Deer Mountain Wood Art

Unless you've been asleep, we've all watched the tragedy in Russia unfold. My heart goes out to those that lost their loved ones in these terrible assaults. Ever since Tyler went to Russia he's been trying to get back there. Wants to move there. I can't blame him sometimes when I think of how wonderfully he was treated by his host families and the warmth of those he met while about. I know we are all shocked and saddened by the ongoing violence.

I've received several emails lately about what's the latest with Deer Mountain. I've been fighting chronic pain in my back and legs and it's caused a great slow down in my production. To the point where I've only been able to produce a few earrings and such during this last six or so months. Well, finally, tomorrow is my surgery; they will be implanting a spinal cord stimulator to mask the nerve pain and while I'm excited, I'm very nervous(scared) also. I hope you'll all pray for me and my little family as we undergo this new chapter in our life! I've heard so many great things about the end result but am trying to be realistic too. I'm just hoping that I will regain some quality of life as the last 14 months have been miserable. I look forward to getting back in the shop - I miss creating so much!

Well, that's about it for now - time to get the little one up for school :)

I hope to write with good news in the next couple of days, please keep us in your prayers...

Thanks for "stopping by the shop!"
Freida

Pretty much all of my friends locally, that is, know what's going on with me so I haven't worried too much about things like this. While I'm trying to get back on my feet I've received many notices such as Project Wonderful's robot warning.
I hate being sick - but this time it's been worse on my psyche more than my body. While I'm in constant pain, I manage, kind of. But the fact that it's affecting my behavior so much is disabling. I can't write anyone back, follow through on anything, I've totally left the dishes to everyone else. I reached out a couple of weeks ago to tell my friends from my book project that I was sick but hoping to get back to 'normal' soon and continue on with the book, but I've been unable to answer any of their emails :( I'm very frustrated and depressed, but still I remain optimistic.
Since I had an attack of sciatica in January, which still continues with my left foot slowly going numb from my arch up my leg, I've been on several answer-seeking journeys to the doctors. Finally last month I was told I have MS. Now, like I've said, I'm not sure right now what that means for me, I have a doctor appointment the 30th of June and hopefully will get better answers. In the meantime, here I remain.
My second oldest son is graduating from HS this morning and I'm not ready - totally depressed(feels like an elephant's on my chest), and don't want to endure the pain of having to take a shower.... sigh
It will get better, I'm sure it will. But I haven't written in so long - think about it often - but just haven't been able to. Getting this second notice from Project Wonderful prompted me I guess into finally writing and letting everyone know what's going on.
To all of the faithful followers and supporters of this blog, I treasure you and hope that you'll stick it out with me - I know it's gotta get better! But I will do my best to get to the writing as I'm able.
You're very important to me - we may be strangers for the most part, but gosh you've been through so much with me! and I consider you all friends.
I will be back soon - thanks for being there :)
Freida

Boy, two and a half weeks and I'm still hurting - and my cold seems to be hanging on despite all efforts to get better!?
Roger has decided, actually made it his 'mission' to get me into his neurology doc and I am worried. The guy has the 'bedside manner' of a turnip; would be more palatable if it didn't taste like a burned boiled potato! I don't know what to do though as I don't want to go back to the e.r., they have such limited capacity to really help this type of thing, and my own doctor, who's also my friend, doesn't seem to want to help. He finally had his receptionist call and tell me that I should go back to e.r. so I could get a MRI or other tests. I think he's upset with the fact I don't have his mural done yet - it's only been 2 1/2 years!? What the heck does he expect from a great artist such as myself!!?! LOL Aren't we supposed to be temperamental and eccentric? I have to 'be in the mood' to create this masterpiece and it only happens now and then :( But he's right, he's an orthopod, I think, and his capacity is limited too. He doesn't charge me to see him, and I can't expect much.... Maybe I should get to work on that mural though, before I lose his friendship entirely!!
Anyway, Roger went to his office yesterday and asked to have my records transferred - she said it would take a couple of weeks to complete? hummm, well, the fact that I'm losing more and more sensation in my left foot and I wish someone could painlessly amputate my left leg from the hip socket down must not be the crisis it feels like it is. I've been getting around better as I get 'used to' the constant pain and have been able to sit for longer periods of time so I thought I'd try working at my tele job Sunday. I only had an hour scheduled and thought it would be a piece of cake. I didn't think that the fact I had almost completely lost my voice due to this stupid cold a problem I guess? lol It was bad though. I had three calls, but my Internet was so bad and their system was oh so slow. The last customer's order took so long that his wife was able to get online and order the same offer(for less she stated) and he ended up canceling just as I finally got to the last screen! :( The system was behaving so badly that even after he canceled it took 13 minutes to cancel his order and get the call logged - thank God he was extremely patient!!! I ended up calling my super and explain what was happening and she finally told me to just log off and call it a day.
I had the ISP tech out the next day and he, naturally, couldn't find anything wrong. It worked perfectly for him! argh! and of course, after he left, it went down again :( This has been going on forever so I finally called them again the other day, as I've not been able to trust logging in to work, and explained to him that there was no way it was on 'our end'. He was nearly rude, but it turned out he was right I guess; even after replacing our router last year, it still is not working right. I don't know if it's that we have too much on it - three desktops and my laptop and occasionally Tyler's Xbox360 and Austin's NDS(the router is wireless and hardwire capable) - but I do know that if I plug into the antenna directly I don't have any trouble staying connected. So I guess I'll have to get another router - if anyone knows a 'good one' let me know! :) Hopefully that will be resolved soon! I am scheduled to work tomorrow, but still not sure my voice, or congested nose is going to let me, let alone my leg/back and hip!?!
I started a new project last night; a nice tropical scene. My sister, Sandi, has always associated me with flamingos for some reason that I can't remember now, so it has a flamingo in it as well. I really find myself thinking of her while I am working on it :) I am thinking that doing what I love will help me get better, and it seems to help, so I'm plugging away trying to get some new pieces out there - I love working with the wood, it just feels so good!
I sent off for the business license yesterday for Deer Mountain Creations. That felt good too, to know that my business will finally be a real business! Everything else will fall under this general dba, as I have a few other ventures that I'm working on and needed something a little less restrictive as Deer Mountain 'Wood Art' is; one of the major outlets is getting my community together in one 'store front' that we all can sell our wares on. The folks still don't believe I'm going to do this for free, but there are so many talented people here that I hate to not see them share with 'the World'! I can't wait to get it in full production :) It will be on Etsy as well under "Deer Mountain Creations" and will have tons of different things (Such as these wonderful Peanut Butter Dog Biscuit Treats!), from crochet to metalwork... getting excited just thinking about it! lol
Well, guess I better get out there and start making some sawdust - it's very cold and snow covered here, but my shop heater works well and I'm sure my enthusiasm will help warm me as well! :)
I hope ya'll have a great Thursday!


As always, thanks for "stopping by the shop!" Freida

hah! She made it!! =D Jim was audibly relieved! They took out 3 ft of large and 5 ft of small intestine that was pure black! I sure wished they'd listened to her when she was complaining about the pain :( But, although not out the woods by far, at least she survived this part so far - thanks so much to everyone for their prayers! =D
I just finished cutting a quarter panel of a very large large puzzle and it only took me, ummm, 4.5 hours? Dang, no profit here, eh!?! Never is though... anyway, just glad I'm finally getting my 'stride' on this one - started out r-o-u-g-h!! I hate to go to bed, as I'll have to 'warm up' all over again :( Getting a lot of 'warm up' pieces done though! lol Will list them soon...
So I guess I better try to sleep - it's 1am and I'm a little wound up from cutting and the news on Mary, but I'm sure I'll nod off as soon as I get there :0)
Thanks again - I really believe the prayers are the most helpful right now, and all of you that are still doing so, I can't thank you enough!
{{{hugs}}}
F