First Saturday in December

Quite chilly for Waycross, Georgia and more cold is promised.  Today provides tons of opportunities, but I think after buying groceries I will stay in and sew and bake and cook.  The first pan of Vanilla Caramels is on the stove top cooling.  They smell delicious.  I need to make 2 more pans and three pans of Peanut Butter Fudge.  I was also thinking about baking some cookie drops - maybe chocolate or red velvet or cardamom - then work on making some fillings - like chocolate ganache, cream cheese, vanilla cream. 

It is so good to be feeling better.  Getting to the sewing machine is easier and lets me spend more time sewing and less time getting to the machine.  Last night I worked on the "wonky" trees and a block for the Sampler Quilt with Janet we are doing on the Quilting Forum on About.com.  It was so nice just to sew and not have to worry about anything.

Off to the day - time to dress and face the dreaded grocery store.  Hope you have a great day!!!

Sewing and Cooking After the Wreck

It took a while to get to my sewing machine, but when I did - I got busy!!

Several folks went above and beyond in their helping me during this difficult time.  They needed a little something - so Cupcake Hot Mats/Potholders and Pinchers to get things out of the oven were developed for them in some of their favorite colors or at least colors that would work in their kitchens.  They have been mailed.

I also joined a Doll Quilt Swap on About.com and finished and mailed this little beauty to my partner.  She received it yesterday.

Those who really went above and beyond created this Round Robin 2 for me.  I began the center and they took it from there.  It followed them and idea and fits the top of my queen-sized bed.  I can't wait to get it backed and quilted so I can use it.  I wasn't able to get the entire quilt in the picture, but you get the idea.

Getting back to cooking was also important as that is also a way I relax.  Friends were hinting their disappointment that they might not get their goody basket for Christmas or have the platters I am known to prepare for Court folks and folks taking care of my mother.  HaH!!  I have already created the Banana Bread, Banana Walnut Bread, Apple Spice Bread, and Cranberry Sauce Breads and they are in the freezer for aging and safe keeping.  However, the Banana Bread caused me to sustain a bad burn when the oven closed on my arm (sitting and loading the oven doesn't work easily) and the Cranberry Sauce Bread resulted in a badly bruised big toe and foot when a can fell off the counter onto my foot (attached to the bad leg).  I will survive and I can cook again.  On to Thanksgiving where I will let restaurant staffers do the cooking and the remainder of the holidays.

Walking and Working

My world is coming back into focus for me.  I began relearning to walk October 19 and continue with learning to date.  I started going up steps - one per foot - this week and should start going down steps one per foot next week.  I lose my home therapist next week, but his dad has an office and I have worked with him before so I will complete therapy - hopefully by the end of the year or right after the first of 2011.  I can also return to work full time after Thanksgiving.  At least as a self-employed individual I can define full time after Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving. I can't believe it is here already.  I did lose most of this year, but it still should go slower than this.  Eddie and I are planning a trip to the beach again this year.  Out of the 23 years together and 22 years of marriage, we have only missed one full Thanksgiving weekend in Daytona/Ormond Beach, FL and we don't want to miss another.  Aunt Margarette from Titusville, FL has indicated she will come to Daytona and eat lunch with us wherever we decide to go.  Whistle Stop always has an excellent buffet at a reasonable holiday price and we may just go there again.
I have been working some out this week and will be in Court most of tomorrow.  It feels good, but also wears me out.  But I am doing it.
Back to more therapy.....  Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Getting Stronger and Better

While this summer has been spent being down thanks to a motorcycle accident, I am getting closer to the end of the vast tunnel in which I have lived.  We are hopeful that the surgeons will release me to full weight-bearing next week (with hope there will be no changes to my appointment) which will mean I can begin learning to walk again.  I can very nearly lift my arm over my head and the therapist believes I am ready to start using weights to strengthen my arm and make it work better.  Then, maybe, I can get back to the real purpose of this blog - my creative endeavors.

Starting Again!

I hoped I would never have to start again - but here we go.  Surgery on my left arm and left leg was last Monday.  I was able to come home on Thursday.  The weekend was tough, learning new ways to move, sit, stand on one leg, dressing and bracing wounds, dealing  with new medications and generally trying to clear the fog.  Home physical therapy starts today!  The only way for me to get back to work and back to some semblance of life as I once knew it is to get moving correctly.  Let's go.

i am enjoying all quilting on all blogs and looking at all the beautiful creations.

Slowdown

I am not the best at preparing regular postings.  And you can bet the motorcycle wreck 2 weeks ago has slowed me down substantially.  I am still in a rehab hospital and hope to learn today when they plan to do surgery on my left arm and leg to put them back together.  I have 3 hours of intensive one-on-one therapy every day (except weekends) and have developed serious strength in the right side.  I also had to cut off all my hair as I sweat constantly.  Keeping a positive attitude is critical!

Quilting and More Quilting

I finally saw my almost finished Round Robin quilt on Friday evening.  It is just perfect.  I began with a City Streets pattern in black on white and white on black with bold blue cornerstones.  Now it has grown to a village/subdivision. It has grown to this: 

I can't wait to see the final border added and have it make its way home for sandwiching and quilting.

Friday Night

Do we prepare to take the Model A to a car show in Jacksonville tomorrow or do I prepare to stay home and work on quilting projects? Such decisions on a Friday night! Then there is that pesky little thing called work - a little for home where things are supposed to be quiet, playing with the pets, spending a Saturday night at the local dirt track with friends, crocheting, cooking, baking. I have far too many hobbies and interests to confine a Saturday to just one pursuit. Maybe I will have a better idea in the morning.