sno-wear

Bag Lady

2012-01-31T20:15:00.002-05:00

So Lill wanted a bag that was not "fou-fou pink" but still had a bit of whimsy for carting her laptop back and forth to campus when she didn't want to use her "uber-pack"-that's what I privately call the Swiss gear pack all the kids have for their laptops and other stuff-it's like wearing a mini suitcase on your back. We have already picked out a pattern to make for a bag for her conferences that will look professional, so this bag had to fall in-between. I started with a basic messenger bag, but had to expand.

I made an inside pocket for just the laptop and doubled the padding in the pocket and the back of the bag. Then I put a shorter pocket on the inside front that will hold the mouse and power cord. I made an adjustable strap that may be too short, but that's not difficult to change. I thought the buckle I got for the slide was kind of tacky looking by itself, so I covered it with fabric. I also reinforced the sides and bottom with woven webbing between the outside fabric and the lining. The outside fabric was a real bargain-drapery material at $5.97/yard. The inside is quilting weight cotton in a mahjong tile print. So, it was a fun project and kept me off the streets on Sunday while I sewed.

Of course, I can't find the cord for the camera to download the pictures I took before I wrapped it for mailing, so either I'll find it soon, or Lill will have to take pictures and send them to me to post.....

There are definitely times I dislike technology.....why couldn't this camera use the same size cord as the gazillion other cameras we've had around here and still have the cords for? (and I know, I shouldn't end a comment with a preposition, but that will be a new post eventually)

Unhappy sounds

2012-01-22T17:36:00.002-05:00

Today I moved enough stuff in the blue room to get close to my sewing machine. I'm not sure I'm happy though, Kenny is making a very bad sound when I sew. He started it when I was appliqueing the cutouts on Peg's quilt, but I did a real good cleaning and oiling and let him sit for while. However, today when I sat down to finish up some coasters that have been cut out for months (lots of months), he was fine until about the third one, then he started squeaking. It isn't pretty. So, on Thursday when I have a day off I will load him into the car and take him in to the shop and see if the guys there can get him to stop making noises he shouldn't be making. I have about half a dozen coaster sets cut out from holidays 2009-they were for the folks at work, but then Lou ended up in ICU in Ohio and that blew that holiday season to shreds. Since they were stacked on the table in the yellow room, and all the stuff in there was moved around over the past year, I completely forgot about them until early this month when they surfaced from hiding. The nice thing is that all the cutting is done, just need to do the sewing. Man, am I getting a jump on this year's holiday gifts!

Three of four walls are done so the painting moves along. It should be finished this week and furniture start to return. Lou will be rewiring an antique lamp from my mom's house (I call it antique because it's been around forever) and that will join the redecorating scheme.

I've drafted the pattern for Lill's sort-of messenger bag. It's a bag for her computer and stuff when she goes to meetings and conferences, but it's not a true messenger bag. She's trusting my judgement to pick the material, and I'm hoping to find something that is whimsical but still will pass for professional-tall order, but I'm up for it!

I finally found the perfect thank-you gift for Lill's friends Kayla and Andy who showed us such a wonderful day in Cambridge. It turns out Kayla is a goldfish cracker fanatic, and they are not available in England. So, when I was at Costco for the first time in ages, I found not only the large box that holds three bags, there was also a box of 24 individual bags for lunches. After dinner tonight I will write a note of thanks and package it up to send to the UK. I hope they enjoy it.

I had the nicest birthday yesterday with cards from my family, phone calls and dinner out at SushiKo. I got to do nothing all day while Lou and Sarah painted. I was really bad, too, as I clicked up Netflix and spent the afternoon watching episodes of season two of Torchwood, a spinoff of Dr. Who. If you are not aware of my liking for Dr. Who, than you really don't know me very well, do you? One of the highlights, among many, of my trip to London was shopping in the flagship store of Forbidden Planet, one of the absolutely best sources of Dr. Who merchandise. I think David Tennant is still my favorite doctor, but I will give "the new guy" a chance (not much of one, but I will give him one....)

So, building on my idea of setting goals rather than making resolutions, I have done a walking dvd today. 30 minutes, but covered two miles with interval work. It wasn't easy, which shows how far I have to go, but at least I started instead of putting it off. So, one goal, Start Moving, has been started. I won't say it's been met, because it needs to be more than one time, but I'm working on it!

Good weather

2012-01-16T12:53:00.002-05:00

I am really glad we are having a mild winter with no snow, just wind and cold. I am especially glad of the sun and no snow as Sarah is shopping for furnishings for her room make over. For example, she has been scouring Craig's List for a secretary. The secretary we have, my grandmother's, does not have a large enough work surface for a laptop and books, nor does it have sliding reinforcements-hence the search.

She found a few worth looking at, one she especially liked with claw feet, circa late 1800s early 1900s. The "little" hitch was that it was in Mechanicsville, VA, a short 122 mile hop away. Since her friend was coming this weekend to visit with a van, sounded like it was worth a road trip down to look at it. Saturday morning we took off on a really nice drive, the scenery was beautiful and must look extraordinary in summer all green, or autumn when the leaves are changing. The GPS the kids gave me for my birthday worked perfectly, got us to the house of the seller. It was love at second sight-first sight was online. The secretary is in excellent condition, exactly what she wanted. So, rather than have to make a second trip to VA, we put down Miss Lucy's top, loaded the secretary in the back seat, covered it with towels and twine, and drove home. Thankfully we didn't have the predicted rain to contend with! We also made a lot of people smile as they passed us (even though I was driving the speed limit) and when we stopped for a hot drink, one lady looked at us and the car and said, "I bet you two are cold". We were, a little, but we had the heat blasting at 3 and were really warm enough.

We got home and Lou helped us unload the secretary from the car before I thought to take any pictures. Humphrey is home, waiting downstairs until the painting is finished. Of course, he may have a name change once he settles into his new home.

Amazing people

2012-01-14T21:11:00.003-05:00

I have been blogging for a few years now. I started while I was recovering from cancer surgery and continued as I got involved in online groups of apronistas and quilters. I entered a few swaps and a few bees. These wonderful people have been so supportive through my recovery, through my husband's stroke, recovery and then his foot surgery.

Recently I asked my bee buddies to make me multicolored shapes rather than a block for my month. The plan was to make a lap quilt for my father-in-law's wife who had recently entered a care facility and was spending most of the time in a wheelchair. One of the important tasks caregivers do with dementia patients is repeatedly point out familiar things to keep their minds active. With the winter coming I wanted something warm for her. I planned to mount the shapes on black fleece to stand out, and backed it with a floral print flannel. Well, of course, the group came through in ways I had not ever expected! Eleven buddies sent 25 cutouts in rainbow colors. What wonderful people there are in the world, and I am glad they are in my corner of it.

I wanted to post this earlier, but life has a way of messing with my plans. I just want everyone to know that I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me create something that will bring warmth and color on a daily basis.

xxooxx,
San-Dee

"I'm so glad"

2012-01-03T21:33:00.002-05:00

a great song by Cream. If you don't know who Cream was, then either you didn't pay attention to rock-n-roll, or your parents didn't raise you right.....

What I am glad for tonight is that though it's REALLY cold here in Maryland, we do not have snow like my father-in-law is getting hammered with in Ohio.

I am glad that my daughters are home and can show me how to deal with the Mac. I'm not a computer savvy person to begin with, and I was really comfortable with the pc, but the next-in-line hand-me-down computer was the mac. If we get Sarah a new mac for her next set of classes, then maybe I can get her Lenovo which I can definitely deal with better than this mac. An example: I have no trouble downloading the pictures from the camera to the computer; I just can't find them on the computer after I download them. Then when I find them, I can't always figure out how to post them to my blog. So, the girls to the rescue. Hopefully, tomorrow I will be able to download the quilt I made for Peg with the Scrap Bee shapes everyone sent me.

I am glad there are still people in blogland who think of me. I treasure your friendships and support as my life takes all these weird twists and turns as we age.

I am glad I work with young people who are excited about what they do, and treat me not as an equal but an honorary mom. I get to be a part of their lives and offer advice whether they want it or not, and isn't that one of a mom's prime jobs?

I was going to write a last lofty thought for the day to end this, but then I said to myself, "whoa, you were an English and Phys. Ed. major. You have a tendency to take yourself too seriously, so lighten up!" So, instead, I'll leave you with this thought: "For every action , there is a reaction." This means if you are eating cake or chocolate, you need to take an equal number of bites so that each hip gets the same amount of stored energy (ha! I bet you thought I was going to write fat...).

Happy New Year

2012-01-02T18:54:00.002-05:00

This is definitely not an original title to a post, but I'm not concerned about it. I have not been in blogland for many months, the last few months of 2011 were not particularly healthy for us and blogland was just one more thing I had to think about.

So, to briefly summarize, the eldercare issues in Ohio continue; my father-in-law's wife was moved to a care center in September, and though she knows it is not "home" it is a much better environment for her. She receives much more stimulation on a daily basis, and is allowed to manage as much on her own as she can. This is tremendously difficult for my father-in-law, but he is coping. We have not been in Cleveland as often as previous months as Lou's health took a couple of hits in September and October with three trips to Emergency resulting in two hospitalizations. I was set to go to London to help Sarah start packing to come home, and to visit as I had never been there before. Lillian came in from AZ to stay with her father when he was released from the hospital, otherwise I wouldn't have gone.

England was amazing. I still can't easily talk about the impression the country made on me. All the years of studying England and literature bound up in places I thought I would never see. Seeing an original First Folio and Canterbury Tales were only the starting points! Seeing Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, Oxford, Cambridge, Bath, London--we packed a lot of walking into two weeks.

The new year brings the usual thoughts about "what should I do differently?" This year I'm not making resolutions because they get broken so easily. I am making goals which gives me the opportunity to work on meeting them. Some of the goals I am setting have a lot to do with myself and finding "me time'-time to read, sew, crochet. I need to rededicate myself to self-improvement; like losing a few pounds and starting an exercise program. The kids got me a Fitbit and it's been a fabulous tool to watch the downloads track everything from steps to stairs to activity periods. It's definitely helped me move a little more-not enough, but more. I'm setting a goal to stay in better contact with my online friends. You don't know how much your support has meant to me over these last few years through my surgery, Lou's health concerns, the eldercare issues.... I wish I could gather you all in for a huge hug.

So, as I sit and smell wonderful aromas from the kitchen as Sarah and Lou prepare dinner, I can think again how lucky I am to have a family who likes to cook!

I'll try and post more often to remind myself that there are people "out there" who are interested in what I'm doing and thinking about!

I wish you all a happy new year, and may you enjoy good health and happiness.

San-Dee

Habits

2011-09-23T16:27:00.002-04:00

I am a creature of habit- those who know me well will agree. I don't mind change, and I think I adapt fairly well to it- "going with the flow" so to speak- but one of things I am having difficulty with is adjusting to the MacBook. It is my latest hand-me-down laptop from the kids, the Toshiba finally needed to rest in peace. I've been using it since at least June, and only today did I find out how to access the bookmarked sites that don't show up automatically when you hit the bookmarks arrow. No comments about slow learners... I am not the type to push buttons randomly to see what happens, and sometimes I don't ask because I don't want to look stupid. I just figured that the bookmarks had been "lost in the switchover". I should never have doubted Lillian and Jack, all my stuff is here and it's just a matter of finding it. What fun on the rainy rainy day we are having. Weather channel says up to 4 inches, we've had 1 already.......

Yuck, need sun soon!

2011-09-20T18:15:00.002-04:00

We have had four days of cloudy weather, with some rain thrown in for grief and I need some sun! I have a "natural" lamp at work which helps, but getting into the car to drive home in the blah is really unpleasant. We are supposed to have heat and humidity again on Thursday and Friday, so hopefully we will have some sun.

I have set aside Thursday to start organizing my sewing space so I can get in to my machine. I have really missed sewing, especially since the only stuff done in June was awful! I hate the fact that I can no longer pick up a pattern, cut it, sew it, and look like a million bucks. Getting older is NOT fun in that respect! i have three dresses that all need minor to major renovation if I'm to salvage the material that went into them. But, that is not going to be Thursday's project. Thursday's project is organizing the blocks I need to sew to catch up with all of you, my dear online quilting buddies who have been so patient!! You just need to be a little more patient, then things will come to you!

Slowly I am regaining my optimism, polishing up my rose colored glasses and hoping I can find new things to get excited about. One of the concerns I had for my father-in-law is that over the course of caring for his wife, his world has shrunken considerably. Funny, but with all our support of him, my world has done the same thing. So, on to new adventures and experiments. Any ideas out there?

Outdoor Day

2011-09-17T17:43:00.002-04:00

Today Lou and I spent almost all day outside dealing with the yard. The tree limbs have been in the yard for two months at least and I really wanted to have one segment of my life/house/area in a "maintenance rather than needs work" mode. We finally cut all the limbs into fire place size and pitched them over the fence into the side yard-tomorrow's job will be stacking them for winter. After the limbs were cut, we weed-whacked the flowerbeds to cut down the dead stuff. i finished cutting the grass, which was about 10 inches long. It was so long the mulching mower couldn't mulch it all, but at least it is cut and we move forward from here. I brought one of the trellises out and set the gourd vines up. I'm hoping the 6 little ones will grow as we are now definitely into fall. I think we'll plant pumpkins next year-Lou suggested it and it sounds fun to me, Halloween is probably my favorite non-religious holiday.

And this year, since I don't leave for London until November 2nd, I will be home for Halloween. Thoughts are already swirling-who/what will I be? I'm still leaning toward Abby from NCIS, but I'm not sure I want to buy Goth boots when I'm leaving for London two days later and will want money to spend on souvenirs. I love Halloween-the costumes, the candy, the silliness we have at work. Every year I could kick myself for letting Lou talk me into getting rid of the Donald Duck costume-maybe I need to look in my pattern piles and see if I still have it...

DD2 will be home in about a month-she has another meeting in the Midwest and will come home since she's so close. I'm ready-we need to get her ready for Halloween, and do a little work on a more professional look for her meetings.

So, now I'll take some tylenol against later possible pain, and go enjoy the dinner Lou has cooked for us tonight.

Regaining my home

2011-09-12T17:55:00.002-04:00

It is good to be home again. Now that my father-in-law's wife has transitioned to the facility, it will not be necessary for us to drive to Cleveland every other weekend. We can space out our visits to allow him to adjust to a life alone in the house. He will find his rhythm and routine.

Now I will be able to start spring cleaning here at the house. Or maybe I should just call it fall cleaning, whatever. It will be started this week. Hopefully it will not rain Thursday and I can get the last of the small branches bundled for garden recycling. Then we can cut the lawn and not have the shabbiest one on the block. Once the front yard is reasonable, I can start working on my sewing area. I have to get to it to be able to sew....

And do I have spectacular projects!! Not only do I have quilt blocks to catch up on, but I have a few daughter projects. It all started because DD2 asked if I would be willing to bring some patterns over the pond in November. YES-I will be going to London to visit her! She has two friends who are seamstresses and very into retro patterns. They love the Vogues, but to order online and then pay shipping to the UK is a lot of money, and they are graduate students. So, KS asked if I would be willing to bring them if they ordered them and had the patterns shipped to our house. Being a mom, and happy to know that the next generation is sewing, I said of course! Well, what happens but two days later I get a mailer from JoAnne's Fabrics that for the Labor Day sale all Vogue patterns are $3.99, limited to in stock, in store. I told KS to have the girls send me the numbers they wanted and sizes. Got an email the next day. I wanted to check out a location I'd never been so I schlepped to the JoAnne's in Gaithersburg-great fabric, so-so pattern selection. But, I got a great dress pattern for KS and red dupioni silk (washable!!) to make it, and a gorgeous blazer pattern for both-hip length for Roseola, waist for KS. But the best part, as always, was the fabric! I got a beautiful pale gray suit weight wool for the hip blazer, a red-with-embroidery fake suede for the waist length. The Rose wants to look more professional at her meetings, and at this point in her career she should. She'll be visiting in October and I hope to get a basic pant pattern fitted to her-then I can make her some dress slacks for her meetings.

Then I went to "my" JoAnne's in Langley Park and got the rest of the patterns the girls wanted. From online prices, I saved them about $60. I can't wait to see what they come up with for fabrics.

Another project will be to use up all the fleece that never made it into jackets or hoodies. I was going to donate it, but I can make lap blankets for the facility Peg is in. Most of the residents tend to get cold, most are in wheelchairs, and the fleece can be done in those no-sew rectangles. So, I have projects, lots of projects......

Father's Day

2011-06-19T09:45:00.003-04:00

It always amazes me how the little everyday things become important landmarks of our growing up.

When our children were very young, we used to play this game of placing our hand, with fingers outspread, over their face and saying "alien your fa-ace..." similar to the way the baby alien in Alien would jump out and attach itself to someone's face. In full disclosure, we never thought about any traumatic effect this might have, it was more to teach them to be careful of their eyes, but not fear something close to their faces. It was years before they finally saw the movie and realized their parents are a little off the normal chart.... Well, about a month ago Lou received a package from daughter #2. She had ordered him an alien plush toy, complete with pose-able front appendages. It was the perfect gift.

This year he received multiple cards from them, not an unusual thing. What is memorable is that they both made reference to strawberries. Daughter #1, Lillian, has always allowed her father to cut up her strawberries as she enjoys the princess treatment. Daughter #2, Sarah, once trying to establish her own capabilities, informed us she could cut her own strawberries.

So, it's not surprising that both sent cards with personal notes about #1-letting him continue to cut her strawberries and #2-even though she could do it herself, he was welcome to cut them anytime.

It's all about giving them the opportunities to become the best people they can become, but it always pleases me when they do something that shows we "did good", as my cousin would say.

And to see their father's face, hear his laughter, as he reads their cards- as Mastercard says, "It's priceless".

Amazing ladies

2011-05-28T17:27:00.002-04:00

I am truly blessed with online friends. I recently had to withdraw from sending my block for the Bee Balm (www.thebeebalm.blogspot.com) due to eldercare issues we are dealing with out of state. All the other girls sent me wonderful emails of support, and it has truly helped lighten my mood.

Having Lilli and Jack around has helped. I also made an executive-mom decision to have Sarah come home for a few weeks at the end of June. I think having the daughter fixes has/and will help me turn around. Most importantly, I realized that my life has its ebbs and flows, and I need to just accept that and not get crazy.

Today Lou and I did a little yard work, and (why am I not surprised?) when I was trying to fix the weed whacker ANOTHER piece jumped into the flower bed never to be found again. I even brought my heavy duty magnet from downstairs to try and find it in the leaves of ivy. So, there we were, on a trip to Home Depot. Lovely day to be riding around with the top down. The store was a zoo, but we had figured it would be so we didn't get bothered. Came home, put together the NEW weed whacker, and edged the front lawn. Looks good, and I had fun!

Lilli and Jack will be around for dinner tomorrow, and maybe on Monday. She goes back to AZ Monday night, and back to work. We got her a new computer for her birthday next month, which of course means I have a new hand-me-down computer! and all is good. She will be able to access her work stuff remotely with the new Mac, and it will be much easier for her. When it came in and Jack loaded the software she needed, I knew we'd made a good choice because Jack said he was jealous. He's an IT/ET kind of guy, and it takes a lot to make him jealous.

Sarah sent presents home with Lilli and Jack from her trip to China. Everything is beautiful. She sent rice dishes and tea cups and all sorts of stuff. I can understand why she is drawn to the porcelain, it's absolutely beautiful.

She also sent special edition newspapers from the royal wedding. My friend Vera is really into the monarchy, and she will go nuts when she sees the paper and commemorative tea bags Sarah sent foe her.

My world is looking so much better; thank G-d, my family and my friends. I am truly blessed.

Good things today!!

2011-05-07T09:30:00.002-04:00

A quick note before I start my Saturday chores.... the best news is that Lillian will be home late afternoon. She's flying in and has a few days before she and Jack take off for Germany. Having one or both of my girls home is always a good thing.

The second good thing is news from NIH (National Institutes of Health). I have always been a blood donor as I feel it is one of the easiest ways to help other people. After my surgery, I got a card to donate. I went in, answered the questions and waited for the nurse to review. She looked at it, gave me a somewhat shocked expression, and said-you can't give blood for five years if you've had cancer. I was crushed, but figured it was for a good reason. So, yesterday I get a card telling me I'm eligible to give blood after 5-7-11. I called and talked to the supervisor. Two things: first, the nurse was incorrect two years ago; I should not have been deferred because I did not have chemo or radiation and second, that deferral would only have been for two years not five! So, I have been eligible to give blood all along! I am going in next Thursday to see the "crew" in the donation center after two years, and I'm psyched!

wow....

2011-04-30T11:00:00.002-04:00

This morning I started to catch up blog reading I have ignored because of allergy attacks this week. All I can say is, "wow". Apparently there are some really nasty people using the blogs to vent at posters without any consideration of anything. I'm not a totally "if you can't say something nice...." person I'll admit, but why can't comments be written constructively? I actually feel sorry for people who vent at posters knowing their comments will hurt-what are they missing in their lives that they feel the need to wound?

Sometimes I am not a nice person. I miss deadlines, I say something without thinking, disappoint a friend. I don't set out to be "un-nice", it happens. And, I think it happens to all of us whether we admit it or not, whether we want it to happen or not.

We have a had a pretty horrendous couple years in this household: my cancer diagnosis, subsequent surgery and recovery. Lou's vascular problems, his stroke, his surgeries, rehab, near death last December. The continuing elder-care issues in Ohio. One of the things I have learned through all this is that "..in sickness and in health" can be really stressful. It can be numbing, it can be immobilizing. It can spill into all other areas of your life before you realize it. It forces the questions: "Why me? Haven't I had enough, G-d? What else can go wrong?"

And then I look at the good things in my life: our daughters have grown into interesting young women, Lill pushing the envelope into space as a planetary geologist doctoral student and Sarah in a masters' program exploring the past through asian paintings and porcelain. Lou and I both have jobs. Lou has the kind of friends at work who donated enough leave that through all the traumas we never had to worry about a paycheck. I have sisters-in-law that forget about the "in-law" part. I read blogs by young women trying to raise their families putting their children first, knowing that childhood is fleeting. I listen to Car Talk and Wait, Wait, don't Tell Me on Saturday mornings.

So, I guess I don't understand the need to wound. My friend Robin says I have always looked at the world through rose colored glasses. I'm aware of the nasty stuff- I suffered enough as a teenager to still carry the scars. I just try not to let the nastiness define my outlook. My heart goes out to those who have been wounded when it wasn't necessary. I guess it does come back to "if you can't say something nice..."--maybe some people need some lessons in civility.

Lou's fan pattern

2011-04-14T16:52:00.006-04:00

We have always had a family joke about the fact that my husband has a PhD and went to an ivy league undergraduate school and I went to a state university. Well, once again he's proven why he went to graduate school; he took my fan idea and perfected it. This is his pattern:
So, this morning Miss Violet got me up at 7AM, and after a leisurely breakfast I got to work and created a new afikomen bag to send to my cousin for use at Seder with his grandson. Here we have "Fan Plagues":

I also gave one to my friend Amy for her two kids. She's not into sewing, she does beadwork. So, now I'll get started on some that can be sold for use next year.

It's a beautiful day with sun and a breeze and there's a ballgame on tonight. Life can't get much better for me!

Playing

2011-04-10T18:36:00.004-04:00

The scrap bee block this month is a request for red created fabric with a white slash. I think I have the slash down, but I'm not sure about the created fabric-it's definitely a challenge for me.

Then I wanted to play a little bit with the scraps before cutting into the main plague fabric. I did three styles, trying to maximize use of my scraps. One is a fan design which Lou improved on for me, the others are stylized flying geese-actually I call them flying plagues....

The day was nice but not as sunny or warm as predicted, tomorrow will be nicer. After dinner I'll probably try a few more ideas, then it's scissors to the big stuff!

Squirrels and plagues

2011-04-02T17:41:00.006-04:00

Last fall we decided to leave the cushions out on the deck because, honestly, we were too lazy to bring them in. Most of them had rips from wear, so I knew we would be replacing them this spring. The squirrels who frequent the railing feeder noticed the rips, too. They began to take the stuffing out, leaving the chairs looking like this:Then, last week when he was putting out seed, Lou noticed the squirrel nest up in the oak:So, the squirrels were obviously nice and comfy this past winter.

Yes-I have a new camera. Not a fancy one, just one I picked up at Costco yesterday because I didn't realize how much of my sewing I wanted to take pictures of. I hope CVS still develops film because I have been taking photos with a disposable camera and hope it can be developed.

Last week or so I was wandering around one of my favorite Jewish fabric websites, 1-800-Dreidel, and noticed a section labeled Passover fabric. Of course I had to go look, and there were various selections for the ten plagues. Of course I had to buy them, and fortunately they give a discount to Pomegranate Guild members which makes it easy to justify buying more fabric.

My main focus will be making afikomen bags. However, when I showed the fabric to KS on the webcam, she laughed and said wouldn't it be fun to have a skirt for Seder. So, being the kind of mom I am, and willing to do anything that helps remind my children of their heritage, I present, "The Plagues, the Plagues" (apologies to What Ever Happened on the Way to the Forum?)
Plagues One through Five:

Six through Ten:(well, number Five's peeking out a bit at the left...)

And please notice the tasteful waistband of matzoh printed fabric. I hope she has as much fun wearing it as I did making it today.

Springtime!

2011-03-22T18:13:00.002-04:00

I am hoping the beautiful weather we have had since Sunday means that spring is really here in MD and I will not look out front and see all the magnolia tree blossoms brown and withered because of a frost. The crocuses are happily sprouting, the daffs are gaily waving, and the grackles are chasing everyone else off the rail of the deck when we put the bird seed out. I must say that the cardinals are giving them a run for their money, as are the squirrels. Though I am not fond of feeding the squirrels, the past two winters have been so hard, and the squirrels have been sharing. I must admit that finding the holes in the chair cushions so they could pull out the stuffing made it really easy to decide we need new cushions for this year.

Well, I was going to try and verbalize the out of sorts feelings I'm experiencing, but Lou is ready to go to the store, so Safeway and CVS it is!

Times change, or do they?

2011-03-19T16:02:00.002-04:00

When Sarah was in middle school one of the projects she had to do involved asking an "older" person about their life and what they had lived through. Since her grandparents had already been hit up for this type of assignment, she asked to talk to her great aunt. We arranged to go to Cleveland and visit, and I would tape the interview so Sarah could concentrate on her questions and later refer back to the tape for detail. My Aunt Dorothy spoke of being raised in a small town in Pennsylvania, remembering the first time street lights went on. She spoke of being sent to a "big city" to find a Jewish husband, of living through World War II and many other things. She spoke of the wonders of technology. Sadly for us, she passed away four years ago, just before she turned 18 for the 64th time (she was always 18, every birthday). I thought about that afternoon the other night when Lou and I were talking to Sarah on google chat. Lillian taught me how to hook up the camera to the laptop (this laptop does not have one built in) and we were chatting with Sarah before she went to bed. She is in London, studying at Sotheby's and had just returned from a class trip to China. How Aunt Dorth would have loved that! Not just the trip, but that we were visually and verbally communicating across thousands of miles. This is such a different world we live in-not just for those of Aunt Dorth's generation, but for me, too. When I went to college, we were allowed to call home once a week, and used the "person to person" collect call signal-usually asking for the dog, good thing they had people names. Now, with cell phones and no extra charge for long distance calling, I talk to Lillian a few times a day while she is in Arizona. The kids stay connected electronically so easily with phones and computers.

And yet, this week I saw a picture of a young boy trying to hit a baseball. I believe this is his first time in organized ball. His family will be going to games, watching the winning and the losing for months and enjoying being outdoors. It made me think of Lillian's years of Y ball in California. Some things don't change, and that's a good thing.

Mechanically inclined

2011-03-06T16:08:00.002-05:00

Not generally two words that describe me, but they fit today. After about 7 years of talking it to death, Lou and I went out to Sears last night and bought a new garbage disposer. I did not grow up with one, we did not have one in CA, and we tend to compost as much as we can so it did not seem like it was at the top of the list of things to do. However, water drainage was extremely slow, and when it was used, it was really loud. So, we did a little comparison shopping online, then went to Sears. Today was installation and big surprise: nobody cried, nobody yelled and more importantly-nobody swore. That may be a first. In fairness, I must admit we had to go to the hardware store twice. Once before we started to get plumber's putty and tape, just in case. Then, the pipe from the disposer to the drain was too short and it wasn't a match-we needed something longer and flexible. However, the lady who reviewed the model we bought and said installation took about 20 minutes should be ashamed that she lied. it took us a couple hours, with a few breaks and the hardware store trip. the only thing that hasn't been replaced in the kitchen in the last year is the stove-and since I don't cook, and the oven works fine, I really don't care It is nice not to hear the dishwasher, or the disposer and the ice dropping into the bin of the automatic ice maker.

Today started witha soft rain falling and as predicted it is now a much heavier fall and the winds are picking up. The temperatures are still high so it's actually kind of pleasant outside, just wet. I do hope the power stays on tonight.

The first of the crocuses bloomed yesterday, and the narcissus and daffs are pushing up in the flower beds. It will be so nice to have spring arrive. We bought some sweet pea and sunflower seeds when we picked up the pipe (I had a gift certificate and they don't give cash back so we had to spend over ten dollars). the pussy willow is budding in the back as is the lilac in the front. Soon, the scents of spring will be all around the house.

The Textile Museum

2011-03-03T16:46:00.002-05:00

Today my chapter of the Pomegranate Guild had a presentation and tour of the Ikat exhibit at the Textile Museum in Washington, DC. Simply defined, Ikat is a particular technique of dying and weaving material. This material was then made into coats. The exhibit pieces were really beautiful, and really challenge the idea that "nothing" culturally was going on in mid-Asian in the 18-19 centuries. It was a multi-layer dying process, starting with yellow and going on through indigo.

More interesting to me, though, was a smaller exhibit on "recycling" textiles. Most people think immediately of patch quilting which makes use of various usable parts of clothing, etc., but this exhibit also showed a vest made from a native American ceremonial mantle, exquisitely embroidered pieces that had become tent decorations, a jacket made of a combination of woven materials, and a few other interesting pieces. So, we're not talking the last 40-50 years here. I cannot imagine the time it took to hand embroider some of these pieces, one explanation said two to three years.

Every time I start to think I have some talent, I see something like these exhibits, and realize that I have a whole lot more to learn. It's exciting!

Sewing Again!!

2011-02-27T11:53:00.002-05:00

I cannot tell you how exciting it is to be able to sit down and do some sewing! I am involved in two online quilting block bees, and they are a challenge as I feel my quilting knowledge is still elementary.

I have realized a few things: I can make a huge mess in a very short time, I tend to choose blues, reds and brights, I don't sew with green and I have a lot of Asian and space inspired prints (my daughters' interests).

Sorting out the table, I found as many UFOs as I thought might be hanging around. There are probably more in the bins by the laundry area, but at this point I don't need to find them. They will find me when they are ready-some are sewing some are crochet. I'm finding crochet a bit of a challenge right now as I have developed some arthritis in my hand. My recently retired sister-in-law seems to be having the same issue. Something is definitely wrong with the scheme of things that as we start to have the time to really enjoy our crafts we are physically challenged to do them. I'll have to think on this a while. For right now, I'm heading back to the sewing table.

Did you know?

2011-02-16T18:55:00.002-05:00

that you can buy an extension cord for your headphones? Monday night Lou and I were at Radio Shack getting a new camera card for the camera before I sent it to Sarah for the china trip (4 GB, saves about 2800+ pictures-who knew?) and we were being helped by a very nice young man and I off handly asked him if they had long headphone cords because at work my headphones keep me on a pretty "short leash" as Sean says (he's the kid who sits in the cube next to mine, sort of an honorary son). Mark said they didn't have long headphone cords, but they did carry extension cords for headphones. I bought an 8 ft cord, and yesterday and today have been enjoying my music at work all day long. I can move from my chair to the printer and the fax and do just about everything in my cube area. It's fantastic. I've missed music since I had to stop turning it on-the guy in the cube on the other side asked me to stop playing it "out loud" because it was side-tracking him from what he needed to be doing since he's slightly adhd. So, not only do I have the radio stations I enjoy, I have Pandora, though Lill says there's a better online source now, and I have my cds. It was great, and my ears aren't even sore. Now, I just need to figure out a little clip to use to keep the cord from being weighted down. Life is good, music is better!

Schedule, what schedule?

2011-02-10T16:52:00.002-05:00

I am usually very good about keeping to a schedule, and I have realized that January got away from me because I did not make a schedule. I think I am losing February for the same reason. I usually use these very cute daily log sheets, and fill them out on Sunday night for the week. The problem is that I have a new planner for this year, and my old sheets do not fit it. So, my immediate goal on Monday is to use the sizing feature on the copier at work to get the size I need so I can get some control back in my life.

A few things to report: I turned 60 three weeks ago and the world, as we know it, did not end. This is not surprising because I have it on the authority of my cousin and a few friends who shall remain nameless but are OLDER than me that the world does not end because we get older. We do, however, get to blame everything on being old, so I now have an escape clause.

More importantly, after three months of recuperation and a few other medical detours, my husband, Lou, went back to work at the office yesterday. He has been telecommuting since surgery, but this is the first time he went down to the District and into his office. He did well, no mishaps on Metro with anyone stepping on his foot, no tripping or anything. He will still be using a cane for stability for a while, but he's mobile again in a very good way. He will probably be on a combination telecommute/office schedule as he cannot risk trying to go in if there is snow or the possibility of ice he could slip on.

Even more importantly, he has resumed ownership of the kitchen! The Os will be eating well again, and thank G-d I don't have to cook anymore. These last few months while he couldn't stand/cook have proved again that he definitely did not marry me for my skills in the kitchen..... I think he is secretly happy to be in control again, and I will offer to do the clean-up for everything until he is 100% again-a bargain as far as I am concerned.

My guild had a lesson in fabric postcards today, something I have seen popping up on sewing blogs for a while now. I did not get to make one there as I was really late due to a doctor's appointment, but I have a sheet of directions and some very cute fabric scraps to play with.

Speaking of the doctor, Dr. Raj is still very happy with my progress, and if all is well at my next appointment, I will move on to the six month review schedule. It will be right after my two year surgery date anniversary. I will be ready. My reconstructed breasts seem to have "settled" into their own, and as Dr. Raj says, it looks like I will be "eternally perky"-not in a "nubile" so much as a "mature you'd never know you went braless most of the 60s" sort of way. It really doesn't matter, what matters is that I am cancer free.

The girls are doing well. Lill is working on her research with the next conference in view, and has taken up yoga along with the other exercising she does to stay healthy. She really likes it and it sounds like it definitely is a good addition to her regime. Sarah is getting ready to go on her class trip to China. The itinerary is fairly rigorous and they will be seeing all kinds of examples of the things they have been studying.

Okay, off to organize the table for dinner later. It's good to be back writing.

New year, new thoughts

2011-01-18T19:19:00.002-05:00

So we are about halfway through January and I'm feeling like I am making progress. I did not call my cousin up on Sunday when she turned 60, I waited until last night to call and ask her how it felt after 24 hours. She laughed. Probably that or cry-there is NOTHING we can do about aging physically, but we are definitely keeping young mentally. I think I'm settling in at about the 30s, those were happy and fun years for me.

Friday I have to take Lou to the doctor's in the morning, then I am spending the day playing with my sewing machine. I want to finish up my trees block and get it into the mail, and I want to play with fabric creation for the 15 minutes to play bee. I get such a positive punch looking at all the creative things people are doing with fabric and yarn, and the use of color and texture-it's a great time to be a hand-crafter!

The girls are back at their respective schools and the house seems empty without bodies all snuggled on the sofa with laptops all working on different things-Lill, Jack, Sarah O, Sara B can really find some crazy stuff to show us. It amazes me to think how connected these kids are and how natural it is for them to deal with all their stuff: the ipads, iphones, itouches, ipods, laptops, netbooks, kindle, etc. The fact that I just got off a chat with Sarah using the webcam-and yes, Lillian, I did set it up okay-she could see and hear me!-and that Sarah is getting ready for bed in London still kind of knocks me for a loop. When I was back in college (and yes, I went to a state school) I called home once a week, using the collect call signal and then my parents called me back. And we could only talk on Sunday afternoons because that was the cheapest time. Now, we've got national plans, family plans, unlimited texting and mobile to mobile. I wonder if it ever seems too much. When the girls were young, I used to worry if I forgot my phone in case the school needed to contact me. Now, it's almost a pleasure not to have it, but I still can't get over the feeling that I need it in case some disaster strikes. I guess it depends on the definition of disaster.

I think I need to brew a cup of tea and settle down with my book. It's tough doing two days' worth of work in one.....

A week later

2011-01-14T15:52:00.002-05:00

Well, we had another interesting little trip and stay at the hospital this week-Lou had a flare up of pancreatitis. He is officially the winner of the My Disease contest, and I hope has decided to withdraw from further competitions by staying healthy.

I have been busy at work trying to catch up on two weeks away at month end/quarter end/year end, one of the busiest times for a financial department. I still have some housekeeping things to get done involving moving files, but everything else is pretty caught up.

I keep looking out the window at the beautiful sunshine and expecting it to be warm when I go out there, then I notice the little bit of snow still on the ground remember it's only in the 20s. Maryland is below the Mason-Dixon Line, it's supposed to be part of the South, and to me that means warm..... and for those interested, when you are traveling south along I70 there is a sign marking the location of the Mason-Dixon Line, tastefully done in white letters on a light brown background. There is no sign when you are traveling north.

I have been better about following my to-do list this week. It's either because I kept it really short, or didn't have a lot of ambition to list things that need to be done. I am hoping this positive trend continues through the weekend!

I think I am finally going to admit that I need to have my hearing tested again and to prepare myself for the news that I have shifted out of the gray area into the definitely need area of hearing aids. Lately my ears have been ringing more than usual, and I get these periods where sounds seem to move close and far away like they are revolving around. It's hard to explain, but it's definitely not normal. I know, I'm usually not normal, but this is tough because I'm not hearing everything.

Speaking of random things, I renewed my driver's license yesterday and realized how weak my right eye has become. Seems like I'll be getting to the eye doctor soon for a check up and maybe new prescription. I also renewed the tags for the car at the kiosk, and just got the new year tag instead of having to get those new MD War of 1812 plates. I really didn't want them, I think 4cts75 fits Miss Lucy very well. And she is realy a happy little car as I have started parking inside the garage again at work. The cost difference to the outdoor lot isn't that much, and this way she is out of the daily elements and all the salt sprayed at the lot. I think they even offer car washes once a week. I'll need to find out how much that costs.

Next month is Dental Month at the vet's so I will be making an appointment for Violet to get her teeth cleaned. Not one of her favorite things, so she will probably be mad at me fr a few days.

Well, I can just squeeze in a power nap before I get dinner started.

Happy Friday to all.

It's been a long time comin'

2011-01-07T12:29:00.002-05:00

The Sarahs have been introducing me to Glee in marathon sessions. I admit, I am a convert: I usually don't like new series, but I love the music on this one, and it brings back memories because I too taught in a small Ohio town. It was southeast of Cleveland, not western Ohio. As I coached basketball (one year) and track (six years) I have memories of many things the characters are showing involving an extra curricular activity sorely underfunded. My tenure was back in the late 70s just as Title 9 was coming into effect. And being a naive new teacher, I let the administration run circles around me.

It has been an interesting holiday season. Lou, Sarah and I went into Cleveland to celebrate his father's 87th birthday, the day after Christmas. It's a good thing we had the dinner on Friday night; during the day Saturday, Lou was extremely tired and later had trouble breathing. The short story is: a call to 911, a week in ICU, a few nights on the medical floor, a follow-up test on Monday as results were inconclusive the first time, and we finally drove back to MD on Tuesday. It seems once again he is surging ahead in the "My Disease" contest; along with everything else, he has been diagnosed with a rare genetic disease affecting the blood vessels. It seems they leak-as in ooze blood, as in making him severely anemic and low blood volume, as in starting a chain reaction that sent him into shock while he was in the emergency room. Mildly put, it's been a hell of a week and a half.

But, I put on my new rose colored glasses, bought for my Janis Joplin channeling (see Dec 11 post), and am starting this new year with a few goals. I hope to be able to put away the stress over things I cannot change. I have been stressing so much over things I have no control over, and I have to stop. I cannot change it, period, so why let it consume me? I hope to get myself back in shape so that my body vaguely resembles my mindset. As my cousin said to me this morning, "It's a bitch looking in the mirror and seeing that old lady-who is she?" And lastly, I want to actively remind the people who are important to me of their importance. There are many times I could easily have said something that I didn't take the few minutes to say. That will stop, I'm going to tell people what and how I think.

Anyway, the kids are here and we are getting ready to go to REI and play. Enjoy your day and evening!

Happy Friday

2010-12-17T08:29:00.002-05:00

Happy Friday to all! The expected snow storm missed us for the most part. We have a few inches of snow, nothing unmanageable, and the wind has finally stopped. The snow coating the tree limbs looks very pretty, and it's nice to look out the picture windows and see it. I'm hoping the sun comes out this afternoon as predicted and makes the snow sparkle.

My Redhead is back in the US of A! She called last night from JFK to let us know she was stateside. This first semester in London has been a long strange trip (thank you, Jerry) but I think she's going to do so much better next semester, moving on with the lessons she's learned, and not just the academic ones. Now, she'll spend a few days in NYC seeing buddies.

My Blondie is in San Francisco at her conference. She gives her talk today, and as long as she remembers to breathe and speak slowly, she'll be great. Just like me, when she's a little nervous or very excited about something, she starts talking very fast-you'd think I could have given her some other trait-but knowing the Roseola, she'll have practiced a few times yesterday and will be fine.

They will both be home on Sunday. Lou and I are ready to see them, to listen to them argue, to have them pretend they are little and snuggle into our arms and laps. I never thought ahead about my children as adults, and yet suddenly they are two young women who amaze me to no end. That I had a part in shaping these vital women humbles me. Sometimes I think about how I wanted things differently than I was raised-things in their places, no piles of books or papers or stuff and furniture that wasn't hand-me-downs comes to mind-but I now realize that doesn't matter. They will shape their own spaces physically (most likely minimally!) but they will always carry with them that emotional strength that comes from knowing they have been loved and supported through everything they try. I can't think of a better gift to have given them.....

XXOOXX to my girls, with a LYSYB thrown in for good measure!

San-Dee the Plumber

2010-12-11T18:19:00.002-05:00

Today I learned something new: how to repair a leaking kitchen sink faucet. Lou was very patient with me and nobody yelled-the sure sign around here that things aren't going well..... we took the faucet apart, put all the pieces in a bag and went to the hardware store. The plumbing guy said we were better off replacing all the stuff rather than just the washers. So, we got this handy all parts together repair kit, brought it home and redid the faucet. We finished it all, then turned the water back on, and NOTHING LEAKED. Hopefully it will continue to not leak.

riding on that success, we really decided to take the rest of the afternoon off. We have a shopping list to create in anticipation of the kids being around and I've got some coasters I want to make for the people at work for the holidays.

Last Wednesday we had our year-end party at work. We went to the local site of the music schools, B2R, and learned to be in a rock-n-roll band (it was the corporate party experience they offer to the public). We were told to channel our inner rock star. A few of us did dress up, most as a genre of rocker as opposed to a specific person. I channeled my inner Janis Joplin. I probably did it since this is the second year in a row I have missed dressing up for Halloween at work because it hasn't been on one of my work days. It was fun. It was funny. Our band learned and performed Wild Thing. I was lead guitar. There are rumors that the video shot of the learning process/performances will be uploaded to youtube. That could be a BIG mistake.....nobody was that good, even the groups that had some of the music teachers in them. But, it was very relaxed compared to other parties, and everyone had fun, and that's the most important part.

Happy Holidays are upon us!

2010-11-28T12:11:00.002-05:00

I hope everyone has had a happy Thanksgiving weekend, sharing food, love and laughter with people you care about. We had a quiet day watching the wind blow everything around, and did the same on Friday!

I have received an early Chanukah gift, as if Chanukah wasn't early enough this year (first candle is Wednesday night). Lill and Jack got me a wireless mouse. To most computer literate people this probably is one of those "duh-uh" sort of things, but to me, who doesn't get rid of anything that still might have a useful life no matter how inconvenient, it's a luxury! Right now, the coffee table is shoved closer to the couch to allow Lou's wheelchair to roll up to the love seat, so the space to move on the couch side is very narrow, not to mention clogged with the cords of my laptop and mouse. Now, I get to take away one, cutting the chance of tripping by 50%! Thank you, kids!! Now the other wish list things move up a notch-nothing really spectacular-I'd like a timer for the kitchen that continues to make noise rather than one beep or ding, I'd like a new turkey baster since ours got cracked in the junk drawer. And that's about it. Everything else is non-material; I'd like continued health for myself and continued recovery for Lou, I'd like my girls to continue to grow as women taking on the world on their terms and to keep thinking I'm cool no matter how I age or what I wear:-), I'd like my sib and sibs-in-law to be happy doing what they are doing. I'd like my friends, both physical and online, to know they are appreciated in ways I cannot verbalize-imagine, an English major having trouble with words.

So, now I'm off to sew Happy Chanukah and Merry Christmas chotzkes for the folks around here and get my chocolates started. Next thing you know, it'll be cookie press cookies.....

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-24T19:29:00.003-05:00

I have much to be thankful for this year: my body remains cancer free, my family and friends remain close to my heart and sources of joy to me, and most importantly, Lou is back on his feet! "Das Boot", the huge boot given to him at the last doctor visit to protect his foot while he begins to stand and move about again, is working well enough that he is back in the kitchen--a huge relief to me (and though he has been good about my cooking, I'm sure it's a huge relief to him!) I took this picture about 10 minutes ago while he was happily starting sloppy joes. So, once again we'll eat well at the O household.

It's very weird that no one will be home for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. It's a good thing we had one last weekend in Cleveland. Lou directed, I cooked, and it came out really good. I still do not, and never will, understand how people enjoy cooking....

We've got a relatively quiet weekend planned, I will continue to file paperwork and hopefully get some sewing done. Between the boot and the wheelchair, Lou is fairly mobile on his own, which I'm sure is a great relief to him instead of having me push him all over the house. Although, I have to say, for a man with a PhD he can really be dense sometimes. He was feeling a little cabin feverish when I got home today from work, and suggested he come to the store with me for the short list. Excuse me, the afternoon before Thanksgiving? When everyone and their brothers who hasn't gone out of town is in Safeway for their short list? Well, we went, and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Just being out and about- picking ribeye roast for New Year's, chickens for when the girls are home- really lifted his spirits. So, we are getting back to a.b.normal around here, and that's a good thing!

Good day!

2010-11-12T17:24:00.002-05:00

Today I feel like I got a lot accomplished though I haven't left the house! I finished my blocks for the first month of the second run of the Bee Balm, but I have to find my camera to take a picture of them to show. I learned a few things from this month: I need a new blade for my rotary cutter, I can follow directions after I read them numerous times, my stash is sadly depleted and I definitely do not have selections that blend with green. My five inch squares were mostly in the green group-a color I have never been fond of except in the out of doors. I wanted to be cool and make three blocks or so, but I didn't have anything to "flesh out" Elaine's choices, so I stretched to use a basic yellow/gold sort with green highlights. Sorry! and oh-I guess I will have to get myself to the fabric store to beef up my stash. I realized it is mostly Chanukah prints for aprons, and some cotton blends for blouses I will eventually make for work.

I got bills paid-always a good thing.

I made a big pot of stuffed cabbage to lift Lou's spirits during this recovery phase. Of course, when I told him I had a big surprise for dinner: stuffed cabbage, he asked where I'd gotten it. Such little faith-there are a few things I can wipe up in the kitchen-so I told him from my two little hands. Hopefully it will taste as good as it smells simmering right now, we will know in about an hour.

I signed up for a second online quilting bee, and this one will really stretch my learning curve. there is a wonderful blog about taking 15 minutes to play-the premise being to take 15 minutes daily to experiment, create, move outside your box or comfort zone. One of the criteria for this round is that one does not use an established block pattern, so it will be interesting to see what others come up with. Fortunately, my block is in the second half of the year.

Tomorrow I hope to take Lou out for a ride to the orchard to get apples for homemade apple sauce. It may be one of the last "top-down" weekends for Miss Lucy, so I want to be out enjoying the sunshine. And since both girls will be home in December, we will have a late latke party with homemade apple sauce.

Snow, already!

2010-11-06T19:52:00.003-04:00

Maybe I'm a bad person, but I am REALLY glad that we didn't go to Cleveland this week for elder respite. While driving to the football game, my father-in-law went from snow to rain to drizzle. When he left at halftime and returned home, there was already two inches at the house. I am not ready for snow. I am okay with cool/cold weather, but I am not ready for snow.

Lou's dressing change went well. His foot is not nearly as weird as I think we both thought it would be-right now with the stitches still in, it looks sort of like a hot pocket-you know, the curved edge with the ridges. Most of the ball of his foot has been saved, so that's a good thing, too! He took a nap when we got home, then we had some quality personal hygiene time. He is still not allowed in the shower, but he shaved, rolled up to the sink in the wheelchair and I washed his hair, then we did a sponge bath and fresh clothes. I think this part is just as important as the healing of his foot-he feels better, he looks good, and he's taking more responsibility for dealing with things himself. I think the one time I shaved him after his stroke was enough for him to realize he needed the manual dexterity to do it himself. Tonight, another milestone: he rolled himself over to the dining room table for dinner. Granted, it would have been pretty sloppy trying to eat soup and skirt steak on the couch, but we didn't have to. Of course, Omi wants to see a picture of his foot; so I'll take one when I change the dressing tomorrow.

I haven't gotten any coasters done, but I did make a major dent in the paper on the table. A lot was just recycling that needed to be organized-lots of circulars, etc. but I had to go through it to make sure there wasn't any mail mixed in. I have a neat stack of bills to write out tomorrow morning, then file the receipts and the table will be presentable for eating. We are having our good friend Mariann visiting on Monday night from CA. She is at a conference this weekend in DC, and staying over for a few days of sight-seeing. After our visit, I may bring up one of the portables and put it on the corner of the table (shades of junior high and high school sewing!) so that I can sew up here while we listen to music. I've realized that if I'm keeping Lou company in the bedroom when he stretches out to watch some TV, I'm getting nothing done. He's content to stretch out and listen to music as much as stretch out and watch TV-probably more so. We've always watched TV like a movie house-no lights on. At least when we elder respite I can crochet or knit in the den. If we're listening to music I can be sewing in the corner, I think I'm safe as long as the ironing board doesn't move up here to the living room. (Again, shades of junior high and high school...) that ironing board was a fixture in my mom's home-not only did it get used for ironing, it was convenient for mail, magazines, and sometimes books. I think when we had the party for out of towners the night before we got married, lots of our friends expected to walk in and see the ironing board set up to be used as the buffet.......

Thursday Nothing

2010-11-04T19:08:00.003-04:00

A million years ago, my bro-in-law Jeff and I used to listen to an album from the Fugs. They had a song that started with "Monday nothing, Tuesday nothing...." you can imagine the lack of creativity of this song, or maybe not. Well, today was Thursday Nothing for me. I think I needed to do nothing, and I did. After I got Lou settled into his "office" with his snacks, liquids, pills, etc. I went back to bed and just dozed on and off for most of the day. It was raining and a good place to be. I got up late afternoon, and we had a wonderful conversation on gvoice with Sarah. She sounds good, had a profitable day at school, then found a few items of clothing and was on her way home to study while we chatted. Almost as soon as we hung up Lilli called, and was letting us know she'd be working on her paper or whatever out by the pool. It's so good for her to be in that great weather, not to mention how healthy she looks and feels.

Tomorrow we have the first dressing change on Lou's foot, and will get our next set of instructions. I'm ready, and I think up to the challenge. i think I might actually get some stuff done around the house, too. I have lots of coasters cut and ready to put together, and then I can concentrate on aprons. My friend, Angie, even in SC is badgering me about keeping to the schedule we made for getting "product" created. She should talk, since she moved I don't even think she can FIND her jewelry fixings....but, that's what friends are for.

Running on half-full

2010-10-31T11:17:00.002-04:00

After 48 hours of 24/7 Nancy nursing, I got some sleep last night. I'm not sure Lou has a handle on controlling the pain-he basically slept all day yesterday and then was up most of the night, is now sleeping again-but he didn't need my help and I actually slept a lot of the night. What a difference a few winks can make!!

I decided the best thing was to do the "mindless' chores yesterday, so I vacuumed, oiled the wood, organized the baby blankets to send out this week, and started laundry. I have one load left to dry and fold, then that task gets checked off, too.

Today I am going to sew my online bee block so I can honestly say I did it in October!! I have learned so much this past year and I'm looking forward to the next one. And the community of friends I've made has been fantastic. I don't think I could have gotten through the cancer adventure or Lou's stroke/vascular problems/amputation adventure without them and my family.

So, to fill y'all in on eldercaring: for their 35th anniversary, we sent a super-sized Tower of Treats from Harry and David, and my sister-in-law made a photo album for them. Not only were the gifts a HUGE success, but greatly appreciated for their fun factor. Peg loves having all the little boxes to open, and Si loves all the treats. She may not recognize a lot of the photos, but it's giving him a lot of joy to look at and explain to her. So-we done good!! We are a little more at ease for the present because Si has arranged for respite night care, at least on the nights before he teaches, and has a whole team in place now. Of course, he's complaining about keeping track of all the comings and goings, but in all honesty, what else is he doing with his time?

One thing I really need to acknowledge here is family. My cousin has been on stand-by because he lives about 10 minutes from the house and we have repeated told Si to call if he's in a jam. Well, that happened this week when he needed to pickup a prescription for Peg. He finally called the cell, but Alan didn't answer right away and Si didn't leave a message. When Alan called back, he found that Si had tried the house, and Alan's wife, Marcia, was already on her way over to help out. What can I say? Technically, these folks aren't related, and these adventures are definitely not on their radar, but they stepped up to the plate and hit a grand slam. They also made my sister-in-law almost cry when I told her about it--me too--love you both, lots!

We can make it!

2010-10-30T12:24:00.002-04:00

WARNING: Details may be gory to some!!!

Lou had his surgery on Thursday, and the doctor ended up doing a tma, trans meditarsal (sp?) amputation. There was not enough circulation to guarantee the skin would heal if just the bad toes were taken, so he had to go down far enough to be sure good flow would heal the skin flap. It was done as an out-patient surgery; I brought him home thursday night. It was fine while the hospital meds were still in his system, then the roller coaster began. We have had 48 hours of 7-9 level pain, moderated by "tolerable" pain when the drugs kick in. It is extremely painful, but they did warn us this would happen. Unfortunately I feel so useless as there is really nothing I can do to help. Fortunately Lou has fallen into a deep sleep for the last hour and a half which is what he needs. Deep enough that the vacuum running did not even wake him. So, while he is sleeping, I am doing some long neglected cleaning chores and laundry, and hoping to get to my sewing blocks this afternoon. One good thing that was a brilliant idea on his part: we are using the computer desk chair to get him from the bedroom to the living room and back since he cannot put any weight on the foot.

We had our first frost last night. Thankfully we heard the forecast while listening to the radio, so all the plants that can't take a frost got moved into the house. They need a good watering, but I think they are happy to be under the grow lights again. Nobody seems too shocked to be back inside.

I do need to make a quick run to the store today, and then we will settle into NCISes and later the baseball game: GO GIANTS!!!!!!

It has been SO busy!

2010-10-25T19:58:00.006-04:00

I have been so busy I'm not sure what I've been doing! A week ago I sat down and sewed for the first time in forever. I hate to admit it-but last December I was asked to angel a Halloween package for a lady who had been stiffed twice on Halloween swaps. I agreed right away, then stuff happened and we all know what that means. Anyway, I felt guilty that I hadn't gotten it together, so I made the apron and put together a sweet package of fun Halloween stuff. I combined a few patterns to get the look I wanted, and the best part-the black material has little green bats that glow in the dark! I just love the look of the tiered layers in the back.
So, it went out to Canada last week and I hope she enjoys it. Next on my list is Lillian's smock type apron for her shaking experiment. She needs to keep the fine dust off. Then, hopefully, I will make up my mind about what to sew for holiday aprons. Lou has been really good about not saying anything about the mountains of material that are growing in the dining room, but it isn't fair to him to continue piling with no end in sight.

I probably should babble on about other things, but I'm getting tired and still need to set up coffee and get clothes ready for work tomorrow. Maybe I can be better about writing in the future-or maybe not-

Lost in space

2010-10-08T17:26:00.003-04:00

So, to repeat:

(I really hate it when stuff I type gets lost because I hit the wrong key)

The doctor's office has set Lou's surgery for Monday morning. Hopefully he will finally be out of pain once he heals. I am so ready for him to be comfortable again.

My friend Angie has resurfaced in South Carolina. I am glad that she did not disappear completely after getting riffed at work. We had a nice catch up on gchat, and now I have a phone number for her, I can bug her again.

It was strange: going into the fabric store without Angie today. Most of the fabric forays over the last 2-3 years have been with Angie, a bigger fabricolic than I am. But, I survived. I got an outerwear zipper for a jacket I'm repairing, a nice half yard bundle of 5 fabrics to try some gift ideas, and a nice tight cotton weave for Lilli's apron. She needs it to keep the dust off from her rock shaking stuff-so I'm going to get it done this weekend and it will go out next week.

Then I went to AC Moore but they don't have the 99 cent gloves in yet, the kind that stretch to fit anyone. We have found these are the best for Lou to wear to keep his fingers warm when the temperature drops, those fancy Reynaud's Syndrome gloves I bought last year were junk. Expensive junk, but still junk. At least we have a few pairs from last year to get us started this fall.

Then I got a call from Lill that she needed some sequined material to finish her Halloween costume. I went back to G Street and got an exact match for the dress I made her-at least I think it is... so, that will get packed up and off to the post office tomorrow morning, too.

I found a bunch of nice longsleeved tops at Tar-jay today and have gotten them packed up with Sarah's Madeleine costume. I can't find the noise canceling headphones, but they may be downstairs in her school stuff. I will search tomorrow morning when I am fresh.

We are having absolutely spectacular fall weather today, and the weekend is supposed to be just as gorgeous. I sure hope so!

and best yet, my sewing machine is ready for me to play tomorrow. things are really good in my world today!

Sunny day!

2010-10-02T14:48:00.002-04:00

After a number of cloudy, stormy days we are enjoying a Saturday of sunshine and mild temperatures. The best way to describe it is to say it "feels" like fall: a sunny sky, a slight breeze, leaves starting to turn colors and fall from the trees. I enjoy all of it, mostly, until I have to rake the leaves! I'm hoping this year to just cruise over them with the mulching lawn mower and hope that does it or find a neighborhood kid who wants to earn a few dollars raking leaves. Do people even rake leaves anymore? Or do they all blow them around with those noisy things?

In a spurt of energy this morning I got laundry started and paperwork organization started. the laundry's easier! Lou has been telecommuting so his wardrobe doesn't change much, comfy pajama pants or sweats, and a thermal shirt. I only work three days, so i don't go through much "good" stuff, then it's mainly jeans and t-shirts. The paperwork on the other hand...... let's just say a mountain has grown up on the table and the kitchen counter, and hopefully it will all be filed by tonight, tomorrow morning, tops. I have to be honest, a lot of it is just stuff that came in the mail and I didn't get into the recycling bin right away. But now it's separated out and I will get back to it after a short nap. I love napping on afternoons like today.

Tomorrow afternoon, after the grocery shopping, I am going to sit down and do some sewing. since Lou is not a football fan, I can watch downstairs and sew and not feel guilty at all. I get to watch, I get to sew-win/win as far as I am concerned. Lots of stuff on my to-do list, I doubt I will start anything new, I just need to get back in that sewing game. I'm about 8 inches short of finishing the latest crocheted baby afghan and to be honest, I hope the family stops having babies for a year or so. There have been four babies born since June, and I am two blankets behind already. It's nice, two girls and two boys. But, I need a break from baby afghans.

The next round of our online quilting bee will be starting soon, and I'm excited because I have learned so much this past year from these other women. I still have some blocks to catch up on, and they have graciously not given me crap about it. So, I have lots of things to start and stay busy with.

Happy weekend!

Tuesday, tiring Tuesday

2010-09-28T18:59:00.002-04:00

I think all the hustle and bustle from the weekend has caught up with me today, it's very hard to keep my eyeballs open, but I don't want to miss the chance to watch the Nats lose to the Phillies again tonight. Can't even be pissed at the Phillies, they just play nice, clean baseball. I hope they make it to the World Series. Of course, as a former (but in my heart always-and hope to in retirement be) northern Californian, I am also rooting for the Giants. Buster Posey was actually a student of my father-in-law's at FSU.

Looks like I'm getting back into the business-two people at work have asked me to do a few sewing jobs for them. One was nice enough to say, "I know I could take this to the cleaners', but I'd rather have someone I know and trust do it". it involves repair on a beaded bag that was her mother's-I know it's a cherished item and I'll treat it as such.

The Beebalm is getting ready to start another round. I'm hoping over the weekend to catch up on the blocks I didn't finish, and be all ready to start fresh. It's so amazing to me to be involved with a group literally all over the world.

Meetings for the Pomegranate Guild start this month, too. I feel bad, all the planning meetings were on my workdays, so how can I feel like I really did anything as one of the content organizers? I did make a few suggestions, and I can up with something else that might be fun-has anyone out there ever made wine charms? I think if we could get a variety of Jewish themed charms, it might be fun.

Well, off to baseball.....

Back at home

2010-09-26T19:50:00.002-04:00

Well, I really did not expect to be able to blog while in Cleveland, but we did have a good visit, Peg is doing well, and Lou's dad (Si) got some much needed sleep. I do have news to share: thanks to the help of my computer savvy daughter #1, Lillian, I was able to copy music onto the computer from a VINYL record, and then burn it to a CD for my father-in-law. Back in 2007 I bought this really cool Ion turntable archiver. It plugs in by USB port, and afte ryou load the software, it records the music onto your computer. then-and here's where Lillian was the help-you can burn it to a CD. Since I wasn't sure how to do that from the instructions, she showed me how to save it in iTunes then burn it. It was especially rewarding as the records Si wanted recorded were two albums of violin music by David Oistrakh, a distant relative of his. so, he has new music, and I have a way to put all my old albums on CDS... The world is good tonight!

two in a row

2010-09-22T18:37:00.002-04:00

I'm trying to write a little each day to remind myself that I am a person with other interests/ things to do than deal with the house and work.

Today I went out mid-morning to walk to the bagel store for snacks, and it was such fun to see all the toddlers playing by the fountain in front of the bookstore. School has started here, so only the really young ones are out and about. It was also nice to see that most of the moms didn't mind if the kids splashed their hands in the water. They aren't supposed to playin it, but they are allowed to stick their hands in to splash. I hope someone shows them how to make paper sailboats and they have races. Maybe I'll have to do that.

A new Jewish year is upon us and I have thoughtfully answered my 10Q questions and sent them to the vault for safekeeping. It was interesting to see last year's questions and answers, and to see how my focus has shifted. I am no longer consumed by my cancer diagnosis-I have dealt with it and am moving forward. Yes, I'm reminded every day when I look at my chest and see the scars and the fake nipples, but it's just another thing, like the scar on my hand from falling on the broken piece of drainpipe at the lake when we were kids.

Tonight we will pack up to drive to Cleveland for the weekend, and give my father-in-law some respite from caring for his ailing wife. Lou has stepped up and done a lot of cooking over the last two nights and we're going to eat well! Maybe we'll go for a drive and see how the trees look there-it's farther north and may be more into "fall" then we are yet....

baseball and grapes

2010-09-21T20:42:00.002-04:00

My husband has become very fond of grapes, particularly the red seedless and black seedless varieties. Their season is coming to an end in the stores here, and I'm not sure what I will find to take their place. To understand this fondness, you must realize that after the pneumonia after the stroke, he quit smoking and major drinking after 30 plus years. He recovered his sense of taste and his desire to eat. He actually gained weight, tipping the scales at a lifetime high of 130 pounds, not much for someone about 5'8"--he still looks like a skinny little guy.....but, he definitely is eating much better! So, we are sitting listening to the Nats game, unfortunately they are losing AGAIN, but the breeze coming in the door is really nice and feels like fall. We're supposed to have temps back in the nineties tomorrow and most of the weekend, with possible thunderstorms, but we will be in Cleveland.

There is not much else to say tonight that doesn't sound like a major whine, and since there is no cheese to have with my whine, I guess I'll just have to skip it!

We got trouble

2010-09-17T10:42:00.002-04:00

It may not be River City, but we got trouble..... I recently ordered copies of Julia King's book, "Bingo's Big Adventure, A Cat's Tale", for the great nieces and nephews that have arrived in the family over the last few years. I love her photography, and if you read her blog regularly, you know she has a wonderful way with words. The books arrived the other day, but what with Lou's latest hospital adventure, I didn't get to the package until this morning.

It is going to be very TOUGH to wait until Chanukah and Christmas to send this little treasure out. Being a great believer in reading to children, reading with children, listening to them read to me, I'm not sure this little book will stay at Auntie San-Dee's until December. Part of the reason is because it's so precious. Another part is that all the next generation seem to be cat people, and this will prompt wonderful conversations comparing Bingo to those living at home.

On another note, I could say I've been away from blogland because I've been sewing, but that wouldn't exactly be the truth. I have not been sewing, I have not been doing much but a little crochet and a lot of driving back and forth to Georgetown University Hospital. Fortunately, Lou is home, his circulation is better, and I am hoping to resume life "as I knew it" over the next few days. Getting the Roku box from Lill and Jack does not help-now it is easier to watch Netflix instant stuff than if I'd had to take the laptop into the bedroom, hook it up, etc. Now all I have to do is press the remote. Well, at least my fingers are getting some exercise, right?

My new sweatshirt

2010-09-01T22:13:00.002-04:00

Sunday I bought myself a new hooded sweatshirt. Modell's was having a sale before school starts, and I wanted to get some new sweatpants for Lou. Anyone who knows him knows that his sweats need to be replaced every few years because he uses them as dishcloths, towels, shop towels, etc... and they get completely trashed. I would take a picture and show you, but it's pathetic. Well, right in the corner there was a rack of 50% off and the first thing I saw was a Nationals hoodie. Now, I am and always will be a diehard Indians fan, but since I have been listening and watching the Nats because I won't pay extra for the MLB channels, and it was really more than 50% off, I was weak and bought it. It's pretty nice. The Nats however, are-as I type- losing to the Marlins 16-10. Last night, the game was delayed in Miami 3 hours because of rain... and the Nats lost in the 10th 1-0. In their defense, they are a young ball team, most of the players in their early 20s and 30s. They have signed two "phemons", Strausburg who at 22 is out for at least a season because of upcoming surgery on his elbow (but he is a fantastic pitcher to watch) and Harper, a 17 year old heavy hitter. Maybe he'll be ready next year. As we used to say in Cleveland, "It's a building year".

And on a completely different subject, can we have a vote on whether the period belongs inside or outside the quotation marks? I believe current grammar style is that it belongs inside the mark, but I think it belongs outside to "finish" the comment. Any opinions?

inspiration

2010-08-27T09:43:00.002-04:00

What is inspiration? I think it is that "ah-ha" moment we get whether we expect it or not. It comes from anything and everything. Open up to experiencing it, embracing it and most important: acting on it.

The Ends

2010-08-26T12:33:00.002-04:00

The end of August is almost here. The end of this Jewish year is almost here. The end of my nephew's visit to the East Coast, by himself, was Monday. The end of my procrastination with sewing is tomorrow!

I have missed my sewing machine. I have missed that sturdy feel of new cotton before it's washed. Most of all, I have missed making the time to sew for pleasure again. That ends tomorrow. I have a new bulletin board, rescued from the trash at work, and I am going to list my projects to keep on track. I do much better with lists. I have one angel apron to make, then a few for family and friends, and then I want to play around with some ideas for Lilli for Halloween. The Oriental Trading Co. catalog had ostrich feathers on sale, and I think they would be great for angel wings. But, I have to think about it.

News! News! Sarah has an official address in London as of the 29th. I still find it hard to believe she is "across the pond" and I only hope she will keep up her blog once classes start. It is a joy to read her writing.

Lou's health continues to improve; surgery on his clogged arteries is scheduled for Sept 9. Once he's pronounced fit from that, the discussion about his toe will continue. I'm hoping the increased blood flow to his foot will help heal it and the doctor won't have to amputate. Actually, I'm in favor of Omi and Jeff's suggestion that he go someplace warm, with piranhas, so they can eat the dead tissue off. I'm thinking the Keys might be nice....

Weather, the good, the bad and the ugly

2010-08-15T10:39:00.002-04:00

Last night we had a wonderful breeze blowing the curtains out from the windows, it was about 70 degrees and not humid-basically balmy. I had dreams of cutting the lawn, working a little on the back yard, enjoying an outside day as weather.com predicted similar temps and a "slight" chance of rain.

This morning I woke up to gray. To be honest, Violet woke me up because she was hungry. Can't we teach dogs to open the fridge and get their own food in the morning? Better yet, maybe we should get those metal dentures for her, then she could still eat dry kibble and I could use one of those self feeders. But, at 16 I'm not sure we should change her routine. She's a high strung pound puppy who really doesn't adapt well to change.

However, I digress (I love that word!). Not only is it gray, but the telltale sounds of rain falling are greeting me. I can't even say we need the rain because we've had so much of it lately. I can say I'm glad there's no wind with it, there are still people without power from last Thursday's torrent. So, in a span of less than 24 hours, we've had it all, again.

My heart says "ah, perfect day for sewing or getting back into bed with that new book" (and Lilli, it is not Nora Roberts, you'll probably like this novel when you're home again) but my head says "get the laundry started and you can watch the ballgame, if there's no weather delay, while you iron". Being an adult and realizing one's responsibilities is not always fun. It does have its compensations, though, Stephan Strasburg is on deck to pitch today and he is a joy to watch, even when he's not having a day like his opener when he struck out 14. Yes, baseball has been very good to me......

it's the little things

2010-08-14T19:07:00.002-04:00

Yes, it's the little things in life that really count. This morning, I successfully installed the printer driver for Sarah's HP printer on my laptop and Lou's. You must understand that with two daughters and a future son-in-law who are all computer literate, this is not something I have ever bothered to learn. It is something I whine to them about. However, they are all out of the state at the moment-actually, Sarah and Jack are both in London, so I had to do it myself. I was a little hesitant at the 15 steps the download showed, but I really loved it when I attached to the laptop and got the message "cancel this wizard and the system will load the driver itself". Now, that's my kind of computing!

Sarah left for London Thursday evening, and I spent most of yesterday trying to recuperate from the last minute craziness of getting her packed. Today I finished cleaning up Lilli's room so my nephew can sleep there, he's coming in from Oregon via California for a few days. first really long plane ride for him, and the first time he's coming to DC on his own. I'm excited, there's so much cool stuff to do here.

Once he leaves, I will organize my sewing space. I recycled this very large cork board from work last week and plan to list my projects on it so I can get to them. In anticipation of actually getting some holiday sewing done, I ordered about 10 yards of Chanukah themed material last night online. Nothing like stoking up the stash!!

It's good to be back online. Have a happy weekend.

August news

2010-08-02T19:53:00.002-04:00

I got up yesterday and realized it was August 1st, not too hard since Louie's birthday was Saturday and it's on July 31st. So, this entry is just an update on the things that have been happening around our family.

Lilli went to Hawaii (fully paid) for a week long workshop on volcanoes. The pictures are fabulous, and in the hundreds, but she did some really cool things and had a great time.

Sarah is on the home stretch before she goes off to London. We have lots of errands to run before the 12th, but it will all get done and she will be off on a real "aventure" as she used to say when she was young.

Louie is doing well with the hyperbaric therapy and hopefully will not have to have surgery on his toe. We'll probably find out next week.

And me-I have decided that I have done enough talking and that it is time to get sewing! so, after Sarah leaves, I will make my master list of projects to sew and begin them. Lots of aprons on the drawing board, lots of coasters and I need to catch up on my quilt blkocks which are siting and staring at me! and maybe, just maybe, I'll get some pictures done and Alan can finally put my website up.

so, that's the news from lake O, and I hope your spirits lift with the sun and get you moving on something you want to do, too!

Miss a few days

2010-07-07T23:13:00.003-04:00

and blogland just runs past you! So much going on, and I've been removed from it. since I don't have much to say about the past week other than Louie found nirvana at Phantom Fireworks (we stopped on the way to Cleveland) I just want you all who honor me by reading this to go look at the Bingo's Big Adventure web site.

you'll know why I sent you, and buy the book because I'm sure it's a great story, but I know the pictures will be worth everything. Julia is a very talented photographer among the other skills she multitasks, and her California pictures on her blog keep me from missing CA too much........

Ready, set, go?

2010-06-29T23:01:00.002-04:00

Somehow, more than a week has gone by since I was last looking at the blog. Maybe it's because I'm admiring the new appliances too much. We have named the fridge-Moby Fridge in honor of its size. And, I will report that I have NOT hit my head since it was delivered! It is wonderful, and I gave it a pat for my bee balm friend Lizzie...

However, I digress. This post is actually about admitting to something I unashamedly try to get out of at the first opportunity: cooking a meal. I love to bake; I do not love to cook. I do not practice, therefore I am not very good at it. I married a man who can cook, so why should I learn? Anyway, we planned a wonderful dinner for last night to celebrate our 29th anniversary. Lou came home from the hyperbaric therapy exhausted and out of sorts-he let himself become dehydrated without realizing it. I made him take some pain pills for his toe, then he drank two glasses of water before he laid down. Meanwhile, I have Sarah O, Sara B and Henry all ready for dinner. What could I do? I seasoned the steaks, put the bread in the oven, the corn in the microwave, and the green beans on the stove top. I set up the electric skillet I use for latkes, and started cooking, trying to time things to get to the table together. (Don't even ask why we weren't grilling them in the 90+ degree heat) AND--it happened!! everything came out when it was supposed to, and it even tasted good. I was a wreck. Too much pressure for me. Sorry, darling daughters, cooking meals is not a skill you could ever pick up from me. Making stand-up ducks on a crayon lake, cookie press cookies, poppyseed cake-anytime. Meals-go talk to your father.....

I love it!

2010-06-18T22:38:00.000-04:00

The new side by side is here. It needs 24 hrs to come to temperature. It will be hooked up tomorrow to make ice and filtered water. I love it. I am seriously pathetic.

Into the 90s!

2010-06-12T15:25:00.002-04:00

Yes, at heart we are little hippie-freaks from the 60/70s, but we have officially joined the 90s this weekend.

In 1991 (or so) the patent for crushing ice and delivering it through the door was granted. Today, I bought a new side by side fridge for the kitchen that has such a device. (It also has a lock in case we have little people visit who would use it until their cup runneth over.......) About three years ago we bought an energystar fridge, making us feel very eco. Since we are basically cheap, we got the traditional freezer on top model. Unfortunately, unless you are about 4'6" tall, every time you reach for something not exactly in front of your face, you have the opportunity to hit your head on the thicker walls of the freezer. I know this from lots of experience over the last three years. I finally told Lou I'm tired of hitting my head. Since he has trouble bending to look in the lower regions, a freezer on the bottom was not in contention. Of course, since my kitchen was built in 1954, and upgraded in the XXs, the dimensions of fridges have changed. Let's just say people will get used to opening and closing the side door with the doorknob really fast if they don't want scrapped skin.

I also bought a new dishwasher. This has been under discussion for about 5 years. It wasn't too bad that it just took a LONG time to run a cycle. It wasn't too bad that it was noisy-we could turn it on and go to bed and not hear it. But when it started backing up and out the emergency overflow and ran all over the counter and the floor, I felt it was telling us something. Since we rarely run it more than once a week unless the girls are home, winding a dish towel around the emergency overflow to guide the water into the sink and backing that up with sponges was working pretty well. You can imagine how the girls accepted that. So, yesterday was the day-I did get talked into the model one up from my original choice, but with good reason. It's one of those ones that senses how much detergent to use, but more importantly, you can run a top rack only cycle. Since we tend to use a lot of glasses and small plates that will fit there, it seemed like a good deal. So, they both come Friday and I will be very happy!

Memorial Day weekend was Commencement Weekend at Brown. Sarah has now commenced. Her sister and aunt conspired to make it unique with personalized t-shirts and m-n-m's (which are definitely one of the coolest things out there and worth whatever they cost!). I am trying to be a gracious person-I am trying not to resent not being able to spend time with Lill, Jack, Lou, Omi, Jeff and Jude in Providence on Thursday and Friday because I had to go to Cleveland and fly in with Si and Peg. Having help with her for the restrooms and plane was the only way he could come to the commencement and I was not about to let anything ruin the weekend for Sarah. I hope her kids fry in Hell because they would not help out for the weekend. Okay-so I guess I'm not that gracious.

Lastly, we bought our roma tomato seedlings today. Hopefully Dave next door will rototill the garden area tomorrow and we can prep the ground and get them in. Pickled tomatoes--here we come!!!

Maybe, just maybe, I'll even get to start sewing again!!

Mother's Day

2010-05-09T17:20:00.002-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to everyone. I have had a really nice day so far, reading through blog friends' comments, opening e-cards from family, talking on the phone to family, and enjoying watching Lou sit on the love seat and play with his computer. He is home from the little adventure of pneumonia in both lungs which morphed into congestive heart failure and continued to morph into pancreatitis. I love my husband, but he is really trying to win the My Disease Contest, and I really wish he would drop out of this particular contest. However, he is in great spirits and had done a lot of cooking, probably out of self-defense. I did make burgers last night, the mixed meat kind that he likes, and I even shaped them like ovals so they would fit on the mini sub sandwich buns that were in the house. If we have spaghetti and meatballs, baked chicken, manicotti or stuffed cabbage, I will exhaust my meal expertise. He did brighter up when I offered to bake mandel bread or poppyseed cake, so I am redeemed.....

It's raining

2010-05-08T09:25:00.002-04:00

and that is a good thing as it will raise the water table. Though thunderstorms are predicted for this afternoon, right now it is a gentle spring rain with a soft breeze, and the sweet smell is drifting in through the open front door and mingling with the scent of freshly brewed coffee. It is a quiet moment of the morning, and I'm reflecting on how fortunate I am. I have a husband who loves me and continues to tell me even after 30 years. I have two daughters who have grown into young women I am proud to call my friends in addition to my daughters. They are caring, responsible, and join their father in bringing bright light to my life. I have two sisters-in-law that have never injected the "in-law" part into our relationships-we have always just been sisters. I am cancer free. I have old friends and new friends. I have hobbies that I love and keep me busy. I want for very little and I know that not many people can say that. I am very fortunate, and though I like to make light and joke about it, I never forget the blessings in my life. Thank you all for being a part of it.

Bonsai!!!

2010-05-02T20:55:00.004-04:00

Once upon a time, we spent A LOT of money having a semi shade azalea garden put in the side bed by the driveway. We tended it, watered it, pampered it and did everything the horticulturist told us to do. It did not thrive. It was not happy. Lou and I later found an azalea farm with beautiful and more economical (cheaper) plants. We got two for the front bed on the magnolia side of the yard and they grew beautifully. So I said, Lou, we should do something about these plants, they look terrible. and he answered, well, I was thinking about moving them to the front yard, in the walkway bed and next to the other azaleas. So we did, and they are happy and thriving. A few needed pruning and Lou stuck them in pots, so we have two pretty bonsai azaleas on the deck, enjoying the sun. And the side bed? Well, we took in a tortoise looking for a new home, and the lady giving him away (it had been her son's, he was off at college, and she didn't want to deal...) was thinning out her pachysandra and just going to compost it and I said I'd be glad to take it. It loves the side bed, and in another year or two will probably take over most of it.

Lou is recovering and gaining strength every day. Today I asked if he cared if I went down to sew for a little while. I am 3 months behind on the bee blocks. So, since Lizzie had been waiting the longest, hers was first. she sent us a brown and white print, and asked us to incorporate it into a block that said something about us. Here's what I did:
The springlike flowers represent my love of the outdoors, the two space prints stand for Lou and Lilli, the scientists, and the last print represents Sarah, the soon to be Asian Art authority. I picked a circular pattern block because I believe in the continuity of life and its cycles. though a fancy symbolism for the white and brown print strips would be nice, it doesn't exist-I was making borders to get the block to the size needed.

A month?

2010-04-25T15:41:00.001-04:00

Has it really been a month since I posted here? guess so. It's been an eventful month...

On April 9, while we were out for Mexican, my husband suffered a minor stroke. He would not let me take him to the emergency room as he really didn't have stroke symptoms; his symptoms mimicked a spine problem. Given his disintegrating discs, I let him overrule me. When we called the doctor on Saturday morning, he told us to get to emergency where an MRI confirmed that he had had a stroke. Thank G-d we are so lucky: he has only lost the co-ordination in his right hand and leg. His face is fine, his mind is fine. We are so lucky that our local hospital, Suburban, is a National Stroke Center, in conjunction with NIH. After a weekend in the hospital, he was moved to a rehab center. What angels the people who work there are! He made incredible progress and was discharged last Friday afternoon. The Home Health Care nurse came yesterday, and we have appts scheduled with a physical therapist and an occupational therapist. This is in tandem with the deterioration of his toes that has been going on for a while-but I'm not going to talk about that, some readers are too sensitive.

I'm tired. Not only is there the mental stress, but the physical stress related to doing everything. But, I'm fortunate to have lots of friends who are constantly calling and checking in. One of them brought dinner last night-such a mensche kind of thing. Today we did a big shopping and will set up multiple meals to cook-yes, I know it is hard for many of you to believe I can cook-but Lou will be giving directions, so we will not starve.

Violet made a big hit out at the rehab place. Once I got her shots updated and verification of that (good bye dishwasher, once again), I could take her out to the center. Good thing, I was tired of cleaning up "reminders" that she didn't want to be alone. She let lots of people pet her, and didn't bark unless someone came into the room too fast for her. Fortunately we are done with that.

so, this afternoon I will be cooking, laundry, and hopefully catching up on my quilting bee blocks. Hopefully the sunny day outside will inspire me.

Helping Hand

2010-03-25T22:20:00.002-04:00

I have this really good friend from work, Angie. It's funny because her mom and I are the same age.....but, Angie has been the lifesaver who has helped when we needed someone to stay with the dogs, who drove up to Providence with me to move Lill from one apartment to another (in a snow storm), and who gladly goes to the fabric store whenever the desire strikes us. Like today, she called and asked if I was available because she needed to pick her gram up from the adult daycare center; usually she know beforehand and arranges her day, but today she got a call during the work day. I picked her up at work, we made a quick stop at G Street Fabrics-quick for us when we spend less than $50 each-then a quicker stop at the Jo-Ann's near her house for the current copy of Apronology, then we picked up Gram. From there we took her out for dinner, then stopped for her meds, then I dropped them off and came home. It's rare that she asks for help, she's very self-sufficient. So, we had a great time, actually had the top down for a while before it clouded up. She never let us pay her for all the times she stayed with the dogs while we still had LuLu with us, even dealing with "bonbons" as LuLu's health began to fail. So, at Christmas time I got a great deal on a portable Kenmore sewing machine at Sears (her machine died and hadn't been replaced yet) and got it for her. I thought that was the end of it, but then in January-I might have mentioned it-she gave me a Kitchenaid mixer for my birthday-she had two, but I don't know the story behind that....

The gist of this ramble is that true friends are hard to find, but wonderful for the spirit and heart. If you have a few, nurture them and let them know they are important to you. and with the wonders of email and free long distance evening calling plans, remind those friends far away how much they mean to you. I do, and it warms my heart

Spring has come

2010-03-22T20:26:00.002-04:00

Can't take any pictures to prove it since I can't find my camera, but spring has definitely come to Maryland! The crocus started last Wednesday, quickly followed by the snowdrops and hellebore. Last Thursday as we left for Ohio, two daffs were open; when we got home last evening--there was an explosion of yellow and white in the flower beds. It has rained for the last 24 hours, and my allergies kicked in full force this morning, but I don't care because spring has finally come.

Of course, with spring comes Passover. Since the bandies will be coming down to the district for the spring break week-they just miss the cherry blossom festival-there has been a request for a seder. We will do it in the true O household style, but hopefully this year we will not have people balancing spoons on their noses. We did a test run of the major foods and took them into Ohio over the weekend, and they were GREATLY appreciated. Tomorrow after work starts the reorganization of the house to accommodate company. I really need to get my sewing in one space, my books in the bookcase, and the bedroom cleared out for company. it will be a major effort, but it will get done. Ah, I know you all are snickering, how many times have you heard this before? But, i have this feeling that this might just be the lucky time it happens!! Don't burst my bubble.

Ah, William...

2010-03-15T08:21:00.002-04:00

Five words for today:

Beware the Ides of March

and watch out for any soothsayers who might come your way. And if there is ANYONE in my acquaintance who doesn't know what that means, go pull out your Shakespeare and look up Julius Caesar.....or I guess, in this day and age, google the statement.......

Love and kisses on a rainy Monday morning to all.

Sunny Days!!

2010-03-06T16:48:00.002-05:00

We have now had two days of sun in a row, I think we'll get spoiled!! It's still pretty chilly outside, but the sun makes up for it.

I am still having pain in my back, and trying to avoid the pain meds because they put me to sleep. I am also trying to get used to typing with the pads of my fingers as I finally broke down and spent the money to have acrylic nails put on. the anti-cancer drug makes my nails really soft, and they are breaking off so low I'm afraid I'll end up with an infection at the worst, and severe pain at the least. they do look pretty nice-I got "sport length" ovals done. Now I need to figure out if I can still do everything else I normally do without using the tips of my "nails".

Everyday now I see a few more daffs coming up in the flower beds. it's such a nice reminder that spring is around the corner. I need to get more birdseed as the big eaters are back. We will have a real adventure when we start cleaning up the yard though we are really lucky not to have lost many branches from the snow weight. As best we can tell, it's just a few on the camellia tree.

I haven't heard from my partner from the martini swap, so I really think this will be the last one for a while. I have to dig out the post office receipt with the tracking number to make sure it was delivered. I find it hard to believe that people can't find a little time to let the sender know the package got there... oh well.

I'm still struggling with the February quilt block because Lizzie wants it to be something that represents each maker, and I'm not an embroiderer, or applique-er, etc. I'm sure I'll figure something out soon-I have to otherwise I will be getting behind again, and I don't want to do that. I have been browsing quilt block websites and am in awe of what I am seeing. I think my favorites are the traditional block patterns done in non-traditional ways. Even though I'm enjoying this tremendously, it hasn't taken over as first love: that will always be aprons. don't know why, just is.

Time for a pain med, off to la-la land.

It's not the Ides of March, yet

2010-03-02T22:02:00.002-05:00

Well, as long as your name isn't Caesar, you won't have to worry...but then I'm rushing, right? Today is only the 2nd, and the Ides means the 15th. But, you can never be too prepared, and if a soothsayer happens your way, pay attention.

But that isn't really what I wanted to unload. I haven't been writing very faithfully, and I haven't been following my bloggy friends very faithfully, either. I have been just too tired. this working 9 to 5 instead of 8 to 4 in the winter is just dragging me along. It's finally getting lighter when we leave in the morning, and now it's lighter when we get home, and I'm feeling a little better. I think I need my sunshine.

And by the way, as if having cancer wasn't stressful enough and a knock on the old immune system last spring, my body has decided to rebel and I have developed shingles. This is truly another reason why growing older sucks. Pain, rash, itching, blisters, oozing crud; it doesn't get any better than this...

But, I digress. I really wanted to jump on and blog a quick note that the snow is finally almost ALL gone, and that the daffodils are sending up their green shoots!! We may have some jonquils, too, and if you want an explanation of the difference, go over to Julia's blog at "our simple life". Actually, just go to look at her wonderful pictures. she's a scientist with an artist's eye.

And now for the final bit of good news: (Drum roll, bells and whistles) Sarah has been accepted into the Master's Program in Asian Arts at Sotheby's Institute of Art in London. the degree is actually awarded through the University of Manchester, and that's not so shabby either! More news will follow as details become available.....

Tinkerfrog is Back

2010-02-10T21:22:00.002-05:00

Celebrating her 100th post, Tara at http://tinkerfrog.blogspot.com is sponsoring a giveaway! She's offering a honey bun and probably all kinds of other things if I know her. Go, look, register to win!!!

Still snowing!

2010-02-10T18:20:00.003-05:00

Just 24 hours ago, about 6 PM yesterday, this table was cleared of snow. I had cleared most of the snow off the deck because I was worried about the weight with more snow coming. Well, it started last night and is still going on. We are under blizzard warning until 10 PM tonight. I am getting tired of snow.

On the other hand, Lou was busy all day with teleconferencing. So, the government moved on at our house! I also took the opportunity to start catching up on sewing, I've finished both December and January blocks from the Bee Balm, and I'll work on February's tomorrow. I'll finish KS's dress, and pack up the treats for Valentine's day and hope I can get to the post office eventually.

It is obvious we will not be going to Ohio this weekend. The PA turnpike is closed. And that's if we could even get to it. It started snowing last Friday, our street got plowed yesterday. If that's any indication, we'll be enjoying the home fires until the beginning of next week. Thankfully, I was raised to always have a "back-up" and we still have plenty of food and "liquid" refreshment. Violet has been going out to the patio under the deck and can still walk there as the winds haven't filled that area up. The snow in front is higher than she is. Lou saw fox tracks in the snow that sort of stopped at the walkway, I'm hoping the animal took shelter under our bending bushes where there is some cleared space and leaves, etc to push around to stay warm. I'm hoping it's the red fox KS and I saw running through Stone Ridge's trees last December.

The only birds I've seen outside are two mourning doves--no wonder people think they're dumb. I've thrown seed out on the snow, but it gets covered quickly, so I hope they go back to their nest and hunker down like the rest of us.

It is unbelievably quiet outside, and very peaceful. Stay safe if you're in the snow, too, and may your power stay on (peuh,peuh, peuh).

On to Blocks!

2010-02-08T15:39:00.003-05:00

I was feeling really guilty that I hadn't finished my apron swap package, so that was my first project today. I finished a sweet satin '50s hostess apron, with fluff, tulle, and a glass applique--definitely not my strongest sewing skill. the package includes a hostess glass, guest invitations and glasses, and a condiment tray from the neighborhood Good Will. she's a bargain hunter, she'll love it. After a cup of tea, I'm going to tackle my online quilting group blocks that backed up due to the everything that happened in Nov-Dec-Jan with the family craziness.

Note to group: I got stuck trying to get out to CVS, Dave helped me push Miss Lucy back into the drive while Lou took the steering wheel, there isn't a plow in sight, there are only going to be two buses on Cedar Lane today, and the latest prediction on the storm hitting tomorrow afternoon has been revised to 10-20 more inches. I love living in the South.....

Record breaking?

2010-02-06T10:18:00.003-05:00

We are in the midst of a record breaking snowfall. I am so glad I live in the South where it doesn't snow very much (and what idiot said that?)

This is the view out our front door at 8 AM this morning. Last night at 8 the walkway had been shoveled so Violet could walk around.

And this is the view of the driveway that I used the snow thrower on last night. We had about 12 inches when I cleared it. Can you tell?

Fortunately we have all we need to be safe. Hopefully by Monday our street will be plowed.

It's a winter wonderland here, and we are setting up a nice chicken soup to simmer. We'll turn on the music, I'll get to some sewing, and we will be off the streets and out of trouble!

Red Letter, Red Heart

2010-02-02T20:49:00.001-05:00

Definitely something to think about, and act on.

Ideas

2010-01-28T16:50:00.002-05:00

My goodness, there are some really creative people out there! I realized that I spend way too much time writing or thinking about writing and should be taking pictures of life and stuff. That seems to be THE THING in the blogland visits I make. I do know how to use my camera, and I do know how to download the pictures and get them into my posts; maybe not in really neat ways, but at least they are there. So, I will need to start taking and posting more pictures.

Another note: baking GALS has opened round 16, so if you have some time to bake, some cash to mail a package to a service person, go and see if any of the bios interest you.

Another note: Check out the great martini recipes posted as part of the Martini Madness apron swap at flirty apron. I'm a gin purist, but some of the others sound pretty interesting.

FNSI 2/19/10

2010-01-26T21:40:00.002-05:00

Oh Yeah! here we go again-except that I will probably be in Providence and taking my FNSI project with me. The 19th is an ice show date for the band, and of the three shows in February, it is the only one I can go to. I hope to video it, and then make a dvd of all four years of ice shows.

But the ice show is not what this post is about. It's about another Friday Night Sew In set for 2/19/10. Again, it doesn't have to be sewing, it's just an opportunity to dedicate some time to UFOs (UnFinshed Objects). I will probably take Will's blanket so that maybe he can get it before he graduates from high school--he was born last October but I didn't hear about it until November.... so, go to http://www.handmadebyheidi.blogspot.com/ and register. Follow the instructions and get in on the give-away, and happy finishing!

I love birthdays!

2010-01-20T18:40:00.002-05:00

They keep coming, so it isn't worth ignoring them. Tomorrow is the last of my 50s birthdays, and it doesn't even seem that weird. I may decide to stay 21, like at the Harbor Inn in the Flats. If Aunt Dorth could be 18 for 60+ birthdays, I can keep being 21.

I really raked it in already, too! Lilli (and Jack, I assume...) got me two CDs I wanted, Rosanne Cash and Susan Boyle. Rosanne's is the the first part of the essential list her father created for her as a teen-it's very cool. Susan's is a little disappointing as she sounds the same on almost all the songs; they didn't vary style very much. But, she has an amazing voice. Then I got a birthday check from my in-laws, always the right size and color! At work we had cake, two kinds because not everyone eats chocolate, do I really know those people? and my cube neighbor, Sean, gave me a newly released dvd of Dr. Who, 1963-1966. VERY COOL. My friend Angie and her mom are giving me a kitchen aid mixer, professional grade, that is a duplicate at their house--and I am not allowed to not take it. I am so blessed with friends and family!

The day (well, on the west coast) started with my little sister (in law) calling to sing me happy birthday, not realizing it's tomorrow. That was fun, and we had a good laugh. Tonight my brother called to get wishes in before we got busy celebrating tomorrow. That was nice, too.

This has been a great day! and it's not over yet.....

FNSI-oh yeah!

2010-01-17T11:27:00.003-05:00

So here is my entry into the Friday Night Sew In:

Sarah and I went to the fabric store and got Butterick 4914 and a springy matte jersey print.

I traced her size, cut it out, and started putting it together. I also spent most of Saturday sewing, thinking I could finish it for her to take back to school today, but that didn't happen because I hurt my knee coming upstairs for a try-on. I did have to adjust the side and shoulder seams, but it sure looked cute while she was trying it on. Sleeves are basted in and a ballpark hem will be done, and I'll mail it up to her. She wouldn't let me take any picture to show the work in progress on...but that's KS for you.....

I will also work on my bee balm blocks this weekend, and fix Lill's jeans so she's ready for camping. It feels good to be sewing again.

Ah-ha, a great Ides of January idea!

2010-01-14T23:05:00.003-05:00

hi! You know I'm part of the Bee Balm online quilting group. (Which, by the way, will get me a 10% discount at the "fancy" fabric store in town when I flash my card) Well, today I linked to Angie's Chitchat Corner to see what was new with her-she's one of the other Bee Balm-ers, and she was blogging about this Friday night sew in. So of course I went over there to take a look-and it's a great idea! A Friday night set aside to work on a project-like I don't have anything at all around the house, right? check it out, it's just a commitment to yourself to spend some time sewing or whatever-ing on Friday the 15th. Ah, life doesn't get too much better.

Happy New Year

2010-01-09T17:20:00.003-05:00

I have my computer back, all to myself. Sarah is out with friends in the District, and Lilli is on a plane back to AZ. Instead of the usual five laptops jockeying for space on the coffee table, only one rests there, and I can again use the table as my footrest. We have had a wonderful few weeks with the girls home, even their usual arguing hasn't made me too crazy. Lilli is flying back to buckle down for research, writing, and orals in April. She's such a marvel to me, beautiful, brilliant, and still my kid who sits on the living room floor wrapping rocks to send to everyone for presents. She's been gone a little over 3 hours, and I'm missing her like crazy already. BUT, she taught me how to use the webcam on skype, so tomorrow we will be chatting with visuals. She also reloaded and fixed my iPod so I can have my music at work or downstairs.

Sarah will be home for another week, and hopefully get what she needs to get done, done. She, too, is a marvel. I learned a lot about Asian Art when we drove to Cleveland; she explained her paper to me and other aspects of dynastic China. it was cool-definitely a "speak in Brown to me" moment.

Speaking of the downstairs, I am at the thinking stage of prioritizing my UFOs to see if they can get finished. This is a recurrent theme on many of the blogs I visit, so I feel I am in esteemed company. Either that, or we all start way too many things and get sidetracked into other projects. Gee, quilting comes to mind--how I never got into it earlier is beyond me, and to see the stash I've built already, in a few short months, is gratifying-or sick, depending on your point of view.

Tomorrow I have promised to finish up errands with Sarah, then the time will be mine to start on sewing stuff. I have a few online quilting bee blocks to do, all the sets of coasters I cut but didn't make as Christmas gifts-I will be so far ahead next year!-the prototype for the martini madness swap which I promised to Lilli, the baby blankets to finish before the boys graduate from high school, Lilli's blouses, and Sarah wants me to look at a few patterns she bookmarked. Then, there is the mending and patching of jeans to get to. So, if I can carve out that time for myself, I have lots of things to keep me happy. Or, I could just curl up with a nice cup of tea and some of the "new to us" books from yesterday's jaunt to the used bookstore.

Last, but not least, I need to report that I did bake cookie press cookies this morning for the girls as promised. I colored them, but only pressed out trees and swirls. I did learn two things: one- I don't like gel food coloring, and two- like riding a bike, I haven't forgotten how to make them. My Grandma Reva, not to mention Aunt Lill, would be proud.

Is there a "clock that always says 12:30"? (12/30/09)

2009-12-31T00:13:00.004-05:00

I was avoiding a year-end post because this year has been so crappy for us: my cancer, Lou's circulation problems, the ongoing issue of aging parents, and yesterday, the putting down of our beloved, LuLu. We had her for 16 years, and though Lillian was her "girl", she was still my dog, too. It was a tough day for all of us, especially as Lou is in Cleveland, and the vet couldn't come to the house, we had to take her in. But, she was ready, it was in her eyes. I kind of think she was just holding on until Lilli came in from AZ for break, and that's okay, too. I posted a comment on the quilting blog that I may be out of touch dealing with this, and the comments back from "the girls' were so uplifting I could feel the support from all over the country.

And then I glanced at Shawnee's latest theme for a flirty apron swap, and I realized I had lied to my children when I said I was staying out of swaps for a while. The theme is "Martini Madness"-what fun for the new year! So, of course I registered, and will get my quilt blocks sewn and out in the mail so I can play with ideas for this one. I guess when I made my hair stylist a satin and organza apron for the holidays, I was just getting some practice-huh?

Got snow? Day 2

2009-12-20T18:29:00.004-05:00

Here we have two pictures of the only things I have accomplished today. On the left is my lovely Miss Lucy, looking out from the carport. She is supposed to go to Lilli's appointments tomorrow, but if the county doesn't plow our street tonight, there is no way she will go, and Lilli will only go if Jack picks her up in the 4 wheel drive. On the right is our Violet, who is wondering why she can't frolic all over the front yard, why is that snow higher than she is?

Lou checked, and Federal agencies are closed tomorrow.

But, the big question is: how many weight watcher activity points did that snow shoveling earn me today?

Got Snow?

2009-12-19T10:03:00.005-05:00

Yes, this is the South. We are a little over 12 hours into the snowstorm, the rate of "fall" has doubled since last night. Conservatively, we are expecting another foot to foot and a half before it moves on sometime late tonight or early Sunday. On the bottom is the view of our deck. On the top is the view out the front door; one can see that Eric and Erica chose the wrong tree to hide under since they did not fly home to Florida in time. Steps? we have them somewhere out there... After a filling breakfast of eggs and toast, I will go out with my trusty shovel and try to find them......

Hold on, it's coming"

2009-12-18T16:59:00.002-05:00

We are getting ready for the mother of storms coming to our area. Since this is the South (we are below the Mason-Dixon Line) one expects it to be southern. Ha.

Right now the forecast is for 3-5 in. of snow tonight after 9 PM. Tomorrow, it is supposed to start snowing late morning, with an expected drop of 2-4 in. per hour most of the day. Add in winds and we could get some very interesting weather; right now the total snow expected is 15-20 in. depending on which news broadcast you lsiten to. I grew up in Ohio where people know how to deal with winter, here it's another story. The radio weather man said if this storm hits as expected, we will still be digging out on Monday. (Snow day from work? that would be cool). So this morning Lou and I made a list of stuff we needed for the house and I went out grocery shopping with a stop at the hardware store for ice melting stuff. It was not a pretty sight at Hardware City, it was only around noon and already people had cleared one shelf and were getting pretty nasty about the other two. Once I got to the grocery store, I couldn't believe how crowded the underground parking was-nobody ever parks down there. I never shop on Fridays so I asked my grocery clerk friend if the Safeway is always this crowded, and he said "No, it's because of the predicted storm. And this is nothing compared to how it will be when people get out of work and we start running out of things like milk and bread. You're smart to come this early."

So, I did the old Ohio stock-up of milk, cereal, batteries, etc. We are READY!!! I moved about one third of a cord of wood to the front stoop so it will be easier to get to if the power goes out and we need to use the fireplace as heat source, I have plenty of propane for the camp stove and we moved the wooden chairs off the front under cover so they won't get wrecked by snow.

So, if you don't see me here for a few days, it's not because I'm busy doing what I should be doing, it's because the power's out and we used up the laptop battery watching movies.

If you're in line for this storm, stay safe. Don't do anything stupid like thinking you can drive out there; you may know how to drive in the snow, but I can guarantee you that close to 95% of the other people who will be out on the road don't have a clue. If you're not in line, thank whatever power you want to that it's not coming your way. I'll keep you posted on the progress....

Post Office-yeah!

2009-12-11T13:15:00.002-05:00

Here's what I'm sending out for my first participation in BakingGaLS. Be back later.

Okay, Chanukah's coming!!

2009-12-07T21:25:00.002-05:00

I KNOW there are other Jewish bloggers out there, but I don't seem to know where they are! So, I'm sharing with my reading friends. Chanukah (my preferred spelling) is considered a minor-hard to believe, huh?-holiday. It's a great story, recounting bravery, fighting and miracles. the Maccabees were victorious, the single vial of lamp oil lasted eight days, long enough to procure sanctified oil (or to make sanctified oil, depends on which story version you grew up with), and we get to eat great food. That's pretty tongue-in-cheek, but the story is simple: persecuted people ousted the oppressors, cleaned up the Temple, relit the light, and enjoyed a celebration. Now, some people try to equate it to Christmas, and I'm not about to go down that path, I'll share my feelings and thoughts....

When I think about Chanukah, I think of my mother hand grating all those potatoes for latkes. I think about oranges that my Uncle Itz ordered by mail for everyone in Cleveland. I think about the paper plate of cookies my Aunt Lill brought each family from Youngstown: with pineapple tartlettes, hermits and Grandma Riva's cookie press cookies. Of course the cookie press cookies were all colored and pressed in the Christmas shapes, but that's what came with the press so that's what the sisters' used.

When my children were young, we fashioned that base into our own traditions. Our extended family would come for dinner one night of Chanukah, we'd have brisket, latkes, poppyseed cake and lots of cookie press cookies. Debbie would bring spinach dip because that's what she makes best, Donna would bring 7 layer dip because that's what she likes best. I usually wear my Happy Challah Day sweatshirt-which really makes no sense since I never serve challah at the big dinner-but it has dancing dreidels and a menorah, so it fits.

But this year I have the "piece du resistance": blue velvety dreidel dellibobbers!! What a find! I will post pictures soon, and you all will be green with envy...hmmm, one of those Christmas colors, huh?

The important thread that weaves through these memories and traditions is family. My family is my grounding point, plain and simple. I make no excuse for loving them all to bits, it's the way I am.

Tomorrow: share-able recipes start!

Ah-Ha!

2009-11-30T18:13:00.005-05:00

We did okay in Cleveland though I left Lou there to help and will go get him this weekend; most likely Omi will go in Saturday for a week, and I will probably take the next one. But that's not what the Ah-Ha is for. That's for a picture that multitasks:

this picture shows me in the apron I won (on the left) and the apron I made for Peg for National Tie One on Day-an apron of course! 2009

Monday, Monday-can't trust that day

2009-11-23T21:53:00.002-05:00

Today has really been "one of those days".... My father-in-law called mid-morning to cancel their trip in for Thanksgiving because Peg had to be hospitalized. She has been having a series of bad days...and neither of them are getting much sleep. He is exhausted and just needs some respite time. So, Lou and I will take Thanksgiving on the road-minus the turkey. There's no sense in cooking a 16-18 pounder for 4 people, 3 of whom don't eat a lot at one sitting (and don't even ask who number 4 is...)

Then, Alan texted me that his mother-in-law passed away on Saturday, the funeral was today. so, we will see them when we're in town. It isn't exactly shaping up to be a great holiday.

Next, I had to call Sarah and cancel their trip in and assure her she didn't need to come into Cleveland with us. So, she and Henry will stay in New York, and hopefully one of his friends' families will take pity on them and invite them for the day.

I worked like a fiend today to get everything on the system and my paper checks cut. I'll do the direct deposits tomorrow, and then mail the signed checks and get the filing done, then I'm just going to have to go with the flow about the rest of it.

On a more positive note, there are many things I am thankful for. First, my health ("If you don't have your health, you don't have anything") I remain Plus 1, cancer free. My family and friends who have been my support staff throughout this adventure. Second, all the new friends I have made online through blogging, swapping, and Weight Watchers. To share common interests with people all over the world, and see how similar we are in so many ways, makes my heart light.

And now, a word or so to all: There is a very cool site called Baking GALS that you can google and read about. The idea is to bake goods and make a package to be sent to a service person. Not a bad idea given these folks are putting themselves in danger to protect us. Read about it, blog about it, participate if you feel you can. It will make your heart light.

love to you all, beddy bye time for me.

OMG I won!

2009-11-18T19:10:00.003-05:00

I can't believe it: I won a give away at The Apron Goddesses!! If you haven't gone to their site, click right over and read away, you will love these girls. I love them, but I'm partial to anything apron, right?

Have to help Lou with dinner, so I'll blog later. Right now, I am enjoying my good luck to have won a fantastic apron--one I didn't make myself!

I missed it?

2009-11-15T10:46:00.001-05:00

here's a link to a great site of fabulous aprons....too many aprons, so little time!

Julie from Aprons by Julie

Go to Apron Goddesses to learn more.....

Angeling and Pay it Forward

2009-11-13T20:03:00.004-05:00

I have never thought of myself as a weak person, but I must be a closet weakling. I had this grand idea of not getting into anymore swaps or such so I could devote my time to working on things that MIGHT make a little money if I ever got my butt in gear to sew them; aprons, coasters and mitts come to mind immediately.....

Then I saw a note about angeling a few swappers who had missed out on a very fun swap because their partners bailed, so I asked if I could help out. That's not that big a deal, I've got lots of stuff for it and I really liked the theme.

But, then I realized I never posted about my sign up for Tara's Pay it Forward. I won a spot as one of her three. And so my pay it forward means that the first three people who respond that they would like to play will receive a handcrafted gift from me and in turn, have to offer a pay it forward on their blogs making handcrafted things for three people and who agree to do the same and so on-you get the idea. You have 365 days to get the item to them, but most people don't take that long. Make sense?

So, now I'm off to watch original Saturday Night Lives with Lou, and I'll check later to see if anyone grabbed at the chance to pay it forward......

To the Veterans

2009-11-11T20:46:00.002-05:00

I would like to take a moment to thank all the active service men and women who are at this time defending our country and the ideals it was founded on.

Thank you

I would also like to remember other veterans, some still with us and others not. To my brother, Barney, who served in Germany and then came home and took care of our mom after my dad died. To cousins Mark, Sherlene, Debbie, Shawn and Robbie, active and reserve Air Force. My father, Henry, my uncles Nate, Abe and David who served in World War II and rarely spoke of the horrors they witnessed, some being in on the liberation of the concentration camps and the liberation of Paris. I cannot imagine what families went through waiting for news, and my heart goes out to families today who wait for news.

I am glad that I live in a country where I can say what I think, when I think, where I think. And I am eternally grateful to the men and women who risk their lives and their families' anguish to preserve that right. May G-d bless you and keep you.

What I'm working on

2009-11-08T18:30:00.002-05:00

I've just finished up the November block for the Bee Balm, it's a wonky log cabin with really cool colors. I think I did it right, it's hard because I read about log cabin blocks in a few different books, and each said to do it differently. I tried to do it the way some of the other bee-ers did it. You decide:

I'd like to start some Chanukah fabric aprons, but I think I need to concentrate on Will's blanket to get it finished before he goes to school.:-) I may decide to rotary cut out one of my more basic patterns, then I can just whip them up.

It was an absolutely beautiful day today, I spent about a half hour raking leaves in the sunshine, then coming in and reading. We've been vegging out in front of the tv way too much, so I'm back in a book.

I also was approved for membership in the Baking GALS, and that will be a really neat thing to be doing.

The Right Stuff, er, blogspot....

2009-11-06T16:46:00.001-05:00

I am definitely lame when it comes to knowing where I am in cyberspace. I originally posted this to our online quilting bee blog when it really belongs here.....

Yesterday between doctor appointments I finished up the Passionately Pink apron swap apron; well, to be honest, I started and finished it. October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, just got away from me with all the traveling we did and I couldn't seem to get to my sewing machine. Today I will box up the package and send it out. I made Mary's clothespin apron because my partner wanted something full and functional. I made it reversible. I made it out of pink print fabric from the stash-some I'd bought for Lill and never made into anything (sorry, Sweeta, I owe you...) It's very cute, I will post a picture after I get an email that she received it. Even though pink is not one of my favorite colors to wear, I would keep this one....

Today starts Tara's quilting retreat in Colorado. Amanda Jean from crazy mom quilts is leading it. I would have loved to go, but it just wasn't in the cards, or the flight plan. I am there in spirit, and this weekend I will start Lill's lap quilt so I am working on a quilting project.

Will's baby blanket continues to progress, I'm about a third to a half done. It's really very cute even if it doesn't look like the picture on the pattern slip. I'm hoping to finish it by next week so I can send it off.

Today the sun is shining, I'm feeling good, and the sky is the limit in terms of energy. There is something to be said for getting a good night's sleep.

WIPs and UFOs

2009-11-03T18:43:00.002-05:00

So, now that we are done with Halloween, I'm thinking it may be time to face the STACKS: all those works-in-progress and unfinished objects stacked around the dining room and sewing table in the blue room (just like the White House, we have a Blue Room, but it begs the question: do they have a Yellow Room like we do?).

And now I have incentive...Lou just let me know he will be doing a prospective student interview here at the house on Sunday. And I honestly thought I had until the week before Thanksgiving before I thought about cleaning and moving WIPs and UFOs. Well, I'll just rearrange my thoughts and start organizing earlier than expected.

I wanted to create a master list of things needing finishing, but then realized that the list is probably so LONG that I'd get discouraged and not pick up anything. I did make a list of about 8 items that are recently started and need finishing; I know I have tons more, but they're not needed in the near future.

I'm feeling really good right now and fairly strong, so I want to take advantage of these feelings and move ahead on the things I want to do rather than the things I have had to do. It's almost like the whole cancer adventure happened to a different me, except that I see the scars everyday when I look at my body. I am strong, I am healing, I am Plus 1.

I need some Geritol

2009-10-27T21:41:00.002-04:00

I am so tired right now I need some Geritol. It will be interesting to see if anyone even knows/remembers what Geritol is or if they still make it.

I hate not being able to find things in my house. It is happening a lot lately. It is scary.

On a brighter note, plans are zooming along for the upcoming visit to Cleveland. I have a blueberry pie on hold at Giant that I will pick up after work. The meals planned so far are lobster and steak for the anniversary dinner, salmon patties and spaghetti and meatballs for the other nights. We'll have salad, fresh warmed bread, applesauce, and all the other goodies that go along with those meals. I bought them a "tower of chocolate" collection from Harry and David for a little present, and they will enjoy opening all the different boxes of stuff.

I'm going to bed now, nighty night.

Sadness and Sunshine

2009-10-25T17:34:00.002-04:00

Today, in Eugene, OR, the unveiling of the headstone for my mother-in-law, Gloria, took place. In Judaism, this ceremony usually occurs 11 months after a person's death. It's hard to believe it's been almost a year since her passing, that her house was broken down, and that other people are living there. I wish I could have gone to support my sisters-in-law, but to be honest, I really don't ever want to be in Eugene again. I did promise Jude I would come when the boys are Bar Mitzvah, but I don't want the years of good memories to be marred by trips that will not produce those kinds of memories.

Instead, to honor her memory, Lou and I planted 40+ bulbs today. She always loved flowers, her beds beautifully planned and tended. Though we tend to have a "wilder" look to our beds than she preferred, the daffs will come up next spring and sway in the breeze and perfume the air drifting into the house, and I will think of her and how much she meant to me. She actually told Zelda that I was more stubborn than she was. I'm not sure that's true, we never really went head to head on things. When she visited, we did things her way. When she wasn't around, we did things our way. She was definitely an "Ashet Chiyel", a woman of valor, and I will miss her.

Tiles down, swap to go

2009-10-24T18:57:00.003-04:00

Here is the picture of my italian tile blocks for Shelly, the second of our online quilting bee group. This is the "third time's a charm" for me; I had to do them 3 times before they came out close enough to "right" for me to send along. It's the most involved block I've done to date, and sewing on the bias in a quilt block is not something I have mastered yet. Tara suggested starching the material before sewing, and I did read about that after I'd done the blocks. But, I think they are okay.

Tomorrow I plan on getting the laundry caught up and sewing my passionately pink breast cancer awareness month swap apron. My partner wants something full and functional, and I've decided to make a reversible bib apron with pockets along the bottom edge-very functional I think. I've got a few add-ins related to awareness, and then it'll be off into the mail.

After this, I think I'll "retire" from the swap trade for a while and work on holiday gifts for family and friends. I'll be doing a lot of aprons and coasters, maybe mitts, and hopefully the little microwave mitts kathleen was talking about. I've made some good progress on Will's blanket, and I'm waiting for color confirmation from Kathleen to start on Johnny's quilt.

Tonight, a nice steak dinner and then baseball. My life is so good.....

Halloween, received and on its way

2009-10-21T19:15:00.009-04:00

So, you saw it on the mannequin, now you see it on the girl-child! I'm not sure how she took this picture of herself, but you get the gist of how the outfit looks. Best part-there may be a party from some folks in her department who are Dr. Who fans, and they will know immediately what she is. Life is good!

lou and I had a great time in Providence over the weekend with our Redhead. It was butt-cold, but we survived! Here is KS at the game, Brown beat Princeton, and her grandfather saw her on national television.... can you tell it is cold? and the only thing I cut off was the top of her hat, but she sure looks cute, huh? And we ate lots of really good sushi with the kids.

Then, I finally got the Halloween spook and rattle swap apron package for Val finished and packed up for mailing tomorrow. I had to put it aside to get Lill's costume done, but she understood because the same thing has happened to her. So, I'll send it out priority tomorrow and she'll have it before Halloween. She did say she likes a party, so that's what she is getting. The picture is kind of screwed up colorwise-the satin is purple and the overlays are sheer black with embossed spiderwebs and spiders, and multicolored sequins. Val didn't want the standard orange and black-already has it in her Halloween wardrobe. Then, I got her a black tablecloth, a ceiling spider hang-down like the one I use on the front porch, a centerpiece for her table, a swag to put around her door, and two sweet little tealight holders with purple insides. There are a few spiderwebs to spread in purple and black-going with the color scheme here-and I threw in some jelly beans to enjoy while she's planning her party. I hope she takes a picture with the apron on because it's so cute--three layers of swirls. I like this pattern a lot and will probably use it more often, with various treatments.

While we were up north, Saskia came and got the rest of her stuff from the yellow room. This weekend I hope to rearrange the furniture in the room so we can bring in the bargain oak table we got, and have a good surface for my cutting board. Then, I plan on sewing!! lots and lots of sewing, though right now I'm working on a knitted baby blanket for the latest addition on the Neufeld side, William Fletcher Matthews, known as Will. he will probably get the blanket before the sweater is done, and with any luck I will finish the blanket for Lily (big sis who has her sweater) before she graduates from high school......she is about 18 months now, so I have a fighting chance.

We have had a few spectacular fall afternoons, perfect top down weather, which I took advantage of. We also scored some seeds and cuttings from Japanese maples in the neighborhood, and hopefully over the course of the winter, with his new growlight arrangement, Lou will get some started to bonzai. It should be fun, and that's an important part of everything, right?

Halloween is on it's way West-don't look Lill!

2009-10-13T21:45:00.005-04:00

After a few days of nonstop, drop everything else sewing, I have finished Lilli's Halloween costume. It is packed and ready to mail tomorrow. Here is the picture. It's actually pretty ingenious as the top and outer skirt are one piece, and the lavender is a pull-on underskirt with a crinoline slip attached at the waist. Usually I take pictures of the girls in their costumes in front of the fireplace by the french doors, but since Lill isn't here, it had to be on Dolly the dressform.

Unfortunately, because we are going to Providence on Thursday I won't be able to get Val's apron finished and into the mail on Saturday. I will have it out on Tuesday, but I hate getting my timing jammed like this; having company is wonderful but it can mess with your schedule (enough said).

Other news of the day, I have two orders for holiday aprons. I will be meeting with the client (does that sound cool or what?) next week to find out what she wants. I emailed some pictures of my work, and she liked it. I'm jazzed!

I've cut the next quilt blocks out in larger squares, and will start round 2 next week when we're back from Providence. Of course, the Redhead realized last Saturday that Halloween is only 3 weeks away, and she's not sure what costume she wants to wear this year. I sent her a bunch of pattern numbers to look at and maybe she'll find something she likes, if not, she's going to have to wing it.

NEWS FLASH: We met with the plastic surgeon today and he is completely satisfied with my progress and doesn't want to see me until NEXT YEAR! we are celebrating! LIfe is good. A nod to my friend Corey at work who ran as part of a team in a marathon to raise funds for breast cancer-and he wore my name on his number. I am really blessed in the family and friends dept. So, now that I have my life back, we probably won't be having many discussions about my journey. The last leg is the tattooing, and I'm still not sure I want to do; it's bad enough I can't give blood for 2 years because of the surgery, I don't want to mess it up by having a tat. I'll have to call NIH and ask about it.

Last Thursday was my guild meeting, and the program was on beading. This is a craft I have never delved into deeply, and I can tell that is about to change. Judy Shapiro, a local artist, was the presenter, and I am hooked. We are doing these really cool pomegranate pins. She does some amazing jewelry. I like to think I have some skill, but these women I'm meeting are amazing.

Time flies

2009-10-07T19:24:00.002-04:00

time has a habit of getting away from me. there are so many things I wanted to get done this week, and I've been doing all kinds of things but those on my list. Hopefully, tomorrow will be the day I can cross things off my list.

I am having a little trouble with this month's quilting bee block. I tried really hard to keep all the seams at 1/4 inch, but my finished block is a little off, and once trimmed it's not going to be 6 1/2 in. I'm not sure what I did wrong. So, I'm going to try the other two blocks that are ready to sew, then see what they measure. Some others have cut their starting blocks larger, but I don't understand how that will help-I just don't know enough about blocks yet.

I have basically nothing new to take to the Guild meeting tomorrow. I have one coaster; not even a full set.

Once I get back from the meeting tomorrow, I'm hoping to have a marathon session with the sewing machine. I have missed it, but I'm not sure what I've been so busy doing, it's just been a weird week.

Dear Jane news flash!

2009-10-04T18:14:00.002-04:00

I don't know how I missed it over at Apron Goddesses, but the current giveaway is a sweet apron from Dear Jane, at http://www.dear-jane.com. Oh, now I know, it was posted on the 28th, erev Yom Kippur, so I wasn't on the computer........

go look, go buy, support independent craft women!

One great weekend

2009-10-04T17:42:00.002-04:00

This had been one great weekend. On Friday I did errands and got the lawn mowed-before the rains came. Finally, I beat Mother Nature for once. Saturday I did laundry, cut out the rest of Lillian's costume, cut out the new blocks for the quilting bee, and washed the floors. Today I got a haircut-still short because we continue to have top down weather-and then took a walk with Vera. This time her daughter came along and we went to the track up at the high school. We walked and talked for a little over a mile, and the sunshine kid probably did about a mile and a half on her bike. Not bad for a kid in the "doghouse"-she didn't do her homework yesterday as requested and has lost some privileges...I am so glad those days are behind me.

Lou and I mounted the brackets for the plant light fixtures over the bay window and will let the one hang for a few days to decide if we like the height. We needed to get plant lights up here because when we bring in the more fragile plants for the winter, they don't really get enough light because of the blocking film on the windows. The poor pomegranate usually looks like it died; and I really don't want that to happen.

Yesterday I read about a really interesting non-profit that has set a goal (for October) of delivering 400 quilts to homeless children. I wish I could help, but I have too many projects for October already. There is Lill's costume, my Halloween swap, the flirty and sassy support breast cancer awareness swap, Lill's lap quilt, the baby quilts for Jamie's and Anna's new born baby boys and of course my aprons that I want to start getting finished. Ah, it's good to have a list, and hopefully I will get things crossed off it in a timely manner.

I'm looking forward to a busy week and weekend, then on the 15th we'll go up to Providence to visit Sarah for Parents' Weekend. The band highlights seniors at the football game-scary thought if you know anything about the Brown Band..... but it will be fun to have lunch with Aunt Zelda and Uncle Ed, and to hang out with the KS.

We hope to go into Cleveland for Halloween weekend just to visit, and then we'll be needing to think about Thanksgiving. We've invited Si and Peg to come here-he's got a bazillion frequent flyer miles and could come before and leave after the blackout dates. So, we'll see how that goes.

Then we'll have December when Lillian will be home for a few weeks, maybe KS, too if she's not too deep into research, and that's always fun. We'll try and go to Cleveland for Si's birthday-the Big 8-6, ya know....

I love this time of year-all the color, the breezes, thoughts of my kids being around. Life doesn't get much better than this!

Clarification

2009-10-01T00:03:00.003-04:00

Dear sweet daughter,
I am not talking about the Pilsbury or Duncan Hines cans that have been around for years. I am talking about a new kind that has a decorator tip that you can shoot directly into your mouth-it looks like a skinny whipped cream can. It's a good thing I don't need to decorate any cakes.....I love you, now do your work and go to bed!

Trouble

2009-09-30T18:01:00.000-04:00

I cannot believe it, you can now buy frosting in a can so that you don't even need a spoon to get it to your mouth. I could be in trouble.

"The check is in the mail"

2009-09-29T18:42:00.002-04:00

Actually, it's Tara's online quilting bee block that is in the mail, on its way to her. She went first, picking a house theme. We muddled our way through the initial month, and are now ready to really have fun. we even have "membership" cards--very cool. Ya-hoo!