Baby Steps (and the A to Z of Me)

A card for Flynn

Stamps by Darkroom Door Designs and
Tim Holtz (Stampers Anonymous)

Where did all the time go? Life has been busy, to the point of overwhelming, and none of it has made it to this blog. I found that in the effort to keep things positive and cheerful, I was editing myself to the point that there was nothing left to say. I tucked my paws over my eyes and became the dormouse in the bed of crysanthemums, dreaming of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue) - do you remember that old poem by A.A. Milne? I grew up on his poetry and used to read it to my children when they were little (he's the author that created Winnie The Pooh and the other inhabitants of the 100 Acre Woods).

A postcard swap for online stamping friends

Stamps by Tim Holtz (Stampers Anonymous)

Darkroom Door Designs and Stampin' Up!

So here's the scoop - my husband is a cancer survivor, and has been disabled following treatment for the past 12 years, with many chronic health problems. He just came home from a week in the hospital and I'm feeling the need to clean up, clear out, regroup and re-energize. I have two wonderful children, the light of my life, my son is 17 and a senior in high school, he refuses to let me post photos of him here, my daughter is 20 and going to college, also working, she plans to become a nurse. I work at a local hospital, it's challenging and busy, and I'm so grateful to be gainfully employed in these tough times.

Spotted on a walk by the ocean with a friend

Art and creativity are my comfort and nourishment, they refill me. You could call it a hobby, it's more like a lifeline to tell the truth. I'm a dabbler, that's why you see papercrafting, stamping, collage, crochet, painting, cooking, photography, music and a smattering of other arty endeavors here, it's as necessary as breathing to me. Creative activities make me a happy person. I love to explore, learn, grow.

A card for my Mum

Stamps by Stampin' Up!

So here's to keeping going, learning, sharing, exploring, and never giving up. Giving up is not an option around here. Thank you for your patience with my ramblings, and for visiting my little space here on the vast internet. I'm taking baby steps back to blogging on a more regular basis. Hope you'll return again soon.

Here's a little bit of fluff that's being posted around the place on other blogs and websites - the A to Z of Me. Feel free to copy it and adapt to the A to Z of you in your little corner of the internet.

A. Age: I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you :) Nah, I'm 47, it's all good.
B. Bed size: Queen
C. Chore that you hate: Cleaning - I love to have things clean, just don't have a passion for the never-ending work of cleaning, I'd rather be playing with ink and paper, fabric or photographs, reading, walking, or just about anything else you can name.
D. Dogs: Love 'em, we have a white Jindo that we rescued when he was just a tiny pup, he's fab.
E. Essential start to your day: Tea, at least one cup, preferably two.
F. Favorite color: Green, in all it's lovely shades.
G. Gold or Silver: Silver
I. Instruments you play: This should be instruments I used to play, since I haven't been playing any at all for so long, but once upon a time I played the piano and clarinet, and I've meddled with mandolin, guitar, recorders, penny whistles, ocarina and the spoons :)
J. Job title: Some years ago now, in-between jobs, I had to apply for my passport, and when I got to the job title section I almost lost it. What the heck am I? Unemployed administrator didn't sound too hot, nor did Caregiver. Life crisis looming, I had a moment of clarity and joy, then wrote my job title - Artist. It's official, it's in my passport :) I do have a day job, thank goodness, I'm a Medical Staff Coordinator.
K. Kids: Two cherished children - Molly and Flynn.
L. Live: California (South Bay area of Los Angeles) - but I was raised in Australia and, just as Peter Allen sang, "I still call Australia Home. California is home now too, after all these years I have realized I will always have a foot in each place, and that's OK.
M. Mother’s name: Linda, usually known as 'Lyn'
N. Nicknames: Susie, or Sue
O. Overnight hospital stays: Only when my babies were born
P. Pet peeves: Spelling oddities like 'lite' and 'tite', I'm an Oxford Dictionary type (blame my parents, my birthday present on my 8th birthday was an Oxford Dictionary, pocket edition).

Q. Quote from a movie: "Tomorrow is another day" (you got that right Scarlett)
R. Right or left handed: Right
S. Siblings: Two lovely brothers

T. Time you wake up: Usually 5:30 or 6:00am
U. Underwear: Yes please
V. Vegetable you hate: I LOVE all vegetables - although okra has to be cooked properly or it's a bit slimey, OK, I don't love slimey vegetables.
W. What makes you run late: Trying to do 'one more thing' before I go
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Oh the usual, teeth, toes, fingers, spine, lungs, sinuses, nothing too major.
Y. Yummy food that you make: Killer risotto, roast veggies, paella, hummous, on the sweet side apple muffins, pancakes and cupcakes (the latter mostly for birthdays and holidays).
Z. Zoo animal: I like my animals OUT of the zoo, but if I were at the zoo I'd like to hang out with the elephants, they are amazing to me, oh, and tigers too.