One World One Heart 2011

Have you heard the news? I'm joining in...will you? I've met so many wonderful bloggers through Lisa Swifka's magical One World One Heart event. You should join in, you'll be glad you did.

To learn mlore about the 2011 One world One Heart event - the fifth and final event hosted by Lisa Swifka just click on her name above.

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Safe,

Tess

Family and Another OWOH Gift

Hello fellow bloggers, Hope you all have had a great weekend. Mine has been pretty good. We've had somewhat nicer weather and I even got my van completely clean inside and out with hubby's help. It smells so much better in there and the dash board is nice and shiny again. :)

Today we had a family gathering at my mom's place to celebrate Bobbie's 1 year since her surgery and one of my brothers has a February birthday. Bobbie wanted to cook and we have a vegetarian in the family so I made the meat sauce yesterday and filled a crock pot and she made the vegetarian sauce at mom's house plus cooked the noodles. I surprised my brother with a Cherry Chocolate cake, a favorite. It was so nice having Bobbie's help instead of her zonked out on the couch. Everyone has noticed how much better she is doing. The cousins enjoy seeing each other and they are all growing so fast.

This is us: My sister and her family and one of my nephew's is missing from the pic. Mom is sitting on my niece's knee. She started this brood, with me, yep I'm the oldest in my family. LOL! The little guy is my daughter Billie's best friends son. She (they) are also her and my son-in-laws roommates. They are like family to us so we didn't mind at all when the little guy jumped up on the bench with us. She (Ashley) is taking the picture.

Sasha smells something in this pretty pink paper.

So I thought I had better get to showing my latest OWOH win received recently. This is from Angie of Big Hill Goddess . Her blog is a lot of fun. I loved that this One World One Heart blog giveaway offered a chance at two different packages and a cross stitch. I was especially delighted when I found I had won the dream package. It is all purples and lavender and I have always been interested in the meaning of dreams. Not the nightmare kind of dreams, just the dreamy dreams when silly things play out in our heads while we are sleeping. Like people flying, or dogs jumping through windows or trees talking. The first two are recurring dreams I have. So here are more pics of my wonderful OWOH win...

Frankie has joined Sasha in the inspecting of the package.

Isn't this just the loveliest little Art Doll! The package is dried lavendar.

I plan to wrap the lavendar in this pretty embroidered hanky to make a sachet. I'll use the pretty purple yarn Angie used to wrap the package with to tie the sachet up.

My package even included a handmade journal. A ribbon is wrapped completely through this journal to tie it up with. I love the artwork in the front cover. And the dream book comes with a journal too.
(I have no idea why blogger loaded this picture sideways.)
So now you've seen it. My dreamy package from Angie at Big Hill Goddess. Angie is a mom to three grown children and to put it in her own words: "I enjoy baking and cooking, sewing, crafting art dolls, and reading. And I am somewhat of a coffee addict. ". I have enjoyed Angie's blog since finding her through OWOH and am following her now. I do hope you will take the time to visit her little piece of blogland. If you really want to get to know Angie read this swap-bot introduction post. She does a great job of introducing the blog world to who she is and what she is about. I can't wait to see more of her Art doll creations.

Well I think this post is way too long so I will save my finished 2010 January Journal for another day. I know it's the last day of February already. It should have been finished a month ago. But that's OK, I've had fun playing in it and I finished the back cover recently so I'll show you the last pages soon. Until then...

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Yourself,

Tess

(For those that are missing spell check in blogger, mine is back. Have no idea where it went for a few days but am glad it is here again.)

My OWOH Gift Arrived and More Snow

As promised yesterday I am sharing my One World One Heart gift I received in the mail. Isn't this a pretty little handmade box? I just love it.

This little box came brimming with little pretties inside...

And a beautiful mosaic trivet made by Caroline. I love the center, the beautiful angel. This trivet is just so very lovely and feels sturdy too. I'm not sure if I want to use it as a hot plate or as a table decoration. Or maybe find a way to hang it on the wall. It's just so pretty. The picture doesn't do it justice.

My gift came from Caroline of Carolines Crafts. You really must go visit her blog. She makes such wonderful creations including art dolls. She seems to be an all around crafty gal as she works with fabric, clay, wool, etc., etc. Just about anything she can get her hands on becomes something lovely. She has an etsy shop too. So please do go and visit Caroline. Tell her Tess sent you.

And to Caroline, Thank You so much for my OWOH gift, I love it!!

We had more snow last night....

A little bird danced on my porch. Maybe several tittle birdies.
Then off they went looking for food.

Have you fed our little feathered friends lately?

I'm feeling much better and so is hubby. I will be attempting to return to work tomorrow after a week plus of feeling horrible. I can breathe again yippee! Hopefully we don't get much more snow tonight. We are in a winter weather advisory until 6AM Monday morning. And baby it's cold outside....

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Yourself,

Tess

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day!

I hope you are all with your loved one or at the very least will have contact today. Your valentine may be a husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, a sweet nephew or niece, a darling grandchild, a sibling, an Aunt or Uncle, a favorite cousin, a grandparent, a best friend, a furry friend or all of the above. Did I leave anyone out? You get the idea! I read this somewhere: God didn't put love in our hearts to stay, He put it there for us to give away. (Author Unknown)

Isn't that so true?

Here is a little poem by me for you...

A Valentine - Just one line

Would be just as sweet

As a kiss or a sweet treat.

I hope you all find love today and share some also. A big smile for a stranger just may make his or her day.

Don't forget to stop by and enter my One World One Heart Giveaway. Lisa has really had her hands full this year with over 1,000 participants. What a wonderful and fun idea this magic carpet ride has been. I will check for my last commenter's at noon CST time tomorrow, Feb. 15th, and will attempt to use the random numbers generator to pick my 2 winners. If all else fails I will copy and paste the list to a word document print and have hubby help me cut up and pick the names from my crystal bowl. I started feeling bad Friday and woke with a cough and breathing trouble yesterday. I don't thinks it's my asthma this time I think I may have caught a cold or developed bronchitis. A dose of Tylenol Cold helped me get a good nights sleep last night but I still feel icky today. I can't say when but I will announce my winners and contact them sometime tomorrow afternoon or evening.

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Yourself,

Tess

Pinewood Derby, Doctor, Enchanted Revelry and More Snow

Greetings Folks, I woke up to more of this today as did this little guy that lives in my rose/rock garden. He loves the outdoors, can't you tell?!

I've been a wee bit busy this week. Too busy I think. And I've been so enjoying my few peeks in every chance I get at the wonderful blogs along the OWOH magic carpet ride.

We held our pinewood derby with one Pack I work with here this last week. These cars are made by 1st through 5th graders. Some were pretty creative. I just love that "pink e-racer". Great imagination....

Check out the car on box#2, a hot dog on a bun. So cute....

Daisy Duke never showed up but her cousins car did, do you see it?....

I also had a long awaited doctor's appt. this past Tuesday. I spelled it all out for him literally. I wrote down all of my meds and what I take when and then told him about my physical condition (and emotional). I described all of the different tests I've had done over the past 2 years plus and still no answers and no long lasting relief. He was very attentive and went over my medical records and test results with me. We've stopped one med and will try replacing it with another, plus adding two more that will be temporary to help me get some night time relief and to calm my nerves and legs. I've got to get some quality sleep. I am also being tested for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus. I have another appt. in three weeks. I don't want to wish anything bad on myself but I do want them to find something, an answer - anything, as to why I am always in such pain and when I do get it to ease up in one area it develops in another. (He assures me I'm not crazy, this I doubted.)

I did have a wonderful surprise in the mail this past week that truly made my day. Took my mind off any ailment I may have as soon as I seen the box. I new immediately I wanted to share it with you and I apologize for not having made the time to share it sooner.

I love all of the luscious colors of tissue paper that came stuffed in this box. Even my hubby knew to help fold it carefully to set aside for art projects. :) (He was as excited as I was to see what was in the box!)
A bit blurry because I was so excited I could hardly contain myself.

I tried to get Frankie to help me with unpacking the box but she wasn't interested. Cats are like that, always lounging. :)

This wonderful box of goodies came from a fabulous, stupendous, funny, artistic, talented, entertaining and creative blogger. If you have not found him yet you must visit Tristan over at

Enchanted Revelry

Tristan's blog is eye candy of the best kind and on top of that he is hilarious. He recently celebrated his 300th follower, 200th blog post and 40,000 hit. Wow!! You have to see his blog to understand. He is so full of life and his blog posts will never fail to make you smile/happy/feel warm and fuzzy inside. He is one of the participants in Lisa Swifka's One World One Heart event also so please do stop by and say hi. Just for fun tell him Tess sent you. :)

(Here is a link to his Enchanted Revelry OWOH post)

(And here is mine, I've added a second prize.)

And to Tristan I would just like to say

Thank You So Much...You Made My Day!!

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Yourself,

Tess

OWOH Magic Carpet Ride

Happy Valentines Day to you all! This OWOH giveaway will end at noon CST tomorrow, February 15th. After that I will attempt to use the random numbers generator to pick my 2 winners. If need be I will print and cut up the comments list and have hubby draw 2 winners from my crystal bowl. I will announce the winners sometime after that.

UPDATE: I am thrilled to share that I have over 100 comments on my giveaway. Wow!!! To celebrate I will be drawing a second winner and I have made a second plaque. See the second prize at the bottom of this post.

Greetings One and All,

My name is Teresa aka Tess and I have something to share with you.

I had a dream I was floating through the air as fast as fast could be. And yet, I could see everything as clear as day. I seen such wonderful sites. Lakes, oceans, mountains and valleys were all there for me to delight in. And the sounds, oh how wonderful the sounds were both day and night. Oh did I mention , in my dream, day became night became day before my very eyes? And yet all was clear, calm, no fog, no squinting, no guessing what was before or what was behind. I could think "slow down" and I did. I could think "stop" and I would. I lingered over the Rocky Mountains and spied a great Bear feeding her young. I floated above the Pacific and enjoyed the mist from a Great White Whale. I felt the heat of the day and the cool of the night desert as I watched lizards scurry about. I visited countries I was sure I would never see again. Canada, England, France, Germany, Belgium, Malaysia, Italy, Australia, all were there for me to see as I floated along. It was all so clear to me as I awoke lying there on grannies quilt. The quilt that had become a magic carpet ride. I have seen crystal lakes. I have seen the the sandy beaches of the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. I have seen mighty mountains and desert valleys. And someday...someday I'll see other countries because Dreams do Come True....even if only on magic carpet rides.

~~~

I found the One World One Heart event last year and made so many new friends and found so many wonderful blogs to follow. OWOH is a wonderful event created and hosted by Lisa Swifka. The purpose of the event is to bring together bloggers from all over the world. A meet and greet sort of thing. I even acquired a few new blog followers myself. And I won a few giveaways too. Me, who up until then never won anything. After last years event I knew I would participate this year with a giveaway of my own. Of course as life goes on and time goes by I had forgotten all about it. Until I seen that awesome OWOH Ticket badge on another blog and I remembered all over again what my vow was last year. I vowed to myself to thank the generous bloggers I had won items from by joining in and hosting a giveaway. But what, what could I make, what could I post that someone might want. And then it came to me, my little dream, and so....

I offer to one lucky blog visitor this little wood plaque.

This little wood plaque measures approx. 7 1/4" wide by 5 1/4" high. I painted it with acrylic paints and a pretty paper with the DREAMS come true sentiment was adhered using Mod Podge. Colors are black, brown and pale blue. I added some paint and sanding, more paint, more sanding, and then 3 coats of Mod Podge to seal it. A saw tooth hanger will be attached to the back so it will come to the lucky winner ready to hang or gift to another. It looks great standing on an easel too. What better giveaway to offer visitors of the Heart of Words blog than a word plaque made just for you. A pretty little plaque with a constant reminder that dreams do come true.

~~~

Just leave a comment on this post only with a way for me to contact you and I will enter your name into my drawing. As this is my first OWOH giveaway and as this IS a blog event I am requesting that you have a blog to enter. Please leave a way to link back to your blog or leave an email address so that I may contact you when you win. I, and hopefully other commenter's, will want to visit your blog so please do leave a link. The lucky winners name will be drawn and announced on February 15th. Good Luck and Pleasant Dreams....

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Yourself,

Tess

P.S. If you haven't figured it out yet, my blog IS my magic carpet ride.

Don't forget to stop by Lisa's OWOH site and visit some of the many other blog participant's. Have fun and enjoy your ride.

My apologies for the poor picture. Colors are red on block with pink and black accents. "Dreams Can Take You Anywhere" is so true when you are on a magic carpet ride. (Stand not included.) Good Luck.....

My OWOH Prize Arrives & Another Update on Bobbie

Woo Hoo, My OWOH giveaway arrived today. Edrian was so kind to also send along a postcard and her business card showing off her artwork. She is just a wonderful illustrator. And I love her blog. I tried both taking a picture and scanning the items and I just could not get the sparkle of the bracelet to show in the pic. And the pretty gold foil pouch is just icing on the cake. The bracelet looks really small but it fits just fine, and it's lavender. I love it! Thanks Edrian!!

*************

And now for another update on Bobbie. She has now been transferred to the inhospital occupational rehab unit on the 4th floor. She is to wear her street clothes and will get more intensive therapy. And, they have convinced her she must quit smoking and she has agreed. They will be helping her with that too. She mentioned a patch. Her dear friend Tracy took her clothes and washed them to remove the cigarette smell and sprayed her shoes down with Lysol. He has agreed to quit smoking too. Now to get my son-in-law to agree to quit also, that would be great. We are looking at the rest of this week in the rehab unit working with the left hand and learning ways to get around. She handled the stairs well today and is walking just fine on linoleum and carpeting. :-) She is already practicing writing her name with her right hand. I am so glad they are teaching her these things now.

You all have a bright and beautiful day tomorrow and a calm and peaceful evening tonight.

Hugs,

Tess