My Autoimmunelife

My Autoimmunelife

Chihuly Art Glass

                  

                  

Dale Chihuly, Neptune Seaform             Dale Chihuly, 
                                                          Wild Poppy Persian Pair   

 Dale Chihuly, Fiesta Macchia                 Dale Chihuly, 
                                                            Azure Blue 

Seaform Pair 

My Alter Ego

My Ultra-Ego Wonder  Woman, Xenia Princess, Miss Piggy, "Hi-Yaaaaaa"

Photo by HC Noel

Florida Nature Coast Bloggers

A few months ago I was invited by Connie Roberts to meet up with a few local women who also blog and all live in the area.  Connie is very knowledgeable and I jumped at her invite, and also because she is a very nice lady and I loved the idea of meeting face to face!  

The first meeting was in an Artsy Fartsy type restaurant run by a church and it was a really cool place.  I think there were 5 of us there and this lunch meeting turned into the Nature Coast Bloggers!  We laugh and have fun and share ideas and these women are becoming my teachers happily!  Even though we all blog, we all have different themes. Most of us have several blogs like myself, but none have giveaway blogs, although one of the gals just joined Dove Chocolatiers and she is having one on her site. 

Yesterday our group met at a local Dennys, actually 3 members missing as we are growing :)!  We discussed some of the blogging conferences coming up and which ones were thought of as good, etc.  We also talked about affiliates and making money with certain ones. I am really learning. I am so glad I was asked to join in the beginning by Connie and now we are good friends. 

If there are any of you in the Nature Coast Area, we have been meeting in New Port Richey area, let me know and I will get you information.  Warning, may be habit forming and cause rowdiness as an older man complained to our waitress in Dennys that we were too loud, and the waitress Brenda told him where the library is if he wanted quiet LOL! She fit in and we had so much fun with her we are going back there next month! So watch out Dennys, we shall return!

4th of July and My Nephews

My family is so fun, and I love spending time with my nieces and nephews. I am the youngest Aunt so somehow became the favorite one as well.  Maybe it is because I play drinking games with them when visiting and also share musical interests!

So I have to share this video of my nephews in a 4th of July Bath tub race.

 http://your4state.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=195637

They are now stars!

A Tribute to Dad

A Tribute to Dad

Today is Father's Day and I am finding myself sitting here reminiscing about some wonderful times I had with my Dad and thinking about what a wonderful man he was!

Dad passed away in 2000 and I am proud to share that he is in Arlington Cemetery and not only was he a war hero, he was my hero as well!

I am the youngest of 5 and also born later in life with 12 years between me and my next sibling! So when I grew up I was more like an only child! My father was able to provide for me and afford me a lot more than my brothers and sisters.

My favorite memories are all the traveling I did. My Dad bought a travel trailer when I was young and every summer we would take of on an adventure! I got to see a great deal of the United States with many a shared moment with Dad! He spoiled me rotten to say the least!

As I got older and out on my own I struggled for quite a long time, between 2 divorces and being a mom of 2, I never seemed to be able to get ahead. Dad was right there always helping me out. I look back now and don't know how I would of gotten by without his help!

After my first husband and I separated I moved back home, pregnant and my soul broken. I had a son and he was the light of Grandad's life! He spoiled my son so much I had to talk to him about it often and we would have disagreements and I would never win. I miss those disagreements now.

I have to smile now as my lovely daughter named Elise would talk her grandad's ears off and he would sit patiently (most of the time) and listen LOL! He also always called her Lisa as for some reason he could never remember Elise! I could go on and on with memories but then this would become a novel!

As Dad aged I watched him slow down and slow down and become just about bed bound. He was found to be suffering from a blood cancer disease and eventually he decided he had had enough treatments (hospitalizations and blood transfusions) and went on hospice. At this time I went and stayed with my Mom and Dad and a sister that was also here to be with him. I watched him decline daily. The night before he passed I went in his room and shut the door and laid next to him in bed and shared some quiet moments with him and also things from my heart with him. I told him how much I loved him and what a wonderful Father he had been to me. This was a lovely moment I shall never forget. I am so glad I did this when I did as there was no indication he was going to pass the next day. I have to say that I am so grateful I had that moment with him.

My Dad passed surrounded by family and I am sure he is up in Heaven looking down on me today and watching over my husband and kids. Dad I miss you loads and I look forward to joining you and Mom again someday but in the meantime know that you are so loved and missed!

Dog Days of Summer