Monthly Archives: December 2012

Calendar

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This is the oddest December I can remember.  Usually I am running around trying to get the house decorated and making lists of cookies to be baked.  Dear Husband does the shopping for our granddaughters, and I try to take care of the rest.

But, this year we are focused on keeping to a schedule of physical therapy and doctor’s visits.  Monday, Wednesday and Friday are filled with notes on exercise and therapy, and Tuesday and Thursday we go to the doctor, do blood draws, and do the occasional salon trip.  We actually look forward to the weekend so that we can get a little rest from all the appointments!

Today, the nurse called to say that we need to stop by.  It’s not like we live next door to the doc.  This is a 20-25 minute trip.  I’m sure it must be important, or he wouldn’t have asked us to come it.  I’m concerned, worried that there is something going on that we’ve missed.  It would be nice to get GOOD news.

After the doc, Dear Husband gets his hair cut, and then we’ll do something about dinner.  I have two more squares to be crocheted by tomorrow, so I’ll need to have my fingers fly tonight!

Just in case you’re worried, I’m still thinking of lists of cookies to make. *G*

Responsibility

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Today, while I was waiting for Dear Husband at the doctor’s office, I was watching local news on the television.  At least three times, they showed video of a child at Sea World, feeding the dolphins, and what can go wrong when you do not pay attention.

This eight year old girl and her parents had paid to participate in the Dolphin Experience, where she would have the chance to feed the dolphins.  Her parents were busy video taping their daughter for posterity.  The girl had given her fish to the dolphins.  She had been warned NOT to pick up the white tray the fish came in, but she picked it up. As she turned to her parents, a dolphin lunged to get what it thought was more fish, wrapping it’s mouth around the girl’s hand.  When it realized there were no fish, the dolphin released her and slid back into the water.

Of course, her parents have shared the video with ABC, and it’s gone viral.  I have stopped listening, but by dinner time, I expect to hear of a lawsuit that will put Sea World out of business.

Personally, I think the parents should have been paying closer attention to their daughter.  If they have a child who is incapable of following instructions at eight, perhaps this was not the experience they should have signed up for.  The video I saw showed the girl’s hand following the “bite” and it looked as though there were marks, but very little damage otherwise.  I don’t think her skin was broken.

Prior to feeding the dolphins, instructions were given to all the participants, and they were clearly told, “Do not pick up the tray.  Leave the tray on the edge.”  The dolphins know that their meal arrives on these trays, and they will help themselves when they see the trays.

I’m sure opinion will be divided on this issue, but I think the parents needed to be more responsible  for their daughter.  Here’s the link to the video so that you can decide for yourself:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd_1Oyz_MPs

Outdoor Decorations

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I was supposed to do these yesterday.  I finally made myself do the stairs to the basement, to look for the bows I needed for the wreaths and swags.  I was so efficient boxing up Christmas last Spring to get it out of the way of our packing, that I can’t find a bin filled with burgundy bows!  So, I sulked and didn’t get anything done yesterday.

In a moment, I’ll be leaving the computer to make bows for three carriage lights and two wreaths.  This morning Dear Husband and I went out to Michael’s so that I could get the bows I needed.  Of course, those bows are no longer to be found on every end cap in the store, so I’ll have to make them.  Luckily, the ribbon was on sale, at half price.

I want to get the swags up at the carriage lamps, and the outdoor wreath in place this afternoon.  We have a little bit of rain coming in tomorrow, and I’d like to take advantage of our 62 degree temps!  I also need to trim some of our evergreens for branches to fill the container at the dining room windows.  I have tall, curvy twigs that will give the arrangement some height, and I picked up some fake red berries.  It remains to be seen if the squirrels will check out the berries while they look for places to hide black walnuts.  If it looks like they’ll be an attractive nuisance, I’ll find something safer to use.

So, I hope you’re all enjoying the day as much as I am.  Happy Holidays, and a Merry Christmas to you all!

 

Why is it…

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…that you get your best ideas just as you are on the brink of sleep.? Last night I managed to figure out a fabulous way to work out a problem on a project I’m working on, just as I was nodding off.  Unfortunately, I didn’t try to wake up and write it down, and this morning, not only can’t I remember the design solution, I can’t even remember what project I was thinking about.

Wait……it had to do with strip piecing fabric for drunkard’s paths blocks as the second border on the quilt I’m working on. YEAH!!! I just remembered.  I’ll have to take a look at it and see if that would work, or whether I just want to use straight forward un-pieced borders.  I had to make note of it, or I’d forget AGAIN!

At any rate, do you keep a notepad beside your bed for times like these?  Do you wake yourself up to make notes, or trust that you will remember?  There have been so many times I’ve said to Dear Husband as he was on his way out the door to work, “Remind me to tell you about my dream.”  It never works.  As soon as I’m awake the dream is gone.

At least I know what I want to try for my quilt!

Two Projects

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It’s time to see if I can upload pictures in Word Press!  I’ve been working on two projects and I’d like to share them with you.

The first project started out as a charity quilt for Scraps on a Mission, but I’ve put so many hours into the project that I may keep this quilt, and redesign a version of it that won’t take as long for us to make.  This is the Maple Leaf Log Cabin quilt from my stash:

I need 56 of the Maple Leaves, and there are ten extra in this picture.  I’ll have to pare it down a bit.  Based on what I can see here, I’ll probably delete ten of the darker blocks.  I have all the strips cut to add the log cabin pieces to the blocks, so in January I’ll sit down and pop a DVD into the player and sew like crazy!  The finished quilt is roughly twin sized.

This second project was the result of wanting to pack up part of the studio that doesn’t get used frequently.  I was sorting through some of the boxes, to see if the unfinished projects and unused materials could be packed, and found 29 blocks that had been made from the scraps of several previous quilts.  Some of the strips have been pieced to make them long enough for these blocks.  It’s truly a scrap quilt.

What looks tan in this picture is actually an old gold, and the pieced strips are all darker than they look here.  The fabric to the right is being auditioned for borders  for the quilt.  Trust me, it all looks much richer in person than it does here.  This quilt will most likely be square and slightly smaller than a twin size bed quilt.

I love it when a scrap project comes together.  Having TWO on the board at the same time makes me itch to sew!  Hopefully, I’ll have pictures for you when these are done.

All’s Well

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Dear Husband is recuperating from his knee replacement surgery.  He’s now my Bionic Husband, with metal and plastic in his knee.  I can’t wait to visit the airport with him! *G*  His stitches came out on Tuesday, and we now go out for physical therapy.  Following his first visit, he said he liked it and didn’t like it!   Even for this very stoic man, pain has been a persistent  companion for the past nineteen days.  At least it’s easing.

He walked down our long, uneven, driveway to get the mail yesterday., successfully.  He’s begun to shower again (thank God! lol), and we FINALLY got to sleep in the same bed. I know….too much information.  I’ve been sleeping very badly, so it was time  to move him back where it would be easier to keep track of him.

I’m so glad that things are going well.  My Bionic Husband deserves a little comfort in his life.

December is Upon Us!

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I  have really enjoyed the days since Thanksgiving.  The timing of Thanksgiving resulted in the longest period we get between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and it seems so much more relaxed when we have more time.  A friend reminded me that next year we will have the least amount of time between the holidays, and it will feel frantic.  I’m going to put that thought right out of my mind! *G*

My stepson took all the Fall decorations downstairs Thursday.  I didn’t ask him to bring Christmas things upstairs.  I thought that I could do it.  Maybe not.  I’m still having problems with my right foot (I see the doc on Tuesday).  However, I did bring up the boxes of things I use to make wreaths.  Unfortunately, I can’t find the bin that should have dozens of burgundy bows!  I might have to buy three more so that I can get the swags up on he coach lights while it’s still so warm outside.  We may be above 60 degrees F. tomorrow!  I was outside feeding the birds without a jacket this morning!

I’m going to make a rustic wreath using a grapevine base for the fireplace face in the living room.  Dear Husband is allergic to cedar, and he’s camped out next to the fireplace as he recuperates, so I thought maybe I’d depart from tradition and spare him.

I hope you’re all comfortable with your preparations, and enjoying the season.