Good Monday Morning! Sharing...Seattle Pixs!

Hi Friends!

How are you all doing today?

Well...the last couple of days I decided to make some blog

changes.  I have neglected my blog for quite a while.

I certainly hope you like the new look and changes

I am making...us creative types LIVE for change..lol!

*****

I recently saw a post that made me realize that

who I am, and how I blog may be so

different from others.  You see, I am really deep

down inside an introvert.

That part of my personality cannot handle all that

goes on in my life without needing to retreat and

center myself on the Lord.

Please don't get me wrong...I DO love people

and have thoroughly enjoyed blogging and

meeting some of the sweetest people I know.

I just know now, I have limitations.

I can't *fake* being *up* so I often will

not post anything.  With the recent loss of my

sweet companion, Chloe...the weeks leading up

to her death took a huge toll on me.

Actually more than I had realized.

As the healing process has begun I can once

again see that I am beginning to open up and

feel the NEED to create once again...yay!

~~~*****~~~

*Washington, My Home*

My family and I took a vacation to my home

state of Washington last week.  My parents

and 2 sisters live in the *greater* Seattle area.

We had a much needed time away from just the

every day Humdrum and all came back rested.

The very first full day there I got the unique

privileged of visiting some very dear

High School friends.  This WOULD NOT have

happened if it were NOT for FACEBOOK.

I let the girls know I when I was going to be there

and we were all able to meet for lunch.

My sister Marci, graciously drove me and

we had 4 full hours of catching up and

see how each of us has grown UP in the Lord.

Coolest thang...it would have been our 35 year

reunion...so we had a small one of our own!

I am on the far right (to left)...next is Danice, Kathy

(who drove 4 hrs to see us), Shirley and Lancy

who is in the midst of Radiation...thus her hat.

She has the most wonderful sense of humor and

it was such a delight to see how she is facing cancer.

A memory I will cherish forever!

These next pictures are from my daughter...who

took the Mt. Rainier shots as we drove through the

valley and up the hill to my folks home.

They live in the foothills of the Cascade Mts and

are just 45 minutes to this majestic beauty!

The day before we left, which was last Monday my

sister, niece, hubby, daughter and I drove

45 minutes to the downtown Seattle waterfront

and Pike Street Market Landmark.

Before we stopped, she drove us through downtown

to see the Flagship Nordstroms (yes it was started there)

and up to the Seattle Center area where the

1964 Worlds Fair was and holds its unique landmark

the Space Needle.

From there we parked down by the beautiful

Seattle waterfront drive and walked at least

100 feet up stairs to be in the middle of the

PUBLIC Market...that is world famous.

My niece and daughter pose under the center

of the market sign...and

resting upon the huge Piggy Bank that

actually has a slot where you can leave coins.

This helps preserve the Pike Market

and keep it going.

Just across the Market are other shopping areas

along with the FIRST EVER...

Starbucks!!!!

We DID get coffee from there and the girls

posed in front of the medallion which is inside

the store.

Also...the grossest thing ever, but it is also

close to the market area is a HUGE gum wall.

My daughter HAD to see this and put her

gum down for all to see!

Once we finished up at the market, we made

our way back down to the waterfront area to

go get lunch at IVARS.  SOME of the BEST

seafood ever..since you are right on the water.

Ye Olde Curiosity Shop is another landmark

and must see.

Something new that caught my eye was this

HUGE Ferris wheel which reminds me so much

of the London *Eye*.  It is not finished just

yet but should be operational soon.

So there you have a few snippets of the fun filled

busy days we had visiting my *home* and

enjoying my family's company.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sorry about the length of this post,

hope you enjoy your visit.

Lorena



Somewhere Over the RAINBOW

Hi Everyone!

Just got back on Tuesday from a wonderful visit

with my family and friends in the Seattle Washington area.

  A very relaxing time for my family and oh so much

needed after the sadness we have had.

Last night my family and I were AWED by one

of GOD's greatest promises...a Rainbow.

Did you know that GOD promised Noah,

after the great flood to never flood the

entire earth again...

and

he sealed it with this amazing sign...

a Gorgeous rainbow.

What we witnessed was not only the brightest

most colorful rainbow, but a

DOUBLE rainbow, which

you can faintly see!

Enjoy the pictures I was able to snap!

These were all taken just outside our

back patio area.  It was so close we almost

could reach out an touch it!

I LOVE Rainbows!

What an amazing GOD we have!

Be Blessed,

Lorena

It's a Sad Day at our Home

It's with a sad heart that we had to say goodbye to

our beloved sweet Momma Kitty Chloe today.

After we found out she was in kidney failure we feel so

blessed to be able to have loved on her for 3 more weeks.

God so graciously made what could have

been a very hard decision a teeny

bit easier as she left this world early this morning.

She was my special little *mommy* girl and

such a sweet snuggling companion for me

during many days being home by myself.

She will be forever in our hearts

and

in our memories of the wonderful

times we had with her

and

deeply missed.

Goodbye my sweet, sweet lil girl!

Chloe Ann

3/00 ~ 6/12

***Where is GOD when we are hurting?...***

Psalms 23:4 (KJV)

Yea,

though I walk through the valley

of the shadow of death,

 I will fear no evil:

for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

We have all dealt with death and heartaches of

daily living in our lives.

Today as I reflected on seeing our precious

girl kitty Clhoe struggling to live

God brought verse 4 of the 23rd Psalms to mind.

When I got to the part 

"thy rod and staff they comfort me"

I ask the Lord, what does this mean?

Here's what he shared with me.

A shephards rod or staff as many purposes.

The end which rest on the ground can be

used to prode a weary or lost sheep along

back to its proper path with the herd.

Awe...

so when we are dealing with death and heartaches we

can know that in our time of grief and struggles

HE

is there to prod us back to Him.

But I loved what he shared with me about the *crook*

or top of the staff.

That part of the rod or staff is used to PULL

a sheep closer to the shephard.  Thus providing

comfort and protection during a difficult time.

HE

is pulling me near to Him when I am hurting

showing me how much HE cares about me.

Dear Friend,

I hope today that this will comfort you as you

walk your path in life today!

As HE has comforted me!

Be Blessed!

Lorena

Welcome to my Outdoor Living Space

Hi Dear Bloggy Friends!

I sure hope you all are enjoying our 3 day Weekend

as we take this time to say

THANK YOU

to those who have served our country!

I always bring out my FLAG basket and

Flag, which hubby need to hang.

We have enjoyed one of the earliest warming ups

of spring that I can ever remember after living in

Michigan for over 18 years.

That got me spurred on to do more containers of

pretty colors for my Larger patio area.

This has been a much neglected living space.

I decided that I would START...

yes start, to create an outdoor living space

that is inviting for us all.  Now I really

think smaller, cozy spaces are so much

easier to create.  This may take me a few years

to achieve what I am dreaming of in my head...

but

I wanted to give it a try.

18 years ago we had this gorgeous brick pavers walk

way and patio done.  In an attemp to have some green

in our back yard area I added some

hardy perennial geranmiums, daisies, cone flowers

and loads of chives.  This has been such a challenge

as we get FULL ALL DAY SUN!

Yet these plants have seemed to fair pretty well.

 SPRING time around the patio is so pretty and colorful,

as you can see.

Today we are getting our table out so I don't have pictures

of that...but I have tried to create some pretty spaces

around this area we have.

Eventually, when we have the money we'd like to

put some type of retractable awning over this area

to make it just a tad more livable in the

all day sun and heat.

We had a 5 foot drop off from front to back

 when the house was built.  In an attempt to create an area

for us to have ease to the back yard we had to build the patio  up about

2-3 feet.  This  still created a delimma because brick pavers were

not sturdy enough for create that tall of steps.

  We went with a smaller deck off our kitchen. 

 So we have created a little sitting area with

chairs and a bench.

Hubby and I spend many hours in the warm summer

evenings with our kitties enjoying bunnies romping

and birds swooping and chirping.

This year I potted petunias in just about any pot or

container that I had.  These flowers seem to fair

pretty well with the all day heat...

if I remember to water! lol

Chloes likes to sit and watch the approaching birdies

as they try to eat!

It really is so cool to see all the hard work of planting and

setting up this space on pictures.  I hope you enjoy

my small piece of liveable space that I hope I am

creating for my family to enjoy during

to warmer days of summer!

UPDATE!

Our sweet Chloe is snuggling with her daddy!

She has been diagnosed now for sure with Kidney Failure!

Did you know that this is the leading killer of elder cats?

We are working weekly with our vet to make sure she

is well cared for and comfortable.

She has perked up a bit and seems so happy to be

near or snuggling with us.

We will love her until its her time to go!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

I love to ready and hear your comments!

Be Blessed,

Lorena

My Sweet Chloe Girl Kitty

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday we had to take my Sweet Sweet Girl,

Chloe to stay for 2-3 day at our Vets.

Over the weekend we knew something was not right.

Monday I took Chloe in to see our vet and they ended

up doing blood work.  On Tuesday we found out she is

diabetic but they also said her Kidney values were

extremely high, meaning possible kidney failure.

I am just so sad because we know she may not have long.

She IS my girl.  We have a special bond.

I saw her birth her first litter and watched over her

little ones as the kids in our neighborhood would love to

come visit them.

She trusted me with them.

We have had her 11 years.  She was 8 month old,

when we rescued her from our local Humain Society.

Unbeknownst to us, this girl had gotten herself preggers!

In all the 50+ years of having lived around cats,

I had never had a momma kitty deliver or a

sweet bond that I have had with her.

She has the sweetest disposition. 

I just talk to her and she does a

*rocknroll* and starts to purr.

Or

she LOVES to siddle up right next to me and lay

half on, half off and straddle my arm/hand as I stroke

her tummy and she purrs away.

Chloes other claim to fame...

SHE LOVES BAGS!

Yep, she LICKS the insides and will

actually let you pick her up and walk around

as she is inside of a bag! Weird? but sooooo cute!

I KNOW so many kNOW what it is to be in the position

I find myself.  I am so forever grateful that GOD

puts these creatures into our lives, enriches us

with their personalities.

And, I know we all do come to a time of having

to let them go. 

So I hope you enjoyed my tribute to the sweetest

kitty cat I know!

My Chloe!

Be Blessed

Lorena

Tweeking In Pinks and Blues! ~Pink Saturday~

Hello Sweet Friends!

I got myself together these past few days and got some

things done that had been nagging me in the back of my mind!

Do you ever do that?

I love tweeking and redoing things as much as creating.

It gives such a feeling of satisfaction.

I have had wall space in my Garden Tub area that has

been bugging me forever!

I finally figured out what it needed...

a few larger pieces, like shelving!

Once I figured that out...well as they say...

the rest IS history!

A few years back I added a large rod across

the tub area.  I then drapped sheers and lace to

give a more intimate feel.  We have High

cathedral like ceilings, which I think

makes it very hard to decorate and feel cozy.

This shelf had been in my shower/toilet area.

It NOW looks way better here with some

pretty things displayed on it.

This pink framed hand painted rose picture is going

to be listed soon in my etsy shop.

Isn't she sweet? I got this little

girlie statue cuz she reminded me of

a little girl who grew up in rainy

Seattle! (moi!)

I am still thinking the walls below this sweet

shelf are just a tad bare?

What do you think?

Any suggestions?

I did paint my pink roses on this shelf

yesterday and am so happy with how well

it goes in this area!

So...there you have it!

All tweeked!

I have been stopping and awing when

I can cuz I am so happy with how well

it all worked out!

Thanks for stopping by!

I am linking over at Beverlys

PINK Saturday!

Be Blessed!

Lorena