Karen's Challange "How did I come up with my Blog Name"

Hi Everyone...I've decided to join in Karen's Fun challenge and fill you in on How I came up with my Blog name.
It would have been really fun if I could have done a whole row of My Primitive Creations across the top..but since I couldn't I picked one of my favorite creations.
I've been crafting/creating things since I was just a kid. When I first started doing shows & selling on Ebay it was easy choosing a name. I wanted a name that described what I did so I named myself *MyCreations*.
When Carmen started decorating her home in Primitive Style she talked me into creating Prim Decor.
Once I started creating Prim Decor I realized I wanted my name to reflect both what I did and the period for my creations so I changed everything on Ebay to My Primitive Creations by Tonya. Once I was established creating and selling Prim Decor Carmen talked me into learning to Blog so that I could see what others were creating and to meet people who liked Prim decor.
After getting over the fear of tackling yet another piece of the Internet world I took the plunge and started Blogging two years ago November 2010.
I was scared to death to Blog because I can create just about anything but doing things on the computer still ielude me totally... setting up my Blog was so complicated for me. Actually its still complicated which is why I haven't changed my blog page in two years.
It was simple for me to carry my Ebay Selling name over to my Blog because I wanted to share the prim Decor I was creating and I wanted feedback from others who were into Prim Decor as well as get idea's from that feedback. I also hoped that my Blog would help interested buyers to find My Primitive Creations by Tonya easier when they were out there searching the net.

My Blog has been everything I'd hoped and more. It has boosted my sales, its given me so many ideas to use when creating my prim decor & its filled my world with so many new and wonderful friends!

Blessings
Tonya

Got a Minute..Much has happened since I last visited all of you..

Wow some blogger I am...I truly didn't realize I've been away so long...Happy Friday night to all of you out there. I've missed you all & have wanted to find a minute to post but so much has been happening there just hasn't been the time.
Quick update on the hand surgery... My hand is healing nicely...I think that I can say that I've gained back 85% use of my hand and fingers ..YeeHaw..Still some minow pain in the plam & middle finger. doing exersises daily to regain full use of the hand. Absolutely NO MORE NUMB fingers..another ..YeeHaw!
I haven't been able to do much in the shop but I've got supplies galore to start creating.
I did manage to finish a New Gathering LOL.... it only took me a month.
~Primitive Sewing room Gathering~


Peg found several Old Quilts at an Auction that I'll be lisiting soon.
Here's a little Sneek peek! If your interested feel free to contact me.

Quilt #1   Measures  86" x 86"

Quilt #2   Measures  107" x  93"

Quilt #3   Measures 135" x  90"

Quilt #4   Measures 93" x  88"


Peggy also created two Halloween Witches Brew Covered Cookbooks
If you would like to have one made to order Please Contact me.
Most of you have heard me talk about my Best Friend Puddles!


If not Puddles is my 15 year old Sheltie that goes everywhere I go.
I'm sad to say he hasn't been doing very well. He's nearly totally blind,
and deaf but that didn't stop him, but over the last month he has been really sick.
He started having accidents in his sleep & then he got the diarrhea. then he started
falling a lot. So off to the vets we went. He ran blood test for Kidney & Liver disease,
as well as Thyroid & Diabetes's.
Mostly the blood test came back good, No kidney or Liver disease, No Diabetes's.
But your not going to believe it but his thyroid came back Hypothyroid,
not enough Thyroid hormones just like his momma.
Can you believe that..poor little guy I know just how he feels..Now he has to take meds too.
We go back next week to run a couple more test and talk about his meds.
He's getting old & it worries me that his time in nearing an end. So he could use some of your prayers.

Just as I was adjusting to Puddles being sick and possibly having to put him down another tragedy hit.

Last Saturday night I opened the Trailer door to toss some pepsi cans in he can drum & Tasha Kitty bound out the door. Normally not a big deal she loved sitting on the step or chasing bugs in front of the trailer so I didn't think much of it other then I was tired & ready to go to bed. I stepped out to try to get her back in the house for the night and she took off running. So I decided to give her 5 minutes to romp around.
When I opened the door 5 minutes later she was no where in sight. Of course I called & called her looked everywhere but no where to be found. She had just vanished.. finally an hour later I gave up looking thinking she would return, meow & I'd wake up & let her in like she always does.

Sadly it is now nearly 1 week later & endless hours of me searching & others on the island searching the Island trying to find her and she still hasn't returned. I'm crushed and broken Hearted that there is every chance she will never return.
There are Eagles, Hawks and Coyotes all over the island, anyone of them may have gotten her.
Remember Mama Lisa & her Kitens?

We found homes for three of Lisa's kittens, several of the other Mother kitty's kittens & the mother cats. We had three kittens left and Lisa. So I contacted the Humane Society to see if they could help with fixing them and they put me intouch with Pet FBI who agreed to sponsered them since Mama Lisa was at one time Ferrel.
Yesterday I had to wake up before the Rooster crows so I could take the last three Kittens and Mama Lisa to the Humane Society to be fixed & get there shots.
Pet FBI paid for there surgery & shots. Huge Thanks to Pet FBI for helping out. Now finally there will be no more Kittens born from these four. Of course people will continue to drop off cats right and left but at least I was able to stop these four from making babies...
While they did there health checks they discovered that Mama Lisa had and Upper Respitory Infection. So they sent me home with antibiotics for her. Of course that meant that she had to come with us to the Island for the weekend so I cold make sure she got her meds.

Funny how things happen for a reason...Being so torn over losing Tasha I really had mixed feelings about taking Lisa with me to the Island...but then when Tasha wasn't sitting on the step waiting for me to come back my heart broke all over again... then last night as I sat on the bench at my table where Mama Kitty & Tasha would lay one on each side of me as I sat and worked on the computer..who jumps up in Tasha's spot and laid down......Sweet lovable Mama Lisa. She was purring and rubbing her head on my leg letting me know she loved me... Mama Kitty was in her spot on the other side...although my heart is still aching over losing Tasha there is no empty spot on the bench...or in my bed last night as both of them curled up next to me and they are both laying beside me as I write tonight...
Lisa can't replace Tasha but I love her just as much. I have a feeling she is about to become not only the shop kitty but the house kitty too..

Two weeks ago I decided to redo the Red neck shed...For those of you who don't know what the Redneck Shed is, its a large 10' x 10' wire Dog Kennel covered with tarps where I store supplies. I had bought one of those Gray pipe & Tarp like sheds but it didn't even last a year..so I decided to buy a second large dog kennel & extend the orginal kennel into a 20' x 10' RedNeck shed. It worked out perfectly because I also bought the pitched roof that goes with them. I hired the id down the road to work with me to put it all together. We managed to get it all built, covered it with new tarps and added a pallet floor so nothing will sit on the ground anymore, in one day. It looks so much nicer then what I had & so far no leaks at all. Then I spent two more days orgaizing all the totes, shelves & other misc. things inside it.
Sorry I forgot to download the pictures...
Then I spent several days organizing my shop that has really been neglected over the past 5 months.
Now all I need to do is get back in the shop and start creating again...

Sadly It will be a while longer before I will be able to create full force because my right hand surgery is scheduled for October 23 so that leaves me just three weeks to create & as I mentioned my left hand isn't 100% yet so still limited, but when the time comes I am set and ready to go.

So my dear friends I haven't forgotten you I've just been busy dealing with a whole lot of things. I do think about you all the time & look forward to winter when I have more time to spend blogging and catching up with everyone. LOL...normally I would never say looking forward to winter but indeed I now have a reason to say it ..spending time sharing and catching up with all of you in Blogland.

I must go for now I have an oder for 20 rice bags taht I need to get finished up this weekend..so I will bid you all a good Night and a Good Weekend making memories!

Prim Hugs
Tonya

SURGERY DONE-Now the waiting-OUCHIE

Hi...this is one finger peckin but wanted to say THANK U for the prayers and well wishes..I can always count on my wonderful friends here to lift my spirits.
The surgery...what an experience...they make your arm totally numb/dead.. I mean it is just dangling with no feeling what so ever from the shoulder down. So when I woke up it was all wrapped up in a sling. Doc comes in tells me it will be this way from 10 to 36 hours depends on how my body processes the drugs.

Then when he leaves the nurse comes in to release me and she says lets get you dressed...lol...now that was a hoot but really creepy at the same time. She takes the ole arm out of the sling and it just flops down to my side and kinda swings a little from side to side....as it hits my leg I think in my mind I should feel it but nothing...so strange..
So nurse holds up my shirt so my mind says lift arm into sleeve....nope not happening..so she lifts it up and puts it in and I do the other side...Ok shirt on..now the pants...oh good grief if I thought it has been hard to put on pants with numb fingers...let me tell you how difficult it is with a dead arm and a numb fingered right hand....impossible when you are still wobblely from surgery... I busted out laughing as I thought about how hard it was gona be at home alone when natured called...Thank God for the nurse...guess I'll worry about that when I get home just get me dressed and out of here I am starving and need a drink my mouth feels like it is stuffed with cotton balls....
Finally we are homeward bound...stopped 2 get pain killers and then we finally made it home.
The girls asked a million questions and wanted to see dangling arm ..it creeped them when they seen it flop down and just hang there...
After about an hour I had to go crash ..I was exhausted for one and my neck was killing me from the dead weight arm hanging in the sling. Igave in and went to my trailer and crashed till 7:00..

Surprise my body absorbed the drugs that numbed the arm pretty quick. I can move my fingers...but I'm thinking the dead arm was better cause the nore it wakes up the more it hurts and its a big hurt not a little hurt... Fine time for one of those pain killers...lol..well I've been one finger typing this post and the rest of my arm is almost totally awake and that painkiller is not doing a thing for the pain...OUCH-OUCH-OUCH
I think it is going to be one long night of thumping pain...but I will keep telling myself in a month this will be behind me and I will be able to feel the good things without numb-tingling and pain....
For now its grit my teeth take big breaths and get threw it.

Good night my dear friends....

Hugs and Blessings
Tonya

New Prim Gatherings~My Boat~Hand Surgery today!

It was a beautiful day here In Ohio Today as I sat pulling weeds..and admiring all of my Herbs and huge Sunflowers.. As I sat there I realized that I haven't posted in forever.. I just sort of disappeared.. I'm not sure why..I think taht I needed time to process everything that has come to be over the last couple of years and work on being me again...
So let me say Hello my dear friends I have so missed you and I'm sorry that I have been in my own little world for the past few months...I've stopped by and kept up with most everyone...just not posting..

I am happy to tell you all that I am feeling more and more like myself everyday...The Thyroid meds are doing there job..after the year from hell... I am so grateful...to be feeling normal again... I still have a long way to go to build my strength back up to par but I'm giving it my best..

I've spent most of my summer on Kelley's Island hanging out with my friends..its been great therapy for me!

I got the best news ever last Friday... My boat is finally fixed and ready to take her first trip out on the waters of Lake Erie...After waiting 3 years to get her finally fixed up and running again... I couldn't be happier!

Sadly tho I will have to wait for her to take that first trip across the lake...Tomorrow I go in to have my left hand operated on to fix the Carpel Tunnel, Dupuytrens Contracture, & the pinched nerve in my Elbow.
So there is no way I could handle taking Slightlytrashed out on the lake by myself...
But I'm looking ahead and thinking that by next spring both of us will be totally fixed and ready to tackle the lake and docking together...hehe!
Gives me motovation to work hard on building up my strength over the winter and when spring rolls around I'll be ready...

I haven't been able to do much creating with my hands being all Numb, tingling & hurting 24/7 but I've been doing some major thrifting and finding tons of goodies to create some awesome gatherings once my hands are all healed... So I'm totally looking forward to getting these Hand surgeries done and over with...
I gotta tell ya I miss my creating in the worst way...but all in good time all in good time!

I did manage to create a few gatherings over the past couple of months.

Primitive Pantry Message Board Gathering


Primtive Pantry Rack Apple Gathering


Primitive Necessary Room Gathering


Primitive Necessary Room Gathering


Primitive Americana Gathering


Time to call it a day 5:00 will be here in no time and then its off to the Hopsital for surgery at 7:30 so I must bid you all a Good Night....but until we meet again may your Day be filled with Sunshine and Happy Moments!

Blessings
Tonya

Ever Feel as if you'll bust if ya don't talk about Something??

Slightly is the Boat with the Blue Camper top

 

Good Middle of the Morning my friends...I wanted to say thank you to everyone who stopped by to wish me a Happy Birthday...It was great hearing from everyone!! I especially liked hearing how many of you related to and or liked my birthday post.

As you all know I've been stuck in funk for some time....  weeding my way threw all the things we go threw when we find ourselves moving from one place in our lives to a new place. I know that many of us have been in this situation and it is over whelming at times!

I like to think that we do get to know each other to some degree as we share different aspects of our life, our homes, our family's, our ups, downs and general struggles with every day life, our Jobs, our great finds at the thrift stores, visits with grand kids, our Happy moments all shared every time we come here to post..

 

I mentioned in my birthday post that I have found myself moving into a new season of my life..and facing it head on. That's not as easy to do as it is to write about it as many of you know from experience...some of us can move on easily some of us struggle to move on.. 

 

We all have dreams most of us never share them but we have them none the less.. Me I've always been an open person.. if you personally met me today you would find me to be the same person you met here..!

 

Some of my dreams have been realized over the years, many actually & for that I am very grateful and feel very blessed. In my youth I dreamed of being a mother and I was Blessed with my daughter Carmen. She filled my life with so much joy growing up.. then I was blessed with my foster children who taught me so much about love, who showed me how much I had to be grateful for as I watched them struggled to find there way in a world that took so much from them. they too were my teachers each of them..

 

Once my time raising children came to end and it was time for me to move on to a new season of my life it was simpler because I knew that it was my time...my time to see some of my personal dreams come true.

 

I wanted to do the things that as a parent you don't have the time or pleasure to do..I followed my dreams and I bought a boat so that I could spend time on the water..I love nature..the sun, the water, the Moon, the stars, I love that feeling of being free to just enjoy all the splendor of Gods creations .... being a lady Captain of my own boat gave me the freedom to enjoy all those things and so much more...

I was blessed with being the Captain off my own boat, spending my summers on Lake Erie & Kelley's Island every weekend from 2001 to 2010. I was one of the happiest people you could ever meet...

In 2010 my boat broke down and although I still lived on her that Summer she didn't run so there were no trips on the water..She was towed to the mainland in October of 2010 & taken to a shop to be repaired. I paid the man to repair her but he never finished the work.. Around the same time I started getting sick.

You all know all about that part of my life..

One of the things you don't know is that every day I prayed that my boat would be fixed feeling that even if I was sick I could still find some peace spending time on my boat with all my friends close by me. I dreamed it to be fixed, I begged the repair man to finish the work on her..but he never did..he took my money, did part of the work and then one day he was offered a job in Florida.. He delivered my unfinished boat to my driveway & off to Florida he went...

There are many things that can break your heart & I've been broken hearted over losing my boat...but the dream that some way, somehow she would get fixed was never far from my thoughts..in fact it was those thoughts & dreams that someday I would once again be free on the water in my boat that got me threw so much over the past two years...
Well there is Good News folks ...A friend offered to fix my boat & picked it up two weeks ago..he has been texting me daily with the progress. Slightlytrashed is the name of my boat..fitting don't you think...lol...

The last Text said:

'Slightly's Engine turned over today & she runs!..I hope to take her out and test her this week on the water and if all goes well I will be bringing her to the Island August 12th. 

I never cried such Happy Tears in my life..well I probably have, but as I cried over yet another dream coming true it seemed like the best Cry I've ever had...I've been in heaven thinking about SlightlyTrashed actually running after nearly 3 years, about being on the water with the wind in my face and the sun on my back, of being in the Casino Dock with all my boater friends and sleeping on her...

 

Then today I realized something that sent me into a tailspin...scared me to death and actually took my breath away and I cried again.. How am I going to Captain my Slightly..How will I untie her lines and get out of the dock on the mainland side?

Oh I can drive her across the water bad hands and all, but what happens when I get to the dock & I can't dock her because my hands are such a mess?

How will I grab my lines as I pull her into the dock, jump off her and tie her up by myself like I have always done, when I can't even feel the lines let alone hold onto anything right now..not to mention the weakling I've become?

Then I'm scheduled to have my first surgery on my left hand August 22 just 10 days after Slightly is supposed to go back in the water..there is no way I will be able to dock her then...

It's horrible to realize a dream only to have it shattered knowing that even if I get to take her out on the water I won't be able to do it alone....

This is a huge challenge for me ..one I'm not sure I am willing to forfeit but one I am not sure I'm able to accomplish alone... god can help me ready myself giving me the encouragement to build my strength up with a promise of happiness again on SlightlyTrashed as I struggle to find my dream but he can't drive the boat and dock it for me..

Two years ago I was a strong lady physically and emotionally..my health wasn't perfect but it wasn't what it is today..Is God telling me you can do it or is he telling me Slightly is fixed it is time to sell her and move on...find a new dream... I'm not sure I'm willing to accept that.. but I also know I'm no where near the person I was two years ago and for now I have to focus on getting my hands back in working order before I can chase any of my dreams, be it Boating or Creating Prim Gatherings.. !

 

I do know one thing I can still close my eyes and see myself riding across the lake in Slighty smiling from ear to ear as the wind takes my breath away and the water sprays across my back..I feel the rock of Slightly as if I were sitting on her and I can hear the slap of the water on her bow as I drift off to sleep!

 

Looks like I have my work cut our for me if I'm ever going to ever be CaptainBlondee again!

 

Sorry this was such a long post but I had to share my thoughts...have you ever had to looks yourself in the eye and realize you have a choice? Like I said in my birthday post I'm a fighter and I look forward to the future...I can only hope and pray that god is bringing home my dream he will give me the courage and the strength to fulfill the dream I've dreamed for the past two years!!  

 

Thanks for coming to visit and until we meet again may all your dreams be realized too!

 

Blessings

Tonya

Its My BiRtHdAY!! Guess that makes it Offical, I survived the year from Hell..

                                                                         To Me

A big Howdy everyone...!!
I've always been one who loves celebrating her Birthday...I've always looked at my Birthday as a day to Celebrate making it another year...dealing with all the ups and downs of the year..learning something new everyday and applying it to my life! So celebrate I have done..even with all the ups and downs I've had a great life with very few regrets!
This year as I celebrated my birthday.. I found myself celebratng much more then just my Birthday..I was celebrating the survival of the year from hell..
I've had to climb a million mountians in my life...many that I wasn't sure I'd make it to the top and back down again..of course I always made it despite the struggles.....I'm a fighter!!
Last night I met my friends at the Dock to celebrate my Birthday just like I've done for the past 10 years. Even my long time Girlfriend came in from California to celebrate with me...but something was different, missing, a feeling of uncertianty lingered in the celebrating!
Funny how one finds themselves smack dab in the middle of change...I'm so thankful that I can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel...I'm Thankful that I am feeling more and more like my old self, I'm so thankful for all the friends here that were there when I needed you most, helping me threw the hard times in the past year. Thankful for the Doctors who finally figured out what was wrong with me & started putting my life back together..

The one thought that hangs on in the back of my mind is do I have the strength in myself to fight all the side affects left behind that still need to be fixed before I can truly be myself again..

As we all sat talking about Birthday celebrations past and the fun times we all shared over the years and lifted our glasses to toast my birthday last night I realized that I won't really ever be the person I was...I've changed not by choice but none the less I have changed..

I've moved on to a new Season in my life, a season that won't include some of the things I love most, but one that will offer many new things I may come to love, I will grieve the losses and celebrate the gains.
Its hard to move on sometimes, even scary at times and yet it's exciting too..!

I know I'm not alone there are so many others who are starting a new season of there life..struggling just as I've done trying hard not to let go of the things that made all those past celebrations such great memories..
I don't know what the future holds for me but I look forward to finding out... I pray that there are more and more positives in the year to come...& come next year I can tell everyone that I love Celebrating my Birthday!

God Bless you all! Until we meet again may your day be filled with sunshine and happy moments!

Hugs
Tonya

No Catchy Title Just come on in! Lots to share with ya!

A Big Howdy to all... I sure hope that you are all geared up for another summer weekend! Loved this sign had to share it with you! I've decided I'm using it this weekend.. I'm on the Island this weekend and plan to totally enjoy my weekend with all my boater Friends.. this is the biggest weekend of the season on Kelley's island. Its called Islandfest Weekend! There will be lots of Craft Vendors, Food Vendors, a Carnival for the kids, a street dance and finally fireworks Saturday night. I used to pack up a huge truck load of my Creations & set up a booth every year at Islandfest but it got to be to much work so now I just enjoy all the other crafters goods..
I wasn't sure if I was going to make it up here this weekend since my Van decided to breakdown on me. Finally got it back on Tuesday...but once again I wasn't happy with the shop that fixed it for me because the air Conditioner still isn't working properly.
The Air coming out of the vents is only cooled down to 60-65 degrees which isn't cool enough to cool the whole van down. So its generally 80 to 85 degrees which isn't cool at all in this triple digit temps we've been having lately.
But thank goodness it doesn't appear that there is any damage to the engine due to its over heating.. So I packed it and off we went to the Island to hang out with friends all weekend!!
Figure I'll deal with the repair shop next week..

I spent a lot of time in the Pool with my nieces this week. I used to be on the swim team so I was showing them all of the smim moves we used to do... It was so hot that was about the only place to find any relief and we had a great time together...Even Baby Eathen loves the pool and we took him in everyday too..

All of my nephews & there wives are expecting along with one Niece who is expecting. So we have 4 baby's in the warmer so Peggy is planning Baby showers. the first shower is Saturday for Jessie & jason. they are having a little girl. So we spent time getting the house & yard all cleaned up and ready for the baby shower.

Had another freak tragedy with my teeth this week. I was feeling the back of my teeth with my tounge and all of a sudden another one of my teeth fell out. Another front tooth right next to the one I yanked out with the duct tape. So another rush to the dentist office onl to find that it is not worth trying to repair. What was left just crumbled into pieces when he touched it with his tools. So I look like a total dork with one rebilt tooth in front that looks like a wood Tooth says my niece Hailey..and a big gap right next to it.
that makes 3 teeth that have crumbled right out of my mouth in the past 2 months.. Soon they are all going to crumble away...

I had my appointment with Dr. Awan on Tuesday to discuss the results of nerve damage test they ran on my hands last week. I now know exactly what is wrong with my hands and how bad the damage is as well as what can be done to fix my hands up good as new... Now of course we all know they will never be good as new but they should be close if all goes well with the surgeries that need to be done. Best part is that they are all going to be Microscopic surgery with small incisions & few stitches. No cast only bandaids.

Carpal tunnel syndrome: A type of compression neuropathy (nerve damage) caused by compression and irritation of the median nerve in the wrist.

I have it in both wrist. Oddly it is worse in the left wrist then the right. But I have the most pain in the right hand. Mine is now in the advanced stage which requires surgery to repair & to stop any further damage to the nerve. It was determined that it advanced once my thyroid disease worsened. I can no longer feel much in my fingers other then the constant thumping/throbbing pain 24 hrs a day.

Dupuytren’s contracture. 

Dupuytren’s disease is an abnormal thickening of the tissue just beneath the skin known as fascia. This thickening occurs in the palm and can extend into the fingers. Firm cords and lumps may develop that can cause the fingers to bend into the palm, in which case it is described as Dupuytren’s contracture.  Occasionally, the disease will cause thickening on top of the finger knuckles (knuckle pads),
Mine has affected the two middle fingers in both hands. On the right hand I have the Knuckle pads.

Trigger finger and thumb are painful conditions that cause the fingers or thumb to catch or lock in a bent position. The problems often stem from inflammation of tendons that are located within a protective covering called the tendon sheath.
Mine has affected the right hand 1st finger. It's locked in the extended position always pointing. It's the worst of the thumping/throbbing 24/7.
Not to mention it gets in the way of everything so it gets bumped constantly. It also makes it really difficult to pick anything up. You think you have a hold of it but then realize you don't. then add the other thing to it & you simply can't hold onto anything.

Cubital tunnel syndrome is a condition brought on by increased pressure on the ulnar nerve at the elbow. There is a bump of bone on the inner portion of the elbow (medial epicondyle) under which the ulnar nerve passes. This site is commonly called the “funny bone”.  At this site, the ulnar nerve lies directly next to the bone and is susceptible to pressure. When the pressure on the nerve becomes great enough to disturb the way the nerve works, then numbness, tingling, and pain may be felt in the elbow, forearm, hand, and/or fingers.
Mine has affected the left elbow which is why the left hand is actually the worst of the two because it adds to the numbness.

So with answers to all my questions Dr Awan looks at me and says...So when do you want to schedule the surgeries..the sooner we get these things fixed the sooner you can get the use of your hands back...and less chance of any further damage to the nerves.. How about two weeks.. I was like wooooooooooo... I want to enjoy the rest of summer the best I can..no cast for me in this heat...He chuckled  & told me I wouldn't have any cast just tiny incisions and bandaids. I was like you're kidding right... he says, No..all microscopic & I will have you using your hands doing exersises on the third day, with full use within 6 weeks.   
I was so excited but reality is it probably won't be that easy...but If it is this will be one happy lady..
So I said, ok lets start with the left hand first so I know what to expect by the timeyou get to the right hand which has more issues then the left.
He scheduled my 1st surgery for August 22nd. Then if all goes well I will probably have my right hand done the end of September. That will give me a month or two to heal up before winter sets in and I start creating full time again..

It was a busy week...& I'm all tuckered out especially after the long drive north to the Island. So gona rest up tonight so I ccan spend the day hanging with my friends on the dock tomorrow. 

I hope you all are enjoying your summer..staying cool and safe!

Until next time remember you are always a thought away...

Blessings
Tonya 

Oh the Blessed Month of July~Sunflowers~Tomatoes~Heat~Birthday~Broken Van & Doctors appointments!

Happy July everyone.... My sunflowers are back in full Bloom & as you know I love my Sunflower Smiles!
I've even found a few new Sunflower goodies at GW..& just this past Monday my SIL gave me the most darling hanging flat bucket filled with Sunflowers... She said she seen it at GW and had to pick it up for me. I love it and plan to hang it on my Trailer Door..I'll take a pic to share with you after I hang it today..

As many of you know we have had record breaking temps here in Ohio this July along with some severe Storms. This heat has been really hard on all the Farmers. I had to laugh the other day as I looked at our beautiful Flower bed Peg and I worked on for a month filled with so may beautiful blooms but not a blade of Green grass anywhere on our 5 acres...Its so brown you can't tell if its dirt or dead grass..
But for the first time in the 4 years I've been living in my trailer at my brothers there flowerbeds suffered great neglect! Then this year I helped Peg make her flowerbeds look as pretty as the ones I'd made around my Trailer.

Finally every flowerbed on the property looks fantastic but they almost look funny amid the dried out lawn.
They get watered every day and it has paid off because they are just filled with pretty Blooms..

The garden is doing fantastic too..Yep it gets watered daily too!
Peg picked her first Ripe Red Juicy Tomatoes...Since Jimmy does all the work in the Garden she made him a huge BLT... He said it was Yummy... soon we will all get to enjoy a yummy BLT & I can't wait...

My Herb Garden is doing fantastic as well.. I started picking some of the Herbs, bundling them and hanging them to dry!

The kids have been Swimming daily and I must admit every chance I get I jump in the pool to cool off.
My Bro & Nephew built a new deck yesterday beside the pool. It looks awesome!

Today I woke up to the sound of rain drops on my roof...what a blessed sound that was..It had cooled down last night so I opened my windows to let in some fresh air...It smelled so fresh this morning for the first time in months...Sadly it didn't last but an hour or so and it wasn't enough to make a difference in the dried out Grass..although so far it has stayed cool with little humidity so I still have my windows open to enjoy the fresh smell after the rain!

Every July my Birthday rolls around again! A time to reflect on all has has passed over the year count my blessings for the year! This year the list of not so good things in my life is much bigger then my Blessings list by far..but I'm trying to look forward to growing the Blessings list..as many of the negatives hopefully will lead to blessings as my health issues are resolved.

True to the month of July and my consistant life my Van is Broken down again. This is the 4th year in a row that the Van of the year has either The front of the Van litterly fell off the front of the Van 2019, Blown an Engine 2010, Gas Tank Sprung a leak 2011, Now July 2012 the air conditioner quit so replaced it last week but it wasn't working right. I took it back only to find the Fans froze up so the van is in the shop leaving me stranded once again in July waiting for the new Fan to come in so the Van doesn't over Heat & Blow another Engine. Unbelievable that every July my then van breaks down and leaves me stranded..

Before the van over heated I did make it to my latest doctors appointments on Thursday. I had the test run on my hands to verify one the general diagnoses made by Dr Awan and to verify how bad my hands are.
Good news/bad news however ya might look at it. I won't get the official report until next Tuesday when I see Dr Awan again.
But the neurologist pretty much varified what Dr Awan had diagnosed. It was strange tho. My right hand is the hand that is in pain all the time but the test show the left hand has more nerve damage/blockage then the right hand & my left elbow also has some nerve damage/blockage.I'm not sure if damage/blockage are the right words to use but I think you'll understand what I mean.
I do have Carpel Tunnel in both hands worse in left which further causes numbness.
I do have Dupuytrens Contracture in both hands which causes the numbness & pain.
I do have one locked Trigger finger. Contstant pain but numb very strange.
My thumb has a huge Calicum deposit in it that has spread my thumb joint apart and is in constant pain.

All of the above has left me with little use of both my hands. It is really difficult to do much of anything and typing is really hard. As I type this all my fingers are numb & tingling..so missing keys strokes and have to use spell check over and over...LOL..what a total pain in the butt!! As i mentioned tho most are fixable & God Willing once they are fixed and mended I will be find somepeace of heart and the ability to work in my shop doing everything I have always done or at least most...

Although I can't sand and paint right now I have been doing some creating gathering with the pieces that are already sanded & painted. Not much but enough to keep my mind busy.

Sorry this was so long but I guess I've been missing in action and found lots to catch up on..

I do miss everyone and love to hear from you all...

Have a great weekend filled with happy moments!

Summer Blessings from my house to yours!!

Tonya

Happy Blated 4th of July! and some catching up!

I hope you all had a fantastic 4th Of July.... sorry I'm a day late but hey Celebrating Freedom is worth celebrating for two days..Smile
Actually my computer/internet decided not to get a signal until about an hour ago..been acting stupid all day long..No clue why...
Wow today was a sweltering hot here... then I was driving my digital temp read out said 107 degree's..that is just plain down right to hot for this lady..and of course I had all kinds of errands to run and places I needed to be or i would have hidden inside all day long. then along came a thunderstorm that lasted maybe 45 minutes and it was even worse with the humidity almost took your breath away to step outside. I didn't even go to the fireworks I watched them out my window...decided my cool house was the best place to be..
What's it been like where you are?

I've been staying up at the lake, Port Clinton & Kelley's Island, Ohio and we've  had some nasty storms on the mainland... thank heavens nothing damaged at my house just some downed tree timbs.. On the island the storms weren' nearly as severe m,ostly down pouring for hours and windy.

In Delaware, Ohio and surrounding areas the storms were much worse with many people still without electric.
Thank God my SIL said that most of the storm passed them and my trailer by where we live outside of Delaware but down the road it was pretty bad with downed trees and power lines..Boy when mother nature decides to throw a tantrum she really throws one...to much heat & to many damaging storms.
the heat didn't used to bother me until my thyroid started acting up and now days I simply can't take it.. I feel so badly for those who have no electric and no air conditioning...
I have  one little air conditioner in my house and 5 fans running and its still 87 degrees in the house at 2 in the morning...even my poor kitty's and Puddles are hot..

I am feeling better over all ...other then the heat of course...but I do think my thyroid levels are finally leveling out.. to the point I actually feel like a human again and not some depressed nut case...I do notice that if I don't take my calicum on time I feel weird but as soon as I take it I feel better.. Doc told me I had to remember that calicum because mine is low... & it affects the Thyroid levels.. Its been kinda hard for me to adjust to a time to take that stupid Thyroid pill because you can't eat for an hour before or after... I'm a breakfast eater like within 1/2 an hour of waking up..so finally decided to wake up take it and go back to bed so when I really wake up I can eat and take the rest of these confounded meds..which have to be taken with food or you get a bad tummy ache...ick.....I think I finally have my schedule in place...

Now to get these hands working again and I just might really feel like my old self or at least close to it..

Neck is nearly healed.... Imagine it has been 3 months & 1 week since my surgery and it is still healing.

Had a great weekend...Hung out with my friends on the Boat dock Friday evening, went to a Block party Saturday on the Island and got to see a lot of people I haven't seen yet this summer...Great food and lots of fun..
Hung out with my girlfriend Sunday night sitting on her porch swing having a glass of wine together...watching all the wild bunny's hopping all over her back yard..just chatting the evening away..I love that swing of hers reminds me of the one we had on our porch when I was growing up..

While running errands today Of course I had to stop by the GW and check for goodies. I hit the jack pot forsure. I bought a basically large 3' long x 22" tall x 24" wide New Tote filled with over 40 New Holiday Gift Bags, different sizes, 10 Gift boxes, 28 packages of every color of tissue paper you could think of, Gift Tags, Stickers, Bows, Ribbon, 20 little bags of diferent Confetti's, Cards, some Mini Star Garland for a mini tree and a container of large Star Garland.
All For the unbelievable price of $12.99 minus my Golden Buckeye card 10% discount. Every single thing in the tote was new never used... I couldn't beleive it.. I have enough gift bags & boxes to do all my Christmas gifts this year and birthdays too! Especially with the few I've picked up here and there at the thrift store this year...

Time for me to call it a day much to do tomorrow...

Have a wonderful week/weekend...Stay Cool!

Blessings from me to you all!
Tonya

There's a Stranger In the room!

Hi Everyone..Just thought I would pop in and Say Hi!
Its been forever since I've posted...I really miss everyone...I hope that everyone is enjoying there summer!
Since the old camper was still on the island I've actually been going to the Island, hanging out with all my boater friends. Its been great getting away from all the health issues ....
Its been really hot here in Ohio..the poor Herb, Flower & Veggie gardens have to be watered daily. The grass has already turned brown...lol even the weeds look dried out.. We need rain really badly...

The kittens have grown & left the shelter of the Shop... they are spending there days running around the yard and playing...they are so cute.. I plan to take Lisa to be fixed very soon. In the meantime I've really enjoyed the kittens..

Last week around 10:30 I was walking out to my shop to get something and close up the door for the night and I see something sitting in the door of the shop.. I thought it was two of the kittens but the closer I got I realized that actually it was two Baby Skunks....Yep two Baby Skunks..Omg they were so cute sitting there. As I got closer they took off running around the building..I haven't seen them since but my Brother came home from work at 11 a few nights ago and he said they were sitting beside the garage.. Neither of us have seen a mother Skunk so I'm wondering if something didn't happen to her and the baby's discovered the steady supply of cat food and moved in on us... Not sure what we will do if they decide to stick around. Skunks aren't naturally agressive animals but if they are startled or frightened they will spray once they are about 8 months old... So they will need to find a new home...

Weve also had two baby Raccoons come up on the porch at night to steal cat food. they aren't afraid of people at all and will stand there and eat right in front of us...So they to will have to find a new home soon...
We will probably have o trap them and then take them to state park and let them go real soon..

I'm feeling much better and it appears that the last round of antibiotics worked. I still have two small open holes in my neck that are finally healing. I think..pray that there are no stitches left to abcess. So hopefully I can finally heal and be done with this piece of my life once and for all...

I have to say I feel so lost..with my hands getting so bad It has become almost impossible for me to work in the shop sanding & painting wood pieces to create gatherings with. I can't hold a needle anymore so I can't sew. I can't hold onto the rags to create Rag Balls either. Its so frustrating...Creating has always been my salvation when all else failed me I could go create something and feel good. I don't know what to do with myself.. I can't clean houses like before and now I can't create.

I'm just hanging in limbo, lost, frustrated, angry, sad & confused about where to take life right now...A huge reason I haven't been posting much lately... 
I so pray that the Ortho Doctor can fix my hands. I still can't beleive they got so bad so quickly... I understand why after seeing the Ortho Doctor but still it seems like it happened over night. My right hand the one I use the most has continued to get worse by the day..even typing has become one fingered and I was a good typest.
 I finally called my friend on the Island and made arrangements to come to the island. Even tho my old Hippie Van Camper is here my friend had a nice Camper right beside it and they told me to stay in it so I had Air so that's what I've been doing.. and hanging with my boater friends when they come to the island on there boats for the weekends.. its been great being around happy people. Being on or near the water has always lifted my spirits and filled me with peace of mind....Good place for me to think threw what is to be next in my life...

Time to take Puddles for a walk..so I will bid you all a good Evening...

 Blessings
Tonya