tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68476744050996545802024-03-13T18:29:29.005-04:00The every day life of DebsparklesDebsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.comBlogger348125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-71605278850003228892017-08-14T12:15:00.002-04:002017-08-14T12:15:33.479-04:00The Men in our life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Okay I admit once I made up my mind to start really paying attention to getting our Avon business out there, I have gotten really engrossed in doing so. Today while trying to think of something to post in our FB page it occurred to me that I do tend to forget about men's products. That happens when you spend as many years without a spouse as I have ! But it is time to work on our gift lists for the holiday's. Yes I know it's only August but it is a really good time to start thinking about ideas. Avon has a wonderful line of men's products that is perfect for gift giving. It's great if your significant other likes certain products and you want to keep him stocked and it is just as great for the cousin, nephew, friend who you really don't know what to do for. <br />
This morning I decided to make up a bunch of "Men Only" sample bundles. Here again , it's not something I thought of until now but I think many of my customers would love a little bag full of different things for her men might want to try. <br />
I think I need to start a notebook as I am learning to come up with new ideas so I don't just forget about them 2 months down the road because I tend to do that. <br />
Yup I have leaped into this project head first, the funny part is that I have been selling Avon for as long as my kids have been alive. I have always loved it but never had the urge to represent it the way I am now. Funny, old age or social media?<br />
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okay a little shameless self promotion and then I will wish you a happy day!<br />
<a href="http://www.youravon.com/vhatlee">www.youravon.com/vhatlee</a><br />
fb.me/dhatlee<br />
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Have a great summer day my friends!<br />
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<br />Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-87093550100283235572017-07-20T00:20:00.002-04:002017-07-20T00:20:32.907-04:00Babysitting at my age<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm so tired I can't sleep so decided to play on the computer instead. My oldest grand daughter went back to work last Friday. She has not worked in almost 2 years because she was a high risk pregnancy. My daughter and I decided to tag team babysitting my great grand daughter so that her mom could get back into the swing of working and not worrying about how the baby was being taken care of. Well 4 day's in my daughter had a bad flare up ( if you have been following my blog you know she has Chronic Lyme Disease). These flare ups are completely debilitating and she can barely lift herself out of bed to use the bathroom. So I am coming off my 2nd day of 10 hour baby duty shift and let me tell you....I am way to old for this ****! This 19 month old child is just full of it and has me running non stop. I cannot sit down, cannot get a meal, cannot use my computer and forget about the idea of getting any beadwork done! She is hysterically funny and as full of mischief as any toddler I have ever met. She is in love with Sesame Street, we have utube streaming episodes all day long. She sings and dances to the music and I find it so funny, she cannot say mom or dad yet but she can sing "Elmo's World" as clear as a bell. I took her out to play for a while tonight once the sun went down a bit, not dark yet but no glaring sun right on us. She danced for all the neighbors until she had them dancing with her. This was a site, 3 grown women and a grown man stomping there feet to Elmo's World. <br />
I have my 4 year old grand daughter overnight at least once a week but she is outgrowing this stage and calming down a lot. If I hand her a tablet she will spend hours watching video's of toy reviews. Of all things Toy Reviews ! or if I let her she likes to "text" people on my Facebook page. her mom and dad, her Aunt Heather. When they get random private messages just full of random alphabets , they know Amelia is texting and send her a sticker. This just makes her day.<br />
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I guess the bottom line is that I am so very blessed and so thoroughly grateful that I have recovered from illnesses to still be able to enjoy these babies. I might not be able to keep up but I am still able to pitch in and play and enjoy every moment of silliness and giggles and even a few temper tantrums. <br />
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And last but not least I am having a ball with my new FaceBook page showcasing my Avon and my Beadweaving. Please if you are on Face book, join us!!! fb.me/dhatlee<br />
I hope to start doing some giveaways soon, and I am learning bit by bit to come up with some fun content but I need more people. We had our first online party and I only had 3 people actually participating. But that is okay as I go along and learn more about how to get people involved I think it will become even more fun. We all need fun right? <br />
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Have a great evening!Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-79095034606860497052017-07-07T00:04:00.001-04:002017-07-07T00:04:56.233-04:00Practicing on you !<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi, hope everyone celebrated a fun 4th of July holiday. Mine was very quiet, I never realized how much illness changed the way a person lived. I guess you can't unless you go through it. Any way, I am trying something new, something very out side of my comfort zone. I am pretty good about sharing the every day stuff that goes on in my life but I am not good about writing things that educate or entertain or very subject specific. But I am working on the new Facebook page that I started and I think it is important that I share information about product and share some fun facts. I believe in my last post I shared with you that I started a page just to showcase my jewelry and my Avon business. <br />
Today I decided to showcase Nail polish. I love nail polish. I think it is one of my most important beauty products. We all like to play with color. Many people use their tattoos to showcase color and design. That is a life time choice. I always wanted a rose tattooed on my chest but just never could work up the nerve. Some people experiment with hair color. My granddaughter is one of those girls who has different colored streaks in her hair that change with her mood sometimes purple, some times blond, sometimes bright red. She wanted to put some blue and pink in my hair, I loved the idea but once again, could not work up the nerve. I am after all 61 years old and I am definitely not as bold or as self confident as I was at 30.<br />
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But nail polish, oh my nail polish lets us play with every color of the rainbow and we can change that rainbow as often as we wish. It is not a permanent commitment. Today I decided to do my nails with Avon Nailwear pro in Lagoon. Love this color !!! When playing with bolder colors it is important to always start with a clear base coat. This prepares your nail for a bolder color that will not stain your actual nails. It also helps smooth the nail and allow the polish to glide on more smoothly. <br />
I like to use 2 full coats of polish so that I get good solid coverage letting each coat dry. If you want your manicure to hold through our every day chores like dishwashing (I wash a lot of dishes) and laundry and scrubbing use a good top coat. 2 coats is better than 1. I can often get 10 days before having to redo my nails following this routine.<br />
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Okay, how did I do? LOL! Boy do I have a lot to learn when it comes to the written word. I think my only saving grace will be the fact that I have been an Avon Lady for 35 years. <br />
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Have a great weekend everyone!Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-30105122583648465832017-07-01T21:52:00.003-04:002017-07-01T21:52:31.409-04:00And Summer arrives<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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OOPS I think my butterfly is confused....or drunk. It wasn't sideways in my pictures but this seems to happen to me often! Any way this is my first summer Butterfly necklace finished. I have had a great deal of stuff going on, just everyday life, yet it seems that I am always on the go. <br />
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Actually I have been struggling with some things and spend a great deal of time thinking, something I have always done, I think and I think, I tell myself sooner or later something is going to give and one of my thoughts will turn into something that is worth action to save myself. <br />
Seems like since I got sick again last year each month has cost me more and more just trying to keep up with daily living expenses and medical supplies. I feel like I am floundering like a tiny fish trying to go upstream and the current is stronger than I am. Yet, I am never willing to give up trying and come up with more thoughts of new things to try. And then accommodate changes. Let's start with all the nonsense on Etsy. I actually thought I might be done dealing with the non stop changes by now as my brother is going to add a shopping cart and few things to my website so I can just use my site but he is still overloaded with work. So now I refuse to post my new additions to my Etsy shop using the Etsy link on my social media. Everything I post, I will direct to my website and then click on the link to my Etsy shop. If I did this right I don't have to worry about my new listings being covered with items from other shops that "you might like". Does that sound horrible? Can't help it, I struggle so hard to be seen and there is just way too much nonsense going on. <br />
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I have sold Avon on and off for 35 years and I have never ever had such a hard time getting customers. Especially in our online store (my grand daughter and I do Avon together) In this day and age where everyone is shopping on line I can't seem to get a visit to the E store. Will never figure that one out but today I decided to try something new. I created a Facebook page strictly for my Avon and my Handmade jewelry. I have a few ideas on doing online Avon parties, just have to develop some details. I can show my beadwork before I post it on Etsy or Ebay and if someone wishes to purchase they can do so through that post. I just started this process today so it is going to take some more thinking and planning to entice people but anything is something and it is a start. <br />
If you Facebook, would you come join us? Just type into the search bar : fb.me/dhatlee<br />
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I still have my grand daughter and great grand living with me. The boyfriend moved out last month, I guess being an adult was more than he was ready to handle. So yeah my house is as crazy now as it was 38 years ago when I had my first child....I really thought at this point in my life I would be living a bit quieter but LOL, it has not happened yet and really have to wonder if I could really adjust to being alone after always having kids underfoot ! That said my great grand is growing like crazy, at almost 19 months now she is hysterically funny and getting into all kinds of trouble, most expecially in the early morning hours when she breaks into GG;s room while GG is still sleeping. But there is so much to get into ! Beads and paint and brushes, and colored pencils, and canvas, not to mention the dogs food and water bowl. <br />
So life has been moving forward day by day and I am so happy summer is here. Or at least I will be when these nonstop horrible rain storms decide to go away. Hope everyone has a great July!Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-50637372249353272612017-05-08T12:07:00.001-04:002017-05-08T12:07:26.730-04:00Rain, Flowers, and other nonsense<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Greetings my friends! I know the picture of this silly little peanut got ya ! This is my great grandbaby Catherine, she is 16 months now. Holy Cow!!! Seems like the older I get the faster our days go by. I am sitting here watching rain drops out the window and wondering...we had non stop rain all April Long. It is May 8 and it's still raining. Come on May flowers, enough is enough with the waterworks. <br />
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Just thought I would do a little catch up. Still dealing with trying to feel better but at this point I am beginning to realize that this is my new normal and I need to just deal with it and feel blessed that I can still do as much as I do. <br />
I haven't done a great deal of beadwork. I am not sure specifically why, I know my eyes are getting worse every day, my hands are aching but I think it is more a mental thing than physical. I just don't feel like it ! <br />
I am playing with my polymer clay. I really wish I could discover how to get better with it , or should I say, more professional looking. it's just so much fun sometimes. My 4 year old grandbaby and I are making a fairy garden so I made a Fairy house over a large glass jar to rule the gardens <br />
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This was so much fun and I kept wanting to add more and more little things to it and finally had to say to myself..Hey Deb, this is going to sit outdoors in heat and rain , again, enough is enough. At least for my first try LOL.<br />
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I have spent a lot of time studying some groups who do manifesting. I like the principal and am doing some of the exercises like journaling the things I am thankful for and the blessings in my life. I think it is a good exercise just to keep me in the proper mental state of not feeling sorry for myself for what I lack but being thankful for what I do have in my life. It just kind of puts things into perspective. <br />
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Last but not least I am spending a great deal of time devoting some learning to our Avon business. I am pretty sure I told you I am teaching my oldest granddaughter so that she can learn to have an income while still being home with that little who at the top. During this I had to really think about why I do this because we have very few loyal customers. But I realize that I have sold Avon on and off for about 35 years, I have never had a lot of customers but always had a loyal handful and the reason I keep coming back to it is because I love Avon products, I love the fact that Avon gives in a big way to Breast Cancer Research and Domestic Violence awareness. I also truly believe that for the people that will get out on the streets everyday and meet people and share the product you really can make a living. I never have but I retain the dream. Any way I am spending a lot of time enticing people to check out our online store because getting more customers in the online shop is even more time my grand can devote her time to the baby. Not to mention we are still trying to create enough income to pay our basic living expenses and make up for what my medical malfunctions have taken from me. <br />
The great part of having the online store is that anyone can be our customer living anywhere in the world. If you know of any one that would be interested I will as I always do ask you to share our link. <a href="http://www.torisavon.com/">www.torisavon.com</a><br />
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So these things are what have been keeping me busy and my mind off the fact that I still don't feel as good as I think I should. I am going out walking every single day, rain or shine, just to feel like I am accomplishing some sense of physical activity and I am sure it is helping in a small way, I think once the weather is a little bit nicer if I make myself increase my walk each week that will be a good thing. <br />
Hoping we all see those May flowers soon, have a great week!<br />
<br />Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-10175330425924620922017-02-28T21:29:00.001-05:002017-02-28T21:29:04.911-05:00Months fly by<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Greetings my friends! I will never understand why I let so much time go by without coming in to post something. Believe me my life has just enough going on where I could share something every few weeks but, I just get caught up in things. Any way, Last November I ended up having a 2nd intestinal surgery. Initially it was supposed to be putting me back together and getting rid of the Ostomy. Did not work out really well, my intestinal disease is too far gone and I ended up losing some more of my large intestine and having the temporary colostomy remade into a permanent one. Well, I guess I don't have to wonder any more, this is my life. Recovery has been a very slow process this time, I think that is a big part of the reason I am not getting much done. I am extremely fatigued all the time. I often can not even work up the energy to pick up my needle and play with my beads. Now that is bad. So obviously, I am not getting much work done. The worst part is that I can't stand not being active and involved in things so to seemingly watch myself not able to do anything is very frustrating. I am doing a lot of reading and everything tells me to just be patient because recovery from this surgery at my age takes a long time. Okay I will try but my patience is growing short. Then we deal with the eating issues. I am on a high protein, low residue, low carb, low fiber diet. I have a long list of things I can not eat. Some of them are forever, things like my absolute favorite foods such as nuts and seeds. I cannot have any meat that cannot be cooked to the point of falling apart so I can have a Hamburg because it is already ground up but a steak is too fibrous. I cannot have any fruit or vegetable that has skin or seeds. Almost all my fruit and vegetables have to be cooked to mush. I walk into the store and pick up a tomato and just stare at , maybe smell it and my mouth waters. Of course I can take that tomato home and blanche it to remove the skin and scoop out the seeds. But does that make you want a beautiful tomato sandwich? Nope ! There are many things I can try adding into my diet slowly, one at a time. Of course the things I love most aren't being accepted well. I love the oddball stuff. The Lima Beans and Brussels Sprouts. I love broccoli and I love beans. Last week I found a recipe using grated cauliflower and I had to try it because I love cauliflower. Grated...right down to tiny little specks and within half hour of eating the tasty outcome my intestines let me know we cannot have our cauliflower back. One of the highlights of my day....a smoothie. My daughter gave me a nutribullet about a year ago. It does a great job of disintegrating my fruit into pure liquid so every day at some point I make a big, satisfying smoothie. Lots of fruit, my daily yogurt, some good juice or almond milk. Sounds great right? Yeah..it's putting pounds on me. natural sugar be damned the sugars in the fruit and juice are making me fat. <br />
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This journey is not going to be easy. The only thing I have on my side is that I am tough. I will not give in. Once our winter weather breaks I can do a little more to help myself and sooner or later I will defeat the fatigue, the hunger, the bad mood. Hope everyone is doing well, I promise to try and come back sooner than 4 months from now.<br />
<br />Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-74155523308731281872016-10-30T11:37:00.001-04:002016-10-30T11:37:18.611-04:00Daily Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy Day before Halloween! My great grandbaby is sporting her first witches hat ! Time has been flying by while I have been in recovery from May's surgery. I am just now starting to feel like a normal person, getting around, eating a little bit of real food, starting to work on my beading. I have gotten used to the ostomy, really good about caring for it. Well guess what? Next Monday we start all over again. I am going into the hospital for the 1st of 2 surgeries. The ultimate goal being this time next year I will have all my insides hooked back together again just being a normal person. We don't really know for sure if it will work. My surgeon is very confident but there are issues. I am going to go for it though. I would love to return to a normal life. Let's face it, this has just restricted me in so many more areas again just at a time that I thought things would go back to normal for me as far as going where I want, eating what I want, being very active with my little's. If the surgeries work I can get back there. If it does not work...well a new colostomy will be permanently reintroduced. It's okay, now that I know how to handle it , if it is what I have to do to live then I will do it. In the meantime, I am getting ready to put the Etsy shop into vacation mode. Not that any one would notice these days, LOL! My daughter and I are doing some house rearranging. I have been using a hospital bed since my dad passed. obviously spending a lot of time in it since last May. We are rearranging the living room a bit so my bed can be out there, with bookshelves lined up on one side with all my beading supplies so I can sit and work and have all my television channels. We will be able to put my recliner right next to the bed with an end table between them for my beading lamp. I know it seems a bit strange to have a bed in the living room but when people come to visit, which only seems to happen when I am really sick, it will be much more comfortable than fitting them into my tiny bedroom. <br />
My kids are making me Thanksgiving dinner in a few day's because I will still be on liquid , soft diet when Thanksgiving rolls around. Oh my ! This will be the first Thanksgiving I have not cooked in probably 37 years. Not quite sure how I will handle that. I am staying optimistic that I will be feeling a bit better by the time Christmas gets here but who knows! Any way, I just wanted to check in because I know I only get here every few months as it is and just maybe I will be up to doing it a bit more while I am recovering. Would love to have a whole new bunch of beading projects in progress to show you but I truly wish for wonderful Holiday times for everyone! Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-7824501086200922762016-08-15T21:16:00.000-04:002016-08-15T21:16:10.123-04:00Months passing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A few day's ago, in a conversation on Facebook, someone brought up that I should blog. Well obviously they don't know me well enough to know I am not great with words but I have enjoyed sharing my everyday life with everyone here and all at once I realized I have not posted in many months. Well...let me tell you...a whole lot of stuff has gone on since my last post in April. Starting with emergency surgery. Yup! Last post I was sharing that I still wasn't feeling good and getting ready to find out why. I was scheduled for a colonoscopy that actually ended with me in the emergency room and I spent 3 weeks during the month of May in the hospital after having a large section of my large intestine removed and a colectomy. This was horrible but I am spending each night sending thanks out to the powers that be because I was days away from sepsis from a total intestinal blockage which would have ended my life if not discovered when it was. I also have to have my gall bladder removed. During tests for the colon a ultra sound showed the problems with the gall bladder. The ER doctor looked me straight in the eye and said "you have so many stones in there it should have been removed 10 years ago" but..the surgeon does not agree so we still have that equipment LOL. The healing process has been long and slow so I am not getting much of anything in my life accomplished but I guess I don't really mind, I take it one day at a time. I think the hardest part of healing is eating. I have to follow guidelines for diabetes, then I have to follow guidelines for the Colectomy. Then I have to follow guidelines for the gall bladder. So each diet conflicts with the other and I spend more time finding something I can eat that is ok on all 3 diet plans, I often wonder if I shall starve to death before I find an ok food! On the upside, I have lost 25 lbs. to date.<br />
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The hardest part of this whole mess is of course the financial devastation. Between problems with what my insurance will and will not cover, money taken for my Medicare, the cost of daily supplies that no insurance will pay for ....yes I am in a mess. I am always in a mess and that has never been a secret but this one is far beyond my coping skills so I spend a great deal of my time just researching what I can do to begin to fix things. Nothing works so far but I keep keeping on. Chin up , optimism in place , I just keep looking for that miracle. I have a friend taking my beadwork to some public events and some is on consignment at a spa. I am working on ornaments for the shop until I am cross eyed and my grand daughter and I just reactivated my Avon business. Oh and just to make sure I am covering all the bases I faithfully enter my numbers in the Publishers Clearing house sweepstakes.<br />
Putting my name in for the DIY Blog Cabin and Woman's Day Magazine giveaways is giving a way a big chunk of money in January of 2018...think I can wait that long? As you can see they have not yet managed to remove my sense of humor. I hope to be showing some new work soon but can't promise much. If your ready to start decorating, my sequined ornaments are popping up in the Etsy shop. If you need back to school makeup or some new perfume check out our online Avon store: <a href="http://www.youravon.com/vhatlee">www.youravon.com/vhatlee</a>.<br />
Enjoy the last little bit of summer!<br />
<br />Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-13751299748296477682016-04-25T18:08:00.003-04:002016-04-25T18:08:41.884-04:00Happy Spring!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi everyone! This is my newest bead embroidered painting, it was a lot of fun!! Every once in a while I like to go through the list of blogs I follow. Today I realized it has been quite a while since I went through and deleted the ones that are no longer active. Holy Cow! I deleted over 100 blogs that have been sitting covered in dust for a long time. I think it is time I get on the stick and keep up with things...Yes I am dreaming again. <br />
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A lot of normal every day life going on, enjoying my grandbabies as much as I can while I finally, finally deal with some of my own health issues. Beading steadily, just still having a hard time deciding what I want to do. I get more discouraged with Etsy every single day and don't feel a lot of motivation to get work listed. Yet I don't have it in me to try any other sites. I haven't wanted to do that right along. So I sit and ponder...I would love to start doing some in person shows like I did when I was younger and felt good but I just don't know if I am up to sitting all day at a public show even if I only do a few a year. Still toying with the idea of a few trunk shows this summer in places I am familiar with. I hate it when I can not make decisions. Just think it to death!! <br />
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Right now I am working on piles of little quick things like bracelets that I can sell really cheap to use up mountains of beads that are not good enough quality to use in my Amulet bags or my paintings. My daughter and I are making plans for a big lawn sale where she is living, they have a town wide one every mothers day weekend. So I am working on that , even if we don't get this accomplished during the town wide, we will still hold one during the summer months so it will be worth the effort.<br />
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Not a whole lot else going on in my world other than I am adjusting to the many changes of this past few years and while I have a lot of work to do with my health issues, I am making progress. Hope everyone has an enjoyable spring and summer, I know I am looking forward to a few months of nice weather. <br />
<br />Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-67984292305811238632016-02-27T14:18:00.001-05:002016-02-27T14:18:30.445-05:00Looking up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
The start of my newest bead embroidered painting. Not sure why but I seem to lean toward doing a painting more than a Amulet bag right now, maybe I am just a bit burnt out and not feeling so good I seem to be lacking the energy to even pick out the beads for a bag. The good news is the sun is out today! Still very cold but the wind has dried up a lot of water so we don't have ice covered roads and the snow is down to just an icy coating in the yard. I am praying for spring because I have thing's to do and need to be able to be outdoors in the sheds a bit so I hope this sunshine is not just another tease before our next snow storm. <br />
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Things have been quiet, the new baby is doing wonderful. Sadly I am not feeling much better than I was 2 months ago. But I am working hard on learning how to eat a diabetic diet, really not that hard for me for the most part because I am happy eating a bowl of vegetables. What I do have a hard time with is not having something more satisfying that I can crunch on late at night, I always feel just a tiny bit hungry because that big bowl of veggies just did not stick around long. And boy or boy do I miss my ice cream. Ice cream has always been my big downfall and I do know I can get frozen yogurt or reduced fat ice cream but getting to the store is not easy so I sit weeks at a time with an ever growing grocery list waiting for someone to find time to take me shopping. The good news is I have lost 5 pounds. Took me almost a month but it is happening ounce by ounce!<br />
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I am spending some time brainstorming. I just did a month long experiment (again) putting my bags up for auction on Ebay. I sold one bag for the starting bid price! One bag.....Less money than it cost me in supplies. Each time I do this I say I will not go back yet after a few months I am drawn to trying again. It is really time to face the fact that my day's of selling decently on Ebay are done. <br />
Etsy? Again, extreme disappointment and time to make changes. I am playing with the idea of doing a few trunk shows in town this summer. I worry about that because you never know when my health is going to throw me a curve ball but still, I am just not ready to sit in my chair and give up. Sooner or later I will come up with some answers.<br />
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Okay folks, everyone have a great weekend and pray for spring!<br />
<br />Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-30059743844553259742016-02-01T12:23:00.000-05:002016-02-01T12:23:06.169-05:00Happy Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Good morning and Happy February 1st! I have had a busy few day's and we are still in the middle of it. Last week I went to the doctor because I have just not been feeling well since I came down with my usual Christmas flu. Nothing very specific just a general all over feeling of exhaustion and lethargy. Lots of muscle aches and even though I was too tired to do anything I am not sleeping well.<br />
I know and the doctor agrees a great deal of my problems are neurological dealing with nerve damage and the tumor floating around in my head. But just to be on the safe side he decided to do a bunch of labs every thing from a normal cbc to thyroid and glucose specifics. On Friday morning I had to return to the lab for fasting tests because I have diabetes. Not earth shaking news because it runs heavily in both sides of my family and I have been very careful about yearly testing and darn I have been lucky right up to this point. That said, yesterday was my birthday. I turned 60 years old and I am so very okay with that. I have earned every grey hair and every last ache and pain. But the good thing here is changing my diet because of the diabetes means I will start feeling better in a lot of way's soon. Getting rid of the bad food will help me take off this very stubborn extra weight. Getting out to walk as soon as our weather breaks will help my muscles feel better, I have been having a great time joking with my grand daughter. She has a lot of baby weight to lose and I keep telling her getting out and walking together will make us both slim and sexy again LOL. <br />
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This morning my daughter is having exploratory surgery, well did have, just was recently messaged that she did fine in surgery and is in recovery. It will never cease to amaze me how one misdiagnosed illness can cause so many other illnesses and raise total havoc in someone's body. But the fact is Chronic Lyme has caused my daughter a whole laundry list of illnesses and it grows longer every day. I fear what news we will get from todays exploration. What is worse if feeling like your hands are always tied when it comes to way's to help someone who is facing so much. But I cannot allow my thoughts to get out of control and have to just sit and wait for news. <br />
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In the meantime it seems like winter always makes me want to pull out crystal clear seed beads and drops and make things that remind of icicles so here we are with this weeks work. <br />
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I hope your February is mild, I won't say speedy because it just seems like our months and weeks already go by too fast!<br />
<br />Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-40636094603796653772016-01-10T11:37:00.003-05:002016-01-10T11:37:41.562-05:00Heart's full of Happiness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On Thursday evening (1-7-16) my first GREAT grandchild was born. Her name is Catherine Elaine and she was born at 7lbs 11oz. A record in my family because we have 5 and 6 lb babies. Obviously this one takes after dad's side of the family. <br />
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I just have to tell you, I don't care how many bad things happen in my life, I don't care how much time I spend trying to fix a crisis. My grandbabies give me every reason in the world to keep moving forward. My heart is so full to overflowing right now I am waiting for it to rip in half because it just can't hold all this love and happiness at one time. <br />
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I know we all feel this way when we have children of our own but none of us realize how much stronger it is when our grandchildren come along. Our baby had a baby and sometimes that baby had a baby, each one down the line just makes the love of our family stronger. <br />
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My only reason to post today is to share my joy with everyone that will listen. Hope your Sunday is amazing!<br />
<br />Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-3737930881284339302015-12-27T12:52:00.001-05:002015-12-27T12:52:18.786-05:00Love, peace and Happy Holiday's<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hope every one is enjoying life, Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, whatever you may celebrate this season! Next week brings a new year and lot's of changes in my life. At the end of October my dad finally finished his struggle with cancer and went to join my mom. Obviously leaving me with many mixed emotions, relief that he was done suffering. Relief that I could return to my own life, relief that I know in my heart my mom was waiting for him. Yet it has been a bit different than I envisioned it would be. I find myself more emotional than I thought I would be. I feel more sorrow than I thought I would. Yet, I am so very happy with myself that I was able to hold it together and care for him up until the very end so he could remain at home. Maybe the quality of life was not the best due to the every day struggle of his illness but it was definitely better than it would have been if I had needed to put him into nursing care. He had his favorite chair, his tv, king of his remote, I catered to what he wanted to eat or could eat, did what ever was needed to keep him comfortable. So I have no regrets.<br />
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I spent some time playing with clay because my littlest grandbaby needed a new bank, the one I gave her when she was born is almost full so while I was doing that I made one for the baby we are waiting for. My oldest grand daughter is due any day so I shall shortly become Great Grandma! We know it is a girl and her name will be Catherine Elaine. I am very excited for her arrival !<br />
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Now that my job as my dad's caretaker is done, I become my daughters. As most of you already know she has Chronic Lyme Disease and because of this many, many life altering illnesses and at 37 needs a great deal of help. She needs it physically, emotionally and financially. This week I will be learning how to care for a pic line and administer medications. I am going to spend this week on the phone looking for financial assistance for her, it is time to take some pressure off of me yet I at the same time I sit here trying to think of how else I can raise money to care for her. Seems like a never ending circle of the same stuff all the time. As much as things change, they stay the same and I am on a forever hunt for solutions. <br />
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But all that aside, I really just wanted to touch base with you today to wish you the best of the Holiday's!<br />
<br />Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-86174853157556000682015-09-30T11:58:00.000-04:002015-09-30T11:58:31.394-04:00Still Stitching away<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So I spent my summer avoiding making jewelry because I just feel so very burnt out because of so many things going on in my life. I started stitching some bead embroidered pictures. This is my second larger one now complete. I think I originally had it in my head that after I accomplished a few I would list them in the Etsy shop for holiday time. But now I am thinking....while I will list some smaller ones as I get them complete I want to do several more larger canvases and take them into town when the opportunity arises. We have a great little coffee shop that shows different artists work each month. I think if I can do 4 or 5 canvases it may be a great bit of exposure. If not it will be a fun way to share what I do during playtime! I do think I need to save a bit of money to have them framed first. The smaller canvases are easy to list ready to frame or hang unframed but the larger ones always seem to call out for framing. Will have to spend some thinking about that but my instinct say's just get them into some inexpensive frames and they will be much more eyecatching. That is all I have right now, things have not changed much and nothing new and exciting happening. Tomorrow is October 1st so Happy Fall everyone!Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-53466119271371478172015-08-23T10:33:00.001-04:002015-08-23T10:33:28.635-04:00Summer's End<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our summer's in upstate New York are short. Way too short. This is my second summer being unable to do anything because I am caring for dad. No swimming, no picnics, no horse races, and the list goes on. That said I just cannot let it slip past without finding a way to enjoy it so I have gotten into the habit of spending a few hours sitting on the porch every day. I set up a little table and some chairs right in front of the living room window . This way I can just turn my head and peak in at dad every few minutes. His armchair that he lives in all day is directly across the room in front of this window. So being able to see him I can get up and go in when he needs me or I see him getting out of his chair. Otherwise I can sit out there and enjoy the sun and heat and sometimes a breeze that allows my mom's windchimes to tinkle. Over the last few weeks I have been working on this bead embroidered painting while enjoying my porch time. Took a while but the only time I have worked on it is while sitting out there. It is finished and I have exactly one canvas left in my supplies so I think I will pick a sketch and start another. I can't think of a better way to enjoy the weather and be outside while accomplishing something besides! Hope your enjoying the weekend!<br />
<br />Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-56583489756669103832015-08-16T10:12:00.003-04:002015-08-16T10:12:50.564-04:00Moving forward<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yes it is time to move forward. As you know mom did wire working. When she left this <br />
<br />
life she left a ton of supplies and being I am the only one with an interest in jewelry making<br />
<br />
I got them all. I have spent this last year looking at them, boxes and bins just chock full of wire<br />
<br />
and large gemstone beads, cabs and findings. Ton's of great stuff but the sad truth, most of it<br />
<br />
is stuff I will not use in my beadwork. I have struggled with what to do, it is hard to part with<br />
<br />
them just because they were mom's. I think the time is much shorter these day's before my dad<br />
<br />
is ready to join her and I need to start planning what comes next in my life. As always there is <br />
<br />
a huge need of an income for a list of reasons. I finally realized last night that holding onto supplies<br />
<br />
I won't use is not needed to remember mom, they belong with someone who will use them in the<br />
<br />
manner my mom meant for them to be and I can use the money. So, yes I am still struggling, I <br />
<br />
started this morning and will slowly list them in my Etsy shop under destash so I can make room for <br />
<br />
the supplies I do use everyday. Mom would be happy I am doing this, just wish it was not such a <br />
<br />
thing for me.<br />
<br />Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-52438548898520126362015-07-21T13:25:00.002-04:002015-07-21T13:25:38.980-04:00Emotion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I just finished this very special amulet bag. I beaded with purpose with my thoughts on my<br />
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mom. On next Monday we will be observing the one year anniversary of her passing. It does <br />
<br />
not seem possible , my pain is still so strong, my thoughts about her hit out of no where at any<br />
<br />
time of the day and night. I cannot tell you how many times I have gotten up to go to the <br />
<br />
other room to talk to her and then remember she is not there. Any way, my mom absolutely loved<br />
<br />
the color gold. We used to tease her all the time, if she could make it with gold beads she would.<br />
<br />
If she could spray it with gold paint, she would. If she could cover it in gold material...yup, she <br />
<br />
would. So I grabbed a box of gold seed beads, which I normally would not use but I had these <br />
<br />
because I got a great price on them, forget the fact that they are not very uniform and hard to<br />
<br />
use in the work I do, but I was determined to make something with them. I still have a good amount<br />
<br />
of supplies from mom's stash so I found the faux pearls, very creamy and a good match for the gold. <br />
<br />
I found the crystal prism, it seems to have an AB coating in a light shade of gold and everything just <br />
<br />
shouted to me that it all belonged together. So this amulet bag evolved while I thought about my<br />
<br />
mom. I actually like it and will put it into my shop, a tribute to an amazing woman. <br />
<br />Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-65393356639839126752015-06-06T11:06:00.001-04:002015-06-06T11:06:04.843-04:00MileStones<br /><br />
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Today is a major milestone for me. It could not have come at a better time. Seems like I stay away from socializing whether it be my blog or and social media I am on because of the constant things to feel bad about going on in my life all...the...time! So when any small good things come along I need to grab hold and celebrate!<br />
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Today I am exactly one year smoke free. This is really a major big deal. I have spent the last 30 years of my life trying to find something that would work and help me quit and everything failed. I cannot tell you how much money I spent on patches, pills, lozenges, inhalers. I cannot tell you how much money I spent going to hypnotism classes, I spent 10 weeks in a weekly class given by the Red Cross. I cannot tell you how horribly sick I got every time I tried the newest pill on the market like Wellbutrin and Chantix. Nothing ever worked for me but today after a 30 year battle I have made it and it's a happy day with something to celebrate!Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-64524032708360941112015-06-05T11:44:00.001-04:002015-06-05T11:44:31.874-04:00Can you share?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have been given a large box of nursing scrubs. Assorted colors, brands, sizes. I do not know any one who can use them and we are still trying to raise money for my daughters move. So I am posting them one at a time on Ebay in hopes of finding them homes to fund my daughters home ;o)</div>
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My problem is finding ways to share the information and I thought maybe, just maybe some of my blog readers would know someone who is in need of some new scrubs and would share my link with those people. Is this you? If so please, please help me out here so I can get this big box out of my room. Rather than trying to link to Ebay each new set I put up I am sending people to my website. My website has links to my Etsy and my Ebay shop and just makes life a bit easier. </div>
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If you have someone you can share the link with just send them to my website and tell them just to click my Ebay link and that will bring them right to the scrubs listings. Thank you so much!</div>
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<a href="http://www.serenitycollections.com/">www.serenitycollections.com</a></div>
<span id="goog_745033727"></span><span id="goog_745033728"></span><br />Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-66947972961208575872015-05-24T14:32:00.000-04:002015-05-24T14:32:12.691-04:00Happy Memorial Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Coming from a family with so much military involvement I could not post without asking you to remember what this holiday is really about. That said, for many of us this our official start to summer and I truly hope it's a wonderful long weekend for everyone. Things have not changed much for me, dad is still hanging on so of course our weekend will be a quiet one, just us and the tv. He is much too weak to go anywhere even thought we have had invitations. On mother's day we made the trip to the cemetery and it was very evident he is no longer capable of leaving the house. So it will be one more quiet day in a long line of many. That is okay, I will get through it, and once dad is on to the next part of his journey I will definitely take a little me time before I decide what path my life will go in next. <br />
I have been working on more of the little, inexpensive beaded items for our upcoming Lawn Sale, it will be the final push to gather the money to move my family because we def. want them moved by July 1. That will be such a load off my mind. Knowing my family is in a safe place will make a big difference in how I feel every single day. <br />
I just realized this morning of all the things I am really tired of with our daily routine is cooking. I admit it...I hate to cook. I am okay at it, never poisoned any one but it is just not something I enjoy and trying to create decent meals for dad everynight with this endless list of things he cannot or will not eat is really getting on my nerves. Especially when all I want is a great big old salad full of fresh veggies. Heaven forbid I try to give him something like that! And I cannot afford to buy two different kinds of groceries to feed him one way and myself another so yes, I am hating cooking!!<br />
So there is today's confession, now go have a great cookout somewhere!Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-11084281582177308952015-05-01T13:21:00.002-04:002015-05-01T13:21:59.701-04:00Yeah...May is here!<br />
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May 1st is one of those days that make me happy. For many reasons. First it is my oldest grand daughters birthday. She is 19 today and I just can't believe it has been 19 years since this love came into my life. I hate that she is a grownup now but since we have always had a very close bond, she will always be my baby girl.<br />
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May is a true sign that it is time for spring flowers, green trees , and walks around the neighborhood.<br />
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May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month...break out your green. Since my daughters diagnosis I have done a huge amount of studying on this illness. I did it because I wanted to understand her symptoms and learn what her future holds. Add Lymes to the list of heartbreaking things that destroy lives and families.<br />
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I have gone out of my way to ignore my desire to start the next amulet bag. I have been working on simple chokers and bracelets. We are holding a big yard sale at the end of June as part of our fundraising efforts for my daughter and these sell well. It does not hurt that it's a great way to use up all the little bits of odds and ends of leftover bead projects. Of course I took a picture for you and of course blogger will not allow it to post so I will try again in a few days. <br />
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I am trying to stay in a positive light today so I will end here, take a walk, breathe in fresh air. Happy May Day!Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-67762099477211327842015-04-25T11:42:00.001-04:002015-04-25T11:42:04.430-04:00Another day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gI3Am2t6BrQ/VTuy12c1oDI/AAAAAAAAA0c/KBjwjz0uJWU/s1600/IMG_3588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gI3Am2t6BrQ/VTuy12c1oDI/AAAAAAAAA0c/KBjwjz0uJWU/s1600/IMG_3588.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Good morning, how great it is to see sunshine when you get up rather than gray and gloomy skies even though I admit I love the sound of rain on the roof! I have to show off a bit even though this picture is no where near as pretty as the real thing. Recently we had an awareness event for my daughter and a new friend fell in love with my beadwork. She contacted me and said, can I order something from you? It is a thank you gift for a good friend, she is a ghost hunter, loves black and grey and skulls. Well that was enough and I was off and running. The cab on the bag is hard to see but it is from a mold of a pirate skull. I molded it in black clay and then lightly dry brushed the raised features with white to stand out. I wish you could see it better. Any way after finishing using black seed beads, a mottled gray and black bead for accents and the polymer clay skull, I am truly loving the way it turned out. It makes me so happy when I start a project with no idea in mind other than the information I have been given and it turns out better than my own expectations. The highlight of my week.<br />
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I have been working on a lot of simple chokers and necklaces, not only do I have lots of little bits of left overs from other projects to clear out, my daughter is having a huge garage sale in June and things like inexpensive, simple chokers will sell well if she gets good attendance. Other than that things have been at a standstill. I have not gotten far with my mission to raise funds to move my daughters family. My dad is still hanging on, a little bit sicker, a little bit weaker every day but hanging on despite it all. So I was just thinking this morning, I have not been out in public in about 7 months. What I would not give just to go to the grocery store and spend a few hours picking out my own food. I am thankful for things like home delivery services which I must utilize for everything but it is not the same and I find much harder to shop this way. But until the day comes that I can come and go as I please it will get us through!<br />
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I have been spending a lot of time daydreaming. Once I no longer need to care for my dad I believe it is time to open that store that I have been dwelling on for a million years. My daughter and grand daughter both have a vision of doing the same and I think the three of us together would have a ball pulling it together. I have also decided that some big bead manufacturer needs to create me a job position. I often through left over beads into a single big jar when I just have a small amount left over from a project but then I get aggravated because it is my nature to want each type and each color of bead in it's own container. So every once in a while I dump that big jar on a towel then spend hours sorting the beads into their own homes no matter how little I have of that particular bead or color. Strangely enough, I love doing this so I need a job as an at home bead sorter! Some one put the word out for me please. <br />
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Happy weekend to everyone.<br />
<br />Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-17275130498720585372015-04-05T15:03:00.002-04:002015-04-05T15:03:41.799-04:00Easter Thoughts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wishing everyone a very Happy Easter, Passover, any holiday or non holiday you are enjoying today. My day has been so very quiet and different than any past Easter. I have spent every holiday of the last 36 years surrounded by my children and grandchildren. Today I am alone with my dad, not really sure if he realizes it is Easter but I think so, I catch him looking at mom's picture very often so I know she is on his mind, just as it is mine. I thought when we made it through Christmas and New years we have managed to get through every "first" major holiday without her. I was wrong, I forgot about Easter, so here we are getting through the day, quietly as if it were any other day, both of us silently thinking about her, missing her, and of course still wondering why this happened. We know, our common sense kicks in, we also know mom is just fine, we are the ones still dealing with pain. But none of that helps us miss her any less. The picture above is one of the last events mom and dad went to while still fairly healthy, my mom looked just as beautiful when she passed as she does in this picture. I miss her so. This would be easier if the kids were around to distract me but once we have gone to bed tonight we will have made it through one more milestone. <br />
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Dad is declining by the day, I can do nothing but watch while it happens and I do not know whether I should be angry that he is lingering and suffering or be thankful that he has outlived the time the doctors have given him. It shall soon be done and I will decide the next phase of my life. <br />
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I do not mean to bring you down, I just feel the need to put my pain out into the universe somewhere, it seems easier to handle when I can share it and those who have lost a parent or other loved one are already familiar with this feeling. I have not been real active in the shop but I am working away at some ornaments and I have 5 amulet bags in progress, Just don't feel in a huge hurry to list right now, seems to make no sense to keep spending money when there is no activity and there truly has been no activity in my Etsy shop for a while. I spend a lot of time wondering why I continue with it but I really hate to leave the community. It has made a difference just for the interaction and friendships alone over the years since I first got sick. So I just keep putting off any decision making and I think I am okay with that right now, I have time, lot's of time and eventually when I do decide what I want to do it will be the right one. <br />
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Enjoy your day, your family, your friends and have a bit of Easter Candy for me!<br />
<br />Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-23910437679379594642015-02-16T12:01:00.000-05:002015-02-16T12:01:10.007-05:00Constant thoughts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Money Goddess seemed to be more appropriate today than an image of my newest work because as always I spend large portions of my day thinking about money. When I think of all my family has been through and is still going through, I look for ways to ease things. I try to stay open minded and even spend time reading what other people do in the kind of circumstances my family is always trying to deal with and survive. And each and every thought ends the same as in "I need money to do that."<br />
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My dad is still hanging on to life, so I am still, seven months later after the start of this journey being his sole caretaker, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I can't leave him, he can't be alone. I can't talk to him, he can't here me and often when I expend the effort to make him hear he often does not understand because his brain is being affected by his cancer. So I continue to be isolated caring for him each day until the day it happens to be over.<br />
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My littlest grand baby is growing quickly and I seldom get to see her so she changes immensely between visits. I am still in awe of her, she is just so cute and smart! I am so thankful her mom and dad are doing okay because it is the one thing I don't need to spend time worrying about, I am way to busy worrying about my daughter and her children. Heather's lymes disease is so bad, she is so very sick, and she has no support because I need to be with dad. I put a lot of responsibility on my granddaughters shoulders. It's wrong, she is just 18 and should not have to spend so much time taking care of someone else but I am thankful because she is doing the job. That's were we go back to the big subject of money. She has been so sick for so long, the illness has devasted her physically, she has been unable to work for many years and without me she is losing everything, she can't keep up with basic things like rent and electricity. She has little furniture left, she does not even have bed any more. Lets face it when you live with 2nd hand stuff to begin with it does not hold up forever. While she is fighting for financial help I continue to think about what I can do. I work hard at my Etsy shop, I try every once in a while to Ebay. We all know I tried using the GOFUNDME website twice and shut it down as fast as I put it up just because it was way too uncomfortable for me. I am not one to look for a handout, my parents raised us to work for what we have. <br />
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So the more I think of ideas that I try or reject I keep coming back to the same business plans I have wanted to implement for as many years as I have been creating bead work. I want my teaching studio. Once my dad's journey is done the time will be here . We no longer have a good bead shop in town so if I could open my beading studio and sell supplies besides it would definitely do okay. I know this because the shop we had for many years always had it's classroom full of people of all ages learning how to make their own jewelry. But I believe what I would need to do is find a home that I could split up with enough room for myself, my daughter, and grandchildren to live yet have a separate are that I could turn into a studio. I believe it would work out perfectly because it would allow me to operate the shop around my own illness and disability. I think I might even have found the place. But I don't have the money. Not only would I need several months rent while the shop gained momentum, I would need everything from tables to beading supplies to insurance. <br />
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So we are back to the question I have asked before and I truly need some input. How do I, using the items I make, create a fundraising sale big enough to start gathering the money to do this? Obviously right now I cannot do craft shows. My presence has been constant on Etsy and Ebay and really do not see a benefit in trying more online venues. When I do not have to be with my dad I can do shows and I think I know a few businesses that would allow me to do trunk shows. In the meantime I just need to keep creating smaller items such as my keychains and friendship bracelets in the hopes of having lots of items to sell when the time comes. That is the only real ideas I have come up with so far. Please if you have any suggestions, things you have tried or have heard of other people trying with any kind of success.....won't you share them with me? <br />
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If you do not wish to comment publicly here you can email me at <a href="mailto:SerenityCollections@gmail.com">SerenityCollections@gmail.com</a>Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847674405099654580.post-73265805018288057232015-01-07T10:56:00.000-05:002015-01-07T10:56:10.621-05:00Cold...Cold...Cold<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I truly hate winter. I will never understand how I ended up living my life in Upstate New York where if your lucky summer last's 3 months and the rest is just cold! I guess fall is okay but each winter, which seems to last forever, bothers me more and more. It is 13 degree's outside and I don't even want to get out of my pajamas because it is the only way I feel warm enough. Oh well, we know I am not going anywhere, at least not for a very long time!<br />
I did a lot of thoughtless stitching over the holiday time. When I say thoughtless, I mean I did not set out to make a particular item. Did not create with the thought in mind of Can I sell it?. Thoughtless beading means I just grabbed a handful of supplies and started stitching. Some times when I get back into a business frame of mind I rip my project apart because I just need those beads for a saleable item, or sometimes it is something I just keep for myself, usually just as a decoration. My holiday beading created this amulet. It is bigger than the impression you get from the picture. I am so very pleased at what turned out of my playtime! I have named it Ariels Treasure. I am not one of those people who ordinarily name my pieces but this one just called out for a name! I used one of my polymer clay cabs as a focal point on the front of the peyote stitched bag. The seedbeads were a handful of different shades of blue left over from other projects that I was sort of at a loss for what to do with. Strangely enough, adding them all together in random order just seemed to work for this bag. I wanted really full fringing so went with branch fringing and used tons of fake pearls and blue glass chips to make it sparkle. I just love it when mindless playtime produces something I love. So now I must decide whether to hang it in my room or put it up for sale in my shop.<br />
<br />Debsparkleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247119873657726537noreply@blogger.com0