CrazyLadies.shop

Well, we did it!  We have a tiny little shop up and on the internet, and it's going to be full of interesting little things that .we Crazy Ladies find cute, charming, odd, handy -- Oh, anything that catches our fancy!  Donna is currently putting things in on a regular basis, so be sure to check it often.  It will change!

Right now, some of the things you might find in our little shop are butterfly garden seeds, women's clothing, cute t-shirts, readings with the Spirit Lady and more.  Plus, there's even more being posted tonight!  You just never know what you might see, so check it out!

CrazyLadies.shop

Save the Monarch!

When many think of a butterfly they picture the beautiful Monarch. Sadly, thinking of this incredible creature may be all we can do in the very near future. 

In 1991, over 75% of the wintering Monarchs from North America froze to death in Mexico as a result of three days of rain and sub-freezing conditions.  Since then, the increased use of pesticides, climate change, and urban sprawl, has the Monarch and other butterflies in a disastrous decline, and Monarchs could actually be extinct by 2024. That's only two years -- TWO YEARS.

Due to the severity of the Monarch's decline, the International Union for Conservation of Nature Scientists has declared it endangered. However, while the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that listing the monarch under the Endangered Species Act is warranted, they have opted not to do so due to higher priority listing actions.  Translation: the USFWS feels that other things are more important than butterflies.

So, are butterflies important?  YES!  They pollinate our plants, which means they help us live.  It's as simple as that.  Butterflies help us live.  

Monarchs need our help!

There is something you can do to save both the Monarch and the other endangered butterfly species.  Plant flowers!

As a fundraiser for Yvonne's Trip of a Lifetime, we're going to help save butterflies.  For only $2 plus $1 S&H ($3 total) we'll provide you with enough seeds to start a small butterfly garden.  Included in the seed packet will be several varieties of seeds, including milkweed, the only plant upon which Monarchs will lay their eggs.  The other seeds will be wildflowers known to feed various caterpillars and adult butterflies.  We'll also send along instructions on how to get started.

Once the garden begins to bloom you'll think of Yvonne every time you see a butterfly.  What a wonderful way to save a species and remember a friend!

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Recipes of a Lifetime for the Trip of a Lifetime

If you know Yvonne then you know that she LOVES to cook.  If she's happy, she cooks.  If she's sad, she cooks.  If she's depressed, she cooks.  Yvonne just loves to cook.  It's her "thing."  That's why she's amassed a few recipes through the years.  And by a few, I mean a LOT.

In thinking of ways to raise funds for Yvonne's Trip of a Lifetime to see her mother, we thought one of the most fitting ways is to use her love of cooking.  That's why we're putting together a cookbook of some of her favorite dishes.  It's a wonderful way for her to share her love, and it's a fitting way for her to be remembered for years to come.  

Please visit the "Recipes of a Lifetime" page and let us know if you'd like to order a book when they're available, hopefully within the next 2-3 weeks.  It will contain at least 50 recipes, and all proceeds will go toward Yvonne's Trip of a Lifetime.  

So, that's where we stand.  If you would like to see what's been donated, that's all on the Thank You page.  Then there's the Amazon list, and we have several ways to donate.  

• CashApp: $thespiritlady or $mysticlady54

• Paypal: @marmeesfriends or @musiccitywhowho

• Zelle: circleofspirit@gmail.com

• Venmo: @mysticlady54

• Amazon Wish List: Yvonne’s Trip by Donna Marsh

• By Mail: Contact me for our mailing address

• Gift Cards: Kroger Co., Walmart, Target, Walgreens, CVS, Texas Roadhouse, McDonald’s, etc.

Yvonne's Dream: Update

Let's update everyone on Yvonne's Final Dream.

We've had two cash donations come in, and several folks have sent items from the Amazon list.  Thank you all so much!  I can tell you that no donation is too small because every dollar or item adds up, and we appreciate it all.

Thank you!

What we're currently doing as we get everything together for the trip is working on the trailer.  Yvonne is beginning to have some mobility issues, and it's not such a big deal when I'm home, but I'm not always home.  I've included a couple of items on the Amazon list, and some may wonder why I put them there.  It's simple:  they'll not only help her at home, but we can take them on the road with us.  

Can you tell that I'm trying to make this trip as easy as possible?  Right now, I'm more worried about the price of gas than anything!

So, that's where we stand.  If you would like to see what's been donated, that's all on the Thank You page.  Then there's the Amazon list, and we have several ways to donate.  

• CashApp: $thespiritlady or $mysticlady54

• Paypal: @marmeesfriends or @musiccitywhowho

• Zelle: circleofspirit@gmail.com

• Venmo: @mysticlady54

• Amazon Wish List: Yvonne’s Trip by Donna Marsh

• By Mail: Contact me for our mailing address

• Gift Cards: Kroger Co., Walmart, Target, Walgreens, CVS, Texas Roadhouse, McDonald’s, etc.

Thank you! It means so much to both Yvonne and to me that we have such wonderful friends. Other than that, bookmark this blog, join the list, follow us on TikTok or Facebook, and then you can follow along as we undertake this journey.

And I'll be including all of it. Not just the good parts.

Yvonne's Final Dream

I met Yvonne in 2010, and even though we are different, we quickly became best friends, spirit sisters, I don’t know what to call us.  I do know that Yvonne is a good person who deserves more than she’s gotten out of life.  She may be a little rough around the edges, but she has a heart of gold.  If she has two dollars, she’ll give one to someone with less because she can’t turn away from someone who needs help, no matter who they are or what they may need. 

Yvonne has been chronically ill for years, but this year has been the worst.  She has been diagnosed with Non-Alcoholic SteatoHepatitis with Cirrhosis. She has Esophageal Varices and is showing signs of Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE).  What does all of that mean?  Yvonne has liver failure that has led to abnormal, enlarged veins in her esophagus, which could rupture and cause her to bleed to death in moments. As her liver loses its ability to filter out toxins, those toxins are settling in her brain, and we are beginning to see the physical and psychological symptoms of HE, which include losing the ability to use her hands, lack of coordination, stumbling, slurred speech, fatigue, forgetfulness, personality changes, mood swings, and more.  Originally her doctor said she could have 2 to 3 years, but the last third to half of that time could be lost to HE.  Now, however, we think her time is closer to 1 to 2 years, and she's already losing time to HE.

I recently asked Yvonne what she most wants to do or see before she dies, and she said she just wants to see her mother one more time.  That doesn’t seem to be such a difficult request, but here’s what we’re up against.  Yvonne is in Nashville, and her elderly mother in Tucson.  Due to their health issues, neither can fly. That means we need to get Yvonne on a 3,200-mile road trip (1,600 one way).  Since Yvonne can only travel for an hour or two before she needs a break to move around, it looks like the best options are to go by RV or train, as they both allow for freer movement during the trip.  Fortunately, a friend is giving us unlimited use of her travel van.

Yvonne would really like to celebrate Thanksgiving in Tucson with her mother, so we need to start planning this trip now.  Also while in Tucson, Yvonne would like to see her happy place again: Mount Lemmon.  We’ll actually stop at several places on the way to Tucson and back because we’ll be taking this trip slow and easy.  We may drive a few hundred miles one day, but we may only drive 50 the next.  We’ll just take it as our health allows, stopping for breaks and to let Yvonne see and experience the things she always thought there was more time for.  

Can you help make Yvonne’s final dream come true?  And I mean help in any way – donations, gift cards to various stores and restaurants, connections, ideas, anything.  We’ll need gas, food, toiletries, whatever it takes to live on the road for a few weeks. Yvonne also needs a new wardrobe. This illness has caused her to drop over 100 pounds, and nothing fits. She's put several things on the Amazon Wish List.

In addition to the trip, we’re working on getting our trailer in better shape to make it easier for both of us, making repairs to the floors and roof, possibly putting rails in the bathroom, etc.  Should we possibly receive more donations than we need for the trip, everything will be put toward making our home easier for Yvonne to navigate.

If you can help make Yvonne's final dream a reality here are ways to donate:  

• CashApp: $thespiritlady or $mysticlady54

• Paypal: @marmeesfriends or @musiccitywhowho

• Zelle: circleofspirit@gmail.com

• Venmo: @mysticlady54

• Amazon Wish List: Yvonne’s Trip by Donna Marsh

• By Mail: Contact me for our mailing address

• Gift Cards: Kroger Co., Walmart, Target, Walgreens, CVS, Texas Roadhouse, McDonald’s, etc.

Thank you! It means so much to both Yvonne and to me that we have such wonderful friends.

The McCormick Family Cooks

The Crazy Ladies recently launched a new page on Facebook:  The McCormick Family Cooks.

This page features recipes from The McCormick Family Cookbook, edited by Donna McCormick Marsh, as well as other favorite recipes, hints, and tips from around the internet.

Purchase your own copy of The McCormick Family Cookbook.