ORGANIZATION, What is it?

Ok, so I though this might be a sufficient and interesting topic for the end of January, more like an amusing topic.

Organization, the formal definition is:

a : the act or process of organizing or of being organized b : the condition or manner of being organized.

 

That doesn't mean too much to me, because it is something I am not. So let's try organize.

 

: to arrange by systematic planning and united effort.

 

Ahhhhh, is that it? I am now on the floor laughing,

I can plan all that I want to and arrange all that I want to, but it never fails, as soon as I work, it is gone. I love being organized and reaching in a drawer and finding exactly what I wanted, or opening a notebook and finding the exact pattern that I wanted. But then it starts, the pile of patterns in the corner of the desk, 15 books in a pile because I can't decide which one I want, the pattern that I know I traced and now cannot find. And where did the pencil go, where is the graphite even though I know I put it in that drawer. And where did that plaque go that I base coated six months ago?

 

Then I decide it is time to, again, for the 10th time in the last month, organize the paint and move the clutter off the desk, and gee, look what I find.

 

Yup, hiding under all those piles of stuff I intended to paint and never got around to.

I have discovered something about myself, I must have attention deficit because as soon as I dream up something new to paint, I always manage to forget what I was painting. So a bad habit I must break. A new one to start,  keeping a journal on the desk, so when I dream up new stuff, as I am painting stuff already, I can write it down instead of trying to start it. The next thing I have to do is figure out how to store already traced patterns, because I haven't discovered a simple way yet, nothing works, not notebooks, folders, sheet protectors, nothing! I still pile them all over and lose them.

So your version of organization is........

And is it even possible?

I hope January has passed pleasantly for you. Time is certainly flying and before I know it I will be going to the beach. 

Share your organizing skills with us all, maybe we can learn something helpful today.

The Beginning of a New Book

Welcome to the beginning of a brand new book, that's what I am calling 2012. I would like to tell you that I am sad to see 2011 leave, but I am not, I was eager to close that book. Though I don't like to openly complain, the last 2 years were like a bad story and I am not sad to see them go. Life has not been easy, and I am sure many people have had that same thought. I am sure it could have been worse, but there sure was room for improvement, lots of it.

I must say that I failed at most of my attempts to do anything I had planned to do, blogging was one of them. Painting and growing my business was another failed attempt. I can't pin a specific reason to it, health and lack of enthusiasm, depression and just plain lack of time, or maybe organization, were some of the things. So of course, I am saying I failed, because I did. I am starting off the year on a down note as I kick my own butt.

I found myself rather sad over the holidays, wishing for the old days and missing so many people that I have lost over the last few years. I watched my grand kids playing on Christmas Eve and thought of my deceased husband and how he never saw the girls grow up or even began to see a grandchild. I thought of my husband's brother and Mom who just left us within the last 2 years, my Mom who loved the kids and always made me mad, and my dear uncle, who was my mentor and my favorite person. January is always bad for me as it is the anniversary of my husband's death.

I have had time to think and reflect, I have many decisions to make and wondering if I can make this year better, if I can find a good doctor, if I can feel well enough to do what I need to do, if even I can get the ambition, there is no more time to play, I have to start doing and really, not sure that I know how. I don't make resolutions, I make vague goals, sometimes they are accomplished and sometimes not. This year, they have to be.

Christmas was nice, but not the same. However, we did have a huge tree that was way too big for the house, LOL. Decorated it was beautiful, but so in the way. My daughter insisted on this tree, thank you Mandy, but next year, it will have to be a bit smaller. No star was going on that tree.

We had lots of food, fun times and memories. I can't complain.

I did mange to do my craft show, it was rough and there sure wasn't enough, but I can call it successful as I sold most of what I had, just kicking my own butt for not being ready with a year to do so.

We also obtained a new furry member to the household, a beautiful little girl named Muffin, she has been a true joy to have around, we do believe that she may be a Maine Coon, she gets furrier by the day and has had her first illness at 5 months. She somehow got a virus and was down and out for a few days, but she sure has bounced back.

So I can't say the whole year was a waste. There were good points.

So as we progress into this new book, let's hope that we can all turn the page to a fantastic, successful New Year, with each page getting better and better until we reach the end and close it and say "It was the best year ever!" There are sure no guarantees, ever, all we can do is what we can do, but I know I can do better. So for now, here's wishing you Warm Winter Blessings, and lots of good stories along the way. We are here for each other, that helps makes things go a little better even when things aren't so bright!

Happy New Year!

Just a Quick Note

I wanted to let you know about the giveaway at The Rusty Thimble. Brenda is giving away a wonderful Woodland Snowman. You can get up to 5 chances to win. Take a minute and visit to find out how to do it. Go Here to read all about it. Good luck to all.

I am on my way out to enjoy the weather and do some Fall cleanup today. Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends!

People Who Inspire Me

It has been another very long and very hot summer. We have had major foods, major heat, hurricanes and earthquakes. As I reflect back on summer,  the intentions that I had for it and the actual end result, it kind of depresses me and makes me wonder where I go wrong and what happens that makes it end up nowhere near what I wanted it to be. It must be something in me that is just disfunctional and keeps me from getting things done that I intend to actually do and never do.

Summer needs to be spent getting ready for fall and winter shows, painting, cutting wood and dreaming up ideas. It never goes that way. It gets spent with kids, flowers, mowing, sweating and then football, depending on my babysitting schedule. We won't mention the hours spent making breakfast, lunch and dinner and the constant cleaning. Sometimes I get a yard sale in there. Not that any of these are bad, but I can't afford to take the summer off from painting, I want it to be my full time job. I want to figure out how to do that before I die, there are too many nay sayers that think I can't do it, but I think I can, I just need a little more than an hour or 2 a day to paint.
 

That brings me to my point of writing this. There are some ingenious, organized craft people out there that I truly admire for accomplishing the things that I dream of, they are my inspiration. Though this is by far not a complete list of them all, this is just the tip of a huge amount of wonderful talented people that I have had the privilege to meet and follow over the years. If you have a minute, visit them, you won't be disappointed. When I grow up, I want to be just like them!

Lynn from Painting Thyme Needfuls delightful creations. You can find her on Facebook as well at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Painting-Thyme-Needfuls.

Then we have Elfie from paintingfromtheheart, Such a wonderful, sweet and very talented lady who finds the time to paint the most delightful treasures. You can also find her at Etsy..

These are people that love the work they do and they do it well, there are so many others that have the honor of loving their work, making it work for them and creating some beautiful treasures along the way. Someday maybe I can join those ranks too. But for now, some more painting to be done, a child to check on and some new fall shows to keep me company.

How many of you have someone that inspires you to keep striving for something you want? Share with us!! 

Where has the time gone?

The last time I wrote a post was September and I had butterflies. This is a brand new year and we have snow. We have been through Christmas and New Year's. Somehow the time got away from me. The last time I talked about breast cancer, this time I am recovering from Lyme disease, started shortly after the surgeries. It has been a long battle, being that it took 2 months to diagnose. By that time I thought I was dying, painting stopped, holiday stuff stopped, depression sank in, and the anxiety was horrible, and no one knew what was wrong with me. Finally I found out. Now I am doing much better, left with some knee problems and fatigue and some very bad eye problems that have to be worked out. It doesn't allow me to paint as much as I would like or do as much as I would like. But I am fighting to get back to me, I've been gone so long I forgot who I am.

 But on a lighter note, I have been painting as I can, and I have been trying to fill some orders. My next goal is to get some things into Etsy and debating about closing my Ebay store as there is never enough to list to keep it going. Still debating on that.

I am enjoying the snow, we have had a few inches here and there, more than normal and I don't mind, keeps me in and behaving, more time to paint. I am praying and hoping that I can have a healthier New Year and wishes for you all to have the same. Maybe this year I can accomplish some of the things that I really want to do. Happy New Year to one and all and thanks for the support and friendship all of you have given me this past year and into this year too.

So I will make no promise as to the next post, but let's say I am shooting for bi weekly right now, I'll see how that goes. As I leave you tonight, here a few things that I have been working on. Enjoy!

S

Life gets in the way

Ok, it's been awhile I know. I never meant it to be this way. It has been a long, very hot and very stressful summer for me. I will be honest and tell you that anxiety and depression and children have ruled my summer, there weren't many traces of "me" actually around. 

I wanted to share what has happened to those of you who wondered where I went. Maybe it will help someone else deal with some fear they may be having too. 

5 years ago I had breast pain, I went and got that checked, they found a lump and a cyst, a very small lump. They wanted a needle biopsy, well no, I can't do needles and that is true, I asked to be knocked out, nope, they wouldn't do it. I didn't go back. Before we went on vacation, I found a few more lumps, was having severe pain and my right breast had actually grown. I don't think that 51 yr old women grow a larger breast, it's a little late for that, and especially just one.We went despite my fear, I tried to have fun, as best as I could with the anxiety that was building inside of me. We came home, the pain subsided a bit, until 2 weeks before the next monthly, this time it came back in both of them, so I forced myself to my doctor for some anxiety meds, scheduled an appointment at the breast clinic and went. Fortunately a good friend went with me through all of this and let me cry whenever I needed to. I don't need to tell you that the little lump had grown to about 4 cm. and I was full of cysts. They really didn't think it was anything bad, they figured it was a fiberadnoma, nothing real serious, but it needed removed.Shall I say that fear overtook me that day late in July. That was it, there was no more me, anxiety, fear, depression, that's what the summer was for me. I couldn't touch my chest for pain, work was hard, couldn't find a bra that would cause no pain, life sucked at that time. I functioned at the necessary stuff, but I couldn't think, I tried to paint and it wouldn't happen. I just kept looking at my grandson and crying, thinking that I had just been handed a death sentence. I prayed hard, talked to God at odd times of the day, tried to cope. Surgery for me was scary, it was needles and pain and fear of what might really be there.

The day came, drugs are good, I was relaxed, the IV went well, I slept and was given more drugs. Diana was with me as was my middle daughter Tina and I guess I was amusing. Then I woke up and came home and was amazed at the lack of pain, no pain meds needed, went back to work and was pretty positive waiting for the biopsy. Then the call came. It was a Phyllodes tumor, a very rare and fast growing type of cancer, and it had grown, to 5 1/2 cm in a month. No cure, no radiation, chemo, hormone therapy, talk about a slap in the face! More surgery to remove the tissue around it to make sure it was clear. A partial mastectomy. 2 weeks and they were doing more. More fear, more anxiety, no sleep. Monday came and the surgery was done. This time more pain, less positive, no sleep, scared out of my mind. But between all my FB family, my family and friends and God above, I made it through the week, and Friday came and a phone call came, I held my breath, when she said "I wanted to call you and let you know that the biopsy was clear so that you could enjoy your weekend", the tears came and I looked up and thanked God. It's not over though, I have to be watched, some can regrow, but I am going to try and have the faith that God won't let that happen. I survived that thing for 5 years, that was a miracle in itself. So please to all, don't let anything go, if there is fear, ask your doctor to help you, there are good anti anxiety meds, and talk to people. We don't have to die, just don't be like me and wait 5 years, that was a miracle and God had to have made that happen.

A quick post

Hello my friends! I know it has been awhile since I have posted, I have been dealing with some life issues and the summer has not been the best. I will be back in the next few weeks and let you know all about it.

Until then, I wanted to share a giveaway going on now from a fellow blogger and Facebook friend. Please go over to Cricket Hollow and join in the fun. She has many ways to enter and you can earn lots of chances.

So finish off the summer with lots of fun, enjoy and I will see you very soon!