Now for a 365 project

Hello any of you out there......I'm taking a break so to speak from art journals 4 cancer.  It was a tough thing to start and an even tougher thing to finish after my Mother died.  I still want to do ArtJournals4Cancer by creating art journals to give to cancer patients, but for now, I need a mental break from cancer.  Something a bit more light hearted after this summer and autumn.  I'm be back at some point, but for now, I'm going to try doing a 365 + 1 project...barefoot.  It should be fun and maybe will bring my spirits back.  My heart goes out to all of you with cancer.

Happy Thanksgiving Mom!

Happy Thanksgiving Mom!

"Enjoy the simple things in life and draw."


It's the day before Thanksgiving and this will be one of the more difficult Thanksgivings with my mother's passings.  I just started journalling again.  It took me a while to get back into it when my mother was so very sick and now; nearly 3 months after her passing, I have begun to journal again.  My mother would have wanted it that way.  Mom and I created a journal while she was getting chemotherapy.  It wasn't a really artful journal, during the chemos, but it was what we needed.  I sat there with her and we drew silly pictures, played tick-tack-toe, wrote down her appointments and any notes that the doctors or nurses had for us.  My mother wrote in one of the first cancer journals "Enjoy the simple things in life and draw."  She liked to draw the simple things that made her happy; usually a frog pond with cattails or a flower or something like that.  I loved my mother's drawings.  So I hope if you are reading this, you will "Enjoy the simple things in life."  And if you are interested in starting ArtJournal4Cancer - just let me know.  Write to me at artjournals4cancer@yahoo.com and I'll help you start your way to journalling!  Be well!  and....HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

My Mom and I in 2008 at the Primative Biathlon!

Yesterday was Mom's birthday.  She would have been 73.  It was a strange day without my mother.  Dad stopped by for a hug and a cup of tea.  My cousin Sheila and I met for lunch with Ted and a friend of Sheila's.  That was awesome!  Lunch at Penny Cluse!  I bought a flourless chocolate cake - lit a few candles and Ted and I "celebrated" her birthday.  It was a bit of a sad event.  Miss you Mom!

When you are feeling Blue....

Well, a few minutes ago, I posted a new blog.  Feeling all sorry for myself...on travel...away from my kids...missing my Mom; I signed off and started to get ready for bed.  I opened up my bag and there before my eyes was DARK CHOCOLATE!!!!! YES!!!!  THERE IS A GOD AFTER ALL!  And what really pleased me was...that wasn't all.  My husband put the dark chocolate in, but it was my daughter that added another bag of goodies that she got while trick or treating!  What a wonderful family!  Now I can go to bed - happy, with a little Ghirardelli chocolate in my belly!

ps - I still miss you Mom!

My Mother's passing.

It happened September 3, 2011.  It was the day I dreaded.  I lost my Mom and my best friend.  My mother was a beautiful, lively, intelligent, funny woman.  She battled breast cancer off and on for 11 years.  When we learned the cancer had invaded her body and that she would no longer be able to fight the battle, we turned to home care.  My sister and I did our best to provide the best home hospice we could to my mother.  These were the sadest days of my life.  I am glad I had the ability to be there for her, but I hated watching cancer rob her of her life.  I watched her cry often in those final days.  She wasn't ready to die.  Still, in her final days, she managed to keep her sence of humor occasionally and for this we (the family) was greatful.  I miss my Mom.  I miss her dearly.  I miss calling her up for no reason at all.  I miss just popping by for a cup of tea.  I miss the walks we took together.  I miss the gardening together.  But what I really miss is her voice and the ability to just call her up and see how and what she was doing.  I'm trying to buy a house now and I really wish I could take her to it and show her the inside.  I know she would have been very excited for me.  I'm wish I could even say I'm glad she's in a better place, but for my own selfishness, I just plan miss her like hell and wish she was here.  Mom - I LOVE YOU!

What's New!

I've been working on collage and keeping a daily diary/calendar, but with the calendar, I'm doodling!  I love it!  I'll share a photo below.  I took a break on creating the ArtJournals4Cancer as I've been taking time off to take my mother to her chemotherapy appointments.  I needed some time to get to know my mother more which in turn makes me want to create more!  My mother has always supported my creative side; after all, she's my role model!

Also - my soul mate and I were married and my mother helped perform the ceremony!  A few months ago, we weren't sure if she would be with us, now the change in chemo has helped not only extend her life, but given her some major improvements to her quality of life.

For those of you with cancer...KEEP FIGHTING IT!  And let art help you heal!