Works in progress

I am working on a number of things.... progress is slow but I'll get there!

A special person told me a long time ago that she wanted a black and white string quilt someday. Well, I've been collecting fabric for a quite a while and decided that someday may be coming so I'd better get busy! The quilt will contain 111 fabrics so what better time to start than January, 2011? It's on hold already but I'll get back to it soon.

We are expecting a great niece or nephew in March and a grandDAUGHTER in late spring!

So, it's time to make baby quilts. Here is some fabric I recently bought.

I've been cutting some different fabrics.

I even have the binding on one quilt - it's done! Here's a peek but I can't show much of it to you yet!

When we were shopping recently, we found this fabric and just had to have some!

So lots of things in progress - hopefully all will be done this spring!

Pain and Patience - part 4

On Tuesday, I was officially referred to a surgeon and I was told this could be a very slow process - maybe months! A nurse from the surgeon's office called on Wednesday and talked with me for a good half hour. Then she said my info would go to the triage nurse and I would be called in the next few days. (I have since learned there are MANY people waiting for back surgery and waiting weeks or months is common.) Anyway, I got a call on Friday and I have an appointment on February 4.

After all I've learned, I'm glad this appointment is only 3 weeks away. The pain continues and I'm still learning patience!

A snowman scene

We (mostly Ray) finished putting the Christmas decorations away today. That meant that my little 3-part hanger was empty. You may remember the fall scene and the Christmas joy. I decided to do a snowman. It had to be fast - the hanger was empty! This is what I came up with:

Each piece is about 4 1/2" by 8 1/2" so it was quick to make. Now I have some time to think about a spring scene.

A new gadget?

DIL Emily said her sister has one of these utensils, a Chop Stir, and she thought I'd enjoy it since I love this kind of thing. I am inclined to call it a gadget but when a gadget is really useful, I think it is called a utensil!

I used it for soup. It was great for stirring and 'scraping' the bottom of the pan.

I loved it for browning ground meat. I chopped the meat and stirred. Very nice! Ray tried it too.

 

Guess I'll have to call it a utensil - it really is useful!

Making Christmas Cookies

Once again Brent, Emily, Mack and Griffy came to make Christmas cookies. Griffy was more interested in showing off his newly acquired skill - walking.

This year Mack was ready to roll out dough, play in the flour, and of course sample everything. He had to have an apron - it was denim blue when he began!

It was a fun evening - although, a little messy!

Mack likes to cut!

The other day grandson Mack came and we made a small gift for his parents for Christmas. He had to do a little painting which he loved! He used every available color - even black. I'm glad we protected his clothes! He really got into the wrapping - especially cutting the paper with one of those wrapping paper cutters. He cut LOTS of paper. Now I wonder if he can keep the secret... 

No pictures of his gift - his parents read this blog sometimes!

Our next order of business was to made a new kind of cookies - Bumps on a Log. I found the recipe in one of my kids cookbooks. He loved rolling the dough into logs,

 

cutting it (especially cutting!),

and putting on the candy bumps. He especially likes green so there are lots of green bumps. 

It was a great time - wish our other grandkids lived close enough to spend such a rewarding afternoon.

Pain and Patience - part 3

Next update. I had two epidural cortisone injections last Tuesday followed by drama. Yup, another vasovagal response. This one wasn't as bad as the first one but lasted longer and really left me feeling quite ill. Then the 1-3 days for extra pain after the injections became most of 3 days.  At least that is all over now! I think these injections have helped a tiny bit. My understanding is this was the last try for injections. So in January, we'll begin a new chapter. Patience...