Say What?

You gotta be kidding......

Yes, that is the sign I saw as I walked in for my very first MRI. Crummies, but I really am glad I did not really really really know what to expect.

When one has to lay down - on your tummy with cut out holes for two various parts of your body - are you getting my drift...... Holy Son-Of-A-Gun it really isn't a massage you are going for as you lay down your head into the donut hole.

OK, I admit - I did play the "heart" card and explained I did have a pretty ugly scar going down the middle of my chest and that ugly looking center rectangle piece of hard core plastic or rubber just wasn't gonna work.

Not for 15 minutes or more. No way!

They were really nice and let me play the heart scar card and gave me something that did help. I didn't see Harley anywhere. Nope, he ran for the hills, I think? His story, he was guarding the door.... from what, bandits?

It really was longer than 15 minutes - more like 30-40 minutes without m-0-v-i-n-G. Holy Crap (I am saying that with reverence.... really my little peeps).... You know what took the time - that metal chicken wire that is holding my sternum together from the open heart surgery. Chick Wire - I asked the cardiologist after surgery when they were taking it out - like never was the answer. So it took a little longer in the MRI since they kept trying to work around the wire. AND, I really hope after all of that - I really do glow in the dark, dang it! Harley claimed he volunteered but no one was listening. He did go flying in the waiting room as someone opened the door, I really think he was trying to get out of Dodge when he heard "loud noise" "ear plugs" "no moving" "small enclosed space" - that's my little bud...

OK - I'm sure you don't want to hear anymore about the MRI (I don't) and so we move on to my "security heart." When I first found out about the breast cancer on October 1 (funny how dates work - my mother died on October 1, 1998, hmmmm), I was headed to lunch and my cell phone rang - knew it wasn't good when the doctor asked if I was driving.... anyway, that night after tennis, I went home and laying on the coffee table was this beautiful lavender stuffed heart that Patty made for me back in the spring time when we met for tea.

Yes, I was in a little bit of shock and after my shower and dinner, I took the heart and put next to the cancer mass in my sport bra and, believe it or not, a peace came over me .... and it has been my security heart going everywhere I go, literally. So my little honeysuckles, remember that you never know what your works of art can do - such as giving one individual a terrific moving spiritual moment. Hugs my Patty and ---- the lavender is still so comforting..... Tonight in the mail was book from my cousin, Pam, who is a breast cancer survivor,

This book is by Barbara Delinsky and available from Amazon.com. I have managed to open the cover and read some items quickly. Looks like it will be a great resource for me. Love my cousin,

So, as usual, need to run down and make dinner and thank all of you for your kind remarks on yesterday's post. It was such a relief to share this with you because I can now journal on the blog about it and I promise I will be back to making art shortly. Right now I am reverting back to something I always do, especially in the winter, yes, cross-stitch. Will let you guess what this will become as we walk the journey. Hugs, my little peeps...

On a little journey - Wanna come along?

Dear little honeysuckle peeps,

You know how much I care for you. You know I have been a little sporadic on my posting as opposed to what I usually do. Well, I am inviting you on a journey I am going to be taking. You have to promise me some things first or Harley will be all over your case. Ready.....

OK - I admit it - the luggage is only representative of a "journey" - we are not really going out the door with it although if the truth be known it has really gotten a work out lately since the end of September: two trips to Wisconsin and one trip to Warrenton, VA. Whoop whoop.

Here it is used only as a visual aid. Journeys are sometimes interesting, sometimes fun, sometimes educational, and sometimes gotta be done if we want to or not. No choices, you gotta suck it up and walk on down the path you are meant to walk at certain times in your life.

Well, I have had several of those journeys over the years, especially in 2003 when I had to have the ole aortic heart valve replaced with open heart surgery and a little mechanical one, Tic Toc Tic Toc put in! LOL That one event opened my eyes really wide and I really believe I started a new life at that point. And, I have to admit something to you little peeps...... after that most things in my life are literally "no big deal."

This journey will be a little bit different and hits 1 out of 3 women. Yup, had my annual mammogram and they found a small 1.2cm mass. No one thought much about it and even thought we could wait 6 months to do a new ultrasound or not - we could do a biopsy now. I chose the latter. The decision to put this event on the blog has been a long-time coming - since October 1 but I believe we all can benefit together from this story. Yes, it is cancer and I have been going thru a whirlly wind of doctors appointments, blood work, EKG, and ... this week will have an MRI tomorrow and surgery on Friday. Can't tell you what kind of surgery since everything will depend on the MRI.

So what have I done in the middle of all this and go to work each day? huh? Oh I tried to play as much tennis as I can before I can't lift my left arm too high. Last Friday played from 4:15-6:00 and will try to get more play dates in this week before Friday. Also been trying to catch up with work since I'm not sure if I will be out a day or two or what. Harley, of course, is doing everything he can to assist. I offered him the choice to go into surgery with me:

He flatly said: leave my boobies out of this. GRRRRR, as if he has any? but I'm not telling him - Oh crap, he heard me, I'm sorry little guy, You got little Ta Das - kind of.....


Man on man, I will not hear the end of it tonight - he has yet to forgive me for the shower cap photo. hehehehe


Anyway, the message here is don't skip your annual appointments, boys and girls, it is important to catch cancer early. When I told a friend of mine who is a breast cancer survivor - she said, "Cancer is such an ugly word, but...." The "but" is we have come a long way in the treatment of it. Right now I have heard from two health care professionals that we seem to have an "epidemic" of breast cancer right now. I think it is probably because we have become so successful in detecting it.

So, I have told my immediate staff:


And my assistant, Gertrude,


And if any of you others from my workland are reading this, I would ask you let me spread the story, if I want, around the staff or not. Those who know, know and I know not many of you read this blog. OK maybe one I do know who is near and dear to me,


Guess you know now... my little le peep....

So, as we walk together down this lane, remember to breathe in the scent of the honeysuckles, let your soul soar and sing with the songbirds, relax, watch dumb TV, create, and thank God for the glories of His universe and the opportunity to partake in it each and every day to the fullest. I have used this poem many times in my art work and will close this post with it. I believe every since word of it:
"When you come to the edge of all the light you have,
and must take a step into the darkness of the unknown,
either there will be something solid for you to stand on,
or you will Fly...." Patrick Overton
OK, peeps, I will keep you posted and you keep playing, singing, and creating!
I'm gonna play tennis and cross stitch and - oh yeah, have dinner with Oliver. What more can a girl ask for, I ask you??

Honeysuckles are celebrating Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos is celebrated between October 31 and November 2nd. A celebration of those who have gone before with us with feasts and laughter and at times in the grave yards. When you think about it, not a bad idea.

Oh, Mexico, you are so right with this celebration. Okay, my little honeysuckle peeps, yes I am trying to get inspired to create some Mexican art for a swap I am participating in.... remember India.... this month we travel to Mexico.

I visited Mexico at a very young age - around 8 years old. We went through Brownsville, TX, and went into the country and I fell in love with it. My parents honeymooned in Mexico in the late 40s after my dad came home from the war. So, yes, there have always been warm and fuzzy thoughts about this marvelous country. Well, kind of... OK, I also love San Antonio and the Alamo and didn't like the Mexicans trying to kill my boys! Even bought my first coonskin cap and sang Davy, Davy Crockett outside the Alamo and stuck my fingers in the bullet holes.... as I sang.

Today, I started to get serious about my creation. Nope, I still don't have a clue on what I am going to create - this is the time to absorb stuff to creep into my creative juices getting ready to flow through my creative process. I hope it pops out soon. I took photos while shopping today:

Bought some food products to see if I want to use the packaging - don't know yet, but it will be on hand when my muse wakes up.....


I do promise not to be wasteful and will cross my heart that I will try to use these products. cross, cross. Also found some recipe books after eating at my fav eatery - Taco Bell (have to keep with the program here), amigos,

and already had skeletons cut out from my September workshop, (I do love my blue painted watercolor paper but not sure blue will work with Mexico, we will see),

Bought some fake skeletons to cut up if I decide to,

Here is an example on how they might work cut up:

CSI would love the remains:

To use a Michelle Ward saying, "I crack myself up!" Yes, it is that time of the night when I tell you I need to run and cook dinner. BUT, tonight in about 1 hour my buds, Ghost Hunters, have a live marathon on SyFy! I love Halloween. And hugs to all,

As the wind comes....... so goes Harley!

Good afternoon, boys and girls -- Harley at the helm here while my mistress is working hard at a convention. We tried to fly into Madison, WI, yesterday in the great wind storm of October 2010 - can you read into this: WIND SHEARS.

Holy cow Bat Man - it was shearing and the plane itself refused to land. But we tried twice to land and aborted the landing twice and flew back to Chicago, Chicago, that toddling town..... and then we had to turn around and catch a b u s to Madison - yes a three hour bus ride but hey we had to get here by hook or crook.

United didn't even try to land those little 55-seater planes until today but we were already here! We love the view from our hotel room is beautiful in downtown Madison,

Obviously my mistress was bored this morning and posed me in a shower cap. GRRRRRR, I have my limits boys and girls but she is paying no attention to them. She woke up way to early this morning thinking it was Eastern Time Zone - way too early.....

Just wanted to stay in touch and also to let you know I may never, ever, never, get out of bed again...... it is scary scary when my mistress gets bored......

Stay safe in all this crazy weather we are having .....

More Splishing and Splashing....

This splishing and splashing in paint can become addictive:

To this:

To this:

And on and on:
The final product, maybe?

Just kind of grows on itself. I also painted two other small watercolor pages just to use whenever, this one especially reminds me of golden locks of beautiful hair (and of course it will probably not remain this way - LOL):

OK, before I close, I promised you some Halloween photos from the office - Dilbert and his latest "flame," Miss Art (however the "Arters" say it is a "he" - hmmmm, how can you tell?

Dressed in finery with demon spawn:

Such a good baby - (OK, I admit it, Harley refuses to babysit for his spawn):

And you know, the devil is in the details:

Gertrude is not necessarily impressed with her new Halloween obligations, but hey, she has a line in her job description, "and any other jobs as may be assigned....."

OK, what part of "not amused don't we get?"

Harley is refusing to get out of bed until after Halloween.....

So, I guess it is, goodnight to all and to all a good night!

Splishing & Splashing in Paint in the Breeze

Well, I told you the other day I was painting a "red" thing, and I did. The only "to-do" I need to work on today is getting it a little darker and painting the other side of the watercolor paper.

I signed up for Julie Prichard's Layer Love Class last year. Luckily when you sign up for an online class with Julie - she lets you keep taking it until you make it through. I know a number of you who follow this blog have taken a number of her online workshops. Click on the link above and check out the outstanding variety of workshops she has created. The gal is multi-talented, beautiful, and a joy to follow as she walks through her artistic journey! She is an inspiration to us all.

OK - back to reality -- You know where I'm going with this don't you? Nine lessons - I'm on # 2. Ahhhh, such a driven painter and A-type personality in the painting world - NOT. Even took a class with Michelle Ward on painting stuff, luckily that was a hands-on experience in Wisconsin at Valley Ridge Art Studio. I am one of these individuals that will get excited about a class, sign-up and pay, and have all the good intentions in the world and NOT take it. Dadgumit. BUT, the two lessons I took with Julie on the Layer Love -- I learned a lot and when I am in the moment it is like I am painting with wings. I love it and I feel like I'm soaring. BUT, it is getting to the moment. (hmmm, I am preaching to me not you....).

I need to darken this up a bit today. I painted it with the red and black and some mushy stuff to make it a little more "pushy around the page" - I am so technical when it comes to painting - then added some old book pages, scrapbook paper, and song sheet. I love spraying stuff with water (including myself when water mister pointed wrong way, I am multi-talented).... love those drippy runs (yes, my make-up runs too):


This photo does make it look "lighter" than it is. So back to the old rag....

Need to get lunch. I have to admit I played cardio tennis this morning. When I got in the car at 7:45am - it read 39 degrees. OUCH... when I got to the courts it read 42 degrees - yup, on a roll. Played an hour or so, got back in the car and it read 42 degrees, heat wave, boys and girls, heat wave. But the trees are beautiful here in Northern Virginia -

When I first arrived here almost 31 years ago - it was in the Fall...... what more can you say - this state is spectacular dressed in Fall Foliage! Headed to a play tonight, will visit with you tomorrow and bring you up to date on the office decorating for my favorite holiday - Halloween!


Gertrude sends her love, my little peeps. Happy Saturday!