Our Sweet Kelly

It is said that if you whisper your heartfelt prayers to a butterfly, that mystical messenger will carry your wishes to the heavens. For the generous spirits have blessed the butterfly's delicate wings with the strength to soar high into the sky, where your dreams are then swiftly transformed into destiny. ~unknown~

August 21, 1995 ~ January 22, 2010

Kelly 2010
We weren't sure of Kelly's birthday, so we decided her day would be the day she came home to us. She was 5 years old when we brought her home and filled our hearts with love.

By the time you read this our "sweet Kelly girl" will have crossed over to the open fields to run pain free and add laughter and smiles to others.

Kelly was our baby girl, our Kelly girl, princess, queen, and grand dame of our heart and home.
If someone would ask me to describe Kelly (our Lakeland Terrier) in two words they would be FUN and LOVE. Life was a ball of fun for Kelly. She was all about peace and love.

Kelly 2008She was a true girl at heart. Kelly loved her friends at The Backdrop. She always knew the red carpet would be rolled out for her. She loved to wear her many sweaters and collars. After stepping into them she would run around barking turning her head as to say "look at me" . Oh she had a sweet tooth and loved her treats even at the end.

I have not known a dog to enjoy Christmas, Easter and her birthday like Kelly. Every box or bag that came through the door around these time had her little nose in it.

Kelly had a kind soul and spirit. If you were afraid of dogs or not, it was Kelly who could wiggle herself into your heart. Just ask my niece Ashley, nephew Maxx and the many other hearts she touched. She enjoyed her visits with Riley when we would dog sit. They had a special connection between the two of them. Boy did she love her grandma, she always knew she would get spoiled with treats.

Kelly could make you laugh and wipe the tears away with her silliness. She would stand on her head making a funny noise the more we laughed and said "you funny girl" the more she would do it.

Kelly 2008
She could stir up a choir of dogs barking along her walks as she walked with attitude as her ears bounced in the air.

Kelly was a terrier at heart, she could tear her toys to shreds in record time. I never mind picking up the pieces as I knew this day would come.

She would act like a crazy woman on whiskey when she saw the water hose turned on, or jump high over a stick.

Today the house is quiet, her bed and dish are empty, and our hearts are hurting, but I wouldn't trade in the time we shared.

Our dog trainer, Pat Muller once said Kelly was our teaching dog and that she was indeed. I just wish the lesson wasn't over.

Kelly 2004Kelly girl you are free from pain, to run and have fun, but you will always be connect to the golden thread of our hearts.


Love,
Joyce and Gary
xo


Thank you Susan and Virginia for bringing us such happiness and joy 10 years and 5 months ago and Pat for teaching "us" how to be better dog owners.

The best place to bury a good dog is in the heart of his master

~Ben hur Lampman~

Before and After

One of my favorite places I like to go to and connect with my thoughts and nature, looked like this a few months ago

Now looks like this

A place I like to usual go and sit, on this particular day the weather was too cold even to get out and take this photo.

There are days I yearn for the befores. Do you ever find yourself wanting the befores?

Hugs,

Joyce

xo

No winter lasts forever, no spring skips its turn

~Hal Borland~

Corner View: Your Style

This week's corner view is "your style". I don't know if I really have a style, I like things simple and have a closet full of black and white clothes, with a small splash of color (like the red shirt below)

I like to wear artist made jewelry, like this one made by my friend Charmaine Anthony Note to self I need to check when her ETSY shop opens.

I almost never leave home without wearing earrings (and lip gloss!), some simple, some with a little shine, like these Patricia Locke earrings.

When we go out for a special event I like to carry my classic Kate Spade purse. An anniversary gift many years ago from Gary. This purse always makes me smile, to vision my love walking the streets of Chicago carry a big pink box

but most of the time my camera bag is on my shoulder!

And during the cold comfy days and nights I like to wear one of my many hooded Stray Dog Bar and Grill sweatshirts and curl up by the fire.

Put on your best walking shoes and follow the styles around our corner view friends (list located on the right side).

Have a golden day!

Joyce

xo

"I don't do fashion, I am fashion"

~Coco Chanel~

Work In Progress

Did you ever wonder why your wedding photos took some time to get back? I know now, being on the other side of the coin.

When given a project I like to complete it well and get it done in a fashionable time, but with almost two months since the wedding and still a couple hundred more photos to go through... Thank goodness Brittany has not added any pressure, that I have already added to myself. Are you hard on yourself at times?

This little ring bearer bowl was made by Caroline at Paloma's Nest for Brittany and Doug's wedding.


I love sharing wonderful things. Paloma's Nest will donate $5 from each "TODAY I WILL" bowl that is sold from now till February 15, to the Haiti relief fund. This adorable little bowl would not only be a wonderful gift to yourself or someone special, but a way to help our friends in Haiti.

Many hugs my friends!

Joyce

xo

One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade

~Chinese proverb~

Happy Friday!

Have a "berry" golden weekend!

Hugs,

Joyce

xo

Corner View: Holiday

We are back to Wednesday corner view. This week's theme is holidays, I was lucky enough to have a topic already posted that sort of tied into it.

You see I'm trying to get better this year at managing my time. One is to do my three post a week all in advance. Set aside time to work from home more hours means more dollars, get myself ready for some surgery in the months ahead, take a class etc...

OK it is no surprise to my family and friends, I am first in line to take the Christmas decorations down the day or two after Christmas

that is, except for the wreath and potted tree top outside our front door. I have a hard time letting them go, maybe because they are real and the tree is arificial. Or it could be out of sight out of mind, since we don't come in and out our front door.

How long do you keep your outdoor decorations up?
If you haven't had enough of the holidays and want to savory the moment visit our corner view friends (see the cv list on the right).

Enjoy your day my friends!
Hugs,
Joyce
xo

The season passed, that brings the magic...

~Trade Martin~

Hot Off The Press

I am happy and excited to announce my friend, Catherine Grunewald is featured in the new issue of Country Gardens (Better Homes & Garden Publication) hitting the newstands today.

Her potting shed made the cover, but not before a little color was slightly added. Bright colors sell I guess,

but I lprefer the real McCoy colors

Here is a peek of the 8 page spread

She is not only beautiful inside and out, but talented and a wonderful and sweet friend. I met Catherine through my very special and dear friends Gregg, Lisa and Kris (from The Backdrop).

Catherine is a folk artist, she used to create pen and ink originals and limited editions lithographs, did an Easter program cover for a White House event and has appeared on HGTV. Now she is creating magic with the treasures of yesterday she finds either on the roadside, estate sales and flea markets.

gift from Gregg, Lisa and Kris

The last two photos are a sample of her artwork, that I am happy to say I own.

More breaking news for today (a big day for some of my friends) it is Gregg's golden birthday. Happy Birthday Gregg! Thank you for always looking out for me, thank you for bringing more friends to my door, and thank you for being mine and Catherine's second husband. I truly hope your day is as special as you!

Well that is the news for today my dear friends. I hope your day is a golden one!

Hugs,

Joyce

xo

My friends are my estate

~Emily Dickinson~

A Quiet Day.

Have a golden day my friends!
Hugs,
Joyce
xo

Kindness is like snow, it beautifies everything it covers

~Unknown~

A Snow Day...

...yesterday, meant no work for me and a few of the schools were closed too. It snowed all day so I took a walk through the woods and noticed I wasn't the only one with the same idea.

The deer were enjoying the snowfall. This one stood still long enough to pose

The snowmobilers were out and about

while others made a snowman

Some preferred the frozen lake for a nice walk

while others did a little ice fishing. I have my fingers cross this is the year I will be brave enough to walk on the frozen lake, I hope

These two gents were being neighborly and ready to help a neighbor that was stuck in their driveway.

Then there were some who didn't want to go out at all! Yes, that is our Kelly girl thinking, "do I have to". I think she is the only dog in the neighborhood that has the patio shoveled before she goes out. I guess she has us trained!

Enjoy your weekend my friends and make it golden.

Hugs,

Joyce

xo

"When it snows, you have two choices: shovel or make snow angels"

~unknown~

New Year, More Fish

One thing on my list to do this year is to eat more fish and enjoy it.

I tried Giada De Laurentiis, salmon with citrus salsa verde salmon with citrus salsa verde recipe the other night and LOVED it!

I hope you give this recipe a try even if you don't care for salmon. It didn't even taste like fish.

Have a golden day!

Joyce

xo

"Fish, to taste right, must swim three times; in water, butter and in wine"

~Polish Proverb~

Nature's Gems

I don't mind winter, even if it is a tad cold for me and I might find myself daydream often of some place warm.

I still like to find the hidden gems being covered by a blanket of snow

Or the beautiful sculptures being created naturally as they fall

I noticed there are a parade of icicles hanging from buildings in our area. If I can bring myself to be brave against the cold I hope to take some more photos of these gems.

Have a golden day!
Joyce
xo

And winter slumbering

in the open air

wears on his face

a dream of spring

~Sam Taylor Coleridge~