The above will become part of a word weave for Cinda of Turquoise Cro Thyme.

Please pray for my friend Cinda who I've never met in person but cherish dearly.

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be You,

Tess

An ATC Swap and A Word Weave

Good Morning all,
And it is a good morning indeed. I was able to sleep clear through the night last night for the first time in almost a week. Friday night I was awake all but about 3 hours of the night and those three were broken up in little doses here and there. Saturday night I managed 3 hours straight then was up again until 6:30 AM and stayed up until bedtime last night. I was exhausted. The prednisone does this to me. But as I knew it would my body finally adjusted and I feel well rested this morning and I can breath. Woo Hoo! I did rest over the weekend by sitting quietly and reading or crafting between spurts of energy when I did my laundry and cleaned my stove. I do like those little spurts of energy even though I hate being sick. ~~

I love Somerset Studio magazine and at one time purchased several back issues I did not have. I decided to dig them out and read. I found the March/April 2005 issue and it spoke to me (literally, it said "read me please, you like my cover and you'll love what's inside"; or was I hallucinating?!) :) So I sat myself down at 4AM on Saturday morning to read. I had it read cover to cover by 6:30 AM and went to bed. I was up again a couple hours later. Sunday night I was up and down all night also with coughing or needing my rescue inhaler or just being awake. I went back to bed about 6:00 AM and hubby woke me Sunday morning at 11:30. " You need to get up and take your meds", he said, "it's 11:30". I stayed up the rest of the day fearing if I napped any at all it would prevent me from sleeping last night.

I made the above Word Weave following Dory Kanters article instructions on page 91. This was fun to make and definitely was a quiet, sitting sill project. I did the mind doodle in one of my journals as it said to and picked my list of 10 words and then chose one. I chose the word creative as the thoughts I had written really seemed to have a creative edge and the word create or creative was spread throughout. I did not have a gold leaf pen or a gold gel pen so hubby took me for a drive on Sat. to hobby lobby and I bought both plus more watercolor paper. He went inside with me and did most of the running around through the store looking for things while I stayed in one general area. Isn't he sweet... ~~

I did an ATC and ephemera swap with LayHoon of mescrap and finally got her items scanned. She has posted about her swaps now and I wanted to show you all what she sent me.

These are the ATC's sh sent me and the pretty little envelope they were tucked inside. The back of the envelope has fish on it too. It is very shiny also. I love it. I love the sentiment on her ATC's. They are lovely. I think that as crafters and artists we are compatible as far off friends because we both love art and artistic play time. In a way all artists and creative people do have hearts that beat as one. One in the same as in same hopes and dreams. This is the ephemera she sent and the stamped envelope. The postage stamps are awesome. I love the museum piece there in the center with the paintings. All of it is so fun and beautiful. You can see some of Lay Hoons other swap items she received and what I sent her by clicking here. I have another project I started this past weekend using fused plastic. I had some that I hat made and never did anything with and found a wonderful article online from a blogger in the Philippines. I'll show you when I finish. Until then.....

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be You,

Tess

Bronchitis Round 4

Good Morning Fellow Bloggers,

I went to our new after hours clinic yesterday after work as I was having yet another asthma attack and had been coughing and wheezing for 4 days. I couldn't get in to see my regular doctor so his office suggested I go there or back to the E.R. My E..R. co-pay is $100.00 and usually a very long wait. I was pleased with the Alpha Care Center. As soon as the nurse walked past and seen me trying to speak to the receptionist she said "Having trouble breathing?". I shook my head yes and and suddenly she was standing next to me and took my arm and said come with me. Without even being checked in she checked my oxygen saturation (low) and my pulse (high). That little thingy they put on your finger to check these stats is pretty neat. I was able to get the coughing under control enough to let her know I have Asthma and had been seen this would be the fourth month in a row. She came back with a cute little nebulizer machine and hooked me up with a breathing treatment. She told me I'd spend the next 10 minutes just relaxing and breathing and then we'd see to the paperwork. I gave her my I.D. and Insurance card and she was pleased that she could give that to the receptionist. I actually heard the nurse apologize to her for snatching me away. 10 minutes later she checked in with me and it wasn't empty yet. It took almost 15 minutes for me to suck down the medication. It did help some but not as much as usual. It helped me to speak easier and I was able to go over meds with her that had been given to treat me the last times and of course weight/height etc. for the doctor. They let me stay in that little room and brought me a clip board to fill out all of the forms. That took about 20 minutes as I was shaking and I had to call my husband because I could not find my complete med list in my purse. Of course I remembered where it was later. Shortly after that the Doctor came in and checked me over. She may have hit on a good factor. I used to be on Advair and when my insurance stopped covering it I quit using it. My doctor knows this of course and why. This doctor said she felt I was a definite candidate to be on it especially in the spring. I was hurting so bad I told her I did not care what it cost, we'd manage it. I ended up leaving the clinic with 5 prescriptions. They will be sending a report to my regular doctor which is good as I will be seeing him on the 27th for something else and he'll be able to check my lungs then to see how I am doing. I am on prednisone again so needless to say I did not get much sleep last night. It wires me out. The stuff works for me though. It's just that the bronchitis keeps coming back. This doctor thinks the Advair will prevent that. Let's all pray it does as this is getting expensive and can't be good for my lungs.

I had two nice surprises though. The clinic fee was the same co-pay as a doctors visit which for me is $25.00 and last month my E.R. visit was a $100.00 co-pay . Now that I know about the clinic and where it is I will definitely use it for after hour not wuit emergency but just can't wait visits. Oh, and the Advair was covered so it only cost me $30.00 compared to $98.00 the last time I got it when they said the insurance denied it. So two nice surprises!

I made a wordle about my bronchial asthma attack. Click the small picture above to be taken to a larger view of this wordle. Wordle is fun to play with when you can't sleep at night. I found out about it from Anne Gaal of Gaal Creative. It's great for inspiration too when you want to figure out a desgn element/placement for a piece of art or a card.

It's raining here so I think I'll go start a crockpot stew. Sounds good to me...

Be Happy, Be HEALTHY, Be You,

Tess

almost Wordless Wednesday

My asthma is acting up again. I'm so tired of coughing and not being able to take a deep breath. Valrie I apologize for not getting this posted over the weekend.

My May Day swap package from Valrie of Poems My Way

I was so shocked and surprised to receive so many goodies from Valrie. I love it all. (Especially the flyswatter and spring angel. She sent a special poem too.)

This is the piece of art I made special for Valrie. She loves tulips, butterflies and the color pink. I sent her some book marks too. I forgot to scan them. She has photos on her site. Go visit Valrie please. She is a fun gal and a great poet.

I have more to share another day.

Thank you to mescrap and 29 Days of Giving. Your packages arrived also.

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be You,

Tess

Shameless Advertisement:
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Quotes for Today

Yesterday is a fallen leaf; tomorrow is still a dream; but today is here.

~Esther Baldwin York

Each day comes bearing its gifts. Untie the ribbons.

~Ann Schabacker

(from the book 1,001 Inspiration Quotes for Crafters)

What will you do with your gift of "today"?

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be You,

Tess

Crafty Steals

Have you heard of Crafty Steals? It's a great place to buy craft/art supplies at greatly reduced prices. I bought a set of slick pens for $11.99 and with shipping the grand total was only $14.98. This set is valued at over $40.00. I placed my order on May 2nd and the pens arrived on May 5th. How's that for quick service? You really must check this site out. Crafty Steals is one of my new favorite places. She offers a new steal/deal every day. She's on FaceBook too. And there is a Crafty Steals blog. The owner of Crafty Steals is a stay at home mom of two rambunctious little boys. Aren't they all? (Rambunctious) LOL!

So if you are in the market for some new supplies at deeply reduced prices check out this site. I'm not being paid for this endorsement. I just love her site and was impressed with the service so of course I wanted all of my friends to know about craftysteals.com

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be You,

Tess

Play Date w/ Myself

ATC inspired by LayHoon of mescrap fame.

Top

Bottom (It's a long piece.)

I had a play date with myself yesterday. I decided to try my hand at making paper fabric/cloth. I seem to forget what it is being called but I'm having fun with it. I had a bottle of Elmer's glue about 1/3 full so I added water to about 2/3 full and shook it up real good. Then I cut a piece of thin muslin and had at it. I used scraps of this and that both paper and fabric. I had some stamped images on tissue paper and I added that too. Then some strings and rick rack and more tissue paper and more glue and all with my fingers and a sponge brush; but mostly my fingers. I added a few bits of lace too and didn't even think about what I was doing, just did it. It was fun, fun, fun and I'm not done yet. I want it to have lots of texture. I think I'm going to run it through my sewing machine next. I also think that it's too pink or needs another shade of pink. I started with a blue and yellow idea. Not sure how I ended up with pink. Some of it seems to be a bit stiffer than other parts of it. At first the edges were curling but now they seem to be lying flat again.

I also played with my Lisa Bebi Studio fodder and made 2 ATC's with it. This is the second one. The first is actually a ATC size card. I will show it later. I am not sure yet which I will send to Lisa to enter her original art contest. You can find out about it on her Facebook site, Lisa Bebi Art. I'm excited to see all of the things the participants enter.

***

To the May Day Challenge participants, Happy May Day! My package has not arrived yet but that's ok. I will be sure to photograph and share my excitement when I receive it later this week. Valrie has been ill too. I hope she got hers yesterday (she is my partner). I hate our postal system (such harsh words). One never can tell how long it will take something to arrive. But I shouldn't complain as the mail has delivered many fun things to me of late. I still need to scan or photograph my ATC's from LayHoon to show you all, and the extra ephemera she sent is so wow. Thank You Lay Hoon. (She is the muse for the ATC at the top of this post. I call it pennies from heaven.) You are a dear LayHoon....

Well, I'm feeling a nap coming on...Sunday afternoon naps are so nice...

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be You,

Tess

PS. I just joined bArter Sauce. I found her, Rosalie, on Facebook. If you haven't been to this blog yet you really must check it out. They are having way to much fun and I want to join right in. I've already made an offer on something. Wish me luck...

Kelcy, Grace and Chloe

My sisters daughters...

1, 2, 3

sisters we will be.

I've got a sister,

you've got a sister

and so does she.

1, 2, 3

sisters we shall be.

I've got 2 sisters,

you've got 2 sisters

and so does she.

1, 2, 3

forever sisters we'll be,

you and you and me.

1, 2, 3

~By Tess

April, 2010

Just a bit of something I dreamed up the other night...

These three are so lucky to have sisters and be so close to the same age. My sister and I are 10 years apart and my daughters are 6 years apart. Sometimes it's just enough of a gap to really have nothing in common (that old generation gap doesn't need to span a lot of years to get in the way). We spent most of our childhoods apart, my sister and I. I hope these three will always be together, stay connected and cherish each other while still developing their own personalities and likes/dislikes. I couldn't wish for them anything better...

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be You,

Tess

May Day and ATC Swaps

I joined a May Day Swap and have been diligently working on it every day. I've created a masterpiece I am sure Valrie of poemsmyway will love. The theme is flowers and I've included her favorite as well as her favorite color. This was a first for me, an experiment so to speak and I love how it turned out. I'm mailing my swap item today. I'll show and tell after May 1st, I wouldn't want to spoil Valrie's surprise.

I also agreed to an ATC and ephemera swap with Lay Hoon of mescrap. My package has already arrived (from Malaysia, thank you Lay Hoon) and I haven't mailed hers yet. I feel bad about that. It is going into the mail today. I'll show all of the wonderful ephemera she sent me and the beautiful ATC's on another post. Must get ready for work....

Have a great day and remember to be creative in everything you do. Even if you just dot an eye with a heart or doodle on the side of a notepad. (It helps get me through my work day.)

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be You,

Tess

Each day comes bearing its gifts. Untie the ribbons.

~Ann Schabacker

Above: Our morning visitor - we don't often see these....Hubby took the pic as I just could not get the camera to focus this morning.

Below: Billie (younger daughter) has a hidden flower garden in bloom. It's between her apartment house and the neighbors. Her entrance is in the back and I usually just go straight to it. These were up further along the side of the house and the neighbors were out and spoke. In looking up and greeting them I seen my favorite color. I have Iris all over my yard, stalks are up but no blooms yet. I'm so glad I had my camera with me.


My grandmother called these "bearded ladies".

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Yourself,
Tess

Happy Earth Day

Pick It Up - Bending is good for the "waste" line.

Happy Earth Day ~ Do something good for the Earth Today ~

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle because the earth is worth it

and so are you and our future generations.

Thursday's Quote:

You don't have to do the grand gesture to heal the world. It can happen one person at a time.

~Susan Vreeland

Every Day Should Be Earth Day.

~Tess

Wordless Wednesday

Asthma Sucks!!

Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present and future.

~Gail Lumet Buckley

Quote from the book "1,001 Inspirational Quotes for Crafters"

Edited by Bob Kelly

I think those "magic mirrors" are sort of like seeing shadows of ourselves.

I missed yet another Mickey Family Reunion yesterday. Turning 50 this year and a set of twin cousins turning 50 as well I really wanted to go. I made sausage balls on Saturday and a cherry chocolate cake to take with us. These are extended family members that I do not see often.

But alas my body had other plans....

I spent a good portion of Sunday in the E.R. or in my bed sleeping. I was doing a lot of coughing Friday and Saturday. Then Saturday night the wheezing became very loud and the coughing was more like strangling. Hubby finally said that's it and off to the E.R. we went Sunday early morning.

After hearing my chest and my coughing the Dr. ordered a breathing treatment which I had already done several on Saturday at home that just was not helping. I guess the meds at the hospital are stronger. Once I was able to carry on a conversation the nurse spoke with me and then the doctor again. I ended up have 2 breathing treatments a chest x-ray and 3 prednisone. I am now on a regimen of prednisone for 12 days and an anti-biotic for five. He also gave me more of the cough syrup with codeine. I slept from 10:30PM until 2 AM last night, that is good for me. Got up and surfed the web a bit and then back to bed and sleep. I woke wheezing with the alarm so had a breathing treatment right away. This is really getting old. The doctor said this was asthma probably brought on by bronchitis as it is not completely gone and the symptoms are more intense. Not just a choking feeling but a strangling feeling. I just could not breathe. Scared the heck out of my husband; me too.

I felt the wheezing coming on again at work so did another breathing treatment this noon hour.

The picture above and in my last post are unusual buildings and textures I spotted around town while hunting for pics of signs of spring. Look up, look down, look all around. The unusual can be beautiful...

I'm planning an AC slideshow using these and many others. Not yet though. I need rest. Unless of course I end up with insomnia from the presnisone. Then I may take advantage of that night time and work on the AC content.

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be You,

Tess

Quote: The world is as fresh as it was the first day, and as full of untold novelties for him who has the eyes to see them. ~ Thomas H. Huxley

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be You,

Tess

Signs of Spring Around Town

Spring unlocks the flowers to paint the laughing soil.

~~Quote by Reginald Heber

Visit my slide show Visions of Spring on Associated Content to see more images of spring in Central Kansas.

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be You,

Tess

I'm 50 Years and 2 days old....

50 Roses from my hubby and youngest daughter in all different colors. They are just gorgeous.

April 7th was my 50th birthday. I received several fun surprises that day and I was given a calm and peaceful day just as I had wanted. Dinner with hubby at IHOP was really good. Bobbie and Raven showed up just as we were finishing with a gift and a surprise. I bought some Painters paint pens a few weeks ago and asked for more, she got me the pearlescent painters. I think these will be great for my journal pages. I invite you over to AC to read all about my day, here.... Or just click on the post title above.

I hope you all are enjoying Spring. It got really hot and humid for a few days here and I had thought we were going to go straight into summer but the last few days the temps have been cooler and all of nature seems to be waking from winter's slumber. I've gotta get outdoors with my camera this weekend. How about you, any fun weekend plans?

Be happy, Be healthy, Be yourself,

Tess

Unfinished Spring Quilt

Spring is in the air and on the cloth....

I don't know why but I remembered this quilt I had started years ago today and went looking for it. (I apologize for the awful scans.) I found it just where I thought it would be safely tucked inside a shoebox. At the time I started this my grandmother had recently passed and I was proving to an Uncle that I did remember the way she stitched the designs onto her quilts. My grandma and granny made dutch girl and dutch boy quilts. We all have one; their children, grands and greats, and their nieces and nephews. My mom has taken up quilting now. To make for her grands and great grandchild. Mom even took some finished quilt squares of little dutch girls and made wall hangings for us girls one year for our birthdays. I love knowing both my grandmother and mother had a hand in stitching it.

I suppose I really should get busy with finishing this quilt, instead of letting it sit in a shoebox waiting to be assembled. My problem is time and, well, I really have no idea how I am going to quilt the layers together. I incorporated buttons, maybe too soon. I love those yoyo flowers, don't you?!

We'll be seeing many of these this weekend (see below), as if we haven't already.

The stores are full of Easter Baskets, assembled and supplies for the DIY individuals. A sure sign that sping is or will soon be here. I am ready for the sunshine but...we went from frigid 30+ degree days to hot 80+ days. What happened to the milder spring temps? Aren't we suppose to have spring weather between winter and summer? I do so hope we do not jump from winter to summer here in Kansas. I like the no coat, no sweat weather of spring. High 60's and low 70's year round would please me just fine. (That's a pipe dream.)

With all the baskets about and the colored eggs and chocolate bunnies please try not to forget the real reason for Easter. Teach your little ones the story. Pray together and be blessed,

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be You,

Tess

Dramatic Fragment

woo hoo, it's friday. notice no caps there? i'm so tired i can't even get excited about tgif. i am feeling better though.

I have this great old poetry book I found, The Oxford Book of American Verse. I think I posted from it once before. I was flipping through and randomly reading from it and came across this entry:

Dramatic Fragment

SIR, say no more,

Within me 't is as if

The green and climbing eyesight of a cat

Crawled near my mind's poor birds.

~ Trumbell Stickney

I think I felt like that at one point this afternoon except that when I picture it in my mind it's funny. And I didn't feel funny I just felt tired. Bronchitis really wipes me out. I think the meds are working though as I slept good last night for a change. My other new meds seem to be working too. Co-workers say I'm laughing and smiling more. That is good...

You all have a good weekend and remember to get some rest too. That's part of what the weekend is for isn't it? Resting! Well I know mine is going to be anyway.... (Don't work too hard or that cat's eyesight might get your mind's poor birds. Be my luck he'd be cross-eyed too. LOL)

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be You,

Tess

Greetings all,

Sorry I've been so absent here. I've had a bout with depression and now my cough is back. I've talked with the doctor about the depression and we've done some adjusting of the medications. I think it's helping. I haven't checked in about the cough yet. I just hope the bronchitis is not coming back. We went from 60 degree days to 30 and snow. Yep, the first official day of spring and we have 2 inches of snow on the ground. I know, I know, my Uncle in Colorado already told me, 2 inches isn't anything. He had already had 6 and it was still snowing. He teased he was sending it my way. Most of the snow on the streets and sidewalks melted today. With spring allergies and flip-flop weather conditions no wonder I'm having asthma and bronchial issues again.

I'm not sure how I came across this blog just now but if you are itching to make a postcard or to do a random act of kindness here is a great opportunity for you. I'm going to send a Kansas postcard to Satori. I'm not sure yet if I'll buy one or make one. Maybe I'll do both and send two. How about you? I hope you will take a look and send Satori a postcard too.

http://www.postcardsforsatori.blogspot.com/2010/03/hello-for-those-of-you-who-dont-know-me.html

Have a good evening and a great Sunday....

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be You,

Tess

Back Cover Of My New Year Journal

This is the back cover of my January 2010 New Year's Journal. I started following along with Misty Mawn's journaling prompt and got lost somewhere along the way. I finished her entire January Journaling assignments last year, managing to create something in a journal every day. This year it took me clear into February to finish. It's OK though as I am pleased with this journal. I made it myself using Teesha Moore's tutorial. I used some different techniques and even worked through something that was bothering me. So this little 8x9 1/2" 12 page journal has taught me many things and I've had fun with it.

This drawing is inspired by Picasso. I definitely need practice with proportions. LOL! I wanted to make it my own so I added a watch to one wrist and bracelets to the other. Now that I look at it I think they each need a ring or two. And that yellow flower needs a smiley face. :)

Thanks to Tristan of Enchanted Revelry I got to play with Caran D'Ache Watersoluble Crayons. I love them. So would anyone care to tell me what watersoluble means? Can I get the colors wet and paint/blend with them? I'm afraid to try anything other than coloring because I don't want to ruin them or mess them up. Oh geez, now I feel really ignorant. I'm just being honest here. I really don't know what all I could do with them. He sent me the Neocolor II set and the colors are wonderful. OK, enough about the crayons....

So here's a thought, What if you bought or picked a bunch of flowers and gave them to a stranger?

Maybe the person behind you in the check out line,

Or the next person on the street that smiles at you,

Or your day care provider on her day off,

Or the waiter at your favorite bistro,

Or the librarian,

Or, Or, Or,

Have fun with this one. A random act of kindness can be contagious.

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Yourself,

Tess