Hi all...I want to let you know that I have a new item in my Etsy Shop.It's a lovely ballet bag...You can read all about it at Etsy ...Take care of yourself, and enjoy the journey, if you can! Katie... PS I also added a photo of my daughter and I,and her beloved stuffed dog, Sara, just for fun! We were on our way to a family graduation.
Hi everyone...Well, it looks like I'm in for a root canal and a crown ($$$$$)...Oh well, what's a gal to do? I'm making aprons, bibs, headbands and pillows, to raise some dental funds! I'm also on a spending diet...It's amazing how much we spend without really realizing it...I took my credit card out of my wallet, and I'm spending cash only, and not carrying much of it with me...I only use my debit card for necessities...This is new for me...I'm not a shopaholic or anything, but I know I could spend less than I do... My mom says, "one way to have more money is to spend less"...(Not just to earn more)
I've also started exercising more...This has been in the last few days, so I wouldn't call it a trend yet, but I'm working on it! My son drives now, so for the first time in my life, I'm sharing my car...Today I let him take the car for most of the day, and boy did I do a lot of walking...It feels good to make small, positive changes...(Just between you and me, I was so proud of all the exercise I got today, that I stopped at a crepe cafe very near my home, and bought myself a whipped cream and strawberry/nutella crepe, and I ate the whole thing myself!)...One step forward, two steps back...Have a good day...Katie
Today was one of those days that held unforeseen circumstances, more sad than usual. I was driving along, and much to my dismay, I saw a tiny little dog laying in the road ahead of me. I got out of my car and went to the dog. I wasn't sure if the dog was dead or alive, but a man who had stopped said he thought she was shivering. I picked up the sweet little angel, not knowing exactly what I was going to do with her, but knowing that I had to get her out of the street.
In that instant when I lifted her very tiny body, I loved that dog. It didn't matter that I didn't know her; I just loved her. A neighbor helped me to locate the dog's owner, very quickly. She was at home with her little child, and she was very distraught, understandably. I went to the nearest veterinary clinic with her, cradling the dog the entire time, as the owner needed to hold her child. They took her to another room for a couple of minutes, and returned with her wrapped in a blanket, informing us that she was dead.
It almost seemed like some kind of a dream, but the blood on my shirt, shoes, and arms reminded me that it was not.
Even though this was a very sad experience, it was also something that I'm glad I was there for. I'm glad that I was able to offer some comfort to the owner, who is a very sweet woman. We can offer our compassion and caring to people and animals that we don't know, because we don't have to know them. All we have to know is that they are hurting, and they need someone. Please say a little prayer for this family, and their sweet little dog, "Henny." Take care, Katie
Hi everyone...I've been reading other people's blogs, and I see many photos and posts about people's studios...The places they've carved out for themselves where they can create. I have a book that features women's creative spaces, and one of them is a carriage house on the woman's estate...Yes, an entire carriage house!
Let's face it, I'm a little jealous. I love my home, and I'm not trying to complain here, and have you feel sorry for me...I'm not rich by any means, but I'm not poor either. But I think I am jealous when I see these incredible studios that people have. My family is getting the most use out of every square inch of our home. My two kids each have their own room at this point, but for two or three years, my son actually used part of our living room, separated by a large curtain, as his room. (He didn't have friends over very much during that time)...Since then, my wonderful husband, Greg, has remodeled our basement, adding a beautiful bedroom and bathroom for our son, who is now seventeen.
My husband and I each have our own business, and my husband's "office" is a small area in our basement. My "studio" is now the room that has been carved out of our living room. I didn't bother hanging up a curtain. I simply arranged the furniture in such a way that it's obvious that my area is separate from the rest of the living room.
No, it's not ideal, but it's mine. There's a big picture window on one side, and a smaller window on the other, and I've tried to make my mark on it, and surround myself with beautiful, inspiring things, that no one else has to like. Sometimes I do wish it were a more detached part of the house, (carriage house?), but it's what I have, and it's enough. We aren't the type of people who will be building "our dream home", so this is it. I love my home, even though it's not as big as some, because it's mine, and it's good enough... My mom says, "God's will is at least partially expressed by what you can afford"...So, I'm going to try not to be jealous of others' spaces, because it doesn't feel good...Instead, I'll be grateful for all that I have, which includes an incredible family, that I treasure more than anything. Have a good day, and I'll talk with you soon...Katie
PS I set up a small 'shipping area" on a table in my basement, which included a box with tissue paper, and "Goldie" my cat, decided that it would make a very nice bed, so she's been sleeping there ever since...Oh well!
At one point, my husband and I had "decided" that we were going to have one child, our son. He was our first and only child, a few years went by, and no other child showed up, so we thought we were done. Funny how life is what happens while you're making other plans (someone famous said that, but I can't remember who)...One day we learned that we would be having another child, and a few weeks later, that it would be a girl. A girl. A girl.
I had given up on having a daughter, and I thought I was fine with that. I adored my son, had so much joy in my heart from having him, and really didn't feel like I needed a daughter. Boy, was I wrong (pun intended)...My daughter and I have an unexplainable bond. It's been so much fun having another female in the house. It's also been a lot of other things, which we won't go into here:)...But, mostly fun...One of the things we do together, is go to antique stores...Last weekend we went to a little antique show, and my gal found some little iron doll house furniture, which she promptly added to a doll house that I found for her at an estate sale a couple of years ago.
She has this doll house decorated like you wouldn't believe...Here are some photos of mini me, doing her thing:
Hi everyone...Today is Show and Tell Sunday, hosted this week by the lovely and sweet Miss Analise at Sugar*Sugar. I didn't do individual photos of each hanky, because frankly, I was feeling a bit lazy! So, here they are:
