Monday, April 28, 2014

Where does the time go?

Hi all,

Happy Monday to all of you.  Do you realize that just in three days, it will be May 1, 2014?  It seems like just a few weeks ago it was January and now it's almost May.  Time passes so quickly for me.  Do any of you feel that way, also?  I always thought that when I got old, time would pass very slowly, but it seems to go faster than when I was younger.  What's up with that?

Yesterday was Divine Mercy Sunday.  It's the day that we Catholics praise God for His Divine Mercy, which He bestows very freely on each and every one of us.  The Catholic television station, EWTN, broadcast a special service yesterday, from twelve noon until three thirty in the afternoon, from Stockbridge, Mass.  It was simply beautiful.  I so enjoyed watching both the pre-broadcast and the broadcast of the Divine Mercy Mass, which followed.  They ended the service by singing the Divine Mercy Chaplet in song.

What truly humbled me was the fact that the weather there was quite chilly and it was drizzling rain most of the time.  The thousands of people who gathered were wearing winter coats, scarves, gloves and most of them had umbrellas.  I mean to tell you there were thousands of people who journed for this special service.  Most of them had a chair to sit in, but there were many who had to stand the entire time. 

When I turned on the television at 12 noon, everyone was already there, so I'm assuming that they started gathering as early as ten or eleven o'clock in the morning, just to be able to have a seat.  It was a truly amazing service and it humbled me to see all those Catholics out there on such an ugly, rainy and cold day.  The celebrant was a Monsignor from New York State.  I can't remember his name or what parish he was from, but he was truly amazing.  He spoke to those gathered and who were tuning in on EWTN, as though he was personally familiar with each of us.  It was wonderful to behold, that's for sure.

My husband, who's not even a Catholic, sat watching most of it with me.  I thought perhaps he'd go upstairs and watch something on our other television, but he choose to listen to the service with me.  It's been in the last eight years, that I've come to realize just how much Divine Mercy God has bestowed upon me.  I have been so very blessed and I give Him all my love and thanks for that.

So, what have you all been up to lately?  I have decided that I'm going to start another writing project soon.  Perhaps it will be publishing my memoirs.  I'll let you all know soon.  I'm still working on my hand embroidery work.  Currently I'm creating hand embroidered homemade Christmas ornaments for my family and friends. 

I've been thinking seriously about starting work on a pencil drawing, but I haven't figured out what I want to draw as of yet.  I love how you can use just a pencil and still have all the different shades, textures, shadows and beauty that you do with paints or colored chalks.  Did you know that when you draw, using any medium, you should not use any lines.  Instead use shades to show the beginning and ending of an object, scenery, etc?  A year or two ago, I created a pencil drawing of our travel trailer.  I was very pleased with the way it turned out. 

Here are three pencil drawings I did back in the 80's, as well as one from the early 90's in chalks (the deer).








If you will notice the baskets, in the second one, there are no lines used, just different shades of darkness.  It's particularly noticeable in that drawing, because of the weaving of the baskets.  The chalk picture of the deer, was done as a gift to my husband, who's a hunter.  Below is a pencil art that I did a few years ago while in Ocean City, MD.  It's of the fishing pier where my husband fishes from when we are there.


It is done all in pencil, but it looks like it has a tint to it from the lights. 

So tell me, have you had a chance to get out in those flower beds as of yet?  I was outside on Saturday and took a few photos of my tulips.  They are so beautiful and yet so simple.  It always amazes me, the beauty I see in the least little thing.  How about you?  Do you stop and see all the amazing and  beautiful natural things God has bestowed upon this earth?  I surely hope so, and if you don't, please take ten minutes out of each day to walk outside and look all around you.  Look up and see the amazing patterns God puts up there for us.  It doesn't matter where you live, in town or out in the country, God's beauty is all around us.  We just need to stop and notice it.

Well, that's all for now.  Please take some time for yourself before this day is done.  It's so important to your family's happiness as well as your own.  God bless you and stay safe.
Susan







Thursday, April 24, 2014

Happy Thursday evening...

Hi all,

How's everybody doing this fine Thursday?  I had a visit from my Sister today, who lives in North Carolina.  She comes up to Pa. two or three times a year.  It's always so good to get together with her.  We were reminiscing about our Mom and Dad and in which ways we are just like them.  I always thought I was more like my Mom, but in the last ten years, I've realized that I'm a lot like my Dad, also.  Since they passed away quite a few years ago, I miss them very much. 

It sometimes surprises me how much Mom and Dad come to mind.  But, when I really stop and think about it, I spent the first eighteen years of my life with them.  They taught me to be the person I am today, and that's a good thing.  I live by good morals, ethics, faith, traditions, values and all the other good things I learned from the two of them.  I guess it's no wonder that I think of them so often and miss them so much.

So, what have you been up to lately?  I've been working on hand embroidered Christmas ornaments for my family.  Here's a picture of the two different styles I've made so far.  They have fiberfill on the inside.


I simply love doing hand embroidery.  It relaxes me and takes away any stress I may have.  I've been giving my family members an ornament at Christmas, for many years now.  This type of work is called "red work".  The Santa ones took a little longer to embroider, but I like the way the turned out.

I need to get started on another writing project, but I just can't decide what it should be.  Any ideas?  I haven't ruled out publishing my memoirs, but I haven't decided on doing them either.  I will soon make up my mind, one way or the other. 

Well, I believe spring is finally here, at least, more so than not.  It was pretty cold here on Tuesday, only getting into the fifties.  I don't want summer to arrive yet!  I so enjoy the temperatures when they are in the mid to high sixties.  One can just grab a sweat shirt or a sweater and head outside to enjoy the sun and mild breeze.  Personally, I hope it stays this way until at least the beginning of June. 

Where have your creative abilities taken you?  Have you gotten a chance to get out in those flower beds or gardens as of yet?  My tulips are now blooming, but unfortunately tulips don't last very long.  Perhaps tomorrow I'll go out and take some photos of them while they're still beautiful.  I was going to do that today, but never got around to it.

One of these days, I'd like to start another pencil drawing.  Of course, the problem is that I don't know what I want to draw.  Maybe I could draw my tulips, it's something to think about anyways.

My youngest daughter and her husband are in Cancun.  I saw some pictures that she took and it looks like a beautiful place.  The water there is that aqua blue color that I just love.  I have a 5' artificial tree in my bedroom that is slightly frosted.  It has the mini white lights on it and it is decorated in the colors of the Caribbean ocean.  Even the tree skirt has the same color scheme.  So, when I'm laying in bed at night, watching television, I look at the tree and I can almost imagine I'm at the ocean.  The tree lights are the only lights I have on in the room.  I feel peace and serenity in those moments.

Well, before we know it, the weekend will be upon us.  Just one more work day to go!  Be safe and remember to save some time just for yourself.  It's so important and it definitely is not being selfish.
Susan

Monday, April 21, 2014

What's next for you?

Hi all,

I do hope everyone had a wonderful, family filled Easter Sunday.  We did, and the weather was beautiful here.  We all gathered at my youngest daughter's home for Easter supper.  We had way too much food and everything was delicious, to say the least.  It's always nice getting together with family.  I especially enjoyed seeing my grandsons, well they were all there, except one, that is.  Toby you were very missed.  My boys are all becoming grown ups now.  My youngest just turned seventeen on Friday.  Where has the years gone?  I remember so well when they were born.  It seems just like yesterday, but apparently it was at least seventeen years ago, or more.  Boy, oh boy, I must be getting old!

I'm trying to decide what my next writing project should be.  I'm considering rewriting my memoirs and putting it into book form.  When I first wrote it, I only had about five copies printed up to give to my immediate family.  I understand that many writers are now writing their memoirs and publishing them.  I am thinking about publishing them just for electronic reading.  My only concern is that I went through a bad divorce and I'm not sure how my daughters would react to me publishing my life story. 

Actually, I thought I was very kind to their father when I wrote the story of my life several years ago.  I realize that when a person writes their life story, it's written in the first person and all the memories, thoughts and feelings are theirs alone.  I'm sure many people would disagree with a published copy of someones life, if they grew up with them.  Every person has their own opinions, feelings, memories and ideas.  No one can stop you from putting your life history into a book form.  It's entirely up to each individual person. 

I've been busy creating hand embroidered Christmas ornaments for my immediate family, for this Christmas.  I so enjoy doing hand embroidery while I sit and watch television in the evenings.  How about you?  Are you working on anything hand made?  I hope you are, because it's so rewarding when your project comes together and is completed.  It doesn't have to be perfect, just do it the best you can.  As a matter of fact, hand created things will not be perfect!  That's because they're done by hand, not by a machine.  And, don't forget, art is in the eye of the creator.  If you love it, then be proud of it. 

Well, I do believe that perhaps winter is truly over now.  At least, I hope so.  Just nine more days and it will be May 1st.  This year is passing oh so quickly.  Does it feel that way to you, also?  Actually, when you get older, the weeks, months, and years just fly by.  One would think that with so much free time on your hands, that time would drag, but it simply doesn't.  I wander why that is?

We went for a ride on Saturday and it was so nice to see so much green grass, both in the lawns and in the fields, once again.  There wasn't any leaves on any trees as of yet, but their were quite a few that were budding.  That was a nice sight.  Also, it stays light until almost 7:30 pm.  I've always hated it when it was getting dark by 5:30 in the evening.  How about you?

So, what's new in your life?  Have you gotten outside to start cleaning out flower beds or gardens, as of yet?  It's still a bit early yet to do any planting, unless it's spring onions or flower bulbs which you intend to plant in the ground.  I don't have any flowers blooming yet, but my tulips do have buds on them.  They make me smile.

Please make some time to do something creative, that's all your own.  I know you have the ability inside of each of you.  You just have to go for it.  Be safe and take care.
Susan

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

What's shaking?

Hi all,

First of all, let me say, "Happy Hump Day" to all of you.  And, the best thing is, that's it's almost over for many of you.  Yeah!!!

So, a few days ago, the temperature was close to eighty, today it's about 43 degrees.  What is up with the weather these days?  It's no surprise to me that there is so much illness going around, what with the drastic change in the temperature from one day to another.  The temps are to stay in the low sixties for the next seven day, during the day, but down in the forties at night.  It definitely has not been April weather lately, but hopefully this will soon straighten out, at least I hope so.

Today I've been working on some Marketing tools to help me promote the sale of my books and booklets.  I am proud to say that I'm am now on Twitter and I've set up a "page" for my novels on FB as well.  It's going slow, but I'll get there.  I've had this blog for almost two years now.  I try to post a new blog every few days or so.  Also, I have "pages" for most of my books and booklets. 

I was listening to a webisode on Marketing for writers today.  Mostly, it was about marketing yourself so you can sell books and make a living.  Well, for me, it's not about making money, but more about giving back for all my blessings.  Of course I'd like to sell some books because I work many hours on my writing and my projects can't benefit anyone else if they aren't read. 

I write both fiction and non-fiction, which includes booklets on heart disease and how to live with a chronically ill person.  I know, first hand, that when one spouse in a couple is ill, it changes not only their life, but that of their spouse also.  You have to realize that all the things and activities you both used to enjoy, can't be done by the sick person anymore.  If the well spouse doesn't like to do things alone, then they have a problem. 

I wrote a booklet called, "The Day the Flowers Died".  It is based on our life.  I've been sick eight years now and have to live a very sedentary lifestyle, but my husband doesn't.  There in lies the problem.  After he read my book he changed.  I think it helped him immensely to know that I understand that my illness has effected him as well as me.  He's never been a loner, but he has started doing things by himself occasionally, which makes me happy.  Not that he has to go alone, but that he is still living his life, the way he should.  After all, he's not sick, I am.

Have you ever thought about writing?  Have you ever had a secret desire to write anything, perhaps your life's story?  I believe that each of us has been given some creative abilities.  The problem is that many of us don't pursue them.  As I've said many times here on my blog, there are many ways to be creative.  Spring is, hopefully, coming, so get out there and be creative in your garden.  Show me some wonderful pictures of that creativity.  Just do something!

My best to all of you.  Stay safe and be healthy.
Susan



Sunday, April 13, 2014

And once again, it comes to an end...

Hi all,

I assume you know from my title, that I'm referring to the weekend.  So, once again, another one bites the dust.  I do hope your weekend was, at least some of the time, fun and carefree for you.  The weather here was beautiful, but too warm for this time of the year, in my opinion anyways.  Temperatures in the sixties are okay, but not close to eighty degrees.  I understand that by Tuesday, the temperature will be back down where it belongs.  Yeah!

Well, my weekend was spent mostly alone, but I'm not complaining about that.  We were supposed to go away yesterday, for about four hours.  But, I got sick before we left, so my husband went alone.  Then while he was there, he also got sick.  Not sure what was going on with us, but we're both okay today.  Thank goodness for that.

I volunteered to make a Christening gown (out of a First Communion Dress) for a friend of my daughters.  I think it turned out pretty good.  I really don't do much sewing anymore, except hand embroidery, that is.  Oh, I do mending and the such, but that's about all.  Here's a photograph of the finished project.  I hope the little boy's mother likes it.




When I was asked if I could make a gown, I started to crochet the bodice of one, just to see if I could get it to turn out or not, as I didn't have a pattern.  After it was decided to use the First Communion dress, I put it aside.  So, I now decided that I'd finish it and make a matching hat to go with it.  Then I'll see if I can find someone who'd be interested in it.  Here's a picture of it, although it's now finished as of yet.  I'll post another picture when it's completed and with a hat.





I still have about 3 to 4  more inches to add to the bottom of it and crochet the hat.  A believe a baby boy or girl could wear it. 

I offered my booklet, "Congestive Heart Failure:  Changing Lives" up for a free read yesterday and today on Amazon.  So far 51 copies were read.  That pleases me so much.  I'm not making any money when they're offered for free, but if I can help one person have better health or live a better life, that's okay with me.  It will be available for a few more hours yet, so check it out at Amazon.com.

I need to figure out what my next project will be when I complete the christening gown.  I think I need to start another writing project, but haven't decided what just yet.  Soon, I hope!

Well, enjoy the remainder of your weekend and be safe.
Susan


Wednesday, April 9, 2014

I've been thinking...

Hi all,

I've been thinking a great deal lately about my life.  Maybe it's because in two months I'll be turning sixty-six years old.  I realize, that by today's standards, that's not old, but for someone born with heart disease, it is.  About a year ago, I read a book, who's author was also a York Catholic High School graduate.  I didn't know him personally, as he was about five or six years younger than me.

The book was a gift, to me, from the librarian of YCHS.  This man's Father passed away from cardiac disease when he was still quite young.   It told the son's story of how he never really knew his Father, because he was only about 13 when his Dad passed.  He went on to say how as he grew up and later after marrying, he became very health conscious.  He exercised regularly and both he and his wife ate healthy foods.  He wanted to break the health risk which passed from both his Grandfather and his Father.  I thought he sounded very positive and that was a good sign.

Well, at the end of last week, I saw his obituary in the newspaper.  He was only fifty-nine years old.  Yes, he lived longer than his Dad and Grandfather, but not by much.  That made my very sad.  Oh, don't get me wrong, I am so grateful that I'm still living, when in all actuality, I was very close to death back in 2006.  It just got me to thinking about different things.

Then today, there was another school incident here in Pennsylvania.  A young sophomore took two knives to school and started stabbing other students.  Finally the principle got him on the ground, and although he, too, suffered injuries, he got the knives away from the young man.  This child was only about fifteen years old.  He's still just a child!  I sometimes wander what is happening to our children today. 

I realize there is a lot of "bullying" being done, both in school and on the Internet.  Where are the parents of this children, and I'm speaking about both the child doing the bullying and the victim.  Have they, the parents, stepped back from what's going on in the life of their child?  Are children left alone too much?  Is there interaction between parents and children today?  I find it so hard to believe when a parent says that they had no idea that their child is a bully or the victim of a bully. 

I'm sorry, but it's the responsibility of parents to know what's going on in their children's lives, be it good or bad.  There simply is no room for bullies in this world.  I have absolutely no patience for bullies, be it children or, worse yet, adults.  It's a sign of weakness and low self esteem. 

Please, if you have children, you need to take time every day, to sit down and talk with them.  Know what their moods are and if they seem upset, or if their schedules change in any way, confront them until they open up to you.  My heart goes out to all those victims of bullying, as well as to their parents.  It has to stop, one child at a time.  If the parents of those doing this bullying would demand better behavior from their children, perhaps we could eliminate bullying from our world.  Wouldn't that be wonderful?

I've also been thinking about what my next writing will be about.  I still haven't decided on anything in particular.  I did tell my good friend that I'd help her with a piece on MS.  She's lived with all the ailments that develop with having MS, and it's been very hard on her.  But, I'm so proud of her because she hasn't given up; she hasn't let depression get her down, even when she experiences one thing on top of another.  I think she could be a wonderful help to those suffering from MS, who are confused and sacred. 

Living with any chronic illness isn't easy, not for the sick person and not for their spouse.  I know this first hand.  I realize how my being chronically ill has affected the life of my husband and I'm so sorry for this, but there's nothing I can do about it.  He's finally been doing things by himself and he's now accepted my limitations, which makes me very happy.  He is my husband and I love him and he didn't deserve to have his life change so much, but then, neither did I.  But why not me, I'm no more special than anyone else in God's eyes.  He loves us all equally.

I hope the remainder of your week goes smoothly.  May God be with each one of you.
Susan




















Monday, April 7, 2014

Hey, what have you been up to lately?

Hi all,

Well, I do hope everyone had a great weekend.  Mine was fairly quiet, but good.  I tend to enjoy the peaceful and quiet days.  Since I spend a lot of time alone, I'm used to being with my own thoughts.  Of course, when I'm working on a writing project, whether it's a novel or a booklet, I need to have the quiet.  It's hard to write when there's a lot of activity going on around you.

I'm sure most of you had to work today.  For me, it was my normal Monday, doing laundry.  I finished the table runner that I was working on for myself, over the weekend.  It is all done by hand.  I wanted to do something different.  Let me know what you think about it.  Here's a photograph of it.


Now, I'm on to my next project, which will be a Christmas gift.  I already started it today, and it's coming along nicely.  I haven't started on any writing projects as of yet.  I'm just not sure what I want to write next.  Perhaps a fourth novel in my series.  You can check out the first three right here on my blog.  They, plus a dozen more of my books and booklets are available on Amazon.com. 

I've been thinking about going with a publisher, who will publish and also market my next book.  I'm just not sure yet, what way I want to go.  I can't just depend on my family and friends to purchase my books.  I certainly don't want to twist any one's arm to buy one.  I haven't used a publisher who will also market my books in the past, because it's not about making a lot of money.  No, I'm not rich.  I write because I love writing.  God has blessed me with creative talents and I need to use them.  It's my way of giving back for my good fortune. 

I was thinking last evening about perhaps hand creating Christmas ornaments this year.  My husband and I give each of my daughters, son-in-laws and grandsons, a special ornament every year.  We've been doing this for many years now.  I used to hand-make all of them, but haven't created any since 2006.  That was the year I became chronically ill.  Perhaps this will be the year I once again start hand making them.

So, where do your creative abilities lay?  Don't say you don't have any, because I know you do.  Every one of us has creative abilities.  You just need to discover what yours are.  So many people think that if you're creative, you have to write, craft, paint or draw.  That's simply not so. 

Creative abilities include many other activities.  Spring is slowly coming.  How about getting out in your flower gardens.  Pick and choose which flowers you want to plant, what arrangement you'd like to use, what color scheme you'd like to use, on so on.  This is being creative!  Or, how about rearranging a room in your home.  Redecorate by changing out your wall hangings, the paint color on your walls, your curtains, etc.  That too is being creative. 

There are so many ways one can choose to be creative.  Just pick one and dig in.  You may just have creative abilities that you never knew you had.  You won't know until you try.

How's the weather where you are?  We've had quite our share of rain lately.  It rained, off and on, all day today and is to continue into the evening and over night.  Then we may have two days without rain, but rain definitely is in the five day forecast.  Oh well, it is April and you know the saying, "April showers bring May flowers!"  That's why you need to get started on your flower beds.

Well, whatever you choose to do with yourself, make sure you find some time to relax and just stay quiet for awhile.  I hope your week is a good one for each and every one of you.
Susan

Friday, April 4, 2014

Hello and how is everone this fine Friday?

Hi all,

The weekend is fast approaching us and I'm sure for many of you, that's a big relief.  It's been so dreary and rainy here lately, so I'll be happy that Saturday and Sunday are to be better.  I think all this rain and drizzle is affecting my sinuses.  I've started with the draining once again.  Ugh!  My husband went golfing on Wednesday and is having a hard time with sinus drainage, also.  I suppose it's the start of the allergy season, already.  I'm not liking that at all!

What have you all been up to lately?  Of course, I mean in your spare time, not while you're at your place of employment.  I am currently working on a table runner, which is coming along well.  It's very time consuming, though, as I'm doing it all by hand.  After finishing the two wall hangings for my step daughters, I needed something else to do.  I know I've said it before, but I love to sit in front of the television set and do hand sewing.  It makes me feel good and keeps me from picking at my finger nails, which is a bad habit I have.

If you haven't had a chance to check out my newest book, "Generation to Generation:  Passing it Onward," I hope you will take some time over the weekend to do that.  It's about Ethical Wills; what they are and how to create one of your own.  I am offering it at a sale price on Saturday and Sunday only.  You can go to Amazon.com and enter my name in the search column.  All of my books will come up that I am offering for sale.  I also have a page, here on my blog, concerning the book.  Feel free to check it out. 

I soon need to decide what my next writing project will be, as I need to keep busy.  Perhaps I'll start an art project.  I haven't created any art pieces for quite some time now.  I have all my supplies, I just need to think of a good project.  I love doing something in color, but I also love creating a picture just using a pencil.  It always amazes me how you can accomplish so much with just a pencil.  I'll have to think some more about this before I start something.

So, how about you, what have you been doing lately?  I hope you're soon start something, even if it's working in your flower beds or starting to prepare a small garden in your yard.  That's being creative, also.  How about a do-over for one of the rooms in your house.  That, also, is being creative.  You don't have to be a pro at what every you're doing, you just need to do it the best you can.  That's all anyone can ever ask of you.  Sometimes, just okay, is good enough, too.

Well, whatever you will be doing over the weekend, I hope you will remember to keep an hour or so just for yourself.  It's important for you and your family.  Have a great weekend.
Susan