Thank You.

I want to thank everyone for the prayers, cards calls. love and support. I sold most of my caramel apples!! And back to my real job. Pierre and Benny are still getting along great. We went to the off leash park, Met some other pups and dog lovers! good time!! I seem to have mis-placed my camera. Along with my mind. I'll try to get some pics somehow. And keep in touch. Love all around.
-Liz

Remember Patience

What a great morning! Benny pooped on the floor, but it was Normal! Yeah! Aah I can't wait for diapers! Having a new family member is. . . well NEW!  He is a bed hog, loves to kiss kiss kiss, great on walks, squirrel connoisseur, and very interested in mirrors. One of his many talents is sitting by the micro-wave when the timer goes off. Very handy if you. . . cant hear the micro? He must have had a kitchen at his last place. He knows sit and lay. (not sure what else. . .)LOVES treats! He has been great with other dogs, children and visitors. Welcome visitors. He lets us know when people are out side, good thing! And Pierre! He is so happy!
Tomorrow we will go pick up Maggie, her ashes and a clipping of her hair. Reality will really be setting in. Benny will also be visiting the vet. Just a "new family member" check up.  All WILL go well! :)

Depending on what the vet bill runs, I'd like to get started on those yummy treats for the Fall Harvest Sale! Baking/cooking is one of my therapies! I just hope we can afford the ingredients! I'll post pics of the creations that (hopefully) come tomorrow!

Oh, and Frozen Snickers Bars make ANY day a little better!

Love to Recover!

I have been unable to download Maggie's video, I guess it's to long. Who would have thought I would take a LONG video of my babies. I woke up yesterday with a fire burning in me. Maggie and God had a plan for me, and I knew I wouldn't be able to rest until I followed their path. It started when I started to promise myself I would NEVER have another dog. Right after, like a smack in the face, it was as though Maggie spoke to me. Saying "Mom, you don't have to save me, you can't. But there is someone you can." I knew she had already whispered in some poor sheltered dog's ear "Don't worry Momma's on her way." So . . . I went to the Cedar Rapids Animal Shelter. I told the wonderful people my story. The women said "I know who you are looking for." Then I met Benny. I knew when I laid eyes on him and when he rubbed and leaned on me-he was the one. We were sent to save each other. He had been there 3 weeks before I got there. NO ONE understood why. My mother said it's because he has been waiting for me.  So after meeting him I flew home, got Pierre, flew back to the shelter. Pierre and Benny hit it off. They are so comfortable around each other, like they have met before. And before we all knew it, we were ALL headed home! 
I can feel Maggie in my heart, telling me to just keep loving. She is snuggled so tightly to my soul, she will always be a part of me. I know she is helping me every step of the way. I will be picking up her ashes soon, and a clipping of her hair. As much as I am not ready. . . I know she will help me, God will help me.
I am planning on making some tasty treats for Mom's Fall Harvest Sale.  Carmel Apples, Witch Fingers and  of course some Puppy Treats!!

Keep spreading Love!

I believe in Love

Maggie went in yesterday for the amputation. I called yesterday they said I might be able to pick her up sooner. When I recieved a call at 8am I was so excited, I was going to wait until 9 to call. But they said she looked as though she was sleeping peacefully, she had passed. I guess she got a blood clot. I asked if they would keep a clipping of her hair and i would pick it up with her ashes when they called. I have a great video of her, I will post later. Please stop back later to watch they video and fill you "love bucket". That is all she wanted-to spread love.
The lesson I have learned- Love with all of your heart-everyone. There is no time to be selfish.
I will be going to the dog shelter sometime soon. Maggie would want me to share my love with someone else. I can't save Maggie, she is already home in heaven anyway. But there is someone waiting for me behind a locked door. I am sure Maggie has sent them a little doggie message reassuring them I will be there soon. I will post more later. Thank you to everyone who has prayed and love. Thank you to everyone who loves their puppies always.
And please please pray for Nick, he dropped Maggie off at the vet yesterday and is just beside himself. I told him she felt safe their because of him, and he took her on her last car ride. He needs prayers too. And our other dog Pierre. Him and Maggie were best friends and very much in love. Check out some of my older posts, there are great pictures of Maggie, Pierre and Nick. Thank you again.

Long Time

I have not blogged in a while-a lot going on. I felt it necessary today. To vent and just in case someone stumbling through blogs could relate.

Maggie has what they are saying is bone cancer, osteosarcoma. We will amputate next week. Her front left leg. This is alot easier then having to put her down because she will be in pain. She will not be in pain. Not any more. It is hard to come to terms with, for me. She has no idea I am sure.I will try to post more for updates and in needs for prayers for Maggie.

# 2 Mad Hat

My second attempt. Smaller AND Painted!

Mad Hat!

My first attempt at the Mad Hatter"s hat. I was going for small, I'd call this medium. But now I have a feel for what I am doing! I like the lace white. Next up. . .fingerless gloves. . . then more hats!

Our code: Live and let live

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Seuss

"If I had a world of my own everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it was, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see." Alice

"We're all mad here" Cheshire Cat

what year is it again?

How did people do their hair like this EVERY day?

80's night down at the "club"

Somethings Happening!

Well. . . the living room, is now a study art room library. hmmm. We have actually built a wall. I can't figure out how I am going to get pics of this yet. I have 9 1/2 foot ceilings, to my advantage. That dog seen in my dinning room is now hung high on my new wall! Nick has been doing some steady work on the basement. And the books now have a place. My mother found a great desk for us, and instead of taking the doors out(between kitchen and dinning room) we just "fixed" them a little differently. Good tip for the fridge! Now to put it into action. We haven't got the painting done, may be a longer process than I had anticipated. I have just been swinging at whats been thrown!!!I hope to have pics up by the weekend! Again if you have any ideas I NEED them.

Okay you asked for it!

I tried as hard as I could to get pics. Remember, I am moving a whole other person into this 440 sq. feet of home. EVERY room and bit of space is turned upside down. I wish i would have taken before-before pics. You will just have to see before. Quick over view. Its a square house. Basement and attic. The main floor, 4 rooms. Starting at front door here is the run down, walk into kitchen, then dinning room, around to "living room"(was my bedroom) then around to bathroom. Thats it. If you are not stressed you may soon be. If you are stressed, well sit down for these pics. Ha ha.

My vision- turn attic into loft bedroom, basement into living space and shower. . . well better. As far as main floor, fix the floors paint the wall, fix ceiling oh the list goes on. One step at a time. I will try and keep pics coming as the revolution happens.

A real work in progress, always. But its MINE!!!!

These are the stairs leading to the attic(in my bathroom closet) See those old buckets. . .they saved my kitchen ceiling from fallin in last summer! Although my roof is fixed, I am still keeping them there, snow melts, paranoid? Nah.
If you look closely you can see my front door(kitchen) from here. This was my bedroom, I can see EVERY(4) room from here.

This is the "closet" in the bathroom, leading to the attic. Scary I know!

Bathroom, from closet door. By the way, my bathroom is also my laundry room, AND luxurious walk in closet. Very nice.

Bathroom from door. Do you like my shoes up there? Maggie was once a chewer and I am NOT taking anymore chances. And yes, there is a window back there. Hey I needed room!

Okay I am standing in my tub for this one. It doesn't look like this EVER, only now. It is pure kayos moving! I am keeping my current clothes above the washer and dryer, at the end of the tub I have a little dresser for out of season clothes. I am constantly "recycling" clothes. I just don't have room for everything.

Obvious, bathroom. From soon to be living room. I have had those old signs for EVER. I couldn't part with them. I think they are um. . . interesting bathroom art. Hmmm. oh by the way, my bathroom door is an old old door. The house didn't have a bathroom door. I had to put it on backwards(the handle is on the side where it hinges). The other edge of the door was so beat up I couldn't secure to the door frame. But i love it, and needed a door. I love it.

Down to the basement(from kitchen) Believe it or not i have taken 3 loads out of here. We have A LOT of work to do down here.

Temporary sleeping space.

Those doors, my wall, are hiding the shower. Yeesh talk about close quarters!

A lot down here! Most to go, some to stay. There is a shower and a closet back there. I have BIG plans ans a lot of work. Believe me i didn't tidy up for these pics!

Here is a close up of our "pile" down in the basement. Its a new pile though. And shouldn't last long.

Back up stairs. Soon to be living room, from bathroom. My walls are getting done! slow but sure. I piled EVERYTHING in the center of the room. Not much in here really since the bedroom is now down stairs. Won't those floors be beautiful when we get them done!!! Just some of Nick's art waiting to be hung. Poor things.

This is the "living room" from dinning room. That paint job really helped! I need to figure out how to use these great windows. Hmmm any ideas?

"living room" looking at dinning room. Since this was once my bedroom i needed doors. So a couple of shudders, held up with simple pillars(visible in dinning room) and there we go! See Maggie peaking in, she things she can squeeze under, sometimes. . . she CAN!

This is the very back corner or "living room" the wall behind me shares with dining room. I like this color. I have it on one wall in each room(minus bathroom and basement). I keep movies and crafty stuff in those old suit cases. I like how the look too. They are inexpensive and hold a LOT! I dont like those new movie, dvd cases, U-G-L-Y! Plus for craft stuff, just pull it out and its all there. I keep my makeup in a little oldcaryon suit case.Perfect!

"living room" from dinning room. Another "pile". Once the walls are all done and Iget another cupboard I'll be tearing this room right back apart and into place. The floors are going to have to wait a while, after this room I tackle the basement!

Dinning room, from "living room" Love those chairs!!! That table, well. My Dad cut the top in half and moved the entire base over. Beautiful(when its not covered!) Piles, again. Books, waiting for a shelf and then into the "living room".

Oh Maggie! Book pile. I have the same window in this room as the other. In the corner there are a couple dress forms. I just think those are sooo cool! Definitely staying around a while.

Looking into kitchen from dinning room. I put a couple old doors up to create a wall. Think I am taking them down. Let the space flow. I have done a lot in between these spaces. I once had the old Chinese arch, like what you see in restaurants. Cool. I need "flowy" right now though.

Kitchen from Dinning room. Yes that is a TV on my stove. Its a process! Over by the fridge I secured an old crackly door to the wall(well there is a window back there too). Perfect for my cast iron cook ware. You can see whats important, COFFEE POT ACCESSIBLE!!! The front door is right next to the stove.

Kitchen from front door(only door ha ha!) There were doors on those cupboards, but nah. I took them off and there is my green wall in this room. Thats about it for my workspace too. I love to cook, and well I make it work. I painted the cupboards too, they were brown, drab. I like this better.

Tore up, But Sooo loved!

Maggie, Nick and Pierre.

my Favorite Cupboard. NOT going ANYWHERE

What a mess, what was I thinking?

Just Let Me Cook! My own little world.

jan 13 2010

so my Mom got me a great camera for christmas. You would have thought i would have had my pictures all over my blog by now. well better late then never i guess. I absolutly can not wait until it gets warmer. I know a true photographer would never let mother nature's blistering cold hold them back, but i guess that is why i am not one. It did get a little warmer today. I went for a run. . .OUTSIDE! I had forgotten how wonderful it felt to have the sun on my face.(and not be frozen). It reminded me that the world does have love. Its that indescribable good feeling. love is the only word i can label it as. I already have lots of pictures. I treat my dogs like children in the fact that i take millions of pictures of them and think EVERYONE will want to see them. i also had a blast taking pictures at work. Well when the kids weren't being huge hams! I think it starts at a young age. . the whole "let me see that picture you just took of me" deal.They will never understand how it felt when you had to wait for them to get developed to even know IF they turned out. Plus i am the kind of person where once i get started taking pictures, its hard for me to stop. So i am trying to download over 250 pictures right now. Im not posting any of my pics from work. I dont think that would be right. But all the other ones, well some. But i cant wait to get out in nature, and the city! Architecture out in the world, man or nature made. oh. . and somehow i am now following myself on this thing. . . you know im following my own blog. i dont know whats going on i tried to follow polly. . . and well this is what happened. ugh oops.? maybe i am on polly's too. i dont really know.