" You're out of the woods, You're out of the dark, You're out of the night. Step into the sun, Step into the light. Keep straight ahead for the most glorious place On the Face of the Earth or the sky."

" You're out of the woods, You're out of the dark, You're out of the night. Step into the sun, Step into the light. Keep straight ahead for the most glorious place On the Face of the Earth or the sky. Hold onto your breath, Hold onto your heart, Hold onto your hope. March up to the gate and bid it open. "   Optimistic Voices Wizard of Oz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nudp1vbaEYE&feature=related

Dear Lord, what did I expect these wonderful people to do for me ???   No one can wave a magic wand and make it all go away.   I wonder if anyone was more excited to arrive at a Cancer Institute around 11:00 in the morning than I was yesterday ???

  arriving at Roswell Park Cancer Institute with my signature Blessing Basket

As soon as I walked into the front doors I was astounded by the similarity I felt to being in the Charlotte, North Carolina Airport, my favorite place for travel trip layovers.   You know, the sunny atrium room with all the really cool, white rocking chairs all lined up near the food court with the good Mexican Enchiladas and the piano bar.  

Well this place has a piano in the lobby too. The young man behind the piano must have played non stop for hours; Claire de lune, fur Elise and Somewhere in Time to mention a few.

There is really kewl art work everywhere, in fact, I found one in a hallway by Dianne Baker a local artist I know and am Linked in with in Buffalo. The furniture in the lobby are really comfortable arts and craft Mission style seating. Everyone from the greeters at the front Information desk, the lovely lady who begins the process of registration as new patient, to the lady who takes insurance and contact information is super nice. Everyone was dressed in really nice, bright, autumnal hues and wears a bright welcoming smile.

I filled out five pages of family history facts, listed all of the vitamins supplements that have been added over the years to my regiment of daily heath habits.  Instead of waiting in a confined space, I chose instead to wait out in the open hall/ balcony where we could enjoy more serene art photos of plants, candles and outdoor scenes.  The nearly two hours in the hall flew by as I occupied my time; people watching, smiling, doing modified Quigong exercises so I did not frighten anyone and reading a magazine about botanical gardens.  

After blood pressure check, body fat/ to weight measure, height and more questions about my vitamins I was back out in the big balcony area for more people watching.  Since I was not very hungry in the morning and had not finished my breakfast it was around 1:00 when I started to get hungry and thirsty for water. No sooner had I mentioned needing a drink of water when two lovely ladies appeared around the pole with a cart full of goodies.  " May I purchase a water from you? " I inquired. 
No this is water is for free they said with a smile.  I passed on the candy as I drank the much coveted water down in a flash.



inside the patients examination room at last ;~)





 After awhile a nice, young intern comes in to hear my story.  She has seen my films and read my reports but she wants to hear my story before she beings to examine my breasts. 

 Then the waiting goes on for about another hour before the doctor arrives apologizing for the delay.
 " No problem I tell everyone, I am just so excited and thankful to be here ;~)"  They seemed surprised and the intern says something to the effect that not many people thank them for being there. 

YES !!!  I have an Attitude of Gratitude for Roswell Park, for the doctors and staff, for the people who donated money to make this wonderful institutions available to me at such a time as this, for the people who had cancer before me and were part of research groups that allowed us to benefit from present day technology. 

YES, I have an Attitude of Gratitude for all of this and more because having a sprinkling of cancer cells is allowing me to grow and meet people I never could have before. 

So the BIG NEWS is  " RELAX Carol, you are not going to die from DCIS Breast Cancer."

  In fact, the cancer has been caught at such an early stage that now I have options to choose what treatment I want to select.  I have been breaking this experience down into baby steps. 

Next step is genetic testing to see if I did inherit breast cancer from my mother.  Driving my papers back to Roswell Park today to expedite the process.

Please come back to visit my blog again as I share my adventures in Breast Cancer in hopes that I will ease the fears and burdens for somebody else through sharing my experiences. 

" A gals gotta do what a gals gotta do." Velma Rice

" A gals gotta do what a gals gotta do."  Velma Rice - fashion merchandiser, excellent homemaker, wise woman of faith and life experience and my mother ;~)

There was a beautiful Red Maple tree growing in our yard when we made this house our new home in November 1998.  One year under the cover of heavy winter snow the mole family was so hungry they ate the bark around this tree so much so that I thought it would surely die.  As is my practice in my garden and my life I never cut out broken, injured, damaged plants or people.  Instead I give the proper fertilizer, light, water and time to see how things develop.  The Red Maple survived and to my amazement has flourished in the past eight years since its trunk was damaged. http://www.mdvaden.com/sunscald.shtml

A few weeks ago while the plumbers were here to upgrade my kitchen work space  we had them explore why water was back washing into the garage during rain storm and deep snow pack meltdowns.  Sure enough the Red Maple had found a well spring by breaking the pipeline of our storm drains.  Sadly the day had arrived when I had to admit the tree was more of an nuisance than an object of beauty in my garden.   Before new pipe could be laid and a new island garden could be planted someone had to cut down that tree.    What to do ??? What to do ???

Being only a 10.5 inch caliper tree trunk their was no need for a big tree service company to get this job done.  Confident I could slay this giant myself I asked many of the men in my life to be with me just for good measure.  All of the men I asked for help were busy slaying their own dragons. Each one had his own special reason why I should wait. Each promised to help me when they had more time.

On the morning of October 4, 2010 Western New York was blessed with a bright, sunny morning following what seemed like a week of rain.  I had sent Jim into Pittsburgh for the weekend to be with his mother so this seemed like the perfect time to get the job done !!!





First I removed as many of the lower branches I could reach without a ladder.  This would lighten the load of the trunk working smarter not harder ;~)



my trusty electric saw used to slay the beast  ;~)



About this time my neighbors Barbara and Gaylen heard all the noise in the early morning. OOPS   I was caught before the deed was complete.   My lovely next door neighbors soon joined me in the project. 



Gaylen does the honors to carve the bird





Barbara walking home to the right in this image of the clean cut down tree ready for reconstructive work to be done in the island.

Kara arrived on the scene in time to help clear away the leaves and branches cut into pieces perfect to enjoy with a glass of wine around my fire pit.


It was during the clearing of the leaves and branches that I shared with my neighbors that I had surgery on my breast four days prior in search of breast cancer.  They were both so kind and concerned that I take care of myself and be sure to contact the doctor for results of my biopsy.



  here I am minutes after we cut down the tree sporting the new rice rafferty breast cancer awareness statement necklace

Little did I know then that I would be the new face of breast cancer.

there is no lump,

no discharge,

 no pain,

no change of my skin

I feel very strong and healthy

my cancer cells were found from my diligent surveillance of my general health through routine examines.

Today I am feeling truly BLESSED that my cancer cells were found in the early Stage 0, DCIS

http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/types/dcis/

Now, for all of the people in my life who feel knowing I have a few cancer cells in my body scares you to death. 

 Relax !!!

You can not get cancer from me ;~)  Cancer is not a contagious disease. 

 I will have genetic testing to see if I am a carrier of the gene from my mother to my children.

Some people who hear I have cancer cells in my breast mumble something about breast cancer not being in their family as a thy walk away from me.  Sorry they are not aware that 90% of all breast cancers are not related to a family history.  For those women like me who have a family history perhaps we are very fortunate to be vigilant in a breast health care ;~)

Honestly, no one is sure they are immune to breast cancer.

http://www.facingourrisk.org/info_research/hereditary-cancer/hereditary-genetics/index.php

Go get yourself tested...

You can relax also that I am not going to die from breast cancer right here in front of you. 

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/cancer/articles/2009/10/22/the-confusion-over-dcis-what-to-do-about-stage-zero-breast-cancer.html?PageNr=1

In fact, my mother, Velma Rice found her breast cancer mass in 1958 when she was just 35 years old. She had a mastectomy of her left breast followed by radiation treatments for 30 days.  My mother then went on to live another 35 years and she never was bothered by cancer again.  In fact, she died of a stroke.  Perhaps her blockages were aggravated by the radiation treatments given to cancer patients back then.

 I may in fact never die of cancer either.

 " There is nothing to fear but fear itself. " Franklin D. Roosevelt

Hope you find it in your heart to share a cup of tea with me ;~)

in the meantime,

 A gals gotta do what a gals gotta do and I have more dragons to slay ...

 Are you with me ???  Do you have my back ???

"What is needed, rather than running away or controlling or suppressing or any other resistance, is understanding fear; that means, watch it, learn about it, come directly into contact with it. We are to learn about fear, not how to escape from it."

"What is needed, rather than running away or controlling or suppressing or any other resistance, is understanding fear; that means, watch it, learn about it, come directly into contact with it. We are to learn about fear, not how to escape from it."   J. Krishnamurti

I am learning an old lesson in a new way.  If you have been following my blog for the past two months you know I have been on a journey with breast cancer.  After the bilateral lumpectomies on September 28th I felt wonderful within a few days.  So good in fact I cut down a tree in my garden along with the assistance of my senor citizen neighbors Gaylen and Barbara and my daughter Kara using an electric power saw.   With my usual Ultra Feminine Warrior strength I bounced back to focus on life leaving the past two month is the rear view mirror.  As a reward for myself during all of the mammograms and ride in the MRI machine I promised myself that my birthday would be celebrated with both of my children.  We all enjoyed a lovely weekend in West Chester, New York.




Here I am wearing the new Breast Cancer Awareness Statement Necklace I designed for rice rafferty celebrating birthdays with Kara, Barry and Meghan outside of the church where Meghan and Barry are making plans to marry each other ;~)

 

After birthday celebration mass with my family, Meghan and I are bookend birthday Libras, Oct. 9th and 17th ;~)

On the drive back from Barry and Meghan's the doctors office called to ask why I missed my appointment that day.  Kara thinks it was accidentally on purpose as I was so excited to put all of the medical procedure's in my rear view mirror.  I am usually organized to a fault for appointments and responsibilities. Today I will attend a new appointment with destiny.  After speaking with my surgeon over the phone at my insistence she had the unenviable task to break the news cancer cells were found in the biopsy of my right breast.


Doctor said it is not her practice to give patients news like this over the phone but after getting to know me she thought it best to tell me sooner rather than let me wait until today in her office.

So far I learned I have stage 0 Breast Cancer known as DCIS or Ductal Carcinoma In Situ http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/types/dcis/

I designed the  rice rafferty Breast Cancer Awareness Statement Necklaces for women Inspired by the Look Good Feel Better  http://lookgoodfeelbetter.org/   I took the training certification classes for Look Good Feel Better  as part of my continuing education while we still lived in Pittsburgh.  The first two statement necklaces I designed I offered to a charity fundraiser in Buffalo, NY and Pittsburgh, Pa.   The people from Viva for Life http://www.roswellpark.org/calendar/2010-09-24/viva-life sent a nice young man out to my home to pick up one necklace.    I did not hear from the Pittsburgh coordinator until she wished me Happy Birthday after their event was over.   Little did I know when I thanked the Creator for health and healing during morning mass for my birthday as I wore this statement necklace, it was not accepted because I would need this one for myself.

I believe in a divine Higher Power who loves all of us and is greater than all of us.  The older I get I am learning everything happens for a reason.   Most importantly I believe in the words of Julian of Norwich   "ALL SHALL BE WELL"  http://www.umilta.net/julian.html

This statement necklace will be with me on my journey inspiring me to look good and feel better.

Forgive me as I have to jump on my stationary bike for 9 kilometers, read from my meditation literature and get ready for my visit with my surgeon at 1:00 today.

As I prepare myself for this journey I remember the words spoken to me often by my mother during the three years I took care of her and daddy before they died seven months apart.
" A gals got to do what a gals got to do."    Velma Rice

Right now I have to go and take care of myself. Thanks for reading my blogs ;~)  Please come back to spend a little time with me as I share my experience of my journey.

Now go make yourself a VERY CREATIVE DAY ;~)   Carol Ann Rice Rafferty

“Of course if you like your kids, if you love them from the moment they begin, you yourself begin all over again, in them, with them, and so there is something more to the world again.”

“Of course if you like your kids, if you love them from the moment they begin, you yourself begin all over again, in them, with them, and so there is something more to the world again.”
William Saroyan quotes (American Writer known for his stories celebrating the joy of living in spite of poverty. 1908-1981)





More than any presents what I really wanted for my 54th birthday was to be with my children. During every minute of the testing and surgery in search of breast cancer during these last two months I promised myself my reward would be spending precious time with Barry and Kara for my birthday weekend.

From the time can remember my dream in life was to be a Mommy. The plan was to have a boy first then a girl. After I gave birth to Barry then Kara my dream was complete that was it for having children.

When people meet meet me today and hear that I was a stay home, full time Mommy their response is, "Nice that you could afford to stay home with your children."

What they never look at is the sacrifices my husband and I made so I could be home to raise our family. Barry was born just before our second wedding anniversary. After I left my job even though it was a low paying office job that put a screeching halt on frivolous spending for years. Jim drove a 1974 VW Gold Sun Bug  we bought used for $4000 cash right after we got marrind in May 1978. He drove that car until we had to by a larger car with a real trunk to transport groceries home after we had Barry and Kara in 1984. I never did learn to drive the stick shift in Pittsburgh; that left me home without a car for the first six years of our marriage. Not many young women I know are willing to do that today.

Christmas gifts for me included; a cutlery set to make meal preparation easier as well as a commercial grade Eureka vacuum with a really long cord so I could work faster cleaning our home. That vacuum was great until it was time to empty the bag full of dirt.  It was designed without paper bag liner. Still using that cutlery set in my kitchen and that old Eureka Christmas gift is still being used to vacuum my car or clean leaves and debris out of our garage.

 The first ten years of our marriage we had definite scary dips into poverty thanks to six months of unemployment when my husband was a laid off Sand Lab Technician for McConway and Torley in Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh. http://www.mcconway.com/

Funny how my happiness was not affected by our lack of money.  No matter how little cash I had access to I never considered myself poor. The less money we had the more creative I became as a wife, mother, home cook, seamstress, gardener, home decorator, day trip planner, reading specialist teacher for the children.

In other words "I was all over the place". If there was a need for myself, my husband or my children I figured out how to get the job done well with very little money. In almost every case that meant more work for me but I rose to the occasion.  Interesting how the lessons learned in the trenches stay with us for life...

Life is different for me now.  I have arrived at a new plateau of living. Barry and Kara are adults now who take care of their own needs. This is my time to focus creative energy on my art and wearable art objects sold under the cottage industry is started with my daughter rice rafferty.

Last Saturday was my 54th birthday; I feel really BLESSED ;~)

I am sitting here in my studio writing my blog while Chant is playing in the background,  and

  

Frankincense is burning in the Blessing Bowl I made from up cycled brown bag papers

 Looking back on the past week and feel truly blessed because too many good people I have known have not lived to enjoy 54 healthy years on this earth.

 I am BLESSED because I am THANKFUL;

• for a husband who has loved me for 32 years of marriage and 4 years of dating before that, he excuses my exccentricities by telling himself and our children, " Your mother's an artist" :~)
• for a son who taught me how to be a Mommy and loves me even if he is an economist and can ascribed a numerical value to me.     I'm PRICELESS ;~)
• for a daughter who shares my vision as an artist and entrepreneur
• for rice rafferty our cottage industry for women, by women, to improve the life of women.
• for friends from Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and around the world, those that moved away and friends on face book that brighten my day with their intellectual information, witty humor and fellowship via the Internet.
• for our 14 year old Pomeranian Chewie, who reminds me to enjoy everyday, he does not let stiff joints, poor eye sight and an occasion seizure kill his joy for living...
• for my grand kitty Fever that I am watching for Barry and fiance Meghan, he teaches me to linger longer out in the garden on sunny days, strike up a playful situation that is completely unprovoked and the enjoy a cat nap in the afternoon.
• for these and many more pleasures in my life I give thanks as a look back over this past week and remember...

  

  Jimi and me



wearing my latest rice rafferty breast cancer awareness statement necklace after giving thanks for another birthday

Meghan O'reilly-green, Barry, me and Kara  @ Stone Barns, West Chester, NY



I really love being a Mommy ;~)



Meghan and I share a birthday cake and week, me Oct. 9th and Meghan Oct. 17th ;~)

Thank Kara for the lovely birthday cake ;~)



last birthday celebration for this year ;~)

 The rest of the year Kara and I will celebrate unbirthdays ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdsZT7WKjW8  

I will let God take care of me. I will let Him make me feel how much I am loved. I will let Him surprise me and show me things I have never known before.

" I will let God take care of me. I will let Him make me feel how much I am loved. I will let Him surprise me and show me things I have never known before. "

 Jocelyn Soriano is a CPA, auditor, writer, novelist, blogger and empathy.

Here I am just four days after bilateral lumpectomies on Tuesday morning.  Actually I was feeling great right after being released from the hospital at 2:00 after the recovery from the surgery. Had Jim drive me to Wegman's for to pick up some Shrimp Bisque and Spicy Tuna Sushi as I had not eaten since Tofu and Veggie dinner the night before. 

I only took two of the pain pills the doctor ordered as no need to take pills if I was not in any pain.  Wednesday morning I rode 9 kilometers on my stationary bike since it was raining all day.  Thursday I took one walk around the park for my usual outdoor exercise.  Yesterday I enjoyed two walks one in the morning and one in the afternoon sun.  Quick visit yesterday with my dermatologist for my annual check upconfirmed my skin is healing very nicely and she predicts that I will not even show scares.  Much to surprise and delight, even if I do work in Fiberarts and as a Seamstress, the doctor did not even use stitches to close my wounds.  Simple clear steri strips and some super glue were all that was needed put me back together.


New Breast Cancer Awareness Statement Necklace made while I am recovering

 Since I am blogging my experience to help other women who will have to walk the journey I have since August 3rd I will included the whole truth; the good, the bad and the ugly.
 
If you have read my previous blogs you know I approached this experience as an athlete in training with a very positive attitude.  Arriving at Millard Filmore Suburban Hospital at exactly 6:00 am as scheduled was smooth since I had done the preregistration EKG, blood work and was cleared for surgery by my Primary Care Physician. Take off my street clothes, have the IV port placed into my vein and take the first of many blood pressure readings.  The first blood pressure was low for me around 106/ 68. The nurse commented that most people came into the hospital with higher than normal blood pressure.  Hummm maybe those Quigong exercises are paying off ;~)
 
Since my time in the operating room was 8:30 by 7:00 I was wheeled down the hall to a small room with a mammogram machine.  YIKES more radiation ;~(   More mammograms were needed to locate the exact placement of the Titanium marker.  This is where things started to change to a negative direction.  With my left breast clamped in the mammogram Lo Rad machine a male doctor came into the room, introduced himself then from beneath my left breast he harpooned me with a wire attached to something that looked very much like a plastic sewing spool that hold thread.  Like a cowboy he pushed this wire into my breast then pushed it up and pulled it down a few times all without using any Novocaine or topical medications.  I am very tolerant of physical pain in fact I had Barry and Kara both natural childbirth and was back home taking care of my home within two days.  I tried hard to focus as they took more mammograms but nothing I did could combat my feelings of nausea, dizziness, sweating with a drop in blood pressure and pulse of 48.  After smelling salts, cold compress, pushing on my vagal nerve all failed to alleviate the symptoms the good doctor ordered a cart, nurse and an IV drip of saline solution to rehydrate me and get my blood pressure back to normal.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasovagal_response
 
At this point the doctor said to the nurse, " We got an intelligent patient here."  " We don't usually have intelligent patients so well versed about her health conditions."
I laughed as I asked, " Oh really, where do the intelligent patients go?"
Soon after drinking in the IV bag I was able to sit up on the cart, blood pressure and pulse were rising and I was ready to repeat the wire procedure on my right breast.

When the doctor said the debate is out over the pain experienced during this procedure I reminded him that since I am the one with a wire sticking our of my breast my vote is YES !!! it does hurt very much.  Needless to say he was less of a cowboy and more compassionate when he impaled my right breast. More radiation with the Lo Rad ( don't you just love that name???) machine.  A foam cup was taped over each spool sticking out of my breasts and I was wheeled back up the hallway to the bed where the morning had begun.  Really wished you have an image of me in this set up but I am sure you get the picture.
 
Since my Vasovagal response slowed down the procedure of inserting the lead wires to the Titanium Marker Clips my best advice is try not to be dehydrated.  Find a focal point and work with the doctors and radiologist technicians to expedite this procedure. Feeling faint held back my surgeon and everyone waiting for me in the operating room. My apologies for making everyone held back on time was greeted with a pleasant, " Not at all, we are here waiting for you to be ready. "
 
As soon as I met my anesthesiologist I felt more confident.
"You are a lady." I saw with delight as soon as she introduced herself.
 One look at her co ordinating violet eye shadow, how it complimented her violet blouse under the hospital scrubs signaled to me we are kinder spirits. 
"Tell me about your history of sedation's Carol ? " asked the doctor. 
" No history of sedation, I had both babies without any medication."  I answered. 
" You are a strong woman then." she responded.
 " I am of Viking stock."   To which she answered, " Don't get me started, I love to talk about history and we have a job to do now." 
 
  From that point I don't remember much except a very relaxed ride down the hall to the operating room.  Then I remember hearing fast paced music that someone was talking about in the back ground. I remember thinking this is music to get the jog done ;~)  
 
Time from recovery room was a rather quick and eventful hour of drinking water, eating a graham cracker, walking to the bathroom unassisted, review of post surgery wound care then a ride out to the car waiting in front of hospital.  DONE ;~)  
 
My initial reaction as soon as I left the hospital was NEVER AGAIN !!! When I look how my wounds are now, how quickly I am on the mend and the fact that there are no stitches I have second thoughts.  Although I hope I never have to live time like this past month of tests, biopsies and waiting that have overrun my life since August 3, 2010 if I need to make the choice for my health I would elect to follow this same procedure again.  
 
 Now once again, I am in the waiting room for the next two weeks waiting for a final biopsy report that indeed no cancer has been found even in the larger surgical biopsy.  I have a feeling of being truely blessed from this experience and will continue to pray and do may part to make life brighter for people who are in their own battle against cancer. I am very well aware the door could have opened either way.  I am in this battle against cancer in everyone for the rest of my life.

“Surgery is the red flower that blooms among the leaves and thorns that are the rest of medicine.”

“Surgery is the red flower that blooms among the leaves and thorns that are the rest of medicine.”

Dr. Richard Selzer

Tuesday September 28th 2010 my surgery date is tomorrow.  I selected that date because my mother always said, " Tuesday is a good news day. "  I was born on  a Tuesday and so was my mother.  I am so ready for this surgery. Got my pre surgery EKG, no silent heart attacks, Blood CBC looks good and a clear Chest X ray ;~)  Today the weather was a bit dreary so I opted for the 8 kilometers inside on my Schwinn Airdyne Stationary Bike instead of my usual walk around Clarence Town Park.




http://www.schwinnfitness.com/schwinn-fitness/equipment/airdyne/prdcdovr~3550012/Schwinn+Airdyne+Exercise+Bike.jsp


This past weekend was a dream come true having Barry, Meghan and Kara all together for the weekend.  During the course of three days we visited many galleries. First stop Friday evening Kara and I hit up El Musio in Allentown with an extra stop at Allen St. Dress to see what is new.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dress-Shop/377531051899?v=wall

Kara treated me to sushi and salad for dinner @ Sea Bar http://seabarsushi.com/  then we walked to another opening @  Western NY Book Art Collaborative
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Buffalo-NY/Western-New-York-Book-Arts-Collaborative/51529460146

Quick drive up Delaware Ave to Hallwalls and Starlight Gallery where I saw my old friend Phyllis from Buffalo State College and met new friends Eileen and Joe.   Kara went on to CEPA Gallery I headed home after a wonderful night seeing art and meeting new and old friends.

Saturday was jam packed with excitement as we toured University of Buffalo North Campus Center for the Arts.  We lingered for a few hours on the UB Campus as Barry and Kara shared memories of their years attending UB  as we toured of the campus. My, my where does the time go ??? Seemed like yesterday that I attended the parent orientation talks and tours.  It was nice to remember all of the times on campus visiting art opening and academic events for Barry and Kara.
  

Next stop was on to the Carnegie Art Center. http://www.carnegieartcenter.org/home.html where Jim got into the interactive art on a Moog Theremin
http://www.moogmusic.com/theremin/?section=product&product_id=14  Touching story of an Elephant who out lived her usefullness and suffered and died form a broken heart.
 
Next stop Jim treated us to delicious variety of soups, appetizers and entrees we shared around the table at Saigon Bangkok http://www.saigonbangkok.net/

 Last stop for the night was at the Anderson Gallery to take in the extra ordinary art from the Annette Craven Collection.  http://www.ubartgalleries.org/#?select=events as well as new works.

Sunday morning was peaceful at morning mass @ 11:00 then back out to openings with Kara beginning with Erie County Historical Society. http://www.bechs.org/index.htm
We arrived after all the food and most of the people were gone however just in time to congratulations to Melissa Wertman Brown,  Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, Director of Research and Interpretation where she is caring for the remains of other peoples lives.  While you are there be sure to check out the architecture cake art in the glass vitrine in front that are not anymore permanent than the Pan American Exposition building of 1901.

Quick walk down Elmwood Ave. to the Burchfield Penny Art Museum where Kara and I touched base with the ladies in the Museum Shop. Time to deliver more ricerafferty Devore scarves to keep women warm and fashionable this winter. Two of our Statement Necklaces will be available in the shop soon. http://www.burchfieldpenney.org/

Hair styles - my Mother always called my hair a woman's Crown and Glory ;~)

Kind of an " End of the World as We Know It " theme going on here.

When you are not making art be art. 

Barry, Meghan, Kara and I refuse to put away the summer sandles.

Short walk across the street at 4:00 and we arrived at the Albright Knox Art Museum.  http://www.albrightknox.org/   for two more hours of great art, meeting new friends and exchanging greeting with many well known artist from Western New York.  Completely satisfied, our hunger and thirst for good art satisfied we enjoyed a drink in the courtyard filled with music and laughter.

The evening was not over yet as we were invited to Jordan Slingerlands aka Dexter party.

We all had "BLAST" at Jordan's Dexter Morgan party.  I actually never heard of the Dexter Morgan show before and I could not stay in the room to watch the show during the murder scenes.  Wonderful long, non stop weekend with family and friends.

Thanks to everyone who has been supportive with well wishes and prayers throughout my medical testing.  After such a rich full weekend filled with art, family and friends I am so ready to climb on the surgery table.  I will be happy to put this all behind me then to get back to my business, teaching and making art.

 Please pray for Kara's co worker who will have surgery on the same day.  She has to deal with a biopsy of malignant cells and the course of treatment best for her condition.  Please join me in wishing Laura well and good health.
   
  Eat your fruits and veggies, keep moving, stay positive, pray for peace and good will, take vitamin D if you live in the north country like I do.  
Looking forward to writing my next post when I am on the mend ;~)  Carol Ann

“Almost all words do have color and nothing is more pleasant than to utter a pink word and see someone's eyes light up and know it is a pink word for him or her too”

“Almost all words do have color and nothing is more pleasant than to utter a pink word and see some one's eyes light up and know it is a pink word for him or her too”     Gladys Taber

In the Pink Collection was inspired by Breast Cancer Awareness and the Look Good Feel Better programs to promote breast health and wellness for women of all ages.

This one of a kind In the Pink Statement Necklace will be available tonight at

http://www.vivaforlife.org/Celebrations.html

 ViVA for Life, 

 an evening of celebration, is a Creative Black Tie Gala

" Breast cancer has touched many lives in our community. ViVA for Life, an Evening of Celebration was created to help generate much needed revenue and to celebrate living. All proceeds from this event benefit the WNY Breast Resource Center at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and will stay right here in WNY to assist in this daily fight and impact many lives. "

                            2010 Celebration on Friday, September 24, 2010 from 8pm to 12am.

 Kara and I of ricerafferty designs donated this pieces with hopes it is purchased and treasured by someone who is thriving not just surviving the battle against breast cancer.

                                                  Look for more ricerafferty
                               In the Pink accessories as they become available.

                                Check our websitehttp://www.ricerafferty.com/

                                                 In the Pink Collection

The color pink is named after the flowers called pinks, flowering plants in the genus Dianthus. The name derives from the frilled edge of the flowers—the verb "to pink" dates from the 14th century and means "to decorate with a perforated or punched pattern" (possibly from German "pinken" = to peck).[11] As noted and referenced above, the word “pink” was first used as a noun to refer to the color we know today as pink in the late 17th century. The verb sense of the word “pink” continues to be used today in the name of the hand tool known as pinking shears.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink

Pink is a pale red color. The use of the word for the color we know today as pink was first recorded in the late 17th century.
Although the pink is roughly considered just as a tint of red in fact most variations of pink lie between red, white and magenta colors. This means that the pink's hue is somewhat between red and magenta
Roseus is a Latin word meaning "rosy" or "pink." Lucretius used the word to describe the dawn in his epic poem On the Nature of Things (De Rerum Natura).The word is also used in the binomial names of several species, such as the Rosy Starling (Sturnus roseus) and Catharanthus roseus. In most Indo-European languages, the color pink is called rosa.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink

                   Embellish yourself with a gift of PINK or give as a gift to someone you LOVE ;~)

 Don't see what you want yet ???  Each piece is handcrafted from hand dyed tulle, silk, handmade Polymer Clay hand painted Rose and up cycled jewelry items.

               Choose from our luscious Blessing Basket full of shades that will make anyone feel
                                                              In the Pink