I know this isn't garden junk, but I've been making jewelry from silverware. Maybe you could try that. Over on Crafts and Decorations I have some spoon pendants and beaded bracelets posted. I even made some lapel pins from silverware. I plan on using my grandchildrens photos in one, and you might be able to make a pendant with your mother's photo( a copy of course :) ) and some of her little things inside it. I used my grandmother's tatting in ones for myself,and pieces of old crochet and tatting I found at yard sales for ones I'm selling. You could put in small pieces of her old jewelry,or just anything that reminds you of her. I hope this helps with some of the silverware. Here is a link that might be useful: spoon jewelry

Bless your heart. I lost my sweet Norrie, a 16 year old Whippet on June 23. I had to euthanize her because she was just hurting so bad and I couldn't let her continue to suffer. Even though it was the right thing, it was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I can not imagine losing 3 all together. My other two dogs are getting older now, but through the grace of God I did not have to lose them all at once. You've had so much loss in such a short amount of time, I know that no one blames you for just stepping back and taking time to try to heal. I am very sorry for your losses and I wish so much there was something I could do to help you. Take care of yourself, the pain doesn't go away but it does get a little more tolerable. *big hugs*

In November, 2003, my DH lost his fight with LC. It began with surgery Sept. 11 for a malignant brain tumor that turned out to be a met. LC, even though there was no sign of LC. He had the surgery and 25 radiation treatments then 2 weeks off before chemo started. He had lost weight but was in great spirits and the onc. said he had a great feeling that everything was going to go just fine with treatment and he needn't worry about future birthday, Christmas, etc. After the first chemo he was unable to take the 2nd due to low white cells. Over the next 10 days he went so downhill that I took him back to the hospital so he would get some platelets and boosts toward getting over the blow from chemo and built up for the next round. He went in on Saturday and spent four days going downhill and died on Thursday. Due to the optimism of everyone, us included, we never had a conversation about him dying. He told everyone that he wanted to be back to mowing and yard work by spring and we led everyday as normal as possible. I fussed at him to eat, we did nothing differently as in preparation for death. In fact, when he went back to the hospital it was not in my, or his, wildest thought that he wouldn't come home. It seems that the radiation had kept tumor growth away while he was in treatment and, once stopped, the tumors multiplied in both his lungs and new brain activity. I can honestly say that, if he had to die, I would not have had it happen any differently in most respects. We were always saying "love you", kisses goodbye, etc., and "bickering" in a humorous way, as we had our entire married life. I think if I had suspected he was not going to live I would have not been able to carry on day to day as I normally did. He would not have been the same either and we would have been morbid and miserable. As it was, he died with me fussing at him to eat so he would get stronger. I told my minister that if I had known he was going to die I would have been nicer....... What I meant was I would have stopped trying to force him to do things that I thought would help him . Sure, there are some things that were not said that I regret, not all of them sentimental...lol....but knowing now what the outcome was, I wouldn't change anything. He died knowing I loved him and I knew he loved me. Neither of us needed to elaborate and the same went for our children. It has been almost 18 months and it still is often not real to me. I am so sorry for everyone here and can only say that the fresh wound pain does go away. Some days I get bored, lonely, all of the things that come with losing your partner of almost 40 years but having my children and grandchildren in my life, albeit some are far away, makes it bearable. Would I ever want to marry again........no way! I count my blessings for the life I have and had with him but wouldn't want to open myself up again to becoming so close to someone and having to face the possiblity of loss again. Look for happy days and happy times, regardless of the outlook for the future and recovery. I think it will make the days ahead easier.

thanks, everybody. i have a bad feeling about this. yesterday when i came home, i found bloody poo in the back room. maggie has a history of coccidia although the last 2 times this happened (this is the 3rd time in just 4-5 months), the fecal sample tested negative. now i am wondering if this is a cancer that has been spreading throughout her body. if this proves to be the case, i will likely have her put down while she is under for the tests. i can't bear the thought of seeing her suffer. she has not felt well for the past few months although all of the usual tests have not been able to diagnose the problem. *sigh* i will update when i can. thank you again for the thoughts and prayers, they are much appreciated.