With humble thanks !

 Mom went  in for her first surgery on monday. We had been told at that point that not only did she have bladder cancer but a one inch tumor had been found in her kidney and so the surgery to remove that had been already scheduled for the 9th of Dec. Early monday morning my Mom's sister ,a trained Reilke therapist and Hospice social worker  did a one hour therapy on Mom. The afternoon surgery lasted an hour. Dr. Webster came out after the surgey, sat down and said "do you believe in miracles?" Both Aunts answered yes . He said "we found NOTHING!!!! ".It has taken few a days for me  to digest this info , hence the slow post  WHEEEEE!!!. that is me letting out my breath! My family, my Mom and myself have not a thing to feel but Thanks this Thanksgiving !!!! Hugs to all -Julie- A side note-  I am a believer in science and the mircle of life and  of nature. I am not sure what all  happened, but I am thankful !!!

New Classes!!

Something new  !!! Terri Brush and I have just planned 2 ( and Maybe 3 ) classes of mine that I will be teaching at her wonderful Chehalis  Washington studio ( just an hour from Seattle  and Portland)! The first will be on March 20th  it is called " Enchanted ".
We  will be exploring wood burning and colored pencils on wood . The second will be on March 21  it is called  "Rusted Whimsy" .This is  a dry brush painting for beginners combined with collage and all wrapped up in a whimsical creation! For further details look  on the right side panel and click on the images for march 20th and 21st  !! or email me at Juliehaymaker@me.com

Mom and Scooter

Last week Mom went to a dog rescue fair and came home with Scooter!!!  Then Thursday Mom  found out she has bladder cancer . She has surgery on monday  at that time we will find out if there is a tumor  in her kidneys or of it is a kidney stone . We have all decided not to go off the worry deep end till we know more on monday. So cross your fingers ! She is very uncomfortable and will be for a while as they will do chemo after the surgery .  We are told  the bladder cancer  has been caught very early and know that is a VERY good thing!!! But what ever the case  I  think Scooter has a  new home, OURS! . Peanut is being sooo sweet  too the little guy , but who could  resist all this cutness and it helps that the little guy is a  little "guy" and not a little " girl" I think!!??? I will keep you posted on the progress of" the saga of Scooter, Mom and the evil cancer".

Lorrie's world

I just got back from another creative weekend with my sister . I have to say my best times are times with her!  The things that she makes with her hands . This is a first in a series of "poetry purses" . As I wrtie this I so  wish she was here with me right now . We got the  news late this after noon  that Mom has cancer. And so I sit here writing in that kind of shock that comes with information such as  this . A new door has opened and we must walk through. The journey continues.

A normal day

Let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you , love you , bless you before you depart. Let me hold you while I may , for it may not always be so . One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow or stretch myself taut , or raise my hands to the sky and want more than all the world your return. Mary Jean Iron

Beth's Apron

Today a worked on an apron for my cousin Beth to wear to Silver Bella. When I was young and my Mom taught me to sew , we made ruffles by hand  basting and pulling UGHHH. With my newish Jonome I have a ruffler foot. But of course I would not read the instructions  as to how to use it ,so it took ten times longer and I went through about 7 needles as well as my patience. But in the end I got it to work and the apron I hope will look great on her with her big blue eyes and blonde hair.

Yesterday

All I want to say about yesteday is I am glad  I can call it yesteday. Oh and  FINALLY after about 3 years of logging into illustration friday, I did last weeks word , which was " skinny"  Here is my peice.... "Skinny Winnie with Little Minnie".

Going no where Fast

Ever feel this way ??? I somehow do as the holidays approach... New on my etsy.

Runs with scissors

I got this in an email earlier today. I hit home and then a realized that I was old .I bet every generation that gets to be over fifty looks back and says it was better then ... Maybe it was, maybe it was not, but I would love for someone born after 1979 to write their version of growing up and let me know if the "protective rules" have helped or not .I know the " rules" are all good. I just do question losing to many of our rights when " good Rules"or common sense becomes a "law"  to protect us from what we may be In "fear " of. You all know if you read my blog from time to time that the  issue of  "fear "comes up once in a while with me . I hate the thought of anyone living  in fear .  It s so limiting . So anyhow here is the email.

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE

1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!! who smoked and/or drank while they were

pregnant.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing,

tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-base paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles,

          locks on doors or cabinets and when we rode

our bikes, we had baseball caps not helmets on our heads.

As infants & children,

we would ride in cars with no car seats,

no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes.

Riding in the back of a pick-up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water

from the garden hose and not from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends,

from one bottle and no one actually died from this. We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter and bacon..We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar.

And, we weren't overweight.

WHY?Because we were always outside playing...that's why!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day,

as long as we were back when the streetlights came on..

No one was able to reach us all day. And, we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps

and then ride them down the hill, only to find out

we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushesa few times, we learned to solve the problem.We did not have Playstations,Nintendo's and X-boxes.

There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable,

no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's,

no cell phones,

no personal computers, no Internet and no chat rooms.

WE HAD FRIENDS

and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth

and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays,

made up games with sticks and tennis balls and,

although we were told it would happen,

we did not put out very many eyes..

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and

knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just

walked in and talked to them. Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team.

Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law

was unheard of.They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best

risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever.

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility,

and we learned how to deal with it all.

If YOU are one of them?

CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this with others

who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the

lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good.

While you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know

how brave and lucky their parents were.

Kind of makes you want to run through the house

with scissors, doesn't it ?