red letter day!

that would be friday.....arm bandage be gone!

my 12-inch serpentine scar is out there now for all the world to see..but no biggie to me.  just glad ordeal is over--well just about.  still waiting on fingertips to wake up a bit but coming along slowly and they are quite usable for most tasks.  dr said it would be 3-4 months and he was just about right...10 days shy of 3 months.  

after few quick errands saturday, the sewing mojo kicked in and sat down at the machine to finish up some things.  i think my head had to adjust to not being a patient anymore...i could resume a life without nurse visits, gauze and other trappings.  so what did i do?  

first was get the HST border on this panel....one more border and calling it done...most important, it and all the pieces are OFF the sewing table now....

next came this project....

this panel was a donation to our group and since RWB lap robes were requested, this was flung to me to make larger.  there was a cream border on it that got removed but that didn't help a whit squaring it up.  it was woefully wonky, so called on all sewing tricks to get this to the requested size.  the word to remember when working with panels is FUDGE!  a checkerboard border is always a helpful tool...now that and its pieces are off the table as well....rest assured, my next project is NOT a panel!  

second sock coming along nicely....have now decided to rip out the other at the ankle where i made the biggest boo boo....i know every time i put it on it would nag at me...

hand piecing and hand quilting still waiting in the wings...still plenty of things waiting for attention plus a christmas wall quilt is planned.  numbness aside, hugely grateful for the progress thus far and all those who offered prayers and the wide range of professional expertise.  now can i have that vacation please?  yes, i'd gladly go to maine in october....have a blessed day!

a finish!

not quilty but my first sock is done!  it fits, it's funky and it is finished!  few errors still but one biggie related to left/right directions that can be adjusted on the next one.  fortunate i didn't expect perfection...LOL! 

also this weekend worked on the second lap robe flimsy for our group's vets project...and then some cool weather cooking was completed....was given 2 fat red peppers so stuffed peppers it was....

jam packed with fall veggies and in the freezer for quick fall meals.  next up was a pork stew.

was given some boneless chops...trimmed off fat and added to this melange of sweet potato, carrots, celery, onion, canned tomatoes, chicken broth, rosemary and oregano.  really nourishing, very low sodium and satisfying on cool days.  simple tasks but evoke long ago memories of busy kitchens where jams, veggies and fruits were "put by" for the winter ahead by my mom, aunts, great-grandmother.  

today could be the last bandage day.  able to get my watch back on so that's a big help.  nurse visit later in the week.  in two weeks it will be 3 months since onset of this current medical disaster.  so often i thought it would never end.  typing easily with both hands altho a bit of numbness persists.  feel like i can finally breathe a sigh of relief--once the housing issues get settled that is.  i am so overdue for some fun and diversion.

i saw this on instagram....a good reminder but confess i have failed at it already.....but today is a new day and God forgives....no halo for me yet....LOL!  have a coooool Monday!

looky looky!

well it finally happened!  friday took some hand sewing to weekly group and was actually able to do some applique....yowza!   the arm rebelled a tiny bit but then relented....the sorest place is just below the elbow in the widest part of the arm where the incision ends and where the giant clot was...it's slowly recuperating and getting used to moving again....but here's the sewing...

these had been prepped a while ago for 'sometime' which came yesterday.  it was a pleasant afternoon of chit chat and sewing...helps me feel less like a patient and more like a real person again...

i turned in my lap robe flimsy...

as of now i think we have about 18 or so with a goal of 25....next up for me is to utilize the panel and do something with that.  this project is a win/win for me as i get to serve vets in my community and also log these as volunteer hours for the DAR...

the give away tote yielded this light weight linen piece, just big enough for a table topper for christmas....it got hemmed and will snag some holly branches from nearby bushes to make a pretty festive table....it's about 30x34"....

once again find myself in an annoying housing situation where old selfish buzzards do as they please and management could care less.  complex rules work on paper only i guess.  the smoking and noxious air freshener fumes are quite bothersome to me and sometimes sideline me for an entire day.  what gives with these bratty seniors anyway?  with nowhere to go and no funds to take me, seems again trapped in senior housing hell....sheesh...more than irritated and discouraged at this point...was hoping for some enjoyable senior days but still elusive...

OT has discharged me and with few nurse visits left, could be finished sooner rather than later...one tiny spot still draining some but not for long.  anxious for this long, horrific saga to wrap up, fingers crossed that maryland will inflict its havoc elsewhere.  though it has been quite miserable, the excellent caregivers have been huge blessings and expertise to me...i could hug every one!

autumn is here and foliage up north has exploded...now would be a great time to have that stolen vacation in new england, don't you think???    blessings to all today!

ho-hum monday

predicted to be summer like but monday starting out gray and cool....weather almost never matters to me...whatever i need to do doesn't depend on it...lately it can't decide between summer or fall...

at our senior center is a large tote with all kinds of fabric pieces up for grabs...i always practice restraint but came home with these, each with a definite plan...

on the left is a turquoise scrap destined for 'wensleydale'....middle is a good size yellow cotton needed for a set of placemats and right is a 1.5 yard good for backing piece...

since the arm limits my sewing and use time, been keeping occupied with books and movies....my walmart subscription gives me paramount+ for free and occasionally i find a good movie there that's probably been overlooked....

based on a true story about a math teacher in a small, fading town.  he retires with no real plans on how to keep occupied.  then he discovers a flaw in a massachusetts lottery game, rallies his neighbors and the fun and winnings begin with amusing and lucrative results...

and this is the current read, a legal thriller by the master john grisham....never go wrong with one of his courtroom sagas....have to say didn't care for his 'camino' series as much....this one is about the coal industry in appalachia and its effects on ordinary people...

i wish i had more sewing progress to show....i'm down to one nurse visit a week and doing bandage changes myself.  OT comes today.  the arm is improving, nearly healed, but muscles and nerves need to catch up.  more use means more discomfort and that annoys me.  hoping to get back to the machine today.  my new sock start is coming along very well...so glad i ripped the practice one out.  i can see why they are popular as the work up fairly quick and colorful yarns make them unique...

off to start the day....have a good one!

getting in the groove

This is the day the Lord has made!  

now that wound vac gone and apartment tidied, have been slowly returning to pre-surgery routine....friday went back to quilty group.  took some hand work with me but arm rebels after just so long, not much got done.  our current project is lap robes for vets' hospice and red/white/blue color scheme requested.  i brought home enough to make two...saturday i started the first...

my stash is mostly fat quarters so nothing big enough for needed size of 50x60...this is the center of the first one.  and i had done a couple of quilts with panels for them to sell, which they did, so another was flung my way...

this is good size so not much will need to be added...first trim off top and bottom as it's a finished piece...i've enough scrappy on hand for this one.  i don't have to quilt them, just bring in tops...

arm still not quite healed....a couple of spots being stubborn....still draining tiny amount so may have to get a bit more aggressive to get this puppy completely healed.  discomfort has ramped up quite a bit no doubt due to increased use with freedom from vac.  i found using cane for support caused extreme discomfort in the forearm...fingers slowly, very slowly, improving...hoping i can quilt soon...a half day of sewing, household stuff and some baking was the limit...

and another steal from instagram...where i spend way too much time....

have a blessed day!

 

finally fall!

and certainly time to dig this out and finish it somehow...

this has been in the stash pile for some time and came close to donating but then.....so it's finish or out it goes....and with a hint of crisp air it was a good day for this...

apple crisp....when God gives you apples right?  

and since you asked (LOL), here is the sock just about done....

a great learning tool....does it fit?  sorta...really too big....do i like it?  nope....all my mistakes are glaring at me so will bite the bullet and pull it all out, start over now that i have the lay of the land, so to speak.  they are quite obvious even to the un-sock trained eye i'm sure.  i knitted too much tho and awoke in the night with arm pain, so taking it slower, but should still be done in time for cold weather here.

nurse just left....visits short and sweet now...one more this week then once next week...got mini-lesson in dressing change in case of drainage, but once that stops it's band-aids only!  it was exactly 2 months ago, july 21st, a monday before train trip, first symptoms started...now I need a real vacation!!

scarred for life now i guess, but it will fade some over time...eh, no biggie.  definitely huge sighs of relief....have a delightful day!

first things first

early in my calamity a gift arrived for some retail therapy.. during the long siege thinking about sewing or anything related was way back burner....now with siege ending entertained quilty thoughts and ideas.  so this squishie arrived the other day.

some flannel to use as batting in placemats and small projects to get them finished...then these kaffes whispered to me...a yard of each to use as backgrounds. the leaf print is from his william morris collection and it was a challenge to choose just one to add to the stash.  tho i am back to some sewing, not quite back to baseline.  first apartment needs some attention....prefer sewing in a tidy space.

in the not quite yet department.....

upper part not quite healed over....and not sure about that little bubble but nurse back monday....glad i opted out of graft....amazed at the improvement over post-surgery...so many have kept me in their prayers all this time and God has certainly heard them.  i am humbled, grateful and thankful beyond words.  

and since this is my blog, can i just say the very tenets of our republic are under attack.  the lack of respect practiced and promoted by our commander in chief and his blind followers has mushroomed into a nation where opposing opinions and free speech are acceptable cause for violent attacks.  he is on a witch hunt to silence every opinion but his own.   we are on the fringes of a dictatorship and it's a very slippery slope.  government control of every arena is so NOT what the founders intended, instead very much feared.  i highly recommend everyone read "the federalist papers" where every aspect of establishing our government was examined in depth and every possible scenario for protection from abuse and tyranny was anticipated insofar as was possible.  regardless of political affiliation or affinity for any particular segment of current society, it is imperative that basic rights and freedoms endure.

back to business

yes indeed the vac came off yesterday....still getting used to not having to think twice about moving around the apartment.  OT has been notified and will be here when schedule permits.  still 2-3 weeks for complete healing but new skin has already formed over part of wound.  after a day of packing up the infirmary,  it's back to normal diversions.  

did you hear?  100 days to christmas.  better get going on my scrappy quilt top for the senior center.  miss sunny and i are re-bonding....

before the vac came off, the stash got a quick re-org and fine tuned....some uninspiring pieces got flung and others got unearthed as the muse prompted...

healthy enough but not overwhelming....pieces on top are for some winter warmth garments....

however, this piece came out to play....first task was to separate the columns...

pulled some complementary pieces..few ideas percolating and final plan awaits...getting back into the groove in baby steps....this whole arm thing and its lengthy resolution took a huge stressful toll on me and finding that a bit more effort and rest has been required.  

and can it be true?  robert redford. movie golden boy of 70s and 80s and beyond has died...thank goodness for film....one of his that was a sleeper movie but really good...'the milagro bean field war'.  catch it if you can!

wrap up week

that is how it's shaping up to be....the puzzle is nearly done....anxious to box it up and use the sewing table to SEW something!

 friday evening did get in a bit of zooming with my like-minded peeps...until the nurse arrived anyway...

all very busy doing pretty things....very inspiring!

and stop here if you think you're a bit squeamish.....i am posting a photo of my arm in its near- healed state....looking very much like the wound vac is a wrap this week as well....

this is 1000% improved from post surgery....imagine it 2" deep and about 2" wide from my palm up to where the change in color is just below the elbow....sutures at top and bottom since he did a carpal tunnel release also...the remainder wide open...down to the muscle looking very much like a piece of chuck roast....though the wound vac is ideal for this, it was supported by a gazillion prayers from so very many... i am choked up with gratitude for each one.   a bit more to go but won't be long at all...

so looking forward to two functioning hands, some PT and getting back to routine not to mention quilting and sewing.  God is so very good isn't he???

but cap'n.....

she folded her napkin!  so says mrs. keller in the movie 'the miracle worker' after helen and miss sullivan destroyed the dining room acquiring some mealtime etiquette.  well, cap'n, she tied her shoes today!

now that is progress!  the OT was here the other day and she says use it, use it, use it, meaning the hand and fingers even tho a couple are still quite numb.  after wound vac off she'll be back with exercises to move things along.  the knitting is definitely helping....

just about ready to start on the body of the sock....and just like quilts, from the back of a galloping horse it looks pretty good...awkward getting used to 4 needles with 2 numb fingers but i shall persevere.

the wound is healing at an astounding rate tho not yet completely closed....nurse said it should do that on the wound vac so leash remains in place for now...the surgeon did carpal tunnel release as well and that incision in my palm is tender and a bit sore, aggravated using the rollator.  

the puzzle is about half done and still very challenging....may start rotary cutting some squares soon....thankful to be left-handed.  gotta awaken the muse you know!  have a blessed day!

new tricks!

 

occupational therapy eval this week but thought i would get a jump on it and start my socks....i never knit with 4 needles before but after a few youtube videos and then doing the opposite (i'm a lefty) got it going!  i hope this will awaken the sleepy nerves in my arm/hand/fingers...and that the socks fit of course!

what else?  dug out this kaffe puzzle i've had 4-5 years...with a couple of weeks ahead still thought i could get it done...i think i had about this much done the first attempt....i can only do this in short bursts...makes my eyes cross...LOL!

these diversions are keeping me mostly calm from the drama at the apartment complex....i've said all i'm going to say, they'll either do their job or they won't.

weather is superb....cool nights with cozy quilts, 70s daytime with breezes and sun....anxious to be free of the vac but nurse says will easily close up the wound entirely and graft won't be necessary.  since it's a question of major inconvenience now versus pain and suffering later, choice is simple.  

i have a couple of free streaming services and unearthed a couple of good movies that you might have passed over....one is "the ghostwriter" and the other is "georgetown", the latter based on true events...and i finally saw "where the crawdads sing"....and one more, "small things like these"....stars cillian murphy as a man who needs to choose between head and heart....have a blessed day...

no escape

apartment living for anyone with medical issues is now a game of russian roulette.  legalization of marijuana is the bullet.   management turns a blind eye, and those of us at risk pray fervently for rescue or at least to survive the never-ending storm.  i've now had TWO spontaneous bleeds while on Coumadin...one at Frederick housing where pot use was rampant and now here in Odenton where a solitary individual has given me the summer from hell.   why do they smoke it when gummies and other modalities keep others safe?  beats me.  thankfully God in his mercy has kept me safe so far...but i don't know what to do going forward.  a tiny house in the woods is one solution....the need for community services makes that complicated.  but with God all things are possible, so will try and be patient until the rescue comes...me i just don't like the wait.  

not quite yet

but soon i hope.....quilty muse slowly coming out of its coma.....trolling blogs to encourage it more....but arm still a hindrance.  hand and arm more uncomfortable past couple of days which i hope means healing and re-awakening...anxious for first PT visit to get more details.  can now type a bit with affected hand tho fingers still somewhat numb--index and middle and part of thumb.  keeping up with important things better and regular showers...in spite of assault by weed devotee in building, akin to pouring salt on open wound.  should have gone to ER but just could not. *** today probably last farmer's market day...season over too quick if you ask me.  grocery order now includes cool weather food prep items.  loving the cool weather tho and it can stay forever.  gratitude list still overflowing despite wearying days that can't be over soon enough.

saturday news

wound vac still working its magic....looks like 2 more weeks, if that.  majority of wound now healed and flush with surrounding arm area.  first visit with hand specialist and he says ready for graft...which is no small procedure, especially on top of events to date.  he only operates in baltimore--travel issues--plus graft and donor site (thigh) means TWO new wounds (plus pain), meaning dressing changes and possible rehab stay, not to mention post-surgical limitations...i was overwhelmed and teary.. skin graft for aesthetic purpose only...am i vain enough to need this?  no way!  it will fade over time anyway.  do i have the inner strength to take this on?  no way!  PT has been ordered and that is my limit...still a way to go to regain strength and flexibility.  i've decided to knit a pair of socks which should be good therapy don't you think?  and i still need a rejuvenating vacation!!!!  hoping soon to report some sewing news....

so many gifts

first the gift of another birthday.....always grateful for each and every one.

all the other gifts are from the army of caregivers who got me thru this recent medical crisis...so many went above and beyond using training, skills, over-and-above compassion and patience...keeping me as comfortable as possible, orchestrating care and follow up across state lines, getting me ready to fly, fixing many night-time mini crises and comforting barrels of tears, many many prayers along the way....angels every one.

still housebound tethered to the wound vac leash, finally making steady healing progress, finally able to see beyond the hardest part. nurse says halfway home!  God is good all the time even when His plan is known only to Him.  things slowly going south in the complex....more pot smoking doubly dangerous to me now.  devastated...like how do i get into these unsafe places?  

birthday surprise

it isn't until wednesday but i justified it was needed.....

a blue purse for essentials has been on my want list awhile and getting a package that wasn't medical supplies seemed a good idea....and it will take the place of the wound vac at some point.  this is from portland leather and much more reasonable than dooney or coach.  

another good report from friday wound change....all indications are should be free of the machine and leash sooner than first quoted.  so thankful for millions of prayers offered on my behalf and for a God who answers...have a blessed day....PS hunt and peck typing with 2 hands now!!!

slow and steady

 it seems as if madame arm is now in full healing mode...still months to go but all caregivers declare healing in progress, wound clean and pink....

see how pink the entire hand is now when previously swollen and quite purple....the bandage has been abbreviated a bit as well and pain with dressing changes down a bit...

i showed this gift before but now i have plenty of time to read in depth....i do not yet have mojo to tackle any projects right now...

once my fine motor grip and strength improves some i should be able to get back to sewing....i am a lefty thank goodness!   

quick update

after 4 weeks, 4 different hospitals, several ER visits, tests, scans, am finally home now.  wound vac back on monday for what i am hoping is the smooth road to recovery without interruption.  while i know many suffer much more, this has drained me physically, emotionally and yes tested my faith a bit.  but once rested and nutritionally solid again, will be ready to take it on.   a shower and shampoo today was the best beginning.  all medical people say it looks very good. healing evident and very pink.  my right hand is nearly all pink and all fingers move freely. so very thankful to all caregivers north and south.   prayers still needed to keep spirits up coping with limitations and for transportation to various appointments...and i will paraphrase here..."i thank my God for you..."  can add in my daughter struggling with annoying health issue herself......blessings!

The un-vacation

 Arrived in maine july 22nd, whisked off to ER with spontaneous bleed right arm....thank you coumadin!   A few more ER visits and finally transfer to maine medical center for immediate surgery...thankful a very skilled team saved my arm function...remained there 8 more days with some annoying setbacks, finally cleared to return to MD.  One more ER visit and now hopeful for uneventful, lengthy recovery with skin graft ahead...discouraged, disappointed, yes depressed and dejected...no beach, family fun, lobster, day trips or quilt show.  Aside from heart surgery, MD has not been kind...even my daughter has some chronic issues that seem to defy resolving...so MD has not been kind to either of us.  So more life adjustments with likely jump in insurance premiums...very disconsoling after herculean efforts to improve quality of life...Has shaken but not broken my faith...God sees the tears and hears the cries...i have no answers only that He will get me thru and has a purpose...and i hope that includes some fun for a change...

Two for Two

the two solids tops made in june have a home!  both went to the friday group to finish and donate to the vets' hospice...the bright solids top has gone home with someone to add borders but i can show you the finished top of the plaid triangles...

it has now gone home with the quilter for finishing...added the simple squares border of the sewing table pile that hadn't got put away yet...good thing...the peeps seemed to like it, proclaiming it ideal for our project.  

aside from working on 'wildest dreams' this week, spent two days with a friend making stockings for her church's holiday fair.  she originally planned to make 5, but might as well make 20 i said...she gasped a bit but teamwork got it done....

she was kind enough to pick me up and serve me lunch both days, and we both declared a job well done.  it delights me to share my talents with others for worthy causes; thanks be to God for his provision of my abilities!  

other than this bit of sewing progress, mostly stayed inside out of oppressive heat, did some house chores and cooking.  our building had 2 deaths last week who actually lived across the hall from each other, so 2 long-waiting individuals will be joining us soon.  

we have a newish tenant with a connection to free produce, and the other day he arrived with about 12 boxes of various items, most welcome.  unfortunately, a certain few took advantage but thankfully the manager saw and spoke to them.  they seem to have little regard for others in the building, which rankles many and rightly so. 

anyway another cloudy day, sporadic rain and thunder showers i guess but still hot...so what else but keep cool and sew on!  

chookshed challenge met

 it doesn't seem like much but did meet the challenge to get the first row done....

this is the middle center row, 3 more top and bottom....all hand pieced, which does take some time but no rush on this...summer isn't over yet and plenty more blistering days ahead to sew....

other than 'alaska' not too much going on.  one of my old throw pillows needed a wash and ran it thru but got damaged...the fabrics were given to me and came from the ex's grandmother, the sewist in the family.  both sides were patchwork, so did my best to rescue with an orphan block....

brother #2 and one of his sons, soon to be mustered out of USAF, took a trip to see this....it's the USAF 50th anniversary quilt....really pleased he thought of  me and sent it along....this nephew is a twin, his brother in the USN....couldn't be more proud of their service to our country....my dad would have been busting with pride.  

one of the blogs i follow is www.quiltinspiration.com....along with a gazillion free patterns in a multitude of categories, she often features quilts seen in her travels.  this week it's been modern quilts and she posted this recently....

made by sue erdreich...it's off the bright meter chart but wow, so exciting.  not something i'd attempt but it is gorgeous in my book.  can't you just imagine it hanging in a large, well lit space?  yowza!!!

another week of summer...did manage a few nights with windows open but not for long.  now that my challenge is complete, the remainder of july will be working on 'dreams'....a christmas stocking work day coming up and hoping to complete all 20.  spent half a day sorting the baggie of christmas scraps and there is enough for a christmas top the group can sell.  also, we just got another request for more lap/twin quilts for the vets' hospice...reminds me of the excellent care my mom got so i am more than happy to contribute.  summer nearly 2/3rds over, at least the worst of it...so keep cool and quilt on!

scraps revisited

the friday holiday was an uber sewing day for me...remember that baggie of christmas scraps?  pulled them out, sorted by precut squares (4.5"), biggie scraps, smallest unsuitable for my purpose and others used for strips.  got 5 stockings done to the point of adding cuff, lining and hangers. 

had so many santa scraps, made 2 with just those scraps.  my co-sewist has the other 15 waiting for backs, lining, cuff and hangers.  a sewing day is planned to get them all done. 

then, took the precut squares and pieces that could be cut for a scrappy top for the center to sell.  not nearly enough squares, so assembled some from the gazillion 1.5" strips left from the stockings.  

 

enough christmas!!  pulled out the 'alaska' project.  here's the layout of the blocks...still far to go but did finish another baggie of 4 blocks.   

the center block.  the next 2 baggies will finish the center row, which hoping to have by end of july.  would consider that significant progress albeit not anywhere near finished.

this is entirely hand pieced and will be hand quilted of course....other than this sewing, not much shaking here in 90s maryland...this week more vacay prep with haircut, cleaning fridge, mail my quilt off to maine quilts...this week really must get back to quilting 'dreams'....

counting my blessings and paying homage to this genius....

Three Cheers!!!

for the red, white and blue....

ignore the politics, blustery rhetoric, partisan wranglings and just bask in the freedoms and the sacrifice of those who have made them possible for nearly 250 years....researching my ancestry gave me a greater appreciation of ordinary people who did extraordinary things to protect their livelihood that led to the formation of our republic.  they could not have imagined where their actions would lead.  hoping you take a moment to reflect on all that independence means and how important it is to preserve a government of the people, by the people and for the people....

be patient disgruntled and dissatisfied Americans...from ev'ry mountainside, let freedom ring!