So Much Has Happened

As you have noticed, those of you that follow this blog, I have been "MIA" for quite a while. I post more regularly on my new blog www.teresakogut.com so please join me over there :)

My last post was August 2014.....so much has happened since then. The last half of 2014 was not so good. My sweet endearing Dad fought and lost his battle with cancer Dec 18th and life as I knew it will never be the same. I have never experience that deep deep grief. I am doing better these days but I think of him throughout every day and visit him in my dreams. I am blessed to have my faith to lean on and help me through such devastating life events. I seriously don't know how people without faith cope. A few weeks ago I attended another family member's funeral and the pastor said something that really stuck with me, "Grieve, but don't grieve like those without hope".  I have hope. Hope to see my Dad again one day in paradise. I miss him terribly but I know he's right where God wants him; at rest, in peace, with Him.

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In January of 2015, Dawn and Dick Rossell, shopkeepers of Holly Hills Primitives (HHP), asked if I would like to open a "shop within a shop". I immediately said YES! They also invited Kris Miller of Spruce Ridge Studios to do the same so now Kris and I share a large room inside HHP. Below are some photos of our new shop!

Here is Kris Miller's beautiful wool and hooked rugs!

So if you are looking for gifts, a guardian angel for your home, rug patterns, wool, rug hooking supplies, punchneedle patterns, cross stitch patterns or punchneedle supplies, C'mon out to Holly Hills Primitives, 105 Civic Dr, Holly Michigan. 

Also, Kris and I are offering classes almost every month!  Beginner punchneedle, rug hooking, and more! Call Dawn at HHP (248) 634-7040 for more details.

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We have a new family member. Athena joined us just yesterday. She is a 7 month old lab-pitbull-boxer mix. She is smart as a whip! Our friend's son, Vinnie, was sad to have to give her to us but he is moving and couldn't take her with him. Well, he found her a good home. She will be spoiled here and will have 5 acres to run and play. It's been a long time since I had a puppy....I forgot how much attention they need!  (btw....Daisy and the chickens aren't too thrilled)

Those are the three major changes in my life since last August. I will try to post more often. Blessings to you all!

Teresa

Annual Friends Weekend

Every summer for the past 9 or 10 years (we haven't, so far, been able to figure out what year we started doing this) several of us escape to northern Michigan for a few days of fun and relaxation. Kevin and I are very blessed to have many great friends to share this thing called life. Wikipedia states it perfectly:

"Friendship is a relationship of mutual affection between two or more people. Friendship is a stronger form of interpersonal bond than an association. A World Happiness Database study found that people with close friendships are happier.

Although there are many forms of friendship, some of which may vary from place to place, certain characteristics are present in many types of friendship. Such characteristics include affection, sympathy, empathy, honesty, altruism, mutual understanding and compassion, enjoyment of each other's company, trust, and the ability to be oneself, express one's feelings, and make mistakes without fear of judgment from the friend."

Paul, Kevin, Bill, Roger and Bob

 Keri, Me, Amy, Lisa, Theresa & Renee

I hope you, too, are lucky enough to be surrounded by great friends.

The Story of Jonah

I may have posted this before...seems like I did but even if so, you will love to see it again :) Simply precious!




When you get a moment....check out my other blog www.teresakogut.com where I'm now doing product reviews.

Blessings,
Teresa

His Daughter

WARNING: Grab some tissues.....




This young woman is a remarkable singer/songwriter. Molly Kate Kestner singing her original song "His Daughter".

Blessings,
Teresa

Kyle's 21

 (Late post....his birthday was March 30)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KYLE!

Twenty one years ago, God blessed us with our first-born son. We've been through many ups and downs but we came out the other side closer than if we hadn't went through all that we did. I thank God every day for our children. They make my life complete.

Spring Plantings Show is Coming Soon!

Join me along with some of the top antique and primitive dealers at the Spring Plantings show in Holly Michigan, hosted by Dawn and Dick Rossell of Holly Hills Primitives.

I am so excited to be a part of this show. The rug hooking sign above is one of my new treasures I will be offering at the show. I will have originals and prints on wood, rug patterns, punchneedle patterns, cross stitch patterns and more!

 "Friendship"

7x20 print on wood

Hope you can make it! See below for the details!

Click here to see the vendor list!

saying goodbye...for now

This photo was taken the day she passed. She was so sick.

Well friends, it's with a heavy heart that I tell you we lost our little sweet kitty yesterday. She was with us for 20 years! She will be missed.

She joined our family as a stray when Kyle was about 2 years old, so we really don't know how hold she was. I had never had a cat before so she hung out a few days in the tree in our side yard until we made a decision whether to keep her or not. We just couldn't resist her cuteness so decided to make her part of the family. I didn't know if she had fleas, ticks or any other "issues" so we kept her outside one more night until I could take her to the vet the next morning. Well, overnight she got in a tussle with some other creature because she had a puncture wound at the base of her tail....which made her tail curl up like a pug's tail, haha! It was one of her cute traits. My uncle came to visit from Missouri a few years after we had her and asked me, "What's your cat's name, Seymour Butts?"

Which brings me to the next oddity about our little kitty. Her name was Kitty Girl....I know, original, huh? Well, that's what she would come to when she was a stray for those few days before joining the family. We thought and thought of other names but she would only acknowledge "Kitty Girl". (how many other cats do you know that got to choose their own name?) However, at the vet's office she was known as "Mittens" because I felt silly having them call her Kitty Girl! lol. 

She really was a sweet kitty...kind to everyone...well except Buster. She would swat at him if he got to close, but all along, I think that was her way of playing with him.

I know when we get to heaven, we will see all of our beloved pets again. What a joyous occasion that will be <3 p="">

Blessings,

Teresa