Bronchial Pneumonia

I have had flu at least 5 times this year and that is so unlike me. I have always been blessed with excellent health, this is so odd. The last time I had really had  bad flu, my Dr didn't seem too concerned about the flu, but proceeded to ask me 'why are you so run down?'. I explained why I was living in Cape Town for a while, to heal my heart after an extremely abusive marriage.
The doctor sent me off with lots of meds for coughs colds etc but she also encouraged me to see a ppsychiatrist PTS, which was debilitating to say the least. The psychologist was good but I didn't feel that it was helping me move on and so I stopped after about 12 sessions.
I know with out anyone telling me, that my ex has caused irreparable damage to my soul. I know that God loves me and I know that God cares about my future, but there are consequences to bad choices.

The doctor that I went to see today, not my usual one, because my doctor was fully booked. But while listening to my chest, asking me a whole bunch of questions, he then said "What it bothering you so much that your immune system is shot!" Oh boy.... here we go again!

I am supposed to be leaving tomorrow to go up to Johannesburg to attend my grandson's 1st Birthday and Christening, and the doctor said NO, ABSOLUTELY NO.  He was a really kind man and his advice was, STOP ABUSING YOURSELF NOW THAT THERE IS NO ONE ELSE TO ! He diagnosed Bronchial Pneumonia and it is really really bad. He then said he wanted me to go into hospital and will still admit me, if I don't show signs in the next 3 - 4 days of getting better.

I feel absolutely awful and I am sharing this here, for other women who have escaped an abusive relationship, it is going to take time... and I think that one should do everything one can, to pamper and love oneself. Something victims are not good at!

I am going off to bed so I won't be around for a while.
Take special care and thank you for your  prayers and encouragement'

Surprise Surprise !

Look what arrived in the post today. I have been sick with flu for almost a week now. I just can't seem to stay clear from this dreaded virus. I have had the flu at least 4 times this year which is unheard of for me. If I get flu once every 5 years that is a lot!
Well can you imagine how thrilled I was when I received this gift of some encaustic art materials from Nancy Donaldson  http://allpulpedout.blogspot.com/2010/09/fall-line-up.htmlShe is an incredibly talented artist and I have been fascinated with her encuastic textures for some time, so this is a real treat. I can't wait to give this a bash.

Slice of life

I wanted to paint something to match my blog background which I am trying to change, but with the new templates I am  not having too much success. I want to make my own background, so if anyone knows how to do that please let me know.

With respect

I have always loved these little indian slippers.

I also love a baby sandwich.

This is not funny, but I am on the floor!http://thepirata.com/baby-sandwich/

2# I love a sleeping baby

The link for this photo: http://mybabyphotos.net/top-baby-sleeping-photos/

I especially love my own sleeping children and this cute picture of my grandson.

My litte baby grandson... I adore you.

101# Things I really love and enjoy- Pretty things.

I really want to share this with you all. What a good idea to post photo's of all the things that make you happy. Take a look at this -http://www.squidoo.com/chrisfavs
I really love this picture. I don't go over the top when I dress, but in another life time I would like to wear what ever I want when ever I fell like it.
http://www.imaginefx.com/02287754329921646766/paint-realistic-looking-lips.html
I definately will wear this little choker.

Bright Sunny Day

After my out burst yesterday. I really needed to spend the day painting today to take my mind off things. I am not one to paint landscapes and certainly not tourist paintings like this one, but I took some of my art to a local gallery yesterday and they accepted some of my work, but they asked me if I ever do this kind of thing because the tourist season is coming  soon and these types of paintings are very much in demand.
I don't enjoy painting like this at all, but a girl has gotta do what she gotta do. I am going to take some photographs of various scenes around this area and try those as well. When tourists have been in a place and had a good time, I am the same, they often want some memorabilia.
This was in acrylics which I don't usually work in either which didn't help. But will try some more like this in oils, maybe I will prefer them.

The shocking truth about abuse

I am infuriated. Once again there are two more cases of abuse in South Africa. High profile people who get away with it because they have the money to pay for expensive attorneys. I am not talking about the thousands, I am talking about two well known people. How long will this continue around the world. I can never be silent about this. I am sorry to shock on my blog, the place that I try to share my own recovery with others who have been in the same situation. I have heard of two more cases today and the likelyhood of these men getting away with it, is an absolute given. I am furious.

To hear that woman provoked this abuse sickens me to my stomach. Please I beg you do not igore the pleas of those who are hurting and trying to escape from their abusive partners. The control is so strong and I have fallen prey myself to the charm of my abuser, many times. Waiting for the day that he will say...I am sorry... I was wrong, that has still not happened, still today.

God forgive me but I would kill the man who did this to any of my children. As long as I am alive and breathing, I will protect them, even though I was unable to protect them or myself when I lived with it, for 25 years.

This is such a serious problem and I know that many people just cannot understand why anyone would stay. But until you have been there, you will never know the control that these men have on their victims. Their charm is convincing, their promises to change are constant, but their confessions of guilt are absent and their blame toward the victim eternal.

The media was told that these bruises were from plastic surgery which was authenticated by a plastic surgeon. Please...  how could any intelligent person believe this?

I am sorry, but I work so hard with my organisation to try and help other victims but when I hear of high profile people getting away with it, what chance does the average woman have?

As you can see from these photo's the bruises are old and have begun to heal, I don't want to tell you what they looked like immediately after the incidents !

Dropping In

I have been away for a few days. I have had quite a busy week and not much time to sort out my blog, although I did sort out my banner and found all my followers which was nice.

Please do me a favour, don't want to welcome another friend of mine and fellow blogger... I nearly typed grogger which she is not. She is also an artist and would love some encouragement and advice I am sure.

I am so excited and art gallery accepted some of my work today which is wonderful it means more exposure for me. I need to get more of my work out there but I will do that nearer to Christmas, because last year I did quite well. The problem with me is that I am not good at marketing my own work. I will have to push myself

Messing up my blog too!

I was trying to give my blog a facelift and have successfully messed that up too. I am having a wonderful day. I have lost all my friends, my header and who knows what else !
Going to have some tea and try and sort this out later !

Tearing my hair out !

I have spent the better part of today trying to learn how to make a video tutorial. Hats off to all of you out there that have mastered how to do this. I am not someone who learns by reading, I have to see and then do. This has been so frustrating though. I thought today being sunday would be a good day for me to spend time trying to make a video, editing it and then posting it on youtube. Man this has been hard!

A Reminder of where my strength comes from.

                                                                 Before polishing.

After Polishing

There have been quite a few hurdles to overcome in the past year and thankfully I have a close relationship with the Lord and am always reminded when I can't He can. I started this a while ago and it wasn't as easy as I thought. Anyone who has done pewter will know that it is diffucult remembering what goes in and what is pushed out! Humm this was quite challenging. All that is left to do now is to frame it.

Mixed Media

I have been working on a lot of mixed media recently and these are just some of the samples. I love the little space in the middle to put what ever it is that one really wants to focus on as far as the message is concerned. The one on the right is empty, waiting for something really special to place in there.

Tough Times

The past few weeks haven't been really happy ones. My eldest daughter went into hospital on Monday for a very serious operation. She seems to be doing fine and we are all keeping an eye on her and praying every minute of every day. I don't want to go into details here on my blog.

I must say, when I am feeling low, I love reading everyone else's blog and seeing all the beautuful work that everyone does. It cheers me up considerably.

I have been doing a ton of art work recently and will post some pictures tomorrow.