A Bit of A Scare!

As most of you  know I had arthroscopic knee surgery to repair  a torn medial meniscus late Wednesday of last week.  Sunday night I did not sleep very well due to the ache in my leg.  When I got up that morning I had severe pain in my right calf,  the leg I had surgery on.  It felt like a muscle cramp that you could not walk off.  Pain meds did not take the pain away so after another long night in pain I called the Doctor's office at 9AM Tuesday morning.  Pretty much in agony the whole day.  At about 4PM the nurse called me back and told me to go straight to the ER so they could check me out for possible blood clot in my leg.   Life threatening if the clot breaks off and goes to the pulmonary artery.
Called my husband to come home, begged my sister to come watch my kids and headed to the ER.
Luckily for me it was not a blood clot but a severe muscle spasm with symptoms that looked and acted like a blood clot. I am now on some new muscle relaxants and hopefully on the mend.
It was a scary night and to look at my poor husband's face was the hardest part.  I am not sure if it was that he would miss me if I was to go or what he would do with the kids!?!  I think he aged 80 years last night.  Times like that make you really stop and think about the important things in your life!

But on a brighter note just a reminder to make a guess for my giveaway here.  It ends tomorrow!  Good luck to everyone!  Winner announced later that evening!

OH My Aching Knee

About 3 months ago I was doing step aerobics at 5:30 am, not my most productive hour,

and apparently stepped on the step wrong twisting my knee.  It ached a bit but I thought nothing of it.  Later it started to ache at night so I decide to do some ice/heat therapy and use a brace while exercising. 

While cooking dinner one night I turned just right and I heard and felt a pop and click.  Not a good sign.

I had an MRI and sure enough had a medial meniscus tear.  I had arthroscopic knee surgery to repair this pain on Wednesday.  It has been a rough couple of days but hopefully I will be back to my routine in no time. 

So the lesson to be learned here is two fold: 

 Be completely awake before you do step aerobics.

And it does not pay to cook dinner!

Enjoy your day!

Barb

Make a Guess and Win a Surprise Giveaway

We are nearing the end of the great month of June and my last giveaway for my favorite month is a Surprise.

It will be something hand painted on black screen.

It has been a fun and busy month with a birthday and family from back east here to visit and sight see.  It is also the month of my one year anniversary blogging.

So the rules of this giveaway are as follows:

You must be a follower of this blog and new followers are always welcome.

The first person that can guess my favorite fruit will be a winner.

(You may look at my Etsy shop for some ideas-www.etsy.com/shop/barbsheartstrokes)

Leave your guess here on this post.

Also leave me a way to contact you if you do not have a blog.

You just never know if there will be extra goodies going out so I hope all will play along.

The ending day is of course June 30.  Winner or winners will be announced then.

Sorry but you must live in the USA or Canada to win-postage and postal strikes are a real pain.

Thank you to all the great folks in blog land that have been so supportive and fun to get to know this last year. 

Barb

Brenda's Newest Witch!!

Brenda at the RustyThimble is have another fabulous giveaway.  I hate to share the word because I want to win...but the more the merrier!  She does wonderful work.   I am really hoping that I am the lucky person that wins!  Actually the witch and I look allot alike!!

Potato Chips and a Winner

I have a horrible addiction to Potato chips and apparently everyone knows this.  My sister planned a birthday gift that was over the top!!  Because I was turning 50 years old she and all my siblings got together and gave me 50 BAGS of Lay's Potato chips-my favorite at this point.

I know I have a problem and will be following up with a Doctor!

My Birthday was a great day with family and friends.  I really appreciate all the great comments and well wishes I receive from all my blog friends.

I used  Random.org to pick the number this time and the lucky winner is Tamera from Country at Heart.

She has a giveaway going on now too so check out her great blog!

Tamera e-mail your address at Heartstrokes@aol.com and I will get that in the mail for you.

Thank you to all that came to play and keep an eye out for my next giveaway as I continue to celebrate June!!

Enjoy your day!

Barb

Happy Flag Day!!

HAPPY FLAG DAY TO EVERYONE!!

It has been a busy week here with extended family but we have been out and about seeing the sights.

I will have to post about our adventures at a later date because we will be off again in a few minutes.

I just wanted to remind everyone that my Birthday giveaway will be ending tomorrow so if you have not signed up and are interested please do so soon!

Firecracker Kid Primitives Summer Giveaway

Sweet Carol over at Firecracker Kid Primitives is having an Independence Day Giveaway. What is the prize? Shh, so far it is a secret. But any prize from Carol is to be cherished and will be wonderful.  She will be announcing the prizes soon. Yes, not one but three prizes being given away this time.

http://firecrackerkid.blogspot.com/2011/06/fkp-independence-day-giveaway.html

If you are not familiar with the Firecracker Kid you can check out all their beautiful wood furnishings here.

http://etsy.com/shop/firecrackerkid

Hurry over and enter. Giveaway ends June 18

Bingo and Flowers

It seems that maybe summer is truly here and it is time to smell the flowers!!

These have been some fun flowers to paint and I am liking them in the barnwood frames.

BINGO has started at the Primitive and Folk Artistists Blog so check to see if your words are listed!

We have family in from Vermont and Michigan so I will be taking time to smell the flowers!

Remember to sign up for my Birthday Giveaway too!  It ends on June 15th and drawing will be on the 16th!

Enjoy and take time to smell the flowers!

Barb

My Creation for the Flag Day Challenge and BINGO

This is my entry for the Flag Day Challenge over at the Old Farmhouse Gatherings Blog.

If you get a chance take a look at all the fabulous and creative items the team members came up with.  Make sure that you place your vote!!

The other fun thing happening is BINGO at the Primitive and Folk Artist Blog.  The rules are posted on the blog.  There are some fun giveaways there too for the first ones to shout out BINGO!  Words need to be in by June 7th.

This is the donation I am offering for all the kitty lovers out there!

So many fun things happening this Summer!!

Enjoy your day,

Barb

Time to Vote!!

Stop over at The Old Farmhouse Flag Day Challenge and vote for your favorite item. We have been busy making flag theme items for this great challenge. You can vote till June 11, 2011, so lets have some fun!  Click on the photo above to take you to the Blog page!  Have some fun looking at all the great creations!

Enjoy, Barb

A Wonderful Material Treat

I won the most wonderful prize in blogland!

For those who know me I am "allergic" to sewing, thread, material, needles, etc.  My mom had me take all the 4-H classes in sewing but I was a disaster.  It is amazing she and I lived through it. 

 I am always amazed at what people can do with material.

I entered Cottonwood Lane Primitives giveway not to long ago and longingly looked at the beautiful penny rug (OK, I was coveting it) and thinking how great it would look in my house.

AND I WON!!!!

Roberta had packaged the treasure so nicely with a cute little card.

Aren't you all amazed I had the self restraint to get the camera and take a photo!

I am proud of my self for that!

In to the package I tore.  Probably not as gently as I should have but look at this beautiful rug!

The photo just does not do it justice!! 

My husband who collects Native American Rugs really attached himself to it.  We are going to hang it on our wall in the entrance way for everyone to see!!

Roberta, your work is marvelous.  It is created so well and you can see love in every stitch!

Thank you so much!!

Take a look at her blog to see what she is stitching up right now!

Thank you to everyone that came over to the "A Farmhouse Gathering at Artfire" blog and sign up to win the sign below.  Julie was the winner.  Congratulations!!

Just a reminder...

Just a reminder that that last day to sign up to win this prize is June 3rd!  At noon the drawing will be held.  Head over to A Farmhouse Gathering Blog and sign up!!

Enjoy your day!

Barb

Giveaways, Giveaways, Giveaways!!

This is an exciting month for me!  First a big round numbered birthday!!  This is also the one year anniversary of having my own blog!  Kids out of school-some days not so exciting.  Will be living in my car come July to get the kids where they need to be for camps and adventures.  Have the in-laws coming from Michigan to stay for a couple of weeks!  Many family members birthdays in June!
So to celebrate I will be having a giveaway for the picture above. 
It is a Shara Reiner design and I have painted it on black screen it measures 12 x 12 inches wide.  Due to postage I can only send this to USA or Canada-so sorry.
Now to the rules:
Be a follower of this blog!
Please leave a comment about what you will be doing in June.
If you do not have a blog please leave an email address so that I can contact you if you win.
For some extra chances to win please visit:
A Farmhouse Gathering on Artfire Blog to see what fun giveaway they are having.
The Old Farmhouse Gathering Blog to see what will be happening just around the corner.
The Primitive and Folkartist Blog to see what a fun game they are playing!
Post this to your side bar or do a blog post for extra chances.
Let me know which ones you have done and I will add your chances up!!
I will be drawing the lucky winners name on my Birthday June 15 and posting about it after cake and ice cream on the 16th.   (After the sugar wears off!)
Then stayed tune for more giveaways during this fun month!
Good luck to all!
Enjoy your June!
Barb