"Life"...

...."is what happens while you are busy making other plans."  ~ John Lennon

This couldn't be more true, as we were reminded very recently, when a respiratory infection we'd both been fighting attacked John's heart and lungs, resulting in another hospital stay.

After rushing him to the doctor, then up to the Reading Hospital ER, he was triaged in minutes, and admitted shortly thereafter. They began breathing treatments immediately, added some big-guns antibiotics and a few other meds, and thankfully in a few days he was responding to treatment. The hospital staff couldn't have been nicer, and with the exception of a pulmonologist who was a no-show for a couple of days, the doctors were wonderful too.

So I'm happy to report that after an eight day stay, he's home again, albeit feeling extremely fatigued, which we suspect is a side effect of one of the new meds. Frustrating, but he's breathing again, and for that we are grateful. ♥

Needless to say, work in the studio slowed down considerably during this time, and now I find myself scrambling to catch up. The current work-in-progress is the annual painting of St Gertrude of Nivelles, (shown here before any detail is added), and I must say, she's just the thing to calm my frazzled nerves, and inspire peace and tranquility...

 I'll share a photo of the completed piece in the next day or two. :)

Other works in progress include a couple of cat pieces ("The Salem Sanctuary for Wayward Cats"), and there's an equinox piece in the conceptual stage right now. It will be a spring hare, and the goal is to actually paint it on the day of the vernal equinox (this coming Wednesday, the 20th). I like to think the pieces painted on these special days are infused with a bit of *magic*. ;)

Things have been busy on the home front too, keeping up with housekeeping, taking care of the five furkids, cooking, and working on a couple of knitting projects. I'm about to become a great aunt again, which is inspiring all kinds of knitted goodies, beginning with an organic cotton blanket.

So that's about it for now, and I'll be back very soon with a few photos of new work, both available and commissioned.

Thanks as always for stopping by, and thanks especially to all those who've been following my page on facebook, offering prayers and good wishes for John, and being so supportive and enthusiastic about my work. You bless me greatly.

♥ Carolee