I Like Thursdays: December 30, 2021

 

It's "I like Thursdays" and time to publish happy thoughts into the blogosphere!  Hosted by Lee Anna, be sure to check in with the other bloggers to see what they are grateful for this week by visiting Lee Anna here.  What are you grateful for this week?

I'm happy we made it through the holiday without incident or additional illness.  I had cancelled Christmas due to Mom's situation but I was grateful I did.  

Mom is still on the mend but tires easily.  It will be a while until she feels like her old self.  Our youngest child has Covid now but is recovering and doing better.  He was grateful to be vaccinated.  Thankfully, everyone is staying clear of Mom so she doesn't catch anything.  

Scout is doing better and can now take walks!  

Brad and I spend our days taking care of Mom and also walking dogs.  We saw the neighborhood fox one afternoon.  Sorry the photo was blurred by Scout--oblivious to the presence of the fox--wanted to smell under a bush and kept nudging me.

It's always fun to see the heron when we walk and it continues to surprise us that the dogs don't spot the heron either.  He must blend in somehow.

We are grateful we didn't get the snow/sleet that was predicted this week.  I was sure we would when I saw this sunrise the other morning.  When I went out for the newspaper, I was actually startled by the color:

I enjoyed this video over the holiday.  Andrea Love did all the needle felting and the animation.  What a great artist!

I didn't finish all the projects I had hoped for this year but here are some of the quilts I did finish:

The quilts fly out of here as quickly as I finish them.  Last week I finished the final quilt for 2022.  I made it for my neighbor Dave who was a Vietnam Vet and once told me a story about a quilt his grandmother made him when he was 11 years old.  He loved that quilt so much and took it on all his travels for the next 40 years until it fell apart.  This was just a top I had partially assembled with scraps but I finished it for him and he loved his quilt!

Wishing you all the safest and happiest New Year!

Merry Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas to you!!!

I Like Thursdays: December 23, 2021

 Well today is "I like Thursdays" and time to celebrate positive things on our blogs!  Hosted by Lee Anna, visit her and the other blogs if you need a pick-me-up!

Well I like that there is 87 days until Spring! I figure if merchants and television shows can begin celebrating Christmas in September, we can all look forward to warmer days ahead now!

Everyone seems to need a pick-me-up this year.  I'm spending my free moments dreaming not just of my garden but of quilts I want to make in the new year.  I have a whole list of "pipeline projects" started and it makes me happy to think of what I can accomplish in 2022!  Do you have any special projects you want to tackle?

I like my husband and how he can make me laugh.  I like my neighbors who also make me laugh.  During these cold days, we seem to be telephoning each other more and being silly when we can!

I love The Brokenwood Mysteries which I've watched on Acorn TV.  I am so happy that I found a DVD packet of 6 seasons to get for my Mom for Christmas.  Mom spent some time in New Zealand where the show is set and I think she will love this series.  It's like our UK mystery shows but with quirky characters that somehow remind me of Northern Exposure in it's heyday.  I heartily recommend it!

And speaking of great television, All Creatures Great and Small is returning in January to PBS and the Call the Midwives Christmas special is coming up!

It's always good when your pet is getting better!  Miss Scout's leg is healing nicely but she is now recovering from a tooth extraction she had done yesterday.  While she was under, the vet did an x-ray and her leg shows no sign of a break.  The reason she had to have a tooth pulled was that she had a crack in her tooth (new dog ailment to me) which may have been from screwing around with Kerry when they play.  Anyway, she remains on R and R for the next 14 days.  She's still pretty out of it but did take a short walk around the block with me today.

I'm wishing you a very safe Christmas!  Have a weekend of joy and peace!

To-Do-Tuesday: December 21, 2021

 Happy "To-Do-Tuesday!" We list our goals for the week which is now sponsored by Texas Quilt Gal.  Please join or visit the blogs here.

I wasn't sure how much I could accomplish while Mom is recuperating and hadn't posted for weeks.  I did manage to sneak in some sewing time and finish two baby tops.  I have two more to do (the blocks are below) but I'm putting them both on hold.

  I'm just not sure what to sash them with or if I have enough fabric.  I'll tackle them after the holidays.

Scout injured her hip or upper leg.  We don't know how it happened.  She began limping and was very uncomfortable Sunday night.  Our vet did take a look at it yesterday.  He agreed she had bruised the area somehow and she is on anti-inflammatories and rest.  Fortunately she was already scheduled for a teeth cleaning tomorrow (Wednesday) and if her leg isn't doing any better, he will X-ray it while she is under anesthesia.  This morning she is moving better (she spent all of yesterday sleeping).

Still, we know that when the pup is feeling better, we have to be even more vigilant that she doesn't re-injure it.  It will remain a quiet week for Scout.  I won't be going to the second floor to sew since she follows me everywhere and is not allowed to do steps. 

So this week is the perfect week to stay on the first floor as I have Christmas prep to do.  Also I have a quilt to bind for my neighbor and I always do that on the first floor.

To-Do List:

1- Continue to care for Mom.  Scout isn't allowed over there since Kerry is too rough.

2-Make Christmas food (it can all be made ahead of time) for my Mom and husband.

3-Bake Christmas cookies.

4-Bind quilt.

Have a safe and happy holiday dear friends!

I like Thursdays: December 16, 2021

 I'm finally able to write an "I Like Thursdays" post!   Today is a day we share gratitude and goodness on the internet.  Be sure to check out other inspiring posts at Lee Anna's blog here.

It's been a rough couple of weeks with Mom's complications from surgery.  My brother is also unwell and unable to share the burden the last few weeks but I'm grateful for the kindness of others.  First off, my husband has been here and been great.  He took vacation time to help with the dogs and lots of other day to day things.  

My best friends were always available to talk to but waited for my call instead of inundating me with texts and calls.  Even Terri, my machine quilter, helped out by delivering my quilt to my home even though it was  a 45 minute drive one way.  She refused to accept gas money and just did it out of the kindness of her heart.  I couldn't have made it without any of them.

 I like giving myself permission to breathe.  This year, that means no Christmas cards, no tree, no decorations, just taking time to gather my wits again.

I am taking time to sew again.  I finished and delivered the Danish Ribbons to the kids in the neighborhood yesterday.  

Now that Mom is safe at home, I'm enjoying frosty morning walks at the parks with Scout.

And oranges! They are in season again and so good!

There is always something to be grateful for--don't you agree?

There's still a lot of work to do for Mom but I'm managing.  I hope you are having a restful and happy holiday season!

Have a safe and happy day!

Updates

 Mom's been in the hospital since Tuesday night.  She had blood clots in both lungs and a leg.  Don't ask me why she wasn't sent home with blood thinners after the hip replacement and complications...I don't know.

It's a weird process.  Throughout this ordeal, her oxygen levels looked good when she was stationary.  We thought she might be coming home on Friday after 4 days on the blood thinners.  Yesterday was the first day they let Mom out of bed but when Physical Therapy walked her down the hall, she became breathless and shaky and well that ended the idea of her coming home yesterday.  

Her dog Kerry is staying with us right now.  We put Kerry in Scout's crate at night because she is used to sleeping in the crate and is young (and gets into trouble).  We put Kerry's bed in the crate and moved it into the living room near where Scout sleeps. Scout's crate pillows we kept where her crate usually goes.

 Scout's a bit annoyed that her crate is being used.  

So here is the PSA part of this post.  2 weeks ago when Mom was in the hospital, the staff was wearing the thin paper masks.  It was a different story Tuesday night.  Now the staff is double masked and often has additional filters in the mask.  It is a sober reminder that we all need to continue to mask.  

Please protect yourself during these scary days.  My brother and I are taking the precaution of double masking and limiting our visits to the hospital.  We and the rest of the family call her during the day to keep her entertained and her spirits are better.

The hospital is full of Covid and flu which was a big reason that the doctor and our family wanted Mom out of the hospital.  But she needs to be able to at least walk to the bathroom and until she can, she has to stay there.  

Dear friends, please stay safe!

Welll....

 I just got done writing yesterday that my mother was doing better.  Last night she was admitted back into the hospital with blood clots.

Anyway, I don't know when I'll be posting again but I wanted to post this photo of Christina's quilt before I forget.

Have a safe and happy day!