Ken and I joined the Fort Worth Quilt Guild this year, and I've been getting things ready for the annual show. I've made several small quilts, including one for one of my daughters using the left over fabric from her Christmas dress from 1990. Had to have all of this ready to be delivered to the show place yesterday between 4-6 p.m. I've worked like a wild woman gettng it all done. Then when I get there some witchy woman at the check-in desk attacked me because I hadn't done something right on the tags identifing them! Well, I picked them up, packed them back in the big bag, said, ok, I'll just take them back home. The other ladies sitting at the table said, no, no, let's check them in. So, I said ok, but Iwill not deal with this person - is there someone else? So, I worked with a wonderful person who helped me. As Ken and I were walking out of the room, several fellow quilters came out and told Ken and me that they had not know she was going to work the table, and that she is just like that and to let it go.
we had intended to stay as volunteers for setting up for the show, and it's a good thing we did. The high school boys that were hired to unload all the heavy bases and steel rods left. Ken and one elderly gentleman plus some of the ladies had to unload the trucks - piece by heavy piece. In the horrible 110 heat. They nearly died. It took a couple of hours to do. We finally left, Ken had to have food and drink. We ate at Red, Hot and Blue and then we went back and Ken helped set up poles and hang backdrops, etc., etc. He was exhausted and we left. I don't think he's going back tomorrow to help!!
To continue the saga of our spring and summer thus far...
Since the beginning of the year we have battled financial difficulties, fought law suits that were unwarranted and won, faced several times when we thought about throwing in the towel and separating, rediscovered old friends and high school friends, renewed many acquaintances and been living life. Ken has become very involved with his Arlington Heights High School class of 1966, has lunch with several friends every week at least once, and I likewise have become involved with the Poly class of '66 and '65. We are both enjoying the heck out of renewing friendships and making new ones.
In addition, we have both continued to fight health issues, which we expect to continue as long as we are allowed to live on this earth. Ken is enrolled in a certain program to fight some of his personal inner battles, and I've been in counseling since March 2009.
In May we invited cousins and family to come to the house for a get together...only 3 people showed up but we had a grand time!
Ken and I also joined the Fort Worth Quilt Guild...he doesn't exactly quilt, he's an enabler for my love of fabrics, quilt making attempts, and my love of vintage sewing machines. In March we went to College Station for the Texas Sewing Machine Roundup -- where I bought a very nasty Singer 500A! Never seen so much tar and nicotine on anything. Took us almost a month to take that thing apart, let it set with Go Jo on it to melt off the nicotine and tar, and then clean it and put it back together.
We later went to the Treadle On gathering in Greenville, Texas where I sucessfully did not purchase another machine (hand crank nor treadle). But we had a great time at both. I currently own 11 machines and am being watchful about other machnes I purchase - trying not to purchase anything except particular ones I'm hunting. And only ones in great condition.
In May we went to Las Vegas, stayed at the Imperial Palace Hotel, had a great time wandering up and down the streets, went to Hoover Dam, went downtown to see old Las Vegas, and managed to come home without spending more than about $50 between us in the casinos! We loved seeing the wonderful hotels -- the Paris and Bellagios were our favorites. Food was terribly expensive, but we had a great time, but I doubt we go back again. On Saturday night we were accosted at the elevator at one of the street bridge crossings. Thanks to a wonderful couple who had to have been cops on vacation, we made it out of the situation and got back to the hotel.
For Memorial Day weekend we decided to head to Eureka Springs, Arkansas! I had never been and wanted to see it. What a drive!! Very tiring. Ken was acting up the entire trip - couldn't figure it out. Anyway, we saw about everything there was to see, went to Christ of the Ozarks, the Crown Thorne chapel, the old downtown (where I refused to buy anything because it is all Chinese junk), went to the Bible Museum, saw the passion play. Ken was acting worse and worse. His pump was acting up, he was out of insulin, we went to Berryville to the Walmart pharmacy where the pharmacist helped him, but Ken was getting worse and there is no dealing with him when he gets like this. When I woke him up on Monday to come home he was confused, disoriented, throwing up, out of it. I managed to get us in the car and on the road. We drove through the Pea Ridge battle ground but he threw up all the way through it. He continued to throw up all the way to Rogers, Arkansas where I stopped to get Pepto Bismol before we headed out again. He was having me stop every mile or so. I finally had to get a dirty shirt out of the bags and just let him throw up going down the road. I wanted to take him to the hospital, he wouldn't hear of it. I was driving 85 miles an hour to try to get somewhere. I finally pulled off the road in Sallisaw, Oklahoma and tried to talk him into going to the hospital - he wouldn't go. He was getting weaker and weaker with each mile and obviously dehydrated. We hit 75 and headed south. Longest drive I've ever been on. 75 was crowded, bumper to bumper, 5 miles/hour, took forever to get to Texas. Stopped in Dennison for a break and gas. Ken got out to go to the men's room. He never came back so I went looking for him. He was unable to stand up by himself. He and I both thought he had had a stroke. He refused the hospital, wanted to come to FW. Two hefty fellows each took a side and took him out to the car and put him in. From there I hit the gas and didn't slow down...finally making it to Dallas and driving through that town at 85-90 miles per hour and on to Fort Worth. I thought the trip would never end, but it ended when I stoppped at the ER at Harris Hospital.
All I could think about on the return trip was the movie Vacation where the older lady died and they had her on top of the car! I could just see Ken dying on me on that horrible trip.
Ken was seen immediately in the ER, his pump was taken off of him, lab work was done, hydration was started. Turns out his pump was NOT working, his glucose was not low - it was extremely high (normal is 75-125; his was 700+). A feedbag of insulin was added to the hydration along with an antibiotic because of the extreme high white count. He was admitted to the hospital. The ER doc told me I had done the right thing - that he wouldn't have made it much longer. So, Ken got to spend the week in the hospital.
SO, after that, what? Let's see, we had a wonderful time at the Poly '65 mini reunion in June. Then on 29 June we headed for Colorado Springs, CO where my son Chris and his wife Nicky live with their daughter Courtney (16). We drove from Fort Worth to Vernon, Texas where we had breakfast, bought gas, and headed for Groom, Texas. Here we stopped at the Cross of the Plains, a wonderful attraction. We took lots of pictures. This place has the very large cross that can be seen for several miles, and the stations of the cross around it. And there is the crucifixtion, the last supper, the tomb with the angel above it, and more. This place was not out of our way as we were heading to Amarillo for the night. We followed 287 and then took 287 up to I-40 (about 17 miles) and then west to groom to Cross of the Plains. From there it was a straight shot on I-40 to our hotel - Days Inn East.
In Amarillo we took a limo to the famous Texas Steakhouse for dinner. This limo is furnished by the restaurant free of charge (except tips). They have long horns on the front of the limos!! We had our picture taken in the huge rocking chair in there, visited the gift shop, enjoyed our time. We had arrivedin Amarillo about 2 p.m., eaten lunch at I-Hop next door, napped, then gone to dinner. We were attempting to allow ourselves to be rested on this trip. Good thing, cause the next phase of the trip was awful!
To be continued next time.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
It is hotter than all get out here! It was 110 degrees today; the A/C is working overtime! So hot that there are power issues in Fort Worth and where I work is requesting that folks unplug all unused items, wear cooler clothing, and telecommute if possible. So, I worked from home today. Fortunately it is a quiet week and I didn't have meetings today.
So what's been happening since I last posted a real message? Lots, but probably not important to anybody but me (us).
I was in and out of the hospital during the fall and even in December. Being a kidney transplant patient isn't much fun because the immune system is kept so far down that there is no way to fight off illness. So, to the hospital for me!
Thanksgiving was a very lonely, but we lived through it. The Christmas season was fun. I sewed and sewed and sewed and sewed and finished everything I had planned. We went to several holiday gatherings and attended the annual Christmas in the Country at the little church out NW of Weatherford, Texas. It is now owned by our friend David McKenna because it is adjacent to the land he owned originally. He didn't want someone else purchasing it after it was decommissioned as a Methodist church so he bought it and the land it is on. So, we have a Christmas Sunday out there in December -- he and Liz clean it up, the pot belly stove is lit, we all take pot luck food for dinner after service, and then have a Chinese Christmas exchange. We always have a great time. This year we came home with a used kitchen disposal which we immediately put in the trash!!! I think we have a used toilet seat around here somewhere that we're going to take next year wrapped in fancy packaging. This year we took nice things (I made a lap quilt and Christmas pillow cases).
Ken had his final neuro surgery and was relieved of the horse collar he had been wearing for almost a year. thank goodness - he was really tired of that.
On Christmas Eve I had all the bags packed for the family and so we drove to Grand Praire and dropped off packages for my two daughters and their families. They don't have anything to do with me and I'm not allowed to have anything to do with the grandchildren either. It is a very painful situation and I miss them terribly, but it is what it is. Because it was raining, we were allowed to go into the house to leave the bags and gifts, and we actually got to see my grandson Jacob. He is so beautiful. We also got to see his baby sister who was born in 2009 and whom we had never seen before. I got to hold her for a few minutes, but then we had to go because we had many places to go before nightfall. I cried after leaving there because I knew I would not get to see them again - and I haven't been allowed to. I didn't get to see my other daughter and her family -- all gifts were left at the home in Grand Prairie and then distributed to the rest of the family.
I could dwell on that, but I am choosing not to. There are issues on BOTH sides of the fence, and apparently they are just so HUGE that they can't be overcome. I have always loved them, will always love them, will miss them forever, and will always hope that things change. But there is hurt and pain on both sides of the fence.
We didn't decorate for Christmas - there wasn't any need for just the two of us. Maybe we'll feel better about that in a year or so. For Christmas dinner we joined other friends at the home of Candy and Mike Copeland. We had a nice time.
We spent New Year's Eve and New Year's Day at home. We don't like to get out with the crazies so we stay home and enjoy a quiet time.
I landed in the hospital again in January - pneumonia one more time. This time I thought I was going to die...turned out I didn't. Good thing, because it got worse later!
We decided to finally have the kitchen overhauled/renovated/ repaired. We called our friend Mike Young who came gave us an estimate and talked to us about design. We had much done. First, we had the interior of the lower cabinets overhauled. In several of them we had custom pull-out shelves installed so that we can actually get to the things in the cabinets! In the other lower cabinets we had shelving extended so that we have two good shelves in each cabinet. We had the countertops replaced. We were going to replace with granite but where we live we would never get the return on the investment, so we chose to go with the rolled formica that looks like granite. We had a new special order stainless sink installed...it is one of those farm-house sinks with the small vegetable sink on the right side. We also had a new disposal installed and it's on the side under the small sink. We wish we had put it under the large sink -- so, we are going to have another one put in under the big sink!! We also had slate tile installed as backsplash. Ken and Mike wanted to talk me out of that but I really like it and it grew on them, too!
We also had our "bar" raised -- it separates the kitchen from the den. We didn't use it as a bar and didn't want it as a bar. So we had it raised so that it is a pony divider wall. The reason we had it raised instead of just changing the top to a non-bar top is because we had a custom cabinet built in the breakfast area that was supposed to be the same height as the bar wall but turned out taller (it separates the breakfast room from the den). To make them even, we raised the bar wall instead of having the cabinet remade. That cabinet is really nice and is the perfect size inside for things like appliances.
We also had another custom unit built and installed. It is a bar cabinet in the corner of the breakfast room and has a custom upper cabinet unit over it. Perfect for storing seldom used items.
We had tile floors installed in 2010. We really like the kitchen.
Our wood floors in the den needed some work due to stains from our wonderful doggies in the past. Mike decided he could repair them so we decided to go with it. Unfortunately the original installers had done such a good job of gluing them down that it was impossible to get them up and do the "cut in" repairs. Mike and his helper finally had to get jack hammers in there to get the floor out and were never successful in getting all the glue and such off the concrete slab. In the meantime, dust, cement, debris, whatever is flying all over the house, on the furniture, in the furniture, in the air system, etc. And the glue and stain odors are extremely strong.
I became so weak I couldn't get out of bed the last day they were working. Finally that evening Ken forced me to the car and took me to the emergency room where he wheeled me in to the reception desk and told them in no uncertain terms that I had to have oxygen. Yep, pneumonia again, but this time 10 times worse than January. I was in the hospital for about a week.
The day I came home I could tell there was still dust and dirt everywhere. I could breathe it. Even though Mike had cleaned up, I could tell. Sure enough, I put on a mask and sat in the den floor with ken and we began to pull furniture out of place and it was everywhere. We spent my first night home from the hospital cleaning up piles and piles of debris, dust and dirt. Ken cleaned the return air vent and changed the filter.
In March we decided to plan a vacation since we had not had a vacation since 2003 except for short weekend trips or work related trips. We decided to plan for Las Vegas since Ken had never been there. So, we scheduled a trip for 12-15 May.
In March or April, can't remember which now, we went to Fredericksburg, Texas with a group of friends. It's called the annual wildflower trip but there were no wildflowers this year. we stayed at the Country Inn and Cottages located outside of F. It's a converted ranch. Lots of deer and very peaceful. We went into F., but we were content to stay out at the ranch where every evening the owner comes out about 5:30 or so and starts to feed the deer and the belted cows and the bull (hand raised/friendly). Its like watching something out of National Geographic watching the deer coming from everywhere around - jumping fences, crossing the road, running out of the woods and down the hill. They are so close you can walk out to them to take pictures and they don't get spooked.
On the back side of the property are Elk. There is a fence but they come right up to the fence and will lay down there. So one gets a very close up view of them as well.
There is also a swimming pool on the property, two hot tubs, the very big main house, several cottages, a former winery that has been turned into a cabin with 3 bedrooms, and the former chicken houses which have been turned into motel type rooms (small). All of them are nice - we were assigned to the former winery which we shared with friends Phil and Myra, Pam and Patsy.
I will continue the tale of our spring and summer thus far in a different post.
So what's been happening since I last posted a real message? Lots, but probably not important to anybody but me (us).
I was in and out of the hospital during the fall and even in December. Being a kidney transplant patient isn't much fun because the immune system is kept so far down that there is no way to fight off illness. So, to the hospital for me!
Thanksgiving was a very lonely, but we lived through it. The Christmas season was fun. I sewed and sewed and sewed and sewed and finished everything I had planned. We went to several holiday gatherings and attended the annual Christmas in the Country at the little church out NW of Weatherford, Texas. It is now owned by our friend David McKenna because it is adjacent to the land he owned originally. He didn't want someone else purchasing it after it was decommissioned as a Methodist church so he bought it and the land it is on. So, we have a Christmas Sunday out there in December -- he and Liz clean it up, the pot belly stove is lit, we all take pot luck food for dinner after service, and then have a Chinese Christmas exchange. We always have a great time. This year we came home with a used kitchen disposal which we immediately put in the trash!!! I think we have a used toilet seat around here somewhere that we're going to take next year wrapped in fancy packaging. This year we took nice things (I made a lap quilt and Christmas pillow cases).
Ken had his final neuro surgery and was relieved of the horse collar he had been wearing for almost a year. thank goodness - he was really tired of that.
On Christmas Eve I had all the bags packed for the family and so we drove to Grand Praire and dropped off packages for my two daughters and their families. They don't have anything to do with me and I'm not allowed to have anything to do with the grandchildren either. It is a very painful situation and I miss them terribly, but it is what it is. Because it was raining, we were allowed to go into the house to leave the bags and gifts, and we actually got to see my grandson Jacob. He is so beautiful. We also got to see his baby sister who was born in 2009 and whom we had never seen before. I got to hold her for a few minutes, but then we had to go because we had many places to go before nightfall. I cried after leaving there because I knew I would not get to see them again - and I haven't been allowed to. I didn't get to see my other daughter and her family -- all gifts were left at the home in Grand Prairie and then distributed to the rest of the family.
I could dwell on that, but I am choosing not to. There are issues on BOTH sides of the fence, and apparently they are just so HUGE that they can't be overcome. I have always loved them, will always love them, will miss them forever, and will always hope that things change. But there is hurt and pain on both sides of the fence.
We didn't decorate for Christmas - there wasn't any need for just the two of us. Maybe we'll feel better about that in a year or so. For Christmas dinner we joined other friends at the home of Candy and Mike Copeland. We had a nice time.
We spent New Year's Eve and New Year's Day at home. We don't like to get out with the crazies so we stay home and enjoy a quiet time.
I landed in the hospital again in January - pneumonia one more time. This time I thought I was going to die...turned out I didn't. Good thing, because it got worse later!
We decided to finally have the kitchen overhauled/renovated/ repaired. We called our friend Mike Young who came gave us an estimate and talked to us about design. We had much done. First, we had the interior of the lower cabinets overhauled. In several of them we had custom pull-out shelves installed so that we can actually get to the things in the cabinets! In the other lower cabinets we had shelving extended so that we have two good shelves in each cabinet. We had the countertops replaced. We were going to replace with granite but where we live we would never get the return on the investment, so we chose to go with the rolled formica that looks like granite. We had a new special order stainless sink installed...it is one of those farm-house sinks with the small vegetable sink on the right side. We also had a new disposal installed and it's on the side under the small sink. We wish we had put it under the large sink -- so, we are going to have another one put in under the big sink!! We also had slate tile installed as backsplash. Ken and Mike wanted to talk me out of that but I really like it and it grew on them, too!
We also had our "bar" raised -- it separates the kitchen from the den. We didn't use it as a bar and didn't want it as a bar. So we had it raised so that it is a pony divider wall. The reason we had it raised instead of just changing the top to a non-bar top is because we had a custom cabinet built in the breakfast area that was supposed to be the same height as the bar wall but turned out taller (it separates the breakfast room from the den). To make them even, we raised the bar wall instead of having the cabinet remade. That cabinet is really nice and is the perfect size inside for things like appliances.
We also had another custom unit built and installed. It is a bar cabinet in the corner of the breakfast room and has a custom upper cabinet unit over it. Perfect for storing seldom used items.
We had tile floors installed in 2010. We really like the kitchen.
Our wood floors in the den needed some work due to stains from our wonderful doggies in the past. Mike decided he could repair them so we decided to go with it. Unfortunately the original installers had done such a good job of gluing them down that it was impossible to get them up and do the "cut in" repairs. Mike and his helper finally had to get jack hammers in there to get the floor out and were never successful in getting all the glue and such off the concrete slab. In the meantime, dust, cement, debris, whatever is flying all over the house, on the furniture, in the furniture, in the air system, etc. And the glue and stain odors are extremely strong.
I became so weak I couldn't get out of bed the last day they were working. Finally that evening Ken forced me to the car and took me to the emergency room where he wheeled me in to the reception desk and told them in no uncertain terms that I had to have oxygen. Yep, pneumonia again, but this time 10 times worse than January. I was in the hospital for about a week.
The day I came home I could tell there was still dust and dirt everywhere. I could breathe it. Even though Mike had cleaned up, I could tell. Sure enough, I put on a mask and sat in the den floor with ken and we began to pull furniture out of place and it was everywhere. We spent my first night home from the hospital cleaning up piles and piles of debris, dust and dirt. Ken cleaned the return air vent and changed the filter.
In March we decided to plan a vacation since we had not had a vacation since 2003 except for short weekend trips or work related trips. We decided to plan for Las Vegas since Ken had never been there. So, we scheduled a trip for 12-15 May.
In March or April, can't remember which now, we went to Fredericksburg, Texas with a group of friends. It's called the annual wildflower trip but there were no wildflowers this year. we stayed at the Country Inn and Cottages located outside of F. It's a converted ranch. Lots of deer and very peaceful. We went into F., but we were content to stay out at the ranch where every evening the owner comes out about 5:30 or so and starts to feed the deer and the belted cows and the bull (hand raised/friendly). Its like watching something out of National Geographic watching the deer coming from everywhere around - jumping fences, crossing the road, running out of the woods and down the hill. They are so close you can walk out to them to take pictures and they don't get spooked.
On the back side of the property are Elk. There is a fence but they come right up to the fence and will lay down there. So one gets a very close up view of them as well.
There is also a swimming pool on the property, two hot tubs, the very big main house, several cottages, a former winery that has been turned into a cabin with 3 bedrooms, and the former chicken houses which have been turned into motel type rooms (small). All of them are nice - we were assigned to the former winery which we shared with friends Phil and Myra, Pam and Patsy.
I will continue the tale of our spring and summer thus far in a different post.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Been quite some time. Much has happened. I will spend time later today writing. Right now I'm wondering WHY I'm awake when I didn't go to sleep until 2 a.m.!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Sunday Afternnon, November 7, 2010
we slept in - we're trying to get over whatever it is that has decided to live in our intestinal system. I'm feeling a bit better, but not super. I put on a load of laundry and then asked DH if I could get him something to eat (not much, mind you) before I headed to "my" room to read email and possibly do something that I wanted to do. "Nom, I'm fine for now, thanks." So, I go to my room and open email which leads to reading FB postings. As son as I start that, here comes DH wanting something to eat. I try HARD not to say something. I send DH to kitchen to look in pantry to see what we have in various small packages (soups, potatoes, rice, etc.) bc he can't have much. He brings me all the small packages - one being for potato soup.
Pkg indicates heat 8 cups of water to boiling, add soup mix, turn down heat, simmer for 15 minutes. Simple. DH says he can wait 'til I finish...I try to read emails/FB postings but I hear sounds/noises/cursing coming from the kitchen. Shortly DH appears at the door..."You're going to scream and yell at me." "Why, what happened." "Well, it all boiled over on the stove and I can't clean it up until the stove cools down." "I thought you were going to wait until I finished here."
I went to the kitchen to find the biggest mess I've seen in a LONG time. Burned, scorched potato soup all over the stove top, back of stove, front of stove, the pan, everywhere. This is my brand new $1200 cook stove with smooth top now with what I know are scorch marks that will NEVER come off the stove. I went totally ballistic. There was no need for this, and I do not intend to live with this piece of SSSSSSSSSSS in my kitchen. I know that I am going to have to spend the next hour or so trying to get this stove cleaned up enough that we can live with it until the 15th of the month at which time DH will be purchasing a new stove for the kitchen. He's in there "dabbing" at what can't possibly be cleaned up without dynamiting the mess. I am livid, I can no longer live like this, I don't want to live like this. It has been almost 2 years since DH decided to do himself in and since I've had to live with the consequences of his actions.
I've worked hard all my life, I don't deserve this, and I don't want to continue this. I don't want a child in an old man's body. I hate coming home to my house any more.
Too much honesty? Well, I guess what I've learned through counseling is that there is NOT too much honesty. I'm tired of living a life of covering up the truth.
Pkg indicates heat 8 cups of water to boiling, add soup mix, turn down heat, simmer for 15 minutes. Simple. DH says he can wait 'til I finish...I try to read emails/FB postings but I hear sounds/noises/cursing coming from the kitchen. Shortly DH appears at the door..."You're going to scream and yell at me." "Why, what happened." "Well, it all boiled over on the stove and I can't clean it up until the stove cools down." "I thought you were going to wait until I finished here."
I went to the kitchen to find the biggest mess I've seen in a LONG time. Burned, scorched potato soup all over the stove top, back of stove, front of stove, the pan, everywhere. This is my brand new $1200 cook stove with smooth top now with what I know are scorch marks that will NEVER come off the stove. I went totally ballistic. There was no need for this, and I do not intend to live with this piece of SSSSSSSSSSS in my kitchen. I know that I am going to have to spend the next hour or so trying to get this stove cleaned up enough that we can live with it until the 15th of the month at which time DH will be purchasing a new stove for the kitchen. He's in there "dabbing" at what can't possibly be cleaned up without dynamiting the mess. I am livid, I can no longer live like this, I don't want to live like this. It has been almost 2 years since DH decided to do himself in and since I've had to live with the consequences of his actions.
I've worked hard all my life, I don't deserve this, and I don't want to continue this. I don't want a child in an old man's body. I hate coming home to my house any more.
Too much honesty? Well, I guess what I've learned through counseling is that there is NOT too much honesty. I'm tired of living a life of covering up the truth.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
It's really 1 a.m. on November 7, but it's still Saturday to me! Things have been a little rough around here for a few days...DH has intestinal nastiness that is not getting better even with prescrip. Doc says no need to go to hospital bc they will only give him IV fluid and then send him home. So, he's on Gatorade, bananas, rice, broth, fresh or toasted bread (bagel), no coffee/tea/soda. I had a touch of it myself on Thursday and Friday and thought I was ok but got to share in the experience again today. So, we've been house bound. Med says "may cause drowsiness" -- what an understatement!
I took last weekend off from major sewing projects - took time to finish some things and to do a little clean up and rearranging of the "sewing/computer/doll/everything/junk" room. Got another table set up adjacent to sewing table so quilts will have a place to ride along while I'm sewing rather than falling into the floor pulling on the needle. On one end of that table I've set up my Singer 301 so that I can work on a separate project from what is on the major sewing table. DH and I put up another shelf in the room so I could get stuff out of the floor (machine cams, monogrammer, attachments).
Got a box for collecting strings and scraps - during my self-imposed respite from major projects I've done some fun string/scrap blocks (8.5" squares) that will eventually go into a quilt for DH and me. I love these bc I'm using strings/scraps from quilts I'm making for children/grandchildren - somehow connects us to the family.
Two of my children - the oldest and youngest - had birthdays this week...hard to believe one is 41 and the other is 35...where did the time go. Just yesterday I was rocking them to sleep. I still miss them so very much.
Went to doc this week (endocrinologist) - blood sugar levels still way up there. All the anti-rejection drugs I take for the kidney transplant cause sky high glucose levels. BUT, blood pressure has been great! Finally!!!
I have finally started on a new lap quilt for another granddaughter. This one will be done with half square triangle blocks, but will be quilted with quilt-as-you-go technique. I saw a different technique on a Fons and Porter quilting show (BYU channel). For this one you do not have to put sashing strips on front and back. Instead seams are made to the FRONT of the quilt, seams are pressed open, and then the seams are covered with sashing strips or ribbon, or large rick rack that's been braided, or any number of other things. I will choose to do sashing strips.
Got my Singer 645 out of the shop and set it into my Gidget sewing table only to find that it is not setting level. The cause? One of the rubber feet did not make it back home from the shop. So, had to locate another set of feet on Ebay and now need to wait until they get here before using the machine. GRRRRR!!!
Singer 648 is ready to be picked up...had all 5 gears replaced and machine cleaned/oiled/lubed. And what am I doing? Looking for another sewing machine!!! Always looking -- been looking at Singer 185J's. Someday I want a great big room (studio) where I can set up multiple tables with all my sewing machines so I can have all the projects going at one time.
Oh well, I need to go to take meds and go to bed. Goodnight world.
I took last weekend off from major sewing projects - took time to finish some things and to do a little clean up and rearranging of the "sewing/computer/doll/everything/junk" room. Got another table set up adjacent to sewing table so quilts will have a place to ride along while I'm sewing rather than falling into the floor pulling on the needle. On one end of that table I've set up my Singer 301 so that I can work on a separate project from what is on the major sewing table. DH and I put up another shelf in the room so I could get stuff out of the floor (machine cams, monogrammer, attachments).
Got a box for collecting strings and scraps - during my self-imposed respite from major projects I've done some fun string/scrap blocks (8.5" squares) that will eventually go into a quilt for DH and me. I love these bc I'm using strings/scraps from quilts I'm making for children/grandchildren - somehow connects us to the family.
Two of my children - the oldest and youngest - had birthdays this week...hard to believe one is 41 and the other is 35...where did the time go. Just yesterday I was rocking them to sleep. I still miss them so very much.
Went to doc this week (endocrinologist) - blood sugar levels still way up there. All the anti-rejection drugs I take for the kidney transplant cause sky high glucose levels. BUT, blood pressure has been great! Finally!!!
I have finally started on a new lap quilt for another granddaughter. This one will be done with half square triangle blocks, but will be quilted with quilt-as-you-go technique. I saw a different technique on a Fons and Porter quilting show (BYU channel). For this one you do not have to put sashing strips on front and back. Instead seams are made to the FRONT of the quilt, seams are pressed open, and then the seams are covered with sashing strips or ribbon, or large rick rack that's been braided, or any number of other things. I will choose to do sashing strips.
Got my Singer 645 out of the shop and set it into my Gidget sewing table only to find that it is not setting level. The cause? One of the rubber feet did not make it back home from the shop. So, had to locate another set of feet on Ebay and now need to wait until they get here before using the machine. GRRRRR!!!
Singer 648 is ready to be picked up...had all 5 gears replaced and machine cleaned/oiled/lubed. And what am I doing? Looking for another sewing machine!!! Always looking -- been looking at Singer 185J's. Someday I want a great big room (studio) where I can set up multiple tables with all my sewing machines so I can have all the projects going at one time.
Oh well, I need to go to take meds and go to bed. Goodnight world.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
October 26, 2010 Again
Forgot to say, we have done a FEW things. We managed to go to the State Fair - had a good time...yummy Fletcher corn dogs. We also went to the Senior Citizen Craft Fair and we signed up to show some things next year. We went to the quilt show, and I learned that I am a traditionalist. I admire the "showy" quilts (art pieces in my opinion - wow!), but I love bed and sofa quilts. Another thing we did was go to Homestead Heritage - there's a grist mill, pottery house, blacksmith shop, fiber center, and a wonderful deli/restaurant. There's a big craft fair held there over Thanksgiving weekend so we may go back - would love to take grandchildren. Thru the fairs and places we've discovered that we can do a lot of the things that are being done and shown.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Wow, I haven't been on here in a while. I've been extremely busy sewing like crazy...nights til the wee hours and weekends. All children and grandchildren are getting lap quilts for Christmas, I hope. Thus far I've completed 7 of them and #8 is almost finished...at least 4 more to go unless I can muster up the energy and have the time to make 7. I don't think that's going to happen, but we'll see.
DH's surgery went very well! He is recovering nicely and feeling much better. He has become involved in doing some crafts (decoupage) and is exploring many things to discover what he might like to do. He wants to take more music (guitar) classes when he's over this neck brace, and he has become involved in the activities of his high school graduating class.
We made a decision to give up the motorhome...Ken hasn't been able to operate it well in a couple of years and it was costing us a payment every month plus storage and insurance - and a little in maintenance. But no point paying for something that is just setting in storage.
I'm still working full time, but have been suffering with blood pressure problems. It was raging over 200 (219+). It is finally down most often to 130 or below, but I am taking more meds to keep it there.
I would like to post pics to this blog, but haven't figured out how. I'm not very good at this. would like to show some of my quilts on here.
That's all for now -- see you soon.
DH's surgery went very well! He is recovering nicely and feeling much better. He has become involved in doing some crafts (decoupage) and is exploring many things to discover what he might like to do. He wants to take more music (guitar) classes when he's over this neck brace, and he has become involved in the activities of his high school graduating class.
We made a decision to give up the motorhome...Ken hasn't been able to operate it well in a couple of years and it was costing us a payment every month plus storage and insurance - and a little in maintenance. But no point paying for something that is just setting in storage.
I'm still working full time, but have been suffering with blood pressure problems. It was raging over 200 (219+). It is finally down most often to 130 or below, but I am taking more meds to keep it there.
I would like to post pics to this blog, but haven't figured out how. I'm not very good at this. would like to show some of my quilts on here.
That's all for now -- see you soon.
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