Touching Base

This email was started a few weeks ago and I had been debating whether or not my blog would be an appropriate venue for this. After much internal deliberation and now with my latest news, I decided to just go with it.

To say the past month was eventful would be an understatement. I've been wanting to write about our holiday celebrations and share with you the joy these special experiences brought into our hearts. But apparently the universe demands balance and there always seems to be something to help remind us of this. Damned universe.

It's been quite a month weather-wise too, our temperatures have been record breaking in both directions from 68 degrees one week to below zero the next. Well I really got the "macdaddy smackdown" this week. . I am most grateful to you my friends for bearing with me as I express myself here.

In Memoriam

Born on St. Patrick's Day he was a beautiful child, a bright young man, a jitterbug king from the 1950’s I’ve heard. A huge sports fan, he could have made his living commentating on the radio. My husband’s older brother, whom I’ve known and loved for over 40 years, passed away on January 17.

As I reflect upon this loss I am reminded of the reality that our outer “shell”, existing only to harbor the real person we are, was never intended to last forever. Vulnerable to a variety of maladies and conditions it eventually ceases to go on; yielding to the circumstances and terms of a life lived.  Still it’s hard, we think in terms of living, believing our body will continue to serve us faithfully as we do our work, perhaps touch and love others, or as we give our all in whatever form we choose, it remains, we have a finite time in this physical world of ours. A fleeting moment to achieve, experience and leave our mark. I know there’s more in store for all of us once the physical is gone; but still I mourn and miss him. I am sad and feel the loss. I am sorry for my husband’s grief and concerned how losing Patrick will affect the rest of his family. I’m filled with faith that we will meet again. RIP ol’ card partner.

And then...

You may recall meeting my kitty in a previous posting or if you scroll down the page you will find the slide show of my beloved pet Teddy aka the Bear. I wanted to let you know that the Bear died unexpectedly in my home on Monday. I don't really know what happened, he was only 13 and seemed to be in the peak of health. I am beyond heart broken and am having trouble keeping this sad event in perspective just now. He came into my life to be doted upon, indulged, pampered and dare I say loved because it felt like love; but it is so very clear to me that Teddy was here primarily to bond with my heart and it's this loss I feel the most. It's hard to believe and accept the finality of all of this. Damned universe - can't live with it can't live without it.

I'm staying at my daughter's house since my husband is away but I hope to get back home to my normal day to day activities soon (weather permitting -remember my driveway?). So far nothing seems very natural to me right now and my desire to create is no where to be found, but I am optimistic that the sun will once again shine and I'll be back on my stitching throne and feeling contented. For those of you that have been there and understand, thank you kindly for your empathy; for those of you that don't, it's okay, I don't fully understand this myself. For all, please know I'll keep you close until next time.

Sincerely thanking you for making it down this far, you are a friend ever faithful. Madonna

So where the heck is the stitching?

And what have you been doing? Well for one thing I have company coming this week and I've been cleaning, putting away my stuff so the entire house doesn't look like a goat has exploded (contents strewn everywhere, you get the idea). My sister is coming for a visit from Arizona. Everything I don't get done by today is going to fall into the category of "Hi Sis, how'd ya like to help me reorganize the.... pantry.....stash closet.....kitchen cabinets....maybe dust?" That in part is where I've been, but I've done some other things too. Made a quick trip up to Breckenridge, visited Sara's Needlepoint and found a few necessities, buzzed into the Luna's bead store, found a few more necessities. I've kitted up several fun projects. That takes time. And I worked on my local chapter website. That takes time.  Attended a board meeting. Napped (no not at the meeting, but soon thereafter). There's only so many hours in the day and stitching has taken a back seat, sniff sniff. But I'm getting real ready to start something soon.

Since I don't have anything stitchy related today, maybe you'd like to meet the fur-bearing member of our family, the Bear.


Hello, my name is Teddy and I'm 12 years old. Cute too. When my mother is stitching and not paying attention to my needs, I usually go over to my toy basket. It smells just like catnip. Welcome to my world.