Sunday, December 9, 2007

Robert's Snow: A Flurry of Flakes

I haven’t done much blogging in the past week. December started off on a very sad note for me. On the first day of the month I had to have my dear cat Suzie put to sleep.
A few days later, I was informed that the eldest daughter of one of my closest friends lost her battle with cancer. This capped off a twelve month period when I lost one dear friend, Robert Mercer, to cancer--a year when two of my first cousins and one of my husband’s and my oldest and closest friends were diagnosed with the dread disease. I have to admit to having felt quite low recently.

I didn’t let my feelings get in the way of bidding in the Robert’s Snow auctions. Robert’s Snow is a fundraiser dear to my heart. I won three snowflakes in auction 2. Then I bid with abandon in auction three—and won seven snowflakes! I was so sure that someone would outbid me on a number of the snowflakes I won—but no one did. I am truly ecstatic! I can’t wait until Christmas Eve. I don’t plan to open the “snowflake” packages I’ll receive until then. Actually, I plan to let my daughter have the honor of opening the packages for me.
Here’s is the flurry of flakes I won in Robert’s Snow 2007:
AUCTION 2

Susan Miller’s Snowflake
The Tree

Carol Schwartz’s Snowflake
Penguins

Stephanie Roth’s Snowflake
Annamouse, Willamouse, and the Snowfall

AUCTION 3

Juli Kangas’s Snowflake
A Cozy Night for Cuddling Up

Susan Mitchell’s Snowflake
Wishing

Annie Patterson’s Snowflake
Little Girl and Rabbit

Donald B. Johnson’s Snowflake
Henry Skates on a Pond

Mark Teague’s Snowflake
Larue Skating

Kathy Jakobsen’s Snowflake
Jefferson Memorial/Washington Monument

Elisa Kleven’s Snowflake
The Paper Princess and Her Friends


Please leave a comment if you won any snowflakes in Robert’s Snow 2007. I’d love to know!

My spirits were lifted Friday evening when I went to a Robert’s Snow party hosted by Grace Lin. Most of the Blue Rose Girls were there, including Anna Alter, Alvina Ling, and Libby Koponen. Some of the Robert’s Snow artists were also there to help celebrate: Alissa Imre Geis, Mary Newell DePalma, Rebecca Doughty, Marion Eldridge, and others I didn’t have the opportunity to meet.


From left to right below: Grace's agent Rebecca, Alvina, Grace, Libby, Moi, and Anna


Click here if you’d like to read Grace’s post about the party at her blog.

9 comments:

Kelly said...

Oh, I am so sorry you've had such a tough month, Elaine. I send big hugs your way!!

You've won such beautiful snowflakes (Elisa Kleven!) They really must be a bright spot this month.

Hang in there!

Tricia said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your cat and the sad news of family and friends. I do hope you can take some comfort in knowing that supporting Robert's Snow may help in the long run.
Your snowflakes are lovely. I especially love Henry.
I'll be thinking of you.
Tricia

laurasalas said...

Elaine, I hope 2008 brings a lot of wonderful news and a big change from the sad things you've been dealing with in '07.

This year was actually my first encounter of cancer with a *close* friend or relative. My mom has been battling ovarian cancer and doing great. She is cancer-free at the moment, and I hope your loved ones find themselves in the same state.

Congrats on all your snowflakes! I bid on several but didn't win any. Sigh. Maybe next year!

Elaine Magliaro said...

Kelly, Tricia, and Laura--

Thanks for your kind thoughts. I think sometimes one can experience bad things/sad news in clusters. What I wrote about was only half of it.

I think bidding on and winning snowflakes was good therapy for me. Knowing my money will go to cancer research helps me to feel as if I really am helping the effort to fight cancer.


Laura,

I am happy to hear that your mother is doing well.

Susan T. said...

Elaine, so sorry about your kitty and all the recent deaths and health problems among your friends and family.

I have a close friend, a cousin, and a cousin-in-law who are all cancer survivors, so Robert's Snow seemed particularly important to me. (My grandmother died of cancer when I was just a little girl, too.)

The Shante Keyssnowflake should be arriving any day! I'm so excited.

Elaine Magliaro said...

Susan,

So happy to hear that you won a snowflake! Marion Eldridge made artistic contributions to all three Robert's Snow fundraisers.

I think most everyone's life has been touched by cancer. Sorry you lost your grandmother at such a young age. My maternal grandfather was a victim of cancer of the esophagus. He passed away at the age of ninety...so he enjoyed a good, long life. I was happy that my daughter got the opportunity to know him.

Annie Patterson said...

Hi Elaine,
I'm so happy my snowflake is going to such a good home. Thank you.

Vivian Mahoney said...

Oh, Elaine. Such sad news in what should be a festive time. My thoughts are with you as you keep your strength, courage, hope and joy alive for yourself and your friends.

You won such beautiful snowflakes! Your daughter will have a hard time choosing.

I won two snowflakes--David Ezra Stein's Mane Event and Yangsook Choi's Peach Heaven. I can't wait to get them.

Elaine Magliaro said...

Annie,

Your snowflake will indeed have a good home. I treasure all my little snowflake masterpieces. Thanks so much for contributing to Robert's Snow 2007.


Vivian,

I'm so happy to hear which snowflakes you won. Thanks for bidding in the auctions.

I'm sad for my friends and relatives who have been faced with such sad news in the past year. I realize how fortunate my immediate family and I are.