Holstered

These are examples of handmade holsters other people have made and sell on line. I have been looking for ideas as I have been asked to make 2 leather holsters. The friend who asked is dying of the late stages of liver cancer. I asked that he not accidentally shoot his hospice nurse when she changes his dressings. He told me he just does not want anyone to sneak up on him in his home. He used to be a truck driver and has always had a piece on him when working or staying somewhere. His mother is taking care of him at her home. My friend is only 52 years old and is no longer a candidate for any new cancer treatments nor trials. So to make him happy, I will make these for him. He turns 53 this week and he will not live to see 54. He is the second son to die under their roof in their family. I feel for my friends mother as she helps her son on his last days. The cancer eating away his flesh from the inside out. It is not pretty and does not smell nice. Luckily, he feels none of that as he is with hospice home care. They take care of their own here in the Ozarks. Many choose to die at home with their family like it used to be before nursing homes and hospitals. It seems better all the way around for the dying and their family/friends. 

Cancer be Thy Name

I have been very busy in the month of July. I have had one friend my age die after an aggressive three year battle with the big C. She had the genetic marker for it. Her two adult children have to find out if they also have that genetic marker. I had another musical friend who made it clear through her first round of chemo. I have a male friend who has liver cancer and is on hospice. He is also my age and he is dying. He has had to move in with his mother so she can take care of him. I have a horsewoman friend who has lung cancer thanks to her smoking habit. She is in the same hospital as another friend. She is dying as well. I guess June -July is the sign of Cancer. It is all around in its various forms. So many people under the age of 50 have it. So much death and dying.

My solace is that when they die they are suffering no longer. They get to go into another life. There pain is over. Sure the family hurts and still feels pain, that never goes away. But the death is a blessing. I do not have the answer for the cancer. I hope I do get an answer as to who is doing this to our fellow humans. I have my suspects. But that is not my mission. I am here to help those left behind as best I can. But when there are so many at the same time it is like stopping the ocean from moving- you just can't and you get swept up into it. 

Donated Baby Quilt

A young mom in our small town of Summersville has been diagnosed with cancer. So our town is putting on a chili supper and auction to raise money for her medical expenses this weekend. Most people in our small rural town cannot afford the overpriced and bloated cost of health insurance, thanks to our government and the insurance industry.

Many have no health insurance and simply go without.

So our town comes together and contributes what they can to help pay for these impending bills.

My neighbor, Nancy and I got together and donated a baby quilt for the auction. I pieced the quilt and Nancy Clayburn http://www.quiltingbydesign.com machine quilted it. She did a fantastic job! It is great to have such talented friends and neighbors.