It has been so long since I have blogged and so much has changed in my life.  So here it goes......

First, I am doing better with my health and thanking the Lord for that report.  I am in remission with my Lupus and Dermatomyositis.   This has been such a blessing in the past year.  I still have some rough days but nothing like before.  I have lost a considerable amount of weight which I am ever so grateful.  I had cataract surgery which took me away from the computer for  a period of time but now vision is great.  Life does get better with age at times. 

I turned the magic age of 65 in April and yes I hit Medicare.  Never in my entire life did I think I would ever be on Medicare.  When I started teaching never did I think I would ever retire.  You just breeze along and then one day you are there.  Wow how time does fly when you are having fun.

My wonderful husband of 38 years and our beautiful daughter that is expecting our third grandchild this August, 2013.  So I am way behind but God has blessed us in so many ways.

My beautiful grandchildren Conner is six and Katherine is three and soon will be Camden.

They are an absolute delight to us and we enjoy every minute with them. 

Still making jewelry and selling on Etsy.  Doing some private showing in my home also. 
A few craft fairs and such.

Life is great!

Tatata for Now.

Happy New Year

Well Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's have come and gone since I have blogged.
I best get myself in gear!!!!!  Busy.....yes and no.    Feel bad.....yes and no.    Mostly good a little too busy at times and then very tired.
Now that all the Holidays are over and my house is back in order I think I can get back on track.
Celebrated all my Holidays with the normal traditions and loved everyone of them.

Halloween with family and the normal chili plus hot tamales.  Not many children trick r treating. 
Conner was Harry potter and a perfect one.  Katherine was Minnie Mouse and cute as can be.

Thanksgiving lots of people here both family and extended family.  That is my favorite because we are all together.  House is decorated for Christmas already we have lots of laughs and fun.

My favorite because we always talk about what all we are thankful for.  So many blessings it is hard to count them all. 
Big Holiday open House at Southern Market and it was great.  Lots of good sales and such nice people.

I also did the KAMA Fashiondrama this year once again.  I had skipped a couple of years because I just didn't feel like doing the show.  I went and had a great time met up with some of my great customers.

An entire variety  of jewelry from early Fall,

Thanksgiving and of course lots of Christmas jewelry. 

Then came Christmas and my granchildren love that for sure.

She was so excited and loved the tree and every decoration.  We had brunch and then had gifts.

Our daughter and her husband at our home ready to serve.

Festivities were winding down and I was so tired. So much fun was had by all..

Then we had New Year's.   My husband and I met on a blind date 39 years ago on New Year's Eve so that is a very special time for us.  we always go out to eat and celebrate with some friends.

Now the house is deflocked and back to everything being normal and I am really glad.  I was ready for normal again.  Sometimes it can get so hard sometimes to put on your face and try to feel great.

Now it is time to start jewelry for Valentine's and then onward to spring.

That is one thing about jewelry it is never boring because it is a constant change.  Different styles, colors, long, short, bulky, trendy and just casual.

Some like to mix have a little of both and that is a good idea.

I have incorporated She Clay Beads this year and that has been a real success.  So pretty very unusual and durable.

What will Spring bring ---always bright colors, and some pastel colors but very colorful.

Well it is time to get on with some great jewelry making for Southern Market.  

I promise to try and not make is so long this time or my grandchildren will be grown.   No just kidding.

Happy 2012  to each of you

Check my Etsy site

TaTaTaTa for now.

Fall has Arrived!!!!

After such a long hot summer I am thrilled to see Fall finally here.  I love the smells, leaves, pumpkins and everything else that goes along with this season.  The onlly thing I dislike is the allergies and mine are bad.   I love the new Fall colors, jewelry colors, and getting ready for the holiday season.

These are some of the things in my house ready for Fall.  Just love it!
Then let us not forget the football games----Go Vols!

We love Rocky Top and Big Orange Country.   Football get togethers is a fun time to share, eat and cheer the Vols

Now it is time to move on to important things (haha).   I am making jewelry for Fall and selling lots at Southern Market this time of the year.  I participated in their Tail Gate sale and will be participating in their Christmas Open house, Nov 3-5.   Fun and special times of each season.

New colors in SHE Beads have  hit the market.  Beautiful Fall colors.

Plus I am making all kinds of new things for the season including starting Christmas things.

I will also be participating in the Knoxville Academy of Medicine Fashiondrama this year selling my jewelry. 

My health is doing better or seems to be holding it's own.   I am taking my remicade infusion treatments every six weeks at Mercy North.  That is to keep the dermatomyositis under control.

As of this present time the Lupus is well under control.  I am very thankful for that.

I am staying very active by working out at Mercy North and being out and about.

I go to church and volunteer for "A Hand Up For Women."

Let me say that I have plenty of bad days but I thank God for every good day.  I feel so blessed compared to 2008 & 2009.  Those are times I don't like to think about but times like that make you stronger in your faith.

Time to get on with some creativity of monogramming and decorations for Festival of Tables at our church.

TaTa Until Later

TGIF Finally here! 8/19

Wow this has been a rough week with getting things done.  Really started on jewelry but other  things came up to keep me distracted.  Sometimes we have to be in the mood to work on projects or we can create things to keep us busy.
All Christmas or Seasonal beads are in boxes and I am getting ready for those.  Towels are bought to monogram.   Yeah!!!!!
I am pricing today for Southern Market Tailgate Party which is 8/27.  So much to be done here today.

On the other hand I have not closed my eyes at all last night.  For some reason i had a sleepless night in Rocky Top, TN.  Really irritates me so bad when I need the sleep to work on jewelry.

Yesterday was all ready to work then got a call from my daughter "Mom can you come and keep Katherine I have a meeting at Pellissippi."   Now what Granna is going to pass that up.  Not me
So away I go and was gone until 1:00 and then time to get my hair highlighted.  Oh well we can't miss that so that was my day.
My little grandson went to his first day of Kindergarten and he loved it.  he was thrilled I was there when he got home.  So it was a wonderful day!!!!!!

Today I am up and at it because I haven't been in bed. hahaha but true.

 Remember that Conner will be having surgery on 8/24 at Vanderbilt for a cleft.  This is his third major surgery.
Keep him and the family in your prayers.  Please
Have a great week---TaTaTa  until later

Summer is Winding Down and School Starting

I have no idea where you live but here in TN it has been so hot since April.  Starting then it has been in the 90's  all summer.  So I am so ready for Fall, bright colors, pumpkins and cool temps.

The hot temps sure kept me inside because of my health problems.  I am holding my own and still on Remicade infusion every six weeks plus lots of other medicines.

I have started making Fall plus Christmas jewelry to sell at Southern Market plus on my Etsy site.
Please visit sometime--   http://www.etsy.com/shop/BGKDesigns     Have been adding some new jewelry to my site.

Have enjoyed the summer with spending some time with my grandchildren.  Conner is 5 and will be going to kindergarten this Fall.   Katherine is 16 months old and is adorable.

 

 

Summer is Here in Full Force

Sure hope you have been keeping cool the last week or so.  The 90's and I just don't really like each other.   With my health plus the med's I take sun is not my friend.  
I do love the summer with the bright sunshine, chirping birds, smell of fresh cut grass, flowers blooming, fresh fruit and veggies.  Wow what more could you want!!!!  I forgot and school is out for students and teachers.  I sure remember what that felt like when I was teaching.  I am sure excited when my husband gets out for the summer because no set schedules.
I started the summer out on a bummer with pneumonia and spent sometime in the hospital.  Just came off the antibiotics after four weeks worth.  Going back to the Dr. this week and heading to the beach in two weeks for some R & R.   I love the sand between my toes, reading a book and smelling salt water.

Took a little break on jewelry but I am back now.  Getting ready to head to Southern Market on Monday morning, 6/6 to supply my shelves.
 Fun times already with my beautiful little grandchildren.

Catherineis thirteen months old and walking.

Conner graduated from preshool and ready for kindergarden at Cedar Bluff Elementary.

This was in my flower pot on the front porch.

Then they hatched out and were so cute.

This is why enjoy summer with all the wonders of SUMMER!

Enjoy each and every minute of your SUMMER and make special Memories.

Why is Life so Hard

I haven't blogged in sometime.  Well actually since Christmas.  Holidays were over and everything put away and I wasn't even sad to but it away.  It was a good Holiday season---being careful not to tire out.
Seems everything is going along good for awhile and then my body reminds me that I have not one but two chronic diseases. 
So much that people don't understand when you have a chronic disease you never know what each day will be like.  Faith is what you lean on and sometimes that gets just a little hard.
In 2008 I finally find out I have Lupus and I thought that was bad enough.  About six months after that I find out I also have Dermatomyositis, a severe muscle disease.  Then along comes Rheumatoid in 2010.  I just sometimes think I can't bear hearing another negative diagnosis.
Yes I know it could be so much worse I hear that all of the time but tell that to my wonderful husband, family and friends.  They see me at my very worse and it seems  never to get alot better.

After Lupus came into my family I was tired. Tired of being angry. Tired of being frustrated. Tired of having to defend myself because I didn’t look sick. Tired. Period. Something had to give. Having a chronic illness meant I would have it for the rest of my life. Whether I liked it or not, the diseases aren't going anywhere. Just when I think they have all calmed down they rear their ugly head again and are present for another time.

Again I have watched my wonderful husband leave for church without me.  I have my clothes out but a sleepless night from pain and so tired.  Does anyone understand????I don't think so unless you have walked in my shoes. 
I often tell people when they see me and compliment how great I look that I have my face on .
Many mood swings with all of this is so annoying.  My life a mess at the present and no cure.
Now three weeks ago because of all the medicine i am on I find out I am insulin deficient and that is another battle.  So one thing fights another. 


I had to let go of the life that I had and try to live the life that I have been dealt. The aches, pains ,flares, weight gain, swollen joints, and horrible muscless didn’t change, but my attitude sure did.

I need lots of laughter in my life !!!!!    Friends and family are great.  Then I also need  alone time to absorb what it is going on with my body.

Lots of people have a disease and it is cured but not this ugly group of diseases.