Good.

Good., originally uploaded by HA! Designs - Artbyheather.

This is Dakota...our good dog. We will put her to sleep tomorrow. I'm not one of those people who think of their dogs as people...kids...I'm not even really a dog type of person. But losing her will be heartwrenching.
We got her from a friend about 10 years ago...because otherwise she would have gone to the pound. She has been a perfect dog. She was a friend to our kids, protected us from fierce wildlife such as...well...skunks, porcupines, and bunnies, and gave us love - oft-times undeserved. She was a friend to cats...opened up her doghouse to a parade of feline friends and offered her warmth on cold winter nights. She wasn't very friendly with other dogs, but for some reason, cats were a-ok. She has always had such a sweet face and as she's aged, her graying muzzle has just become dearer.
She has been declining in recent months...she's nearly deaf...her eyesight isn't what it used to be (I can completely sympathize) and it takes her a while to get up and get her legs moving. Recently she's developed "bedsores" on her hips and legs from all the laying around and she seems to be more and more uncomfortable. We have known this is coming but how can we feel "good" about putting her to sleep?
I hope that there is a heaven for dogs...if there is, she will surely reside there. She is a very good dog.

Treasure Hunting!

Drawers full of Ladies Watch Crystals!, originally uploaded by HA! Designs - Artbyheather.

Gosh I love hunting for treasures! I think if I lived in another era, I'd be a friendly pirate, searching the sea for chests filled with gold!

Yesterday I went to a fabulous junk shop...I was the only customer in the store and I started chatting with the owner. I asked if he had any watch crystals and he jumped up and told me to follow him into the back room where he showed me this fabulous "treasure chest. I have wanted one of these chests...empty...for ages but they always cost a hundred bucks or more and I just can't justify it! He started opening the drawers to reveal hundreds of little ladies watch crystals...one by one...my heart started beating a little faster! I asked him what he wanted for it...I won't say what I paid, but it was much less than the empty ones I've seen...and I told him I'd take it! I didn't even dicker which is out of the ordinary for me...I always love a friendly back and forth. So...I bought it. I brought it home and now it sits with my other treasures, waiting for my muse to work it's magic! Until then, I shall open those drawers and giggle just a little!

Halloween

Witchy Little Collage..., originally uploaded by HA! Designs - Artbyheather.

I confess, I've never been a HUGE Halloween fan...I don't like the dark side of the holiday...the kid-friendly fun stuff, sure, but the bloody, gory scary stuff, not so much. BUT, this year, I sort of decided to try my hand at a little Halloween collaging. I'm just not inspired. I'm not surprised, though. I think I'll skip ahead to Thanksgiving and Christmas. My brain has been filling with Christmas ideas...there's just something about the school year starting and the holidays just rushing at us...inspiring!
:o)

Funky Little House Charms

Funky Little House Charms, originally uploaded by HA! Designs - Artbyheather.

I love funky...I love ephemera...I love houses...I love decorating houses...so these charms were born out of all of my love for those things. I have bigger versions in the works...and haunted Halloween houses! ooooooh...scary!

Look What I found!

Look What I found!, originally uploaded by HA! Designs - Artbyheather.

Oh how I love thrifting! Today I wandered into Value Village...I rarely go there...it's out of my way most of the time. So, today I found these shoe forms. They're old and weathered and pointy and have the most fabulous letters and numbers printed on them! They're women's sizes and super duper narrow! I love 'em! Primitive at it's best! I don't know what I'll do with them yet...for now they sit on my antique blanket chest looking fabulously old.

Recharging!

Recharging!, originally uploaded by artbyheather.

I remember these days...when the little ones would go down for a nap and I'd sit on the couch with my lunch and breathe...then I'd jump up and try to accomplish something before they woke up!
Now my twins are gone...away at college and I only have my "little one" left...another teenager. I'm enjoying the time alone with her...she's so fun! I do miss the others though...I miss the noise and activity...the friends storming the kitchen and eating our food. sigh.
When they were this small, I never saw this new time in life coming. It seemed so far off into the future...but the kids grew up fast and here I am...creating cards to encourage the moms still struggling to make it to nap time!

Confucious said so...

Confucious said so..., originally uploaded by artbyheather.

I normally don't give the fortune in my cookie much merit, but when I received this one at Panda Express the other day...well...what would YOU think? I thought it was pretty good advise and while I don't normally believe in the psychobabble of psychics or palm readers or tarot cards or for that matter, fortunes in dry, tasteless cookies, I decided that this one should be followed very carefully. I intend to follow it to the letter...soon! My energy is nearly depleted at the end of a very busy summer! My kids...aaaahhhh my kids...I love 'em but they wear me out! My two oldest are going off to college and there's something about that summer before they leave that just wears you down to the point of wanting to tell them not to let the door hit them on the way out. I never thought they'd drive me to that point but I guess that's God's way of providing a nice clean break between mother and child. I thank Him for that. I'm ready now...
So, I share this good fortune with you...it was meant for every tired mom in August. Good job! We deserve a break! Let's go!!!