Recharging

Toady I am giving the fluids a rest, I am giving worry and anger a rest. Today I am looking for things to be thankful for and I am finding many:
My B is eating tiny bits of real cat food, he is acting more like himself, I think we have turned a corner.
Spike is doing great.
I cleaned my yard yesterday and it is now a joy to look upon, well better anyway :-).
I have the day to do research on what to feed my cats and other ways in which I can help them.
My blogger friends and my real time friends who have all been so loving and helpful, you find out who your real friends are when stuff like this happens and you find out who isn't.
I think I can see the end of the tunnel and there is some bright sunshine on the other end :-).
I do believe I am due for some good times-Bring it on!
Love to you this Sunday and everyday. XOXO

Torture versus Love

I won't lie to you, this nursing business has not been fun. Sticking needles into my boys has been torture for me and them. Due to B being impossible to hold down I have not been able to give him fluids for two days, I am attempting it again this morning. He is eating a tiny bit better and drinking plenty of water, he is acting more like himself and he is keeping all of it down, but he is not eating near enough, not near. He is so thin it is hard to understand how he can stand. I have been working on my attitude as the grace flew away and I want it back. I decided that today instead of dreading the giving of fluids, I would remember that it can save his life, so instead of torture it is loving and I hope that this will help us get it done this morning. If any of you have been through this, please email me and give me some pointers :-). I have not had much time to blog or visit, but I know you understand. Thank you for all your prayers and loving thoughts they have helped more than you know.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Not doing much today except nursing kitties and going to see an older friend in the nursing home. I did get 3 invites, but declined, I really want another low key day with my boys. B is holding, eating tiny amounts of baby food and drinking a bit of water, he takes his meds okay.
The one improvement is that he is not hiding out as much and seems a bit more lively.
Have a great day everyone and thank you so much for all the love. XOXO

Grace

Grace has kicked in. Yesterday there was a shift in me and I have been able to be calm and happy. I am however very busy taking care of two sick kitties and also an old dog and a young cat who need me also. I have today and tomorrow off and that will enable me to give more care to little B. He has not thrown up for over 24 hours and he ate a tiny bit of baby food today. Oh and more water! He is also not hiding in the closet anymore which I take as a good sign. I feel that whatever happens I am okay as grace is here and I let it in. I will also be taking care of me, I am baking cookies and I rented a DVD, 30 Rock, which I adore and always makes me laugh.
I love you all and thank you for your prayers and kind words. May grace carry you through today. XOXO

B Update

I am not giving up on my boy and with the help of my blogging friend Teri I am working to keep him alive. As I can't afford to go to the vet (I still owe them a bunch) I must do this on my own with some help from my friends like you and non bloggers R and V. I gave him fluids today as well as Spike. It can't hurt and it may in fact help. He did drink some water today and he ate a tiny bit of tuna. In the morning I am off to get more fluids and other stuff that Teri suggested and meat baby food. Only time will tell. Pray hard and think good thoughts. And by the way Spike is doing great. I am coming to terms with things and trying to keep happy. As the brilliant Renee says there are no more perfect days, only perfect moments. I am keeping my eye on the good moments when they come. Thank you all for being so great and loving. I love you. XOXO

S.O.S

You won't believe this, because I don't, but yet it is happening. My cat B, Spike's brother who has had kidney disease for 2 years, is very sick, he won't eat and today he stopped taking water.

The vet told me that when he started to do this, it was the end and there was nothing to be done. I feel sure I will know when it is time to take him to have him put to sleep, but I don't want him to suffer. I know that this is not an accident, all these things happening in two weeks time, but I have no idea what is happening and I feel so lost right now. I hate to ask so much of you my blogging friends, but would you please pray for Mr. B and pray for me as I am very sad. Love to you. XOXO

LIFE

I have been having a small melt down the last couple days due to the lack of money and the mounting bills, but I read this today on Jan Frazier's site and was uplifted into laughter and light: "Relax yourself into a piece of cooked spaghetti". This is my mantra for today, this is my goal. I finally get to do some art, which today means porcelain, and I get to catch up on some things and lay around and read. By the end of the day I will hopefully be back to normal :-).
Wishing you a wonderful, light filled Sunday. XOXO

Coffee with Kj

Okay, so now you know what I look like, sort of, I really do have pretty eyes, but you can't see them because I am squinting into the camera and sun and I have to say I do not like my smile here, but I promised a photo so here it is, Kj of course looks fab :-) (she is the one in front). Those of you who do not know Kj, go to her blog and check her out. Kj is the first blogger I have ever met, I know there will be more and I can only hope that they will be as nice as her. I had to work the day I met her, so we only had an hour and a half, but we got to talk a lot and I could have talked all day with Kj and not run out of things to say.

One thing that struck me is that I have always wondered if people were the same on and off their blogs and after Meeting Kj, I can say, yes, and it made me so happy to know that. It is wonderful to know that the people I blog with would indeed be real time friends if we lived closer and could meet. We talked about other bloggers and how weird and wonderful the blogging world is, and one blogger that came up was you Renee, we have a mutual love for you and said a lot of nice things :-). We talked about everything under the sun and it was a bright sunny day, we met at one of my favorite coffee bars in Taos called Loka. Meeting Kj was the bright spot of my week. Thank you sweet K for making the extra effort to come to Taos.

P.S. Photos are by Kj.

Have a great Friday! XOXO

What I Learned Last Week

Life can be rough, it can suck and it can break your heart, but even at it's worst there is always a bit of magic to be found. On my worst day with Spike, the day I thought he was gone, I said to myself "When are you going to LIVE how you BELIEVE?". That thought turned me around.
It has been my mantra. I believe that all things happen for a reason, I believe I can trust the process. I am taking all things that come to me as a gift. Some days I do better than others, but I am learning.
Spike is home and happy. I have to give him the fluids twice a week and the vet and I decided to not risk his life with the surgery to take his stone out. Everyday I have with him is a precious gift
and I see it always has been. Same for everything. I wish that I could always see this, when I am in a hurry or stressed, I often miss all the treasures around me.
I had a lovely gift arrive yesterday in the form Of blogger friend Kj. We had little time, but made good use of it. I will share photos of the meeting soon and (gasp) you may just get to see what I look like :-).
Another gift was the wonderful Kate P, blogger, and art supporter who bought stuff on my ETSY site and helped so much to boost my moral. Thank you Kate P!
Today is my mom's birthday- HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!! Love you.
Have a great Tuesday everyone. XOXO

What's Up and New Work

Least you think my life is just Spike, Spike, Spike, other things are going on. I have not had time to make new work, but I have been taking photos of new things as I can, the top photo is of 4 lovely porcelain cups that did not make it, they look like the elephant man they are so full of bubbles, this is what porcelain does when you don't get all the bubbles out and it is almost impossible to know when you have got all the bubbles out. Porcelain and I are having our fist fight :-). I am up to the challenge though. The other photos are of small 2 1/2" wall hangings, the middle two are porcelain mix and the top and bottom are porcelain. So far nothing is selling on ETSY and I am a little down about it, but I won't give up on that either.

In other news, the gallery I have my paintings in, is closing and I have to go pick up my paintings this week. It is another blow in this week of blows, but I know it is probably for the best.

Spike news: I was able to give him his fluids this morning after 3 attempts and pokes. It is much harder on him than me. I do believe we will both get used to it after time. Thank you for your continued prayers and good thoughts.

What are you up to today? Happy Sunday! XOXO

Spike-Update

He is doing well, not perfect, but acting like the old Spike and feeling better. Tomorrow will be the first time I give him his fluids by myself. I will need to be brave :-). I hate needles, but that is not really the hard part, now that I have done it at the vet's it was not so bad, but the part I don't get, is how do I hold him and get that needle where it goes? If Spike survives I will be giving him fluids twice a week for the rest of his life, so I best get used to it.
Thanks to Willowtree, Teri and my friend V sending me links I have found out so much about the food we feed our animals. And I am ANGRY! Angry that no one regulates the crap they put in pet food and angry that dry cat food is the main reason for a bunch of cat diseases like kidney failure. I found out too late for Spike and B, but I can perhaps save Max (he is only 2 1/2 years old) from harm. Why don't the vets tell people about this? I told my vet, who is a lovely wonderful person, and she looked at me with disbelief, but I will keep at her until she gets it and realizes that it is true. If any animal loves are interested, here are a couple links to start you with:
http://www.catsofaustralia.com/cat-kidney-disease.htm

http://www.homevet.com/petcare/feedingyourcat.html

Spike goes back to the vet Monday for more blood tests. Keep praying. Love you, XOXO

Spike-Update

Spike is home for an overnight, I am to take him back in the morning and he will stay for the day while I am at work. He could go right back into the state he was in, so if he gets through the next 48 hours, that is the test. We are still waiting on the surgery. I will be giving him fluids every month, with a needle, but they said it is not bad and that they will teach me. Anyway this is a huge couple days for Spike, if he goes back into kidney failure I will have to put him to sleep. Keep praying. At the very least I have one more night with him. He is very funny right now, full of it and very mad :-). This is a very stressful time, but I will honor whatever Spike Chooses. I am so grateful to have this time with him, however small. Thank you all for your support and love.
Willowtree would you email me any info you have about the food issues, if it is not too much trouble? It just so happens I feed my cats dry cat food.
Blessings, XOXO

Spike is Better!!!!

They saved his life, but he is not out of the woods yet. He also has stones in his bladder, I am meeting with the vet this afternoon to talk about what is next. He has made it through the worst, so I think the rest will be a piece of cake for him, well maybe not cake, but easier. I have also been doing some research on kidney disease in cats (my cat B also suffers from it). I was told there was nothing I could do for B except give him special food (which I do), but I am learning that there are things I can do. I have much to learn so I can help my boys and also prevent my younger cat Max from suffering with this. I will let all you cat lovers know what I find out over the coming months. Keep your prayers coming. Thank all of you so much! XOXO

Spike Update

I visited Spike this afternoon and he was so much happier and seemed a lot better. We won't know for sure until tomorrow morning and then he has other issues to deal with. He is by no means out of the woods, but he is better. Keep praying. Love you, XOXO (photo is of Mr. B and Spike)

Spike

It is not good. He has kidney failure and is at the vets with and IV drip, he has other issues as well, but the kidney issue is life threatening. It does not mean he can't make it (my little guy is a fighter), but he may not. I appreciate all your prayers and good thoughts. I am working everyday for the next week and a half and between that and Spike I won't be blogging much or posting, but I will let you know what is happening with Spike. Please continue to send him blessings.
Thank you, XOXO

Spike update-back to the vets

He is sick again and I am to take him to the vets first thing in the morning. I will be leaving him for the day as I have a big job tomorrow. Please pray and think good thoughts. Blessings, xoxo

New Ceramics

Here are a few new pieces fresh out of the kiln. I have more to show, but will save them for a little later. These are made with the porcelain mix not the pure porcelain. The mug is 4 1/2"x 3"

and the bowl is 4"x 6". Let me now what you think.

Spike update: 75% better. Keep praying and thinking good thoughts.

Have a most wonderful Sunday. XOXO

And the Winner is:

Mary-Laure won the give away. So email me your address Mary and I will send off something special soon.
Spike is doing okay, we are trying simple things first, but the vet was hopeful that all will be well. Also I went to the post office and a lovely check was in the mail waiting for me. I must always remember that help is there and on it's way, always.
Thanks to you who prayed. Blessings today. Love you. XOXO

Prayers Requested

This is my most wonderful cat, Spike. He is a very sick kitty and I have a vet appointment for 9:45 this morning. It came on suddenly yesterday. I am not sure how I will pay for this, but I know something will happen. I am trying to trust. This is a case when money becomes very important when it is needed for someone you love with all you heart. Please pray for us today. Spike and I thank you very much.

P.S. I will announce the winner of the give away later today with an update on Spike.

Faith

Usually I keep my bad days to myself, but since this one turned out so well and since Renee asked, I will tell you my little story. As you all know from reading my blog, money and jobs have been rare and I have been struggling, well yesterday my car broke, not good news when things are going well and yesterday it was all I could do to stay calm. First miracle is my mom stepped up to help get it fixed, then after telling me I may not get my car back until next week (and wouldn't you know I am booked with jobs all next week) My mechanic just called and told me I can pick up my car. Now. My faith is restored. But also Having known Renee for a short while, I realized that my car and even my jobs and even money does not matter at all. Love and health is really all that matters. Having said that I am more than happy to be able to go get my car and
go to my upcoming jobs. Yet again I learned that if I trust and believe, things work out.
Have a wonderful day. XOXO

2 year Anniversary

I just realized this is my blog anniversary! I think we need a give away. Leave a comment on this post or the one I just wrote right below and I will put all your names in a hat and let one of my cats pick who wins :-). I can't say what it will be or when you will receive it, but you can bet it will be made out of porcelain :-). I may choose what to give, by who wins.
P.S. I should have a deadline, so Saturday November 7Th I will announce the winner.

Blissed Out

Sunday, another wonderful day where I am bursting forth with possibilities and creative wonder.
I am glazing today and I have to tell you that when I received my first fired porcelain pieces I fell in love. I adore how white it is and how thin I can get it. I have just begun this love affair.
I have so many things I want to make and I will start doing sculpture too. Wish I could make it all as fast as the ideas come into my head :-). Jobs are not coming in at the moment and instead of worrying about money I am focusing on how lucky I am to be able to spend another day being creative and wallowing in joy. I have decided to pretend that I AM making a living from what I love to do most :-).
I promise I will have much to show in the next few weeks, bowls, cups, mugs, pendants, even a soap dish or two.
I wish for you a most wonderful Sunday, how ever you spend it. XOXO