I take NOTHING for granted!

Well, it's been a while since my last entry........much has happened, none worth reporting except.........where my month of May went...

I went to Iowa April 30th for a 2 week visit and ended up not returning until May 25th. My youngest daughter Lara was going to turn 30 on May 2nd, and I wanted to surprise her by sneaking up to Iowa for a Birthday visit. Her husband and sister Becky planned a surprise party, and I love surprises, so off I drove, 10 hours to surprise my baby. Yes, I did surprise her, she almost fainted, and so did my son Rich, he was not in on it that I was coming to Iowa. His jaw dropped too. (Why do we hold our mouths funny when we dance?!?)

We partied and I stayed out until 4 a.m. dancing and showing my age. But it was all in great fun, we laughed, took crazy photos, and laughed some more. The photo on the left is of my 3 grown children and I singing at a Karaoke bar. Smoke-free bars are great, you don't go home smelling like a butt can. Loved that, I wish Kentucky was smoke-free!!!!!

Well, I had plans to spend many wonderful hours with my children, grand-children, brother and his family, friends, and even work at the goldsmiths for a day. I did get to see everyone, but by the 6th of May, I was flat on my back, thought I'd swallowed a catus. Went to the doctor, no treatment, just plenty of rest, liquids yada, yada, yada. By Saturday I was much worse, many treatments, pills and inhalers.

Mother's Day was horrible, Lara brought her sons over, but I was so sick, I didn't even enjoy the visit. Did all those pills help? No go, I got worse, to shorten this blog, let me say that by the 17th I was in BAD shape, my oldest took the reigns and told me that was enough and too me to the ER. (I must say I didn't protest too much by that time, i was getting scared.) I was coughing so much I was wore out and not able to get much breath. They gave me 2 little magic pills that stopped the coughing, gave me a breathing treatment, filled my poor dehydrated body with fluids and started the testing to find out what was going on in this poor excuse of a body. I must say, they were on the ball, kept us informed and when things would come back with a great big zero, they kept looking. Acute Bronchitis, plus an infection in the throat and severe dehydration was the final call. I've not gotten the bill yet, but I don't care, they found the answers. I guess I got into a new "germ pool" and with my lifestyle is what it is, I had no resistance to the infection. I must get out more. SO..........more rest and pills and by the 25, our 11th Anniversary, I found my way home. I cried as I entered my driveway, I missed the place, my husband, my flowers, lake, dog and cats so much that it will be a long, long time before I venture that far again. I think the kids can make this a vacation stop from now on. I have learned to take nothing for granted especially my health. Happy, I'm always happy. Oh, and I have lost about 25 pounds, that's a good thing, but a bad way to loose the weight.......Peace...

Whhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Ok, It is March in Kentucky, not Minnesota! I am ready, so ready for nice weather. Those of you "up north" are not allowed to swear at me, as I do know you've had one of the snowiest winters in over 20 years, but I can't help it, I need some cheese with this whine! Call the whaaambulance for me, I want warm, sunny, bright days.
I want to sip sweet tea outside and wear my flip flops. I want to cook on the grill without a jacket on and work in the yard. Look for mushrooms, photograph spring flowers and feel the warm breath of God on my face. Peace...........

Welcome February

Life is good. I have learned to cherish each day, good or bad, I can't help it, I'm so very happy inside. Yes, I've had trials, yes, it's hard being away from family, but, I cannot help it, I'm happy, just happy.

At this point in my life, "all" is the word that fills me. All the beauty, all the water, all the trees, all the sweet, sweet air. All the little things that each day presents us with, that we can either choose to ignore or embrace. How can one improve on all? I love my life. That is it, I love my life. It's nice to come to this time and place in my life and know I can enjoy myself, work, play, good, bad, each and everyday, because I am alive. Yes, my hips are too big, yes, I don't move as fast as I used to, yes, my girlish figure now resembles the number 8, but, that's ok, I'm happy, just happy. Peace!

Sometimes I wonder...

Why.....why do people leave us that mean alot to us?Why.....do we wait sometimes to do what we know we need to do? Why....does it take an "event" to help us follow our hearts? Why......is life so busy that at times we don't take care of the "things" we really need to do?

Always tell the ones you love that you love them.....always follow your heart. Always take care of yourself, so you can give to others, in what ever way they need to be taken care of. Always know that someone is thinking of you, loving you, praying for you.

We always have the questions, but not the answers, but really the answers are easy. Just love....love....love.

Each and everyday is an adventure for me, whatever it brings, I know that it will be fine. I go for a second batch of 'films" this Friday. Not exactly the kind of "film" I always wanted to be in, but films of an "archectual disturbance" in my left breast.......a new adventure......Peace!

New Year, new thoughts.........

Winter has decended on Kentucky, we have had crazy weather as of late. One day it's in the 70's and the next day we had snow. Snow is predicted for later today, hey I thought we didn't have snow in southern Kentucky!!! Psych! Ok, I'm ready for spring, I want to plant, weed and watch the hummingbirds again. It has been cool enough to not venture outside for too long. I think my blood as thinned........The dogs hate it too, they want to play and lay around outside like a few months ago, not be inside all the time. The cats don't care, typical cat.

I have been toying with the idea of doing some Craft Fairs this year, but this is a huge commitment in my mind. I have to get a "booth" a.k.a E-Z Up tent, displays, signage, table dressings, not to mention time and dog, eh, I mean the hassle of set-up. Jeff is not a sitter, so I don't think he'll be much help in being in the booth with me, he's a mover and as much as he loves cars, he never did a "car show" because of the "sitting". So, I'll be on my own pretty much. AND...the nagging question, are my pieces worthy of a fair, am I over-priced, under-priced, good enough, on and on, questions of am I worthy. Yikes. I know that in order to self-promote I have to be seen and there are so many websites online that unless I direct someone to my site, the odds are that I won't be seen, so I guess I need to test the waters and dive in, ya?

Oh, and it's good to be alive...........Peace

A different kind of Christmas

We are going to have a different kind of Christmas this year. Away from our children for the first time since they were born. You see, I was a lucky girl growing up, all the family lived nearby. (The photo is from the late 60's, at my grandparents home for Christmas. That's me second in on the right, sitting between my grandmothers who I adored.) Yes, we were lucky. As we grew older we could visit our grandparents, parents anytime, and take our childrent to see them at will. As children, my brother and I could have a sleep over anytime at one of our grandparents on a moment's notice. Time has passed and only my brother and I are left from that photo, and because I was the oldest it was up to me to provide that "home" feeling for our children and the grandchildren. Large family feasts, time to laugh and love were many. I did what I knew I had to do, and so did my brother and his family, we gathered together and I loved it, but I also ached to see new places, have new adventures. Live where it's warmer, slower, different. Why, I'm not sure, but I always looked over the next hill most of my life. Not that I wasn't satisfied, because I was, I just wanted to see more. Having a new experience, I guess I didn't realize that it meant leaving behind. My mother's brothers always lived "away", I wonder if they thought about what they missed over the years? So as this Christmas nears, I have an ache in my heart, that I won't be with our kids and grand kids this year. (Big sigh...) Regret our move, no. Regret what I will miss, yes. The eyes of the little ones, all big with excitement and wonder, yes, I regret I'll miss that. The laughter, noise and ciaos, yes, I'll regret missing all of that. Our children know the love we have for them, the grandchildren too, but the hugs and kisses that will be missed hurts the most. So, this WILL be a different kind of Christmas, blown kisses and silly faces between us on the web-cam will have to suffice this year. But there will be a day soon, when the car will be packed and the animals will have to endure a trip to Iowa again to fill us up on hugs and kisses and time with the ones we love. Peace.........

Something New

I have to admit, I never thought it would happen to me. How many times have we said that, have I said that. Well, but by the grace of God..... I just found out I have hypo-thyroid an under active thyroid. Blood test confirmed it. Both of the girls have it, but it was not in the main line of my side of the family. The girls' dad has it. My great aunt on my father's side had HYPER, and boy was she. What a hoot...anyway, no one else had it, so I was surprised. Becky, our oldest has given me the lowdown, and every question I answered with a yes, as to the symptoms. Who knew? Becky is well read, and could teach a class on it. She is a crusader to educate people about this condition. Anyway, its a new adventure, and one mountain I will climb and see the other side. Peace....

Thoughts on another Monday morning...

It's raining, in fact it rained all night. Something to be thankful for. We've had some rain lately, in fact our yard has "come back". Our filled in mosquito hole is green again. We've nurtured it like a new born baby since we reclaimed the front yard. It was billed as a pond on our listing when we first saw the place, but according to our neighbors it was insect ridden and an eye sore. Deciding to reclaim it was easy, after the backhoe found the escape route of the water it was determined we had a fissure in the underlying rock that led, I assume to the lake and that is why the "pond" always went dry, except for the myriad of cat tails and mosquito larvae, and 4 inches of tannened leaves on the bottom. We made a waterway so the water that did come into the basin would not erode the newly filled hole, backfilled it and planted Kentucky 31 to green the area. It rained enought to produce beautiful green grass, then the rain stopped, no rain for over 2.5 months. My kids get a kick out of moms obsession with this statistic. I am an "D" over "I" personallity, I don't usually do statistics, I leave that for the "S" & "C" people, and rely on them to let me know what I need to know. Anyway, I've been on a learning curve this past year, new roads, new shops, slow down, learn solitude, rely on my cell phone and web cam for company, new coloquilisms, and patients. So I guess I'll add statistics in a broad and general term to that list. The other night my son and I were on the phone and he joked that I knew the number of trees in our yard. I knew that number because I was amazed by it, it's around 60, all shapes, sizes, catagories, species. I had 6 trees in my yard in Iowa, and I had them put in.....so 60 is a bounty. He asked me why I knew the number, I gave him the same answer I just shared with you, and I detected a little snicker. Something like; "Mom is getting old, she keeps track of the weirdest things." snicker. Well, I'm not old, I am just in a place where I'm learning, and for a "D" who is used to teaching, learning is a good place.

On a different front. I ventured into Somerset on Friday. Black Friday to be exact, I had to retreat the natives were restless and I was not wearing any armor. I ran my chores, and quickly returned to the peace and tranquillity of our home. But there wasn't tranquillity, there was a leaf blower going to coax the leaves from the above said 60 trees into a pile. Jeff, blower in hand spent a good 3 hours blowing and blowing and blowing, she should have been winded, ha, but instead all he had was a sore back from hauling tarps of leaves into formation. Thank goodness for Tiger Balm and a rice sock, or I'd be hearing a whine of a grown man. Would you like a little cheese with that whine?

Today is work day, I must get back to my jewelry, I'm excited as I have not worked with pearls since I left my goldsmith back in Iowa. I've just gotten a parcel of biwa, coin and potato pearls and some gemstones that will become a new creations this week. I do miss that shop, and the great people who I worked and created with. I miss some of the fun customers that would allow me to have my way with thier stones and gold. The owner, James, is a very gifted and talented "smith". He has a clear eye and his work with metal, turn lumps of metal into graceful, elegant pieces, that are pleasing to the eye. I miss you J H. I do not have the knowledge to be a smith, the ratios, the amalgams, and mallability, but, I can do what I do. dobedobedoooooo

I am updating a few of my favorite links today also. You might want to check them out.

Last night I received an e-card from my daughter-in-law that featured our grandkids, it was so cute, I decided to create one too, here is link to ours. Enjoy!

I'ts almost 9 a.m the rain is still falling, the sky might be gray, but the earth is smiling. Peace.........

He's good!

All I can say is....God, you are great and mighty, and I love you!

Remember to remember Hope..

It's the day before Thanksgiving and I have to admit I'm getting excited about the holidays this year even though won't be traveling home, not enough time and I miss our family in Iowa with every beat of my heart. My excitement I guess is the child left in me that I love. I have noticed people are friendlier, more generious, I see a few more smiles here and there. I saw a lady at one of the local stores last week with "deelieboppers" with holiday streamers like icicles for a Christmas Tree on her head. I let her know I thought she looked festive, she, (I thought she worked at the store), she said she loved life and loved to have fun, she said more people smile at her and probably think her crazy, but she didn't care, she had a huge smiles of her face and I could tell she was having a ball. There is that place in each of us that wants to go back to that time in thier life where we always had rose colored glasses on. Everything was magical and new. I see that now with my grandchildren, I know they must be getting thier lists together, thumbing through the Toy's R Us catalogs, and Farm & Fleet fliers. Hope, that is what children posses and adults tend to forget... hope. Hope of things yet to come, whatever that may be.

Our daughter, Becky and daughter-in-law, Steph, are going to take Steph and Rich's children "shopping" for others. Monies will be pooled and the kids will make a food shopping list, shop for the food and take it to one of the shelters or food banks in thier town. How wonderful is that? Our Rich & Steph's kids will know that there are people out there who need help, and that they can do something about helping others. I know many turkeys will be cooked tomorrow to help feed the homeless in our hometown in Iowa, and I am humbled that these little ones will help to feed them. Then, our daughter Becky & her husband Brad are going to go help serve at one of these dinners. Isn't that the spirit of Thanksgiving....the native Americans helped the new settlers surivie, there are many who are just surviving today. Lets remember them too.

Black Friday will happen next, I choose not to particpate....no giving there only taking.

We are going to keep things simple this year, we'll remember to remember hope, joy, love and most of all peace.......

Are there Wolves in S E Kentucky?

Last night as I was about to let my dogs out before turning in for the night, I was startled as I opened my front door. Just off my front porch were two huge wolves. Just last weekend someone remarked that they had seen a wolf who had been hit on the interstate not far from here. He had heard they were being reintroduced to Kentucky. I am sure they were not coyotes, I've been close to coyotes, these animals were much larger, and had dark guard-haired coats. They both jumped as soon as I opened the door, they had been drinking out of the water bowls I keep for the birds. They were very startled. I had noticed the past week or so that the dogs go nose nuts around the bowls in the morning, and search for "something" and look off into the woods across from us. I knew something had been visiting in the night because Snickers has growled during the night and was looking out our window. I did startle these guys, thank goodness I have a storm door. They ran to the other side of the road and turned and looked over at me and now the crazed dogs that were in the house wanting out. Then they took off to who knows where. I have seen wolves in natural museums and at a Bass World museum in Missouri. These animals were as large and the same colors as the wolves I've seen stuffed. My thoughts raced.......how exciting.........how scary..........how cool...........keep your eyes open girl when you walk.....I don't have a big stick..like that would do any good. Duke was ready for the fight, he barked and growled, all 7 pounds of him. Snickers is VERY protective of her domain and just about went through the glass door......well it took sometime to settledown for bed. I did have to get up at 3 a.m. to let them out because I wouldn't let them out earlier and I didn't want puddles in the morning. Now I have a new sound to listen for in the night and I am truly excited that nature rules here close to the Daniel Boone National Forest. Life is as it should be.........peace!

Sometimes I don't know where the time goes, October is more than half over, we've been here almost 10 whole months now. Fall is in the air, it's warm days and cool nights, just what trees need to drop their leaves, and make us sleep like babies. Speaking of trees, we've raked leaves 7 times already, but I do love raking, leaves, and more are falling right now so next weekend we'll get another workout. My business is growing and I have several clients to take care of, hear me, I'm not complaings, I love it. Somedays, I find myself running....tired, so tired, so I go to staring off into the views around me, worn out. ZZZZzzz. Tired can be a good feeling, being that dog gone tired from work.....So, what am I learning, I'm always wanting to learn. I am learning to be "part-of"...part-of nature, part of a community I did not grow up in....part of. When I was in Iowa I was "striving" now I'm living.......big difference!

We went to Cumberland Falls State Park yesterday to see the falls, the trees were muted, but still the colors rang out and dwarfed me. Of course the rocks, I'm crazy about rocks if you didn't know, I have them everywhere, I have baskets, bowls, trays, they sit on the floor, everywhere, everywhere, of rocks in my house, I have a rock garden, I moved my rocks when we came from Iowa, hundreds of pounds of rocks. So the H U G E rocks below the falls were something for me to see. I enjoyed the vita's, and walk with my hubby Jeff and little Duke. I know our kids would love to see this and we spoke about it and that is partially why I'm blogging about it, it is part of the whole-thing. Many "parts-of" make a whole, that is what I wish to be...whole. Well rounded, balanced, seeing with peripheral vision so I may "take it all in". I'm a curious woman, I want to know more and I want to know 'why'. Only about certian things that is, I dare not want to go where God needs to be, I mean I let him figure things out I know are more than I can handle or bare or bear. fffffttttt. I spoke to a dear friend on the phone today, she lives in WA state, we've known each other since 1961, so we've been friends for a while, she tells me her daughter and 4 children moved back in, her husband "went off his meds" and went sideways.........she is a social worker, singer, lover of great wines, I know this would be something that God would have to handle for I could not bare..........She still sings, smiles, and yes puts on lipstick, and REALLY enjoys a glass of wine after dinner. She has balance, she must to bare it all..........On the other hand, I received a gift in the mail today from my dear friend Jodi in Iowa. She is the one who had the motorcycle wreck in July while I was home...she's better and sent me a lovely luminating candle globe with cutouts of stars to let the light shine through, she wrote that I was a shining light. How nice. Light is something very deep, it is something that one can see, but not touch, use but not hoard, enjoy but not posess, like love. I've added a photo of my last rose of fall, it too eminates light. I've cut the vine to the ground 4 times this year and each time it has come back and produced beautiful blooms...........less is more......I believe.
Peace

Blessed for another day, another year!

Yes, it happened, last week, another year older, (I'm hanging at 39) but my birth cert says older. My kids and grand kids sent me flowers aren't they great? I don't feel it, but I'm 55 now and groovin' each and everyday. Today is organization day, out with the old and in with the new. I had to make room for my inventory on my website. Been busy making and creating. Love the freedom. Love to be creative, but I do miss my ole buddies at J H Revell and all the great customers I got to know. I loved creating new exciting pieces with beautiful diamonds and other stones. Got the groove agoin'...so, I'm doing my own pieces now, have much to learn, but heck I've the time, so lets see where this will go, I'm having fun anyway. If you've not heard, I have a new website, a gallery for my pieces, check it out....the address is: http://www.annekernsdesigns.com/. Please leave a message on the guestbook ok?

I'm also becoming a webmaster, been doing a few websites and maintenance and newsletters too, and I'm having a ball! I never guessed I could do this, but I can. Life is short and I want to pack as much as I can into this journey. Who knows what next year might bring.....peace!

Raking Leaves...

Today, I raked and raked, and raked..... and raked and raked...........................................

and raked.....until the rake broke. So then I sat.......done raking for the day....

DUKE


Duke is getting big, I guess that is because he eats ants, especially the ones that get on the Hummingbird feeder.....I guess they're sweet!

Don't mess with me mom, I'm busy....

peace..............

Late Summer thoughts

It's the middle of September already, where has the year gone? It seems like we just arrived in the the shadows of the Smokey Mts., and now we are looking at 9 months in this lovely place. The air is crisp and clean. All is vivid and hues of color are all around us. As for Jeff and I, well, we have had to "shift" our thinking a bit, hold our tongues at times. Take a deep breath, because we want to "go fast" like the pace in Iowa. That pace does not work in Kentucky. Today Jeff and i went to the Spoonbread Festival in Berea, KY, about 40 miles northeast of us. Beautiful weather, in the 60's, clean fresh air, trees are starting to turn (because of the draught) so we had a wonderful drive. Berea is the mecca for crafting, there is even a school here to keep the "Appalachian Heritage" alive. Cool. Well, we ate Spoonbread, it was very very yummy. You look it up on-line then make some, it will make you smile. We saw young and old, cloggers, tons of motorcycles, (I don't know what motorcycles has to do with Appalachian Heritage), but they were there. Gourde painters, that was cool, weavers, bowl makers, clay and wood. Of course you could get a samplin of Spoonbread. Corndogs and funnel cakes were there too, but we stuck to the Spoonbread with delight. In October there will be an Art's and Crafts Weekend put on by the school, which allows the judged vendors to show their wares. I am looking forward to this and I plan on attending. In the city of Berea is the Boone Tavern. Close to Berea is Boonesboro, KY, where Daniel Boone had a fort. We have not traveled there yet, but will in the future. The people here are the settlers of this nation. The majority of the eastern Ky people are of Irish, and Scottish decent. Electric blue eyes usually look back at me, and I'm impressed. These are hard to the bone working people. They don't have much, but are willing to share what they have. If you smile their face lights up, and their blue eyes speak to me of their life. A conversation ensues and I am enlightened by their stories and friendliness. I am learning to go s l o w. It's nice not always being in a hurry. We took Duke with us, and of course Jeff was the COA with children and adults alike. Wanting to know what kind of dog he was, how old and so on. Fun....Duke enjoyed himself and he too likes Spoonbread. There was a band playing, not the hard rock or wild music or even Bix music, but bluegrass and folk, it was a nice change. I still have not mastered the mandolin yet, but I'm a workin' on it. Easy, I guess that's the word that comes to mind for today. Yes, there were traffic jams, Jeff hates traffic, and yes you could buy knitted toilet paper covers. "There must be a need for those things, because invariably you find them at every craft show." But all in all it was an easy day. When we got home, Duke was happy to see Snickers and they played in the yard, I got my new magazine and sat on the porch in the cool sunlit air, and I smiled...........peace.