A painting

Last week, I felt the urge to pull my paints out.

I call it "Summer Memories". It is a bit washed out from the flash; it definitely looks better in person! It is reminiscent of piles of fresh veggies, hot sun in piercing blue skies, sunbathers, and fields of flowers. It makes me happy!

Mmmm...food!

Here is the pic I promised yesterday of my baked beans and cornbread...

Delicious!

Miscellany (...or can I have some cheese...)

...with my whine?

You see, yesterday I got stabbed with a steak knife, and it is all Scott's fault! I was making Scott some breakfast before he went in for night shift. I had to get a clean whisk out of the dishwasher. There was a steak knife sticking up out of the cutlery container, and, well, you can guess the rest. So it is Scott's fault because if he didn't need to eat, then I wouldn't have gotten stabbed! You follow?


Look at the horrific damage!
<~~


(I love you, hon, and I am expecting Get Well flowers soon! Just kidding....)

Other thoughts:

I am making homemade baked beans and corn bread for dinner. Yummy in my tummy! Pics later...

Rihanna's new video/song is annoying! The girl can sing, but NOT about Umbrellas. Geez!

Happy Hump Day everyone!

There and back again

On Saturday, hubby and I went over the border to do some shopping. Scott had to pick up a part for his car, so we decided to make a day of it.

We went shopping at a mall called "Great Lakes Crossings", and man, was it huge! They had a Bass Pro Shop which had every hunting implement known to man. We had lunch at The Rainforest Cafe which was delicious and quite an experience. I actually got to wander around Torrid, which is plus sized clothing (and also about 15-20 years too young for me!) We bought some decadent sheets at Bed, Bath and Beyond. These sheets are 600 count! It is like sleeping on butter, I tell you! We also got candles at Yankee Candle: Buttercream (my personal fav), Mandarin Cranberry (tart!), and MacIntosh and Peach (smells like a MacIntosh tastes!). I don't know that we would go back to this particular mall, but it certainly was fun.

We were almost ready to go home, when what did I spy but JoAnn's Etc.! I just had to stop in, even though I was dead on my feet. They had beautiful brocade fabric on sale for 60% off! How could I refuse?
Aren't they just delicious? I got 2 yards of the red, and 1 yard each of the blue and green. They were only $4 a yard! I don't know yet what I will do with them, but I am sure they will find a use.

After getting some Dove chocolate at Target, we made our way home. We had a great time, and it was nice for the two of us to have some time together.

Playing catch-up

So you may have noticed a large gap in my posts. Well, I have been BUSY! I had family and friends come down at the beginning of July, so I had to make sure the house was ready for guests. It took me a while, but the house was cleaned "enough". I know, visitors want to visit me, not my house, but the EasternEuropeanWoman(tm) part of me needed to make sure everything was ok.

My visitors brought me gifts!

On the left is a mug and moose that my friend Sindy bought me. She also got me a "Sewing with Nancy" book, lox, cream cheese and yummy bagels. On the right is a beret my cousin Donna knit and felted for me! Out of Noro, no less! I am not sure of the colourway, but it is stunning, and comfy too! I am wearing it as I speak, even though it is above freezing here in the arctic tundra. Donna's hubby, John, brought the fixings for his famous casserole, which was delicious and greatly appreciated. Donna also brought some Dove chocolate, as per request.

I know I enjoyed having everyone here, and this was the first time I really relaxed with visitors in the house. People ate when they wanted, slept when they wanted, went out when they wanted, and hopefully just had a good time. If you visit my cousin's blog (see under "Blogs I visit" ~~~~> Stitchin' and Bitchin'), one of her posts covers the yarn/fabric/bookshop/bead crawl we did here in London. I can hardly wait for next year to do it all over again!

Of course, life did not slow down after the visitors went home. I spent some time at Sindy's, helping her recuperate after laprascopic gallbladder surgery. Then, I had a week of doctor's appointments and tests. Hubby and I went away on Saturday, but that is a topic for another post.

I am just thankful that today is quiet. I might actually do some art!

Gratitude

In honour of all those who helped me through the last year...

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. Albert Schweitzer

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful. Buddha

A year in review...

The past year has been the most unusual one of my life. I certainly was at rock bottom this time last year. I was barely functioning, anxious, depressed, and in full-blown PTSD mode. This time last year, I was eating sausages and bologne sandwiches as that was all I had the energy to do. I could barely get out of the house without having major anxiety attacks. I was shaking and having vivid visual flashblacks regularly. I couldn't cope and I couldn't take care of myself. Thankfully, my family and my friends were there for me.

Although I am not completely better, I *am* much better. I can cook! Chili and grilled chicken and potato salad and homemade hamburgers and corn bread and white bread. I am crafting/being creative! I am 1 1/2 skeins away from finishing my very first crocheted blanket. I have sewn shorts and dolls. I have made earrings and a bracelet. I have painted and coloured and drawn. My puppies are getting attention again! I (can) clean! I have had guests stay at my house! I can get out of the house and do the stuff I need to without anxiety!

My PTSD is still affecting my life. I am more often than not in pain because I am having "body memory/flashbacks". Some days are harder than others. I get overwhelmed and exhausted easily. I have to take care of myself everyday. I take medications that make me very sleepy. My poor hubby has to put up with my whining when he himself is sore. I do hard work in therapy.

When all is said and done, I can't believe that I actually made it through the last year, with most of my marbles still intact (kind of). I know the future is going to be a long haul, but I can do it. (I know, enough of the cliches already!) I actually think the future could be fun. Here's hopin'!