A couple of days in Madison

On Tuesday, we enjoyed another 1-to-1 class at the Apple Store. Of course our class was 1-to-2. The instructors remind me so much of guys I used to teach. And in a 1-to-1 class, the structure of the class is up to us so we get lots of questions answered and still learn more new things. Dwight was an excellent teacher!

We enjoyed a fantastic dinner at The Melting Pot. We had a gift certificate from some special people and decided to use it. 

The Big Night Out 4-course dinner was wonderful. 

We couldn't finish all of the 1st course - the cheese fondue with bread and apples. (There were also veggies but there was broccoli - we forgot to say anything. She offered to bring other veggies but we said no; we already knew there would be too much food!) 

We both finished the salad course!

The 3rd course with all of the meats and vegetables was delicious but there was so much food - strip steak, filet mignon, shrimp, ravioli, chicken, duck, red potatoes and mushrooms! 

Then the 4th course - we had the flaming turtle chocolate fondue with strawberries, bananas, rice krispie treats, brownies, pound cake, cheese cake, and marshmallows - we ate it all!

We were two well-fed people!

We booked our motel through Choice Hotels using our Farm Bureau discount for the first time. We had stayed at the motel before but this time we had a 2-level room! This shot is taken near the door. You can't see the bathroom by the door or the microwave and fridge on the right. 

The chair that Ray is sitting in is just like our new chair!

Upstairs there was a king-sized bed and a bathroom with a 2-person jacuzzi tub and shower!

 The windows were great but I couldn't get a good picture.

Wednesday was not nearly as exciting - lots of doctor appointments and tests getting ready for my surgery. I also got my brace fitted. 

A new chair and a new pillow cover

I need a wingback chair after surgery - straight, high back and somewhat  comfortable. This is the chair we found - red doesn't exactly go with our blue/brown decor but we don't have 2 months to order something. I think it'll be fine.

The sun is shining so there is a little glare in my photos this morning.

We always have a bed pillow in the family room. I cover it to look more like a decor pillow. The current cover was very bright with oranges, pinks, and lime greens. It just didn't go with the red chair! So I put this pillow together with scraps leftover from our great nephew's quilt.

I did not have a pattern so I just started sewing pieces together and the top happened! After machine quilting, I made a pillow cover. 

It looks good on the couch too!

A new great niece = a new quilt!

Our new great niece, Morgan Rebecca was born Monday, March 7.

Not knowing if we were getting a boy or a girl, I made this quilt. Actually, I loved the binding fabric and pulled the colors from it.

Can you see the rocking horses quilted on the plain squares?

And I really like the back.

Pain and Patience - part 6

I got the news on Friday that I will have spine surgery and it won't be pretty - a 5 hour surgery with a number of days in the hospital and a very long recovery time. The Doc also said I would lose weight - first from the surgery and then from being too sick to eat. Hmmm, none of this sounds like fun.


The surgery is scheduled for April 21 but I am on the cancellation list if anyone should happen to cancel an earlier surgery. I also have a number of appointments scheduled: the surgeon, the nurse practitioner, the surgeon's nurse, the brace company to make my custom fitted chair back brace, and spine education class.


I'd like to get this over with now - oh, there is that patience thing again!


The Doc says a year recovery - I take that as a challenge. Hopefully I make it in much less time. I am ready to let go of this pain and get on with my life.

Friends

Friends are the marshmallows in the hot chocolate of my life.