A little bit of life, love, and artisan jewelry but mostly the

Home of the Confused Muse..

Where you will find the meadering thoughts of an actively artistic brain - as well as my latest creations, events, soapboxes, dramas, crisis, blessings, and life in general.

This is also the home of "ChrissyMarie Jewelry and Accessories", named for my daughter! Twenty-Five Percent of all sales from this line are donated to B.I.T.S. aka "Better in the Saddle", a local non-profit Equine Assisted Therapy Program ....because we KNOW horses help make miracles!



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January 15, 2009

NO New Year's Resolutions for me!

Mid-January already? I KNOW! It's impossible that so many days have passed during this New Year and I have yet to come up with even one profoundly insightful conscious thought. LOL! Like that happens so often!



This is one thought I did have. Not profound or thought provoking but a simple statement of fact. I'm not making New Year's Resolutions this year. I always feel like a failure if I don't manage to achieve my goals - no matter how unrealistic they were to begin with.



I already have a list (a mile long) of things I need or want to change or improve upon. Why add more stress to an already stressful situation?



In these times of financial difficulty I can't afford to do everything I want to do. It's difficult even to "spend" time wisely when you're running amuck trying to get everything done and within a budget. I've decided to make a list of things I will try to do.



Here goes...



I will try:

  • to write in my Blog more often.
  • to spend more quality time with my family.
  • to spend less, give more, whine less, and pray more.
  • to better manage my time, my temper, and my ability to say "No" instead of yes to every request that comes my way.
  • to take better care of myself so I can be here to enjoy the gifts I've been blessed with.
  • to listen more and talk less.
  • to finish one project before beginning another or at least keep my husband from doing this :)
  • to plan ahead instead flying by the seat of my pants....and this one is especially difficult when my health is not something I can depend on and my brain has a mind of it's own....and not one I'm real familiar with :)
  • to be ON TIME! Time i.e. clocks are not my friend. I can't seem to get anywhere on time these days. I've always been a bit ditsy because of my ADHD but it has become someone MAGNIFIED since the Meningitis and Staph Infections in my brain.
  • to NOT berate myself for the changes in my brain that I have no control over....such as an ongoing struggle with time management, lack of visual memory, short term memory loss and the really big one for me.....the ability to use or remember numbers. (Now you know why time is an issue!)
  • to accept the changes and focus on the things I CAN do well.
  • to find the purpose God has for my life.
  • to be the change I want to see in my world.
  • to take better care of and spend more time with my parents.
  • to play with my dogs everyday...at least for a minute or two.
  • to remember to play more and work less...taking a cue from my dogs :)

See, the list goes on and on and on. The only resolution I am making is that I will not make a list of stress producing resolutions. I will only do what I can and leave the rest for next year.

Time is all we have and I'm hoping I have LOTS of it in my future!

So....here's wishing you a Happy 2009!

December 31, 2008

The year goes out with trip to the Emergency Room!

I thought I would find something constructive to do with my day off today. I've been pretty useless or it seems that way when I'm overwhelmed with a million things to do....

I decided to work on basic stuff around the house while my DH, sweet man that he is, went off to do a bit of home maintanance work for some friends from church.

Have I ever mentioned that my DH is accident prone? Did I mention that today's activity required the use of a circular saw? Oh. Well, I probably should have mentioned that first.

He called me this afternoon sounding a bit stressed and asked me to call the Dr's office....he was on his way and wanted them to know he was coming...he cut his hand. "How bad is it?" I ask. Says he, "Not bad but it's bleeding pretty good so just meet me there."

Okay, after 25 years living with this man I know the signs of shock and denial...he was exhibiting all of them. I met him at the Dr's office (she wouldn't even let hime check in!) and rushed him to the Emergency Room.

His hand actually looked pretty good and didn't appear to be bleeding too bad so I wasn't panicked but there had definitely been some major bleeding involved. Of course, the E.R. is packed to the roof with all kinds of patients suffering all kinds of maladies.

Short story? Four hours later we walked out of the E.R. Barry had all 10 of his fingers but two of them were wearing stitches. His left ring finger only took three stitches to close. The left index finger.....8 stitches to close and that was after a major trim job by the Doc. That finger was pretty mangled. He's very lucky to have it at all!

So, thank heaven for E.R.'s and E.R. Doctors and nurses, all night pharmacies, and pain pills.

Think I'll go to bed and say my prayers and thank God I can still hold my husband's hand in mine.

BTW - didn't get a darned thing accomplished today but I was definitely where I needed to be!

Update later.....

December 18, 2008

Inspired by an Infant

It's been a long time since I 've had a chance to sit down and just breathe. I was musing over the infant that inspired all of this holiday madness and wondering if He would have wanted us to be going crazy or just remembering Him during this Christmas season. Didn't really have to think too hard on that one. I think He'd rather have us slow down and remember than run amuck and stress out.

Of course thinking of one infant led to thinking of another....I was missing my little Kingsley and decided to put together an Etsy Treasury of things I'd use to keep him warm this winter. Click on the title of this entry and it will link you to a wonderland of warm babies! Enjoy!

Note: While there are some really beautiful babies out there...there just aren't any as beautiful as my grandson :)

Happy Holidays!

September 30, 2008

Meet our newest family member...



This beautiful little bundle is my new grandson. His name is Kingsley James and he was born today. He's the baby boy of my baby boy....now a grown man with a huge heart and "Daddy" written all over him.


He lives a few states away from us. We're in Missouri and he's in Ohio. We can hardly wait to meet him and pass around the hugs and kisses. So, if you are a believer, thank God for bringing our first grandchild into this world with all ten perfect little toes and fingers, his Mommy a fast and safe delivery, and our son the greatest joy he will ever know.


Chrissy Marie is in an Etsy Treasury

Check this out! A necklace from the Chrissy Marie line of jewelry has been featured in an Etsy Treasury by a member of the CAST (Christian Artists Street Team). We're so proud!

August 19, 2008

Callie's Song

I created this set for a dear friend's daughter on her 18th birthday. Callie is known for her beautiful voice, her quiet gracefulness, and her sweet and compassionate disposition. I love her dearly! While I know she is a pretty typical teenager I believe she has wonderful attributes that make her as beautiful inside as she is on the outside. She is one of the prettiest young women I've ever seen! (love you Callie!)

August 18, 2008

chrissymarie banner on etsy




This the new store we've opened on etsy. I called it Chrissy Marie in honor of our very special daughter. The pieces in this store are young at heart, trendy, less expensive, and just plain fun! Come visit us there and see lots of brass, copper, and bronze metal combined with stone, glass, and serendipitous found items! http://www.chrissymarie@etsy.com