We have a March Winner and April News and Muse(s)!

MARCH WINNER!

The computer's random choice winner is: (Drum roll!!!.....) MARGO! Many of you know her as Robolady! Congratulations, Margo! Your package includes the jeweled bottle shown on a previous post, a helping of my famous (okay, not so famous) hang tags, and of course, surprises from my massive stash of, well, massive stash.

For those of you new to this blog: I have recently initiated a monthly drawing for readers. All you have to do to qualify for the Surprise Package of the month is leave a comment on any of my blogs posted in the current month! In other words, to be eligible for April's package, leave a comment on any of my April postings. Easy, huh?

FRIEND BRAGGING RIGHTS

I have been blessed with some awesomely talented friends and when any of them are selected to win an award for their talents or otherwise be recognized for their talents, I celebrate with and for them and take much delight in their accomplishments.

One of my most talented friends is also one of my very closest friends and I just have to share the news of a wonderful invitation she has received. This awesome person, Janet C Fish, has received an invitation to be half of a two woman art show at the Grassroots Art Center in Lucas, Kansas. I understand that only a very select handful of artists are featured each year at Grassroots and only one or two are selected for Spring. Look for Janet next year, April 1, 2009 through July 31, 2009 in Lucas.

Cardiac News

I had my followup appointment today with my Cardiologist. Although I do have some calcium deposits in my arteries, the many tests that were done on me revealed nothing to be alarmed about. I'm paraphrasing, of course, but the Readers Digest Condensed Version of our conversation boils down to this! I need to watch my cholesterol intake (nothing new there) and basically do any followups with my family doctor. Praise God for all that is good!

High Tea, Anyone?

You saw pictures of the cafeteria area that is soon to be a part of the Corner Nest Gift and Antiques Shop in Elizabethton. As you know, hubby and I have been a part of this shop since its inception and have been vendors for over a year with owner Robin Blackwell's "other" shop, Robin's Nest.

What I failed to tell you is that there is another part of "our" building that is reserved for special occasions. This past weekend the Corner Nest was host for a High Tea put together by a local group. I don't have any "before" or "during" pix, but here are some shots of what the area looked like afterward. The room is decorated differently for each occasion. You know that, if the "after" pix are this nice, the "before" was really pretty! You've seen some of the cakes designed for these special events and know that they are absolutely wonderful. The food is catered and is always fabulous. Makes me hungry, just thinking about it. There is even someone on staff who handles bridal consultations, parties, etc.

Something else that is new: We will have a special "monthly markdown" sale that will take place in still another separate area of the building. Bargains galore! I love it! One thing that is forbidden - garage sale turndowns! We expect that other dealers from larger areas will be perusing for deals, as well as individuals who are bargain seeking for their homes. Here's a peek at what I saw back there yesterday:

See? Great stuff! As always, if I post pix of anything you're interested in, let me know and I'll get info on it for you or put you in touch with the appropriate person.

Thanks for stopping in!

Aw, heck, let's have another drawing!

It was only two days ago that I was wandering around our property marveling at the new growth peeking up from the ground. Today - well, today is an entirely different story!

I took my hubby to work this morning (explanation later) and he diligently swept snow from our patio and off our van. That was about 5:30 this morning. Did ya catch that???? That's 5:30 in the morning!

Anyway, I came back home and did what any self respecting stay at home wife would do. I crawled back into bed and went back to sleep for an hour, piddled around the house for awhile, took a shower and headed back outside. I was not expecting to see this:

It had not only snowed more, it was still snowing. The windshield wipers were frozen in place and the wind was groaning, sounding like some large beast was dying.

Thing is, I have to have a TB test done (with negative results, of course) before I start my Remicade infusions next Thursday. (I think I've previously mentioned that I have rheumatoid arthritis. I currently give myself weekly injections of Enbrel, which isn't working for me as well as it used to, so I will now start a Remicade treatment. These are done by "infusions", which basically means that it is delivered into your body via your veins and is generally handled at a hospital. The infusions take about three hours.) I'll continue with my other RA meds, including Mobic, folic acid and Methetrexate.

I also had a package ready for OliveOyl64, who won last Friday's drawing. I had planned to mail it Monday but the transmission went out in hubby's truck and you can probably understand why, although I love being with him, I don't enjoy taking him to work. Not before the sun comes up.

Anyway, since I was already out in the 26° weather, I stopped at our local Kroger grocery store to pick up a few essentials. On the way out the door, I passed a familiar sight that I have really wanted to include in this blog but never had a camera with me to do so. BUT, for some reason that I can't recall, had it with me this morning:

I want to thank all of you once again for your prayers and good thoughts regarding my cardiac outcome. The cardiologist has scheduled several tests, including a nuclear medicine stress test, for this Friday. He's also sending me home with a Holter monitor, which will record my heart's activity for at least 24 hours. I continue to feel fine, just really tired a good part of the day.

This past drawing was a lot of fun for me. I've decided to have a similar drawing each month, with the same "rules" applying. The only difference will be that the monthly prizes won't be as elaborate as the one OliveOyl64 is about to receive. (I'll post a pic of what she received after I know she's received the package.)

The March contest starts NOW, with THIS post!

...PLUS...another one!!!...

PAY IT FORWARD -

Here's an idea I picked up from Deena: Someone will have a chance to get a surprise from me, on a surprise date, in the next 365 days.

Here are the rules:

1.~Leave a comment on my blog that says you want to play. First three folks to comment will get a gift from ME. (If I don't know it already, let me know how I can contact you, an e-mail is fine.)

2.~Do the same thing on your blog!The first three folks who leave a comment and commit to doing this on their blog, too, will get a surprise from YOU at a surprise time in the next 365 days!

If you've yet to meet her, treat yourself by visiting this extraordinary woman. Click here to read her story.

Thanks for stopping in. I appreciate your visits and love your comments!