A year ago yesterday, David collapsed for the first time. He came to while we were on the phone to 911. He said he tripped and fell, and refused to have the ambulance come. I was so angry with him because I was so scared, and I thought it was because he’d been drinking. I spent the next 2 1/2 weeks trying to get him to go to the doctor. I knew something was wrong, just from his behavior. He said and did things that were just irrational. By the 22nd, he finally consented to let me call the doctor and make an appointment for him. He collapsed on the 24th, and until the 26th, it was only the machines that kept him alive.

I don’t miss the constant tension of the past few years. It’s not easy living with an alcoholic, which is what David became after having his job replaced by a computer. But I do miss my old friend, the one who years and years ago, I told of my fears of things going so well that they couldn’t last. I was right, they didn’t. I don’t know how people who don’t have faith in the Bible’s promises of a resurrection handle things like this. I have a hard enough time, and I know, as sure as I know the sun is coming up tomorrow, that there will be a resurrection on this earth, and it’s my hope that I’ll be there to greet David and Mom, and tell them, ‘I told you so.’

The AGLF is having a fun sale starting today.

“Special Sales Event - Random Bag of Glass - One Day Only!

The Artisan and Glassworker Legal Fund is announcing a major sales event, the "Random Bag of Glass" sale!

For your $5.00, you'll get a package containing random glass goodies from the members of the AGLF as a thank you for your purchase.

But there's much more...random buyers will receive their thank you gift plus a little something extra. That surprise something extra might be a bead roller, silver leaf, mesh, raw glass, a tool, a Creation Station, or a set of Kim Neely's color archives.”

Oh yuck! -10°. Well, to look on the bright side, this is the coldest week of the year, and from here on, it’s going to start warming up. And at least it’s not -40°.

The last day of 2010, and I’ll repeat the sentiments of last year, “Good riddance to 2009. It was a year of pain, emotional and physical.”

It’s been so dreary, between snowstorms and rain. I’m tired of winter.

It was kind of pretty the other day, with lots of hoarfrost.

A pretty Christmas cactus,

and this is an amaryllis plant.



Suka is driving us all crazy. He’s like a toddler at this point, lots and lots of energy, and wants to play. I sure wish I could bottle some of that energy. I could use some.

Oh my, Suka is trying to sleep under my desk, and he’s ripping some awfully stinking gaseous emissions. Wow! Next time I go to the grocery store, I’ll have to look for some fennel seed.

Suka is growing!! Here he is our 2nd day,

And here he is now.

Still playing with the ferrets,

And all tuckered out,

I am going to kill some cats pretty soon. They’re chewing all of the stems off of my orchids!!!!

The little divas,

Puppy photos tonight. Chunk attacking from above

from below

Suka and BB playing tug of war with a plastic bag

and Suka all tuckered out

My orchids are starting to bloom!

Some beads to show off. I really like this one (just wish I remembered what glasses I used),



I love the colors in this one. Tomorrow morning I have to try to make some big hole beads with this coloring.

I’ve been reminded that I need to get photos posted. My sister must be bored. :)

Muddy brown goldfinches, just waiting for spring to brighten up,

Suka stole the ferrets’ snow box, and Buddy is trying to figure out what to do about it.

Christian said it won’t be much longer before he won’t be able to do this, because Suka is growing so fast.

I’ve been feeling the need to get back into drawing/painting, and this is my newest effort. This was a gorgeous Friesian horse down at the Horse Expo. I’d love to have one of these beauties.

1 more day to get past the shortest day of the year, and 20 more until the days start to warm up.

Lots and lots of photos tonight!
Puppy photos,



Chunk and Suka photos.

Suka has figured out how to keep Chunk from biting him, he just flops down on him.

I bought a record player that hooks up to my computer so I can get some old records digitized. Here’s one that’s really old, it’s an Edison record from the 1920s,

This record is almost 1/4” thick!

The songs on it are A Sturdy Norseman
and Norway, My Norway and Little Mountain Maid

BRRRR! -13° this a.m. 7/26 days (7 days until the days get longer, 26 until they get warmer).

More cactus photos. The second one is one I just bought at Walmart. I was amazed at all of the blossom buds on it.


And of course, Suka photos,

My torch is all ready to start making beads, but I have to wait until Chunk goes to sleep before I dare start working. He and Suka have to be closely supervised. Suka likes to swat at them with those big paws, which makes Chunk mad, and Suka also likes to grab their tails, which makes Chunk mad.

We’re in a snowstorm here, with a cold snap moving in. They’re forecasting -10° tomorrow morning. I’m not even going to try to get the tractor started to plow the driveway. I called a guy who does snowplowing to come out tomorrow or Monday. Here’s what it’s looking like right now.

Suka jumped off the deck and couldn’t get back up, and the snow was too deep for him to go around, so I had to get down and my hands and knees and pull him up. BRRRRRRR!

We’re still in the ‘Oh, how cute!’ stage with Suka.Yesterday he was taking a nap with me, laying on his back, spreadeagled. Would have made a cute photo.

Now if I tried sleeping like this, I would wake up with such a stiff neck!

It was COLD here this a.m., -1°. This poor woodpecker was all fluffed up trying to stay warm.

I’ve got a pretty cactus blooming,


And Suka playing in the ferret’s snow box,

And total relaxation, legs dangling,

And one more of the little diva, Pip, who’s been keeping me awake at night, growling at Suka,