Sunday, September 28, 2008

MEET MOLLY

Someone sent this Email to me today and just had to share this story of Molly .


Meet Molly. She's a grey speckled pony who
Was abandoned by her owners when Hurricane
Katrina hit southern Louisiana. She spent weeks
On her own before finally being rescued and taken
To a farm where abandoned animals were stockpiled.
While there, she was attacked by a pit bull terrier
And almost died. Her gnawed right front leg became
Infected, and her vet went to LSU for help, but LSU
Was overwhelmed, and this pony was a welfare case.
You know how that goes.

But after surgeon Rustin Moore met Molly, he
Changed his mind. He saw how the pony was
Careful to lie down on different sides so she didn't
Seem to get sores, and how she allowed people to
Handle her. She protected her injured leg. She
Constantly shifted her weight and didn't overload
Her good leg. She was a smart pony with a serious
Survival ethic.

Moore agreed to remove her leg below the knee,
And a temporary artificial limb was built. Molly
Walked out of the clinic and her story really begins
There.

'This was the right horse and the right owner,'
Moore insists. Molly happened to be a
One-in-a-million patient. She's tough as nails,
But sweet, and she was willing to cope with pain.
She made it obvious she understood that she was
In trouble. The other important factor, according
To Moore , is having a truly committed and compliant
Owner who is dedicated to providing the daily care
Required over the lifetime of the horse.

Molly's story turns into a parable for life in
Post-Katrina Louisiana . The little pony gained weight,
And her mane finally felt a comb. A human prosthesis
Designer built her a leg.

The prosthetic has given Molly a whole new life,
Allison Barca DVM, Molly's regular vet, reports.

And she asks for it. She will put her little limb out,
And come to you and let you know that she wants
You to put it on. Sometimes she wants you to take
It off too. And sometimes, Molly gets away from
Barca. 'It can be pretty bad when you can't catch a
Three-legged horse,' she laughs.

Most important of all, Molly has a job now. Kay,
The rescue farm owner, started taking Molly to
Shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation
Centers. Anywhere she thought that people needed
Hope. Wherever Molly went, she showed people her
Pluck. She inspired people, and she had a good time
Doing it.

'It's obvious to me that Molly had a bigger role to
Play in life,? Moore said. 'She survived the hurricane,
She survived a horrible injury, and now she is giving
Hope to others.'

Barca concluded, 'She's not back to normal, but she's
Going to be better. To me, she could be a symbol
For New Orleans itself.'



This is Molly's most recent prosthesis. The bottom
Photo shows the ground surface that she stands on,
Which has a smiley face embossed in it. Wherever
Molly goes, she leaves a smiley hoof print behind.
Forward this and share it with all of the animal
Lovers that you know.



ETSY HOMEMADE !!

I recently found this video about Etsy. It is growing and I am so happy to be a part of it. Thought all of you Etsy artists would enjoy it.

Notice how YOUNG the founder is!

TURN OFF MY MUSIC SO YOU CAN HEAR THE VIDEO

Thursday, September 25, 2008

PICTURES OF OUR TRIP

Well first of all one Monday we went to Portland for my husbands pre-op visit.

This was taken from the 11th floor of the teaching hospital in Portland. View of the city in the distance.

We spent Monday night with our friends in Yamhill, OR. This is Michael and Kathy our best friends.
We then returned Tuesday afternoon to our place in Coos Bay to pack for our trip to CA.

We left early on Wednesday morning. I saw lots and lots of barns along the way .

Guess where we had lunch once we arrived in CA? Yep, Applebees for our favorite cabbage patch pizza (it is ok on the diet).
This was our waitress Heather at Mimi's Cafe. I just had to take her picture since she looks so much like my granddaughter Abriana. Well...what do you think?

I forgot all about traffic jams! Look at the other side of the freeway. It was backed up for at least 2 miles!

These 2 pretty girls are Alan's granddaughters Alex and Riley.

This is our daughter in law Teri and her daughter Riley.

This is Alan's daughter Kathy with our granddaughter Alex.

This is Alan and his son Danny. Do they look alike or what?

This is Kathy's son, our grandson Chase....he loves milk and could not, would not turn around so I could take a picture of him!

This is my son D'Angleo and my our grandson Donovan

Donovan was cold so he found warmth under his grama's wing (and the table cloth).


The reunion was held at the Ports of Call in San Pedro, CA

This was the directory sign. San Pedro High School 50th Reunion - Class of 1958

This is Judy....Alan had a crush on her all through high school. She was the hostess and a very neat lady. Alan's comment when we left was boy does Judy need a face lift! I politely told him it had been 50 years since he saw her. She graciously had us sit at her table and then she got up and sang three songs making my husband promise that he would dance with his wife....he did. It was fun to see him loosen up a bit.

Here he is at the table with a few of his classmates. Two classmate are living in ...of all places....Oregon. They both promised to come out to Coos Bay and go fishing with Alan.

Those that didn't have dance partners danced in the line dance. What fun!!


My son D'Angelo and me.

My kids, D'Angelo, and his wife Lori of Our of your mouth your heart speaks, Mica of Garboodles Dolls and my son Tony the upcoming pastor!

D'Angelo, Me, my grandson Vinnie and his Father, my son Tony

Our dinner with friends at Anchos in Riverside was wonderful too and so good to see all of them.

Molly and me

Molly and her husband Fred

Me with Rosee and Cindy, my interior designer buddies

Cuca and Kevin

This little lady is our waitress and has been for at least 10 years. She is such an ambitious little thing. Her name is Nancy and we were so glad to see her. She not only works as a waitress but she is a mommy of three and she is pursuing a career as an ultrasound technician. I wish her all good things. She was so excited that we were coming that she told her fellow workers and her boss and they all looked at her like ...uh, ok Nancy. There were 12 of us and we did have a good time. Nancy even had a birthday surprise for Alan and they came over to the table and sang happy birthday.

I just had to get a picture with Nancy.

My kids waving good bye. It is so good to know since Tony is going to the Seminary College in Escondido full time that they are together again and can enjoy each other. It has been much too long. Their older brother David can visit from Vegas now too since it is only 3 1/2 hours from them.

Mt Shasta on our way home. I have never seen this mountain without snow....some would say it is "global warming" ..... No comment.

We had a good time and are now getting ready for Alan's surgery in Portland Oct 6th.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

HOME AGAIN


Hello my friends.
We got home last evening around 6 pm.
We had a wonderful time with family and friends. The trip was not long enough but then there are those that do have to go to work.

The reunion was great and yes, this trip did take my husband's mind off his upcoming surgery in a week and a half.

Good news, my son's leg is better for now. Thanks for all the prayers...they do work. My son that is going to seminary college in Escondido is all settled in. He found them a house and his family arrived the day before we got there.

I have lots of email to answer and lots of mail to open and laundry to do and then I will post some pictures of our trip. Then it's off to Portland on Sunday Oct 5th for surgery on Monday Oct 6th.

I am having acupuncture on my left wrist this Friday.

Okay gang......later.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

FUN BBQ


We had fun today. Our local meat store had a BBQ. Oregon Ranch Meats. They had 21 different BBQ booths where they were competing for the best barbecued chicken wings,tri tip beef and potato salad.

We could eat all we wanted as long as we visited each booth and then we were to vote for our favorite.

The money was to benefit the Coos County Homeless Shelter.

There was a band. The singer sounded like Bob Segar!


A Christian Motorcycle club

Check out the chaps!


A Hawaiian theme

People of all kinds


Wonderful food...I voted for all of them!

We had a fun time and even took some tri tip to the puppies...they were happy.

We are leaving for Portland in the morning for my husbands pre-op visit for his glaucoma surgery on October 6th. He is very scared but won't talk about it. Instead he is cranky. I don't know what to say to him to comfort him except I love him and it will be okay. His answer to that was I could be blind if this doesn't work. That's NOT ok. He is right. Please pray for him.

Then we will be going to San Pedro for his 50th class reunion after the doctors appointment. We are driving and will be gone for 10 days.

I will be looking at your blog when i get back and I am sure I will have some interesting pictures of the reunion.

Love ya all

Oh by the way....I am only 10 lbs away from my weight loss goal. I have lost 26 lbs since the end of May and my husband has lost 22 lbs. I went shopping yesterday for new jeans...guess what size I fit into? A SIZE 10 !!!!! YES!!

Saturday, September 13, 2008

4 x 4 Art

These are little 4 x 4 mixed media collage. I just found out about them from my friend at Lin's Art and Clay Creations. She suggested I give it a try so I did!

Since I love barns of all kinds I am calling these my "Barn Series" first edition since I am sure I will be adding more barns.

So here they are...what do you think? They are on my Etsy site for sale if you are intersted.






Wednesday, September 10, 2008

MORE ART

Evening Prayers

Just finished these 2 mixed media collages


Someone To Watch Over Me



This piece I did for the ZNE Dollz Challange..My "Queen ZNE" Doll


I am really proud of all of these pieces. The doll actually turned out much better than what I had pictured in my head.