Earrings and falling down

Yesterday morning I made 11 pairs of earrings, and photographed them and one I had made previously. I need to get all the recent creations carded up and ready to deliver. I also have to figure out exactly what each pair cost to make. Jeez. I have my work cut out for me. But I guess if I want to start making a living out of my jewelry making it will take some work!!

Got home yesterday to my dad lying on the floor in the living room. Fortunately he had only been on the floor for about 1/2 hour. Eric and the neighbor came and got him back up. Eric was so sweet with him. He gently took off his slippers and support stockings and helped get him sitting back up and then up on his feet and into his chair. Thankfully he is okay. Just a little bruised and stiff from the fall. His back is a bit sore, and his shoulder is a little sore from where he landed. But nothing is broken and I think he will be okay. Whew!!!

Here are some of the latest earrings I made:



And here is what came to lunch today:
Momma raccoon has been eating my catfood for several months. She finally decided to bring her babies with her in the middle of the day so I could get their picture. Aren't they the cutest!!! (click on the photo to see it bigger.)

Cassie is doing really well!!!

I went over to Tess's house to pick her up to go to the store. It coincided with her ex Brian picking up the girls for the weekend. When Tess came out of the house carrying Cassie, she yelled, "It's my grandma. It's my grandma, my grandma!" Of course my heart totally melted at that point. She said, "Wow, my daddy brought me my Grandma!" It was so funny. So I held her for a few minutes while everyone got in their respective cars and she was excited about going to her dad's house. She also told me she was all better. No sick, no hostipal (her pronunciation) anymore. Her knees were dirty, and I asked her why her knee was all black looking, she said she had been crawling around a lot. So I knew she was doing okay. She looked great, and has been doing just fine. Yippee!!!!

I looked out the front door a minute ago and there was a cute little tiny oppossum eating the catfood on the front porch. It is just a little thing about 8-9 inches long from nose to butt. Very timid and jumpy, I tried to get a photo of it. I will attempt to download it in a bit. I don't know how it came out since it is dark. Oh well, sometime I will catch it out there in the daylight.

Why I'm still tired today . . .

. . . I am so tired today because I left home yesterday at 7:30 am and didn't get home until 11 pm. This was after an evening of being awake until 1:30 am waiting to hear what was going on with my darling baby granddaughter, Cassie, who was at OHSU in the ER. She wasn't at the children's hospital Doernbecher since it was an after hours emergency situation and they are adjacent hospitals. OHSU handles all emergent care but Doernbecher has its own PICU. I wasn't at all sure what was going on with her until around 1:30 pm yesterday, and then I only had part of the story.

My cousin Nick and I had to go to the VA medical center in Portland which is also adjacent to the other two hospitals, three actually if you count Shriners. It is known by Portlanders as "the hill." Or pill hill by some. I am just so grateful it is there, and there is specialized care for children with Spina Bifida. Spina bifida is a somewhat common (1 in 4,000 births) birth defect.

I talked to Tess for about a minute when we were approaching the hospitals. She thought they were headed to Doernbecher to meet her pediatrician. The stupid neurosurgeon assumed it had nothing to do with her shunt and foisted her off on the rest of the Spina Bifida team. After a couple of hours at the VA, we finally got the voice mail Tess had left us telling us they had gone to her dad's house in Molalla.

When I finally got through to Tess, she said Cassie's fever had just spiked at 104, and she had thrown up on herself again, but was cooler now and resting pretty comfortably. She said the doctor had given Cassie an antibiotic and it seemed to finally be kicking in. She said she would love it if we would come to her dad's for a bit before we headed back home since Cassie always calms down when I am around.

Cassie said, My Grandma as I entered my ex-hubby’s house, patted couch next to her, leaned on me and said MY grandma, again. Within half an hour of us getting there she was starting to feel better. And Cassie started getting visibly better pretty quickly after that. I could tell she was really better when she asked to get down because she wanted to crawl. Of course crawling, meant she wanted me to follow her which entailed many laps around the house, down the halls, into the various rooms, and back to the living room. She of course had to stop periodically and yell Momma, I want you. I think she was just making sure we were all there. By the time we all left their house Cassie had eaten some chicken nuggets and was drinking chocolate milk Nick had bought her. Tess said they stopped at a Denny's and Cassie really stuffed herself with chicken. When she got home she played until 1:30 in the morning she was so happy to be back home. Then she and her sister, Athena, both went to sleep on the couch in the living room (their other favorite bedroom).

Nick and I made our normal trip to Walmart, since there isn't one in Lincoln City, and got to his house around 10:15. I think it was around 11 when I got home. My dad was still up when I got home, so I had to get him to bed and bring in the Walmart goodies: catfood and yogurt and put it away. Oh, and feed the outdoor cats. I was exhausted but strangely awake and I think I got to sleep around 1 am or so. I slept until 9 this morning. No wonder!! And to quote Paul Harvey, "and now you know the rest of the story."

Cassie is home!!!

Cassie's fever finally broke today at 104 and the antibiotic finally kicked in and she finally (too many finallys) started to eat and drink again. She hadn't eaten since Monday, and barely drank at all. She is pretty fragile, so when she stops eating and drinking she takes a nosedive in a hurry. Her pediatrician at the children's hospital gave Tess his home number in case of emergencies. Tess and Brian took her to Tess's dad's house about 25 miles SE of Portland this afternoon, because the Dr. felt it might help Cass feel better since she hates hospitals so much. It must have helped because by the time Nick and I got there after his appts. she was feeling a lot better, and just continued to do better all the time. She is home tonight!!!! Yippeee!!! More tomorrow!!!

Doernbecher Days . . . er, Nights

Well, Cassie fell off her couch last night and hit the back of her head on the floor. That just happens to coincide with where her shunt is placed. Not a good thing. She was lethargic and slept most of the day today. She wouldn't eat and when Tess left work early to go check things out, she said, "That's it, we are taking her to Doernbecher." So off we went. Well, Tess had been trying to call Brian, her ex-hubby, Cassie's dad for a while, and finally got him about the time we were at the north end of town ready to depart. Cassie had thrown up on herself, and immediately said, I'm hungry. I want hamburger. I want fries. I want milk. So we stopped at McDonald's. That is where we finally got hold of Brian. He said, just go I will meet you in Portland. I said, it isn't that I don't want to be there. But it's silly for us both to drive to Portland when we have no idea what is going on. And I have to go to Portland tomorrow to the Veteran's Hospital with my cousin Nick anyway. And it is right next to the Children's hospital.

So, Cassie and Tess are in Brian's car and hopefully already at the hospital. Athena is here for the night, since I have to leave early and she is going to help look out for Grandpa tomorrow. I will update this tomorrow night if not before to keep you up to date. Her temp is 102 and her spinal closure and shunt areas are red and slightly swollen. Tess thinks it is from that, but it could always be another kidney infection. She hasn't had one for nearly two years.

Good night for now. Think good thoughts for the babe. She needs our prayers and affirmations now.

UPDATE: Just got a call from Tess at the hospital. She said Cassie has a low-level bladder infection, but shunt stuff all looks okay at this point. They are keeping her overnight and will do more tests tomorrow. They said she has some hardened poop inside they are working on removing with enemas. In spite of her having chronic diarrhea. Bizarre, huh?! Poor baby girl. Will be up there tomorrow. I will post an update tomorrow when I get back. Probably after 7 pm.

Hey! Look! I got an award!

Wow! I didn't know my blog was so fascinating, but I am thoroughly delighted to be nominated for and win an award!!!



Thank you Pam for nominating me for this award. Her blog is The Blue Between and she has fabulous photos of her home and surroundings, and inspiration for us bead enthusiasts. Thanks, Pam.

Thanks to all the little people, my cats, my children, my grandchildren, my cousins, and my dad, for making my life interesting enough to need my own blog.
Thank you Pacific Grind, Beach Dog Cafe, and Pirate Pastry for serving me wonderful food to write about. Thank you Tanger Outlet Mall for giving me a setting for many tales of shopping and dining with my wonderful grandgirls Cassie and Athena.
Thanks Momiji's and Lee's for allowing us to include your Chinese food in our diet.
Thank you Wet Canvas for giving me a world-wide circle of friends.

Here's my list of nominees that I'd like to receive this award as well:

1. Life on an Island
2. Elaine Magliacane Journal
3. Nancy's Craft blog
4. Ramblings of a lunatic mom and lampworker
5. Sueze’s blog - Vox
6. Luke-a-do
7. For the love of beads

Here are the rules for this award:

1. The winner can put the logo on their blog.
2. Link to the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs you've nominated.
6. Write an acceptance speech in the style of the Academy Awards, thanking every body's mother, father, sister, brother, aunties and uncles and the kitchen staff at your favorite restaurant!

Cats are definitely crazy

I was trying valiantly to take Koala's picture this morning after she had, once again, foiled my cat prevention measures at the front door. I figured since she was in the house I might as well take advantage of the situation and show you how pretty she is, too. Baby, meanwhile, had been nibbling on catnip and decided he didn't like the idea of my taking "her" picture.
He is the self-appointed king of everything and has suddenly decided "he" is the one to be photographed. I suppose what cracked me up the most was the lengths he went to prevent my taking her photo. He kept walking in front of the camera, and when that failed he would butt it with his head to move it away from her.



Little did he know she is difficult to get a decent picture of anyway. If the lighting isn't right she is so dark it is hard to see any details, and she won't hold still for more than about two second intervals.

I finally had to follow her to the bathroom to get a decent photo. She loves to go in there anyway because she is obsessed with drinking from the bathroom sink.



She has a perfectly good cat fountain beside it, but that is obviously "different" water. I don't know what flavor the faucet has that is so much better, but she certainly likes it better. Here is the lovely Koala in all her glory. I called this shot "Princess Koala." She has assumed the position of cat in power. It didn't last long, but she was satisfied for a moment.

More Charms and Charming Baby

Today was intended to be a day of actually starting to pre-assemble earring components. Somehow it turned into a day of housework, charm hunting and naps.

I am including a photo of my beautiful boy, Baby. This is his attempt as hypnosis. isn't he a pretty boy? (click to enlarge photo)

Having changed the sheets on my bed first thing this morning, and getting dad up and fed to start the day I began doing laundry. Oh boy. Then tackled the pile of dishes that always accumulates on days I work. I can't seem to find the energy to do them on days I have already put so much effort and energy into. I had to figure out what to make for three meals today, which is a shock to my system after the weekend where we pretty much have leftovers and take-out. Then I had planned to work on earrings. That suddenly changed when Tess called and we went to the local Joann's Fabrics and Crafts in search of fringe for a new sarong for Athena. Tess found a really beautiful one at the bead store south of us last time we were there. Beautiful batik fabric and a generous cut so she had options of how to wear it. She said Cassie has commandeered it quite frequently and Athena really wanted one, too. She took Athena to Joann's a couple days ago, but couldn't figure out what to do for fringe. Hence the trip back there today. We found exactly what Athena wanted . . . rainbow fringe. While we were talking about Cassie stealing Tess's sarong she decided the way to remedy that would be to make one for Cassie, too. So she also bought fabric for that. Of course what she really meant was for me to make them both sarongs, since Tess can't sew in any way shape or form. While we were there I also found head pins and earring stoppers at great prices and the head pins were on sale at 30% off. The stoppers were a package of 300 for $3.99, and at the bead store they are $3 for 100. You do the math, but I think I saved a bunch of money. We also stopped at the bead store in the middle of town since I had a $10 off coupon I had earned with previous purchases. So I spent a total of $4 out of pocket for a bunch more charms for the earrings.
I am ready to start fresh tomorrow, and grateful for the day off today, and especially grateful for the 2-hour nap. I really needed it badly.

Here is another photo of my wonderful kitty Baby, I call it "puddle of cat." He is sleeping in dad's wheelchair.

My Zazzle

If you like my Baby cat he is now available as a T-shirt on Zazzle.com at
http://www.zazzle.com/ritazart

The adorable Baby

Each night when I get home from work I am greeted by the most wonderful sound. Some folks upon hearing it would exclaim, "What the heck is that? Did someone step on something?" I would say, nope, the crazy "MMMRRRRAAAAP" is the sound of my buddy and nighttime nemesis, Baby, my 11 year old red tabby point siamese cross. He is my pal and has been since he was a diminutive 6 weeks old. The little white kitten I wasn't supposed to have, who I had sworn not to love or keep. Of course that lasted about five minutes. By then I was hooked, and he was definitely mine. He is the most devoted friend and midnight snuggle buddy. He is tucking my dad into bed each night and sleeping between his knees until he is fast asleep. Then he saunters out to the living room and joins me, his mom, until I head off to bed. He then commandeers my chair in the living room. He wakes me around 2:30 or 3 am and goes outside for the rest of the night. If he had his way he would have a revolving door he could exit and enter at will all night long. Especially if the door made some obnoxious sound to wake me up every time he went in or out. He is definitely a nocturnal annoyance, but also worth it. The first photo was outside greeting me, then his handsome face indoors trying to figure out why I was showing him the camera.

Newest New Earrings

My newest earrings, my take on jellyfish!! Enjoy!!

Newest Earrings

Here is what I spent my day working on, sorry for the bad photos of the gold plated ones. They are made with gold- or silver-plated findings, a variety of charms, mother of pearl, fresh water pearls, shells, and hours of work:

Wow, I think I am nearly well!!!

I haven't coughed in several hours. Wow, that is something to celebrate. I actually have a little energy, and feel a whole lot better. Yippee!!! I think I have turned the corner to wellness!! Now if I could just get dad to follow along. He was feeling better than I was, the kind of relapsed a bit, but seems a lot better today. And neither one of us woke the other up coughing in the night.

I am attempting to layout a bunch of different earrings, and pre-wire all the components once I get that done, then see just how long it will take to assemble them when I figure out all the design elements. I wish Tess would come help with the design part. That is her strong suit and I know there are certain elements she would like to see in them. I figure if I can pre-make the various components then she can tell me which ones she wants together. I will probably just put a few together to "test" them and see what she thinks, and try to get a bunch more ready to combine.

Dad is falling asleep sitting in his wheelchair, I will have to wake him up pretty soon so he doesn't fall out. (hee-hee) He looks so cute.

Tess and Eric went to get his driver's license renewed yesterday and found out he had to have his birth certificate for that. If any of you know of an easy way to cut through all the red-tape of sealed adoptions, please let me know. He has been trying for several years to get a copy of his birth certificate. Unfortunately he was adopted in Louisiana. He knows the adoption agency name and location, but they won't talk to him about his adoption without him actually being there in person. What is a guy to do?? He previously had an Oregon Driver's License, but even the DMV has no record of his birth certificate. If anyone has any ideas on what we can do to expedite this, please let me know. It's not like we can just take a little drive over to Louisiana to solve all this. I would have thought the vital records dept. for Louisiana would have the info, but from what we can tell their records don't reflect the adoption, or since the names are different it is all screwed up. Have to feel for the poor guy. It is really tough to apply for jobs without being able to identify yourself. I know the new law was put into effect to prevent illegal aliens from getting identification, but what about the people who live here??? Little did we know if he had gone before July 1 he would have been able to get it with no problem, the new law just went into effect!! Jeez, I guess everything is about timing!!

The cough that wouldn't end

I think the cough is better. I only had one major coughing fit today, of course it lasted at least 10 minutes. You know, the type of coughing that you think you have finally stopped and you take a breath and it starts all over again. Then you think it is gone and you start to say something and it starts all over again. Of course it happened when I had a customer which made it even better. Dad is coughing less and I think I must be, too. It doesn't feel a whole lot less, but then I realize it has been at least an hour since the last time I coughed and I know it is.

Here are some photos I took at the fireworks last night. The rain began about two minutes before the fireworks, but it was worth getting wet for: