. Our friendship has only grown, even though I closed the website down years ago. She changed from pottery to jewelry, excelling at THAT, too. I hope we’ll be friends forever.
Unknown
I hope that your Friday is a nice one, with a fun weekend to follow.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
“From December to March, there are for many of
us three gardens:
the garden outdoors,
Visit Pasadena
the garden of pots and bowls in the house,
Vegetable Gardening Online
and the garden of the mind’s eye.”
Apartment Therapy
Filed under Gardening
Mark Twain – Bay Art
“Ice Accretion” – The process by which a layer of ice (icing) builds up on solid objects that are exposed to freezing precipitation or to supercooled fog or cloud droplets. At the earth’s surface this usually refers to glaze formation, and the amount of ice can be roughly measured by an ice-accretion indicator.
I had never heard this term before. We not only have ‘accretion,’ we have what appears to be snow, but isn’t. It’s about 3 inches of SLEET now hardened on everything. We MAY get more until around noon today and THEN we’re supposed to start getting a bit of thawing. I”ll believe THAT when I see it.
I was amazed this morning that I could HEAR Amber walking around on the ice – another first. In another day or so we’ll be able to walk out in the yard far enough to see the state of our driveway. I admit I’m not looking forward to THAT, either. We moved to Arkansas about 36 years ago because of a new job for my husband. We thought the winters would be mild. Most of the time, they are, with only 3-4 inch snows that are soon gone. Every once in a while, though, Mother Nature laughs at us, dumping a nightmare on us.
We’ve been lucky. We have learned to prepare with backup systems for everything really important, so we’re not totally dependent on public power or water, and we stock up so we can be stranded up here for a good while.
I’m more than ready for spring this year, and winter has really just gotten started. I’ll be very grateful when we thaw and can get out again. I hope you’re staying warm and safe during this.
Filed under Seasons
Carol Jansons sent me an email with photos of stunningly beautiful churches from all around the world. They were really amazing.
Borgund Stave Church, Norway
This one appealed to me the most. It calls to me, somehow. This looks like a place where the whole community has shared the best of times and the saddest of times for years and years. A place of sanctuary, where you can go for help when you hurt, or to celebrate when something wonderful is starting.
Since the Internet is such a wonderful place, I was able to find more photos of this to share with you.
ArchEyes
ArchEyes
Visit Norway
workingbyhand.wordpress.com
Filed under When Wood Comes Alive, Wooden Church
We are totally iced in and the temperature is 28 degrees F. The forecast is for yet ANOTHER ice storm from about noon today until noon tomorrow. I just contacted everyone, telling them we won’t be able to make it to Lunch Bunch this Friday. Maybe we’ll thaw out by a WEEK from Friday.
I haven’t even tried to see if we have more limbs and trees down in the driveway. It’s like a skating rink outside. It LOOKS like snow, but it’s little bitty ice pellets. I just let Amber out. She tried to run, but fell down, sliding. I waited about 5 minutes, then went to the garage to call her. She came around the house, ‘running carefully,’ if that’s possible.
I suggested last night to my husband that he NOT put Amber on the leash when he took her for her last outing, worrying that she might pull him just at the wrong time and make him slip and fall on the ice. He actually LISTENED and did what I asked! She took care of everything quickly and both got back inside in one piece.
It’s hard to believe that we are facing yet another ‘significant’ ice storm above what we already have. The good news is that if we live through this, the weather is supposed to improve a LOT with highs in the 40’s, 50’s, and even 60’s by the end of the week! HOORAY!!!!!!!
My husband and I haven’t killed each other yet. He, as usual, does a combination of things that melt my heart and other things that make me want to dig a hole in the back yard to throw him in. For example, last night he said, “Thank you for my life.” He went on to say there is no one in the world he would rather be iced in with. Yeah. NICE.
On the other hand, I heard a crash this morning while I was in the office. I jumped up to find out what had happened, worried that he fell and was hurt. He was sitting at the dining area table, calmly drinking coffee. He had TOSSED the Corelle plate he had been using under the dog gate so that Amber could lick it. THAT’S what I heard. I glared at him, looking at me innocently, explaining that my heart had stopped when I heard the crash. Just another day in the life of the Lewises.
I hope you are safe and warm.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Every time I get down about the state of the world and the direction in which it seems to be going, I see something that brings me up. I get that feeling when I find a new artist whose work makes my heart sing, or hear someone perform, leaving me in awe. My friend Marsha sent me an email this morning showing pictures with captions of people making a difference in the world, people doing good for someone else. I’ll share these with you, hoping it gives YOU hope, as well.
Filed under making a difference
LoveThisPic
Everything is Winter Wonderland white this morning – covered by ICE this time, rather than snow. Happily, we have public power and so have our regular heat. It’s 21 right now with a wind chill of 13. The high will be 28. 113 closures listed today.
Oddly, the driveway pad is just wet, but I can’t see if there are more limbs and trees down in the driveway yet. I’ll just wait to find that out. Forecast for the day is ‘snow’ from about noon through 6:00. We are well supplied for being stuck up here again. We have a fire ready to light in the fireplace if needed.
Amber is energized in this weather. She runs around like a maniac outside, dancing and smiling as she cavorts. When she comes back inside, she heads for the water dish and then her bed and sleeps until food or outside are offered again.
Abby thinks the dog is a moron. She is sleeping either on the rug beside the fireplace, in the exact middle of the dog bed so Amber gives it a wide berth, or on one of us. She has no interest in the ‘inclement’ weather in the great outdoors.
I hope you are somewhere warm and dry.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Giphy
It’s not this bad yet, but we have teeny, tiny sleet pellets falling now. The temperature is 22 degrees F., and the “feels like” temperature is 12. Mostly, it LOOKS like just a really cold rain right now, but the pest control guy just called me to ask how it was here. I suggested he go home and be safe, rather than try to come to us until all this is past and we thaw out again.
We still have public power, but looking at the weather website, we really won’t get above freezing until Wednesday afternoon, and the STUFF doesn’t quit coming, really until Thursday morning. Should be interesting.
The “fleezing dizzle” title comes from a party my parents were having a hundred years or so ago. My dad had his own one-man advertising agency, and a lot of the people at the party were in the media. A topic of conversation came up where someone started to laugh helplessly as he tried to talk about a weatherman who got his tongue tied, saying “Fleezing Dizzle,” rather than freezing drizzle. Everyone started to laugh, with the exception of one man, who said, “Oh, God. That was ME!”
Meanwhile, we’re warm and cozy inside. I’m making spaghetti for dinner, and my husband wanted some hot chocolate earlier. Full comfort mode.
I’m enjoy book #30 of 55 of the In Death series by J.D. Robb/Nora Roberts, fully into her world of amazing characters in a future world. I love being rich in paperback books – able to snuggle down under my throw, coffee cup beside me on the warmer, escaping to another world, engaged in other concerns. A nice relief.
Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. On the way back up the driveway this morning, we stopped and I hoisted our ‘flying pig’ into the back of the truck. One of the huge limbs that came down with the last snow storm was the limb from which the sweet pig was flying and he had crashed head first into the driveway. I had forgotten how heavy he is. We took him out to the shop. I plan to refurbish him, since he’s been flying for several years now, and then I’m HOPING to convince my husband that securing him to a boulder at the top of the driveway, wings flying, would look just as good as him flying from a line in a tree….
I hope you are enjoying your day.
Filed under Mother Nature, Seasons
Filed under Celia Allen Sculpture, sculpture
We got the trash set up for pickup tomorrow. I really had trouble dragging the can down to where we leave it for emptying, due to the really skid-y gravel. I would do better, I think, if I had CLEATS on my shoes. Anyway, I got it down there and we filled it up. We also got the mailbox Snow-Goon decoration up. It was interesting, in that in the time it took to put the Happy New Year decoration in the truck and put the Snow-Goon on the bolts that attach it to the mailbox, the nuts we put on top of the mailbox FROZE to the top of the mailbox! That’s the first time we’ve had THAT happen. We drove carefully down the road where we could turn the truck around to drive back up the driveway. We didn’t have any trouble with that, happily. There is a thin glaze of ice on everything. The schools are closed today. There were 91 ‘closings’ on the weather website today – I don’t ever remember seeing that many before. We may be in for it.
Truegrid Pavers
This gives you an IDEA of what our driveway is like. We don’t have NEAR as much pretty gravel as this picture. We have LOTS more trees. And you have to add at LEAST the length you see here, if not MORE, to get as long as our driveway is, but the steepness here is comparable. We also have branches down all over, particularly on the left side of the driveway. The other side has woods, but it also has a ditch where water goes down to the street. We don’t want that to get clogged, so I drag whatever we cut down to the other side.
Even if the only rain we get is LIGHT, it doesn’t take much accumulation on the power lines to cause an outage. Again, we think our generator, which runs all except for heat and air conditioning, is worth its weight in gold. The extra money we spent on the electrical stuff for it to come on and go off by itself is worth everything not to have to go outside over and over to fight to get it to come on, or to turn it off.
Our cat, Abby, likes to sleep in the garage most nights. We have a big pile of firewood in there and put her sleeping ‘cube’ on a rectangle of wood on a holder that my husband made years ago attached to the wall . She really likes it, and the fact that she has a cat door so she can come and go as she pleases. (She also lets us know if she wants to stay inside, instead. We cater to her wishes.) She jumps up from the garage steps to the firewood holder pile in order to get up to her food, which we put on top of the firewood pile to keep our dog and other critters from getting it, and her bed. This is the only dry wood we have, though, and we used a bunch of it from the far side of the holder with the snow storm we just finished. If we have to make many fires during this ice storm, we’ll have to try to keep her end of the holder intact as much as possible. She’s getting old and can’t jump the way she used to. I can relate.
As I’m typing this, an icon popped up, saying, “Snow coming.” It says the “temp is 31 (feels like 21 – I can confirm THAT). “Scattered rain and snow showers expected. High will be 34”. The graphic of what to expect when shows rain/sleet/snow from 3pm until 9pm. :0(
I love to look at snow. I love snow globes. I even love to build a snowman or make snow angels. But then it’s supposed to go AWAY. NOT cause trees to break or hang down in the driveway, blocking our path. NOT cause power outages. I’m ready for spring and winter has hardly begun. Whine – gripe – moan – and generally be annoying. Sorry.
Filed under Mother Nature, Seasons
Bored Panda
Last Tuesday the snow started here. We had no public power for two and a half days, VERY grateful for our generator and our wood-burning fireplace. We chain-sawed our driveway clear starting on Friday. It took us 6 hours over 2 days, but the driveway is mostly clear now. We replenished supplies yesterday and got 5 days worth of mail from our mailbox at the bottom of the driveway.
Today we’ll try to get our robot (200+ pounds) standing straight again, instead of leaning. (We now have a chain around his neck that is tethered to a tree in front of him and a pole behind him, so he only LEANS instead of plunging head first down the slope to the side of the driveway.) Retrieving him ONCE from the slope was enough for us. :0)
We’re also planning to replace our mailbox decoration this morning. This is one of the Snow-Goons from Calvin & Hobbes.
The winter redux is a forecast of rain/sleet/snow, but mainly ICE this time, starting this afternoon and going through Thursday. The ice accumulations they said would likely cause power outages, etc.
It’s hard to believe that we might be out chain-sawing AGAIN after this, but we have an endless supply of trees on both sides of our driveway – a 650+ foot STEEP driveway from the house down to the road.
We resupplied yesterday, cheering as we went down our driveway and then again when we were able to simply drive up again like real people. :0)
In a minute we’ll gather our trash, drive it down, and drag the big tethered trashcan down to the bottom of the driveway for pickup tomorrow, We’ll get our mail and hopefully get the mailbox decoration changed.
Then we’ll hole in up here and see what Mother Nature brings us next.
Stay warm and safe.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
creativeartworksblog 