Christmas Decorating - started!

I finally decorated for fall right before Thanksgiving. Not much though. (This back problem has slowed me down.) Christmas decorating used to begin the day after Thanksgiving with LOUD Christmas music - just ask my kids - they thought I was nuts and used to tell me so! That might have had something to do with the early hour I turned on that music!

This morning I spent maybe 5 minutes picking up all of the fall decorations. And I have started the Christmas decorating, only a day late! Of course, I only have one thing out and it was just recently finished.

I really like this little hanger and the tiny quilts (each about 4 1/2 " X 9").

A rather weird day

We headed for Rockford to visit Mom. Riding is difficult with my back and I knew it would be a long day but I had no idea it would be such a weird day!

We saw Mom and I gave her a note. I just read that Alzheimer's patients retain things a bit longer if they read rather than being told. So I wrote mom a note telling her that I was her daughter. She didn't want to get up and she was sad but she did smile and kiss me both times she read my note!

After lunch and "catching up"  with my youngest brother and his wife, we began our short list of errands. While we were at Dick's Sporting Goods, the tornado sirens went off and so did the power! A little unnerving especially when there did not seem to be any procedure to follow. At least their generator kicked in. As we were leaving, one of the employees said two tornadoes had touched down just north and northeast of Rockford. We were headed north and found that the power was still out - meaning no traffic lights! What a mess! I am so glad we do not live in a city!

Watching the news, it appears no one was seriously hurt in the tornadoes but there was considerable property loss. The children on the overturned school bus are also going to be okay. And the power is still out...

Also remembering this day in history:

November 22, 1963 - Kennedy's assassination

November 22, 1976 - my brother and sister-in-law's house fire

A Quilt for Steve

I finally finished this quilt and it is on its way to Afghanistan.

 This is the first time that I have worked with Civil War prints and I am happy with the way it turned out. The quilt is machine quilted except for a tiny bit of love and pride. (The words love and pride are hand-quilted near the corners.)

I began the quilt at Quilt Camp in October. Hand quilting was not an option if it was going to be in the mail this year!

 

 The back is a soft flannel.

Steve, our great-nephew, is stationed in the mountains. It is getting cold there and we thought he could use a little extra warmth and love from home. We are very proud of him!

Pain and Patience

Many of you know that I’ve been having some major issues with my back. Well, today was 'back' day.

Early this morning, I received a call from my doctor’s office with my x-ray and MRI results – not good news. Anyway they said we could pick up the images on our way north to the specialist.

When we got to Advanced Pain Management, we first met with a nurse, then the PA-C, and finally the doctor. I evidently was born with Pars Defect and now have other problems including spondylolysis, degenerative disk disease, and arthritis. Although I'm a good candidate for surgery, there is a 66 - 75% chance that injections will help - great news! Next stop was the Surgi Center. The needle and fluids had to be shot right next to the problem nerve. Although I was warned, I think I came off of the table twice - OUCH! Thank heavens, I learned Lamaze breathing years ago - it came in handy today.

I'd had plenty of drama for the day but I wasn't done. Shortly after getting to the 'done' room, I had a vasovagal response. The staff jumped and in short order, I was upended and on oxygen. The good part - when my heart rate and blood pressure came back up, my bp was the most normal it has been in at least a couple of weeks - maybe the pain is somewhat gone! It is still normal tonight!

So for now, we wait. Best case scenario is that within 72 hours my leg and back will be pain free. If just the leg pain is gone, I'll have an injection for my back. Otherwise, well I don't want to go there!

Now I want to go for a walk, drive, go to lunch, go shopping... I just need to be patient!

A couple of projects done!

I finished a small Santa wallhanging. I bought this as a kit in northern Wisconsin this fall.

I found the hanger and the kit for this 3-part fall scene at the Quilt Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, in September. I hope to make some other 3-part hangings for different times of the year.

Fall trip to NC

I'm slow getting this posted but better late than never!

We had a wonderful time in North Carolina visiting Brad, Sheila, and the kids. The weather was gorgeous while we were there -  in the 70s with sun and low humidity.

Since I'm not moving around very well, I found quiet things to do with the kids. Both Grace and Jackson learned to finger knit.

 Colter loved stickers.

 And Crosby took his first steps while we were there!

Ray and Brad took the three older kids to the North Carolina State Fair one day and had a great time.

And the BIG NEWS - they are expecting a baby in late spring! We LOVE grandchildren!!!