Art, by my wonderful friend JoAnnA Pierotti"The Grand essentials of happiness are:
something to do, something to love, and something to hope for."
Well, I have updates. I hope no one falls out of their chair in shock that I am actually posting in my blog TWICE in one month. It's true. That is how much is happening, and how much is on my mind lately! (Oh, and I know - a NEW blog to boot! I have lovely Bella to thank for that. She inspired me! If you want to catch up on the past coupla' years, check out my old blog, here.)
Ok, I've got few updates, some fun pictures, and this seemed like the best way to share.
First of all - I spoke to Vickie Mackensie's boyfriend Andrew today. He's such a nice person. Vickie IS awake, conscious, and continues to recover. That alone is a miracle, and prayers are being answered - so keep 'em coming!
However, she is dealing with the effects of a major brain injury. Andrew says she has good long term memory, she can talk, and she can move her left hand side just fine (which had been a concern). So all that is wonderful. Vickie's short term memory is not yet there, and at present she is not, cognitively, the Vickie that Andrew knew before her aneurism. Keep thinking good thoughts, I suspect he is very lonely for the girlfriend he knew right now. Once again, I am reminded of how delicate and impermanent everything in life can be. I've had head trauma accidents occur in my own family (an uncle in a car accident resulting in severe head trauma, and an Aunt who had a major stroke, at the age of 38) and so I know the heartbreak that accompanies the hope, as loved ones and the patient themselves learn the fine art of coping, and grieving, while healing all the while.
I want to thank everyone who sent in donations so that we were able to provide Andrew with a wonderful care package full of goodies. We wanted him to have something that he could use while visiting Vickie in the hospital. We provided him with a fleece blanket, notepads, pens, crossword puzzles, sodas, juice, soups, crackers, chips, cookies, brownies, chocolates, and more. In a few days we are also going to send flowers directly to Vickie, and in the next few weeks, Sandee and I are going to hand deliver some art and goodies to her.
Some of you know that when I spoke to Andrew a couple of weeks ago, one of his primary concerns at that time was adopting out a stray cat that Vickie had taken in prior to her accident.
Funny, Vickie herself had approached me about adopting the cat, in mid December - but at that time, I replied that things were too hectic in my household, what with the dogs, the rat, the hermit crab, the baby, and of course, the husband. Well, when Andrew brought it up again, that old adage - "you don't have to ask twice" - flashed through my head, and I realized that picking up and caring for a cat was the least I could do.
Initially, we thought that a neighbor of ours was going to keep the cat, but it turned out their daughter was allergic to this cat, so the kitty came back to our house, to stay.
Andrew told us the kitty didn't have a name - so we named her - "B-Muse," of course. (B-Meows?) The name fits, and kitty actually comes when we call her that. It turns out she is just what this house needed. I don't know if this picture does her justice, because this cat is absolutely beautiful. Her face is truly stunning. And, she walks around this place as if she is the queen of the city - which, I imagine, she surely is.
Even the dogs are ok with her. She gave Butter a few swats at his nose the first day, to let him know that she (not he!) was boss, and Sophie - (who is essentially the same size as her) seems to have known all along.
One last note, when I talked to Andrew today, he noted that he is steadfastly holding down the fort at Vickie's house, while she is recovering. Not only is he still filling orders and keeping B-Muse up and running (hooray for art lovers everwhere!) - but he is also stopping by her house regularly to care for her cats (these ones are Vickie's to keep, not strays). Vickie has three cats, one of whom Andrew feels he can easily bring to his own home to hang out with his own cats. The other two are finicky sisters that Vicky has raised since they were four days old. (!) Needless to say, they adore Vickie. I imagine they are bit sad and confused with her absence right now, and Andrew says they didn't particularly like other people before Vickie dissapeared.
Please note, these cats will not be put up for adoption. Vickie loves the cats, and Andrew is committed to caring for them while Vickie is hospitalized. That being said - Andrew said he is beginning to consider having them fostered. He wants what is best for the cats right now. He thinks that a foster arrangement would likely last about two months. If anyone out there is local to the SF Bay Area, and would be willing to foster two cats who may not be the epitome of affection with you, but sure need some loving care on their end, please don't hesitate to email me and let me know. I'd be happy to pass on your information. If you are not able to take on this task right now, but know someone else who might be able to do so - pass on the message. On behalf of Vickie, and Andrew, and the kitty sisters - thanks so much.
On a happy note...
I visited with my wonderful friend JoAnnA this weekend!
JoAnnA and I shopping in an adorable little store in Amador City, CA
On Saturday, I packed up some art goodies and jammies, and headed off for Amador County to visit with Miss Mossy. It's about a two hour drive (a little less) so it really wasn't bad. JoAnnA's been down here to visit with me a couple of different times during the past couple years - so my turn to do the driving was overdue!
JoAnnA lives in a beautiful home, in progress. While the walls are still being finished and moulding is being put in, it is still an absolutely gorgeous house in the woodsy hills, just above Volcano, CA. Her home is spacious and warm (just like her heart) and the view of the surrounding woods from every window is extraordinary. I was delighted too, to see that JoAnnA's bedroom in the house was finished, and even painted, and truly beautiful and cozy.
My heart felt happy that this will be the place that JoAnnA can nap if she is tired from her chemo, etc. Right now it looks like she'll start chemo in a couple of weeks - though she is waiting for a PET scan result to find out if a small mass on her kidney was also malignant. Of course, if that is the case, the possibility of another surgery and/or expanded chemo looms. While I know this is a scary (terrifying) prospect, JoAnnA's strength of spirit shone through, during our entire visit - and this reassured me.
I also met her husband Ron, and he is a doll. A tall, handsome and gentle man - I was once again reassured that my dear artist friend Mossy is in good hands.
Just in case JoAnnA does need a little extra company, I created the tiny little fairy at left, for her - the night before I left. I had the green bench ornament in my box of art supplies - and on Saturday night after JoAnnA went to bed, I dug it out and figured a little fairy friend was in order.
I told JoAnnA that the fairy was a special breast cancer fairy. See the pink ribbon on the right? I think the fairy is extra special too, because the little girl and the wings are from B-Muse collage sheets. So many good prayers and good wishes floating around right now...
Oh, and I wanted to share these pictures with you! A couple of years ago, the first time I met JoAnnA in person, we wandered into a little store in downtown Pleasanton, and found these hilarious little embroidered pillows. "I have issues," they said. This will tell you a lot about why JoAnnA and I get along so well. We both just fell out laughing when we saw them. We snatched them up and each bought one, for the other! 
Certainly the pillow had to be displayed so it found its way into the arms of one of my fun prim raggedy anne dolls. It sits right in her lap, as you can see, on the right.
Imagine my delight, when I went to JoAnnA's house, what did I find but her own pillow, displayed prominently in the arms of her very own prim doll! I just thought that was a hoot that we both displayed our silly pillows (and our "we have issues!" pride) in the arms of a doll, which you can see above on the left. Ha!
Tee Hee!
Well, that's it for now. It's been a heavy few weeks and New Year so far. My arm is really sore, this tattoo is taking a while to heal - but reaching up and touching it - the constant reminder of my love and admiration for the altered art community, is beyond words, it is so lovely.
Heavy on my heart, is Vickie dear, and JoAnnA awaiting yet more results and the start of chemo.
Still, it is joy that permeates these moments of mine.
Indeed, between the cat, ZNE, making little fairy friends - I have plenty to do. And between my growing zoo underfoot, children, babies, my husband, and all my artist friends - I have so very much to love. And it goes without saying, that I have plenty, more than I could ever dream, to hope for.
I hope you will join me today, in doing something of value, loving everything you can, and hoping for a better world, for us all.
May the art of happiness, be a gift to us all.
xo - Chel
Jon Troast (www.JonTroast.com) was so wonderful, during his concert in my living room (!) - it was just pure joy.
Here are a few of the mesmerized guest. As you can see - it was nearly impossible to get a non-blurry picture. I think it was because there was a wonderful whirlin dirvish of frenetic and positive energy in the air. Here, amongs the blur are Gina Gabriell, Iva Wilcox,their spouses, my best friend Marc, and his date Cara. 
The owner of Nova Studio, Lori Nova, is an expert soap and body product maker - and she teaches exquisite classes about the same...
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