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Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy NEW Year

Happy New Year, Dear Reader and may the Angels protect and guide you in a safe journey.
                                 

Angels around us,
angels beside us,
angels within us.
Angels are watching over you
when times are good or stressed.
Their wings wrap gently around you,
whispering you are loved and blessed."

It's a date....how romantic

The Dude continues to improve and will be moved to where the movers and shakers of hospital services reside, my second home....Rehab. He will be in while I will be out but we will be sort of in the same building. It is a place of blood sweat and tears.....challenge, accomplishment and regaining strength and skills and now a romantic liaison between star crossed lovers.........hahahahaha....

Friday, December 28, 2012

Progress and pain

The dude is improving every day; walking farther, pain control is better and is within days of coming home I think. Friends have definitely made the journey possible for both of us and Rita is in full swing. Today it was the refrigerator. Yes Laurie....she is simply a cleaning Ninja..rock on Auntie Rita.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

OMG....how can a plan so quickly fail

So....my operation went without a hitch and recovery in hospital went smoothly for the first 24.......Then the challenge began. My man/nurse/driver/slave took a trip to hospital in the ambulance, lost use of his legs and slid into the fast lane of neurological investigation. I immediately discharged myself and sat with him until I caved and went home to drugs and bed. THE SAINT ....auntie Rita arrived at 6pm...giving up her own family xmas plans to hold the fort at our house..Christmas passed in a fog of worry and pain...so grateful to have company during this time and help with the basic stuff. Today, the Dudes nuero investigation continues, improvement has been seen, He is still a hospital guest and there is still no name as yet for his condition or a plan for discharge. God is good . I am healing. Rita is here for another week chocolate is in good supply  and luckily I thought enough ahead to buy myself a birthday cake and put it in the freezer.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

merry Christmas from Madonnart Studio

                                            Inuit Winter: Watercolor by Madonnart

Wishing all a loving, laughing, memory making holiday season and a healthy, happy 2013.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Christmas Eve Rememberings

Andy and Carol quickly became family, always offering a helping hand for any truly awful job and becoming our Canasta Partners on a Saturday Night. Carol and I were played together and in the 20 years of playing cards never won a single game....why?? Well!!...it appears The men cheated their way through years and years of whammy filled games. The best part was the feast of liver sausage, rye bread, tomatoes and onions. I still crave that late night treat and miss hearing Andy boom out, "you dumbhead,what are you doing?" New Years Eve was often spent at our house enjoying the kids stories, festive foods and just loving the sharing of Christmas with dear friends. Our lives always crossed during Christmas with group Caroling in the neighborhood  and stopping at our homes for drinks and snacks. Marianne and Keith's annual Christmas cocktail party,and Christmas get together at Mavis and Kens, Rose and Jim's and Linda and Doug's.Our family rode almost daily during the holidays with Linda on Penny and Doug on his skidoo pulling all the kids behind. It was a time of true family sharing. We did not often do any outing without our children in tow and most times it was with this memorable group of neighbors and friends. I hope they knew how much we loved them.I can still close my eyes and feel the cold clean frosty air on a Christmas Eve as we welcomed people into our home......It was the best of times....

Friday, December 21, 2012

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Haka for Madonnart


Time to suit up and put on my Game Face. Join me....be scary, be fierce, be a warrior. HOOO HOOO! Surgery ?? bring it...Be sure to read the notations below the video to get the full intent of a Haka.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

See ya soon


This is a heads up Dear Reader. I am away for a few days for servicing and installation of new structural frame. AKA total shoulder replacement, bicep muscle and tendon transplant. Yes my friends....Kid Doctor is back and I am in.....I had the right done the  2 years ago so know the ropes and that Sir will be a big Amen to the Nerve Bloc...

Monday, December 17, 2012

Never thought I would see this day... 2 days

Well after all the drama and sadness of the last 2 weeks, I think it just maybe....might happen. Operation is set so far for early am Dec. 19th and My Angel....Auntie Rita is once again coming to help me after. This wonderful, shining example of pure friendship and generousity will put aside her WAY busy life (leaving for her winter adventure Jan 12th) and will come and spend 4 or 5 days putting up with the whining I tend to do when not in control or in pain. You can talk about friendship and family in eloquent glowing words but when that person "walks the talk" it's  simply generosity and caring in action. This is my friend and SIL, Rita.....so blessed and grateful to have her on my side.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

The Christmas Family Dance

The best part of any new experience has always been the new relationships we build along the way. We were now country folk and so proud of it. Our fashion choices were jeans,western shirts,barn coats,cowboy boots,stetsons and our life revolved around school,work,family and friends.We welcomed our new extended family that helped  us keep tab on the movement of the kids on horses and bikes. The Party line calls reported when the kids passed Rose's, Gelly's Carol's or Linda's and were like jungle drums beating out the reassurance  my neighbors and friends were on kid watch. Christmas preparation introduced the wonderful country tradition of the Family Dance. Goodhope Community Hall became a magical place for the Littles. Christmas decorations ++++, Potluck offerings that I still dream about and the Coat Room where children depending on their ages gave up the fight to stay awake and fell asleep on the floor on a mattress of down filled coats.It was here I realized we had birthed two dancing fools. They grasped the Heal and Toe Polka, Shateche, and the Two Step as if born to dance and danced all night.Pictures of Coco dancing with Christopher and Laurie demanding to dance with her dad AGAIN makes me smile and remember it was the best of times.....

Happy birthday puppy girl





Why do humans smell the flowers, but seldom, if ever, smell one another? We miss you..

Friday, December 14, 2012

Best First Country Christmas rememberings

Bear with me Dear Reader.....I am very emotional at present as I psych up for Op day and thoughts of being alone over Christmas is making me even more so.....there will not be enough Baileys and chocolate.
We were comfortable, warm and incredibly blissful the first Christmas in our house on what for years we referred to as our New Land.This was a 13 acre parcel of land across from the back of Elk Island National Park. I was living my dream, finally a ranch woman, with a new puppy,Lady,first horse,Cinnamon and so many possibilities ahead of us. Snow covered the tops of the 6 foot fence posts when we bundled up 3 yr old Laurie and 1 year old Coco to hunt for the perfect Christmas tree on our New Land.The kids were wrapped in sleeping bags and were warm and happy sitting in a box laced to a toboggan. Hot chocolate, sandwiches and cookies packed, we set out ax in hand to find the perfect Christmas tree in our new back 13. It was cold, exhausting to maneuver the deep snow with kids almost rendered nearly immobile,obliterated by their snow suits and scarfs. Lady jumped through the drifts, happy beyond description and we sang Christmas Carols the whole time. It was a gift beyond what I could have imagined for me....my beautiful family, our new land and our whole life ahead of us with good friends and new much dreamed of experiences. The first Little needing to go "peeps" brought our little caravan back to earth, the tree was cut, the lunch eaten and the trek back home was made. I can still see our house on the hill we poetically named Whisper Ridge, Christmas lights shinning through the snow, buffalo walking along the fence line. It was the best of times.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Bitter still and 6 days to go

Once a long time ago, I was gifted this spectacular bag. A bag that was not only fabulous in its size, color and multitude of uses, was full of nostalgia. How??? Firstly it was designed and manufactured by my wonderful girl, Laurie and secondly it carried memories of my happiest place....20550 Rge Rd, 540. I was in love.... Then in an effort to be helpful and knowing it would be replaced, I generously allowed the beloved girl to use it as a gift for the family Christmas with promises ...SHE or HE or THEY would win it back for me in the stupid Chinese gift exchange. Well they didn't.....

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

New Life....Oh and 7 days and counting

Baby gift finished...... now to mat and frame and mail to the newest Bebeau........

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Decorating and 8 days and getting nervous



A few decorations are lovingly placed, including a smallish tree. All items I can safely stow away with one arm tied behind my back. The Dude keeps bringing forth more and more and I need to keep reminding him, he might be putting everything away...alone...

Monday, December 10, 2012

Going to miss this 9 days to go

 No bath or shower for 2 months
No pool for 2 months until body cast is off
No driving until arm can reach steering wheel.....5 months? I'll miss you Coffee Places, Winners, Annegrettes Chocolatiere.

Sunday, December 09, 2012

Pink, at her best



If you are a Pink fan, you will not need convincing. This Artist is at the top of her game. For interest sake go here and see Rhianna and Pink performing in Germany at the same concert. My girl left Rhianna in the dust.

Friday, December 07, 2012

Dula December 16, 2003 to December 7, 2012



She looked out the open doorway...2.5 lbs of fur and ears. I wanted her instantly but she was not convinced I was the one. The Dude was IN immediately but I had to wear her in a Snugly on my chest for 3 weeks before she decided to fall in love with me. She loved HIM to distraction, waited in the dark hallway for him to come home and together they watched cartoons every morning. I was her mommy...she walked on my face, head and plopped herself down on me anywhere she wanted. Her huge black ears were ridiculously lovable and earned her the name Bat Girl. Her brown eyes oozed love, understanding and humor. She smiled, talked, yelled and sang. She did tricks. She loved everyone and insisted they love her. She respected one person, the Dude, and ignored the scary Queen, Laurie. She was quirky, loving, funny and charming. She was ours. I hope we loved her enough, She did us. Bedtime Puppy girl ...RIP...

Friday, 11 days to go

Friday beckons to me, hoping to see a movie, have dinner out, do some decorating, wrap a few gifts for the Dude.....I suppose a little romance is out of the question....?

Thursday, December 06, 2012

Right on schedule 12 days to go

All done
Studio cleaned, beads put away easel out, watercolor supplies ready, block taken down and set up. Ready for apres surgery fun....

Wednesday, December 05, 2012

next queue.....take a number....13 days to go

Today it's apply for updated Drivers License and I'm back in line with number in hand. Today I at least have a seat because I tried the early morning assault on B.C.'s most powerful bureaucracy ICBC. Not a fan before....not a fan still but as it is with these money grabbing corporations, I am but a grain of sand in the oyster shell making pearls for its own coffers. However there is a change, there are people helping people here. Just wish I had had the foresight to pick up coffee on my way to lounging in this extremely large waiting room. Crap!I pray I don't catch the horrible flu going around.

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

Fab day, 14 days to go

Yes, dear reader, a day well spent looking for places that once were here and now are moved to there and there and over there......please take a ticket and wait your turn. I was turn # 71 arriving at turn #41. Lineup out the door, down the street.....2 lab techs......great system for building patience.

Monday, December 03, 2012

New plan, New week 15 days to go

I am in a really lazy unmotivated space right now and need to get stuff done before the 19th. Considering I have done the Op Day prep 3 times in the last 4 months, it's getting a little tired. Today after swimming I must head to the hospital to redo all the preliminary testing....again.....then restock my stores.....again and redo my mini meals....yes that would be again and look into where the bed rail, bath bench etc are stashed and reassess the clothing options for the next 3 months. Different season from last postponed op date (AUG) to now middle of winter. Then there is house cleaning, windows, garden tidy one last time, car maintenance and assessment of pharmaceutical needs, clean oven, reschedule hair appointment, dental cleaning and check as non can be attempted in and around or after major ortho surgery and...and ....16 days and loosing light fast.

Friday, November 30, 2012

What I will miss this year at Christmas



Thinking way to much as I lay awake at night, contemplating the next months. The wisdom of my ancient years has taught me this.....people not things make me happy....these people....so blessed to call them mine

Thursday, November 29, 2012

The Call


 It's happening....REALLY....Christmas is cancelled....New Years as well...mixed feelings....Fear, sadness at missing the family at this special time of the year but gratitude for getting the job done....finally....maybe....
A year (13 months) in the life of a La Cirque wannabe....looms ahead.....Bring it on...

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

You move me...



 This furniture is in the basement and has asked very nicely to be relocated to the upper level....

While this furniture....tired and tired has begged to be relocated to the downstairs for a long needed break from the wear and tear of my Assets. This should be easy but is not. Twenty years ago, I would have done it myself with a packing blanket, a Dolly and some rope. Ten years ago the Dude and I could have done it....now I just dream about it.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Once so easy

Once upon a time there was a little family that had moved to their New Land in the middle of No where. That was a worry as Christmas drew near. The little ones sent letters, pictures and telephoned??.....Santa of course. They told everyone that Santa would never find them in Nowhere  Land, but he did. Those were the days when Santa was easy to contact. These days it is hard work to not only find Santa but find the Christmas Spirit he is nestled in. Wish those little girls were here to help.

Friday, November 23, 2012

My favorites



These bracelets have word saying metal tags. The red coral is a favorite of mine as it is scarred with black and very interesting.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Unisex bracelets



I thought it was time to display a few of the Unisex bracelets as inquiries are coming in daily. These bracelets are fully adjustable in 1 mm rougher looking hemp cord and some 1 mm silk cord. I'm wearing 2  today and love how they look.

More



Made with a 1 mm silk cord 2 color mix. Bracelets have a beautiful sheen and are very comfortable to wear....also color fast. I have worn mine in the pool for 3 months 2 times a week and color looks unchanged.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

More of the work


These bracelets are really unique. No two are the same and are best worn stacked. What do you think is a good price point. Click on pic to enlarge.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Fruits of our labor....November 2012


 We started with Pearl focal
and seed beaded bracelets. The cord
is a fine .5 mm waxed cotton that
knots beautifully and lays flat.
These bracelets were made with a
variety of colored pearls and
seed beads using blue,sea foam green
tan, beige, white, and black cord.

About Me

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Mesa Vista West, Okanagan, Canada