Monday, March 30, 2026

color me happy!

a cold spring weekend inside mostly gave me impetus to fire up miss sunny to get re-acquainted and play in the stash....plus my library book needs to go back so it was time to sew.  pulled out some solids scraps about 10" or so and cut stacks....in no time at all this was ready for its closeup...

actually found it fun to whip these up and get it to a flimsy plus wipe out some scraps.  the hardest part is always the layout...i must have moved them around 5-6 times and finally quit.  very modern looking i think....would be easy enough to make more....do enjoy working with solids.   camera blocked out upper right but not in daylight...

with the chookshed challenge coming up again this week, pulled out the wensleydale foundation papers and got one block done.

the color palette is taken from the ocean....blues, greens, grays....only 59 blocks to go.  they are a bit fussy as paper piecing always is, but no rush and it does generate quite a mess of bits and bobs.  liking this first attempt and urged to continue.  a significant amount of stash should be busted by the finish...

our see-saw weather continues.....very warm during last week and chilly again over the weekend.  it was 61 today but the wind was icy as i scooted out for an errand.  our library has a memory lab where one can take VHS tapes, negatives, slides, 8mm reels and digitize them.  from mom's apartment i found 2 rolls of film never developed, 2 boxes of slides, some negatives and a bag filled with 8mm rolls my dad had taken.  delighted now that i'll be able to get these on USB for my siblings before they are lost.  

family holiday dinners in the past, will be focusing on the solemnity and rejoicing of Easter, but glad there are memories of them.  like Christmas, the real reason is the most important.  hope your week is full of spring's renewal and enjoyment!  

Monday, March 23, 2026

monday report

look who's back!  


saturday after house chores done, pulled this from its waiting space and actually did some quilting!  color me happy indeed.  it's been two months since last stitch on this project and delighted back on track.  as eye not quite 100% have to limit quilting time, but no matter....couple of hours feels pretty good.  

we enjoyed a thoroughly spring weekend, ideal for some much needed cleaning etc.  getting back into routine groove is a great stress reliever.  dear daughter and i went to trader joe's, haven't been there for a long time.  they do actually have some products that fit in my low sodium diet...which will give some variety to my tried-and-true recipes.  

just as i was finishing up vacuuming living room, the vacuum breathed its last.  some creative budgeting will be needed to get it replaced.  without a car, problematic trying to get it repaired--issue for another day.  for now, enjoying settling in to life before this  most recent detour...praying the last going forward.

and plan for monday???

have a blessed day!

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

improved!

not quite gone but now-viral eye infection is better, drops schedule modified and voila!  i could even manage a bit of machine time this week!


after the steroid drops, i get about an hour of focused bilateral vision....i used the time to sew up the last remaining kaffe tumblers into a future potholder and a scrappy project to use up some reproduction scraps...an endless task as we all know.  reading and hand sewing still waiting more improvement, which may come in the next week or so.  

for national quilting day planning to baste an autumn runner UFO and get it quilted and finished!  way beyond time to cross something off the UFO list.  

see-saw weather here continues like it does in many places...sunny but cold today and warming, then cold again the weather talking heads say....can't go on much longer with april around the corner.

much needed apartment tidy is the hope for the weekend.  some laundry, cooking and some scooter time.  saw this on instagram and sums it up perfectly!


life is indeed good and getting better!


Saturday, March 14, 2026

getting ready.....

went to the library today to return all the books that i couldn't presently read and picked up this one...fingers starting to itch!  the eye?

new doc equals some actual hope and glimmer of light ahead in this tunnel....ego and condescending platitudes gone replaced with real info and realistic prognosis. well worth trek to baltimore.  bacterial infection gone, viral has moved in....new antibiotics started and steroid to reduce swelling, hoping scarring will heal on its own.  if not, further treatment ahead.  since starting with UMD have gotten really good care that has improved health.  unfortunately, my daughter is chained to a health plan and is basically ignored by her providers...breaks my heart to no end.  if only she could switch.  

made a list of all that needs doing when both eyes back on the job.  despite all the detours and mis-steps, feel quite blessed for the many blessings in my life each day.  

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

not quite yet...

eye saga continues....turns out the "mycin" type of drops i'd been using around the clock were incompatible with my cardiac situation....allergic type response that caused lots of symptoms  finally culminating in event....quick ER visit....new savvy eye doc without the ego of the last....another specialist appointment upcoming....infection not gone but percolating with scarring present that may prevent complete restoration of vision....prayers ongoing by many to the Great Physician...met many internationals via lyft drivers at great expense i might add....two even drove teslas!  thankfully winter seems to have left the building and even a bit of sun now and then.  were it not for my faith keeping me going, would have caved long ago...dreaming of sewing projects and finishing my basted things, soon i hope.  

Saturday, February 28, 2026

sewing soon???

could very well be....today the first day able to keep eye open for any length of time...ventured out into spring sunshine and temps...and a quickie zoom all made for an enjoyable day....in my dreams i travel but only just dreams....grateful for small miracles that keep me going....

and no broken dishes so far!  instead at 2 am spent time on bike with 40s swing tunes on youtube...far less messy and energy zapping...hoping i'll be communing with needle and thread very soon and this latest detour just a memory....my DWR is long overdue to be finished....life is indeed good!

Thursday, February 26, 2026

4 weeks and counting....

four weeks today since first eye visit....no closer to regaining my eye function....plenty of drops, plenty of visits..starting to wonder if i chose the correct physicians for treating this...my insurance company is wondering also....the maryland medical misery train barrels on.....concern always when it'll resolve and if it'll be 100%....only God knows and i keep asking but no answer yet....

Friday, February 20, 2026

one eye reporting

no photos i'm afraid...still hobbling along with one eye....improving but snail's pace....cranky to the max as well....cannot book any follow up as county transit system again on the fritz, but not entirely confident in the care either..they offer a pricey Rx which any insurance doesn't cover, which seems dodgy to me....i have good health insurance and occasionally wonder if i am getting milked.....our governor promotes his "aging with dignity" campaign but one serious glitch...i am beyond furious.  only basics getting done....showers, simple meals, laundry, runs to pharmacy for more drops when it stops raining....it's been a month of monsoon and gloom here...another month from hell and away from the only pastimes that have kept me sane thus far...fearing padded cell not too far ahead if the eye doesn't hurry up....will end this post with message from inner self....SCREAM!!!!!!

Friday, February 13, 2026

quick update

 eye on limited use time so it's a quick post...yes infection hangs on...despite 2 drops around the clock...little use and definitely no reading, sewing, long movies...i had signed up for peacock to watch olympics and do manage to see a bit of them...before eye issue did redo on chair...seat was dodgy so just made a cushion instead...works fine...

obtained freebie king flannel sheet that provided batting for some small projects...got those cut and pulled backings as well, ow ready to baste when eye decides....


feel like 7 dwarves all in one...angry, mad, cranky, furious, scared, bored and despondent...if i had a car, i could have facilitated the care of the eye on a timely basis and might have forestalled this lengthy episode...and more bad news as state has cut my SNAP benefits yet again, 2nd time this year...what i get now wouldn't keep a sparrow in sunflower seeds very long...but God's eye is on the sparrow and hoping it's on me as well....nearly impossible for me to sustain even a meager lifestyle here in MD anymore...

had to sell little featherweight for a financial burden, now resolved.  it was a teary parting indeed, but no longer traveling and sat unused most of the time.  still i really enjoyed using it...the losses keep piling up...seems since mom passed, life has become more and more empty...or maybe that i just don't care anymore...oops vision time expired...will leave you with a shot of her favorite place...pemaquid point, maine....



Wednesday, February 4, 2026

catch up?

not yet....a fine winter day here with actual melting...but it isn't snow or ice or cold that has detoured me....it was this!!


 a nasty painful eye infection!  no sewing, TV or reading whatsoever...and yes i am THAT grumpy!  on a very slow mend so short post....life is still good....mostly