The Overlook Hotel

When I think of things that scare me at Halloween,
it's not werewolves or masked psychos under the high school bleachers
or even the freakishly calm Norman Bates wielding a knife in the shower.

It's Jack I think of.  Jack and The Overlook Hotel.

The Overlook....also known as the hotel in The Shining.

The book by Stephen King that scared the #*;% out of me when I was in high school.

I loved scary books and horror movies back then.

Not so much anymore.

BUT....

I can tell you that the memories of those books and movies have stuck with me

and still elicit a few chills down my spine when they come to mind.

Who wasn't terrified by Jack Nicholson?

He was the King of Bat Sh*t Crazy as Jack Torrance.

All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.

Do you remember that scene?

When Wendy looks at his typewriter and manuscript?

The stark way it was filmed was so creepy...and annoying.  Like fluorescent lights annoying.

The sequel, Doctor Sleep, was recently released.  

Now that weird little Danny Torrance has grown up, we get to read about what's been happening in his life.

Do we want to know?

Did Wendy ever recover from that experience?

Does Danny still do that creepy talking thing with his finger?

Are the twins coming back?

Does Danny still have the shining?

Do I want to know?

The Shining is the scariest book I've ever read.

Stephen King books have a way of lingering way back in your mind...in those dark places that you unlock 

when you are all alone in the house and your heart is racing so hard that you can hear it in your ears.

Yes, those nights.

I think about Misery, Thinner and Christine.

I think about Pet Cemetary.

Those words have staying power far stronger than the visual images of the movies.

My imagination ran wild with terrifying images that I'd created in my own mind.

I can still remember the moment that I read the bathroom scene in Room 237.

I was scared...really, really scared.

I bolted from my bed and jumped in with my mom.

I think I was about 15.

Are you going to read it???

Looks like Jack has answered that for me.

Here's a final look at crazy pants.
Will you think of Jack, too?
Will you be bundled up with a big bowl of popcorn watching a favorite scary movie?
Do tell.

Happy Halloween.
I'll be dumping Milk Duds into my popcorn.

The Power of Potter

Years ago when my youngest son was critically ill,

the adventures of Harry Potter sustained us in ways that only 

a mother with a very sick child will understand.

Harry became our friend.  

Harry had a scar.  We had a scar.

Harry was afraid.  We were afraid.

Harry had to be brave.

And he showed another little boy that he could be brave, too.

Evil comes in many forms and while the evil that we were confronted with was not Voldemort,

we fought as though it were.

We were tested again and again.

There were times when we didn't think we'd make it.

Very much like Harry, Hermione and Ron.

And then we'd read.

We'd read about Hedwig, Harry's owl and Scabbers, Ron's rat.

We laughed at those Weasley's and imagined all their outlandish inventions.

We ate Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans and giggled as we tried to guess which beans 

were the good ones and which beans were flavored like earthworms, vomit or earwax.

Or our favorite...

boogers.

Hagrid told us that "what's comin' will come- an' we'll meet it when it does."

Dumbledore told us "we must try not to sink beneath our anguish, but battle on."

And we did.

So when I came across this suitcase and thought about what I'd do with it,

this is what I chose.

I painted it with ASCP and applied a reverse transfer with Mod Podge.

It will have a place of honor in my sewing room.

A reminder of the two brave little boys who overcame so many things

and went on living.

Despite it all, they lived.

While I was working on the suitcase, I asked my son 

"Do you remember?"

He looked at me like I was crazy and said of course he did.

"After all this time?"

"Always."

For us, too.
Always.

Thank You!

Thank you! 

We made it possible to send $300 to Will and Grace!

I'll be sewing and mailing out this week.

This will help Will and Grace so much.

Dog Lovers are the best!

Hi this is Kathi~

I am lucky enough to be the one that rescued Will & Grace. I picked them up from law enforcement on Feb 7th & just celebrated their 8 month freedom birthday this past week. It has been quite a journey! 

Not only was I able to save these sweet pups from years of abuse, but I have also met the most amazing people, like Tina. I had never met her, until she contacted me through FB.  She said she wanted to help!  

She told me that she wished she could take them home, but since she can't, she wanted to do a fundraiser for them. 

I assume she found out that I pay $38 a day to board them, because she told me that she wanted to do fundraiser to raise money for their boarding & other expenses. 

I have fundraisers periodically and it is a lot of work. 

Tina told me I didn't have to do anything at all, that she would take of everything herself. 

I see that she has volunteers that are helping her and it appears that some items have been sold.

I just want to thank Tina and all of you from the bottom of my heart.

If you are buying something, I just want you to know that your money could not go to a better cause!

Even though these amazing doggies have every right to dislike human beings, they don't! 

They love everybody!!  They have the sweetest disposition!  What they say about Pit Bulls is true! 

And that is that they are so forgiving, and bounce right back from the trauma that humans put them through. 

It has been difficult emotionally because of the fear that crops up in my head...that someone might not adopt them and then what will I do? 

But I will keep doing what I have been doing and would do it again in a second if the opportunity arises.

These sweet pups have taught me so much about forgiveness and unconditional love. 

It has been a life changing experience!

I love that I have had the privilege of meeting people like Tina. I have made friends all over the world because of Will & Grace. 

If you haven't read their story or seen their pics or silly videos, please check them out at: facebook.com/savewillgrace 

Thanks to everyone for your support,

Will, Grace, & Kathi 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kathi, please hug Will and Grace for me!  

My heart is happy that I could help.

Hoping that your babies are in a loving home very soon!

Sale for Will and Grace

Thanks for the orders so far!

Sale will end @ 10PM Saturday Oct 12

Thanks for hanging in there with me- this was very last minute!

They'll be on the cover of American Dog Magazine thanks to so many of you who voted for them.

These are for Kathi, Will and Grace's hero, but can be ordered for $15 apiece.

Names can be changed.

Email me for info.

Pittie dishtowels!

Bee Towels~ I have one of each color, but can make more if interested.

I can make these on white, also.  Thread color may be changed on request.

Items have been removed as sold.

Only orders being taken now...thanks!

Email me if you see anything you like and stop back by this evening...please.

Thanks for helping Will and Grace!
Read my post about them HERE

Giving A Helping Hand

It's no secret that I am an animal lover, right?

My dogs have the luxury of a family that adores them.

So do yours.

My heart breaks for two sweet dogs that have experienced great suffering at the hands of

a so called human being.

I want to tell you about Will and Grace and the amazing woman who saved them and 

has provided so much love and care for them.

They need our help...can we help them?
Kathi just celebrated their "Freedom Day" this week-
Will and Grace have been free for eight months.

These babies are being boarded until a forever home is found.
Kathi needs assistance with those costs, as well as food and other essentials.
She sells bracelets, keychains and other things to help cover costs.
So many kind and loving supporters have donated because they applaud the efforts
Kathi has made in order to save Willie and Gracie.
It's an incredible story- horrifying that there are people who have
no concern for the welfare of innocent animals- but so wonderful in that these two dogs
have been saved from a horrific life by a true hero.
She never gave up until they were safe.

I'll be having a fundraiser sale for Will and Grace
on Friday afternoon, Oct. 11.

The sale will include:

 Embroidered items for the home

Vintage linens

Donated items from Tina @ Belou492 Designs
and

 a few American Staffordshire Terrier themed items! 

That's their true breed name...if you've ever wondered what I mean when I call Bruce a Staffy, now you know!

There is such a negative vibe attached to the term pit bull-

it's so unfair to judge an entire breed.
The breed is beloved in families everywhere.
That includes my own family and friends 
who have adopted these loving animals.

I hope you'll come by and take a look.

 Please, please help if you can.

Thanks to Bethany Brower, Tina-Dorn Weaver

Danni Baird and Suzan Sweatman
who have so generously offered their help.

Bruce and The Shorties 

thank you on behalf of 

Will and Gracie.

All proceeds are going to help Will and Grace.
 Every penny.

I can't bring them home, even though I'd love to.
 I can help in this way.

 October is Pit Bull Awareness month. 

                                                                                                                                                       

If you'd like adoption info please visit their FB page or click 

the links below to see them on RescueMe.org

Saving Will and Grace FB Page

                         Will on RescueMe.Org                                           

   Grace on RescueMe.Org

If you'd like to make a donation for their boarding/care,

 please call directly to the Vet that is boarding them. 

The number is 806-745-2623

You can also make a paypal donation to 

savewillandgrace@gmail.com. 

I'll have some beautiful items posted here on the blog!

Sneak preview this evening. :)

“I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house.” ― Nathaniel Hawthorne, The American Notebooks

Nate knew what he was talking about...

there should be no wasting of these days of autumn.

The summer heat has come to an end and the air feels fresher, lighter and 

without the weight that Texas summers bring.

While friends all over the northern parts of our country are saddened 

by the falling of the leaves and it's implication that cold and wintry days are fast approaching,

it is our happiest time here in the South.

It's our first opportunity to fling open the windows, refresh our homes 

and refresh our spirits after the long months of intense heat.

Time for enjoying the shade and the new colors of autumn.

We should follow the example of our fur babies and enjoy this time.

It's not the time to let panic grab you by the throat

with all the pressure to start shopping for the holidays and 

do, do, do

until you are no longer refreshed by the season...

but exhausted and depleted.

You will have missed this opportunity to slow down and 

be a part of the wonder that surrounds you.

Stop running and ask yourself what it is that you are running to.

When you reach the end of your time here on earth,

did you live?

Existing and living aren't the same thing.

Go outside and put your feet in the cool grass.

Look up at the sky.

Put your hands in the dirt.

Stop chasing the perfect number...the number that makes it enough.

Don't you realize that you are already there?

These last three photos were taken seven years ago.

If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you'll know that this is 

my little friend next door, Rachael.

The child that influenced me so and changed me forever with her phrase

"nothing will happen."

These photos are from one of our play days.

I wouldn't trade them for anything.

I can't imagine my life without this day.

We took hundreds of pictures- each one capturing a time in her sweet life

when she hadn't become insecure or worried that she didn't look perfect.

She was just herself...

a happy, chattering, running, piano playing little bundle of joy.

(She also didn't appreciate an up close and personal Corgi kiss.

Virgil passed over the Rainbow Bridge not long after this, 

but he sure did get some smooches in before the end.)

Go play.  Today.  Just go play.

Linking up with:

You're Gonna Love It Tuesday@Kathe With An E