Thursday, January 31, 2013

Warm fuzzies!

I don't know what the weather has been like where you are, but up here in Michigan it has been wild. Last year we had a really warm winter, which does sound nice in theory. The problem was that the fruit trees warmed up too early, and bloomed while the bees were still asleep, or the blossoms were damaged with the frost that followed. We have a small apple orchard on the property and of the 10 or so trees there was only *one* apple.  I then began to appreciate a real winter. I am trying to hold on to that now that it is here again, and so cold.  Last week we had temperatures well below normal with windchills down around negative 20. This week we had temperatures soar into the mid fifties just long enough to cause an icy muddy mess that prevented school buses from being able to run the dirt roads. It also rained a LOT those couple days, causing flooding. The fog from the melting snow was so thick you could hardly see 100 feet from you. Yesterday was 54 degrees and today it is around 20 with the windchill making it feel like single digits again. Those are some crazy temperature shifts! I had to lock the ponies in the barn yesterday and last night to keep them dry so they did not freeze when the temps plummeted. Suffice to say, I am very eager for spring to finally arrive. Two more months of this. Blah!

I was talking with some friends about the cold this morning on FB, and mentioned needing coffee for the warmth and pick me up to get me going. I don't think I need it now though! Earlier this week I removed the Reece's Rainbow FSP donation link from the blog because of some virus stuff going on at the site. When I took it down, our FSP was at $10. When I put it back up today, imagine my surprise when it had jumped $200!! THANK YOU to who ever made that happen. What a wonderful surprise. I also want to thank those who have given privately through our Paypal link, or written emails offering prayer. Every bit of it is so appreciated.  Thank you!


And just because I love to share, here are warm fuzzies for everyone. ;) There are days I wish I could grow a fur coat like this... but then I don't think my hubby would be too impressed if I tried! 






**Fuzzy Pony Love**

(ok one more because I can't help myself..)


Saturday, January 26, 2013

The blessings of fundraising.. and it isn't always the funding

I've been wanting to write this post for a few days now but just haven't gotten a chance to do it.  Last week hubby helped me set up the front porch for a fundraiser sale. We have been blessed with a beautiful little mudroom off the front of the house that makes this so easy! There is not a lot of space but it is enough to put up some shelves and display things. We do have a garage we could put a sale in but it's back a ways from the road and is not attached to the house so I can't keep an eye on things from the warmth of my studio like I can on the porch. Anyway, we set up shelves, a few tables and a curio out there with a bunch of the items that were donated to our cause or that we decided to clear out of our own stuff. I put an ad on craigslist and then a sign at the road. I mentioned on craigslist that it was a fundraiser but not what it is for.



I set it up for Friday and Saturday from 9 till 4. Friday morning when I headed out to the mailbox at 8:50, someone was already in the driveway waiting to come in! Awesome. The lady came in at 9, and started browsing through some of the stuff and spotted the Breyers I had in a curio. We got to talking and she asked what the fundraiser was for. I had printed out a picture of our little guy and had it taped to our window with some details about what the fundraiser was for, so I showed it to her. She thought it was wonderful. She then mentioned that she herself was adopted at age 5. How cool is that? And she is just getting into Breyer horses, and lives quite local to me. That is fun too. What a blessing. I hope our paths cross again someday!

We made about $100 that day, most of it was from the Breyer horses that I sold to the first customer. Not too shabby for a porch sale on one of the coldest weekends we have had in a long time.

The next day we opened and had almost no customers for quite a while. I debated taking the sign down early just so I didn't have to think about it, but I figured that if I was working in my studio (which adjoins the porch), I might as well have it open just in case. We did get a couple people stopping by, most did not buy anything. Around 1-2 pm an elderly gentleman came by. He took his time and I smiled and chit chatted with him off and on. Eventually he decided which records he wanted to buy from the stack, and asked me about the picture I had posted on the window. I told him that it was a picture of a 2 yr old little boy in an orphanage in Eastern Europe that has Cerebral Palsy, and we were trying to raise money to adopt him. His eyes absolutely beamed. He said it was a wonderful thing, then choked up a bit as he said "We have one of those.... with the palsy...". He paused a moment and then finished with "It's so worth it, go get him!".  I choked back tears as I agreed. What an amazing blessing!!!  God is so good. He blessed me so much those two days. And even though we ended up making only about $110 the whole weekend, I do not think I could ever put a price tag on the experience. I still get teary just thinking about it.

My mom has been digging through her stash of stuff to find things for us to sell for our fundraiser, and I cannot wait to open the 'store' again just to see what new blessings God has for us, even if we don't make a penny.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Still chugging along!

We had our individual interviews yesterday, and they must have gone well enough as our Social Worker said she would tell us if we had any major issues to address. Next is the home visit! We also need to get our physicals scheduled. That bill is another biggie just because of the number of us in the house. We need *seven* physicals. I am going to ask if they have a group rate when I make the appointment. lol One can dream, right?

I did up a few more owls a week or so ago and finally got to putting the final touches on them today. I didn't have them listed on Etsy by the time a dear friend saw them and spoke up for the set. I figured that I could share them with you anyway. This size is priced at $50 each including shipping, or in this case, $135 for the set. They are 12x12 on stretched canvas. Quirky little Snowy Owls. The sideways one is my favorite.


I have 3 more canvases this size already sketched out with owls. Two are Barred owls, the other is a little ground burrowing owl. The Barred owls are a 2 piece set, the burrowing owl is separate and I have a feeling that one is going to be very hard to part with. I'm having more fun with backgrounds now and it is so cute.

Hope you are staying warm! It has been hovering around 0 degrees here the last several days. I cannot wait for spring!

Thursday, January 17, 2013

A few jewels for you

I promised back in November or December that I would post some of my Steampunk type handmade jewelry and things just got too busy. Well here are 2 of the sets I made. They are $25 each set (earrings and necklace) including postage in the USA.

The first is an antique copper, antique brass, and green set with a leaf pendant. The chain is 28" and is made to slip over your head. I can shorten it and add a clasp though if the buyer prefers. The earrings dangle 2" and I can change the style of hook if needed.


The second is also antique copper and antique brass in finish but has clear glass and blue (plastic I think) beads with a real antique key (not a reproduction). The chain on this one is 22" with about 3" extra for adjusting. The key is 1.5" long and not terribly heavy. The earrings dangle 1.5". 


Email me if you would like to purchase either of these sets or if you have any requests. 

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Thank you!

First off, Thank You to who ever put the first $5 in our FSP. So exciting!!

Secondly there was a large group of people that rallied this summer to get Jacob's grant up (he had a family briefly committed during the summer). That resulted in what I affectionately call Jacob's Great Pie War.  If you want to see that (and you do) it's covered here: http://askingwithfaith.blogspot.com/ THANK YOU guys for all of that love that you showed to our little boy. We so appreciate it!


Tuesday, January 15, 2013

It's official!

We are finally on the New Commitments page on Reece's Rainbow! Yay!!  Now aren't you just dying to know who we are trying to adopt? Alright I will spill the beans...

It's "Jacob"!  Oh I love this boy with all of my heart. I cannot wait to get him home so he can really thrive.



http://reecesrainbow.org/52513/sponsorkroll

Now for those of you who don't know about how the country he is in works, there is a small chance he might not be available when we get there. It is not a big chance but still a possibility. In that case we would accept a referral for a child of similar age and disability. Jacob has Spastic Cerebral Palsy. There are so many wonderful opportunities for these kids here in the US. Here he will have access to good medical care, better nutrition, therapies, and the support of a loving family.

If you would like to donate to our FSP through Reece's Rainbow you can use the link above. That donation is tax deductible if you are in the US. Those funds will be available to us when we get a travel date. There are however many costs prior to that point that we would welcome help with, so if you would like to donate to those costs, you can do so through our PayPal (or if we know you in person you may use a check/MO/cash).

We also welcome and encourage PRAYER for the process and that he would be well and loved on by the people working in and visiting the baby house.

Thank you!



Friday, January 11, 2013

One more owl

Same as the ones I posted yesterday. Acrylic on stretched canvas 18x24.  This one titled "Disapproving Owl" is a portrait of a European Eagle Owl. $75 plus $10 shipping


Thursday, January 10, 2013

Like a duck, and an owl..?

There is a saying about ducks... calm above the water but under the water they are paddling like hell... yep that's about it right now. Not much to look at but LOTS going on. Fundraising, artwork, paperwork..

We started the Home Study process and had our first interview on Wednesday. It went very well and we were able to turn in most of our needed documentation. A lot of people have asked what all is involved in the process. The name "Home Study" is a bit misleading. They are not doing a white glove & magnifying glass study of your house. What they are doing is getting a feel for your family dynamic to make sure your family is equipped to deal with all of the stuff that comes along with adopting a child with all of the emotional baggage that comes with it. They want to know that you have the income & home space and that you have smoke detectors and all that as well, but the majority of the study is *you*. Your parenting and your ability to adjust your parenting to a child with different needs. How you and your partner deal with stress and conflict. That you can present a united loving front when it comes to discipline. And they are there to teach and empower you to be the best prepared parents you can be.

 In other news we have a bunch of stuff for sale right now. Some is not yet posted on our FB page. If anyone wants to come and help sort it all out and set it up on our enclosed porch, feel free! I would love the help! Also if anyone would like to organize a fundraiser (through church, work, school, etc) we would love that. We are only able to do so much each day. Please spread the word about our FB page, this blog, any items I post for sale on FB, etc.

 Thank you!!

 Oh and here are some owl paintings I have for sale. $85each including shipping in the USA. They are both 18x24 acrylic on stretched canvas. I have more canvases and can get different sizes. If you have a request, feel free to ask! Email Me!


(This one is sold)

Here is another I did based on a sketch I did on my phone. It was a request and is also sold.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

More fundraising sales coming!

We have a bunch of stuff that I will start sorting and posting on our FB auction page this week. Lots and lots of new stuff donated by our awesome family as well as a bunch more that I have found around the house. So if you have not gone and Liked our FB page, please do that now so you do not miss anything! Some of the stuff being added includes vintage Looney Toons drinking glasses, antique books, salt & pepper shakers, old instruments, more jewelry, collectibles, artwork, etc.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

A new year's message to our little one

"It has been 2013 in your country for half a day already, though I know it doesn't seem any different to you. Your world consists of the same building, the same people, the same walls and foods. I wish I could tell you about what I hope this year entrails for you. New hope, a family that loves you dearly even though we haven't met. A new house, new foods, toys, rides on airplanes and cars. Hugs, kisses, tickles, and smiles. Pets, cousins, grandparents, and friends. Oh what a year we have planned for you, little one. So as your days tick by as they always do, I pray that God sends you love by way of someone much nearer than I. Until we get there, this 2013. Love, your Momma "