New life , new beginning!

Well here I am, soon to be 52 and what is it they say "Life begins at 40." They lied. I waited , nothing happened. As a matter of fact my 40's were mundane at best.Now my 50's, a whole new ball game. 52 seems so old but yet , when I look in the mirror I don't see 52, maybe I just need new glasses. Well anyway in October I decided to take control of my life. I was not happy with the life I had so why not change it. Midlife crisis? Menopause? New meds? Who knows, so I ended my 10year marriage, packed up the minivan and headed south. Charlotte NC to be exact, and now 4 months later Ive found love and my happiness. Peace, contentment, and inspiration. So here it goes. I am going jewelry design full time. I will be updating on a regular basis and posting new pieces. Keep in mind each piece is one of a kind so if you like it buy it or you may miss out. If your looking for something special contact me . Leave me comments, feedback is my strongest design tool.
For now thats it
Dawn

PA Food and Wine Festival

The weekend is coming fast, our first big show of the year is at Split Rock Resort. The PA Food and Wine Festival. Come and sample some great local wines, food and awesome shopping. Pack the cooler, bring the blankets, enjoy some good music and great wine this weekend in Lake Harmony.

Dawn Houck's Artistic Obsessions: Alzhiemers a heartbreaking disease

Dawn Houck's Artistic Obsessions: Alzhiemers a heartbreaking disease

Alzhiemers a heartbreaking disease

This is completely off subject of art but I just need to rant I guess. My Uncle Barry, who is my mom's little brother was born 62 years ago with Down Syndrome.Barry and I have always had a very special relationship. Barry was 11 years old when I was born so it is a relationship that started when I was a baby. I have 5 cousins that really did not spend alot of time with him. He spent more time with my brother, sister and I but mostly with me. When Gram and Gramp would travel with us on vacation I always rode in the car with them and Barry. I would take Barry to concerts, ballgames and anywhere else we could have fun. Where ever we would go people would stare and point at him. It used to really piss me off. Barry has more love to give than anyone I know. My grandmother and I were also very close, she was my best friend and confidant. Her biggest fear was that she would pass away before Barry and then what would happen to him. My mom always told her that she would care for him, and I made her a promise that if anything happened to mom and dad I would care for him until his death. Grandma went into a nursing home on my first anniversary June 5, 2000. Barry went to live with mom and dad.Barry bowled in the fun and friendship league every Tuesday and was one of the top bowlers. Mom and dad got season tickets to the local minor league baseball team and ice hockey team. He has always loved any kind of sports. Grandma passed away about 2 years later. As much as I miss my grandmother I am grateful that she is not here to see what has become of her beloved Barry. About 2 1/2 years ago I started noticing some behaviors that reminded me of an Alzheimer's client I had taken care of for a few years. About a year and a half ago the diagnosis was made, Barry had Alzheimer's. If watching a healthy normal loved one wither away with this disease is not bad enough, watching a loved one with down syndrome is even worse. This past August my mom took a tumble off a ladder and broke her pelvis, cracked ribs and sustained compression fractures in her back. She was in a skilled nursing facility for 3 weeks. The day she fell I became what I thought was Barry's temporary caregiver. We spent our days going to visit mom, and taking care of dad, cooking and cleaning mom's house. When mom came home and continued to recuperate, I took care of Barry, cooked and cleaned mom's house. every night after dinner continuing to pack up Barry and my family and come home. Each day we left I was waiting for mom to say, OK Barry can move back in, but something inside of me said that that was not going to happen. I really did not think that mom could resume care even though her realizing that would be heart breaking for her. The day finally came when she had to face it, and I know that it was a decision that she struggled with thinking she was letting her mother down but coming to terms with the fact that as his guardian it is her responsibility to do what is best for him and at the time that is living with me. It will be 9 months on the 16Th since Barry has moved in with me. This is the hardest job I have ever had. I am not working outside of the house because he is 24/7 care. Each day I watch my dear Barry slip away. He always called me Granddaughter, and his eyes would light up when he saw me, now most of the time he has a vacant look in his eyes and has no idea who I am. He always dressed himself, now he doesn't remember where is pants go most of the time. He is mostly blind, we no longer get glasses for him because he breaks them. He wears diapers and messes himself on a regular basis. He can't remember where the bathroom is, its right next to his bedroom. If he does find it , he doesn't remember what to do there.He just finished what will be his last season of bowling, because he is confused as to how to do it know, he no longers goes to sporting events due to mood swings . He has bouts of raging anger. I wonder where all that anger comes from. He will curse like a trucker, over and over again. At times he becomes very combative and violent. We did have one incident at Sam's club on a Saturday where he became angry and combative. Thank god for a good Samaritan who happened to be an off duty State Trooper. He was able to restrain him and calm him enough to get him in the car but it was a very long ride home. I now try to not be alone in the car with him and take him out only when I have to. I find myself praying more than I ever have , mostly for guidance but also for strength. I know that when Barry is gone life will never be the same again. I am not alone in this, my husband helps more than I ever imagined and my nephew Travis has the patience of a saint and so much compassion. This disease sucks, it zaps the life out of it victims leaving only a shell. They say they are on the brink of a cure or atleast managing it. So close but so far away and not even insight for my dear sweet Barry.

New stuff

I am cuurently working on some new designs for this upcoming season. As soon as I am done I will upload. I am going to make it my goal to keep my blog up to date.

First Post

Ok, here we go. This is my first attempt at a blog. I really don't know where to go from here , but, I guess it will just come.
I will be uploading new pieces of jewelry as I create them. I also have a gallery on deviant art, you can check my stuff out at http://dlhouck.deviantart.com/gallery.
My next project is going to be trying to incorporate my nephews amazing fractal art into some jewelry pieces. He also has an awesome gallery at http://platinus.deviantart.com/gallery. Go and check it out. He adds new pieces all the time.