Fair Week and Some Challenges Ahead

It's that time again....

The largest street fair in Pennsylvania began yesterday, with the midway just about a block away from our house. Seriously, I could just about throw a rock and hit it. Not that I'd want to.......

Most days anyway. ;)

Looks like fun, yes?

It can be. I mean, what's not to love about a street fair? Games, rides, music, quilt exhibits, pie contests, bright lights and brilliant colors....and *fair food*! Back in my carnivorous days, I remember the Italian sausage sandwiches smothered in peppers and onions...These days I'm partial to the funnel cakes. Soooooooooo good. ;)

The downside is the parking situation and littering. Large objects have to placed in front of the house every time we move the car, so as to save ourselves a parking space when we return. Which is technically illegal, but the local police look the other way, understanding the frustration of downtown residents. And the littering is also very frustrating. No fun waking up every morning to empty french fry cups and snow cone wrappers tossed all over our tiny front yard.

So yes, much as I enjoy the fair in theory, by the second day, I'm usually a bit of a grinch about it. ;)

In other news, we finally have a surgery date for John, who some of you may remember had heart surgery last February to repair his damaged mitral valve. Well, he's since developed something called mitral valve stenosis, and needs another heart surgery, this time to replace the valve with an artificial one. This is what it looks like:

Pretty amazing, yes? Anyway, after some pre-op testing this month, he'll go in to a Philadelphia hospital for open heart surgery on November 5th (Guy Fawkes Day, which he says makes it easy for a British guy to remember).

His surgeon is considered one of the best in the greater Philadelphia area, which is comforting, and John is actually doing amazingly well with all this, deeming the whole situation "a giant pain in the ass", but determined to get it over so he can feel better.

For my part, I'm staying positive and trying not to let worry creep in, and I'm keeping super busy with painting for the upcoming show. I'm also incredibly thankful that we live in a time when this type of heart surgery is possible. It's just amazing to me that they can stop a beating heart and replace the faulty tissue valve with a mechanical one. It's like something out of Star Trek, isn't it? :)

And speaking of painting, I must get back to it! LOTS of goodies in the works, but they won't paint themselves....

As always, your prayers and positive thoughts are appreciated! And I hope to see some of you in just ten days. :)

♥ Carolee

New Work, New Tunes, a Little Craziness, and Much Love ♥

SO many things happening here at the moment, and just not enough hours in the day to keep up with it all...LOTS to share today, beginning with with a sneak peek at the new work. *UPDATE* - Listed on eBay now. :)

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this one was soooooooooo much fun (I can't help it - they're ALL fun!)...I love these chests because they're so versatile - in the kitchen for herbs and spices, on the dresser top for jewelry, in the studio for art supplies, in the bath for makeup and perfumes...endless possibilities for this one. :)

It's listing tonight at 9PM eastern, with a "buy it now" option, so stay tuned....

Oh - and before I forget, I updated the playlist. I seldom set it to start automatically (I just know some of you are reading this at work, hehe) but if you'd like to give a listen to some of the painting tunes, just scroll down to the purple playlist on the right.

You may have noticed I mentioned craziness? Well, yes....As those of you on facebook know, it looks as though another heart surgery is in store for John, and soon. The mitral valve repair done last year has tightened, leaving him short of breath and pretty exhausted most of the time. The minimally invasive surgery is not a option this time, so we're looking at open heart, and probably an artificial valve.

I know he's strong, his attitude is positive, and he'll come through this just latest challenge just fine...But it's going to mean a big lifestyle change for a while as he goes through another hospitalization and recovery. Assuming they schedule it sooner rather than later (there's one more test we're waiting for), I'll be dividing my time between the hospital and studio for a while, as painting, commissions and show preparation need to continue. So it's quite possible - likely in fact, that I'll be absent from chat and groups, and prioritizing emails for awhile.

I also want to thank all of you who've left comments here and on the FB page, for all the prayers and positive thoughts - you're all just wonderful to think of us, and I can't tell you how much it helps to feel so lifted up. :)

And to those of you who've been so generous with your bids and art purchases, I can't thank you enough! Your support sustains us in a very real way, in a very difficult economy. Sending you back MUCH ♥ collector-love ♥, and I promise as soon as I have a few minutes, I'll try to work in a giveaway as a more tangible expression of my gratitude!

That's about it for today....There's a commission and a whimsical Halloween cupcake platter calling my name, so I must run....

Until next time,
♥ Carolee

Good Fortune

"Black cat, cross my path,
Good fortune bring to home and hearth
When I am away from home,
Bring me luck wherever I roam."

I just love this old English black cat charm, and of course, as someone who's owned by a black cat (and several others) I know them to be good luck. ;)

This handsome fellow is painted on a pine plaque, after our own Mr. Merlin, and is listed on eBay now. I haven't told Merlin he's famous yet, 'cause he already thinks he's all that and a bag of chips, hehe.

So yes.....good fortune. Been thinking about it a lot lately, as we face some challenges around here, and I've come to the conclusion that just like our friend the black cat here, a great deal of fortune depends on our perception. I mean, we really can choose to see life's challenges as either stumbling blocks or opportunities; as a reason to complain or a reason to celebrate.

Those of you who've been reading here for a while know that my husband John went through heart surgery last year to repair a damaged mitral valve. Complications and heart failure followed, so recovery has been a bit of an uphill battle.

Well, long story short, we found out yesterday he needs another surgery - most likely an artificial heart valve this time.

Not the news we'd hoped to hear.

But then, maybe it is. Because it means there IS something that can be done. There IS a fix. What a blessing that is! To be living in a time when life saving surgeries like this are even possible. It's a miracle, don't you think?

We'll know more next week, but in the meantime, we're taking it one day at a time. We have each other, we have our beautiful daughter living close by now, we have an amazing support system of family and friends, and we have our optimism.

And that's fortunate. ;)

♥ Carolee