Crazy Sexy Cancer~

~Crazy Sexy Cancer~

Strange, this movie/documentary just arrived from Netflix. I had seen part of it on t.v. a few weeks ago- but fell asleep and didn't see the end. I ordered it and the timing...Oh the timing.

Last night I received an email from the husband of a long-time friend. Her daughter was my flower girl many, many years ago when I married my first husband. She is now a physician with a young family of her own. She is also a very devoted daughter.

My dear friend was just diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. She underwent surgery last week and they have since discovered the the origin of the tumor was in her right lung- stage 4.

Yes... many, many years ago she smoked. She gave it up so many years ago that this seems incredibly unfair. I know that people are diagnosed with lung cancer every day and they may have never smoked a cigarette.

I know what this means.

I am devastated and sad.

I don't like bringing negativity or sadness to my blog- but at the same time, I feel such a closeness with some of you very dear and kind friends. I don't want to paint a happy, happy, joy, joy picture either. I feel helpless.

Image:

Netflix

First Snow~

~First Maine Snow~

Today we had our first snowfall of the season. I immediately started cutting vegetables and making stock for a comforting soup.

Truth be told... I wanted to put in the Charlie Brown Christmas CD. I resisted.

This snow melted as soon as it hit the ground, but it did snow for nearly the whole day.

~*~

I like the above photo.
I found it via a google search of recent snowfalls. It was actually taken at a nearby pond. I love the pop of the bright yellow cottage against the white snow.

Image:

Bonsai

Aunt Lucy~

My sister and I took our elderly aunt out to dinner tonight. It was a truly wonderful night spent reminiscing of days gone by.

This dear woman drives herself to dialysis three days a week and did I mention that she is 86 years young. She has the skin of a six-year-old and still cooks wonderful meals and bakes daily. Just tonight she sent us both home with a dozen yeast roll......

We had a fabulous time catching up on family members, gossiping about the goings-on-about-town and remembering special occasions of days gone by.

Do you have someone special that you connect with~ a relative, old friend or someone from your past that makes you laugh and smile?
And... occasionally bring tears to your eyes?

Image:

Google search

Felting~

Felted Flowers

Snazzy Bag- knitkit.com

~Felted Baby Booties~

I have been trying my hand at felting. I love the softness of it. Remember when boiled wool jackets were all the rage? Felting reminds me of those, only a closer, softer effect.

Right now I am experimenting with different wools, temperatures and coming up with the look that is most pleasing to me.

Have you ever felted a piece of wool, something you've knitted or crocheted?

Any helpful hints?

~*~

Here is an easy tutorial on felting if you want to give it a try. I recently read - 'caution- once you try felting, you won't want to stop"!

lusciousgracious.com

Images:

Flickr {Booties and Flowers}

Snazzy Bag- knitkit.com

Winter Berry~

~Festive Winter Berry~

On Saturday we went off to scour for Winter Berry. On our visit to the coast a couple of weeks ago I spied this glorious patch of the festive berries. Rather than hunt for it locally or taking the chance of trespassing, we headed back to this spot. State owned property with NO 'No Trespassing" signs. Yes! guilt-free cutting.

So the planters will be decked-out for the holidays in all of nature's finery.

Now... to find nice, full evergreen brush.

~*~

"NO TRESPASSING".

This one gets more difficult each year. Finding nice, thick, full evergreen brush is more of a challenge. Naturally we wouldn't think of cutting from someones private property, and I know from my years of being a gardener this does not harm the evergreens. It is actually good for the trees if done prudently.
So, that will be left for another weekend. I'll show you the end result when we're finished.

Images:

My own

Bella Luna~

" When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie~ that's amore".

~Bella Luna~

~*~

I've been dropping hints left and right that a Canon Rebel would make this moon and just about every other photo I want to take- ever so much better.

~*~

If anyone out there has any suggestions for improving the quality of my photos with this little Canon Power shot A1000... I would be very grateful.

Images:

My own

Halloween Leftovers...

~Leftover Halloween Treats~

Is your household suffering from sugar over-load? What do you do once you've gone over all of the Halloween candy checking for quality and your children have clearly had enough?

Here are some great suggestions.

I certainly treated myself to a few Butterfingers last night. But with only a handful of ghosts ringing our bell, I am left with...well leftovers.

I like the idea of melting mini chocolate bars for sauces later...much later!

On one blog {I cannot remember which one, so if it was yours-please let me know so I can give credit where good credit is due}- Mom would buy the candy from her children and send it to the office with Dad- genius!

Image:

eHow.com