Here is a photo of me taken this summer on the zipline in Juneau, Alaska.

Long time, no post....

Hi folks,
It's been over a year since I last posted here! In the meantime, I finished the 6 turtle quilts for Bead Artists against Breast Cancer, wherein $2,865 was raised for breast cancer research this year for a total of nearly $18,000 over the past 6 years. In addition, I worked on the Rotterdam in SE Alaska all summer as a travel guide; it was a fantastic experience and one I hope to repeat again.

The new guidelines for the 2011 bead quilts have been posted on my website ( http://shanigansbeadshenanigans.com ); the theme this year is the hand, as in "Caring hands beading together to help find a cure for breast cancer." Join us!

Jeanette Shanigan
http://shanigansbeadshenanigans.com

September = Back home again....

Hi Folks,
I've just returned from my summer long cruise-ship job. I didn't even take materials with me to work on the BJP, so I have 4 squares to finish in the next month or so. I do have ideas, so once I get started it should go fairly quickly. Well, I hope.....

It was a good summer, though very busy--126 days without a single day off. I'm bone-weary and ready to hibernate for the winter here in Alaska.

I'm attaching a photo of me taken this summer. I'm the Alaska rep for a new book by the B&B folks called 'Beads Across America.' Since my project for the book features a moose also, this photo seemed appropriate for my bio.

Also I've updated my web site for those folks seeking current info about the 2010 breast cancer quilt project: http://shanigansbeadshenanigans.com/

Jeanette Shanigan
http://shanigansbeadshenanigans.com/

Hmmm...

Whew!!!! Well, maybe I'm not a foolish ol' woman afterall. Maybe I just appreciate true, real talent when I hear it. Read this:
http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2009-05-12/things-to-do/opera-experts-rate-american-idols-adam-lambert

Any fans of.....

Any fans of Adam Lambert here?? Normally, I'm not much of a fan of TV, but I've been sewing BC bead quilts in the evenings for months now, so it's become TV time. Anyway, at the beginning of the season, I stumbled across American Idol and started watching it, though I had a tough time getting through the horrific singers at the beginning. At first I was somewhat interested in Danny Gokey because we both lost our spouses the past year, BUT after a week or so I found his singing boring and predictable. But Adam Lambert!!! OMG, that guy just blows me away with his vocals and star quality. I suppose, as a bead artist I admire his creativity and originality as well. And he enjoys wearing jewelry--I appreciate that. :) In my youth I was a die-hard Led Zeppelin fan, so when he nailed 'Whole Lotta Love' that made me an avid, rabid fan.

Anyway, though I feel a foolish ol' woman, I will be spending a couple of hours on voting like crazy Tuesday night for Adam Lambert. Anybody want to join me? It's free to vote. ;)

The BC quilts will be in the mail this week and I board the cruise ship next Wednesday, May 20.

Jeanette Shanigan
http://shanigansbeadshenanigans.com

April is done...

Hi Folks,

This month I try to deal with the anger surrounding my husband's and son's deaths. My square shows "accept" in the foreground and, indeed, this is the visage that I portray. But always, simmering and smoldering in the background is the "anger" monster--just waiting to rear its ugliness and helplessness. Truly, I know and accept what cannot be changed, but sometimes I just wish I could understand why.

My heartfelt thanks to all for the support and sympathetic comments as I work through my grief.

Jeanette Shanigan

http://shanigansbeadshenanigans.com

March

This month I celebrate one of the aspects of our life together that my husband Gordon and I really enjoyed: traveling. During our 35-year marriage, we travelled in the US, Canada, and Europe. We lived in Germany for a year while I was a Fulbright exchange teacher and travelled there at least 8 more times with my students as part of an exchange program. After I retired, we discovered 'cruising' and figured out how to cruise on a retirement budget. We both enjoyed seeing new places and meeting new people together.

My square this month illustrates our last international trip together, a trip to Ireland in August 2005. My husband hated to have his picture taken, so I suspect his gesture reflects a "you better not be taking my picture" attitude. We were waiting for our tour of Newgrange (pictured in the background), a monolithic tomb, a bit northwest of Dublin. I found the coin among his things. The "photo corners" are beads that I used in a necklace that I made for him after the trip. I miss my travel partner.

As a result of our travels I have many wonderful memories and recollections of grand adventures together. It's nearly 9 months since my husband's passing. At this stage in the grieving process, I find that all those experiences are just a thought away. They will always be in my mind to offer comfort, provide inspiration, make me laugh, or any number of other needs and emotions. For example, my husband loved eggs and ham, so he thoroughly enjoyed the Irish breakfast. But I could never get him to even taste the fried tomatoes that typically come with an Irish breakfast. Neither one of us could ever figure out how pork n' beans came to be on the Irish breakfast plate either. Just little, funny, quirky memories of a lifetime together....

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! Celebrate with a shot of Jameson's Irish Whiskey as Gordon did in the distillery in Dublin!

Jeanette Shanigan

http://shanigansbeadshenanigans.com/