Friday, February 22, 2013

Happy Anniversary to my Best Friend

On Monday my husband and I celebrated our 35th Anniversary.  Things were not "normal" at our house (more on that later) but I did manage to get a card made for him, here it is.
The sweet image is from Tiddly Inks, it's called "Best Friends" and that is what my husband and I are, so it's most appropriate.  I think it shows that even though two "people" have many differences they can still be best friends. Deep Ocean Challenge has Letter B as their challenge, I have Best friends and Brown cardstock, a Bone and a Bow on the fish; I'm in, lol.  Tiddly Tuesdays challenge theme is Critters, so I'm entering there.  I coloured with Prismacolor pencils and some Derwent Inktense pencils I've added to my stash... they're a bit different to use, but they give a lovely strong colour that I like.  
The papers I've used are from Inque Boutique and DCWV, the square behind the mat is nice and glittery so I'm entering Craft Your Passion's All That Glitters challenge.  I've used the colours that we had for our wedding; apricot and brown. I still love them, and usually make our Anniversary cards using them. Oozak has an Anything Goes with your favourite colour combo challenge so I'm entering there, Craft Us Crazy has Favourite Things, sweet digi images, nice papers and this colour palette are all faves, so I'm in :-) 
The fabulous sketch came from Sketch and Stash.  The sentiment is from a digi set by Bizzy Becs, I love it!  The ribbon and Card Candi came from my stash - I inked the edges of the Card Candi on the ribbon to "soften" it a bit.  Stamptacular Sunday Challenge had Two's Company - they want us to use two stamps (the image and the sentiment), two embellies (Ribbon and Card Candi) and two colours (Apricot and Brown) tick, tick tick - I'm in there too!
The image panel is cut using Nestabilities Standard Circles, the mat using Nestabilities Scalloped Circles.  Gem of a Challenge has Dies or Punches as their challenge theme so I'm entering there.
The inside is finished very simply.  The Paper Shelter has Celebration as their challenge theme, Totally Gorjuss For the Men - this is for MY man, so I'm entering, 2 Sisters Challenge has Love or Valentines, Crafty Calendar  has Love and Marriage and My Mums Craft Shop has Valentine's/Love so I'm entering those as well.
 That's about it for my card, as I said things have been anything but normal;  On Sunday (you may have read in my previous post) our little fur baby Rocky had an emergency... he swallowed a cocktail fork (!) and had to have it surgically removed.  We thought that was the end of the drama, and expense... if only!  The vet rang on Monday and said he didn't seem well enough to come home, but keeping him in was going to cost a further $1000 dollars for the extra night; having already parted with over $3000 (despite that being the absolute upper amount) we decided, as he always is slow to come out of anaesthetic, he just needed to come home.  
Rocky, when well... so lovable
He was very unwell, couldn't hold down water and still hadn't eaten (since the fork!) I took him to our "own" vet on Tuesday, she let me take him home but on instruction to return him if he did not improve.  Wednesday morning he was obviously very sick indeed; I took him back to the vet, she kept him there, did Xrays and rang me to say she was very concerned that it was Peritonitis, and that it is often fatal but she wasn't sure so needed blood tests.  The blood tests came back negative for Peritonitis (thank goodness), but positive for Pancreatitis - a serious and extremely painful condition in dogs, which can be caused by abdominal surgery, especially if not gently handled; Rocky has extensive bruising, suggestive of rougher than ideal handling - so I'm upset at the emergency vet.  
He was still not eating, he had held down a little water but was failing.  We went to get him on Wednesday night, so that he wouldn't be alone if the worst happened in the night but he was in too much pain to move - it was truly terrible to see, he is such a gentle soul.  The vet suggested putting a IV line up on Thursday morning to see if we could rehydrate and nourish him (still no food at all since Sunday am).  I went down on Thursday morning and really didn't know if it was worth the further discomfort to the poor little man, but he is only 6 so we gave it a go.
I am more than deliriously delighted to tell you he rallied on Thursday afternoon and has come home to us today, we have to feed him very small amounts five or six times a day - that would have seemed like a chore a week ago, but now feels like a privilege!  The $650 our vet has charged feels like a bargain too :-)
I work from home most days, Rocky is my constant companion; I'm glad to have him back, even though he looks like a patchwork quilt with his belly, both front legs, neck and underside of the base of his tail (huh?!) shaved :-)
My hubby was also obviously a bit distracted... he arranged with my son to organize flowers for our Anniversary, but got a card himself.  When he gave me my card I had to stifle a laugh... he had got a Birthday card by mistake, and had then put 53 kisses on it - apart from anything else, I'm 54 this year.  He's saying "can you read it? Count the kisses" and I'm saying, "yeah, it says Happy Birthday, Love Always, Stefan" he smiles sweetly goes to wash his hands then yells "Oh Cr*p, it's not your birthday", we had a really good laugh about it, which with RockyGate going on was most welcome.
Anyway, that's MY week, I'm going to share it over at Sassy Cheryl's Show Me Thursday blog - such a fun "challenge".  I'm hoping things are settled to the point of dull for a while!  Until next time, Happy Crafting, Donna

27 comments:

Sue said...

Oh dear Donna. It sounds like poor Rocky has had a really tough time. I am so relieved he has rallied round and you now have him back home. I hope he continues to make a good recovery.
Your card is stunning. I love that image, your colouring is fabulous and the papers are beautiful too.
I did laugh when I read about your hubby, at least he didn't forget!

Thank you, also, for taking part in the Sketch 'n' Stash Challenge this time. I really love how you have used the sketch.

Take care
Sue xx

Dawn said...

What a week! Poor Rocky :( a terrible thing to have to suffer like he did; I'm glad he is doing better now.

Happy Anniversary! I had a little chuckle at your story :) Your card is really sweet. I love that cute image.

Hugs, Dawn

Shea said...

WOW!! What a story!! And what a card! You really nailed the sketch beautifully!! So glad your doggie is doing much better, and I LOVED the story about your distracted hubby. What a cute couple you two surely make! Thanks SO MUCH for joining us at AGOAC this week - you are delightful!

mags said...

Awww this is so cute. Lovely image and super colours. Thanks for sharing with us at AGOAC and good luck.
Mags
x

Vicky said...

So adorable hun...and I love the colours too....and so pleased wee Rocky is finally on the mend too..:o)

have a lovely weekend sweetie...biggest of hugs Vicky xx

~Jeri~ said...

Awww what a sweet card!! Love your coloring!
Thanks for sharing your favorites with us at Craft Us Crazy!

downrightcrafty said...

gorgeous card love the image and super design
Hugs Kate xx

Shelly said...

Hi Donna! I am so sorry to hear about little Rocky, I would be so angry with the emergency vet! I'm so pleased he's pulled through though, I bet you are too (despite the expense). I know I would go to the ends of the earth for my 4 legged family members! Your card is just perfect for your anniversary (or birthday hehe)! Hugs, Shelly x

ScrappyHappyMommy said...

Beautiful card. Poor Rocky. Thanks for joining us this week at Craft Your Passion for our All That Glitters Challenge.

Anita
Craft Your Passion DT

~ginny said...

First - get well soon Rocky - you are Donna's Million Dollar Baby - (well, Maybe "Thousands Dollar Baby")! And second - welcome to the "All that Glitters" Challenge at Craft Your Passion... I really like the layout especially the ribbon and brads detail and the "hanging" sentiment sign!
Good luck Donna - see you next week??

~ginny
CYP Design Team
Personal blog: RubberMAD
http://ggetty.blogspot.com/

Donna Mosley said...

Aww! poor Rocky, hope he feels better very soon Donna. Love your gorgeous card, the image is adorable.

Donna x

Wishcraft said...

Oh poor Rocky, glad he's recovering well now! Your card is gorgeous, love that cute image and lovely sentiment too :o) Hugs, Lisa x

Penny said...

Goodness, Donna, I was so worried when reading your post that Rocky had passed on! I am very relieved to find out that was NOT the case! Poor baby--he went through the wringer! And we will do most anything and spend most anything for our beloved pets, won't we? :^) Give him a hug and a kiss for me.
LOL about your "birthday" card for your anniversary. How too, too, utterly funny! Also, congrats on 35 years!
Love your card--such a darling image & great coloring! Also love your design, papers, & embellies! Thank you for sharing this with us at Stamptacular Sunday Challenge. Hope to see you again next week! :^)
Hugs, Penny

Loopylou. said...

Donna your card is gorgeous, thank you so much for sharing it with us over on the Tiddly Inks challenge blog but more importantly I am so so very pleased to hear your little man is doing so much better now, it terrifies me when my furbabies get sick and I was even sadder to read someone qualified to take care of our pets in an emergency situation had been so rough with him :(
huge hugs Lou xxx

Emma H said...

Such a sweet monochromatic card - and a cute image! Hope your real fur baby is feeling better soon too. Thanks for playing along at Oozak!

Jodi said...

One of my favorite TI images... love what you've done with it. Thanks for linking it up over at Tiddly Inks this week. Hope to see more from you soon!
Hugs,
Jodi

Jayne A said...

Gorgeous card Thanks for joining us at Sketch n Stash.
Hugs
Jayne

Eileen said...

I'm so glad that Rocky has recovered, I'm sure he will be begging for treats soon :)
What a cute card you have made here. An adorable image and beautifully coloured. Love your layout and design
Thanks for joining in with our 'Celebrations' challenge at TPS this week and good luck
Eileen x

Emmy said...

Poor rocky!!
Both he and your card is adorable!!
Thank you for playing with us at Tiddly Inks!

Shell Shearer Swinscoe said...

Oh wow! Poor Rocky, sending him & you huge hugs from me & our fur baby Charlie!
Lol @ Stefan that's so something my hubby would do!
I just love the card you made for him its so sweet, Happy Anniversary to you both!
hugs shell xx

Unknown said...

Your card is just adorable! I'm so glad Rocky is on the mend, what a tough time for all of you! Love, Love, Love the "Anniversary" card! Thanks so much for joining us at Tiddly Inks!

Cards By MI said...

Congrats to the big day. Hope your doggy is feeling better by now. A lovely looking card you have made. Thanks for playing with us at the Paper Shelter and our celebrations challenge last week. We have a brand new one up now, please come and join us.
Love n hugs
Marie

Unknown said...

My goodness. . . .you have a little bit of everything! And I must say, the picture of the sweet dog, Rocky, is TOO stinking adorable! Love it!
Thanks for sharing in the SMT fun this week!

Steph said...

What a sweet image and I love all the little details. Thanks so much for joining us at MMCS Challenge this month, hope to see you again soon. Hope your doggie picks up soon x

Beverley said...

Gorgeous card. I love the image. Thanks for joining in our "Love & Marriage" challenge at Crafty Calendar this month.
Hugs
Bev x

Larissa said...

Gorgeous card. Love the colours and the nice layout. Thanks for joining us at the tiddly iks challenge.

I hope Rocky is feeling better.

Hugs,
Larissa

Unknown said...

This is such a sweet card. Love the colors and your layout is so beautiful. Thanks for playing with us at Tiddly Inks. Love it!