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!

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.  

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.  

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!

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....

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!!!!!!

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....

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

snow sewing

 i saw this on facebook...LOL

i've lived in MD for 10 years and never seen as much snow as we got over the weekend...no real marathon sewing for me as i've lots of free time to sew even without storms, so just more of the same really.

did some quilting on my double wedding ring quilt, hoping to finish february...i zoomed some with my quilty peeps down under (and elsewhere), doing some applique on the vintage melon squares.  applique half done on this project...these are twosies for now....

finished my chair (finally!).  done but definitely not perfect...back to upholstery school for me i guess....basting day planned for this week.  

was given another bag of drumsticks, so made small chicken pie and baked/froze the rest for future.  did make a batch of cinnamon rolls.  with another week of frigid temps--single digits every night--have pretty much slipped into hermit mode.  thankfully stocked up on library books.  

despite boredom so very thankful for warm, comfortable shelter, a real blessing.  so many in my complex gripe about every little inconsequential thing, one reason i avoid them.  though not my dream home, it is more than adequate for me.  counting my blessings every day...hope you do too!

not extreme makeover....

those batik blocks?  originally thought about placemats but eureka!  my chair needed a makeover...requiring just 2 blocks.  

today the other half gets finished....definitely an improvement....

what else is going on?  a quick scoot monday to store before deep freeze...tuesday AM was 17, wednesday early only 11,  which is like 40 below to marylanders, but not this yankee gal.  my sweet knitting mom and LL Bean have me well supplied with warm stuff.  even so, ocean dreams have been forefront in my mind...summer IS coming!

with a weekend storm brewing, lining up tasks...a mega basting day is on tap....can't finish if basting isn't done.  these are next in queue....i might even machine quilt a couple to hurry up the finish list....

and what is better on cold days than warm, comforting soup?  my repertoire is limited to a few, but this is a cold weather staple....chicken noodle!  a 5# bag of drumsticks given to me resulted in a big pot, most going in the freezer for quick thaw meals later.  

and with january over half gone, chookshed challenge of  the "semiquin" is progressing....basting is nearly done and applique of this and quilting of the DWR will be taking up remainder of month.  photo deceiving but dates at bottom are even and, more important, equidistant from edges...

prepping for a few days hibernating....remains to be seen how much actual snow we get and doubt we will lose power, so all that is needed (and on hand) are meals, snacks, sewing supplies, binge watching schedule and exercise bike...LOL.  so thankful to be warm and cozy inside without a real care about extreme weather...definitely a blessing!