To-Do-Tuesday: November 16, 2021

 

To day is "To-Do-Tuesday" and we list our goals and share them at our hostess' website, Texas Quilt Gal!  Hit here for some inspiration!

I'm still caring for my Mom.  These days I do split shifts.  I'm up at her house at daybreak to do the morning shift and return every evening to do the bedtime routine.  My brother covers the afternoon shift.

Surprisingly, I got some sewing done last week.  I often sew when I'm stressed.  I got one set of blocks finished for one of the twin's baby quilts.  I also cut the fabric for the next set and will be able to assemble that soon.  

One of the surprise projects was this holiday gift which I'm making for two of the kids in my neighborhood.  We've always called them Danish Ribbons.  These are like an advent calendar.  In case you have young ones in your family and might need a surprise gift==I wrote about these extensively today on my Pennsylvania Piecemaker blog here.

So here is my big ol' to-do list which I'm keeping realistic and short:

1. Finish binding the Danish Ribbons.

Wishing you a safe and happy day!

Mom is coming home today!

 Well it's been three weeks that Mom has been in the hospital but the good but brief news is that she comes home today!  

I'm not participating in the To-Do-Tuesday this week because there will be so much work caring for her and her dog that I doubt I will get in any sewing.

Thank you for all your prayers and good thoughts!

Have a safe and happy day!

I Like Thursdays: November 4, 2021

 

It's time for our weekly, "I like Thursdays!" post.  Hosted by Lee Anna at Not Afraid of Color, bloggers post good things and positive energy into the internet!

I like my brother's warped sense of humor.  He's staying at my mother's house with her dog and on Trick or Treat night, he knew he couldn't be opening the door too much because Kerry would try to escape.  So he put a big pumpkin with sign on the front porch and let kids help themselves.  He even decorated the pumpkin 😂😂😂

I like that my husband has taken so much vacation time during this time of my mother's ongoing recover.  Unfortunately he had to go back to work and needs to travel again on Monday.  I sure have appreciated his assistance though and tell him that all the time.  Mom is doing a little better and getting more rehab.  She might be coming home on Monday or Tuesday.  The real work will begin then. I should be dreading it but the way I look at, the sooner she is home, the sooner we get this all taken care of and put behind us.  I expect our lives to be back to normal by Christmas (hopefully).

I like new sewing inspirations!  The news of Maggie and Katie's pregnancy has put a spring in my sewing step!  I was at Joann's last week and although I don't need anymore fabric, I bought this fabric because I thought it was so cute.  Forgive the photo, it's so dark when we get up!

I need to make an additional quilt for my neighbor who just became a grandma as well.  She knits but doesn't quilt but loves quilts so I'll make one for her new baby as well!

I like silk long underwear!  I can't bear to have my legs cold and the cold weather has finally arrived here in Pennsylvania.  The "silks" as we call them, really help to keep me walking Scout!

Have a safe and happy weekend!

To-Do-Tuesday: November 2, 2021

 It's "To-Do-Tuesday" and time to post my goals for the week!  Our hostess is Texas Gal and be sure to visit her for more inspiration from bloggers!s

Last week's goals:

Finish Rowan's Quilt and deliver it:  Done!

Attach binding to Christina's Quilt:  Done!

Photograph quilts for 2021:  Not done!  Actually I forgot but it's high on my list for this week!

Next week's goals:

Bind Christina's quilt.  It probably won't get done this week but I'd like to work on it some more at night (if I don't fall asleep in my chair).

Photograph 2021 quilts.

Work on ideas and measurements of my fabric for the baby quilts needed.

Have a safe and happy week!

Happy Halloween!

 

Happy Halloween!

Have a great day!

I Like Thursdays: October 28, 2021

 Welcome to another edition of "I like Thursdays" hosted by Lee Anna at Not Afraid of Color!  Join us to share positive news and visit other bloggers as well!

The best news of the week is I'm going to be a great-aunt again!  My niece Maggie is pregnant and due with a little girl in May.  Maggie has two stepchildren that we adore but we are gaga about having another baby in the family!  Her best friend (who we have known all her life) is also pregnant with twins!  Time to make baby quilts!  Yeehaw!

I find baby quilts freeing these days.  Not so long ago, I would inquire about the colors and theme of the nursery.  But now baby quilts aren't even used in the crib for the first year of life.  Often parents use the quilts to lay the baby on for tummy time or other activities in the main part of the house.  So I am just going to go with the flow and check out if I can make some quilts with fabric I already have in my stash.

Mom is still in the hospital but moving to a rehab today.

Today I'm grateful for what my kids used to call "the dreaded low voice."  They knew that when I used that voice they were in deep trouble and I meant business.

The most exhausting part Mom's situation is getting doctors to listen.  She's got an ongoing condition where the entrance to her stomach closes.  The orthopedic hospital wanted to release her even though she couldn't keep down food, couldn't void, and her bowels weren't functioning.  To compound the issue she had just received a hip replacement and has severe osteoporosis.  By Monday--when the hospital's entire phone service was out of order--I had enough.  I went to the hospital and requested she be moved to a regular hospital.  I was met with resistance by the attending physician who was sure that all her problems derived from the surgery and would be corrected (magically) with time.  At the end of her litany of rationalizations, I used the low voice:

"I want her transferred and I want her transferred today."

Yesterday a G.I. scope proved us right and her stomach entrance had to be stretched slightly (only a small amount can be done at a time).  She'll have another G.I. procedure in 3 months but can at least eat pureed food.

In the meantime, my brother and I are watching Kerry, Mom's dog.  She's been spending more time at our house and hte dogs are getting along a little better.  Kerry is always rooting through my pockets.  It's annoying but I ordered a toy that allows her to dig in the toy instead of in my pockets:

This little chipmunks and log toy has been keeping her very occupied!

I'm so grateful for all of you who have been keeping Mom and us in your prayers!  Many thanks!

Have a safe and happy weekend!

To Do Tuesday: October 26, 2021

 I'm never sure what I'll accomplish in a week and that is why I like to make lists--mental and written ones and that brings us to what I'm doing today...Joining up with the "To-Do-Tuesday" posts that are now being hosted by Texas Quilt Gal. 

Last week's goals:

 I finished my Sunbonnet Sue Halloween wall hanging.  Not a big project but fun!

I'm almost done binding Rowan's quilt!  I'll be glad to get this one done and delivered!

My to do list for next week:

Take photographs of quilts I have completed this year.

Finish Rowan's quilt.

Attach binding to Christina's quilt.

Mom's hip surgery went well but she developed complications and is now in a regular hospital again.  I'll be busy with her care for the next few weeks so I'm taking it easy on goals.

Have a safe and happy week!

I Like Thursdays: October 21, 2021

 Today is "I LikeThursdays" and time to post positive things on the internet!  Hosted by Lee Anna at Not Afraid of Color, join us for today's pick-me-up!

I like the color of these mums at my front door.  For quite some time my husband and I have been debating as to what color we prefer to paint the front door.  I choose the color of these mums, it just pops!  I won't be able to paint until spring but I hope to get a similar paint color in the spring so I can add it to our door!

Butterflies in October!  The beginning of the week was quite chilly so it pleased me to see that the butterflies still visiting our garden!

Another signal of autumn, the geese arrived at the lake last week.  For a few days there were quite a few of them and then yesterday we noticed that the majority had embarked on their southern migration.

I like that my husband took vacation for the next week.  It's going to be a busy day so I'm off to get started.  Mom gets her hip replacement this morning and we are off to help with her dog and some other things.  Have a safe and happy day!

Tuesday's To Do List: October 19, 2021

 

It's been many months since I participated in "To-Do-Tuesdays" blogging.  As I wrote about last week, I was just having too many problems with my hands to commit to finishing projects in a timely manner.  The hands aren't cured but I'm willing to do a list--even if the list takes me longer to complete!

Link up to Texas Quilt Gal to see other fine projects that bloggers are completing!

One thing that is completed are my placemats for our guild's Meals on Wheels drive!  Some are holiday themed and others are not.

To-Do for the next week:

1. Bind Rowen's quilt.  He is the grandson of a neighbor and recently turned 2 years old.  I just started binding the quilt last night and work only 15 minutes a day to keep my hands from getting inflamed.  I know that this will probably take 2 weeks at this rate.

2. Finish my Sunbonnet Halloween wall hanging.  I've decided to machine bind this since it is just a small piece for our house.

This is all I can commit to right now.  My mother is having a hip replacement on Thursday and I know that caring for her will keep me very busy.

Have a safe and happy day!