Eagle presentation

The turnout for the fiberglass eagle presentation was awesome.
If you want to see all the great artwork just go to http://www.eagleriverbiz.biz/2252/27001.html
and enjoy.

Life has been full

Where do the weeks go. I am back at subbing. Rearranging the plants in the garden, reorganizing my whole website and watching the grandkids. We also had a delightful celebration in honor of my daughters college graduation last weekend.

Well enough to teach

I am so thankful that my health is back. After being to ill to work for months I went back to subbing this week. Tuesday I taught 2nd graders. Wednesday I taught a variety of special ed kids in the afternoon and today I taught F.A.C.E which was called "Home Ec." when I was in school. Two of the classes were sewing, it is amazing to see how many kids have never even worked with a needle and thread.

The other news today is snow.. it has been snowing all day. It is all melting as it hits the ground so everything is getting a nice soaking.

Catch up

I wish I could get in a rhythm of posting at least once a week. Part of my issue is that my weekly schedule varies greatly. The other I am enjoying the quick posting of facebook so much I just don't come over to my blog as much. So with all the excuses laid out I am going to post a new picture. This is from our Geocaching adventures in St. Louis in April.

Fun in St. Louis

At least I made the best of our time in St. Louis. Here I am with my cousin and her husband as we geocached at an old quarry.

I've been out of the loop

Wow,
I am so far behind so I will just do one big catch up post. On Feb 17th I went in for a CT scan because I had been experiencing right flank pain that had become unbearable. Before the dr. called to inform me that something was wrong with my ureter (tube that connects kidney to bladder) a 102 fever set in. I had the fever for a full week, most likely the flu. This turned into a sinus infection. I had never expereinced an inability to breathe through my nose, I could not smell anything for 3 days.

On the 3rd week I found out I needed surgery. I just barely passed the physical but was well enough to be put under. On March 8th the surgeon balloned out my closed ureter and placed a stent in. This is the second time I had a stent and they are miserable things to have. After 16 days of that misery I had an ultrasound that determined that my kidney had gone back to regular size and the stent could be removed. That was a pretty easy procedure.

All pain was now suppose to be gone. But it was not. I waited 2 more weeks for the pain to leave, it did not. Even went on a trip with DH to St. Louis to visit relatives and try and ignore the pain.

I called the urologist who said I needed more tests to see what was going on. There was a great chance that my kidney had dropped again and I would need the same major surgery I had 9 years ago. I was crushed. I kept praying for a miracle. On Sunday we had a visiting Pastor from Uganda and he prayed for me. Reminding me that the past does not have to be the future. I kept hoping the pain would leave then and there but it did not.

Tuesday in for IVP tests and visit with urologist. The great news he had for me on April 13 was that my kidneys look fine and the ureter is staying open. Pain is most likely nerves and muscles trying to protect me from the trama of past surgeries. He suggested a chiropractor.

Last week I started going to the chiro and I will say I am having hours of pain free time now. I am working out again and getting those areas to relax and settle down.

Life is getting back to normal and I hope to get back to adding posts here again.

Roberta Bondar at Olympics

We were tickled to see Ms. Bondar as a flag bearer at the Olympics. She was one of the first Canadian astronuats and became the first Canadian woman in space in 1992. We visted this statue in honor of her in Sault Ste. Marie this August before we took the train to the Agawa Canyon.

Olympics Terry Fox

Watching the Olympic opening ceremony last night was awesome. One of the flag bearers was the mother of Terry Fox. We visited a monument erected in his honor last summer in Thunder Bay Ontario. Terry lost his life to cancer in 1981 but before the disease conquered him, he ran across Canada for 3,339 miles to raise money for cancer research.

Dreaming

I am working on an art project that is titled "Bucket List". It is a pretty big commitment as their are 8 of us commited to creating a "chapbook" for each person, about one thing on our list, each month for 4 months. I was interested but uncomfortable in making such a commitment. I finally dove in and have been researching my first thing. A trip to Alaska. I have been collecting info for over 10 years and shoving it into a folder. After looking at that I figured I better update my info so spent some time at the travel agency yesterday. Wow am I overwhelmed at the choices.

I pulled this photo out from last July to show my "dreaming" attitude. One of looking upward for direction, yet able to admire where I am.

Love notes

Our grandson wanted to play outside the other day. He found the sidewalk chalk but no sidewalk as it is covered in snow. I suggested he use the garage floor and so he did. He left a love note for Papa that touched our heart.

Birthday celebration

Our youngest grandson turned 2 this week. We celebrated with a meal at Pizza Hut and a treat at Dairy Queen. Amazing how quickly they grow!

This week has been full and blessed. Working two days as a substitute teacher and spending some time in my art studio creating some fun things. The latest tangles I have made are up on my site http://catherinemariecalvetti.com hoping to finish another fun project soon and get it posted soon. This one with inches atop a fun background of layers. Then topped with wires and twine.

How about once a week?

I obviously am not going to post everyday. I am going to try for at least once a week for now. I think that is a doable "goal". I also want to learn how to use this blog site better. I want to learn how to put photos in the post and figure what direction this blog should head. Should it just be a diary of what is going on in my life?

Ahh I see a photo icon... could that be the magic button that will put the photo inside the post? I am going to check it out.

Woohoo I think I did it. Just found a winter picture I took last winter of Lake Michigan.

The Ice Castle

Eagle River is well known for the annual tradition of building a castle out of ice blocks. The ice is cut from a local lake and put together by our local Volunteer Fire Department. This year they used more than 2,500 blocks of ice. It is 24 feet tall.

Time for an update

2010 has been here for a week and what have I done??? A few zentangles, 200 photos scrapbooked very simply and some cleaning in my art studio. I feel like I have not done much and am not very motivated in the art realm so I joined internet group swaps to get me going. I also have two different friends coming over to do some "art therapy" time. So far I have not created a vision board for the new year, but that does not mean that my wheels have not been turning, thinking about what my focus should be for 2010. I know seeing my Dad and my husband become more healthy would be my top thing. Next would be to see the book I just finished writing get published. Get better about posting on my blogs not just facebook. Last of all come to a place where I can sell my art. If it is not for a gift I find it difficult to part with.

I have continued working out at Curves and walking at the school. I have added a few more laps to my walks so I did over 6 miles this week.

What are your goals? Resolutions or focus for 2010?