Karla Nathan – Page 46 – Karla's Cottage

Always remembering my boy

By Karla Nathan / November 7, 2021

When Ryan died, people were so generous with their gifts and responses. I was moved by each and every card, present, memento, story, etc. Each was cherished, each meant that Ryan wasn’t forgotten.

Maybe because he was a guy who was shy, hesitant to stand out, and often overlooked, knowing that people cared about him and reached out helped.

I cried over armfuls of envelopes when I carried in the mail. I read and reread the notes. I planted the trees, hung the wind chimes, and overall, cherished all of the gifts.

Many people sent flowers, and I kept the blooms going as long as I could. I shared some with family to take to their homes, and spread the rest around ours. I trimmed the stems and changed the water daily to make the flowers last. Then, when the freshness was past saving, I dried what I could, and filled a cabinet with the vases.

But I did not want them to become a forgotten stash of unwanted glassware to eventually be donated to Goodwill. Instead, I decided to do something special with them, and on a few, I am attempting mosaics. (I don’t have good grouting skills, though, I will have to work on cleaning a bit more off of this one).

Others, I have decorated and filled with garden flowers and given away on special occasions. I’d like to take an embellished vase filled with iris that Ryan planted into the nursing home he worked at, on the anniversary of his death next spring.

Thank you to everyone who offered hope to me with kind words and thoughtful expressions of care. I was moved and heartened by your gestures.

Pink Roses Galore

flowers, Painting with thread, paintings

By Karla Nathan / November 4, 2021

I’ve been on a pink roses kick. This one was done this week.
(The rose on the left side, second row down needs work, huh? A bit wonky)

Here is a close up. I like the layers and depth in this one. It’s a little different than the others I painted before my trip.

This shirt got an embroidered rose. But not pink!

I didn’t get a final picture before giving it away, this is a “during” photo. You can see the drawing, done in water washable marker, but as I work on these things, I don’t always follow my sketches, so it turned out a bit different.

I can’t remember if I showed you some of the other paintings.

As you can tell, they all kinda look alike. I showed one to Kia and she said, “Didn’t you just paint that one last week?”

Marco Island Seashell Fairies and a Mermaid

sea shell fairies, Travel

By Karla Nathan / November 1, 2021

During our long, many legged jaunt, we kept pretty busy. A wedding, family to visit, jet skiing, beach exploring, Disney, and moving from place to place, resettling in somewhere new every few days.

The trip was both hectic and relaxing at the same time. It zipped by so quickly that I didn’t really have a chance to miss studio time. But when traveling, I do miss creating things.

Years ago, I started making seashell fairies with bits and pieces found on the sand. It was not only a thank you to nature for the beautiful beach, it was an outlet for me to do something crafty while far away from my studio.

I rarely see a response, I make them take photos, and they usually disappear overnight. At Marco Island, they lingered a couple of days. I saw a crowd gathered round one of these, taking photos. I spoke to one lady who was in tears. Her daughter, who typically vacationed with her had died and she told me that the beach Angel felt like a message from her.

We spoke about Ryan and about her lost child. Both of us were in tears.

Making my fairies and looking for heart shapes in nature began for me years ago. I thought of them as little touches of magic to create or discover. I liked leaving my shell sprites behind in gratitude.

Ryan used to be excited for me when we’d find a heart together out on our walks. Or when I’d show him photos of a little Faye or heart. Since he passed, I keep finding more and more hearts everywhere I go, and I love to think of him next to me when I make a discovery. I can hear his voice saying, “That’s cool, Mom!”

The shapes and the fairy/angels have developed a deeper meaning for me now, with him gone.

And my tearful chat with another grieving mother has left me thinking about past creations and hoping that one could’ve given someone else a bit of cheer as they walked by it.

More Magic

Food and Drink, Travel

By Karla Nathan / October 28, 2021

Well, that was quite a trip, a many legged journey with lots of stops along the way.

I mentioned our Disney adventure previously, but came across a few more Hidden Mickies after writing that.

My all time fave is Flamingo Island in Animal Kingdom, the entire thing is shaped like a Mickey head.

Over the years, you probably think I spend an inordinate time visiting my pal, Mickey, because I yammer on about it so much every time I go.

(This is a store window at Epcot in France. Macarons and chocolates! Pink yummyness!)

And I have been lucky enough to take multiple trips there in the past.

But this one?

Wowzers!

Terry and I really did it up right. It was the longest visit I have ever had there. We arrived on a Friday for the Halloween party, then spent time at all four parks before she drove me to the beach Tuesday evening and dropped me off to be with my sisters for a few days.

We ate at the Food and Wine festival where I had fillet for breakfast one morning and Mickey shaped ice cream for dinner.

We indulged in all the photo pass magic shots we could, wondered around at our own pace, hopped on rides when the lines were short, took scenic detours when we felt like it, and racked about around 20,000 steps a day on our Apple watches.

Instead of taking the boat from Epcot to the Swan hotel, we walked through the Boardwalk and even toured an open house of the vacation club (but without the sales pitch, I just asked if I could peek inside and they said sure) After, we stopped at the disco lounge with the big, flashing, neon sign saying DANCE HALL, and I took a turn around the dance floor to the tune of Donna Summer. We were the only people inside, so I felt like I could show off some of my non-existing moves.

Cast members were kind to us and gave us mini tours a couple of times when we asked for directions. We didn’t have reservations for Oga’s Cantina in Star Wars Land, but a nice guy accompanied us inside to get a look at it, and we felt as if we’d been given a free, private tour.

Another cast member stayed in Star Wars character as he walked us through the park and told us about the Federation and their attacks.

Without kids, a visit to Orlando is a whole different thing. We made use of Terry’s season pass to use the private lounge and put our feet up a bit.

I’d also found a pass online to a free lounge by Blue Cross of Florida, it was set up in a restaurant in the Norway pavilion. We thought it would be ice water only, but there was a picnic cart that came around with goodies. We hit up that area a few times to get a cold can of soda and snacks, as a nice break from crowds. One time, we were the only ones in there, the other, there were only a couple of tables in use.

The whole trip was not only filled with fun, and we got to do everything we wanted, it was restful and relaxing too. Crowds were low most of the time, and when they weren’t, we found something less busy to do.
Thanks, Terry, for the magical time!

A mosaic seashell fairy

fairies, family, sea shell fairies, Travel

By Karla Nathan / October 25, 2021

We tried a new beach this year, Indian Shores. While it was relaxing and beautiful, it wasn’t the best location for picking up shells. But there were tons of teensy ones that I gathered by the scoop full and sorted into dark and light to make a mosaic fairy portrait.

While the Sprite was crafted in a new way, the same heartfelt gratitude for my beach visit went into it. I loved my short visit at Indian Shores with long walks each morning at the beach’s edge, and laughing with family as we sat in the sand.
This beach deserved a thank you fairy, no matter how hard it was to find shells. I was determined.

I wasn’t there long, but was able to divide up my limited time between my sissies and nieces so that I got some one on one with each.

And we gathered together to watch as many sunsets as we could.

The perfect end to the peaceful days.

I ❤️ Hidden Mickies!

Uncategorized

By Karla Nathan / October 21, 2021

Terry and I have had a magical time at Disney World. She indulged my obsession to hunt Mickies too.

(Canada, Epcot)

Some are sneaky.

(Ratatouille, Epcot)

Like this one, very well hidden!

(Frozen, Epcot)

Others are pretty easy to spot. (Ariel, Hollywood Studio)

And some cannot be missed, like this coil of rope.

(Living with the Land, Epcot)

My little eye spied a lot on that ride, but I didn’t get photos of them all or on the Nemo ride, it was too dark.

This Mickey is hard to see, but it is lurking there in the deep shadow at Turtle Talk.

And while walking over a bridge at Epcot, I saw this rocky Mickey.

They can often be in signs.

(Figment, Epcot)

I can’t remember where this one is from. But somewhere in Hollywood studios, maybe?

Instead of a mouse, these are hidden rats, in the wallpaper of the new Ratatouille ride. Being a new and popular experience, it is very hard to get onto, but we set our alarm to be ready to hit the button to try to get in the virtual queue early in the morning and it paid off. Six hours later, it was our turn to show up to get in the physical line for 45 minutes till it was time for us to spin around with a kitchen full of rats. It was a clever ride, but even with ginger tablets, I was kind of dizzy and couldn’t wear the 3D glasses.

I have seen these leafy Mickies a few times, but didn’t know where they came from. Today we passed by just as the person sweeping the park finished making it.

Another fun peek a boo, is to look for Cinderella’s horse on the carousel at Magic Kingdom. It the the one with the golden ribbon around its tail. There is another horse with spots that form a Mickey, too.

To celebrate the 50 year anniversary, there are 50 golden statues throughout the four parks. We made a game of finding them all, and doing some of their poses.

I didn’t do a great job of it, but at least I didn’t topple over. That’s a plus, right?

And some poses were easier than others.

The statues will be there for 18 months, and you can get hints online about where to find them. Most are pretty easy to see in main flower beds, but a few are in obscure locations, on balconies, poles, or signs.

And the Mickies are everywhere. Every time I go, I find more. This one is on the Jungle Cruise dock.

If you find any good ones, let me know!

At Disney

Food and Drink, Travel

By Karla Nathan / October 18, 2021

I can’t even remember which leg of our multi faceted journey I am on right now. Whatever number it is, it’s Disney World! I’m tired, but having a blast.

Terry and I are here together, she made these Minnie costumes for us to wear to the Boo Bash.

We have also attended the fireworks dessert party, looked for hidden Mickies, and tracked down the 50 golden 50th anniversary statues.

And I still have two more days to go.

So for now, it’s time for a handful of my Boo Bash trick or treat candy and an early bedtime.

Guncle-ween

guncles

By Karla Nathan / October 15, 2021

Leg three of our vacation was a stop at Guncleland, where Randy and Kevin served up a seafood feast in a fall setting.

They know the shrimp boil is always my fave.

Randy says he is in the middle of decorating for Halloween, but to me, it looked like he had plenty done, there were spooky elements all around us.

Including the guest room. Uhmmm, thanks guys…?

Not all the decor was spooky, some was simply lovely.

It was all a very nice mix.

Marco Island

Travel

By Karla Nathan / October 12, 2021

We are in leg four of our multi-phased getaway. First Asheville, then an emotional family wedding in Charlotte, Guncle time, now an idyllic rest at the beach watching dolphins from our balcony.

And what do I spy with my little eye? A sunset wedding below us!

I ❤️ The Dog Park

dogs, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Goldendoodle Puppies

By Karla Nathan / October 9, 2021

Our city has a magnificent dog park. Miles of trails through fields and the woods. Some of the trails are paved, some dirt, some gravel. Lately, I’ve been lucky enough to find heart shaped rocks in the gravel, like these two little ones.

I thought it would be cool to use my blue crystal heart as a bowl to collect other rocks in.

This one was in the paved area.

And this little piece of my own heart came running up to me with an exciting greeting. It’s Wally! One of Sugar’s babies, and he seemed to remember me.

He lives nearby, in the neighborhood Ryan and I walked through regularly. There wasn’t a week that went by when Ryan didn’t mention that he hoped we’d run into Wally, who had been one of his faves. He had actually dog sat this boy for a week for the new owners and was pretty fond of him.

We hadn’t come across this cutey in our many walks, but the week Ry died, his brother took me on a “Ryan Walk” and guess who was there? Wally was out on a walk too! I am afraid I cried too hard to be able to greet him. But I made up for it when we ran into him at the dog park. He got lots of snuggles from me.

In the fall, the bales are harvested in the many fields the trails go through and Molly likes to show off her jumping skills by leaping up onto them. Sugar can also leap into the air, but sees no reason to do it.

Dorothy enjoys the view from way up high, and likes to be sat up there with Molly. Someone her height doesn’t often get to see the world from this angle.

Author name: Karla Nathan