My New Bling Pouch

So I have started on my new stitching project.

It will be a pouch to keep my silk fabric safe and clean.

It is in shades of gold, off white and browns, and will have

lots of blingy beads and stuff.

I pieced the fabrics together, made some bumpy bits,

and some prairie points.

 There are a few snippets of antique lace.

I have just started some buttonhole lace on the seams, but

haven't done any other stitchery yet.

 After the embroidery is done, I will add lots of beads and bling.

 These are some strips/bands that will go over some of the lace -

(more to come next time).

Happy New Year to all from Linda and Gabriel!

Gabe Here . . .

Christmas was pretty exciting around here.

First of all, mom has been cooking and baking all kinds of stuff -

and I have been right beside her the whole time

just in case something falls on the floor.

We both like the floor to be really clean!

She put these silly reindeer antlers on my head.

I took them off right away!

I didn't want them.

She tried to talk me into it, but I just laid down,

no stupid antlers for me!

Then Aimee came for Christmas and there was LOTS of treats.

All of a sudden, the antlers weren't so bad.

In this photo, someone is holding a very yummy treat.

 In fact, I forgot all about the antlers.

Humans are really silly!

Merry Christmas, Love, Gabe

O Christmas Tree

I didn't have a tree last year, because I had just moved in here.

This year, I decided on pink and white decorations!

I got a new artificial tree from Balsam Hill at half price.

It's 4 and a half feet tall.

 Many of these decorations I bought while shopping with my sister.

The balls with the roses were hand painted by Jennie Hepler,

now a famous doll maker. (Prim Pumpkins)

My mom made these angels for my sister and I many years ago.

 This arrangement is on my desk.

I hope you had as much fun decorating as I did!

Love, Linda

Fall into Winter

I love the red maple out front. You can almost taste the bright red.

Then . . . just like that . . . it's gone.

Bye, till next year. Love, Linda

Hi, I'm Gabe

My name was Cain, but now it's Gabriel

and I think I'm going to live here forever.

I'm six years old and have the same birthday as mom.

August 26 - my new mom, that is.

I used to live with another mom and a little girl with special needs.

I liked her, but they moved and couldn't take me.

I was going to be "euthanized"

That, I think is something bad.

Anyway, Linda, my new mom came, and I rode in the car

to my new house. I wasn't sure what was going on, but she

gave me some really great food, and then went away for

a long time. I wasn't sure what to do

so I took the pillows off the sofa. Then I went to sleep.

She came home the next morning, and gave me a really

great breakfast. I still wasn't sure where I was,

so I was on my best behavior, which is pretty good.

She told me her other dog had gone to Rainbow Bridge,

and she was missing him a lot and I was missing my family,

 so we didn't do much for a couple of weeks,

 only going in and out and sitting on the porch

 and eating some really great food. She changed my name to Gabriel.

Gabriel is ok. She also calls me Good Boy.

One day she brought me some things to play with called "toys."

I've never had any, and they are great. Some have

squeakers inside and some crackle and mom plays

with them with me. I have an alligator and a shark.

And I have a dog with a bottle inside and I can take

out the bottle. Then I have some toys with little compartments.

Mom puts treats and peanut butter inside.

And I have a purple ball.

We went for some walks, but every time I see a kid or

another dog I need to go see them, and mom isn't very

strong, so she got tired of being "hauled around" she says.

Now we go to school once a week. I love school.

I get to listen to a clicking noise and I know then I will

get a treat. It is just the greatest thing, and all I have to do

is the thing that makes the clicker click. Sometimes it's hard.

But the treats are reeeeally good. And I get to play

with the other dogs.

I love to practice the clicker homework. I just sit and stare at mom

until she gets the clicker and the treats.

I can still smell the other dog who lived here and

sometimes I use his leash. But I'm pretty happy here

and I think mom is too.

Love, Gabe Good Boy

Tis a Fearful Thing

'Tis a fearful thing

to love what death can touch.

 A fearful thing

 to love, to hope

to dream, to be

 to be,

and oh, to lose.

 A thing for fools, this

and a holy thing-

a holy thing, to love.

 For your life has lived in me,

 Your laugh once lifted me,

your word was gift to me.

 To remember this brings painful joy.

 'Tis a human thing to love,

a holy thing to love

 what death has touched.

Yehuda HaLevi

Beloved Duke

went to Rainbow Bridge

August 13, 2014 at 1:00 p.m.

Summer Garden

I can't help it - more garden photos

Yesterday a hummingbird visited!

Love, Linda