Calling All Angels

My heart is breaking...I am LOST.

For the brother I have found is in critical condition & may not recover.

He is in the last stages of Huntington's Disease.

He has not spoken or eaten or moved in 2 years.

This disease is shattering.

I have given the hospital a DNR order...is this the gift?

To be able to free my brother from his earthly chains?

The next decision is even tougher, withdrawal of care.

I don't know if I have the strength to do that.

I don't know if it is needed or wanted or warranted...I am LOST.

I am my brother's keeper, but what is the right thing to do for him?

Would God have let me find him, just to take him so quickly?

Calling all ANGELS to show me the way,

to give me PEACE in the decisions,

to give me HOPE in a heaven where we will all be together again,

to give me FAITH in a GOD who knows better then me, the reason for such despair here on earth.

Pray for me & my brother dear friends, as we are in the dark & are in need of LIGHT.

XOXO

vintagesusie

Bonnie Raitt's 'Magic Waters'

There's a quote from 'Field of Dreams' that I've always loved.

Terrance Mann {James Earl Jones} is sitting in the bleachers & Ray {Kevin Costner} is wondering if anyone will come to his 'Field of Dreams'. Mann Says,

"They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray."

The people did come to see Miss Bonnie Raitt & it was as 'if we had dipped ourselves in Magic Waters'. Her music was a pool of memories that flowed over us like a gentle wave. She was AMAZING!

Courtney & I walked down the Event Center hallway early in the afternoon when we first got to Pala Casino, to use the 'facilities'. I was telling her how cool I thought it was that they had Bonnie playing over the speakers for all of her fans, really a nice touch.

Then, we heard Bonnie stop singing & start talking. We walked over to some nearby double doors & looking through the crack we saw this...

You can barely make out the picture, but yep...that is Bonnie rehearsing with her band. I can't believe Court got this picture through that little, tiny crack in the doors, she rocks! ;)

We played some slots & came out ahead overall, baby girl did the best, winning $57 on video poker.

 

Texas was well represented, with my Magnolia Pearl Tee & Texas Charm Necklace!

Finally, we took our seats as the show was about to begin. How thoughtful of them to have a little bar right inside the Event Center, so convenient. I did par take in a variety of libations, but this was my birthday present, so Courtney was our DD...TG! {don't I look a little too happy here? lol}

The show was off the charts...really! Bonnie is 61 & rocks it like she's 20. She sang everything I could have asked for. 2 hours of heart breakin, hard rockin, soulful blues as only Bonnie can do.

Once again I find...I 'Wish You Were Here' Sweet Hearts!!!

XOXO

vintagesusie

Bonnie Raitt Tonight...Oh Yeahhhh!

{the original Magnolia Pearl}

If you were to cut me & the symphony of my soul was to flow from my veins, you'd hear two musicians...

Jackson Browne & Bonnie Raitt.

They have been with me longer then most of the people in my life.

Longer then my daughter, longer then my husband...

longer then 2 of my siblings & longer then most of my oldest & dearest friends.

If I were a movie, Jackson & Bonnie would be the score to my life.

For my birthday in November, my amazing daughter surprised me with tickets to see Bonnie in concert & guess what??? Tonight's the night!!! Oh Yeahhhh, tonight's the night & I'm ready to get my party on!

I first saw Bonnie at the tiniest of venues, The Golden Bear in Huntington Beach back when I graduated from Marina High School. It sat on PCH right across from the pier, filled with long family style dinner tables & watching a performance there was like having a concert at home, it was as intimate & up close & personal as it gets. Oh so sadly, The Golden Bear has long since been torn down & replaced by a new two story stucco & tile roofed shopping complex, the not so wonderful modernization of HB.

The past is past, right! So tonight, my daughter & I will head down towards San Diego to the gorgeous Pala Casino Spa Resort for a night of dinner, drinks, gambling & music. Bonnie Raitt is there, I get to watch her perform again & listen to the songs that raised me & share it all with the child I raised...it's going to be MAGIC & that 'Circle of Life' just keeps on rollin. I'm too excited, I have to go get ready right now. I wonder if she'll recognize me?  ;)

More to come!

XOXO Sweat Hearts

vintagesusie

Serenity & The Road Not Taken

Nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains lies a spiritual oasis, a lighthouse in the storm, a place where Serenity resides.

This moment is for us to rest our minds, to nourish our souls, to release our burdens.

Take my hand & walk with me in a place where few words are needed.

Where Peace surrounds you...

& abundance awaits you.

'The Road Not Taken'

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim

Because it was grassy and wanted wear,

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black

Oh, I marked the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

Every now & then, the world must be turned off

& the spirit of the soul must have room to fly.

Every now & then, we must remind ourselves that our journey's,

no matter how misunderstood by others, are our journey's

& that by taking the 'Road Less Traveled',

the path of the heart can so often make,

'ALL THE DIFFERENCE'!

XOXO

vintagesusie

Embracing Change

Happy Monday Sweeties...

Hope your weekend was wonderful!

With the holidays over & some time on my hands, this weekend I decided to just PLAY. I made a huge cup of my much loved Cafe Mocha, stayed in my jammie's ALL day & cruised my way through some of my very favoritest blogspaces. I may not have commented on each & every one as I really was trying to see them all, but I so enjoyed feeling apart of all your grand & simple, honest & heartfelt, inspired & ordinary dreams for the New Year...it's hard not to do some revising & reevaluating when thinking of all the POSSIBILITIES!

{don't you love the intials, vs&w...I do. lol}

One post in particular really caught my eye & heart & not only did I want to participate,

but I wanted to share it with all of you.

Deryn Mertock creator of Something Sublime & an amzing jewelry designer, had been given an idea by a bloggy friend of hers, Rebecca Sowers of  "a Glance Back through your work to find your Creative Path Forward." Doesn't that sound inspiring?

{I just made my Heirloom Texas necklace this weekend with little toy charms I found at Round Top}

They both created a photo mosaic of their recent work and asked these questions:

Would I create this same piece again?

Would I wear this?

Is this something that really speaks of who I am artistically?

Will I still love this piece a year from now?

Five years from now?

Does this piece give me that special "ahhhh!" moment?

{my Heirloom Necklace with so many treasured memories}

Being a newbie to jewelry design & having never taken a class, I am still so 'in the process' of finding my way. In looking at my mosaic, I saw some of my 1st pieces that are a little more delicate then what I'm attracted to now & I realize that's just not me. I love chunky, junky, clumpy & nostalic jewelry..

they sing to my soul.

Hummm, why do I feel like following the course of 'Embracing Change' in the New Year?

First would be the great experience I had working on Riki's blog, Riki Jewelry. Each time I create with a new friend, I am forced to work outside my box & always learn something invaluable. This time it was how to alter & stretch templates & work in the html to achieve the desired look. Well it looked so darn good, I just HAD to do it to my own blog too! LOL Thanks Riki, I love the cleaner look & the possibility of larger images.

And secondly, following the path I have already started in my life, trying to Be Brave!

It doesn't come naturally to me friends. I know it may seem like I can be tough as nails & can accomplish anything if I put my mind & heart to it, but it does come at a price. Being Brave is not my usual reaction, being scared is. So this months brave task is, to take the two above pieces of jewelry, already mounted for presentation, to Stampington Publication for submission in Belle Armoire Jewelry. I'll just have to be patient & wait & see. Nothing extordinary can ever happen if you aren't brave enough to step out of the ordinary, now & then... right!

Next, a brand new header, I LOVE PS! ;)

XOXO

vintagesusie