A friend who vacationed on Biyadhoo Island in the Maldives this past December encountered the abuse of animals. Her snippet of paradise was turned into a vacation in Hell. It was discovered that friendly cats and kittens were intentionally having limbs broken and being sent to neighbouring Villivaru Island. An island that would have little to no fresh water or food available for these animals to survive causing them to potentially starve to death.
Here is the link to her story #BoycottBiyadhoo and to the petition she started Rescue-blue-from-an-agonizing-death.
Below is her story:
Filed under cats, General Ramblings
Sixty-five days ago my life changed forever and not in a good way. Sixty-five days ago my mom, my best-friend, lost her battle to stage 4 lung cancer.
She was only 62 years old and died on November 2, 2014.
My mom beat the odds. She was given 5 months to live when diagnosed on October 19, 2012. This fact was kept a secret from us. I understand why it was her wish, however if I had known that, I would have spent every weekend with her and not every second or third one over the next two years. I am not saying I disagree with her choice. It was her choice to make. I just wish I had more time to spend with her.
I miss my mom. I miss our random chats about nothing and everything under the sun. I miss her advice she would always give me on sewing and cooking. I miss her voice. Her hugs and kisses. Her huge loving heart. I miss everything about her.
Filed under General Ramblings
It’s no lie. I love cats. I love them when they are putting their paws in front of the moving rotary cutting tool, pawing at the sewing needle as it speeds up and down and even when they try to eat thread and get mad at me when I take it away. I am always looking for new interesting toys to keep my bratty one occupied when I was told about Neko Flies Cat Toys.
A great website called Cat Wisdom 101 is hosting a Neko Flies giveaway. It ends midnight EST, May 16, 2013 and the winner will be announced on May 17, 2013.
Here is their link. Go check it out!
And here is my bratty cat checking out the top of the door and a sewing project.
Filed under cats, General Ramblings, Pets
Hey all you sewing people out there! I need some advice. I have a pattern for a small dog that I need to make into a big dog pattern. I have all the necessary measurements and after doing the math, I need to make it 4.5 inches larger all around.
So, below you will see the outline of the original size. Then you will see that I have added the extra length on the sides. That’s where my confusion begins. How do I handle the leg holes? Do I leave them as is? And the neck? Am I correct to add the 2.25 inches above that?
Just a big mental block I am having. I appreciate ANY advice.
Here is the underside of it.
Filed under General Ramblings, Pets, The "How Do I Do That" Section
I have been fortunate enough to meet some awesome people via Facebook and develop a friendship with them. This one family is a hoot. They are kind wholesome fun people. People who volunteer during various events held within their city, people who participate in many runs and rides to raise money for cancer research and other causes. People who put others in front of themselves to provide accommodation for family members who lost their home in a natural disaster and who respond to strangers in need. People who foster animals when they can and who assist in trapping stray cats to spay/neuter to prevent cat overpopulation and unnecessary euthanasia.
Luigi is a ten year old Italian Greyhound (IG). He began his life in a puppy mill. As he matured, he became a stud in that same puppy mill. He lived in a cage mating with females living in the same terrible conditions that he was subjected to. Producing puppies after puppies in deplorable conditions so some individual could make money while all these dogs were unloved and neglected.
After spending five years as a stud, Luigi was auctioned off for $ 5.00 to an Italian Greyhound rescue and then found his way into the loving arms of this one family. Luigi had a lot to learn. He never set foot on grass prior to being rescued. He had severe trust issues. He lost the majority of his teeth from malnourishment and neglect in the puppy mill. He was a mess understandably. Luigi has since learned to trust. He has learned to run and play and have fun, but most importantly, he has learned what love is.
I was told that Luigi does not handle cold weather very well and that this is very common with Italian Greyhounds. I decided to help with that. I made Luigi some winter clothes and mailed them to him a few months ago. He deserves them and so much more after having such a rough start in life. He loves them. And that makes me happy.
Cheers to you Luigi!
Filed under General Ramblings
Today’s blog comes from guest blogger Cameron Von St. James. Cameron writes on the lessons he learned while his wife battled cancer. Yes. I said battled. She won. She kicked cancer to the curb 7 years ago and told it never to return.
The Lessons I Learned From My Wife Having Cancer
November 21, 2005 was the day when my wife, Heather, was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma. I was devastated, but I had no choice but to step up and be my wife’s caregiver. Just three months earlier, Heather had given birth to our first and only child, our daughter Lily. Instead of celebrating her first holiday season, we were beginning a long, difficult journey to beat cancer.
Heather couldn’t work after she was diagnosed, and I had to scale back to part time. I had many responsibilities that wouldn’t allow me to keep a full time job. I had to make my wife’s doctor’s appointments. I had to take care of my daughter, and I had to make travel arrangements to Boston, where Heather would receive treatment from a renowned mesothelioma specialist. I was overwhelmed with my responsibilities, and despite my best efforts to remain positive, sometimes my fears got the best of me. I couldn’t help but picture the worst-case scenario, my wife dying and me being left alone and broke to raise a daughter who would never know her mother. There were many days that I felt I couldn’t go on.
It is difficult to cope with cancer without a support group of friends, family, and strangers. These people provided financial assistance and comforting words to help us get through the tough times. My strongest advice to any caregiver or cancer patient is to accept every offer of help and support that comes your way. I had to learn the hard way that there is no room for pride in a cancer fight. Even the smallest offer of help can be a weight off your shoulders, and will remind you that you are not alone in the fight.
Being a caregiver is difficult, there is no getting around that. It’s a job that you cannot walk away from. To get through it with your sanity, use all the resources available to you, and it will be easier. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Allow yourself to have bad days, but above all else, never give up hope for a better tomorrow.
After Heather received mesothelioma chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, we started the process of recovery. Against all odds, she beat this terrible disease, and has been without cancer for seven years now. We hope that our story of success in the face of cancer can help inspire others currently struggling through their own cancer battles. Never give up hope, and never stop fighting for the ones you love.
You can read more of Cameron’s posts at http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/cameron/
Filed under General Ramblings
On a recent trip to Cancun, the Mr. and I were blessed with watching this gorgeous sunset each night. I do believe however, that he was getting fed up with my relentless drive for the perfect shot. He would sit patiently on the bench drinking Corona’s beside me while I stood, kneeled, twisted and bent every way imaginable trying to get the perfect shot on my little Olympus E-PM1 camera. He is a wonderful supportive man who puts up with my occasional bouts of insanity while trying new things.
I am still a beginner when it comes to photograpy, but this is my favourite photo I took of the couple hundred sunsets that week.
It has been too long since I have last posted, but I am ready to get back into the swing of things. Originally, I planned for this to be a sewing only blog, but over the course of my writing, I have discovered many other things that inspire me and my blog will evolve to include those other things as well.
However, since I am at work writing this, this is all I have for now.
Filed under General Ramblings
Ok. So I forgot it was Friday and I forgot it was the Friday for the Friday Night Sew-In. It has been a whirlwind rollercoaster ride the past 6 days. Six days ago I found out my Mom has a brain and lung tumor and was having emergency brain surgery to remove the tumor. Her health is very good aside from this. The Head of Neurology was going to do the surgery and assured my parents he has removed hundreds of these types and that there was an almost perfect success rate.I decided I needed to make her a quilt. I had some jelly rolls so I thought a simple lap size line quilt would be perfect. The Mr. convinced me to make it big. I didn’t have enough backing for a large quilt, so I rushed off to Walmart and purchased a 300 thread count flat king sheet. I got this far prior to the surgery. Its sitting on my queen size bed. It will be approximately 65 x 80 inches or thereabout.
Mom had her surgery on Wednesday. I was and still am in shock. Stunned. Scared. It’s not something that is easy to process and I can’t imagine how it has been for her. Lucikly, the tumor was not in her brain. Only pushing against it. The surgery took 1 hour and 45 minutes in total. Twenty-four hours after the surgery, she was up walking and climbing stairs. Assisted by her Physio Therapist of course, but mobile so fast. Mom wa discharged today. Discharged 48 hours after having brain surgery. I am in awe at the level of care she received and how great she is doing. She has definately exceeded my expectations. My mom is my hero. The strongest person I know. Tonight, I managed to free motion half the quilt. I wanted to present it to her tomorrow. She knows about. She will just have to wait another couple days for me to complete it.
I love you mom!
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Filed under General Ramblings, Quilts
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