A Flower For Rosa

A FLOWER FOR ROSA

I write today again with a heavy heart. A friend and past neighbor passed this week from Breast Cancer. Rosa lived with Robin and son Andrew next to us with we lived in Garland. We were not there long and didn't know them for long but what we found out was you don't have to know Rosa long to know what a sweet person she was. After we moved to Mineola, we used the Internet to keep up. She never let me know how bad she was feeling and always had an upbeat story or joke or request to forward email on Breast Cancer. My last note to her, told her we were moving back to the Dallas area and we needed to get together. NEVER put off things like that!!! Rosa was instrumental in helping me get some items we had from my Dad into the JC Penney Museum. She worked for JCP and was able to get me into to the Director. Don't think I could have done it without her "in". We always knew if we needed anything, we could call on her or Robin. Rosa fought the battle for seven years after caring for her Mom who also passed with Breast Cancer. We will always remember Rosa with a smile and sweet thoughts and we know she is at peace.

Please support Breast Cancer awareness where ever you are---I know we will.
Farewell Rosa---we will always think of your sweet smile!

Heavy Heart

A Flower for Jacquie

Our hearts are heavy today as my sister-in-law passed away on the 15th and she will leave a very vacant spot in many lives. Jacquie was a very brave woman! Ten years ago she was the lucky recipient of a heart transplant. What she went thru with that procedure gave her 10 more years for life. I know she felt thankful for the heart and the time it gave her.

Jacquie leaves behind her loving husband John and two sons Steve and Lee and a special son Johnathan. Jacquie loved to read and she was a wonderful artist. Needlepoint was her specialty. We got to know each other better when I was in my teens and stayed with John and Jacquie. She was very kind to me, treated me like a sister and supported my decision. I wish we could have lived closer over the last few years so I could have been more support to her.

I hope she knew just how much she meant to everyone in our family. Farewell Jacquie, you were loved-------

A celebration of the courageous life of Jacqueline E. Partlow will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2009. Tip a martini glass for her! We will!

Getting Ready for the Sale!

Petunia, Jan. 7, 2009 Mineola, TX

We spent all day yesterday in Mineola working on the sale that we plan to have the first week in February---now don't hold us to it----who knows. Will let everyone know the exact day, as you might just want to check it out.

This is the third sale that Lynn and I have had over the last few years. One in Plano, One in Garland before we moved to the apartment and now the last big one, I hope. Really is fun going thru my stuff and thinking of all the fun and friendships I have made with the polymer clay groups and the Print Artist groups. Many are now very close friends. Who would have thought that the computer and a package of clay could make you such wonderful rest of my life friends. As I sit and sort I remember where I was and who was with me when we created a card or learned a new method in clay or did a bead swap. What fun but sad to think of all the time I have wasted over the years by not spending more time on a project. I guess I just enjoy learning the process---a process person is what I call myself. I get such pleasure when learning something new so the completion of the art it really not my motivation. What am I going to do with all the unfinished projects????? I have enjoyed quilting, watercolor, computer graphics, art, photography and polymer clay so much over the years. It is very hard for me to "throw something away" that I am having to force myself to do it. This new home and my studio is not big enough for ALL of it. (This is a good thing for Lynn) Lynn had a studio built for me at the little house in Mineola and my studio at the home we just left was 20 x 24 with two walk in closets plus we had a huge closet 9 x 9 with Elfa and shelves, too, for me to use. It is time to pare down and decisions are being made. I sure do hope I have made the right ones---I just think I need to focus on a few things. We will see but at the moment, I am just enjoying the journey to the sale.

We are going to sell many of our antiques and collections over the years. Better now and not leave it for the kids to do when we are gone. I need to make some good decisions if I go before Lynn, he would be overwhelmed---he has no idea what some of this "stuff" is! We are very lucky to have a two story metal building here at this home so we can bring more than we thought we would. Lynn keeps saying "I hope this is the last load" ( we have a little covered trailer behind the truck) and I say "it probably is", but I know there will be more when we start on the barn. I have two signs here at the house that say "Simplify" and I really am trying. I was raised in a family that gave everything we owned value. From the buttons on the old coat going to the rummage sale to every screw and part left over from a repair. I guess it is just in my genes! When I see something that is broken, I try to think of what one could do with it and usually want to keep it and think about it for a bit. I do have lots of items that have been saved--------what can I say. Also, I have save many of my items for "good" and in the last year, I have started make "good" be everyday! Really enjoying using those antique pieces to eat on and serve with. Used my Blue B & G Christmas Plates this year when we had Christmas desert!



What have I been saving them for???? Put out my Mother's Day plates to use every day! If they get broken, well, so what? Use up your pretty linens, dishes and jewelry. Life it too short to save them.

We made another big decision this week---the Woosley's are going green and putting in all new windows at our Richardson home. Probably will be done early February---the windows at this home are not energy efficient even being dual paned and storms and the previous owner had added a film that cuts the light. Well, if you know me well enough, you know that I love light!!! So the new windows will solve the problem of removing the film (not a fun task, believe me). We are also going to change the color to white from black and it will change the look of the house, for sure. No, we are NOT doing this ourselves! This is a job for professionals!!!!!!


More to come, check back often. Marty