The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge #17 (A Second Entry!)... "Ode To Dr.B"

   This was a year for a lot of changes in our family; the first Baby Girl in 54 years, a second Baby Larimore (It's a BOY!) due this fall, and, for myself, a lot of upheaval in he health aspect of things. This past winter was not the best I've had and getting through the changes in my meds was nothing short of horrible. But, I am very thankful it's bee quite some time since I've had such a rough year- with several surgical/invasive procedures. The meds are all back on schedule and I am finally settling in somewhat better. But, I'd be remiss if I didn't thank one particular person who's been my main PCP (Primary Care Physician) since the Fall of 1983- we've fondly called him "Dr.B" ever since the boys were small and saying his full name was a bit much for them. So the nickname stuck. There was only a short period of time when we didn't go to him, for about 18 months during the time our firstborn Son came along, simply due to a health care plan change that was forced on us by the ChiefHubby's job at that time.  Once the Dr who delivered him, of course- clear in another county- dropped his practice on us 6 weeks after delievery, we contacted our then-Insurance to practically BEG to be able to go back to Dr.B. They agreed, especially after the sudden drop with a preemie baby! We'd begun seeing Dr.B in the first place because the doctor I had was who delivered me when I was born, and was actually past retirement, already having told me that he didn't expect to deliver my babies. So after making the rounds of available doctors, the ChiefHubby's Mom told me about this guy. She'd gone to see him once: he was fresh out of Med school/Residency, was nice, was young (not too much older than my CH actually), and had a young family of his own. So our plans of having kids would fit right in with his own experiences that I felt were a bonus. Not too long after my first visit with him, CH's Mom got upset with him and refused to go back. He'd told her the plain truth; move it or lose it. She was very obese and didn't like to be physically active. He was right- she'd had severe problems the last 5 years of her life, and died 3 days after her 70th birthday. We've made it our own goal to always be active- with our kids and now with our Grandkids. But, she started me going to Dr.B, and I'm grateful to her for that. 
         Last Fall, when I had another appointment to help figure out all the problems that were cropping up, a KID walked into my room! I knew it then; Dr.B was OVERdue for some time of his own- retirement was coming up. He'd walked in after the kid did, and replied to my question about it- June 2019 would be his last month. I guess you could say that I felt a bit sucker-punched, even though I knew it was coming at some point. But, how do you replace a true, one-in-a-billion GEM?!
He'd helped me find my RA Specialist, took awesome care of every single one of our family of four when each of us were hospitalized, and was usually more right than wrong, without lording it over me with he was right, and the first to admit he might be wrong. He helped me through the rough parts of Mommyhood, while having my back with "Whatever gets you ALL through the night- so that you ALL get some sleep," when I had others actually picking apart what we did with our kids when we had the younger Son on a breathing machine 24/7/365 for 4 years. He usually tried to get us to try a  'home remedy" first, then try this on the next appointment until it healed, and not just pile on the "take 2 pills and call me next year" the way we heard so many other folks speak about their caregiver.  Oh yeah....he actually saved my life.
       The year 2002 was the start of some tough years in my life; beginning with the loss of our 2 sets of Grandparents (1 each year for 4 years), and then falling off the tread mill from severe chest pains in the fall of 2004 led to a couple of surgeries I was NOT ready for. But then, when you look forward to a certain age saying "This year- my 40th- is gonna be FANTASTIC!" while on your 8 mile a day run... only to have it all come crashing down; sucks to put it mildly. Turned my world upside down. EVERY PERSON has skeletons in the closet- especially us Christians; the worst of all sinners among who I am the worst. And I thought I'd kept those things far from my life and they didn't "bother" me anymore. But as I was supposed to be healing from the surgeries, my body had other ideas. I got down to 98 pounds (I was 5 ft 6 in) and could hardly move. And...I didn't really want to, either. Here I was, living the American Dream: a happy marriage, two gifted/talented boys, a nice home that I stayed in as a Housewife with a ChiefHubby who had a very good job with excellent benefits and free family Insurance to cover all the problems that mostly just the younger Son and I both had. But, I couldn't get "back into the Saddle of Life". On a post-op visit to Dr.B, I finally was able to just crash and burn- I spilled my guts out and felt so ashamed that even the love I feel for my own family just....wasn't enough to make me think life was better being ALIVE. He sent me to the Christian Counselor who worked in his office. And she helped me help MYSELF see there was a light at the top of the deep hole I was in. She helped me understand that I had a CHOICE, and more importantly: I HAD to MAKE a CHOICE, and I DID have something to still live for. It's still one day at a time- even 15 years later. But I know GOD still has plans for me- even when the plans get a little off the track. HE still has a great life for THIS life planned for me- as well as an offer for the NEXT life, as long as I take HIM up on that.. each and every day.
          So, THANKS, Dr.B!!! And THANK YOU! to your family for all the times you were called away from them. For all the things you missed (and even that golf game the ER paged you from when the train hit me in Clymers in 1991). For all the times you wished you could just NOT answer that phone, but you DID because you cared as a Doctor for others. And- for all the money that you paid for the training you took to become a Doctor. So many others pass that up, and I know it takes a special person to choose that field. 

                                       Here's what I made:

      The Funkie Junkie Challenge Blog asked everyone to include some kind of metal in their project. Since I worked with foil in the other project entered I wanted to do a second with Tim Holtz IdeaOlogy- my fave stuff! So, let's get to the photos...

Finished Photos:

There will be another Challenge posted soon and then the one after that...

I'll be Guest Designer!!

You can check out the other entries, and even see who won the PRIZE from

Challenge Blog Sponsor; The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

ANYONE can join the fun- ANYTIME!

Till next post...

Be Safe and

HAPPY BLOGGING!

  

Frilly and Funkie Challenge #24; In The Kitchen....Make MERRY like a MOOSE!

  *UPDATE: I missed this Challenge posting by about 5 minutes. But it stands as is for EVERYONE!

     Here I go again; "I'm late! I'm late!!" While I began 5 or 6 projects as early as November, I still end up getting it out and posted at -pretty TOO near- the deadline, *sigh* But, make it in; I WILL! And I think that's the important part.
So while I was a tiny bit disappointed, at first, for a "Kitchen" theme in the middle of the Christmas Season?? I think it was only due to not being able to come up with a plan within just a few minutes of seeing the theme for Challenge #24. I was...well...'STUCK' is really the best word. Nothing came up. I was sooooo into getting some new dies, and just thinking it was going to be...just hadda be!... a snow, Christmas, or deck-the-halls kind of theme, that coming up with something out of a place I spent every night for 26 years (once the kids flew the coup, it was MUCH easier to get outta there!)… I really had to brainstorm on this one! Luckily; I am an admitted CHOCOHOLIC!! True, fully-engulfed, and pleasantly sunk, for-real, Chocoholic: as in "Hi. My name is Lyla, and I'm a Chocoholic. Here, share some with me!!" So that saved my butt this time. :)

                                      We'll start right here with some SxS Instructions...

Gathering materials...which is cool because I still have ONE PACKAGE LEFT

of the GRUNGEPAPER!! (PLEASE,please,please, Tim: get that stuff up and going again!)

The Burlap Paper Stack is from Hobby Lobby. I was going to need a HUGE amount

of it in preferably 12x12 size, and HL had all paper stacks 50% off- I NEVER pay full price 

with Hobby Lobby as they are my Go-To store for just about any bargain for just about any craft!

While I do have the TH Tags THINLITS Set;

with this thick burlap (which has a paper-ish backing), I felt better using

the TH Alterations Tag and Bookplate Die. This die is one of my very FAVE,

one of my very first purchased back when Tim began doing Tags of the Year.

It has probably logged in hundreds of cuts- at least!!

As I thought on....I realized I never got the chance to properly use the TH coffee die.

And a "surprise" idea popped up, so I needed an envelope and found some 

TH Resist Kraftpaper Envelopes (I also have a stack of the regular Krinkle Kraft Paper).

Trash always finds its way into my Studio...via myself or my ChiefHubby.

It all gets my approval (or DISapproval) for removal or recycle.

There is TREASURE in that thar trash!!!

The good old sewing machine came out and had some fun...

...and helped me get four Tags stitched up to make 2 double-sided Tags.

Using the 8x8 stack of Tim Holtz's Classic Kraft Stock, I cut out all the coffee cup pieces

along with at least one layer of the recycled cardboard underneath each piece. 

The "lid" was to have 2 extra layers to make it look more "forward looking".

Those TINY TREES in the TH Merry Moose Thinlits Set...

AWESOME LOOKING!!!

Now, you'd think this was a bit challenging for an RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) Patient,

and it was a bit so. But, on the other hand; it was made EASY by the fact that YOU choose what YOU want to do with each tree! You can leave it stark plain...or add a few green branches, or A LOT of green branches. Ditto for snow on the branches. You can cut the trunk shorter or off all the way. You can leave as is, or sand it a bit like I did. And your trees don't even hafta GROW...

they can lay down on the ground like fallen trees in a natural woods. 

Hmm...

If a Tim Holtz die cut tree falls in your created woods...

Will anyone HEAR it??

BwaHahahahahahha!!!

(I just HADDA do that!)

Here's our 2 Merry MOOSE.....Mooses?....whatever.

With an extra Grungepaper set of antlers for height, 

AND a Classic sand-colored Kraft Stock set as well for topping off.

First; both MOOSE....Mooses….whatever!

get a coat color of TH Distress Ink in Tea Dye...

on that Grungepaper; they LOOK "FUZZY"!!

Then, they each get another coating of TH Distress Ink...

in my FAVE ABOVE ALL INK COLORS: Vintage Photo.

You can see the difference it makes in dimension.

He we have both FRONTS of Tags 1 & 2

Tag 2 was to go with another  Tag as a set for Family Gift exchange 

that took place on Saturday, December 15th. (Another reason I am late: PARTIES!)

This side view shows how I put the Krinkle Kraft Envelope into the middle (using hot glue gun).

That SILLY MOOSE...

THOSE silly MOOSE...MOOSES,,,,whatev.

I printed out my own "chitchat" since I needed it to say something specific, in a specific size.

                                                     The BACK SIDES of Tags 1 and 2.


                                                                   Some Closeups...

The green ribbon is a gift to me in a package of orders from The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

THANK YOU, LINDA'S MOM!!!

She packages those little freebies and always seems to match mine up to ME exactly!

So I used it on the "tag to keep" to differentiate it from Tag 2.

A close up of REAL Cinnamon Stick!

The receiver can simply break off the top half, or use scissors to snip off some, 

to flavor their...

..cuppa HOT CHOCOLATE WITH MARSHMALLOWS!!

That trash turns into TREASURE: truly!!

The TH Paper Doll on Tag 2... waiting patiently.

The TH Paper Doll on Tag 1 waits...NOT so patiently! lol

Front of Tag1 with Back of Tag 2

Front of Tag 2 with Back of Tag 1

     

The 2 Gifted Tag Set

(You'll see that first one in another post!)

THANK YOU:

For all the TOO KIND comments on my Ice Skates !!!

I really had FUN seeing people open those up and THAT'S what Crafting is all about!

And, it's what make Craft People up there near all the VERY BEST type of people

in the entire WORLD!! We love, we let live, we make, and we share...TOGETHER.

A BIG THANKS goes to The Funkie Junkie Boutique

for sponsoring these Challenges all year long,

AND for getting our orders out so FAST! :)

The year 2018 comes to a close soon,

but 2019 will be hosting MANY Challenges all over the Net on Blogs!

I hope you will be able to join us for at least ONE Challenge at

The Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog

     Till next posting...

    Be Safe, and

HAPPY BLOGGING!!