From Chrisy

.

'Flying With Renee' is an original embroidery on vintage linen sewn to represent the precious moments I shared with Renee. When she was unwell, Renee and I would take little trips together. Planned ahead of time, and undertaken simultaneously on both sides of this earth, Renee and I would close our eyes and reach out to each other. Sometimes, holding hands we'd rise together and fly. Light as feathers and bubbling with laughter, over the cities, over the mountains, over the seas we’d fly. There was no pain. There was no sadness. Just pure joy. And I'd look across at her and know that she was part of me, and I a part of her. We were one. The way we all are. When the trip ended that pure joy lingered. It’s still there. In the blink of an eye I am with you my precious girl, flying.

.

From BT

.
I am writing of my experience of that very special and beautiful lady Renee. The first comment I have on my blog from Renee was on 5th March 2009. By the time she died, I felt I had know her all my life. She always came across as caring, loving and having a wicked sense of humour.
.
Renee used to blog alphabetically about dreams and their interpretation. I have some weird and wonderful dreams and commented about this once. Quick as a flash, Renee emailed me with her thoughts on my dream:
.
Renee has left a new comment on your post "27th April 09, The Sun Shines on and Off":
.
BT your garden is such a joy to be able to come and visit.
.
Boy that dream you had....
.
BT when you see someone being tortured in a dream would suggest that you are punishing yourself for negative or bad habits. You are projecting yourself onto the other person being tortured. It usually indicates repressed feelings that you can’t let out. The third especially placed in the chest symbolized inner vision and instinct. The two together are telling you that you can see what others cannot and you need to look within as the eye is in the chest to learn to trust your instincts. Forget the head and think of the heart.
.
That will be five cents.
.
Love Renee xoxox
.
Don't you just love that last comment? 'That will be five cents' lol.
.
Only once or twice did she ever mention her illness. I also asked about her faith and she was so open and candid. April 10th she said:
,
With faith, I have it and then I don't and then I have it again. It does give me comfort.
.
Love Renee xoxo
.
Happy Easter
.
Always thinking of others, it was hard to remember all she was going through in terms of her suffering. Just once she wrote:

.
On the 23rd April:
.
BT even though you show us tons of pictures of your garden, I always want more.
.
Stable is good because with stage 4 it will only get worse.
.
Love Renee xoxo
.
As I re-read her comments, I am smiling. Renee liked to make you smile and was giving in every way. On one comment she added:
.
Renee has left a new comment on your post "General Catch Up - Sunday, 29th March, 2009":
.
BT the garden is divine and the little baby with your husband is so adorable.
.
I have to tell you I can't exactly remember the comment you made on Ces's blog the other day, but I laughed my head off.
.
Love Renee xoxo
.
I can just imagine her throwing her head back and laughing! She had a special relationship with so many but particularly Ces and Bella Sinclair. I used to love reading the comments on Ces's blog between the three of them. It would have made a great situation comedy, just the three of them chatting away and falling about laughing.
.
One of my favourite comments from Renee shows how freely she gave of herself:
.
Renee has left a new comment on your post "Flower and Fern Mania, 28th April 2009":
.
So darling BT does that stand for black tulips?
.
Amazing and unique just like a certain BT I have come to know and love.
.
xoxo
.
Renee never wrote 'lol' but instead had her own unique expression of laughter:
.
Renee has left a new comment on your post "30th April 2009 All Alone Am I....":
.
I laughed at your 'a real BT nightmare' har har
.
Love Renee xoxo
.
As I read this now, it still makes me laugh.
.
One day, Renee used one of my photos to illustrate her dream letter:
.
Renee has left a new comment on your post "Doorus Panorama, Gardening, Photos 1st may 2009":
.
No need to feel silly little goose.
.
BT you know how I do the dreams sponsored by a letter, well this time it is a T and I took some of your black tulip pictures a few days ago for it, but I hope it is okay I am going to use your picture of this black tulip from today's post. xoxoxo
.
I was so thrilled and honoured. I once asked what people liked (or didn't) about my blog and she said it was me, of course (!) but mostly the flowers. I am so glad I was able to give the special lady some small pleasure in blogland.
.
I will just add one more dream interpretation from Renee or this will turn into 'War and Peace'!
.
Renee has left a new comment on your post "May 6th, 2009. More Wind! News from Oz and UK":
.
I love the panoramas.
.
Thanks for letting me use your tulip -- did you recognize it?
.
Your dream:
.
To dream of being with someone who is gay and that person is rejecting your advances means that you are rejecting a masculine quality of your own. You may be rejecting a characteristic you think unworthy of yourself.
.
To see an explosion signifies repressed anger. Your unconscious is trying to get your attention. .
Put the two together and it would signify a need of acceptance of you as a whole person. Both feminine and masculine qualities are to be embraced. Example if you are a good business person that is considered masculine, a good farmer, again masculine.
.
Self acceptance is something that you need to deal with because it repeats it self in cycles. As in every few months, years, etc. you get angry at yourself for things you feel, but also feel you should be above.
.
There is a need to accept your whole self.
.
That will be 5 pennies.
.
Love me, your friend the amateur dream therapist.
.
xoxoxo
.
Her prices varied!!
.
It is difficult to explain what a void Renee's death has left in my heart. I guess, like many her blogland friends, I knew Renee was terminally ill but hid that thought away. I still find it hard to think she will never leave another comment for me or tell me she loves me.
.
I am just thrilled to have known you Renee, angel in Blogland.
.
With love
.
Gina (Deen)
BT - The Crafty Gardener.

From Sonia

.
Renee....
.
Today and for a little while I have been lost for words about you. I know you have paid a visit as corney as that may sound to some. But I really miss you, our talks and chats. You were the first person in my life to make such a impact on me. Your strength, humor, love, compassion, and humanity inspired me and helped me through two tough time. You know what they are and I could never repay you for them. You impacted my daughter Sheeanna also. How she loved you and still does. We started the WWRD slogan when we are having a bad day.
.
Here is an excerpt of the bond between you and her....
.
Sheeanna you are such a kook. And I love my kooks. Did you know I have two girl kooks and one boy kook. And now I have you. So that totals three girl kooks: Angelique, Nadalene, and Sheanna and one boy kook: Nathan.

You can absolutely have a picture of me. I just need to download the camera. I have some picture on here somewhere but I think they were when my hair was growing back in.

I will dig for more.

Hold on while I try to find one.

Sheeanna you are so sweet to say the things that you do. Personally I do not see how anyone could not be amazing to you. You have the best personality and you are beautiful looking and you paint like a dream. You are going to be a well known artist one day, I know it, so never quit.

No need to ever tell anyone about me. We are just loving each other and that is all that matters.

Now remember these are just for you and of course your Mom. I do not put my pictures out but because they were for you. Your getting them. See how much I love you. I can't remember what I have sent here and it is way too many. Please notice my gorgeous little granddaughter Josephine.

Love Renee xoxoxo
.
Oh how you impacted her spirit. I don't think you ever knew how you touched people, and if you did well girl you have a good poker face. Your advice and wonderful jokes and humor always had me coming back for more. I trusted you like no other. I for the first time had a true FRIEND.
.
I realize as a I write this it was exactly a year ago we became friends on your birthday. I went to my friend Sarah's blog and she wrote about you. I went to say Happy Birthday, and the rest is history. From that day forward everyday if not two or three times a day we laughed and emailed and just connected.
.
It was very easy to love you, and I will always love you Lovey. My pet name for you "Lovey" because you were always giving unconditional love to everyone you knew.
.
You always made me feel loved and special. Thank you my dearest friend.
.
I love you so much and how real you are. You would fit in like a glove with my family.
.
Tell Sheeanna, I know, but a girl could hope.
.
Love Renee xoxo
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.
I love you Sonia and I think that you are incredible. You are a very dear friend to me and I hope you know that.
.
By the way I like your house on blogland; did you see mine, if not walk over I am just at 9 3/4. .
Please turn around and give Sheeanna a kiss.
.
Love Renee xoxo
.
I love you Lovey, and thank the gods above everyday for you being a part of my life then, now and always.
.
Happy Birthday Lovey

From Sue

We are all unique and special in our own way, however, rarely we are fortunate to meet someone that has that undefinable quality that elevates them head and shoulders above everyone else. Renee was just such a person. Renee was so multi-faceted. She was courageous, selfless, funny, thoughtful, loving, down-to-earth, honest, seemingly tireless, genuinely interested in everyone and so much more. In the world of blogging, Renee posted once on your blog and you immediately felt you had met a friend for life. What an impact this incredible woman had on so many!
.
I wasn't sure how to define Renee in words. She touched me in so many ways, and often it was by not saying all that much but in the way she said it. Her blog entries were so honest. Often spiced with humour, sometimes poignant and/or angry, but always riveting and always made you feel like she was speaking to you alone over a cup of tea.
.
I went back through some of my blog entries and pulled some of Renee's comments that illustrate just a couple of her wonderful characteristics.
.
1. This was the very last time Renee posted on my blog. It was for my OWOH giveaway of a doll. She posted twice and shows her very dry wit:
.
Renee said,,,,..Oh my God I don't see anything at all wrong with cheating and I think you should just say I won.
.
Sue she is adorable.
.
xoxo

.
January 25, 2010 9:06 PM

Reneesaid...Love you and she is amazing. But I realize there will be no rigging AFTER ALL we are Canadian.
.
xoxox
.
January 26, 2010 2:45 PM
.
2. This was in response to a post of some WIPs of my Kindreds. The one she is referencing, I wish I just had sent to Renee.
.
I'm happy though that this particular piece now lives with her friend Pattee.
.
Renee said...They look wonderful Sue. The little one to the furthest right isamazing already. So much personality and looks kind of like it is praying in a very hopeful way.
.
xoxox
.
January 16, 2010 3:40 AM
.
3. A post I did on antique and vintage fur (this was around the time she first started mentioning her 'bats'. I love the "har har"):
.
Renee said...I love fur so maybe I deserve bats. har har
.
But I do love fur.
.
Thank you for being my dear and caring friend.
.
Love Renee xoxo
.
4, A post I did showing some of the gifts that my two girls had given me (some handcrafted). Renee was so empathic.
.
Renee said...Did you ever score, what Nicole made is amazing.

I am a book crazy fanatic too.
.
Poor Nicole I got neuropathy from chemo and it is horrible.
.
It is not easy I'm sure for her. And for you either Mama because we hate our kids to be sick.
.
Love Renee xoxoxo
.
5. In October of last year, my daughter Nicole started a blog - I posted a painting she did and supplied a link. Showing the interest she had in everything and everybody....
.
Renee said...I am going to see her now. Don't even tell me that this is one of her paintings. Oh my God.
.
Love Renee xoxo
.
6. The following are a couple from my daughter's blog, (which Nicole sadly due to time constraints did not keep up) shows just how considerate, caring and supportive she was to others - even on first "meeting":
.
Renee said...Just incredible paintings Nicole.
.
I love the picture of the gravesite and your profile picture is amazing.
.
You are incredible.
.
Love Renee xoxo
.
Renee said...Nicole I am totally blown away. I came here because of your Mom but Iam staying because of you.
.
Your mother is a beautiful woman who is so proud of her girls and so full of life that I know it will be a real pleasure to be here to know more of you.
.
Renee xoxo
.
Just a few very random examples that may show a little glimpse of this amazing woman's personality. Whenever I posted a blog, I looked for a response from Renee. Just a couple of words from her with that "Love Renee xoxo" would make my day!
.
Please use whatever you want from this email that you think will contribute to Renee's Book of Love.
.
Gosh, I miss her.
.
xoxo
.
Sue