JUST FOR FUN

How to Give a Cat a Pill
1.  Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby.

Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat’s mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand.  As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth.

Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa.

Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process. 

Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.

    Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand.

Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger.  Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.  Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse in from the garden.   Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat.  Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth.  Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.  Retrieve cat from curtain rail. Get another pill from foil wrap.  Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains.  Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.  Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans and drink one beer to take taste away.  Apply band-aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.  Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill.  Open another beer.  Place cat in cupboard, and close door onto neck, to leave head showing.  Force mouth open with dessert spoon.  Flick pill down throat with elastic band. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges.  Drink beer.  Fetch bottle of scotch.  Pour shot, drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot.  Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect.  Toss back another shot.  Throw tee-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.   Call fire department to retrieve the darned cat from the top of the tree across the road.  Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap. Using heavy-duty pruning gloves from shed, tie the little bugger's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table.  Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of filet steak.  Be rough about it.  Hold head vertically and pour two pints of water down throat to wash pill down.   Consume remainder of scotch.  Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room.  Sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye.  Call furniture shop on way home to order new table. Order more pills from Vet. How To Give A Dog A Pill 1.  Wrap it in bacon. 2.  Toss it in the air.

The Bronx-You can't go home again-Part One

The Bronx, one of the burroughs of New York City.  I was born there in 1946 and lived there until 1956 when we moved to New Jersey because my father got a really good job there.


The picture above is 264 East 211th Street where my grandparents lived for as long as I could remember.  They did live in another apartment building right down the block but this was built new and was a real step up for them.  The only difference that I can see in this picture, much more recent, is that the trees are much more mature and there is a chain link fence across the front courtyard. Perhaps the sidewalks have been redone in the past 55 years but they are sidewalks that I walked on almost every day of my young life.  
There are so many good memories, some not so good, I still dream about being in their apartment and can describe every room in detail.


Technology today can bring you right into your old neighborhood with Googlemap.  Taking a virtual walk up East 211th Street is a strange experience.  


Right across the street facing their building is The famous Woodlawn Cemetary.  There is a wrought iron fence stretching from one end to the other separating us from the graves.  My mom, my brother and I used to take walks in there.  It was green and lush and, of course, peaceful.  I don't think I ever thought about it being a cemetary - just fun to walk around in.  


There was a park nearby also called the Oval.  Picture below.

It has changed a lot.  There used to be forsynthia bushes surrounding the park making a huge circle of yellow in the Spring that used to awe me.  We went there many days after school.  My mom, my brother, my mom's friends and their kids.  We were fast friends until I had to move away.
Try as I might, I can't seem to grasp that fun feeling anymore.

Picture of Grandma with me in my Brownie uniform and my brother, Peffie (Stefan).  1954.

Memories of Ismael Rodriguez

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.

 About 2 months ago I found out that a young woman named Yasmin Rodriguez had a baby boy.  The Rodriguez family is a strong part of my past but because of so many negative factors I have not been in contact with them, except for Orlando, who escaped Paterson,NJ for a cleaner and better life in New Mexico.  He has been there for almost 2 years now and doing well; taking care of the dogs and horses, planting a garden in that dry desert, watering it every day and taking pride at the results.
His world came crashing down when he was notified that his nephew, Ismael, his brother's son, was shot and killed this past weekend.  Just two months ago, welcoming a new baby into the family, they have lost Ismael.

The matriarch of the family-Orlando's mother, Ruth, has lost 2 children to HIV/virus back in the 1980's. Her son, Nelson and her daughter, Maritza. Her life, since she left Puerto Rico back in 1962, has been a long and hard road.  I know she never lost her Faith in the Lord when she could have so easily because of all the heartache.
Her heart must be breaking from losing Ismael, but she is taking comfort in the fact that he is saved.
You need a tremendous amount of emotional strength to leave that environment and not allow it to darken you.  It took Ismael at the beginning of a more spiritual life. 
May our Lord wrap you in His arms and give you peace.

 “Does disaster come to a city unless the Lord has planned it?” (Amos 3:6). And I feel it again today and I breathe: A good God plans everything. Everything. 


Isaiah 14:24, “Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand” (NASB). As God plans … so it stands.

Wouldn't You Love to Win These??????

You can!!

http://christiecottage.blogspot.com/2011/08/win-it-wednesday-new-giveaway_17.html

Visit Christie Cottage and enter to win!

This set is a one of a kind!

They are filled with Apple Cinnamon Soy Wax

and as always I use hemp wicks.

You can save 20% on your order this week 

when you use the coupon code:

CHRISTIE20

at checkout.

Thanks for stopping by....

hope YOU win!

The stages of an ACEO

I have been working on a couple of ACEO's for the past couple of weeks.  Every time I photograph it I see flaws that need improving.  When is enough enough?  I am so worried that I will not do a good job and people will criticize.  With all my "talk" to encourage others, here I am-worried!

FIRST DRAFT

SECOND DRAFT

THIRD DRAFT

Did I mention that my camera is taking the colors differently every time?  The second draft is closer to the colors.  What to do?

I guess the good thing is, I am being creative, which is the goal.

The Talents of Elizzy

Elisabeth Walsh is a talented young artisan from Atlanta, GA.
I now have the privilege of owning one of her beautiful illustrations that I want to show off in this blog post.  Among her many talents are illustration, sewing, design and quilling.  She is also a cook extraordinaire, a spiritual woman with a heart of gold.
Her shop is http://www.etsy.com/shop/AronaWalsh?ref=ss_profile

Here is the beautiful piece that I was able to win in an auction by Elizzy.

Here are some examples of her quilling talents

And last but certainly not least, 2 items from her shop.

We can all see how talented she is and wish her great success.

INSPIRATION CONTEST WINNERS

THE FOLLOWING SHOPS ARE THE WINNERS OF THE INSPIRATION CONTEST IN ORDER OF WIN.  I DECIDED TO CHOOSE A FAVORITE FROM EACH SHOP TO SHOW OFF THEIR TALENTS.
THE BLOG POST BELOW THIS ARE ALL OF THE ENTRIES AND THE VOTER WITH THE NUMBER OF VOTES FOR EACH.
I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ALL WINNERS AND TRUE ARTISANS.
GOD IS THE MASTER ARTIST.


http://www.etsy.com/shop/Buttonwilloe

http://www.etsy.com/listing/71669799/turtle-love-bride-and-groom-wedding

http://www.etsy.com/shop/GerdasGarden


http://www.etsy.com/listing/68240200/gone-fishing-birthday-fathers-day-water

http://www.etsy.com/shop/FeltBugg


http://www.etsy.com/listing/64937138/needle-felted-cherry-heart-soap

http://www.etsy.com/shop/NewCreatioNZ


http://www.etsy.com/listing/69802962/whimsical-victorian-iron-fence-print

http://www.etsy.com/shop/twig2nestStudio

http://www.etsy.com/listing/72688243/song-bird-decoupage-dish

http://www.etsy.com/shop/twocooltexans

http://www.etsy.com/listing/72237074/pouch-gift-bag-cotton-muslin-with-art

http://www.etsy.com/shop/myeuropeantouch

http://www.etsy.com/listing/66912933/handmade-broken-china-mosaic-box-now-a

http://www.etsy.com/shop/JKistlerStudios

http://www.etsy.com/listing/71635172/ocean-wave-necklace-sterling-chain

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MechelleDesigns


http://www.etsy.com/listing/46616217/deeply-rooted-magnet

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ForeverCherishDesign

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73545753/swarovski-crystal-embroidered-headband

 

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR A FABULOUS FUN TIME!

BLESSINGS♥