My mother passed away today at about 1:30 my time.I will miss her a lot and our talks. She was very peaceful at the end and just simply stopped breathing. I will get back to life and this blog soon. xo.

A Very Sad Day...

... as my mother lingers near death in a hospital in Parkersburg, West Virginia, so far from here. I am not going to say anymore at this time on that. I do have a big headache from crying which began as soon as I found out yesterday morning. She has had lung cancer (DAMN! DAMN! CIGARETTES! ) but still this is all very sudden so the poem I posted the other day by Auden " Stop All the Clocks " ends up being prophetic, sad and oddly comforting.

Little drawings that I like to make and include when sending cards. They are very small maybe less than 5 inches overall and are meant to be a happy inclusion in greeting cards. I have a new camera now and promised Andrea at lunch today that I would get it out of the box tonight so off I go to do just that! Me - with new technology that has not hidden in a box in my closet for years until it is old technology! Amazing! Off to new explorations! Lois

W. H. Auden


Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.


I just recently watched the movie, Four Weddings and a Funeral and this poem is recited in it. I love the weighty-ness of it. The sentiment. The heavy grief. The pause in time. I don't know why I am printing it here as usually I am a pretty happy person but I can appreciate this poem. It also seems appropriate on a gray winter's day here especially when we have not seen sun for many days!

It's TURKEY DAY!

With wishes for peace and offering you blessings and feeling much gratitude; I say Happy Thanksgiving! Love, Lois

Bellevue Bead Festival

I probably will not get a chance to add to my blog tomorrow as I must dash around and pack clothes, knitting, sketchbook, journal and novel all for the 2 days I will be in Bellevue. I swear that it takes me more time to pack what I want to do in my free time than it takes to pack my clothing! This is the first year for this festival and with all the gloom and doom surrounding our economy; I am not sure what to expect. I do know that we must love and care for one another, convey that to all around us and treat each customer as my friend and co conspirator. I approach everything I do in my life with passion and love and I want even a customer who spends 50¢ to know that. I will have fun and be surrounded by beads, gorgeous beads, friends and my little family. See you on Monday! xo, Lois

This Morning

The sight of Swarovski crystals all nestled into their trays is a beautiful thing to see! Yum!
Jacob woke me up early today by dashing into my room and saying," Get up Mom, you have got to see the sky! It's beautiful! "
So I threw on my robe and went out onto the porch and the sky WAS beautiful! It was an amzing array of pinks, reds, azures, turquoises and blues. Jacob said it was the prettiest sky he had ever seen in his entire life! I loved the sky but mostly I loved that Jacob was excited about nature and the sky and beauty to tell me! I think he is a pretty amazing boy!