Stacie Rife Bailey's Bliss

Prayer for Owen and Gen

My great Uncle Owen and Aunt Gen just recently lost their son Bobby (my second cousin).

My thoughts and prayers go out to them during this difficult time.

NO snow :(

Where is our snow??? I would love to see snow once this year. It is so refreshing and pure. There was no snow last year so I thought for sure it was just saving up for a huge dump this year... so far no such luck!

The picture depicted is from a children's book called "Snow day" and it was illustrated by Hideko Takahashi. I was fortunate enough to be able to spend a little time with Hideko on Christmas Day. She is the cutest woman ever, and a spectacular artist!

She is originally from Japan and was an exchange student in the states 10 or more years ago and stayed with (ready for this....) my husband's Uncle Larry's wife Candace's parents.. (did you catch that??)

She now lives in Seattle, and makes her living as a Children's book Illustrator. She is so interesting to chat with,, not to mention she has the talent I have always longed for!

Holidazzze almost over

The Holidays are nearly over. I feel relieved. It was another success, like it always seems to be no matter how much you stress out.

My decorations are almost all taken down. Except for the part I dred, the TREE. I usually wrap those lights around that tree pretty darn good, and they end up a tangled mess when I go to take them down. I guess I am saving the "worst" for last. It will be nice to get the house back in order again.

(it seems so unfair to the tree doesn't it??? I mean you rescue it from a tree lot. You pick that 1 pretty, perfect tree amoungst all the others, take it home, decorate and worship it to the hilt, then after Christmas it is litterally kicked to the curb for some boy scout to pick it up throw it in a truck and then who knows what happens to the poor thing)

I am anxiously awaiting starting a new quarter at the College. I think my first day of winter quarter is Jan 4th. I am taking Digital Illustration,, in hopes I will learn how to use Adobe! OH,, I graciously received an "A" in my last class, now if I can just find more time to work on my website, and get it to what I really want it to be!

I am so art deprived it's not even funny. I now cannot even remember when the last time I sat in my art room and was just simply creative for the "fun" of it. Such a downer. I am hoping to get at least a few hours before school starts... I have so much to do, and so much I want to catch up on....but mainly I just need to take some time and simply "play" !!!!!!

Yesterday I received my newest copy of Artitude Zine, and to my surprise... one of my collages appeared in it! :) Although it was one I am not so fond of (sorry Rita,, ~~ I had given this collage to my friend Rita~~) at least I made the mag! Cool huh!

I just realized yesterday the remainder of my ArtFest $$$ is due in a WEEK!!!! Oh boy!!!!!!! Talk about pullin' money out of your butt!

Heart-wrenching!!!

"Parents grieve Monday at the body of their child, which  washed ashore at Silver Beach in Cuddalore, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu."

The aftermath of this earthquake is HORRIFIC. I saw this picture 1st thing this morning. I can't stop crying.  God Bless them ALL!!!!

Christmas Day!

I cannot believe it's here, and almost gone already! All the preparations, stress (over the preparations) etc etc and BAM,, its over..

For some reason it just doesn't seem like Christmas as much as it usually does. Not sure why? ...well maybe there is a void that needs to be filled, but don't tell my husband that....

Anyway, it was a nice Christmas. Although it would have been a little better if my Grandmother wasn't in such bad shape from her recent fall. (we did find out she has a hairline fracture in her pelvis bone).. it's just hard to see her not gettin' around so good.

I think the best present I received was from my Mother's boyfriend Bill. He got Jeff and I a box of chocolates with a note that said our present,, was sent to a soldier over in Iraq. He mailed a package full of goodies and necessities to a soldier in need. HOW COOL WAS THAT!!!! I thought that was so thoughtful!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our little friend...

This is our little friend we have staying with us. He arrived about 3 weeks ago and has made a home in our breakfast nook awning. He is a cute little guy!!! I am so tempted to make him a hat and scarf being out there in this cold weather.

He is so funny. He will leave each morning exactly at daylight and come home at the first hint of darkness and there he stays. He puffs himself up at night and tucks his little beak under his feathers.

I only wish if he is going to take up permanent residence here that he cleans up after himself a bit. :)

He is so darn sweet!

Blankets for the Kids!

These are the wonderful blankets that were made for the 8 children! They are just fabulous! SO much hard work went into each of them!

Coming together!!

We have adopted the same family we sponsored for Thanksgiving for Christmas!

Our response from the office has been INCREDIBLE!!!!

Just INCREDIBLE!!!

We had enough food to FILL 3 vans full! Food including TP, paper towels, and of course dog food for their chocolate lab Chloe!

This family consists of 8, ranging in age from 5-16. We have about 10 wrapped gifts for each of the kids + gifts for the entire family, and Mom and Dad!!!

We had a relative of an employee who HAND-MADE 8 blankets for each of the kids specific to what their interest are. They are absolutely gorgeous!!!!

PLUS,,, $450.00 cash, & $50 gift certificate to Target!!!!

HOW COOL IS THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is so nice to see this kind of response. It’s obvious that there are many people in my office that know that THIS is really what Christmas is about. ~~GIVING~~

Thank God for Kind-hearted people!

Thank God for kind people!

Last week my elderly Grandmother was taking her garbage out,  got dizzy and FELL! Not only did she just fall, but she FELL IN THE ROAD!!! Some man driving by came upon her and stopped, helped her up and brought her back in the house!!!! Bless HIS heart!!! I would hate to even think what would of happend if someone so kind wouldn't have stopped to help her.

After quite a bit of convincing by my Mom and Aunt she finally went to the doctor. Luckily she has no broken bones, but is scheduled for an MRI after Christmas to find out why she is getting dizzy. It is so hard to see her hurt! She is such a strong woman.

The day after her spill, this same man came by my Grandmothers house with his daughter to check on her, and see how she was feeling. HOW COOL IS THAT????

It is so re-assuring to know that there are still such wonderful people in this world that would stop to help someone in need,, and especially when it's your own Grandmother.

Bad BAD Bailey!!!

I have decorated my tree this year in red and white and for some nice red accents I bought the red cranberry ball type picks you can get at all the craft stores. LookED pretty nice really.

Well yesterday when Jeff came home from work, my SWEET Bailey had picked these red cranberry things off the tree and chewed them up ALL OVER!!! (This is the first time I think in 8 Christmas’ that she has even touched anything on the tree!!—who would have ever of thought!)

Not only did she have RED paws, (which obviously made her the guilty party!) chewed Styrofoam little balls stuck to her fur and in between her paws but the WHITE CARPET WAS NOW RED!

I am glad I wasn’t there for the initial shock!

Tis’ the season where things are hectic, days are WAY too short, and stress is high. I think Bailey was feeling a little neglected and did it out of spite!

Bailey IS still alive.