The Only Explanation is that it was a Miracle

When you pride yourself as being organized and knowing where everything is, imagine what it feels like when you lose something of great value.  Last month I shared that my current circumstances were overwhelming on every front and stress can play many games on your psyche to the point of losing focus.  Have you ever experienced arriving at a destination without recollection of driving there?  You may have been so intense in your thoughts that your brain automatically took over for you.  That is the mode I functioned in for ten days last month.

After a four-day successful speaking tour, I was flying high on adrenalin.  On the first day, I sold out of the boxes of books I had taken for the entire week.   The response was remarkable and many people were encouraged and motivated to make changes in their lives.  

I changed into my traveling clothes, put my jewelry in my purse, got into my car for the long trek home, turned on my phone and what I read caused me to start shaking.  In a couple of words -- I was the victim of fraud, identity theft, and our online business had been shut down.

Shock comes in many different forms

For the next five hours, I sat in my car talking on the phone trying to make sense of it all.  By the time I got home, I was a wreck and my head was spinning.  For the next ten days, I barely left the office trying to salvage the loss, closing bank accounts, and figuring out what to do next.

On day eleven, I had to finally look in a mirror, get dressed and go to work at our store.  When I opened my jewelry box, I noticed that my cherished ring was missing.   Just that one, everything else was there. The last place I wore it was when I was on the tour.  I retraced my steps, called the hotel where I stayed, and searched my car but came up empty.

Do You Have A Favorite and Why?

One of the blogging challenges I enjoy each month is the Secret Subject Swap. In this challenge, another blogger picks a subject for you to write about in your own style. This month I was asked, "What is your favorite piece of jewelry and why?"












Considering that my husband and I have been in the jewelry business for over four decades, you would think it would be an easy question to answer.  But, it is not. Each piece of jewelry I have owned has been hand crafted and designed by my husband. He was as excited to give me the ring he created for me this past Christmas as he was to give me the ring he made for me in South Africa almost 50 years ago.  

I have always loved contemporary designs but when he has occasionally given me one that is a fancier design, I love it just as much.  

Here are some of the pieces he has made me over the years but my favorite has to be the first one he did -- weird as it looks, it meant so much to me all those years ago.

Have You Ever Been a Fly on the Wall?

2017!  It can't be!  Didn't we just turn the calendar into a new century?  How could that possibly be SEVENTEEN years ago?  So many people have shared that they are hoping for a better year as 2016 was a major struggle.  

I am sure you will agree with me how much more fun it is to give gifts at Christmas time than top open them.  I always do my Christmas shopping throughout the year and wrap them immediately. Often I forget what I wrapped by the time Christmas rolls around, which makes it even more fun.

I know my family loves to give me gifts as well so I keep a list during the year for them.  Once you reach a 'certain' age, you may become difficult to buy for because there is little you want that you don't already have.

But there was one thing that I have been asking for the past couple years and when I opened this gift I started to cry.  I absolutely loved it.  It was an oil painting by one of my favorite abstract artists - the only type of art that I truly enjoy.  I have hung it where I can see it every day and appreciate the love behind the gift.

What do you think?  Do you have any idea who the artist is?  Would love your input!

Making people happy at Christmas!

We made some awesome pieces for clients this Christmas.  Hubby has the unique ability to design around the client's personality and what they are visualizing in their mind's eye.  Here is just a sample

Family Ring

The pictures are from my phone and certainly don't do these pieces justice but this ring is what he made me and it is as rare as it can be.  After decades in the gemstone business, hubby has never seen another stone like this -- before or since he had it cut thirty years ago.  He had forgotten that he had it until a few months ago and designed a ring around it for me.  The center stone is a one-of-a-kind, totally natural, untreated Imperial Pink Topaz

One of our clients asked hubby to design a pendant to put into the center of her grandmother's pearls to make them more modern. This is what he came up with and it is exquisite.  A blue sapphire and diamond pendant in white gold. 

Christmas and pups

Certainly isn't Christmas without our little rescues -- they get sweeter all the time.







Charlie is saying goodbye to her babies.  Of all the dogs we have had, we have never had sweeter or softer pups.  They are unique in that they are so cuddly and content -- almost never cried and now they are gone.  They were also the biggest dogs we have ever had - Bernese and Great Pyrenees mix.  William certainly enjoyed his time with them and they will make great family dogs.  But H U G E TWENTY-pound pups!

They even started out BIG -- 

And here is your smile for the day:

Aubrie is 11 months old but she has figured out how to play hide and seek -- she INITIATES it. She will go into a dark room, behind the door and wait quietly until someone figures out she is not around.  When they find her she screams with delight and scares the pants off of us.

SPAGHETTI ANYONE?

I hope that 2017 is your best year yet and that your dreams and goals will be met.  Thank you for sharing my blog posts along with your encouraging words and smiles.

Let's be honest!  Wouldn't you love to know what goes on in some homes?  Wouldn't you enjoy being a fly on the wall and watch? Being part of this blogging community you can do just that! Each month it is such fun to get a glimpse of how other people live, how they handle stressful situations and even better, to laugh with them at the crazy antics of their partners, kids, and pets!  I hope you can check out some of my fellow blogger's posts this month as they give you a peek.

Baking In A Tornado                   

Searching for Sanity                 

Eileen’s Perpetually Busy            

Go Mama O                            

Spatulas on Parade                    

A Little Piece of Peace                 

Dinosaur Superhero Mommy                                           

Cluttered Genius