Charlie's Little Piece of the World

Day one of 100 smiles.

2011-09-15T05:29:00.003-04:00

As I mentioned, I was in the shower yesterday morning when I heard that small voice tell me "it's time." Of course I am used to hearing a small voice in side of my head, lol. Sometimes it is God telling me to pray for someone, other times it is my innerself telling me to do something, we all have that little voice, don't we. Anyway, the little voice told me that if I started yesterday I would end up around Christmas with my 100 days of smiles, so I figured it up and if I started yesterday I would end up around Christmas......ok, I decided it do it.

I read a book a few years ago, in the middle of us losing our home, our lives as we knew it to be, and our identity....a very depressing time for us. And it was a story about a woman and some of the things that she did to help herself thru a hard time and she did 100 days of smiles. She did something nice for someone else for 100 days, a stranger or someone that she knew. So I decided to try it myself that summer and it was great. I actually looked forward to doing something everyday for someone else.

So here I go again, my 100 days of smiles.

Day 1. I sent an e-mail letter to a very dear friend and expressed my love and appreciation of our friendship. I know she knows that I love her and appreciate her, but I wanted to put it into writing and send it to her. I am sure she smiled, and depending if yesterday was a weepy day for her she might have cried. lol. to my Beestest from you Bestest. (no, I didn't mispell the word.)

2011-06-30T22:06:00.000-04:00

Does she know how much she is loved? Bella, the grandchild of our hearts. We don't get to see her as much as we would like, even with her living here in Wilmington, but when we do she has our full attention. It is amazing, this love for a grandchild, there is really nothing better. And when she saids your name, well it makes your heart just smile.

2011-06-30T21:56:00.000-04:00

Family night with all the kids, I love it. On the far left is Philip and Kim, with sweet Bella, then Brock, Hunter's friend is next. In front of him is Karmen, who is living with us for a while, and Samantha is next to her. Hunter is standing next to his big sister, and Amanda and Little Karmyn is next to him. We cooked hamburgers and hotdogs, the kids played corn hole, and I painted on the two little ones.

2011-04-20T22:16:00.000-04:00

I have been trying for over a month to download photos to share. Hmm....it isn't working.

Happy New Year! Welcome 2011

2011-01-14T20:59:00.003-05:00

It is another year and I'm excited to see where this year will take us and the family. It is always an uncertainty where we will go and what each day will bring our way.

Changes have already started for us and it is only the first few weeks in the month and of the new year. That's okay, I think we might be up for changes, and I'm expecting them all to be good ones.

Samantha is finally doing better, but it has taken a very long time for her to heal over Scott. I watched her lose the sparkle that has been in her eyes, but then I've also got to watch her heal and start to get it back. It has been a long process but she is doing so much better, and today Scott and his girlfriend have finally left Wilmington for good. Samantha said it was like a weight being taken off of her. She doesn't have to worry about running into the two of them anymore. Good.

As far as Patch, I still miss my big buddy. His ashes are right in front of where I sit and I see him every day. I miss him, but I know he isn't in pain. Myles and I spend all of our time together, he sits right beside me all the time, or in my arms. I told Phil that I don't want another dog any time soon, I want it just Myles and I for a while.

I am still working at Dubs Grill, it is a week at a time type of job. I love working there, I love the customers and the people I work with each day. How many people can say that? But they are going to be making some changes, and when they do they are not going to have any waitresses. Bummer.

My classes are slow right now. The first week back from the holidays was slow, a total of 3 students, and then the following week was cancelled be cause of snow. Yes, snow. we had anywhere from 2 to 8 inches of snow. It snowed on Monday and here it is
Friday and we still have some snow and ice on the ground. Ugh...I hate cold weather.

.....................Yes, life does get better.

2010-10-31T18:08:00.003-04:00

It has been two weeks now, and my heart isn't hurting like it was. I've brought Patch's ashes home and he is now sitting right in front of me, sort of. I felt so much better once we had his ashes, it was like he was still with us.

.........................still hurting.

2010-10-19T20:17:00.002-04:00

I am so sorry but I need to express my hurt some where, somehow. I am still hurting over the loss of Patch, but what is hurting the most is knowing that my daughter is hurting so bad over her boyfriend breaking up with her and knowing that I can't help her. She is hurting to the point that I'm very worried about her. When I look at her it is like looking at a blank canvas, there is nothing there to resemble the person that she was on Saturday morning. She has always had a joy about her, it is completely gone. I worry about her all the time, she is always on my mind.

Now the ex-boyfriend is moving his girlfriend here to live with him, and this isn't even his home town. He moved here to be with Samantha, now he is moving this other girl here. Why can't he just leave, why throw this girl in her face. And he still hasn't spoken to Sam, hasn't got the balls to speak to her. Just texting....not explaining anything. Will Samantha ever have closure from this or will she always wonder what happened.

She hasn'[t eaten for two days now. She isn't sleeping. I know she will survive this, that she will go on but right now the pain is so raw, so real. Me, I want to hurt him. No, I won't hurt him but I would love for him to feel the pain that he has caused her. Will I ever get the picture of her on the floor out of my mind? Oh my God, she needs help.

What a weekend.

2010-10-17T23:28:00.002-04:00

Friday we had to put down our family dog, of 11 years, and my heart is broken. Then while still reeling from this lost my daughter's boyfriend, whom she loved, broke off things with her today. So as I sit here and cry over Patch I also have tears for Samantha. I've never seen her so in love, she has been floating on air for months now...looking towards the future with stars in her eyes. And last night it started crashing all around her and she fell to the ground today. As a mother I can't stand seeing her hurt like this and I can't help her at all.

As if putting Patch down wasn't hard enough. He was such a brave dog, always protected me. When Phil was out of town I never worried cause I knew he would protect me no matter what. Now he is gone. His ashes will be here on Tuesday, so in a way he will still be with me. And Myles, they were best buddies and he is missing Patch. And the two black dogs are crying. It is the strangest experience, the dogs all know he is gone and they are grieving.

It is just a sad time in our home right now. I need God to carry me right now cause I don't think I have the strength to move right now.

...................Why should I be surprised?

2010-09-24T21:50:00.002-04:00

People never really are what tehy seem to be anymore. People have forgotten how to do the right thing, no matter what the cost. It is easier to not care and just do whatever.

I have resigned from my position from Angie's Amazing Race. I created it, gave it breath, and watched it grow along with other friends. Angie was a friend that lost her battle to breast cancer and this was formed in her memory. She was such a fun person, and loved to laugh. Out of honoring her memory this event was created, and has been a blast to do for the past four years.

But things change, people change.

Oh forget it. I'll write more later.

I keep thinking I'll post.

2010-09-02T22:20:00.002-04:00

I am beginning to think that Facebook is keeping me from posting, I'm posting my thoughts there. Shame on me.

I went to the painting summit this summer with Donna Dewberry and friends and got so energized that I couldn't wait to come home and start painting again and had tons of fresh ideas for my students.

While I was at the summit I found out that I would have the chance to teach at AC Moore, I was so excited, but nervous too. I've always taught in small settings where I was in control of where and when, now I would really have to be responsible for thinking ahead, and as most of you know my brain doesn't work to good in the future. lol.

Anyway, classes have started and I'm having a blast. Here are some photos of the first two class at AC Moore and also at the Senior Center.
Well forget the photos for now. We are at McDonalds tonight using their WIFI and I can't get the photos to upload. But they are on my facebook page if you want to look at them.

What a summer this has been. I am on an emotionally roller coaster, going from my Mom being sick and the doctors telling us that she was going to die within a few days, she is still living and kicking, to my sister being told that she has cancer, three masses in her lungs, to being told she has a rare pneumonia, to waiting for my surgery. I go to Chapel Hill on the 13th to find out what is going on. I have been dealing with this for months, I'm ready to just say forget it. If it isn't going to kill me then let's just leave things alone.

I need to start selling some of my art, want to buy any? lol. Where we are living now is right on a corner of a semi-busy road, I think I will start setting up a table on Saturdays and see if I can't sell some tee shirts or glasses or something. I told Phil that we need to have at least 1000 dollars extra a month to make ends meet, I am falling short on my end. So between classes and if I can sell some of my stuff that will help. There is an apartment building that just went up across the street with tons of college kids....Christmas is coming up and they are going to need gifts. Might as well let them purchase from me, right.

I've got to tell you, McDonald's is a hopping place late at night. Phil and I are sitting here with our laptops, another Husband and Wife are here, and now a young lady just came in with hers. It is opened all night long, guess we could stay here as long as we want too. Too bad they don't have sofas in here. lol.

.....................It's a new day.

2010-04-20T20:06:00.002-04:00

Ok, so yesterday I had to go meet with the dietitian and learn what I could eat and what I can't. I've got to tell you, I wasn't that happy when I left. All I could see in front of me was years and years of not eating anything that tasted really good. All the foods that I had grown up on and have loved all these years are now bad for me. Good grief. Getting old is for the birds.

So, here I am cooking dinner now.....port tenderloin, veggies, and rice. The rice is probably not a good choice, but the other items are good. I've got to figure out the calories, saturated fats, trans fats, and carbs for each item and then log it in my journal. The plan is for me to lose weight slowly, get my cholorestol (I know I spelled it wrong and I even did spell check.) under control, and working with my diabetes. Fun, fun.

...........................It's good to laugh.

2010-04-18T21:14:00.002-04:00

Phil and I were on our own this Saturday night, our usual Saturday night get together didn't happen and so we decided to have a date night. We went to see the movie "Date Night" and it was so funny. We laughed and laughed, it was great. And then after the movie I had to go potty and so Phil was standing there waiting on me. When he came out he was laughing and so I asked him why he was laughing. As we were walking to the car he told me that a man walked by him, laughing, and asked him if he enjoyed his popcorn. Phil told him that yes, he had enjoyed his popcorn. After the man walked off Phil looked down his shirt and he had popcorn stuck all over his shirt. He even had a big kernel hanging out of his shirt where the buttons were. I can just see him standing there trying to look all cook with popcorn all over him. Even as I type this I'm thinking about it and laughing, I can just see him now. lol.

Got to see Sweet Bella.

2010-04-15T14:43:00.003-04:00

She is only 9 1/2 months old, but seems so much older. She has been walking for two months now, is trying to talk and can do so much more than you would expect from one so young. I went over to see her today, and she actually walked up to me for me to pick her up, I loved it. We don't see her as much as we would like to, but we so do enjoy our times together.

Soooo.....much has happened.

2010-04-14T21:42:00.002-04:00

I know, you thought that I had fallen off of the face of the earth, right? At times I've felt like it myself. But I've miss blogging, missed having an outlet for my thoughts. So here I am again, anyone out there remember me?

I'm teaching two painting classes each week, one at Poplar Grove on Thursday nights and then one at the Senior Center at Topsail on Tuesdays. I'll post some photos later of the classes.

Okay, so where have I been? We had to move again, long story there but this time we got screwed, even when to a lawyer about what was happening and there was nothing that could be done. So two UNHONEST men got our land and house, we went to get the loan in our name and they wanted to add 100,000.00 on top of the price. Well we couldn't do that and so we had to move away from land that had been my mom's forever. Needless to say, this has cause a problem between my Mother and us. Sad times.

Then about 6 weeks or so ago I was told by the doctor that he thought I might have cancer. We lived with that for a while, also had to start giving myself shots that kept me really very sick. Had some procedures done and the doctor that did the test told us that he doesn't think it is cancer now, but there are some other health issues that we are going to have to deal with, one day at a time.

I was also told that I was diabetic, so now I'm giving myself shots everyday and checking my levels everyday. I still have a lot to learn about diabetes, I'm not sure about what to eat and all of that. I meet with the dietitian on Monday, that will help me to figure things out. And I'm getting pretty good at giving myself shots, but not doing to good with the finger pokes. Must be holding the needle thing wrong. Oh well.

We are living in a very old house now, in the middle of Wilmington. Phil and I have neither one lived this far into Wilmington. But we really do like it, the house and the yard. The house is so old that there were no electrical plugins in the bathroom, and no three prong outlets. The lady that owns the house has enclosed two sunrooms, so we have pretty much given them over to the dogs, they stay out there during the day and then comes in with us in the evenings. The house is staying so much cleaner now that the dogs aren't in the house as much. Little Myles loves being outside, he thinks he is just as big as the other dogs. And talking about dogs, we had to have Drake's tail cut off. He hurt it on something at the other house and it wouldn't heal, even with trying all kinds of drugs and stuff like that. Finally the doctor decided it was time to let it go, so now he has a stub. It is cute, but different looking. He is doing well now, and not in pain all the time.

well, I think that is enogh for now. back later.

......................And another one bits the dust.

2009-11-19T15:57:00.002-05:00

So I'm sitting here checking my e-mails and I get one from one of my Thursday night students and she has to drop out of class for financial reasons. That is two in one week. I will be so glad when the economy turns around, not just for us but for all of my friends that are having a hard time too.

Of course I take all of this personally, like what am I doing wrong with my classes. Why aren't they filling up.....you know, things like that. I just have to step back and realize that things are hard for everyone and painting classes are really a luxury not a necessity. For me they are my job, but not for others. Maybe in the spring things will get better. I'll keep trying until then, if they haven't picked up then I will have to rethink things.

Prayers and good thoughts coming out to my blogging buddies.

.......................What to write about?

2009-11-16T22:22:00.002-05:00

Phil has told me that he thinks I need to write a book, no idea about what kind of book but just write one. So as I lay down at night I run all kind of ideas in my mind about what to write. You wouldn't believe all the ideas that come across my mind. Do I write from personal experiences? Do I write a fantasy? Romance? Drama? Comedy? I like the idea about a comedy, that is our family lifestyle I think.

Who knows, maybe I'll do it and maybe I won't.

I'm a little bummed tonight. My class that I'm teaching on Tuesday's in Hampstead is dwindling down week by week. It was a small class to begin with, one lady has doctor appointments on Tuesdays at the same time, one is moving up north, and now another one is going back to work. That just leaves me with one person in class. I really like Ms. Ruth and I don't want to let her down and quit the class, but it is a twenty minute drive to the center, twenty minute back and I only make 13 dollars off of her. Is it worth my time?

I know I'll keep going up there, but it is really discouraging to have my class get smaller and smaller. I would like for it to have at least 3 students each week, not just one. My Thursday night class is growing slowly, I hope it grows bigger because I only make a little over a hundred each four weeks from them. Boy oh boy, I sure do wish the economy would get better so the arts and crafts world would pick up.

Okay, I need to get ready for bed. night.

..................It's an alligator Mammaw, it's an alligator.

2009-10-29T14:39:00.003-04:00

So I come home today to find Samantha ready to have a heart attack. I ask her what in the world is wrong and she proceeds to tell me that there is a lizard in her bathroom and I've got to get it out of there. I try not to laugh at her, she is pale and ready to faint, if that is possible for her. But I guess some fears just never go away.

Back when Samantha was 4 we had come home to visit Mom and spend the weekend. We drove over to Mom's beauty shop to get something and as we unlock the door and get ready to step inside Samantha starts screaming and crying telling her Mammaw that there is an alligator. She is trying to get away from the "alligator" and trips and falls trying to get in the door of the shop. Mom and I have no idea of what she is talking about until we see this little lizard on the stoop of the steps. Of course being the loving and nurturing adults that we are we both start laughing to the point that we are crying. Bless her little heart, she was really scared.

So, 19 years later, I find Samantha in a panic because there is another "alligator" in her bathroom. Before I know it she is standing on the toilet and is telling me that she is getting ready to throw up. I finally get her down, trying to be that nurturing person that she needs me to be, and get her to calm down. I walk into the kitchen and she starts screaming and jumping up and down. Now you have got to picture this 6 foot tall young woman acting like a 4 year old. So I grab a bowl and a lid and go into capture this "alligator' so that I can release it back into the wild.

She is standing in our little hallway pointing to a pink shirt and on it is this BIG AND HARRY LIZARD, NOT!!! A tiny little lizard no bigger than my pinkie is on her shirt and she is going crazy. So I chased it to the door and we opened the door and let it go to lizard freedom in our front yard. Her heart beat is now back to normal and once again I'm my little girl's hero. lol.lol.

.................Samantha and her balloons.

2009-10-28T22:13:00.002-04:00

Our family moved to Wrightsville Beach the summer that Samantha turned 8, and we stayed there until she was in the 10th grade. She had many summers of walking over the the beach each day and spending her time in the water or laying in the sun with her girlfriends.

Samantha had a friend by the name of Dana that was a little bit more developed physically than Samantha was at the time. Dana had come over for the weekend and they decided to go to the beach and play for a while. Phil and I were downstairs working on the yard when all of a sudden Samantha and Dana came down the steps and Samantha was carrying the towels in front of her body. Phil looked at her and realized that something didn't look quite right about her so he called her over to him. As she got closer his eyes grew bigger.

There was another man standing there with us and Phil didn't want to embarrass her, but let's face it, there was no way to avoid that......Samantha had blown RED balloons up and had stuck them in the top of her bathing suit to make it look like she had breast. Phil told her that she needed to go back upstairs and let the air out before she went to the beach, and she turned around and did as he told her.

Over the years we have laughed and laughed about her doing this. First of all, they looked so big, that you knew they were not real. And then they were RED, and you could see them under the bathing suit top. What was she thinking? Walking over to the beach to jump and play and not expecting them to pop.

Let's just say that was the last time that she tried to make herself look bigger with balloons, toilet paper is a different story.

.................Samantha and the hearing impaired.

2009-10-26T22:57:00.002-04:00

So Phil and I are out to dinner with a friend from out of town and we have having a nice quiet dinner when all of a sudden my phone starts to ring. I don't know the number and so I don't

answer it. Within a minute it is ringing again. Once again I hit ignore and don't answer. But when the phone rings for a third time I answer it, with an attitude because I'm thinking that it is a bill collector, when the man on the other end tries to explain to me that he is calling because he is with the relay service for those that can't talk. I proceed to tell him that he has the wrong number because I don't know anyone that would need that type of service....then he starts to talk to me as he is reading what is being typed to him. I hear "Mom, it's me, your daughter!!!" I'm thinking what? Then I proceed to tell him to type back to her that I'm going to kill her....and then I hang up.

Samantha's phone had been cut off and she wanted to tell me so that we could get her phone turned back on. So she decided to use her laptop, get in contact with the relay system and pretend that she can't talk and has them to call me. I wanted to kill her,but at the same time I'm proud of her for even thinking of doing something like this. What a girl.

.......................I've got to share some Samantha stories

2009-10-26T22:41:00.003-04:00

My daughter is one of my biggest joys, she makes me laugh when I don't feel like laughing. I've just got to share some of her stories.

This picture is from a night when she and her daddy were watching a funny video on-line, they were laughing about it and then she started crying. Phil asked her what was wrong and she told him that she thought that she had messed up her teeth. We both asked her what she was talking about and she told us that she put super glue on the gap in between her teeth. WHAT? Yep, she put glue on her teeth trying to fill the gap in her teeth. She has been wanting to have her teeth fixed for a while now and since we can afford it she decided to try and fix her own teeth. I am happy to say that she got the glue off of her teeth and the gap is still there. Where does she come up with all of these ideas?

***************************I hate bill collectors.

2009-09-24T12:56:00.003-04:00

Okay, I'm venting here, so bear with me. Do bill collectors really think they have the right to talk to people like they do. They always take every opportunity to put the person down. Do they really think that I enjoy not being able to pay my bills? Get real. Do they even bother to look at my past 1 rating for the past 30 years and then not get the idea that something major must have happened? Where do they get the right to talk to anyone like they are so high and mighty? It might be them one day in this position, and you know what........for the ones that call and talk that way to all of us that are facing the hardest times of our lives, I hope that one day they get to walk in our shoes. I pray for the day when I can pay everyone off, I'm believing that one day we will be out from this terrible nightmare we have been in for two years now and be able to lay down at night and not have "fear" as a bed pillow. I know that our lives are in God's hands........."fear" just refuses to leave. But I know that our release is coming......we will be able to walk with our heads held high again and not worry every time the phone rings. Life is hard enough without someone telling you what a bad person you are and how worthless you are. Why did I answer the phone?

These ladies are so good.

2009-09-22T21:47:00.005-04:00

I got such a nice compliment today about my teaching skills. Sometimes you wonder if you are doing okay and then someone shares something with you and you take a deep breath cause what you are doing is working.
My Tuesday afternoon class is wonderful. Right now there are 5 women taking the class and it is a very relaxed time and we are opening up and getting to know each. I've always looked at my teaching as a ministry, you never know who you are going to have and how you might be able to touch someones life. And at the same time my life is touched each and every time.

This is Ruth and every time I'm with her I just fall more in love with her. And look how well she paints.

Brenda brought in a lid of a hat box, painted it with Italian Sage for a very nice green and then proceeded to paint the flowers on the lid. It turned out really nice.
Marian is so nice and she works so hard learning to paint. She is doing so well, look at how beautiful her piece turned out.

This is my sweet friend Cathy. She is going on Thursday night's to do any paper work that needs to be done and is helping with taking orders for supplies. She and I met at an art class 6 years ago and we have created a wonderful friendship over the years.

This is Judy and she is in the Thursday night class. Last week was her first time with me and we had a great time. She did really great with her bag. I'm looking forward to painting with her again.

Sweet Ruth's birdhouse.

This is Hope, she took classes from me last year and I was so glad to see her come back this year.

And here is Brenda again with your birdhouse.

Marian is really doing well with her painting. She takes her time and works on it until she gets it.

So these are pictures for now. Once again I want to thank my friend, Sandy McTier, for her designs. How many people do you know that you can call and ask for their designs and they just send them to you? She has blessed my life.

talk with you later.

Classes have begun.

2009-09-14T11:02:00.003-04:00

Classes have begun again and I'm enjoying it. YES!! So far I've only had one class, The Tuesday Class at the Senior Center started last week and this week the classes at Poplar Grove will start. I was a little nervous because I haven't taught in months, but it went well. Here are some of the photos from last weeks class.
This is Brenda, she was with me last year when I taught and she is really very good. She likes to add her own flair to what ever she is painting, and it always looks good.

This is Ruth, her first class with me. She did a great job!

This is Marge, she is Ruth's friend. She kept painting and painting, sort of having fun and was into doing a few things differently, but when I looked at what she was creating I just left her alone, it really looked good.

And this is sweet Marian, her first class. She was so excited. She didnt' finish her piece yet but what she did was really looking good.

I was really blessed to have such nice women in my class and they all seemed to enjoy what we were doing.

Have a great day.

Charlie

Time for classes again.

2009-08-02T20:25:00.004-04:00

The desire to start classes back up is pounding in my head. Now I'm praying for a place to hold the classes. I've contacted Poplar Grove, offering my services for a night or weekend class. I really don't want to hold them in my home until I can get wooden floors down, this carpet is way too cheap and I'm embarrassed to have others in my home. But fall is coming and it is time to help others get ready for the holidays. Please remember this in your prayers, I would love to find a spot to teach.

Thanks,

Charlie

Someone remind me of why I'm doing this?

2009-07-09T16:00:00.004-04:00

Okay, so living in my little fairytale world, even with all the evil things that have happened to us in the past 1 1/2 years, I still think that everything is going to be fine and that life will go on and I enjoy looking at things thru my rose colored glasses. Going along one day, my youngest comes home and tells me how much it is for him to go to The Community College here in town. I so am living in the 80's cause I wasn't expecting the amount that he gave me. Once I woke up and got off the floor I started praying and asking God for a job. How else was I going to pay for this child of mine to go to school. Then boom, Tuesday morning I got a call about a job and I jumped on it. I'm a waitress, for the very first time in my life, and I'm liking it. My body, on the other hand, doesn't like it. I never really knew this was such hard work. And when I'm standing there at the end of my shift and I'm mopping the floor, lifting up heavy chairs, and doing whatever else needs to be done I ask myself.....:"Why am I doing this?"........."Oh, that's right, Hunter". Man, I hope he appreciates this. Hey, does he even know that I'm working?

The two brothers, Philip and Hunter.

Sweet Baby Bella is here.

2009-07-02T14:28:00.005-04:00

Wow, I am finally a grandmother!!!!! I really feel like God kisses me each time I hold Bella, it is such a special feeling. I can't wait to see her again and again.

Kim went into the hospital on the 25th, there were going to start her labor, but when we got there she was already having contractions. They still did everything that they needed to do to help her labor come on in full force, but no matter what they did she never went into "full" labor. So on Saturday morning they decided to do a C-Section and let Bella have her birthday. So at 1:50 p.m. Miss Bella Nevaeh McGee graced our lives with her presence. What a magical time for all of us and I can truly say that our lives will never be the same.

I am posting some of her photos, but if you want to see more please go to my facebook page and check her out.

Signing out,

Bella's Grandmama

Let the countdown begin.

2009-06-24T16:08:00.004-04:00

Bella is on her way, just don't know when she will be showing her beautiful face to us. We have been under a "Baby Watch" all week, and now we are even closer. As of right now, which is Wednesday afternoon, we will be going to the hospital tomorrow night for them to start the process of "induction". First they will give Kim some drugs to help make the lining thin, and then at 6:00 a.m., they will start the actual induction. Kim has been on complete bed rest since Monday, she is having high blood pressure with severe headaches. Bless her heart. But tomorrow evening we will be in the hospital and they will be taking wonderful care of her and Bella. I'll take good photos so that I can share them with you.

We are supposed to be going to our niece's wedding on Saturday, but that is totally up in the air at this point. She is going to make a beautiful bride, and I wish only the very best for her.

Here are some photos of things that I've been painting. I'm trying to keep all my painting to happy things. Enjoy the photos and I'll be in touch soon.

Charlie

Hunter's Graduation and Kim's baby shower

2009-06-19T10:48:00.004-04:00

We began our weekend with the arrival of my brother-in-law, Johnny, and he and I hit the road Friday afternoon buying food for the shower, decorations, and stuff like that. He is always so good to do the cooking for showers and get togethers. Anyway, we stayed busy all day long and then Saturday morning found us up and moving. He did some cooking, I did some wrapping of gifts, and then we all got ready to go to a graduation party at one of Hunter's friend's home. It was beautiful. It was an old summer home that the family uses and it was right on the Intercoastal Waterway, and as you can see the kids were having a blast. They had all kind of games set up, and finally they ended up in the water. I love the photo of the lab up on the float. She has hip problems but wanted to join in on the fun. She jumped right in the water, swam for a while and then they put her on the float to rest.
The graduation wasn't until that night, and here is a group of the entire class. It was so neat, we have watched so many of these boys grow up since kindergarten. It was a magical night.

I don't really have a photo of Hunter in his cap and gown, can you believe it? But when the graduation was over it was so dark outside that no one could find anyone and by the time I found him he had already taken everything off. I'm waiting for some of his friends to post photos on facebook, I'll get some then.

After graduation we went to dinner and had a nice time. Hunter opened up cards from his friends and it was a nice way to end the day.

Then on Sunday we got up, went to church, and then came home, got everything packed up and went to Samantha's for the baby shower. We had a great turn out and Kim and Bella got some beautiful things. A lot of the items that she got at this shower were hand made, and I loved it. People took time to think about it and then spent time making them. Much love went into the gifts. And the ones that didn't make things, well they went overboard on their gifts. They were just beautiful. Bella is going to be the best dressed and most loved baby ever.

Doesn't Kim just look beautiful? Okay, I guess I will go for now, I hope that the next time I post it will be to tell you that I have a beautiful new granddaughter.

Enjoy the journey,

Charlie

Kittens and Samantha

2009-06-02T08:55:00.003-04:00

I just have to share this little story. Last night Samantha and I went to play Bingo with Mom, I don't really like playing bingo but I do enjoy spending time with them. Samantha won 100 dollars and I thought she was going to pass out, she was so nervous and excited all at the same time. Anyway, after it was over we were driving home, Samantha was driving, and she screamed and jerked her car. There in the middle of the road was a little black kitten and she was not going to hit it. After we made it by the kitten I knew what was in store for us as she whipped her car around and went back in the direction that we came from. I was just praying that we wouldn't see a dead kitten in the road.

Samantha pulled into a church parking lot and there in front of the church were about 12 kittens and two cats. Out she goes, in her mind she is going to get those kittens and take them to the shelter. This was her first experience with wild kittens.......they kept running from her. She is walking after them, talking to them and not understanding why they want to hide. She goes to her car and gets a bag of chips, crumbles them up and start throwing them on the ground for the kittens to eat. Some of the kittens when under the porch to hide, and I looked and there she was on the ground talking to them.

It was just so funny watching her do all of this. She loves cats, and I could just see all of them ending up at her home. Thank God she wasn't able to get any, but I know my daughter, she will be back there today with food for those kittens, and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if she doesn't end up with one at her home. lol.

Sunday night.

2009-05-31T22:59:00.002-04:00

I did my first craft show for the year yesterday. I was dreading it, I felt like I just didn't want to go and do it at all. But guess what, I really had a good time. A friend of mine asked me to join her in a new craft market that has begun here in Wilmington and I said yes. And yesterday was a lot of fun, we talked and laughed all day long. Yes, I made some money which made it even nicer. This was Cindy's first show, and she did really good with her jewelry. I'll post pictures later.

I am so bad at posting these days.

2009-05-04T19:55:00.003-04:00

Hello to all.

Yes, I'm still alive, I'm just staying way too busy. With my precious grandbaby due in less than 2 months I am spending all my free time on the gift that I'm making her. I would tell you what it is but her Mommy checks in here and I don't want to give it away. lol.

Speaking of Bella, we got to go see her 4D pictures, and I've got to tell you that she is beautiful.

Here, see for yourself.

Isn't she beautiful? I can't wait to get my hands on her, I already love her so much. My heart is swelling with the love for her.

Classes are going okay. I've narrowed the classes down to every other Thursday, and on the off Thursdays we are creating an Crochet group. As time goes on we are all discovering how much women need other women.

Have a wonderful evening. I'll try to get back soon, but I make no promises. lol.

Charlie

Just three months away.

2009-03-24T20:54:00.005-04:00

I just looked at the countdown and Bella is only about 3 months away from coming to live with her Mommy and Daddy. Today was Phil's birthday, he is 55 years young, and I gave him a photo frame that said "Grandpa & Me." We are going to take a photo of Bella and him when she is born and put it in there. We are so excited about the arrival of our first grandchild, we talk about her all the time. Here are some of the photos from class last week, we did flamingos. This week we are going to do Easter Eggs, and next week we are going to paint a gourd like a bunny.

This Anne's flamingo, so cute.

Jan got there and started painting on her plate. The flamingo and palm tree really looked great on a square plate.

Kathy put her flamingo in a round plate. They all look so good, and different.

This Kathee always paints to a different drummer. She just sits down and sort of does her own thing, but her paintings always come out looking great.

Cathy didn't want to do the flamingos at all, it is a long story. But she decided to come and paint with us and did a gift bag and a card. She loved them so much that she decided to keep them herself.

And here is my precious Mommy. She has been feeling up to coming to classes on Thursday night and I'm so glad that she is with us. And she did such an amazing job.

Well, take care my friends and I'll pop in again soon.
Charlie

It's been so long.

2009-03-15T20:30:00.006-04:00

Hi, I can't believe that I've been gone from blogland for so long. I got a job working with a school and ever since then I've been staying busy, but I'm loving it. I am a tutor, pulling children out of classes and helping them with their reading and understanding what they read. I have already gotten so attached to them, and when I'm not there for whatever reason I miss them. Go figure. And to think that I could have been doing this all along, I had a teaching certificate and I let it expire many years ago. Shame on me. But better late than never.

Life here has been so busy. I'm at the school everyday, and then still having my painting class on Tuesday's and Thursdays. And We have started going back to church, loving it, and I'm in a Bible Study on Wednesday nights. If Phil and I aren't at a meeting we are usually home every evening, and usually in bed.

All the kids are doing well. And we now have a baby bump. Here is a photo of the kids taken on Philip's birthday. The far left is Hunter, then Philip, Kim, and Samantha. Of course baby Bella is nice and warm in her mommy, Kim.

Here are some photos of the classes from lately.

Well, have a wonderful week. I am going to be working on a cross stitch piece for Baby Bella, and on Tuesday I'm going to go and start work on an afghan that my friend Cathy is going to teach me. When I get done with it My friend Joanie is going to teach me another one for Baby Bella.

take care my friends,

Charlie

Classes will be starting again the first of Feb.

2009-01-22T17:57:00.005-05:00

Just wanted to let you know that classes will be starting up on Tuesday, Feb. 3rd. It has been a few months since I've had class, but the holidays are over and it is time to get back to creating.

Here are the photos of the projects that we will be doing in the month of February, so if you are close by and want to sign up for a class let me know.

thanks,

Charlie

Baby McGee at 17 weeks

2009-01-19T10:34:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to show you what "Peanut" looks like at 17 weeks. Just a few more weeks and we will know if Peanut is a girl or boy, but I don't care.....I really just want a healthy grandchild, a product of the love of Philip and Kim, and someone that I can love unconditionally. Love, spoil, and then send home. lol.

Take care.

Time is going fast!!!

2009-01-18T20:42:00.002-05:00

I can't believe that it is the 18th of January and I haven't written on my blog in so long. Seems like time is just going way too fast. Sorry for the absence, I'll try to do better now. But I want to start with what I consider the most important fact for this new year. Phil and I have started going back to church, and our relationship with God is being renewed. We just sort of drifted away from God, and we know that we are the ones that drifted. But we are back, and our desire for a closer walk with God is so strong. It is a consuming desire. We both feel like we are back where we should be, and we are looking forward to our walk. Okay, just wanted to share that with you. Have a blessed day.

Wow, It is almost Christmas.

2008-12-18T20:34:00.004-05:00

So I'm thinking that maybe this year I am a bit of a scrooge, not because I want to be but that is the way that it is turning out. The money is so tight, I'm having a hard time getting into everything. This is the first year that Phil and I haven't got to any Christmas parties and no shopping. So, I have put a very small tree up, no presents under it, and no Christmas cards sent out in the mail. Oh why am I such a Scrooge this year? But in my heart I'm not. I am having my children with me, my Mom, and my family. I am just not spending any money. But that is fine. Family and friends are precious to me, and they are all the gifts that I need.

And Now for the update on "Peanut".

The most dramatic development this week: Reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over two inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce

So, this Scrooge is wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas. May it and your New Year be full of laughter, love, and many blessings.

Charlie

Happy Thanksgiving and Let the Holidays Begin.

2008-11-30T22:09:00.003-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my blogging friends. The McGee Clan Thanksgiving was a full one, we ended up having 22 for dinner, and I've would have welcomed more into my home if I knew of anyone that was alone on that day. That has become a tradition in our home, if we know of anyone without family for Thanksgiving they become our family for the day. The more the merrier.

My 51st birthday was this past Friday, the 28th. I was taken out to dinner with family and we spent the evening laughing. What a wonderful way to celebrate my 51 years on this earth.

Baby McGee, better known as "Peanut" is hitting the 10 week mark. Here is what "Peanut" looks like now.

From this week until birth, the developing organism is called a fetus.
The fetus is now the size of a small strawberry.
The feet are 2mm long (one tenth of an inch).
The neck is beginning to take shape.
The body muscles are almost developed. Baby has begun movement.
While still too small for you to feel, your little one is wriggling and shifting.
The jaws are in place. The mouth cavity and the nose are joined.
The ears and nose can now be seen clearly.
Fingerprints are already evident in the skin.
Nipples and hair follicles begin to form

Okay, this is Peanut's grandmother signing off. Have a wonderful week.

hugs to all.

Pictures from classes.

2008-11-17T21:31:00.007-05:00

Wednesday night's painting class finished up their four week class with tulips and roses. They all look different but good in their own right. This is my last class with them for a while, I hope to get to paint with them all again in the future.

Steve and Jeff show off their work, didn't they do good?

This is Jamie and Rhonda and I love what they did. Look at Rhonda's big rose, it is so beautiful.
Jamie did great on her rose buds, she has really improved these four weeks.

Jan and Pat got to finish their pumpkins in time for Halloween, barely. We finished them the night before. Look how cute they turned out.

And next is last Thursday night's class. We painted poinsettias for the project. It was so fun being together and painting, a great bunch of women.

Anne is improving each week, and she is so much fun to have in class.

Brenda has been out for a while, she had medical problems in her family and was committed to them. She is back with us now and she hasn't missed a step.

Cathy, one of my BBF, and Myles show off her pretty tray. Cathy is one of those people that doesn't need a class but she come every week anyway.

Next week we will be painting a Santa on a wine caddy. This should be lots of fun.

Later,

Charlie

Dogs are hurt as someone tries to break in, and Peanut at 8 weeks.

2008-11-17T11:19:00.005-05:00

Okay, first I'm going to start with good news. Philip and Kim's baby, which we are calling Peanut until we find out if we are having a boy or girl is now 8 weeks. Just wanted to share a photo of what Peanut should be looking like at this stage. Kim is being so good, watching what she eats and drinks. I am just so excited, can you tell?

Now to the other stuff. Friday I went to help Phil with his inventory at Norandex, things were going good until about 5:15 and we get a call from a neighbor telling us that our dogs had gotten out and had crossed the highway. Well, I about died. I got in the car to come home, Hunter was on his way home, and Phil was stuck at the branch working. I just kept praying that the dogs would be okay.

Hunter and I got to the house about the same time and we came in the house to find all the dogs there except for Drake and Patch. Now by this time it is dark and raining. We take off on foot, but we don't start calling the dogs until we cross over Military Cutoff, we didn't want the dogs to take off running for us and get hit. We walked for a good while and then we decided for one of us to come get a car. I came back to the house and noticed that the gate was open on the left side of the house. I walked over to check it out and someone had broken the panel and had reached over to open the gate. I was too mad to be scared. I got in the car and started driving down the roads. Finally I was driving down Station road and driving about 4 miles an hour I saw this black dog running down the road and I yelled. It was Drake. Another car was coming and had to swerved to miss him. He took off into a church parking lot and I was trying to get out of my car to get to him. He was acting wild. Finally he came to me and I got him in the car, he had blood all over his face. I tried not to panic but it was hard. I still couldn't find Patch. A young boy stopped me to tell me that he saw Patch head in a different direction. I went where he told me but I couldn't find him. So I decided to bring Drake home and then go back to look for Patch. When I pulled up to the house there was Patch sitting on the front part of the porch and I just started crying. Patch is our old man and has a special place in my heart.

When I got in the house I went to look to see if anyone had gotten into the house, but I couldn't see anything missing. Hunter came in, Samantha and then Philip. We started working on Drake and decided that he needed to go to the hospital. I really needed to go back to help Phil so Philip and Hunter took him. Mom met them there, so I knew he was going to be in good hands.

We think that someone tried to break in and Patch and Drake went after them. We have proof of this because on the other side a cooler was pushed up to that gate and someone tried to push it open. The police came but didn't fill a report, but said that they would keep an eye open.

With the morning light Phil was able to go walk around the house and found some more evidence of what happened last night. Philip had just done some yard work for us and used landscaping timbers and had piled some up on the side of the house. Well, we think that when they couldn't get in on the one side they took the timber over to the other side and hit the panel in and reached in and unlocked the gate. Don't know if the person tried to come in the back door or if the dogs went out of the doggie door and went after him. We now believe that Drake was beaten with the timber. His injuries and wounds look like it, more than if he had been hit by a car. He isn't walking very well at all, his eye is messed up, and he has wounds all over his body.. He is sleeping a lot, which is to be expected. We are just giving him his med's and taking good care of him and encouraging him all the time. Patch, the old man, wasn't hurt, but he just sleeps all the time. He goes from the bed to the sofa.

I am so angry, not so much that someone tried to break in but that someone caused harm to my four legged children. The doggie door was open and the gate was open, so all of them could have gotten out, including my little Myles. I would love to find the person that did this so that I could take the landscaping timber to them.

This is Patch.

This is Drake.

Take care my friends,

Charlie

Lights on at night are a good thing.

2008-11-08T18:27:00.002-05:00

So, we are driving along and Cindy needs a break so me being medicated offered to drive. And the idiots took me up on it. Now mind you, I'm taking pain meds every two hours. lol. I get in the driver's side of the van, put my seat belt on and proceeded to drive. Things went pretty well for about the first hour, then all of a sudden it was dark outside. Cindy is sitting up front playing with her new GPS, which we named Rosie after the robot on the Jetson's cartoon show, and Sissy was sitting behind her playing poker on my laptop. Finally Cindy looks over and asks if I'm okay. I very calmly tell her and Sissy that I'm find, I just can't see the road. I tell them I am not a good night time driver, I always have a hard seeing the road. Sissy noticed the death grip that I had on the steering wheel and Cindy notice the wild expression in my eyes. They proceed to tell me to take an exit and we will exchange drivers. They go back to doing what they were doing and I continue to drive because I can't see the road and have no idea where the exits are. Finally, the two put their heads together and decide that I need some help. A welcome area is approaching and they tell me to take it. Okay, but where is it? I get in the right lane and finally one of tells me to slow down that the exit is here and I'm still asking "where'. At this point we are laughing, but make it in to the parking lot, only to here Cindy say "Oh Crap, you don't have the lights on." Needlessly I look at her and kill her with my eyes, who in the world drives without the lights on. She proceeded to tell me that when she was driving it was light outside and didn't need the lights. Okay, just give me another pain pill, I'm going to the back seat now.

have fun my friends.
Charlie

Home again, just too early.

2008-11-08T12:47:00.002-05:00

Hi, Florida and the sunshine was nice. We didn't really do much, but it was nice just being out of town. We have cut your trip short because we got a call yesterday that Mom is back in the hospital. We feared that something like this would happen while we were gone, thus another reason for only going to Jacksonville. She has a staff infection, and now they are looking to see if it is in her bones. She has just gone down hill, it breaks my heart to see her in this condition, and her quality of life is poor. Anyway, we are headed home and I'll get to see her tonight or tomorrow and then we are going to take it a day at a time. We have gotten her a motorize chair, which I used this weekend in Florida, and she will be able to go places with me now. I'm excited about that, and looking forward to some good days.

My sisters believe that I have a broken rib or one that has been pushed out of place. Cindy made me lay on my stomach last night, which was a feat in itself, and she was checking my ribs. She found the spot that has been hurting and said that it is sticking out. So9, Hopefully tomorrow or Monday I will find someone that can help me with this and get rid of all of this pain.

Okay, have a great weekend and I'll pop in again soon.
hugs to all,
Charlie

We have a "Peanut".

2008-11-04T21:53:00.005-05:00

.Last week Kim and Philip had a scare, she was spotting. They went back to the doctor on Friday and then went back again on Monday and they were able to see the baby and also hear the baby's heartbeat. Philip didn't get to go, he was working, so Kim's mom had the blessing to be there. Philip brought me the photos from the ultrasound and I got to see our little Peanut. How exciting. And the doctor gave her the due date of June 30th, not bad cause I had picked June 29th. I am leaving tomorrow for my trip with my sisters and nephew. We were supposed to travel to Disney this week, but I'm still able to do much so we decided to change our vacation. We are going to go to Jacksonville, Fl. and visit the big flea market there, and just hang out a bit. My sisters are being so good to me, they are taking me with them and I'm not paying a thing. I still can't believe it. And I am so looking forward to getting out of town for a few days. So, I'll be gone for a few days but I'll be back next week. Until then have a wonderful week. Hugs, Charlie

A movie and a baby.

2008-10-31T21:35:00.005-04:00

Last Saturday, before my accident on Sunday, I was given a special gift. I received a phone call from my son telling me that I am going to be a Grandmother. If you are someone that knows me knows that I have wanted to be a grandmother for years. Baby McGee is due the end of June, and I am so thrilled. Even in the middle of my car crash I was thinking, "great, I find out that I'm going to be a grandmother and now I'm going to die". Thank God that didn't happen.

We think that she is about 6 weeks, and so this is what Baby McGee looks like right now. This is going to be so much fun. God has blessed me with my greatest desire.

Also wanted to share a movie with you. Today Samantha and I went to go see "Fireproof". It is a very touching movie, and a good Christian movie too. Take your hubby and go see it if you can.

Hugs and blessings to all,

Charlie

Car Wreck.

2008-10-28T12:08:00.002-04:00

Hi, Sunday found me in the hospital because I managed to run a red light. In my mind it was green, I've even been able to share the thoughts in my mind right before the crash and it was green. But I mush have seen the green turning light, not the straight away light.

It was so scary, I saw the wreck, I saw the black car, the crunching of both cars, metal shooting up, and the air bag coming out. That is when I shut my eyes. I couldn't get out of my car, I couldn't move because of the pain and the door couldn't move. The women that I hit were okay, they were out of their car shouting at me and cussing. I couldn't respond, and they never came to my window to check on me. I know it was my fault, and all they could do was yell and scream at me.

All of the officials were so nice to me. They took great care of me, and so was the hospital.

I am in bed for a few days, but I did get up and take a shower and washed my hair. I am bruised on my right side, but that is all. Well my knees are pretty banged up too. Anyway, just wanted to come in and tell you. It might be a week or so before I pop back in. If I am up to it I will be going to Disney this weekend with my sister and her family. They are paying for the whole trip. Take care my friends,
Charlie

Autumn is in the air.

2008-10-16T20:40:00.006-04:00

In class this week we are working on a floor cloth with pumpkins on it. Everyone's is looking so good, and totally different. This is a two week class so I am only posting Thursday night's class, the ladies in the Tuesday class are still working on theirs.

Jan did her's on a stretched canvas. She stretched the canvas all by herself. She is so talented, I can't believe that she is taking classes from me.

Anne was so tickled about her's. Look closely at the leaves, she finally was able to do some all by herself and she really did good.

Wednesday night's class was as much fun as it always is. These people are a hoot. And they are getting better and better each week. Enjoy looking at their photos.
This is Jamie, she is a newlywed.

And this is Mandy.

Susan is the Mother to Jamie and Mandy. The three of them are learning together with the goal of being able to paint on furniture.

Rhonda is their friend, and she is so quiet, but she has the sweetest smile.

Jeff is Jamie's hubby. They are just so cute together. And he really has some talent and often helps others when needed.

And this is Steve, he is Rhonda's hubby. It is funny, the first night he didn't really want to come but now he is really into it. He is also a fellow biker.

Classes. Sorry for the delay.

2008-10-12T21:53:00.005-04:00

Tuesday's class was a fun one. Hope and Jeanne were able to do cute little bags for Halloween.

Thursday night's class was a good one because we got to do a painting with HD paints. Everyone loves to paint with the High Definition paints, they always look wonderful.

Myles also got into the act. Isn't he just so cute?

Wednesday night's class is always fun, and they are doing so good. This is their second week, and look how great they are doing.

Angie's Amazing Race 3

2008-10-12T20:39:00.007-04:00

Angie's Amazing Race 3 was last weekend, Oct. 5th, and I've got to tell you, it was amazing. Here is a picture of some of the Angels standing in front of our banner that flies year long at Britts Motorsports in Wilmington, N.C. We are a group of women and men that come together each year to help raise awareness about breast cancer. Angie, our sweet friend, lost her battle in Feb. 2006 and this is our way of remembering her and also helping other women. The money that we raise goes to help pay for mammograms for women that are not insured or are under insured.

I call myself "Mama Angel" and these are my Angels. They bless my heart all the time, and I can ask them to do something and they just jump in there and get it done. This year, in the middle of all of the financial problems in the country we were able raise $22500.00.

Here are some photos of what all took place on Oct. 5th. Enjoy. The back of the shirts are great ways for us to get sponsors and raise money.

Here are some of the happy riders, getting ready to get their clue sheet.

Debbie and I are taking a break as the riders get ready to leave.

When riders got back we had some pigs done and lots of good food waiting on them.

I was a great day, lots of fun. We are already looking forward to next year........come join us.

First class at Topsail Senior Center.

2008-09-30T21:52:00.003-04:00

Today was the first day for classes at the Topsail Senior Center, and I hope that there are many more to follow. The announcement will be coming out in the paper tomorrow, so I'm sure that there will be others to come join in on the fun.

This is Hope, and this was her 3rd class with me. Today we did a beautiful piece with the High Definition paints, painting roses. Isn't Hope's painting gorgeous? And she is an amazing person, she writes poems that speak to the heart, and has started writing for a local paper. And her spirit is as beautiful as she is.

Fun weekend with the boys.

2008-09-30T21:07:00.006-04:00

We were able to leave for Charlotte around 6:30p.m., and we drove there without any mishaps. Phil was driving, I was working on the computer, and Hunter and Fish were in the back listening to their music and texting their friends. We really made good time, we even had time to stop and eat at Chick-fil-a. When we walked in with the boys the girls working there were all staring at them and talking about how cute they were. I just smiled and placed the orders. After eating we drove to my friend's house and Hunter went up and knocked on the door. Her son, Brandon, came to the door and he was so surprised to see Hunter at his door. It was really a sweet reunion.

We were able to spend about an hour with them, catching up on Brandon and how he is doing, and then Hunter was able to catch Brandon up on his life and all of their friends.

Brandon is on the left, Fish in the middle, and Hunter is on the right. Nice looking young men, and they all three have sweet hearts. (Don't tell Hunter that I said that!)

While we were at JoAnne's she told us that she hoped that we didn't need gas because there was none to be had in Charlotte. We all just looked at each other because our gas light had come on right before we got to her house. So after giving hugs to everyone we got in the car and took off to find gas. WELL, LET ME TELL YOU......THERE WAS NO GAS. All of the stations had bags over their handles at the gas pumps and they were closed. We kept driving, trying to find out where we were going and praying that we wouldn't run out of gas. The roads were dark, we had no idea of where we were going, and we were so tired. I kept praying that God would allow our car to continue to run, and it did. We made it to the hotel and got into our rooms. I got online and started looking up gas stations that were close by, hoping to find one that might have gas. We found one and Phil got in the car and went to it, riding on fumes. God is good, Phil was able to get $20.00 worth and they sent him to another gas station where he was able to get another $20.00 worth and then he was sent to another one. When he got back to the room around 2:00 a.m. he had a full tank of gas. Amazing.

The Panthers' game was great! The weather was nice, the people around us were friendly, and the game was good.

Look at these two sport fans.

After the game we got in the car and headed home. We got home around 9:30 p.m., just in time to watch "The Unit". A great day!!!

Wednesday nights first class.

2008-09-26T21:07:00.006-04:00

Since closing the studio other opportunities have come forward and one of those ended up being a class in Burgaw, N.C. When I made the decision to close I called the auction house that I had purchased all of my antique items from and asked them to come and get my items and auction them off for me. They came and I've got to tell you they were so nice and it made it easy for me to let my things go. While they were there they checked out my paintings and asked questions and before they left we had decided to set up a class for them in Burgaw. So, this past Wednesday night was my first class with them and I wanted to share their photos with you. I've already had two classes here at the house, I just haven't taken any photos yet. Shame on me.

Here is the Wednesday night group. They are doing the new four week course that Donna Dewberry presented at the convention this past summer.

They were a fun group to work with and I look forward to spending time with them and helping them to learn this technique.

And where did this one come from?

2008-09-26T12:28:00.002-04:00

I felt funny when I got home from class on Wednesday night, but I thought that my legs just felt funny because I had been standing on them while teaching, nothing more. Then I tried to eat my Mom's soup that she made and it tasted like fish. Still not thinking anything about it I went to bed, only to wake up during the night sick as a dog. I guess it is a 24 hour virus, wicked even in it's short time. Today is Friday and I'm still in bed, surrounded by Myles, Drake, and little Lila. I love my four legged babies. But I'm feeling better, and looking forward to having a wonderful weekend with my DH, Hunter, and his friend Fish at the Panther's football game in Charlotte, N.C. And a special surprise is to take place this weekend. One of Hunter's best buddies has been gone for almost two years and he is coming home today. While we are in Charlotte we are going to take Hunter to see him. Should be a wonderful sweet reunion. I'll take photos and share when we get back. So until then have a sweet and peaceful weekend.

It is a new day in the neighborhood.

2008-09-24T22:27:00.002-04:00

Hello, I'm back. I finally feel like I can come back in here and start posting again and actually giving to the blogging community. Life just got so crazy there for a while, I just couldn't come in here and write. Closing my studio was hard, but it has been good for me. My classes are taking off, I actually have classes on Tuesday afternoons at the Hampstead Senior Center, Wednesday evenings in Burgaw, and classes in my home on Thursday evenings. I hope to soon have classes at the Burgaw Senior Center on Wednesday afternoons. Besides having new classes I am able to spend time with my friends, stay at home and clean and cook, and even go fishing some. Oh, that has become a new passion for me. I love to go the the pier and fish all day long. It is one of the most peaceful things I've done in a long while. And I go with my sister and we are getting to spend some quality time together. Sometimes Mom will even show up and fish a bit.

Life has become more simpler, and that is a good thing. I've learned so much this year, so very much. It is good to stop the world, go sit on the swing and listen to the wind, smell the flowers, and enjoy the sun.

Thanks for coming in and visiting me. Come again soon. I'll be posting pictures of my classes and my students, and I'll share other photos with you.
Have a blessed day.
Charlie

I'm not sure what has happened to my blog.

2008-09-01T20:49:00.002-04:00

Hi, I got an e-mail from a friend today asking me about my blog, I came on and I was shocked to see the last blog post. I didn't write it. I'm not sure what happened here. I am sorry that someone else has been in here and wrote all of this. It has to be someone that knows me, but I have no idea of who would do this.

But on the truth of the matter, the studio is gone. Phil, Hunter, Samantha, and I finished it up about 8:00 tonight and now it is all in my home. We now have a walking path again in our home. This has been a sad time for me, but I'm looking forward to better days.

I will keep my blog, just revamp it some. It will probably be a week or so before I get back cause I've got a lot of unpacking to do and I need to get ready for classes. Hang with me, I'll be back.
Thanks.
Charlie

l am saying goodbye to all of blogging sisters.

2008-08-30T23:50:00.002-04:00

charlie's studio i no longer a STORE in the HAPSTEAD AREA BUT IS BECOMING A TRUE HOME STUDIO. EVENTHING ABOUT THE STUDO HAS CHANBED,EXDEPT FOR THE FELLOWSHIP THAT HAS GROWN FROM OND OF THE ROOM TO THE OTHER. HOW FUMMY SW ALL ARE WHEN WE GETT TOGEHER. SOME PAINTING AND LOTS OF LAUGHER. I WILL COME UP WITH ANOTHER BLOG SITE THAT IS GEARD MORE TOWARD OUR BLOG AND WAN WE TO SHARE WIGH OTHRES IN BLOG . HOPE YOU WILL FOIN UP IN OUR GROWTH OF FUNNY WOMEN WHO NEED EACH OTHER.

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2008-08-30T23:49:00.001-04:00

My head hurts.

2008-07-23T21:51:00.002-04:00

Hello, anyone out there? Of course, I'm just being funky. It has been a hard day. and My head is killing me. The saga with Mom just took another turn today. In the hospital today for a surgery to change the shunt in her leg for her I.V. treatment. She has gotten a staff infection from it and they needed to go in and replace it, but still not sure that it is going to help. She goes from one thing to another. She is tired and so sick. I told her Monday, after going to a doctor, that it was okay if she felt like she needed to go. She understood what I was say, that I don't want her to have to suffer and not get better. It has just been a hard 5 weeks, and sometimes there is no silver lining at the end. Just wish the doctors could get their act together. I'm getting to where I am worried about going out at night, each and every time I go out something happens to her. What is going to happen when I move out? I know, don't worry. Trust in God. But I keep taking it out of his hands and putting it on my shoulders.

tons of photos to show you.

2008-07-22T14:26:00.005-04:00

Myles and Drake have a new little buddy. This is Princess Lila. She is Hunter's new baby, and he is taking such good care of her. Looks closely and you will see her snuggled in against Drake.
Since we are still living with Mom, if Hunter has to be at work all day long she will come to work with Myles and me. They love playing together.

Here are some of the photos of what I brought back from the convention. Some things were given to the attendees, some things were bought, and the Santa sleigh was given to me by a very special friend.

Here are two of my roommates and good friends,

Sandy and Nicole. This wast he first night of the convention and we were dressed for the 60's and flower power. My paints are hand painted and tons of flower patches, you just can't see them.

This is Norma and Renee, they received roses from me on the last night. See those beautiful smiles?

Donna is teaching the last day of the convention in this photo.

And this is one of my favorite pieces that I saw at the convention. The floor cloth is using Donna's fabric, along with paint. I loved it.

I didn't really take a lot of photos, or not funny photos, just of the products. Lots to see and remember.

Sunday night, or should I say Monday morning.

2008-07-21T00:28:00.002-04:00

It is now 12:28a.m. and I'm sitting here in bed listening to my hubby snoring, and moving my legs over so that Myles has room to sleep. We went to go see Mama Mia tonight, and I've got to tell you, it was a blast. Hunter, my 17 year old hated it. He couldn't believe all the singing, and a few times he looked at us as we joined in with some of the songs and he just shook his head at us. He is so funny at times.

It was a strange weekend. On Friday night we had to say goodbye to two of our best friends as they prepared to travel to New Orleans for the next 2 1/2 years. Not that they will be traveling that long, they will just be gone that long. Terry is the one that I call Sis, and I always claim her hubby as my brother-in-law. I hope and pray that they will be happy there, but I look forward to their returning home.

Mom has been very sick, she now has a staff infection. This has got to be the same infection that she had a few weeks ago. I feel so guilty when I go out, I feel like I should be here with her instead. That is really getting hard because we are so close to being in our own home. Matter of fact, Phil and I have spent most of the past two days at our new home working on it and getting closer to a move in day. Today I painted our front door RED. I love it. I took photos, but my cord for downloading photos is at the studio, so it will be later this week before I can post them. But back to Mom. Tomorrow we go to the doctor to find out if her arm has improved enough to put her port in her arm for her dialysis instead of her leg. They believe that the infection is coming from the one that they put in her leg, so probably Wednesday she will have to go into the hospital to have it removed, but I'm not sure where they will put the next one. She just looks so bad.

Saturday at the studio we had a Creative Memories workshop, and it really was a lot of fun. But, Patty, the friend that does the workshops, told us that she had been laid off from her regular job and then when Kathy came in she told us that she had been laid off two. I tell you what, I am so concerned about everyone and our economy. I keep trying to tell everyone to hang in there, that it is going to get better, but sometimes my faith falters just a bit. (Don't tell anyone!)

Our financial problems are still here, I just don't let them get to me like I did before. I know that we will be back on our feet again one day, and at that point I hope to be able to pay all of loans and everyone that we own money too. My daughter lost her car last weekend. We had been making the payments ever since we got it, but I told her months ago that she would need to pick up the payments, guess she didn't believe me. Now I'm not sure what we will do about her car. Right now she is driving mine, isn't life just grand? Yes, it is. Without all of the bumps in the road I don't think that I would appreciate the smooth roads so much.

Okay, smiles for the week.
Monday, day 20, I sent an e-mail card and I also spent the entire day with Mom instead of going to the studio. My sister even came and spent some time with us.

Tuesday, day 21, made a phone call to a friend that I hadn't talked to in a long time. That was a smile for both of us.

Wednesday, day 22, a friend was meeting a new guy for the first time and mentioned that she would love it if I could be there just in case. So, on the way home I decided to stop by just in case. (the guy didn't do much for me, and I was so glad that he didn't do a thing for her either.

Thursday, day 23, I went to McDonald's for Myles's and my breakfast. When I left I called back and asked for the manager and told him that the two young kids at the windows were really pleasant and that I left there smiling. He thanked me for calling and told me to keep smiling. He was telling me to smile, and here I was hoping to cause the kids to smile. Also that day at the studio I got to help a student do a painting that she had been wanting to do for a while now, and she did so well. She has a problem seeing small details, but you would never know it if you saw her piece and the eyes that she painted on her project. Way to go Pat.

Friday, day 23, I was a McDonald's again, and they young guy was at the window again, and when I saw him I told him that I had called his manager the day before. He was so shocked that I would do that and asked if he could give me a hug. Wasn't that sweet of him?

Saturday, day 24, I made sure to compliment someone on their weight loss. Something so simple as to tell someone that they were looking good and how proud you are of them of their effort.

Sunday, day 25. What did I do today? I'm not sure. I know that when I'm with Mom I do my best to make her laugh, which she does. But that isn't doing something on purpose to make someone smile. So I'm going to let you be my smile today. I want each and everyone of you to know that you are special to me in your own way. Each of you touch my heart when I hear from you, by letting me know that you are praying for me and my family, when you shared your funny stories with me, and just your life. Each of you are special, and God has put you in my life for a reason. Take care my friends, and may each of you have a special smile before laying your head down and having sweet dreams.
Hugs to all,
Charlie

I'm finally on the way home.

2008-07-13T15:28:00.002-04:00

Hi, Have you missed me? Seems like forever since I came in here to tickle these little white keys. I looked at the dates, and it has almost been two weeks. Time sure does fly by while you are busy.

Right now Phil and I are driving home from Florida. I went to Orlando for a convention with Dewberry Designs/OneStroke Painting. I left last Monday morning, and Phil flew in and picked me up on Friday afternoon when everything was over. We drove to Daytona and checked into a hotel and just hung around. We always enjoy going there, and this time was no exception. But I've got to tell you, I slept until 12:30 p.m. on Saturday while he went and played golf. I think that I could have slept even longer, but I didn't.

This morning before leaving we went to the Flea Market, looking for half runner green beans for my Mom. They didn't have any, so I'm going to have to get my friend Becky in WV to bring some when she comes down later on in the month.

The convention was nice, but like everything it was effected by the money crunch going on in the world. There were not a lot of freebies, and most of our surfaces were just paper. But you know, it is great going and getting a ton of stuff, but when it comes right down to it, that just isn't that important. I love going and seeing friends and making new ones. I look forward to learning new techniques, and hearing ideas that will help my business. Seems like this year I've been stumped when it comes to being creative, and this really helped me some.

Of course I loved seeing my friend Sandy, and getting to meet her friend Nicole. It was funny, even though she and I had never really met before it was like we had been friends forever. She just has such a sweet spirit, and such a joy to be around. The three of us shared a room, a long with Hazel. Hazel is a few years older than us, and she usually would go to bed earlier than we did, but she was still fun to be around. And her hubby is a bee keeper, and I learned so much about bees at lunch one day. I had no idea that bees are such interesting characters.

Sandy is already planning things for next year's convention, I really hope she gets the chance to share her ideas with the right people and put some of them into action. Her brain goes 100 miles a minute with ideas, and she is so good at organizing. Me, just point me in the direction that you want me to go.

I got to give "smiles" out each day. I took 6 roses with me so that I could give them out each day. Of course I gave my three roommates a rose, and then I got to surprise two friends with roses. I've got to say, their reactions to the roses were priceless. I wish I had the camera going when I gave them to Renee and Norma. I got their pictures later, and they were still smiling big. I told them about the 100 days of smiles, and they are going to go get the book to read for themselves, and who knows, they might even start their own 100 days of smiles.

I know that I've done a "smile" everyday, but I'm not sure that I can remember two weeks worth, so I'm just going to add these six roses to my counting, and not count the week before the convention. That's okay, it will just be an extra week of smiles. So this makes my count up to 19 days of smiles.

I'll post photos once we get home. I guess I should go for now, Phil is getting tired and I might need to take over driving.
keep the smile going,
Charlie

Darn, she is sick again.

2008-07-01T21:37:00.002-04:00

A Mom update. She had a good weekend, was feeling so much better and even cooked last night. Then this morning she drove herself to her treatment and I got a call this afternoon telling me that she was sick again and needed to be picked up. She has been home for over 4 hours and she is still sick. I know that in her mind she is thinking that this isn't worth being this sick. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

My 12th smile was an e-mail card to a special friend that is going thru some life changing events in her life. When I sent it I didn't really know what she is going thru but I found out this evening. I can't share it with you right now, but please pray in your spirit for her. Thanks.

My 13th smile is going to be another e-mail card. A friend of mine had to reprimand someone at her place of business and it is so not her. It upset her that she had to put two people on notice, but it had to be done. So, I am going to send her a card to help her smile.

Okay, take care and I'll be back in tomorrow.
hugs,
Charlie

Smiling, smiling, and smiling.

2008-06-30T22:04:00.003-04:00

Man, this is really taking on a life of it's own. ;-) All of this smiling. LOL.

Anyway, here are a few pictures of Myles and me on the bike. I went to have my hair cut and then my daughter took our picture once I got back on the bike and got ready to leave. Look how cute Myles looks.

And I decided to make Myles and my ride that day the smile for the day. So Day 10 of smiles was all of the people who stopped to look at us and smile, the kids that waved, the older people who smiled and waved, not to mention all the pictures that were taken. I think that we gave quite a few people a good reason to smile. What do you think?

Day 11 of smiles was a hand written card to a very dear old friend. Yes, a real hand written card instead of an e-mail card. This will surprise her completely, and I know that it will bring a smile to her face.

Day 12 of smiles....hmm, what did I do today? I haven't yet, so I need to go and do something. I think that I'll send an e-mail card to someone tonight. Someone that would have no clue that I was thinking about them. I'll report back later. Until then, keep smiling.
hugs,
Charlie

Happy Saturday, and Myles' first ride.

2008-06-28T11:23:00.005-04:00

Okay, I just have to start off with telling you how Myles and I got to work today. I got my motorcycle out, put Myles in the front carrier that I got and off we went. I loved it. He is so cute. But I need to get him some goggles to wear so that the wind doesn't dry his eyes out. It must have worn him out cause he is in his pen, with the door open and sound asleep. Sweet baby.

This is my Harley, notice the flag on the back? that is for Angie's Amazing Race, our fundraiser to help kick cancer's butt.

Doesn't he look tired?

Are you asking yourself about my smiles? Okay let me get you caught up. But I've got to tell you, it is funny because at the end of the day I am thinking about what smile I might have caused or what I'm going to do tomorrow. And then I've just got to share this with you, without me really expecting anything back I am getting smiles given to me. Double smiles for all of us.

Smile day number 8. I helped someone get something that they have wanted for a while now and couldn't have. to make a long story short, Mom decided that she needed to give one of her puppies away, it is just too much for her right now. My friend Cathy has loved one of her puppies since he was born. So I told Mom that if she was going to give him away, she really needed to think about Cathy. Well, guess who has a new baby. Here they are together.

This Cathy's first dog that is all her's. And she is like a little kid with him. Isn't he just sweet looking? Looks nothing like Myles, right? Hard to believe that they are brothers.

My Smile for day 9 was a simple one, I had a date with my Hubby. We have been so stressed lately, not even really able to talk with one another, so last night just the two of us went to dinner and then to our favorite book store. It was nice being out with each other, no talk of problems or troubles. It was really nice.

Okay, stay tuned for today's smile. Wonder what it will be? Do you think that me and Myles driving thru town on my bike would count as a smile? LOL.

Hugs to all.

Is it only Wednesday?

2008-06-25T21:41:00.003-04:00

Seems like it should be next week already. What a day. I got up this morning, checked on Mom and went to the studio. I was there for about an hour when I got a phone call from the dialysis center and they told me that Mom's blood cultures had come back and that she has a very serious infection in her blood system and that I needed to take her straight to the hospital. If this infection continues it will end up in her heart. So, I closed down the studio and headed back into Wilmington to get her and take her to the hospital. We got there, and of course we had to wait and wait. My sister even came and waited with us. Finally when we got to see the doctor he sent us back home. Now, we had been there all day waiting, and then when she finally got into a room, got dressed it the "Cute" hospital gown, and was resting in the bed the doctor came in and told us that there had been a mistake and that she shouldn't have been sent to the hospital because the antibiotics that she had gotten the day before were working on the infection.

Was I a bit upset? Yes. But what can you do? So she got her clothes back on and we came home. She went right to bed, and I came in and laid down for about 15 minutes before having to leave for a meeting.

My emotions are running high right now, but I did really good and didn't say anything mean to the nurses or doctor. Good girl.

My smile for day 7 is this - I sent an e-mail with a copy of a quote from a book I'm reading. It talks about friends. There are 6 different parts, I'm saving the other 5 parts for other days of smiles.

have a great night,
Charlie

Day 6 of smiles and Mom's first day at dialysis

2008-06-25T00:02:00.002-04:00

I was so scared this evening, really. I went to pick up Mom from her treatment, I got there around 3, thinking I would get there in plenty of time. I went in to let them know that I was there, but that I would be outside with Myles. About 4 I went up to sit on the bench located outside the door to the treatment center. After a while Eddie pulls up in Mom's truck and I'm sitting there getting a bit upset that he was there. My mind was going like this - here I am, sitting outside waiting for her to get done and now he pulls up. Why didn't someone let me know that he was coming, I could have stayed at the studio. You know how thoughts like that pop up in your mind? I was hot and tired of waiting out in the heat. But those thoughts left as soon as they came, I took a deep breath and just relaxed. Eddie walked up and told me that they had called him and told him that she would be late, she had started running a fever and they had to give her antibiotics. We waited for about another hour, and finally I saw the door open and the nurse was bringing out an "old" lady. I almost cried out loud. What had happen to my Mom?
She could hardly walk, she was white, and very sick. She was throwing up, had no idea where she was, and she wasn't the person that I knew.

I got her in the car, barely, and started driving home. She was so out of it, doing strange things. She kept trying to fix the window, then she started punching things on the dashboard of the car, only there wasn't anything there for her to touch.

When I got her home it took over 5 minutes to get her out of the car, it was like she forgot how to use her legs. As I got her to her feet she just started getting sick all over the place, and I didn't know what to do. I got her in the house, to the bed, but I couldn't get her all the way on the bed.
She was so sick. Finally Phil got here to help me with her, he even went and got a thermometer and some Tylenol for her to take. Her fever was up to 102.5, and she was in so much pain. She couldn't even remember where the bathroom was, and just kept talking out of her head.

It is now after midnight and her fever has broken and she is sleeping peacefully. Thank God. I've seen her after surgeries, when she was on the "happy drugs", but I've never seen her like this. I don't think that it was the dialysis that did this to her, I think that it was an infection from the surgery last week. Man oh man. What an afternoon.

My smile for the day.....this morning I brought Mom a rose, a wooden one that I had bought for her this past weekend at the festival.

Okay, I'm going to bed now. Tomorrow is a new day.
blessings to all of you.
Charlie

Five days of smiles.

2008-06-23T23:12:00.002-04:00

Today was a day I may remember for a long time, it is the day that Mom and I went to the Dialysis Center for her orientation. We left the house a little before 11 this morning and we went to a place called the Trolley Stop so that Mom could get some hot dogs. The Trolley Stop is a place that we went to a lot when we first moved to the Wilmington area back in 1976, and since we figured that hot dogs would be something that she might not be able to eat after tomorrow we wanted to go there together and share a dog or two. They were as good as I remembered them being, and it was nice with it just being the two of us, eating and talking.

We got to the center around 11:45 and they took us right in and starting talking with us and filling out paper work. We were there until 2:00, and by the time we left Mom was so tired that she was very slow in walking and talking. We came home and she went right to bed and slept for hours.

Tomorrow will be her first treatment, starting at 11:30, and it will last for 4 hours. Please keep her in your prayers.

Did I do something special today to cause a smile? I don't really know. I know that while I was with Mom today I did everything I could to make it easier for her, to help her feel safe, and to keep looking towards the future. When she broke down and cried I was able to put my arm around and her and give her a squeeze and a hug. I could rub her back at times, hold her hand, and when things got to heavy I did my best to make her laugh. How I love this woman!!!!!

Then tonight for dinner Phil, Mom, and I sat at the small table and talked and ate. There were a few times tonight that she would say something funny and just bust out laughing. One time she had to cover her mouth cause she was laughing so hard. It was a nice dinner.

Mom and I sat in the living room and watched a "strange movie", actually Mom was laying down in Hunter's bed and I was sitting at the table. Hunter's bed is in the living room for now, just in case you are wondering. Mom fell asleep, and I looked over at her and there she was sleeping on her side with her three beautiful dogs laying around her and sleeping. It was so peaceful, I looked at them and just smiled. So, maybe today is a day for me to smile, what do you think?

Have a wonderful night.
Charlie

Sunday night and day 3 & 4 of smiles.

2008-06-22T23:21:00.008-04:00

I really love Sundays, for many reasons but the main reason is that Sunday night is Family Night. That is when my children join us for dinner or whatever we might have planned, and it is a time of getting caught up on all of their activities and a time of just good plain old laughter and love. I look forward to this night all week long, I love being with my family!!

I was really surprised tonight, as we were sitting and eating dinner my new daughter-in-law looked at me and asked me what my 3rd smile was. I looked at her and I realized she was reading my blog, hello Kim, and it thrilled my heart. How wonderful that she would want to read my thoughts and was looking forward to what I might say next. See, God blessed me so much with her, don't you agree? Anyway, the guys all just sort of looked at her and at me, they have no idea of what we were talking about. But that didn't matter, I went ahead and shared yesterday's smile with her and so now I get to share it with you.

While I was driving to the festival yesterday I was thinking about what item I could mark as my free gift for the day. I really had no idea of what item to pick, and so I didn't. While we were sitting up our booth two young boys walked up and wanted to know if we had anything for free. We told them no, and they stayed there for a while and just looked at the things that we were sitting out. Then about an hour later they came back and on of the boys kept picking up things, looking at the price. I asked him if he was looking for something special and he told me that he wanted to get him mom something. I asked him how much did he want to spend and he told me not a lot since it would be her money. Then he left again to go play for a while. I didn't see him again until later that evening, and he walked by and came in to say Hi. I asked him if he had gotten his mother something and he said not yet. I got up and went and picked up a box that I had painted and gave it to him and told him to take it and give it to her. He looked at me and asked if he could take it without getting in trouble, and I told him that he could take it and not to worry about being in trouble. He smiled and took off running.

Here is my young friend, and what a beautiful smile he has, don't you agree?

Here are some Photos of the festival.

This is our booth, can you see the new baskets? My friend Cathy is making them now and went with me to this festival.

The cute pig is what we did in class this past week. He was the first thing to go. And I love doing these sunflowers.

These pickles glasses are left over from the pickle festival, and Cathy took some of them and make this cute basket.

This is Cathy and me, right after we got set up. We are soaked from the rain but we hung in there and got it all set up anyway. It turned out to be a beautiful day after all.

It was a fun day, and I was glad to share it with my friend.

Day four Smile I guess you could say is more like a laugh. My children always can find things to laugh about, we have such a good time together. I spent my day with my Mom, and then I took a nap. When I woke up it was time to take off for our family night. We went to dinner, with only an hour to spare before the movie that we were going to go see was to start. We went to a place that is right beside the movie theater, and it has pool tables set up, along with hugh t.v. screens. The girl came up to tell us that the kids could rent a table for 12 dollars, and I cut her off by telling her that we were going to a movie and that no one would be interested in playing. She walked away and all the kids just looked at me, and started laughing. I'm sitting there wondering why they were laughing. Finally Kim told me that I cut the girl off while she was talking, which I didn't really see it that way I was just telling her that we weren't interested in playing. Then the waitress came up to take our orders and I must have done something to her, and the kids just started making fun of me. When she came back to take our orders I looked at her and told her that I really am a nice person. When I placed my order I was sweet, and even reached out my hand to touch her arm. Well, the kids went with that and really started laughing. They said that I probably really scared her, and when I touched her arm I must have sent her off in the wrong direction. The drinks didn't all come at the same time, and then when our food came they brought me something that I had no idea what it could have been. Don't you know they got a kick out of that? So, even though I didn't get to do something nice for someone today, I was involved with helping someone laugh.

Here is a photo of Phil, myself, and the kids on father's day. We went bowling and had a blast. And this is a photo of my present to Phil, a painting of his dog, Drake.

Have a wonderful night and I'll be in touch soon. (Good night Kim :-) )

Day 2 of Smiles.

2008-06-20T21:57:00.002-04:00

Since I was in the studio all day long getting ready for a show tomorrow, and knowing that I would be there all day long I needed to get my smile done early. I knew someone that needed some money, and so I wrote a check and gave it to them and told them to put it towards whatever they wanted, and then just walked away. I hope that it made them smile, if not on the outside then at least on the inside.

I painted all day today, doing final touches on pieces. I've got 6 windows that I'm taking tomorrow, and glasses, floor cloths, clay items, and some other things. I'll take pictures tomorrow and post them later.

Hmm, wonder what I will do for a smile tomorrow. I think that I will pick out a piece and decide to give it to whoever picks it up first. That is always a good one to do.

Mom will start her dialysis on Tuesday, starting at 11:30. On Monday we will go to the dialysis center and check it all out, that way she won't be going in cold on Tuesday. Please keep her in your prayers.

blessings to all of you.
Charlie

Trying to have 100 days of smiles.

2008-06-19T23:18:00.002-04:00

Okay, so this book that I'm reading is really good. I've laughed a few times as I've read some of the things that has happen to the author. The title of the book is "I'm Not Suffering from Insanity, I'm Enjoying Every Minute of It!" by Karen Scale Linamen. This woman is funny, but she really gets the point across. So anyway, she has a chapter in the book where she went on a quest to cause 100 days of smiles. I decided that I wanted to do it too. So this morning I went to McDonald's for an egg mcmuffin, just my luck I was too late. I went ahead and ordered a large diet coke and pulled up to the window to pay. I decided that I wanted to pay for the car behind me, you know to do something nice that would cause them to smile. I asked the cashier how much their bill was, that I wanted to pay for it. He told me it was 10 dollars and some change. Darn, I didn't have that much on me and told him that I couldn't do it for that much. So much for causing someone to smile. But my look must have been funny on my face cause he just looked at me and started laughing. I just smiled and pull up to the next window to get my drink and off to the studio I went. Since the cashier got to laugh, I am going to count that as my first day of 100 smiles. I'll pop in again tomorrow to let you know what smile I might have caused.
Smiling with you,
Charlie

First day of the rest of her life.

2008-06-18T23:28:00.002-04:00

Today begins a new life for Mom. We went to the hospital this morning and she had her surgery for the temporary port so that they can start her on dialysis tomorrow or the next day. She and I have been talking alot, and we are talking about her possible death. Not that I'm saying that she is going to die, but there are things that she wanted to make sure that I knew, and she also had questions for me.

This is a different walk for me, but I am going to stay positive for her and help her to look to the future. And I am starting my strong praying for her, I will stand in for her and speak life for her. I believe that God can do anything, and I'm expecting great things in her life. And if it is God's will for her to join Him, well then He will carry us both in His arms as we face each day. I mean, look at this special time together He is giving us. This is a time in my life that I will always remember.

DL, girl you are a woman of my heart. Your prayer language joins mine, together we will stand in prayer. Thanks so much. Sandy, you have become such a dear friend and I can't wait to see you next month, it will be a wonderful time. Diana Lynn, Katie, and Karen.........you continue to bless me with your words of encouragement.

Take care my friends,
Charlie

Thoughts......

2008-06-17T00:30:00.002-04:00

Life is a challenge, and it seems to be more challenging each and every day. As I've told you many times, I keep looking for the future and believing that it is a beautiful future. But at times I just can't see for the darkness. Okay, let me tell you what I'm talking about.

We are still facing a lot of problems with our finances, and it is overwhelming at times. We still owe a lot for the business, and we have plans of paying everyone, it is just going to take us a while. Our bills for the family keep falling behind because when we get a good amount of money it goes to pay the business bills. People keep on telling us to file for bankruptcy, but we don't want to do that. We want to pay everyone, and not leave bills and people hanging. Then we are having problems with the IRS. Plus a few more things that have popped up, and then I find myself just sitting here wondering what shoe is going to drop next.

But now if I was reading this from a friend I would stop what I was doing and pray for them and also send them words of encouragement. I would also remind them to speak positive words, and not to speak anything that would open the door to Satan or to let him come in and cause evil in their life. So, why am I not doing this myself? Why am I so small in my faith right now? Where is the woman that would take her Bible and walk around her property 7 times, praying a wall of fire around her home, asking God to be on the inside and to keep all evil out. (At the time we lived in New Bern, N.C., which is the witch capital of the U.S. at the time.) Where is the woman that would stop whatever she was doing and get on her knees and pray when God told her to. Where is she?

I am here. I'm just wounded right now. But I've been reading a book that my Mom got for me and it is like reading my own story. And the part I just got done reading hit me right between the eyes. God has gone no where, He is right here with me. Instead of telling Him that I know that I should be praying, that I should be doing all of this stuff, and then I just put it on the back burner. My faith is weak. But His isn't. I am not going to ask God to please hold on to me, since right now I'm having a hard time holding on to Him. I am asking Him to please not let me go. I am also just going to start talking to Him as I would a friend, and ask Him to remind me to pray, to call on Him. Is this making sense? I can't even take another step on my own right now. I want to crawl up in His lap and rest in Him.

I am still at my Mom's and will be here for a while longer. I am enjoying spending so much time with her, and today was special, sad but special. Mom has been in kidney failure for a while now, and she has had operation after operation, but nothing has worked. Today we went to her kidney doctor, and he was telling her that things were moving right along and that he would see her in August. But before she left his office he sent her upstairs to do some blood test and wanted her to wait to get the results. I had my sweet Myles with me so I had taken him for a walk and was putting him back in the car when the nurse came out to get me. The hair was standing up on the back of my neck. I went into the room where mom and the doctor were sitting and he told me what they had found out. Mom's kidney function is down to 9% and has to go on dialysis now. And I mean they went right to work getting everything set up. By the end of the week she should be on the machine, 3 times a week for about 3 to 4 hours a day.

Of course she was very upset and sees this as the end of her life. I kept telling her to look at it as her glass is half full. The doctor said that in about 6 weeks she should be feeling better, she has felt so bad lately. He also told her that she can live another 2 to 8 years. That is wonderful. But I'm now walking in her body, am I. I can only be here to give her all the support that I can, and love her each step of the way.

So, the next shoe? Who knows. I'm praying for a miracle in our finances. Please pray with me. Pray that the last house that we have will sell within the month, pray that the two lots that we have will also close this month, pray that God will lead me to the right job (yes, I'm leading towards shutting my studio), that God will protect my DH and guide him each day, and ask God to be the great physician in my mom's life and body. That is alot to ask of each of you, but I need these blessings in my life. God knows the desire of my heart, and thank you for praying for my family.

sorry that this has been so long. and I wonder if you actually made it to the end of this. I hope you did. I'll be back in a few days. Until then, take care.
Charlie

I'm back in the studio.

2008-06-09T13:56:00.010-04:00

Well, all of the company is gone, the kids are back from their weeklong honeymoon trip, and I'm back in my studio. Thank God. I missed being here and painting. Painting and my puppy, Myles, smooth my spirit. I can pick up a paint brush and all else goes away for a while, and when I hold Myles up close to my heart I am very content.

Here are some more pictures of the wedding.

This is Philip, Mr. Bear, and me right before the wedding. Mr. Bear has been with Philip since he was a year old.

Philip, Phil, and Charlie Pittman, the minister, are waiting for the bridesmaids and the most beautiful bride to come walking down the beach.

The groomsmen walked the ladies down to the front. 10 groomsmen and 10 bridesmaids.

Love is in the air. Aren't they beautiful? This has become a new tradition for the beach weddings. There are three containers at the front, two are full of sand and the biggest one is empty. The bride and groom each pick up a container and together they fill the bigger one. This way their sand is mixed together, never to be separated, as so are their lives. Pretty neat,

huh?

And now I am proud to introduce to you, Mr. and Mrs. Philip Aster McGee, II, to you.

Now for the reception Photos. Enjoy.

Brother and Sister dance together.

This is one of the table decorations.

Here are some of the guest at the wedding. Chip and Nancy.

And here is Stan and Kim with one of the youngest guest, Sonya Rose.

Here I am with Hunter and Phil.

Of course, what would the reception be without Mr. Cow and Mr. Bear?

Phil, being the best man, gave the toast, and what a toast it was. So much fun. Here is the proud mom with her youngest son and new daughter.

Oh my gosh, they are just so beautiful.

Still Mommy's little boy.

Kim's Dad is also making a toast, and the singer gets Mammaw up and dancing. Way to go!!!

Monday night, and I have a new Daughter.

2008-06-02T23:35:00.007-04:00

The wedding of my son, Philip, was this weekend and I now have been blessed with a beautiful new daughter. She is the type of girl that is not only beautiful on the outside but her spirit and just as beautiful. If I could have picked a girl for Philip I would have wanted to pick Kim, I love her that much.

This is a picture of the two of them at the rehearsal dinner looking at the groom's cake that Kim got for Philip.

My friend Becky crossed stitched this piece for the kids. and this really is special because Becky has had arthritis since we were in our teens.

My brother-in-law, Johnny, came in on Tuesday and cooked all day on Wednesday and Thursday for Friday night's rehersal dinner. Bruce came in to help him and also to be here for the wedding. Thank you Johnny and Bruce, I love you.

Look at the cute couple. Aren't they beautiful together?

Okay, it is midnight and now I want to go to sleep. I'll be back later to help fill in with more pictures and words. And again, thanks for all of your uplifting words and prayers. You have become really important to me.

Still Believing.

Charlie

Pictures, as promised. Enjoy.

2008-05-29T23:24:00.004-04:00

This is the new home for the McGee family. It just was put there, still lots of work to be done.

A picture of Hunter in his tux for the prom.

On the workday at the studio I was blessed with 10 friends and family there helping. Here are a few of them. This first photo is of my Aunt Susie and friend George.
My Uncle Benny proves he knows how to run a vacumn cleaner.

Here is my mom, aunt, uncle, cousin Jamie, and friend Cathy.

On the next day we decided to take a break and have lunch, but look in the background and see what my studio looks like now. It is beautiful.

Life has been so busy. Really.

2008-05-29T00:05:00.002-04:00

Hi, Thanks for all of the comments and e-mails letting me know that you haven't forgotten me and are praying. Let me get you caught up real quick. It is already after midnight, and I have been up since 6 a.m. this morning.

Last week I spent the week getting my studio put back together, and I've got to tell you that it looks great. My friends and neighbors kicked in and helped me get it all put back, and even decorated it differently and I love it. I've taken pictures, and I'll post them later. But after a full week of working I got it done. Praise God.

Last Friday I had to go have a MRI on my hip. All of this moving and stuff has really mess it up, but it isn't anything bad. I'll just put my big girl pants up and keep going. But I took two happy pills and fell asleep during the MRI, no stress there. LOL.

On Saturday my best friend from 7th grade flew in and I picked her up at the studio and we left the airport and went straight to the mall, which I hate going to, and shopped all day for a dress to wear to the wedding this weekend. I've gained so much weight that I am not even going to tell you what size I had to end up getting. I had set a limit on what I would spend, and I am so happy to say that I was able to stay within 12 dollars of my budget. I bought a dress from J.C. Penny's for about 39 dollars. It is called being on sale. Then I bought a new bra, a pair of panties briefs, the things that have legs in them so that my legs won't sweat, and a beautiful pair of shoes. The total cost my shoes were about 35 dollars, and my bra was 11.00, and the panties took up the rest of the money. Everything was on sale and we also got additional percentages off and it was just amazing. I was so thrilled at the money that I saved, I feel like such a big girl.

Monday found me at my daughter's house, and why you might ask me? Well, her dog was having puppies and for some reason I've become the mid-wife for these things. I am happy to share with you that after a long day of labor, Little Lu gave birth to four puppies, two boys and two girls. She did a great job, and she produced a lot of love for some lucky people.

My brother-in-law got here on Tuesday, and he started cooking today for the rehearsal dinner. My mom's house is so crowded, but we are making it. And believe it or not, but we are having a ton of fun. I wish you could see all of us in the kitchen, we all have to move around one another. You need to come join us. Lots of laughter and loving going on here.

And finally, my house is up and almost done. Can you believe it? I have pictures, and I promise to send photos as soon as I can. With the wedding of my oldest son this weekend, I am so pushed for time. I hope that all of you are staying well and healthy. My best wishes to all of you.
thanks,

A view of my new home.

2008-05-20T16:26:00.003-04:00

Hi, yesterday I went over to the new lot to put some of my plants and trees in the ground. While I was there working and SWEATING, I looked up and right in front of me were a bunch of day lilies. I was so excited. I had to stop and call my mom and tell her. I know that this doesn't really sound like much, but I really couldn't bring a lot of my plants and trees with me, so when I saw these growing already, well it just thrilled my heart. Yes, it is the simplest things now that I look for and that bring me joy. Anyway, wanted to share some photos with you of my new place. I'm just so excited.

The first photo is of the whole lot. If you look closely you will see the dirt where the foundation has been dug and the house will be going. The second photo is the right side of the lot, and on the right side of the lot is where I was putting my plants and trees. The third photo is jut a close up of my swing, my iron children, my painted rocks, and some other yard things that I took with me. I'll send more later.

Yes, I'm alive.

2008-05-16T10:24:00.003-04:00

I know, it has been over a week since I last came in and wrote, but I'm sure that all of you know that I've been busy. Way too busy. But I'm at my "Mommy's" house, and she is taking great care of me and my clan. Phil, Hunter, the dogs, and myself spent our first night here on Saturday, and it was wonderful. Mom had dinner fixed, we came in and ate and then I took my shower and went to bed. I slept the whole night and most of Mother's Day. Then Monday found me back at the house still carrying things out. Finally Monday evening I looked at Phil and told him that it was time to call the troops. Meaning our friends. I called some of the guys and here they came and helped us get all of the big stuff out of the house. What a relief it was to have our friends come in and take over for a bit. Thank God for all of the blessings in my life, and that includes my friends.

Then on Tuesday my Aunt and Uncle came over and helped Kathy and I with finishing the loading of the trailer and taking it to storage and unloading it. Then we went back to house and cleaned it up, and we even got some of the old windows that I've been collecting and put them on the open trailer. We loaded the other trailer up again, and then finally I looked at Kathy and told her that I needed to leave. I was so tired. I came home to my mother's and got in bed and took a nap. That was some good sleep.

Wednesday morning I got up and went back to the house, worked on digging up some of my plants and putting them in pots. I even tried to dig up some of the bigger ones, but decided that someone else would have to get them for me. Later in the day my husband and younger son came to the house, loaded up some more items and we made our last trip to storage, then returned the trailer that we were borrowing back to Britt's Motor Sports here in Wilmington. What a feeling to leave the house and know that I don't really ever have to go back. I left some of my plants, rocks, and some other out door items there, but my older son told me that he would go on Saturday and get everything else for me. And guess what? He actually did it. He and my future daughter-in-law went and finished getting everything else that I wanted to get and took them to the new lot. They blessed me on Saturday and I really do appreciate them helping.

Speaking about the new lot, they have the foundation dug and poured. Now the modular is supposed to be going on the lot this week. I am excited about this event happening, but I've got to tell you that it has been wonderful living here at Mom's. I am enjoying the time that we are getting to spend together, she is cooking and I get to help some. (I am not much of a chef, so it is nice to be able to help her and learn in the process.) We have got and visited some of the art centers here and have gotten some ideas and have talked about things to paint and make in the near future.

Okay, I'm ready for sleep now, so each of you take good care of yourself and my God give you all special blessings, because you are all special blessings to me.

thanks,

Charlie

Still here, in my house and in my bed.

2008-05-08T21:00:00.003-04:00

I really thought that today would be the day, but it isn't. As hard as my friend Kathy and I worked we still didn't get it all done. And Hunter, my 17 year old son, and his friends have been carrying things down from upstairs for days. Does that tell you anything about all the "stuff" we had? I say "had" because a lot of it has been taken away and never to be seen again. I am so embarrassed at all that we have, what were we thinking. I'm telling you the truth, I have a whole new look out on life and the things that we think we need. When it all comes down to it we just need God, our family, and our friends. Of course a dog or two is nice too. Poor Myles, he hasn't been with me all week cause of all the stuff going on here at the house. Kathy has been taking him home, and yes she is spoiling him rotten, but I'll get him back when I get to Mom's.

I need to talk about this, so bear with me. I have three children, Philip is 24 and getting married this month, Samantha is 21, and then Hunter. We have given and given to our children all their lives. If they called and needed something we gave it to them. If they needed help we were right there. Well, we have been calling them for weeks to come get their things from the house, and then this week we have been calling asking for help. Philip came for a bit, but Samantha hasn't been here at all. When we call Philip he tells us that he is busy and can't really come. Poor Hunter has been doing it all, and that just isn't fair. I am so disappointed in my older children, that right now I don't really want to talk with them because I don't want to say anything that I can't take back. I know, I'm tired and I need to just calm down. I really do have good children, but they let me down big time for the past two weeks. Oh well, what can a Mom do?

Okay, thanks again buddies. You will never know what it means to me to have all of you here for me.

Still believing,

Charlie

two posts in one, but i should really be asleep.

2008-05-07T23:46:00.002-04:00

i wanted to come in here and say some things, buy my pills have kicked in and i could be sound asleep instead of writing to you. but here i set, in my bed for the last time in my home for the last night.
Am I worried about what is happening this week" Nope, not at all. I'll looking forward to leaving, getting in my mom's bed with my sweet Myles and sleeping for hours.
Saturday will find me at the Celebration for Hampstead, and I'm going to set up a booth to see items and also to introduce myself and some of the other artist in my shop to the surrounding areas. It is a great way to get word about about the studio, and these other artist.

Oh, I came in here to post something, but I'm I'm falling asleep and I need to go for now. Take care and lovely greatly.

My first award.

2008-05-07T21:57:00.005-04:00

Okay, I have finally received my first award, and sweet Diana Lyn, at Heaven Scent~Candles From the Heart, is the person who presented me with this award. And of course me being still new to some things I had to ask her to help me with posting this award on my blog and she was very willing to help me. I also want to share with you the fact that when she found out that I do a fund raiser for Breast Cancer she immediately sent me a candle for it. That really touched my heart cause we had just met here in blog land and boom, here came the candle. She is a 7 year survivor, Praise God. Please go visit her blog, she is extremely uplifting and shares her life and belief in God with every post.

Now on to the award, I get to nominate 5 more Talented Artists for this award, which is called the "Arte Y Pico Award".

The rules are as follows~~
1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for creativity, design, materials used, and their contribution to the community no matter what the language.
2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his/her blog to be visited.
3. Each award winner has to show the award and the name and link to the blog that awarded it.
4. The award winner and the one who has given the award have to show the link to "Arte Y Pico"
5. Show these rules.
And now for my 5 selections!

1. Sandy at Dream, Create, and Inspire is a wonderful artist, teacher, and friend. She is the one that got me started blogging and I love to go visit her blog and see what she is creating each day. She has also started a new blog where she is selling her artwork, so go check her out and make sure to visit both blogs. Sandy and I go to certifications together, and we are going to a convention this summer. We are sharing ideas with each other, but more than that she is one of my best cheerleaders. She always has a great comment and is so positive.

2. I love visiting Ragamuffin Gal, and I want you to go visit her too. She does a lot of altered art, and even sent me a piece of art with my name on it to hang up at the studio. She shows so many different pieces of art, not only her own but she shares others work for us to see. And her spirit is so loving and giving, so go be lifted up by reading her blog. If you go read her blog now she has a scripture written on the right side of her blog, and it spoke to my heart tonight. I just love my blogging friends.

3. JoAnne at Paper Cats is doing a project that is all PINK. She is having all artist send in works of art that is all pink or has something to do with pink and is making a collection of them. I am so excited to be a part of this project and she is so generous to all of us to all us to be a part of it. And she is so encouraging, always has uplifting things to say and ready to help in anyway that she can. Do yourself a favor and go visit her blog.

4. Karen at A Scrapbook of Inspiration is an inspiration of art. I love reading her blog, looking at her work and enjoying her sense of humor. If you go now and read it you will see her post about spring cleaning. After you read it let me know how many smiles it brought to your face.

5. Okay for my last award, I want to give it to Cookie Sunshine. I love this blog,and her art is so neat. She sent me some prints back in February because I mentioned that they reminded me of myself and my two friends that are my sisters of the heart. Go visit and enjoy. Get yourself a cup of coffee and sit and read some, you will feel much better.

okay, I am finished for tonight. It is almost 11:3o and I need to go to bed. I've been packing all day long, and I'm tired. Tomorrow is the big moving day, but I'm sure that it will take longer than just tomorrow since there is only the three of us trying to move, I don't have the money to hire movers and our older children are too busy to come help. Hunter's friends said that they will try to help. Hunter's friend, Fish, has been here for days helping Hunter with the upstairs. They are so funny together. They work hard, and then they will take a break and play for a while. I love it. I love my children and their friends.

Take care.

Charlie

Oh, I forgot I had that!!!!

2008-05-06T22:05:00.002-04:00

How many times have you bought something and put it up only to forget that you had it? Or is it just me and my old age?

I've been working hard these past few days, I even think I'm losing some weight. Alright, that's a positive for all of this mess. But I've been going thru everything, and I do mean everything, and I've found a lot of things that I've forgotten that I had. I found a bracelet that I purchased on a trip to W.V. last year for the Angie's Amazing Race 2, which was this pass October. I took it tonight to the meeting, so it will be there for this year's event. But I've also seen a lot of things that I knew I had, just haven't seen in a while. Things that the kids have done over the years, cards from my DH, best friends, and just a lot of different things. I haven't found a thing that I'm sorry that I kept, but I am getting rid of things that I know I don't need or will ever use again.

I am finally in my bedroom working, and it is after 10 and I just got my bed cleared off. I've gone thru all my drawers, closet, and all I have left is my bathroom and to pack my clothes. I was hoping to be at Mom's tomorrow night but I think that it will be Thursday before I get out of here.

I look for humor every place I can find it, and sometimes it finds me. I love to laugh, it is so good for the soul. And I love friends that let me laugh and cry with them. God has blessed me with so many wonderful people in my life, too many to mention. But I just want to throw some names out there. Becky, Cathy, Kathy, Terry, JoAnne, Joanie, Maria, Johnny, Mom, Debbie, Nancy, Donna Lynn, Diana Lynn, Sandy, and all of my other blogging buddies. Also, my students are wonderful!!! See, God has blessed me in so many ways. When I'm overwhelmed I can pick up the phone and call or come in here and reading a blessing from one of you. Today I had a dark moment and I called my sister, Sheri, and she had me laughing in minutes. And the prayers!!! I am covered in the Blood of the Lamb. I am the Daughter of the King. How blessed am I!!!

Have a wonderful Wednesday and I'll be back in a few days.
Still believing,
Charlie

Saturday night, and I'm tired.

2008-05-03T21:00:00.008-04:00

Okay, it is the end of another week, and I'm so glad. I am tired, pure and simple. I took the week off from the studio so that I could focus on the house and work towards moving out. Well, let's just say that I'm still in my house, and will probably be for a few more nights. I can't believe how long is taking me to get out of this house, but it is. The good news is that we finally have some of the furniture out of the house, and a lot of the boxes. Our bed is still here, and Hunter's is still here, but most of the other furniture is in the pod, or parts of it. fun. fun.

Monday my brother-in-law came down from Greensboro to have lunch and to go check the kitchen out where we are going to have the rehearsal dinner for the wedding. My whole day was spent with him, so I didn't get any packing done that day at all. Then on Tuesday I went to the studio for class, then I went and got my hair cut. It isn't real short, but it is shorter than what it was. Now I just need to get it highlighted and I'll look more like the old me instead of this tired me. Sometimes I look in the mirror and wonder who the heck I am. Ugh....... Oh well, it's me.

Anyway, Wednesday found me having lunch with my neighbor, Joanie, and with Kathie. That was fun. Then I packed some and had to leave the house and go get more boxes and paper. My brain is so dead, I drove right past the place to get the boxes and went to the studio, then realized what I had done and turned around and headed back home looking for the business. I finally found it, but I felt like such a dummy. Thursday found me working with Phil and Philip on a house that we built last year, but it needed a work day. I sanded the steps going up to the bonus room and put a few layers of sealer on them. I had saw dust in places that I didn't think I could have it. It was everywhere. Needless to say I got no packing done on that day. Then on Friday morning I got up and had to run some errands and finally got home mid-morning and started packing again. Kathy came over to help, and Philip came over to help some too.

Today I went to the studio for a watercolor batik class, was there all day. But we have such a good time there that it doesn't really matter how long we were there. I am enclosing some pictures of the final results.

Good news on the lot and modular. The lot has been surveyed and the post have been put up where the modular is going to go. When we had lunch the other day we drove by and we got out of the car and I was showing the girls where the front door would be, where my bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and everything else would be. That was really fun for me, I can see it all in my head.

Well, the race is on and I want to watch it just a bit before I pass out. Enjoy the photos from today. Once again, thanks for all the prayers and wonderful comments.

love to all,

Charlie

Precious Myles in his pen at the studio while we were painting.

Theresa is loving the batik.

Jean and Kathy are concentrating hard, we decided to paint by looking at a picture instead of following the pattern.

Jean and Theresa are waxing their pieces.

Here is my piece......

And my finished piece.

Kathy's finished piece.

I'm telling you, Theresa loves doing batiks, and if you look closely you will see that she has fours flowers compared to our three.

Jean's DH came in the studio to check on her and the painting. He seemed to like it, and he really loves his wife.

While we were cleaning I noticed that Myles had disappeared. I'm not going to mention any names, but K.S. had put him in the trash bag. Bless his little heart.

Life, here we go.

2008-04-28T20:30:00.003-04:00

Thanks for all the e-mails and prayers. I am still so amazed at times how this blogging community comes together and will bow their heads in prayer. I know that I am making it thru this with the help of my friends and with all the prayers being lifted up in our behalf.

I've had a few questions today about what is going on, so let me fill you in some. Last week was a hard one, to say the least. Our house and the situation went to court last Wednesday, and so it is out there and in foreclosure. Nothing can stop it now. Not that I even want to stop it at this point. There is no way that we can continue to pay these payments and survive. While the building business was going strong so were we, but then it died and we have hung in there as long as we could. No more.

We are having a yard sale this weekend, and we are moving out of our home and moving in with my Mother for the time being. This is really something because her house is not that big and we are moving in, three of us with our four dogs, and there are two of them and she has 3 dogs. But it will all work out just fine. I know it will. And I'm looking forward to spending some time with my mom.

Last week, on Thursday I cried and cried all day long. It seemed like every time I turned around I was getting slapped in the face and I just couldn't take it anymore. Kathy, my friend that is at the studio alot helping me, came in and took one look at my face and knew something was wrong. Then my neighbor and friend, Joanie, called me and I couldn't talk because I was so upset and before I knew it she was at the studio to give whatever support she could. How blessed I am.

I still don't know when the lot and modular will be ready, but I do know that it is finally working ahead and I know that I'll be there soon. I am so looking forward to getting there, really. It is small, but it will be home. Once everything gets settled I will send pics out to everyone.

I am planning on digging up all of my plants and trees and taking them with me. I need to do it now while the weather isn't so hot. Maybe tomorrow.

Well, have a great evening and I'll stay in touch. And I've just got to say, I am so thankful for all of you and I love you.
Charlie

Pictures from classes last week.

2008-04-27T22:56:00.007-04:00

Here are the pictures from the last two classes. One was with the HD class and Theresa and Jean seemed to really like the class, and they both did wonderfully.

Kathy had a one on one with me for the Magnolia and even her DH likes it and told her to put it over the mantle of their fireplace.

Next was the clay class. Kathy, Joanie, Maria, Kathy S., and even Mom came for the class.

Myles loves to get in any photo that he can and Kathy was more than happy to help. And Joanie is her usual self and doesn't want to have her photo taken, so she hides behind her beautiful clay piece. Hey Joanie, nice haircut.

And then here is Kathy, and she is so happy to show us her pretty blue piece.

Back from the Pickle Festival.

2008-04-27T21:45:00.008-04:00

My sweet Myles in a pot that I painted.

Hello and I hope all had a great weekend.

I'm back from the Pickle Festival in Mt. Olive, N.C. and have gotten caught up on my sleep. My sister and I left around 2:00 on Friday afternoon and drove to Mt. Olive so that we could go ahead and set the display walls and tables up that night and get plenty of sleep for the next day. We ate at a Mexican restaurant that was wonderful and cheap, $6.00 for a big platter full of food. Hey, that is my kind of place. We ended back at the hotel and in bed before 8:00, but didn't fall asleep until later. We started watching Ghost Whisper and got hooked, so it was a little bit later before either of us went to sleep. Then we got up at 4:00a.m., showered and got to downtown by 5:00a.m., got the trailer unloaded and had everything set up by 7:30, and then sat down and waited for the people to show up.

Here is my sweet sister, resting while she can. I am such a hard slave driver.

The only problem with everything is that they put us on a side street that they thought would have a lot of traffic on, but it didn't work out that way. Hardly anyone walked by, but the ones that did stopped and a lot of them bought some of the items. I was so disappointed. Really. I know I was in trouble as I sat there and watched everyone walk by and never come down the street. And here I sat with all of the pickle glasses, and all of the other things that I had painted for the show.

Some good things did happen though. First of all, my sister and I really had a good time together and we were able to laugh and talk, just having "sister" time. And I'm not even going to tell you all about the food that we ate. LOL. Let's just say that my sister didn't feel too good on the drive home.

Another good thing was that the heads of the committee walked around and judged the booths and gave out two awards. One was the the best commercial vendor and one to the best arts and crafts vendor. Guess who won the best arts and crafts? Charlie's Studio. I was so excited, I gave both of them a hug when they presented it to me. What does that mean? Well, I get a booth there next year for free, and my booth and name will be put in their newsletter that they send out.

And one of the good blessings was that I was able to bless others. I usually watch people and when I see them fall in love with something and they can't afford it I will give it to them. So, I sat a birdhouse down and I told my sister that morning that who ever picked it up was going to get it for free. It was later in the day and a woman walked up with her son and she was looking at the stuff in my booth, didn't walk in but stood on the edge just looking. She saw the birdhouse and picked it up. She was talking to her son, then put it back down. I was trying to get up out of my seat to get to her, it was like slow motion. But I got to her and told her that the birdhouse was hers for free. She just looked at me like she didn't hear me right. Then my sister walked up and said that is right, that I had told her that morning that I was giving it to the first person that picked it up and looked at it. She couldn't believe it, but was thrilled.

Then as we were packing up at the end, a sweet lady walked by and she fell in love with everything. She was standing there looking at things, saying that she wished that she had more money with her but she had brought 20 dollars with her and had bought a licence plate that said "Speak It". When I saw it I knew what she was talking about and we got to talking about speaking and believing in God's Word. We had a wonderful time sharing our faith in God, and the whole time I saw her looking at a pitcher and glasses. She walked over to them, picked them up and said how much she loved them and that they would be what she would buy if she could. So I told her to take them. She looked at me, then at the set, then back at me. She then just started talking again. She said that she gives and plants seeds all the time, that she believes that God will bless her, and then when it happens she is so surprised and not expecting it. She said that she expects it, but then when it does happen she is just so surprised and she shouldn't be. I knew what she meant, and aren't we all that way. We believe that God will take care of us and when He does something for us a lot of times we don't believe it or sometimes we don't even see it. Anyway, I wrapped up the set for her, hugged her and she said a prayer for me as she left. What a great way to end the day.

Wanted to share some photos with you from the day. Enjoy.

The set up that morning.

A little of retail items with hand painted items.

That is it for now. Enjoy your life, and remember to breath in and then breathe out.

Charlie

The pickle glasses were a big hit, but when they were purchased it was one glass at a time.

It's Monday again.

2008-04-21T18:18:00.002-04:00

No matter what happens, Monday morning always comes, doesn't it? Mine was an early one as my DH left for a business trip and I had an early Doctor's appointment. And here it is after 6:00 p.m. and I'm still at the studio. I have a festival this weekend and I'm painting things for it. I'm taking some windows, glasses, crochet items, clay items, and whatever I can get my hands on. I'll take some photos and post them. I just hope that it is a good festival for me and that it helps to get my name out in the surrounding areas.

You know, it is the small things in life that are blessings. And I've got to tell you that I am blessed each day by a kind word or a promise of a prayer from all of my blogging buddies. You will never know how much your words mean to me, and they seem to always come at the right time. Thank you.

Yesterday DH and I went and spent some money. Guess what we got? We bought bikes. Now we started looking at bikes back in January and then when we decided to move we realized that there is a bike path all over the area and that made our desire for a bike even stronger. The ones that we were looking at were around 300 dollars, and that is without the accessories, I need a basket so I can take Myles with me. Well, yesterday we went to Wal-Mart and bought two bikes, a basket for Myles, a bell for my bike, and a bike carrier for the car and we still got out for less than one of the other bikes would have cost us. Now why do I share this with you? Because, months ago we would have paid the big bucks and not thought anything about it, but now we stop and think about what we are doing, do we really need it, and we keep reminding ourselves that we don't need the best of everything. I was so proud or ourselves yesterday. I really was.

Okay, that is it for now, just wanted to share my thoughts with you. Have a blessed week.
Charlie

Taking a blessing when it walks through the door.

2008-04-16T12:59:00.002-04:00

Hi, I was sitting here filling out forms for a show, second time mailing them because the first ones never got there, and wondering how I was going to get to the post office because people were actually coming in the studio today to look around. I was sitting there when I looked up and one of my sweet ladies came in to get her supplies for next weeks lesson and she said that she would take them to the post office for me. What an Angel. Okay, that's all, just wanted to share my blessing with you.
Believing,
Charlie

It's Monday, a new week.

2008-04-14T20:25:00.002-04:00

Hi, thank you so much to all of you that have sent me prayers and best wishes. Leaving our home is not an easy thing to do, but we are working on it. Today I spent the day going thru my clothes, and I am so disappointed in myself. As I was going thru them, dividing them into 3 categories, I found so many that I have never worn and that still had the tags on them. What a waste of money. Some were things that I let others talk me into getting, I've got to learn to say no, and stick with my own taste. whatever that might be. And the shoes......some have never been worn. I've got to tell you, this whole experience is teaching me a lot of different things and I hope to be a much better person when we come out on the other side. I feel like I only need a few shirts, jeans, one or two dresses or skirts and a couple pair of shoes. Nothing fancy or much to the extreme. I'm a simple person and I only need simple things. I think. LOL.

Anyway, I wanted to let you all know that my friend Sandy is having a giveaway for her 300th post, so go visit her and enter. You will love what she is giving away.

take care,
and I'm still believing.
Charlie

Please be careful, a virus is being passed along.

2008-04-08T16:47:00.002-04:00

Hi,

Last night I posted for the first time in a month, and I got, what I thought was a nice comment, a virus. I was so scared, I have never gotten one like that before. Thank God my anti-virus thing on the computer caught it. I am so sorry to anyone that came on my site and clicked the same comment and got a virus. It has been deleted and is now gone. Shame on the ones that send out viruses, especially in a place like blog land where we all just want to share our lives and interest with others.

take care,

Charlie

Pictures from Dewberry Designs.

2008-04-07T22:17:00.003-04:00

pictures

2008-04-07T22:01:00.006-04:00

Here are some photos from Donna's home. Just want you to see how she incorporates her art in her home.

Sometimes life is just too much.

2008-04-07T21:40:00.002-04:00

Hello, Yes, I'm still here. My plate has just been so full for the last month that I haven't had the energy to even come in here and write. I am so sorry. I guess you might say that I'm dealing with a little bit of depression too, and that has a tendency to make you tired and to lose all interest in your activities. I will try to get you caught up on my life really fast, don't want to bore anyone out there in blog land. Okay, here goes.

My husband and I are losing our home. Yes, you read it right. He is in the building business and it has died in our area, has been dead for a while and we have held on to the things for as long as we could but about a month ago, maybe a little longer, we decided that we just couldn't do it anymore and made the decision to let the house go. We are getting a modular and putting it on a piece of land that we own, and we will just start over. I have been spending the last month going thru all of our things and making three piles. 1. things that we need to keep, 2. things to sell, and 3. things to let go of all the way. This has been interesting, I still have things from high school. I love having things that meant a lot to me in the past, but now I'm at the point of do I keep them or let them go. We are going from a house that is over 3000 sq. feet, plus a garage, storage unit, and a huge back yard with hot tube and swimming pool to a small modular with not much land at all. So I am really trying to downsize things. Then I'm running out of time. Time is short here in the house, but the modular hasn't even begun to be set on the lot yet. I'm concerned about where we will go. But then I have been given more time than I thought, so that is a blessing in itself. Let's be honest here, I never ever thought that this could happen to us. We have always done pretty good, nice homes, cars, and could get pretty much anything that we wanted. Whoa, talk about a wake up call. but I have to tell you, I am believing that God will use this in a special way. This is one of our valleys that we are walking thru, and like the Bible tells us, this shall come to pass.

My trip to Florida was nice, but it was hard because I kept getting phone calls all the time about what was happening back here at home. but I've got to tell you, Sandy, my roommate and friend that is in Ga., and Donna was wonderful to me. God blessed me that week with the two of them. And I learned so much. Sandy and I were invited to Donna's house on Tuesday night for a chocolate tasting, check the link for the healthy chocolate on the right of my blog, and her house is wonderful. You just feel comfortable when you walk in, and at the same time you are so busy trying to take everything in. Sandy and I were both amazed at all the paintings that were in here house. I mean, the things that you see in her books are really in her house. I loved it. And, i really need to tell you this, Donna is such a special person. Her heart is so big, and she truly cares about her OSCI and students. I was fortunate to sit with her for two meals, and I just love her. And she is so funny. Really. The certification for the HD paints was the first one, and it was hard. We painted about 12 hours a day, for three days. To me it was hard, this is something that I've never really done before. But I learned and have already been playing with it some at home. I will post some pictures soon.

Well, I'm going to go for now. I've taken some sleeping pills and need to go to sleep. Tomorrow is a new day and the sun will be shining.
Believing,
Charlie

Found the camera and lots to share.

2008-03-07T14:25:00.009-05:00

Hello, it's been a long week, and thank God Friday is finally here. When I leave the studio today it will be closed for a week because I'm going to Florida for my certification class in the High Definition paints with Dewberry Designs. I am rooming with my friend Sandy, from Ga., and we are going to be showing each other different techniques with our paintings in the evening. I'm going to share watercolor batiks with her and she is going to help me with landscapes. So, not only will we be learning in the day time, but our nights will be educational too. AND guess where Sandy and I will be on Tuesday night. We will be at Donna's home, can you believe it? We got an invitation this week, and of course we both replied YES!!! Anyway, When I get back I'm sure that I will have lots of pictures to post and share with you.

And speaking of pictures to post, I have about a weeks worth to post so let me get to it.

We are painting a watercolor batik from a book by Kathie George on Watercolor Batiks. This is a very small picture that I blew up so that they could get a taste of doing these batiks. They loved it and so we are going to be purchasing a packet from Kathie George in the very near future.

See Kathy's tee shirt? It saids "Save the Ta-Tas". This is

one of the items we had for our Angie's Amazing Race 2.

And this is Joanie's first time with a paint brush in her hand. Looks like she is having fun.

LaDonna is drying her batik so that she can add more wax.

Maria is sitting and knitting while Joanie paints. Then Joanie is done with the painting and waxing, so now she is ironing off the wax.

And now for the finished pieces. This is Kathie's piece, and she really enjoyed doing this and looks forward to other batiks.

And this is Kathy's piece, and of course she is holding Myles. She is really excited cause she gets to keep him while I'm in Florida. He will be SO SPOILED.

This is LaDonna's first class with us. I think that she liked it and I hope that she makes back for some other classes.

And Penni is becoming a faithful student for Thursday nights, along with Kathie. She didn't want to do the batik But I think she liked it after finishing it.

And of course here is Joanie and Maria with Joanie's finished piece. They are a hoot. And the Pink piece is a batik that I did for JoAnne's pink project that she is doing. Go check it out.

Then for last nights class we painted roses. But first take a look at the birthday crown that I made for Joanie. I got the idea from Gabriela's blog, she makes beautiful crowns. Did I mention that they are beautiful? Go check them out.

This is Maureen, and she

had come to a class back before Christmas and wanted to come do the roses. She did very well for only her second time in class.

This Kathie's rose, and she did great. The ones that she was practicing were beautiful. She said that she knew what she was going to be doing all weekend, painting roses.

And of course here is Penni, with her new and sexy looking haircut. She said that she is going to call her sister and have her come look at the blog so that she can see her new look. Such a funny girl.

And what would a post be without a few picture of my Myles. And some of the flowers in my yard.

Enjoy your weekend, and I'll be back in after next week. Take care and keep on

Believing.

Charlie

Well, I've managed to misplace my camera.

2008-03-03T20:58:00.002-05:00

I meant to post pictures from last Thursday night's class, but I can't find my camera. I know that it is somewhere, I just don't know where that somewhere might be. But class was a lot of fun, Joanie even tried the watercolor batik and that is the first time that I've been able to get a paint brush in her hand. When I find my camera I will post the pictures then.

Today, Monday, started off not so well. At 7:20a.m. my cell phone rang and it was my hubby, Phil. He proceeded to tell me that he had been in a car accident and that it was bad. I got up, threw a jacket on and headed right out the door. It took me a year to get to him, or so it seemed. There were three cars involved, but only two really connected. The woman in the front car slammed on her brakes, for some unknown reason, and the semi truck hauling gasoline slammed on his brakes, but Phil didn't have time to slam on his. Needless to say, Phil's car went under the gasoline truck. He is okay, just very sore. He didn't go to the hospital, which I'm really upset over, but promises to go tomorrow. His car is probaby totaled, and it is his company car. Thank God that he is okay!!!! A car can be replaced, but he can't.

I guess that while I'm on this kind of subject I'll share some other things with you. We are moving out of our home within the next month. We have decided to downsize. Phil had a scare with cancer around Christmas and it got us to thinking. If something would happen to him there is no way that I could hold onto the house that we are living in. So we had a family meeting with our kids and told them what we are thinking about doing and they are supporting us in our decision. We are selling our pool, selling my jeep, and selling my 1955 Ford Truck. This scare was really a big wake up call, and we are going to get all of our ducks in a row. Of course with Phil being in the building business and the construction business has taken a nose dive this just seems to be the smartest thing for us to do. And you know what, I am really looking forward to this change. I will miss my neighbors, I have the best neighbors of anyone, but we will remain close. They come up to the studio all the time and we have a blast. Anyway, Just thought that I would share this with you. And it really helps to write about it, too.

I am going to go for now. I hope that all of you have a great Monday night, and I'll be back in a day or two.
Believing,
Charlie

BATIKS AND PAPER QUILLING.

2008-02-27T22:04:00.013-05:00

Tuesday was really a lot of fun. It started off with my morning class doing a watercolor batik. Patty didn't make it for class, but we did have a new student, Jean. The girls really loved doing this and we have picked out a big one to do possibly next month. I will be ordering them from the Artist, Kathie George.

This is Theresa adding a wash to her piece.

And this is Jean and she is drying her piece so that she can add another layer of wax.

And now for our finished pieces.

Aren't these really nice? And you can tell by the smiles on their faces that they really enjoyed this class.

Then for the night class, finally we got to learn how to do Paper Quilling. I loved it. This is a craft that you are either going to love or just not get it. There were three of us taking the class and two of us are hooked, and the third one is going to try a different class. Our teacher, Arden, has been doing it forever and was thrilled to be able to do a class. She is such a sweet lady and we are very lucky to have her with us.

Arden is helping Joanie with the stems to her flowers that she was making.

Brenda joined us for her first class. She made some beautiful flowers. and Joanie is hiding her face while showing us her flowers. Then next is the three pots that we did, fun, fun, fun!

Next week we are going to do a blue bird. This is an art that nuns started doing in the 13 th century. They used quills from birds for the rolling of the paper. I saw this in a book and picked it up and loved what I saw. Then I tried to find someone to teach me and couldn't. One day while I was sitting in the studio Arden walked in and asked me if I was interested in paper quilling. I about fell out of my chair! And that is how our quilling class came to be.

Tomorrow is a busy day, Crochet class and painting class. I love Thursday classes, and I'm already looking forward to all the laughter.

Believe.....

Charlie