by lynn krestel

memories and milestones

i'm a big reminiscer (is that a word??) certain dates, times of year, occasions....and i relive the happenings.

two years ago this week, i was summoned into my doctors office and given the sobering news that my test results came back positive for cancer. thyroid cancer. now some people - of which i've had my fair share - will ignorantly say that if there is cancer to get it, it is thyroid cancer....

however when you sit across from your doctor who somberly tells you that you have the medullary cancer, looks like its spread to the lymph nodes and we could be looking at a 3 -5 year survival rate - its not sounding like the good cancer.... we (my husband and i) were sent to the waiting room to fill out admitting forms so they could book me into the next available surgery opening and i couldn't wrap my mind around the words that i had just heard...

tears began to slide down my cheeks, my husbands in the car..... how would we tell our girls, my sisters, his sister ( who had just lost he husband to cancer the month before)...our families.... i don't remember feeling 'why me' - i know that 1 in 3 of us are going to hear these words spoken to us in our lifetime. i just began to think - 'what is ahead and how can we fight it.....'?

fast forward two years... a successful surgery, a clearer diagnosis, and contained tumor removed - nothing had spread. it has changed my perspective - for sure - things don't 'bother' me like they used to. my family is dearer and i think i prioritize better.

i would hope that i am more compassionate and caring to others going through hard times - but i'm not always...its so easy to get bogged down in my busy little life - i forget to be aware... i've got to try a little harder!!

but anniversaries - of this sort - are good...just a fortunate reminder of how blessed we really are! i believe in God's healing - i'm sure He helped me and my family through. i've struggled at times with the 'why' did i get better and others don't... but i can't dwell on that. i just need to make the most of what i have now - and be thankful for each day...

on a lighter note!! i joined up with some etsy sellers and will be part of the etsy spring fling show in march here in vancouver...so trying to start to get ready for that. want to showcase the memento line but also need to have enough stock ready for same day purchases...

i'll post the details closer to date - will be on March 21 at main and 16th area of vancouver!! i would love to meet some of you local blog followers and etsy buyers - please make sure you stop by to see me - i think i'll try to have a special gift ready for you!!

the scarab

i think on tuesdays i am going to showcase a few of my favourite treasures. some of my favs i've scoured from vintage shops, yard sales, some i've inherited.

this first treasure i found in a summer early morning yard sale. a cast iron scarab boot stop. he would have probably been bolted to the front stoop to help dislodge boots before entering a home.

he was stashed up on a shelf out of the way - but as soon as i saw him - i knew he was coming home with me!!

i was shocked at his $5.00 asking price - i'm sure he'd go for much more than that in an antique shop. now he sits by the fireplace - but scares away no spiders!!

so...do you love him as much as i do??

 

it must be monday!

mondays are not usually my productive days...i tend to be more tired after a weekend of busyness with the girls and kniz...church on sunday, meeting up with friends... but today i woke up raring to go! i had plans to organize my work space, take photos for a new tutorial, package orders and attempt some new designs that have been rolling around in my head!!

instead, i got tangled up in bureaucracy. an application sent over 6 months ago has been lost - however the application fee check promptly cashed! arghh..i think i am feeling charlie brownish...you know - someone keeps moving the football!

still not resolved - i am trying not to worry - its not the worst thing to happen - my husband is a solid rock..we prayed for help to choose the correct path for resolution - and for peace to accept detours and to learn what we can...

  so i'll share a photo i took this morning before the drama began and shuffle off to dream good dreams and look forward to monday gone for another week!! 

so here's to a happy tuesday!!! 

the chief

 

a peculiar inspiration, i know...my sister and i saw this magnificent creation last week. on a hood of a trodden down old car in a repair shop's parking. he looked at us with sternness and superiority - looking to us from the past, demanding our respect. looking boldly towards the future.

he defies this modern day of throwing away rusted metal and torn vinyl seats and reminds me of a day that still lives on...by his survival in times he was considered just junk...and making it to a place he can hopefully approach proudly, as he should.

i am inspired by him. i know he is a trademark icon of the pontiac car for whichever year he was created (possibly 1946 or 51 - from my web searching...) obviously i don't want - and know my work will never be - mass produced or widely known as this symbol of an age of modern transportation. but the clean lines and deco styling speak to me - to be true to what i like...

       

i needed a gift for a friend and ended up working on a locket necklace. i combined black silk, fine silver links and clasp i fused and forged. a couple of swarovski cubes add a bit of sparkle...finished, i think i was inspired by the chief....what do you think??! 

sister love

what a week!! my baby sister came for a visit - with her baby!! you know the feeling.... we looked forward to this precious time.... anticipating all the creating we would do together - refreshing our bookmaking and mosaic-ing skills, drinking coffee, organizing my closet to a workspace, ..we accomplished some, shopped, talked, drank coffee, and talked...and ate our way through five whirlwind days.

 

in the sun at granville island. breakfast at the french bakery.

 

 pillow making with sammy

 

snuggling on the couch 

 

supper wednesday at vera's - best burgers in vancouver!!

 

beth doing some serious reading (i'm going to be in trouble for this picture!) 

jayme and sammy with the chicken crossing the road...

 

poor sammy - a sore throat all week!

 

and its over all too soon....

 

a 'chip' of a mini heading towards the border.....  : (

when i had my first daughter, i knew i wanted my second child to be a girl. no girl should grow up without a sister!! i am most fortunate - i have two. they are both caring and generous. their sense of humor is quirky and quick. each sister is accomplished in her career, yet creative - one with words, the other with paper and cloth - they have the confidence to accomplish anything they attempt...

i am proud of being a sister to these two, i am in the middle, surrounded by love!!

momash

i'm not quite sure how she got the name, but i'm pretty sure my sister gave it to her (leave me a comment if you remember!) but that is what we called my mom. not as kids, but in later teen and adult years to us she was momash.

she is gone five years ago today, i keep telling myself it will get easier - and maybe the day to day does - but the sadness does not get easier. i miss her sense of humor, her cheerful voice on the other end of the line. i miss her quirky emails - and crank phone calls. she would be the first person i would call with big news and little. 

she could spot a piece of pottery at a yard sale and tell you what make. she knew vintage everything! she could refinish furniture, sew, crochet, write. momash was the queen of clean - always! boy was i glad when she came for a visit....

gone too soon. it still doesn't seem real. she is in heaven but i still  miss her.

(i just saw my sisters post today  - http://busysmartypants.blogspot.com/ she is better with words - duh! she is an writer!! i make jewelry!!!)

vday

celebrated vday a little bit today...but alas - i forgot my camera!! i took cookies and some of my vintage valentines to my rwandaise kids!!they laughed and giggled, seemed happy to be remembered... its important to me that every time i speak to them, i tell them i love them. i guess i think that five siblings living alone probably don't hear those words too often. i want them to know they are loved...

anyway, back to the talk of valentines. they used to exchange with friends in elementary school. they said everyone dressed in red and black - sounds good to me!! i don't think they thought about receiving valentines...here.. today. the loved the cutie animals and flocked details. they opened their envelopes, nibbled their cookies. oh their smiles! (where was my camera!!?)

about my valentines day - i will post tomorrow -it will be for my mom!!

hearts.....

chichi earrings

 

i love these earrings - and love the name even more!!

chichi: chichi: showily or affectedly elegant or trendy. such a fun name, a bit mysterious, but i think absolutley appropriate. they have great substance and presence...and they look great with anything!!

happy friday!!

swap update...

just a little update on my valentine swap....i received the nicest box on wednesday. i think i was supposed to wait till saturday to open but i forgot that as soon as the doorbell rang - and there was the postman with this box...hmmm, it was tooo inviting!! want a peek in??

handmade lavender sachets - with lavender from my swap partners garden...how nice is that! a handmade valentine, a bit of chocolate and a handmade felt tag.

thank you jeanne - it was so much fun!!

i follow the blog of an artist/jeweler at hazelnut cottage. she is super talented but also, i love how she wears her heart on her sleeve. she shares - selflessly - her worries, dreams, angst at juggling her business, family, creative time. i guess  (i know) i feel like she is braver than me for putting it all out there...

her post today is moving. the video is not for the faint of heart - but africa keeps calling... the reminders keep coming. i am blessed because i've been able to meet, and help, and know three refugee families these past months.  yet i say i get to help - but honestly i and my family are the ones who have been helped...our perspectives have changed, our lives are different. ...here's my jayme with dalphine on saturday.  

i am challenged again to do something to make a difference.. its so easy to be consumed in our little lives... i need to do more, for sure... thanks jan!!