Kidney Cancer Bracelets

Beautiful Sky

Fruity Rainbow Salad

In a medium or large bowl, put your rainbow colored fruits: about 2 cups of fresh sliced strawberries, about 1 cup of orange segments (or a can of mandarin oranges, drained if fresh is not available), about 2 cups of sliced nectarines or peaches, about 2 cups of seedless green grapes, about 1 cup of blueberries, and about 1 cup of pineapple chunks (or an 8 ounce can of pineapple chunks, drained reserving 1/4 cup of the juice, if fresh is not available).

In a separate bowl, mix 1/4 cup either orange or apple juice OR the reserved pineapple juice, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1/4 cup honey, and 1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg. Pour it over the fruit, mix it all up gently, and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight.

It's SO good. I love this time of year...fresh fruit is refreshing, healthy, and yummy!

My favorite place to be...

Jose Reyes at bat, down from Toronto rehabbing from an ankle injury

and my favorite thing to do...

Goofin' at work

Calvin, rockin' the sunglasses

My Rose Bloomed

Signs of a Damp Spring

Taken at work, Williamsville, New York

Sunny A. Hope (1941 - 2013)

My friends, Rhonda and Scott, lost their mother to cancer on Tuesday.   I didn't know her well, but she asked about my well-being for the past 40 years. She and Rhonda were particularly close, and I worry about how she will hold up in the days to come. From the Olean Times Herald:

GREAT VALLEY - Sunny A. Hope, 72, of Sugartown Road passed away Tuesday (June 4, 2013) at the Olean General Hospital. 

She was born Jan. 24, 1941, in Minard Run, Pa., a daughter of the late Curtis and Bernice McCauley Showers. Mrs. Hope was married to Harry R. Hope, who predeceased her.

She had a strong faith and was a very active member and prayer warrior at the Great Valley United Methodist Church. She was sweet and kind, and was a mother to many. She also volunteered at the Great Valley Regatta and many firemen's dinners. She also was an avid bingo player.

She is survived by two sons, Scott Hope of Friendship and Randy (Sandy) Hope of Spencerport; two daughters, Cheryl Dominick-Farnham of Salamanca and Rhonda S. (James R.) Ashdown of Randolph; 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by five brothers, Kurt (Becky) Showers of Great Valley, Merle (Carolyn) Showers of Buffalo, David (Choon) Showers of New Jersey, Donald (Gert) Showers of Tennessee and Larry (Carolyn) Showers of Rochester; and four sisters, Bertha Gregg of Wyoming, Linda Shepard of Great Valley, Carol Ellis of Texas and Marieta Showers of Great Valley; and several nieces and nephews.

Besides her husband, she was predeceased by a son, Robert M. Hope; and a granddaughter, Bobbie Jo.

Happy Mother's Day!

Ian made breakfast for me! I am SO glad he is learning to cook in school. It was absolutely Delicious!

Ladybug Bracelet

For my friend, Dee

Wasting Away from Starvation...

So here he is, using TWO trays to hold all the food he needs to prepare to stave off starvation for another hour until dinner. That milk will be gone in NO time. 

Mister Miserable

Oh, he is SO not happy with me. It is my job, however, to teach him consequences for his actions. He's unplugged.

Completely.

Having a bad day is one thing. He didn't just have a bad day, though. He had a few before the teachers finally decided to contact me. He danced on a few last nerves.  

If it plugs in, he can't use it. We've had a few interesting conversations over the course of the last week or so.

The phone? Off limits. No texting, no kiking, no snapchatting, no instagramming, no facebooking, no tweeting, and, of course, no calling, which, if I'm not mistaken, was originally what a phone was supposed to be for. No TV, no Xbox, no Wii, no DS, no PCP or PSP or whatever the heck it is.  No microwave, no radio, and don't you even THINK about turning on a light. You've got sun, which doesn't plug in. It's light enough in here. And when it gets dark? You can go to bed.

Oh, and you want to try to sneak TV behind my back, after I leave for work but before you leave for school? Yup. You're busted. I'm moving the TV to the garage. You think I can't go without watching TV? Wanna BET? I didn't think so.

And you'd better think twice before telling me you're SO bored.  Trust me. I can FIND something for you to do. And while you're doing it, you can think about using your brain before opening your mouth, and think about why it just might be considered rude and disrespectful to scream "PENIS!" in the middle of Math class or to just get up and wander around English class while the teacher is presenting her lesson.

What were you thinking? 

I wasn't.

Darn right, you weren't.

Sometimes I just don't want to answer my phone (or read my email)...

Yum!

Excellent white wine, semi-sweet, smooooooth.

Stratego

Buddies playing Stratego. 

Rockin' the Suspenders

Gold tones

This 18" necklace and 1.5" earring set is ridiculously hard to photograph. The chain is gold and the beads are foil lined, which makes them sparkle. They have yellow, brown and reddish highlights. It's really pretty, very warm looking, but I can't seem to get a good picture of it.

European-style bracelets with charms - part 3

Designed by Ian: 8" Red and white beads accented with a silver heart.

Designed by Ian: a rainbow of colors with heart charms.(8")

Pink, pale green and white beads with a silver heart charm (7.5")

Yellow and white beads with heart and butterfly charms (7.5")

I do love the look of red/rosy pink and white beads with silver accents.(8")

Rosy pink and silver beads with pink accented charms.(8")

Silver, pink and white beads with the breast cancer charm. (8") One of my favorites!

Wrapped in Beads

I took an 8" cuff bracelet and 2" earring wires and wrapped them with beads strung on wire. Turned out great!

European-style beaded bracelets with charms - part 2

Rosy pink beads accented with a pink flower charm.(8")

Purple and ivory colored beads with a butterfly charm. (8")

Number 1 Mom in purple and silver (8")

Pink and white beads with a heart charm. Delicate and pretty! (7.5")

Pink and red with silver, accented with breast cancer ribbons. (7.5") We need a cure!

Red, white and blue with a silver/red flower charm (8")

European-style Beaded Bracelets with Charms

Light brown solid and patterned beads alternated with white and silver beads and two light brown butterfly charms.(8")

Light blue patterned beads alternated with silver and crystal charms.(7.5")

Designed by Ian: A rainbow assortment of different colored beads and heart charms.(8")  Very cute!

Red and White beads alternated with silver spacers and a heart charm. Would make a great Valentine's Day gift!

Red and white beads with silver spacers and red butterfly charms.(8")

Delicate pink and ivory beads with silver spacers and the pink breast cancer ribbon.(8")  I'll be wearing one of these for the Susan G. Komen breast cancer walk in October.