Letdown!

I am one of those people who always experiences a bit of a letdown after Christmas--all the excitement is over and the visiting of families and it's a downhill slide to BLAH!

This year especially I am worrying about keeping my own physical strides towards being a healthier person. During Christmas I eat too much of all the wrong things and I don't exercise enough. I was counting on my rehab sessions to help and then the physical therapist cancelled me for a whole week, when I go back for one session, and then not again for 5 days. That's not a lot of help for me.

I'm not a self-motivated exerciser. The word athlete has never been applied in reference to me at any time. I labored down the steps to the basement to check on the old exercise bike (Can you tell I'm feeling desparate?) but it needs a new pin in the seat. Yes, I can go buy one but I couldn't convince myself to do it today. Today is one of those days where I can't get warm and I huddled on the couch with a blanket. Of course if I were excercising, I might be warmer. Hmmm.

I went back to Weight Watchers two days before Christmas and they had the nerve to change everything while I was gone for six weeks. At least I had a note from my doctor and didn't have to pay for the weeks I missed. I'm glad I went back but doubt that I'll be posting a loss on my next visit.

I'm sure I'll pull it all together and have no intentions of sliding into a deep, dark depression. The days are getting longer, it's not snowing here except for the occasional lazy flake, and I am going out to dinner tomorrow night. It will all be well!

Trapped

My problem today is minor compared to the real issues but it's driving me crazy. I loaned my van to my son-in-law for the day, and I'm trapped at the house.

Now, it's snowing so I don't know that I would even go out today, but it makes me itchy to know that I can't. His car caught fire in his driveway yesterday afternoon, and I loaned the van so he could get back to work and make arrangements for the rest of the week. I have to have it back for getting to rehab tomorrow and Free for All Friday night so it's not a long term thing.

When I couldn't drive and was dependent on Joe, it was very stressful as well. One evening I had to wait for him to pick me up at the house so we could go to an event for the kids, and even though he wasn't late, I started getting really impatient. It made me wonder how my Mom stood it because she never drove (except during World War II) and was always dependent on others.

So I feel trapped. Silly, huh?

Weather Notes

Every year we get together with Joe's family a week or two before Christmas, either in Columbus or in Steubenville. This year it's in Columbus, nice for us, less than an hour's drive. It's always fun and I really enjoy Joe's family.

But every year the weather becomes an uninvited guest. Some members of the family get really paranoid at the mention of snow. It is December and there is a chance of snow, but the amount of attention paid to the weather channel seems excessive. This year it's all about freezing rain due Saturday evening, hopefully by which time everyone will be home and in their own beds.

Again, we're back to worrying about things that we can't control and that may never happen. This morning the local school district closed due to snow and my husband didn't want me to go to my rehab appointment. I don't know what it was like when the school closed at 5 am, but at 8:30 am the major roads were totally clear and even our road was just a bit slushy. I used the walker to go to the car just to be on the safe side and even made it early into my appointment.

Maybe it's because I am determined not to miss any rehab appointments, but neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor any of that stuff will deter me.

Wheels!

Hurrah! I'm driving again. Joe and I went to my first outpatient rehab appointment today and I rewarded myself for being tortured by driving myself on my own errands this afternoon. Rehab was much tougher than the in home physical therapy, but the results will be worth it as my leg still isn't straight by 15 degrees which Dave, my new therapist, says has to change. He started the process by pushing down my knee until it hurt and then holding it there for 20 seconds. His more aggressive style three times a week will definitely get me back in shape.

This afternoon I drove to the library, the post office, and Krogers. I was far less dangerous in the car than I was in the electric cart in Krogers in which I wiped out an entire display of hand sanitizer. Oops! I picked it all up though.

It's nice to feel independent and I already have plans for tomorrow. Joe is subbing Thursday and Friday so I won't have to listen to him lecture me when I take off for the big city of Heath and some Christmas shopping that I need to finish before his family's get-to-gether this Saturday. I will probably let Joe drive us over to Westerville for that though.

I am glad to have my wheels back!

Lost and Found

Ok, Joe's lost his teeth. He has a denture that he doesn't wear all the time, and when he's not wearing it, he stuffs it into a pants pocket or a coat pocket. Not a great place to keep something like that but I have at least broken him of the habit of leaving it on the table by the couch. I have looked through his clothes and his bed and his various lairs and I can't find the denture. I think he may have dropped it out of his coat pocket on his way out to the car but it's too cold to go out and look through the snow. I will do that tomorrow if he doesn't remember where they are.

Of course, he keeps asking me where his teeth are as though I could actually know. I am the finder of all things in our household, but once in a while, things are well and truly lost, and even I can't find them.

Free for All

Friday Night Free for All is a small group of friends that get together to sew the first and third Fridays of the week. People arrive whenever they wish as I am usually there from 9:30 am on, and we usually sew until 10 pm with a carry out dinner from one of the local restaurants. Often it's Clay's because they deliver really good subs, pizza, and ice cream!

Not driving yet, so Rosie picked me up about 4:30 and took me to the shop. Five of us worked on various projects and ordered dinner from Clay's. It was fun to just talk and sew and laugh! I spelled out the name of each grandkid on the front of a pillow case that I'll use as the wrapping for his or her Christmas presents. It's as inexpensive as the paper and ribbon and the kids will love them.

I faded early, and was home by 8 pm. I feel bad that I ended the night early but am so grateful that my friends wanted to come out even for an abbreviated Free for All.

It's Raining!

It's raining; it's pouring, it's been raining off and on for two days. And I am so pleased! Why? Because I cannot hear the sump pump running all night long.

One of the last rehab things we've done to the house is have the Basement Doctor replace the old open sump pump with an enclosed one that also has a battery back up, fix the pipes that take the water out of the basement and out into the ditch, and repair all the cracks that have occurred due to water pressure because it wasn't draining properly. We have actually had it fixed before by other people but never successfully . In the past the sump pump ran almost all the time as it pumped the same water out that just poured back in. So it burned itself out. We've also had the basement flood several times due to power outages. The battery back up should stop that.

Of course, Joe didn't want to do this because he thought it was a waste of money. The Basement Doctor is a national franchise, but our niece works at the local office. So although he was very obstinate about having this done, he talks like it was all his idea when he's on the phone with his sister. That's fine. I got it done and I love it.

Getting Out!

Last night I left the house without Joe. My friends Denise and Sue picked me up at my house; we took my van so I could get in and out easily, and we went to the shop for the monthly meeting of the BFG's (Bodacious Fabric Goddesses). Five members sat around the tables and chatted and laughed and thought about sewing -- only Rosie really got anything done as she traced a pattern for a purse.

What I did get done was feel like I could get back out into the real world. Free for All will be this Friday from 4:30 to 9 or 10 pm and I hope to actually get some sewing done. It's time for this. It's like these carrots are dangling in front of me -- time to get out, time to go to outpatient rehab, time to drive (?)-- ok, maybe not drive, but the rest, yes.

Joe has been so helpful, but I know from experience that he'll be glad when I can get out on my own again.

Paranoia?

This morning I reminded Joe that I write a blog and mentioned that I had been writing more often since I was home. I told him a bit about my 3 am blog on being sick and in pain and now feeling more empathetic with him.

His reaction? Blogs are dangerous. There are probably stalkers out there who want to learn about us through my blog. They will break in and steal our valuables. What valuables? These must be the same people who will peer into the windows if I leave the blinds open during the day or who will steal his 1999 Chevy if he leaves it unlocked.

Joe and I are opposites. I am the optomist who wants the blinds open, lots of light pouring into the house, light and bright colors, and no worries until an actual event forces it. Joe is the pessimist who wants every window blocked with blinds and heavy drapes so all rooms are cave-like and who worries about all possible ills before they ever happen. Not that he does any thing about these dark possibilities, he just agonizes over them. Most of the time we balance , but sometimes he just makes me laugh. If any stalkers from my blog show up (which I believe is read by no more than 10 people), I'll just throw my laptop at them.

Adventures at Krogers

I finally had to go to the grocery store for myself. Other people have sweetly volunteered and picked up this or that from my list but I still don't end up with all that we need. So Joe and I trekked down to Krogers in Hebron. I am still using the walker so I had Joe drop me off at the entrance and went in and revved up one of the electric carts with the folded walker strapped to the top of the cart basket. Joe parked and came in as well and decided that he would also use one of the electric carts so he could follow me around and help. Not a bad idea as we ended up filling both carts.

We looked a bit like two kids let loose on go carts as neither of us had ever used one before. After we figured out the logistics of the steering, we were off. It took us over an hour, even on wheels. I think Joe was surprised at how many people he ran into (not literally) and how long it takes to shop.

Maneuvering the walker through the lane made check out a bit tricky but once through there, the really nice Kroger people helped us load the van and we were off for home. Joe backed the van part way into the garage. He carried the groceries to the doorway and I carried them into the kitchen. A half hour later all was put away and there's actually food for several meals now.

The hardest part about the trip or any trip so far is getting into the vehicle and the way the trip itself jars my knee. The other difficulty to the trip is it was another old fart day.

3 AM

It's 3 am and I can't go back to sleep after 4 solid hours of slumber so I am trying to wear my self out so that I'll get another 2 hours or so, or until it's time that I can take another pain pill which usually will also put me back into slumber.

I've emptied the dishwasher, straightened a shelf in the kitchen, and now I'm blogging. I am not whining; I am just sharing some observations. I had never had an operation before or any serious illness, very lucky I know. But on the other hand, I was not in the best of physical condition, not exercising much especially the last 5 years as my knees became worse and worse. I didn't realize how bad it had become until I rejoined Weight Watchers and found that although following the plan was very helpful and I was losing weight, I was losing it very slowly because I couldn't find an excercise that I could do or a gym that I could go to.

Now after the surgery, I am paying the price as my rehabbing is going very slowly as well. The important muscles are not in shape and so I'm having trouble getting the leg straight when it needs to be straight and bent when it needs to be bent. At night I wake with muscle pains in my operated on leg because my muscles are so out of shape. The surgery itself had something to do with it.

My point is, how do people stand this over and over -- like Joe with multiple heart attacks, my mom with her multiple sclerosis, other friends who have chronic diseases. I know now that I was never sympathetic enough with my mom -- she was a very brave lady who put up with a huge amount of pain her entire adult life. And although I think "tough love" is still the way to go with Joe, I have far more empathy for him now.

It's almost time for a pain pill and the passive exercise machine; both of which will guarantee another two hours sleep. No whining, just thinking.

Sleep

I can't sleep but I also can't stay awake.

It's simple. I am so tired in the evenings that I am going to bed by nine o'clock. I wake twice for about one hour or more each time. When I can't go back to sleep I try to find something to do. Like write in my blog.

Having gone to bed early, I am up for good by 5 or 6 am. I make coffee and have breakfast and then usually put my leg on the CPM (Continuous Passive Motion Machine) which immediately puts me to sleep. Since I am to use the CPM 6 hours a day, I am getting six hours of napping each day. I even use the CPM at night during one of those I can't go back to sleep times.

So I can't sleep at night as I'd wish, but I can't stay awake during the day. I'm getting enough sleep just not when I wish.

Big Truck, Little Truck

In one of our manic moments earlier this month, Joe and I decided we needed a new dishwasher and ordered one from Sears. It will match the refrigerator. That leaves the stove the odd man out -- I always have one appliance that matches in color but isn't the same brand.

Anyway I requested that the dishwasher be delivered and installed on the same day, not wanting to have a large appliance sitting in the middle of my small kitchen for several days. I also ordered a kit recommended by the website for installation.

Joe and Sears have a personal relationship now as he has talked to them on the phone many times with updates on arrival and install times. When I agreed to the 24th as the arrival date, I wasn't thinking of it as the day before Thanksgiving, but that date meant there were several delays and it wasn't until 5:45 pm that a pickup truck pulled into the driveway with several dishwashers in the back. After all his phone calls, Joe had just left to pick up carry out Chinese from Yummy! Yummy! so he missed the grand arrival. I was expecting a much larger truck but out hopped two guys who began to unload ours. They brought it into the house and dove right into the job. One man asked me if I had ordered an installation kit but when I said I had, he had no paper work for it but had extra kits anyway. Just then a large white truck pulled up in front of the house and began beeping. The installers watched as a young man jumped down from his cab and brought us the installation kit, about the size of a notebook. He commented that it wasn't the first time that the only thing he had to deliver was the install kit with no dishwasher attached. At least, his timing was perfect.

By the time Joe got home with our dinner, the install was done, the water connection was being tested and the guys were ready to leave, taking the old dishwasher with them. No more will Joe and I open the door to have all the silverware fall out!

Old Farts

One of Quinn's favorite nicknames for Joe and me is that we are old farts. I don't know where she heard this or where she picked it up, but she will call us old farts and then giggle madly.

Well, today I have to admit she may be right as I feel like one. Joe drove me to my orthopaedic doctor's office today which is the first I've been out of the house since November 10th. He legally parked in the handicapped spots and then came around to help me out of the car. Between my walker and his cane, we obviously qualified for his handicapped sticker. I carefully made my way to the door of the doctor's offices and almost rolled up a rug on my way in. I haven't quite got the hang of this walker thing and am hoping I'll get rid of it before I become proficient with it.

My knee and I signed in and I left Joe in the waiting room so I could go to the bathroom. I came back, he handed me my pink purse and took his turn in the bathroom. Of course, the nurse immediately called my name as the next appointment. We waited for Joe as she said he'd never find me. Of course, the dad-blamed, newfangled x-ray machine was down, so I waited for 20 minutes but never got an x-ray. Oh, well, next appointment.

The actual appointment went ok, Dr. Taylor says knee looks good and it's time for staples to come out--all 18 of them. After the doctor leaves to tell the nurse, Joe says don't worry that doesn't hurt at all. OUCH! I felt everyone leave my leg and it was not pleasant. However, now they're out and I do think the knee feels less itchy.

On the way home, Joe wants lunch at Denny's. I say fine although all I really want to do is go home and take a nap. We both order a "senior slam" and have breakfast for lunch.

Joe gets me home; I get myleg on the machine for its passive exercising and take my nap! Yep, old farts!

Manic Joe

Usually Joe is pretty slow moving but ever since I have been home 24-7, he seems to want to get a lot done. Today we bought a new dishwasher on line, he called the Basement Dr. to come give us an estimate on some repair work, he made an appt with the garage door guy to come again. And he made breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Admittedly after dinner was prepared I was in a cold sweat from all my direction giving but it turned out great. But only because I insisted that he cook the steak my way and let it rest. I wouldn't mind that he was so inspired if I weren't laid up and unable to be involved with anything. Often my way is the right way and maybe that's not fair but I hate for us to invest money into a project that will not turn out well and that I would have caught that possibility.

I'm done whining!

Good Friends

Two weeks before my surgery, there was a knock at the shop door. If anyone knocks rather than just walking on in, I know they're either a new customer or they want to rent one of the storage units attached to my shop. Going to answer the door and seeing an older gentleman with no bags of quilt tops, I assumed he wanted to rent a space and was ready with my, "I don't have anything to do with that," spiel.

Instead he handed me a small wooden plaque, obviously home made, and said, "I found this for a quarter at a yard sale this morning and thought you should have it." On the plaque was written "Good friends are like fine quilts, they never lose their warmth." Flabbergasted, I thanked him as he turned away and climbed into his truck. I called after him that I knew just the place for it and he nodded and said he thought I would.

Looking back on it, it must have happened right after the article published in the Newark Advocate about my shop in Hebron and being the Featured Artist of the Guild for 2010-11. Hebron is a small town and many of the men gather at the post office to chat each morning so he probably knew who I was even though I have no idea of his identity.

What a nice thing to do! I immediately hung the plaque by the entry door in the shop and each evening I give it a pat when I leave. And I reflect on the truth of the statement, especially while I'm recuperating.

New Priorities

Ten things I now look forward to--



1. Breakfast is over and I can go back to bed.

2. Percocet makes you fall asleep.

3. Lunch is over and I can go back to bed.

4. Using my laptop in my bed.

5. Dinner is over and I can go back to bed.

6. Vaguely hearing Joe say, "She's asleep and can't talk right now."

7. Getting updates from my sister-in-law Anita who is 10 days ahead of me in this whole procedure. It gives me hope I will be feeling much better soon. She's already using a cane.

8. E-mails, Facebook, and Phone calls from friends who catch me when I am awake.

9. The biggest thing on my agenda today is washing my hair.

10.The biggest things on Joe's agenda are the new garage door is being installed, the Junk 2B guys are coming back to empty the basement, and Water's Edge tutoring in Buckeye Lake. Many of my priorities have leaked over onto his agenda.

11. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Chicken 1, Joe 0

Our first Sunday dinner home alone with Joe as chef was a winner for the chicken but not so much for Joe. He is not a cook and rarely makes anything other than frozen pizza and frozen dinners.

Saturday night Laura came over and cooked cheesy pasta with meatballs and sauce, made a salad, and heated up an apple pie donated to our feast by my friend Rose Mary. Although my appetite is minimal, it all tasted good and I ate small amounts of everything.

Sunday afternoon before she and Jack left for home, Lisa put a whole seasoned chicken into the roasting pan, ready for Joe to pop it into the oven. I had him check it several times with the instant read thermometer as he thought it should be done sooner that it was. When it was "finally" done, I told him to put the lid on the pan and set the timer for ten minutes and not put it back into the oven. He thought I was nuts. Then we put a can of sweet potatoes on in a pan on the top of the stove which he wanted to just walk away from and was a little frustrated when I made him stay in the kitchen area. "Why?" is his new favorite question.

I told him to take the chicken out and just cut out the breast as a whole piece because that's our favorite part. He couldn't do it and when I got up to check, I realized he had put the chicken upside down on the platter and was trying to get at the breast through the back. We finally got the chicken cut and the sweet potatoes on the side and sat down to dinner. It was really good. So the chicken may have gotten the best of Joe but it was a good dinner.

He even managed to pick the rest of the chicken and put it in a container for leftovers tomorrow!

OUCH!

Surgery on Wednesday went well and I remember very little of the entire day from the first injection until Thursday morning. According to the girls I was wacky and used words like "flasharino" when sharing a view of my backside, "It'll be ok baby." to Lisa while she was holding on to me so I would not fall off the bed, and "sh*t" when I was describing how I felt. This last word was evidently my favorite, as in "I feel like sh*t." Not really my favorite cuss word so I am glad it was the one that surfaced through the fog of the medicines.

Anaesthesia side effects were all over me. I was very nauseated and evidently hurt quite a bit. This is all hearsay as I really don't remember it. Joe said I was just lying there like a slug. I am not sure what he expected me to do but this is his first time as the visitor, not the patient.

On Thursday I woke with no knowledge of the previous day's antics. I recognized none of the people that came in saying "you look much better today" and that's probably just as well. I had slight nausea and moderate pain that once I learned to push the buttons was taken care of. I walked twice up and down the hall to great praise from the physical therapist. I walked back and forth to be bathroom several times. I was way overconfident at that point. One of the reasons my pain was under control was that I had a nerve block pump inserted in my right leg and if I pushed the right button, it numbed my incision site. It worked great but it made the right leg very unstable as I couldn't feel it. So left alone in my room, sitting in the chair, I decided I could go to the bathroom on my own if I could just reach the walker. In spite of the many signs saying "Call . Don't Fall." I leaned too far forward, the right leg went out and I fell out of the chair. I managed to sit up and reached the call button and used the famous line "I've fallen and I can't get up." Thankfully I only bruised my leg and nobody yelled at me except my husband whose last words when he left that day were "Don't fall!" Thursday evening one of my pain killers was changed from a pumped intravenous to oral percocet. The pumped one had been making me itch like mad. The percocet made me take naps immediately after I took it. ''

Friday, I was very chastened and called for someone every time I had to pee which was a lot. My GP, Dr. Giersch, stopped in to say she had noticed that my white cell count was high and since I am prone to Urinary Tract Infections, she thought I had better go home with an antibiotic if the tests confirmed which they did her suspicion. It was really nice of her to come into the hospital.

Friday, the nerve block pump was stopped about 2 and I was able to go home after it had been disconnected about 3 hours so Joe and I were leaving in the middle of rush hour on Friday night with Joe driving my van which he hates but I can't get into his sedan as easily. The hospital made me eat dinner before I left so I am sure Joe was starving. Trip took about an hour with a stop at Krogers to ask for the meds to be filled. Laura and Jason met us at the house and walked me up the five steps to the front door where I sat in the nearest chair and asked when I could take my percocet. Jason went to pick up the meds, Laura set up the potty chair and my sick room and two grandkids got lots of hugs. I was in bed by 8:30 and asleep by 9.

A Typical Day!

It's a typical day at the Whyte's. A request for a letter of recommendation stat, a sick grandchild that needed to hang out with us, a husband who probably has the same stomach virus that the grandchild has, and I have surgery tomorrow and don't want to be close to either one of them.

The good thing about it was I didn't have to cook dinner for Joe as heating up a can of chicken noodle soup and finding the sleeve of crackers doesn't count.

The bad thing is if I get up sick tomorrow, I will be very angry. I usually do not get stomach flu so here's hoping.

I finished my absolutely last quilt before surgery today and straightened up the shop. I brought home some goodies to keep me occupied and now am figuring out where to put it all. Also, if Joe is still ill tomorrow, I will be driving myself to Mt. Carmel East for surgery. I can just park the car and let Laura bring him over on Thursday to pick it up. Yahoo! A typical day!

Pre-Surgery

I'm really not nervous about this surgery on Wednesday and I think I've figured out why. Both daughters are also very relaxed about my going under the knife. And it's because we have had such adrenalin-filled events with Joe that this just doesn't seem too scary. Almost every time Joe has had surgery it has been preceded by a stressed drive to OSU Ross Heart Hospital, wondering if I would get there before the helicopter carrying him from Licking County. Almost all of his procedures have been life-threatening and life-determining. If the procedure didn't succeed, he'd die one way or the other -- either during the surgery as a consequence of it or afterwards because the problem wasn't fixed. Nothing was ever planned and certainly not relaxed as this has been. I have visited the unit, chatted with my doctor, and am very comfortable with the whole thing. Probably the only person stressed about this knee replacement surgery is Joe.

Arggh! Time Change!

Five-year-old Quinn and I have been up since 5:30 am. I hate the time change no matter whether we fall forward or spring back. It always plays havoc with my sleep schedule. Since we were up, Quinn and I made pancakes for breakfast, plain and chocolate chip. We took our time getting ready for church as Kai and Joe had to leave earlier since Kai was serving at mass. We strolled in right at 8:30 and Joe was panicking because we weren't 10 minutes early.

I really don't get what good it does to play with the time so for me I wish the proverbial "they" would have just left it alone.

Birthday Bash Update!

It was a smash!

Both sons in law stepped up to the plate and installed new baseboards all around the living room, dining area, and hallways. It looks great and Jeremy and Jason didn't whine at all. It took getting a power miter saw, a nail gun, some adhesive, and divvying up the cutting and nailing responsibilities and they did it all! I just love those men.


Laura and Lisa worked on putting up blinds and cleaning the basement. They dragged out all the garbage I had bagged up and at least 10 bags more. Unfortunately, there is still more down there (due to having flooded three times and the last time was when Joe was really ill and I just couldn't get down there to clean it up), but it was a great start. Lisa only insisted on rescuing one box of stuff which she added to her ten boxes out in the garage. That's my next goal as we are getting a new garage door installed as one of our last outside improvements.


Kai and Quinn swept the decks and entertained Jack and Joe. Joe was probably harder to keep happy than Jack. Jack checked out the old high chair that I cleaned up and liked being able to see everyone and pound on the tray.

It all went well and Jeremy has discovered a new favorite food. Since it was my birthday and I had offerred to cook in repayment for their labor, I decided to make one of my favorite things -- shrimp and cheesy grits. Everyone but Joe enjoyed them, and Jeremy wanted to know why he had never had this before!

Prep

The last quilt that I will do for a customer before knee surgery is on. I have scheduled time for myself to clean the shop and take home things to keep me busy for the four weeks I cannot drive and will not get into the shop much. I am sure I am taking way too much home -- keep thinking of this as a retreat where I can work on projects for Christmas and forgetting about the pain and rehab part. It's kind of like when Laura had her first baby on December 1st, she keep saying she would do all this Christmas baking and decorating. I still have the picture of the undecorated live tree leaning in the corner of their living room that year.

Of course, Joe says he is willing to help me out but I know he'll get tired of driving me around. I certainly got tired of doing it for him in the past when our situations were reversed. He has no idea how hard it is to have someone so dependent on you. It shouldn't be for long though.

My sister-in-law came through the same surgery last week with no issues so I am hoping for the same results! My house is all on one floor and I will have lots of help from everyone. I am as prepared as I can be!

Danger!

This definitely could be dangerous. I have had internet installed at the house. Previously I only had it at the shop, which might explain why I didn't always get as much quilting done as I planned. However, with knee surgery looming over me, I knew I would need to be able to get on line --am hoping to blog about my experiences and just to keep up on what's happening out there while I am without my wheels.

All of that is rational and logical but I find myself drifting over to the laptop, just to check my email for the 4th time, or my facebook page for the 5th time, or just to peruse the internet news. Hopefully, I won't drive anyone crazy with emails.

My Birthday Bash!

Since there are still several small jobs needing done at the house, I have presented my children and their families with an offer they can't refuse. No presents for Grandma's birthday but everyone (daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren) gives 4 hours of assigned work to Grandma on her birthday. I figure six month old Jack will be the entertainment for Joe while I supervise the other six. Also to sweeten the deal, I'll make dinner after all their hard labor!

It seems like a great idea and I certainly have a list of things for them to do. I hope it works out as well as I want it to. Maybe I should have gone with new pajamas and dinner out. I'll report back after October 30th.

Electric Mysteries!

We've been having a lot of work done to the house. The new roof and siding are on, the new windows and doors look great; even the new decks front and back are in. But there are a few lighting issues.

One, the outdoor light by the garage door does not work, nor can anyone figure out where it even turns on and off.
Two, the outdoor light by the back door works but if it's turned off, it blows the circuit for the basement and the back two bedrooms.
Three, the light over the kitchen sink disappeared some time ago and who knows if it can be hooked up again.

I left one electrician, our general contractor, and his trusted right hand man shaking their heads.

Right or Left?

It's official. I am having knee surgery on November 10th! Arggh! I need both knees done but my surgeon doesn't recommend that and having heard horror stories on both sides of the issue, I am only having one knee done, then going back later for the other knee. But which knee first?

A Pro for the left is that I will be able to drive sooner and won't be trapped with hubby for more than 4 weeks without my wheels. Trust me, this is a big deal to me.

A Pro for the right knee is that my left leg is stronger, the knee not quite as bad, and gives me more stability.

Hmm, driving vs. being able to walk. Yep, right knee it is. It's actually a close decision as both knees are bone on bone and painful. I am looking forward to less pain and am hoping that the 4 weeks without driving is just a myth.

Quinn's Con

Picking up my granddaughter, Quinn, from kindergarden requires a good book which I didn't think to bring, so I am passing the time by writing for my blog. It's my first time for picking her up, and even though I arrived 20 minutes early, two lines of cars already pack Pearl Street as drivers wait to pick up the students of St. Francis De Sales Elementary School. I am in the kindergarden line right next to the curb as per my instructions. Quinn will be released at 2:35, ten minutes earlier than all the other students. I am hoping to be able to leave after she's safely buckled in, but I'm starting to feel a bit trapped as the cars continue to line up behind, next to, and everywhere.

Why am I picking up Quinn? One would have to ask Quinn who called on her own last night to ask me to pick her up. She knew the right time for me to arrive, and I said ok.

I checked with Mom and Dad today and they knew nothing about it. Quinn's arrangements for this afternoon were strictly so she could get some time with Grandma and PapPap. How sweet is that! I did remind Jason that she had actually asked him about the time while Quinn and I were on the phone and then he vaguely remembered. She's a cutie and bit of a con artist! We love having her around!

The Great Sweater Migration

The biannual (or is it biennial ) Great Sweater Migration has begun. Twice a year, in spring and fall, my sweaters migrate from both the hall closet and my bedroom closet to the shop. Each cool morning I grab a sweater to wear to work, take it off and hang it on the back of the shop door, and leave it there. By the time I head home, it's 10 to 20 degrees warmer and I don't need a sweater.

Currently, I have white, tan, grey, and red sweaters hanging on the door. Not to worry, I still have many at home to make the journey. For some reason, cardigan sweaters often are a gift of choice from my family. Hanging in the closet are two more tans, one white, and at least three black sweaters waiting for their migration to the shop.

Occasionally, a lightweight jacket joins the migration but it is usually less receptive to being left behind at the shop and may migrate to the backseat of the van and simply ride back and forth each day. The two most receptive to this are my jean jacket and my green OU hooded jacket. Both of which work well at football games later in the fall. My heavier jackets and coats usually don't join the journeys until early in Spring when I start leaving them in the car.

Periodically of course, I take all the sweaters off the back of the shop door and all the coats out of my car and take them into the house. But they continue to seem restless until full winter or summer has arrived.

Fall Blues

What's new this year is that Kai and Quinn are in school at St. Francis Elementary-- Kai in 5th grade and Quinn in Kindergarden. It's really convenient for their Dad to drop them off and pick them up; so sadly, Joe and I do not get to have them after school. Both are liking school and happy to wear uniforms and all the stuff that goes with going to a Catholic school. However, Joe and I have a bit of a void in our lives without grandkids every day.

We are filling it by getting on with the house repairs. We've contracted for new siding, new roof, new windows, new shutters, new doors, and new windows in the basement! Now we're looking for someone to repair or replace the decks. We're trying to be careful so the money doesn't run out before the repairs do! So far we are loving the new carpet in the bedrooms and the house looks better already just with the old trees gone!

Also I am trying to get over to see baby Jack as often as possible. We watched him on Sunday while Lisa and Jeremy had an afternoon on the pontoon boat with Laura and Jason. Kai and Quinn stayed with us to help out with Jack. It was loads of fun even if Grandma was a bit tired by the end of the day. I think it's easier to take care of a six month old Jack without the help of a 5 year old and 10 year old. I loved having them all there though! I just wish it could happen more often.

Renovations

How do people blog more often? I seem incapable of doing it. My apologies to the few who actually read this blog.

When I get home tonight about 10 pm, I will find a wonderful Joe event awaiting me. Somehow as he was putting dishes away he managed to knock the stove hood halfway off -- it's now being supported by an upside down laundry basket sitting on top of the stove. Since we are actually redoing some things inside and outside, my first thought is to perhaps get a new one and have it correctly vented. I know the one we have does not do anything but blow hot air back out into the tiny kitchen. I will have to give that some thought.

Since Joe and I will be living in the same house we now own for the rest of our lives, I decided it needed sprucing up and it needed it badly. So I am being a bit bossy about what we are doing, and was told so, but I really want to be able to live with what we have accomplished when the money is all spent. I was the one who went to the bank, made all the arrangements, and I want to be the one to make the decisions this time.

We have already had old trees taken down and stumps ground down. Now I have to decide what colors to use. I am leaning toward dusty blue for the house with off white accents, including painting the front porch white. We are getting estimates this week on siding, windows, and roof. Yipes! In my mind, I see it as a beach cottage without the beach. It may be too shabby chic for Joe. Of course, anything is better than the faded avocado green, the half shutter left from the previous windstorms, and the graying and wobbly decks on the front and back of the house.

Hopefully I will write more often and keep anyone interested caught up on the details of our renovation.

Wow! NQA Show Rocks but Computers Rule!

I attended the NQA Show in Columbus, Ohio on Thursday. It was a great show this year with lots of Wow Quilts and some that just stole my heart with their whimsy and beauty. But as I went through the show, I realized that some of the amazing quilting was done by computerized machines--everything from the center embroidery pieces to the actual quilting itself. It takes a skill set to be able to manipulate computerized machines and have the quilting and designs come together appropriately to make a great quilt -- it also may take a machine which costs anywhere from $2000 for a good embroidery machine to $30,000 for a computerized quilting machine. That certainly limits the number of people who can compete at that level.

Now I am not a techno phobe; but I do think machine quilting has advanced to the point that there need to be categories: Computerized Quilting, Longarm Quilting, Short Arm Quilting, and Home Machine Quilting. Also if a Master Quilt is a totally computerized design, who is the Master, the human being or the computer?

A Baseball First

Kai plays baseball on a farm team which means the players are 9 and 10 years old. As a 10 year old, he's had a good year and seems to be really enjoying the season. I am a great fan and go to as many games as I can. This week's game was unique.

Kai got a decent hit and headed for first base. He made it and settled in to steal the rest of his way home which is often what they do. The next youngster up also had a hit and Kai headed for second. As he rounded it, his coach waved him on and he ran for third. The third baseman planted himself on the base line in Kai's way, and Kai tried to barrel his way through. Both of them went down, and there was no ball in sight. Kai's coach is yelling at him to get up and go for third base but Kai can't. In his excitement and I'm sure desire to please his coach who is also yelling, the other player has grabbed hold of Kai's legs and won't let go. I think he was hoping he could get the ball from somewhere before Kai could make it to the base. Kai starts crawling toward third base, dragging the other boy with him briefly. Finally the other player lets go, and Kai climbs up on third base. By this time, Kai is a bit emotional himself and having some trouble breathing. The umpire declares that Kai gets home since it was interference, and he comes in with a run and having an asthma attack. His dad always carries his inhaler and he's soon back to par but has a burn on his arm and elbow from trying to crawl to third base.

What excitement! The other coach protests the call, of course, and yet after it was all over, Kai's run stands. I think the adrenalin level remained high for the rest of the game as eventually Kai's coach was thrown out of the game for yelling at one of the umps for not making calls. He was probably right but you're not supposed to yell at the teenage umps. Kai's team eventually did win the game.

Kai has three games this week and I am hoping they'll all be a bit calmer.

Storm at the Recital

I can't believe how long it's been since I blogged.

The most recent excitement was 5 year old Quinn's recital. She did ballet and tap and was adorable, of course. But usually a recital doesn't get cancelled for stormy weather. The entire family had made a real effort to attend Quinn's first recital. Even Lisa and her 2 month old son Jack had made it through a real cloudburst to arrive on time. Joe was whining about the storm, but we all felt perfectly safe in the large auditorium. Jack was a real trooper, taking a bottle, and then allowing himself to be passed down the line of family for a cuddle from everyone.

A fourth of the way through the event, a storm rolled through Newark and knocked out the power for the OSU-COTC area which is where the Reese Hall is. So emergency lights fortunately, but no way to continue the recital. After sitting patiently in the gloom, it was announced that the recital would continue in the morning, asking that the chidren be there by 8:30 am and the dancing would recommence at 9:00 am.

The next morning promised more storms but most people gamely made their way back to the Reese Hall. (No Joe as he has a real thing about storms and had decided not to even try.) As I walked in, it was clear that some of the momentum of the event had been lost. No one had a clue as to where their ticket stubs were --fortunately, Avante had decided not to ask for them. All around me I heard whining children and parents who had left things at home or lost them somewhere in the car. The performances were great; it was the audience who never quite got into the show again. I did try to video Quinn's dances but I am still not very good at it. I am hoping her Daddy got better pictures than I did.

I have often had baseball games postponed for bad weather, but Quinn's Recital was a real first!

Chauffeur Blues

I am currently finding that I spend a great deal of time in my van. I drive Kai to meet his Dad to be taken to baseball practice. I pick up Quinn and take her to dance class. I drive an hour to Dublin to spend the day with Jack, and then an hour back. I love doing all these things but not the driving part so much. I think I am an adequate driver, but there are some crazy people out there on the roads.

The trip to Dublin to see baby Jack requires about 10 miles of Route 270 circling Columbus. I hate it. Maybe it's my age but no one lets you merge and everyone tail gates and then since I don't tail gate, cars are always cutting in front of mine. The other 30 miles of travel are on Rte. 161 which is lovely for the most part, except that one section where the speed limit is 45 mph due to construction. I don't mind going 45, but evidently I am the only one and I always have that one car behind me that would like to go faster and keeps edging up my rear. I will be glad when the construction is done this summer for no other reason than that.

Driving around Licking County for Kai and Quinn is not a problem except for those idiots I mentioned. I often think my car is invisible and that's maybe why other cars are always turning in front of me. They just don't see me.

Then too, I always feel that driving with my grandchildren in my car is a great responsibility -- I try to be more careful and aware than usual. So that is probably why I am so annoyed with others who don't seem to care that I carry precious cargo or even that they also have children in their cars. I am done ranting now!

Being a Bobcat in Buckeye Land II

I have solved the problem of the Bobcat quilt; at least in my mind. Of course, it requires completely redesigning the blocks and the layout and the way the colors are used. That's ok really, because I like doing all that. It's just finding time!

May is always really busy and always hard for me as I like to keep my job part-time --May requires full time attention and I get bored with just doing other people's quilts and I get behind and then I have to work a few evenings and weekends and it's no one's fault but my own. So this blog will be short because I should be quilting!

Life with Joe

It's time for a Joe story. Every now and then he does something so, so, so whatever that it has to be written about.

When I got home from the shop on Wednesday, I knew I had a lot to do and places to go. Things seemed fine until as I was cooking dinner, I could hear the sump pump -- running and running. I asked Joe if it had been running all day and he said, no he hadn't heard it.

I went down to check on it and knew I needed to put on my junky clothes to really make sure it was ok, but I didn't have time to do that. So I gave it a shake for a temporary fix (that actually works some times) and left for my two events.

First, I went to Weight Watchers where I had lost 3 pounds. Hurrah for me. Then I went to Kai's fourth grade choral concert. While waiting for it to start, I noticed that my son-in-law was on the phone. It was Joe -- asking Jason to come over after the concert to fix the sump pump--something was wrong with it and he had had to turn it off. Hmmm. That wasn't the case when I was at home. I told Jason not to come over but that I would take care of it when I got home. Kai's concert was great and they all looked so cute!

Ok, now I'm home, in my grungy clothes, and in the basement with the sump pump -- which is turned off because Joe has accidentally disconnected the pipe which carries the water from the pump to the outside. He went down after I left and broke the sump pump.

The pipes can be reconnected, but I will need a new clamp "thingy" to hold the two pipes together. The old one is so rusted I won't be able to turn the screw which tightens it. In fifteen minutes, I am on my way to Lowes (Still in my grungy clothes as Lowes expects you to look like that) with the old "thingy" in my pocket for comparison. I ask when I walk in the door and am told those thingies are in Aisles 14 or 15. I find a two pack of thingies and then go in search of a larger screw driver as my flat screw drivers are all too small to get any torque on them. Twelve dollars later, I am on my way home.

Back in the basement, I shove the two pipes together with a new clamp thingy around them. Joe is still insisting that I won't be able to fix it by myself. I place a paint roller pan under the elbow of the bottom pipe to support it while I tighten the clamp with the new screw driver. The two pipes are now connected, crooked, but stuck tight together. I adjust the setting of the sump pump (which was its original problem). I always get all wet when I do that which is why I needed the grungy clothes and didn't want to do it before I left the house earlier. The sump pump is turned back on! TaDah! It works.

Another Joe crisis over!

Being a Bobcat in Buckeye Land

This year the Heart of Ohio Guild is doing a spirit quilt block of the month which can be made in any colors but the idea is to make a quilt that honors a school or team. Of course, living just outside of Columbus, the meetings are full of scarlet and gray blocks.

I am also making one of scarlet and gray (for son-in-law #1), but since my husband, both daughters, son-in-law #2, and I went to Ohio University, I also started one in green and white. However, the blocks need more than two colors so gold and navy have migrated into the design. As much as I am liking this, it's more Notre Dame than OU. My husband will love that but it wasn't my intent.

I am continuing with my two sets each month but I would really like to add a third if I could figure out what would keep it looking more like a Bobcat quilt than a Leprechaun one.

Feathers

I am having fun with feathers - as a quilting design. The formal feather is ok and looks great as a border, but I have discovered some freehand doodles that are more fun and easier for me to do. I have even done an entire quilt with a feather meander.

I quilted one top with feathers over all, took a good look at it, and went back and doubled every feather. Being able to echo the designs, add stems and frills, makes the feather versatile for traditioal and non-traditional quits.

Feathers are also a design I can put on in every direction without taking the quilt off and turning it. That is an amazing discovery since I hate turning a quilt. Ahhh, feathers!

New Things to Take Up My Time

I am learning a new skill--Facebook. My younger daughter has a brand new adorable baby boy and is posting pictures on Facebook. Of course I want to be able to see any and all pix of Jack, so I now am also on Facebook and it's a little different but fun! I had resisted going on when invited before because all things like that take time, and I sometimes spend too much time on the computer as it is, instead of quilting tops that people will graciously give me money for. But Jack is worth the effort and I am glad that I am doing it. Some people play games and do all sorts of things on their sites. I think I will do well to post occasional pictures and comments.

Jack himself is going to take up some new time and that is totally delightful. Joe and I can't wait to babysit. We get our first chance at our house this weekend. Our older grandchildren are looking forward to Jack sharing their traditional Saturday night sleepover. I don't think his parents are quite ready for that, but his mommy did help me get me a packnplay and a bouncy chair, and we look forward to using them.

Another new time taker upper is actually an honor. I have been chosen as the Featured Artist 2010-2011 of the Heart of Ohio Quilters Guild. I was both surprised and pleased and yet, OMG, as I know it will be some work to get ready for some special events, especially the Quilt Show in October, 2011. But, honestly, it's wonderful to be honored by my peers.

I closed the shop for the two weeks around Jack's birth and then he came early so I actually have been in and out and not officially open for almost three weeks. I am going to get back into regular hours next week and get busy.

Major Events

Joe and I are grandparents for the third time. Our younger daughter Lisa has given birth to her first child, a gorgeous little boy. It's amazing the feelings that come from holding him. There's absolutely nothing better! Lisa and Jeremy will be wonderful parents.

The day after his birth, I attended a previously committed to banquet for the Heart of Ohio Quilters Guild. The speaker was Carol Doak and excellent; the food was great; and it was announced that the new Featured Artist for 2010-2011 was me. I knew ahead of time only because they wanted to be sure I would attend. When I was told, I was shocked, and I am still very honored to follow those who were chosen before me.

I have to admit that one of my first thoughts was how am I going to get a bunch of new quilts finished for the 2011 show as there will be a section of my quilts hanging.

An update on my 15 seconds of fame, I have been called the Quilt Police in the newest edition of Quilter's Home -- all because I noticed some dropped stitches on the front of the magazine. I just thought the photographer should have noticed and taken another picture of a part of the quilt that was quilted better. I cetainly am not the Quilt Police and rarely point out flaws, but when it's on the cover of a national magazine, I notice.

So the excitement is back! The birth of Jack William Davis is the best news. But it's nice to be recognized by my peers. And it's ok to be responded to in a national magazine.

Don't ask me.

Don't ask me if it's ok to cook a single hamburger in an 18" cast iron skillet when you've already started. Don't ask me if you can write a check for $20 when you already have and cashed it at the local store with lightning connections to the bank. Don't ask me if I can fix the hot water heater, the sump pump, the toilet, etc. Don't ask me what I'm cooking for breakfast when I never cook breakfast during the week. Don't ask me where I'm going when I leave for work everyday. Don't ask me if I am going to be late and mean any time after 7 pm. Don't ask me the hundred things that drive me crazy.

I needed to make a couple pillows this month and stopped into JoAnne's to check on pillow forms which I discovered are shockingly expensive. I think I knew that but I haven't made any pillows for some time. I decided to make my own forms which I think worked well and thought I'd share the method with you.

I cut the outer shell of the form from leftover Hobbs 80/20 batting for one and from leftover fleece backing for another. I decided on my size and cut the pieces 1 inch bigger than I wanted. so for a 20 inch square pillow, I cut the batting/fleece 21 inches square. Using a half inch seam allowance, I sewed around three sides plus a bit of the fourth side, leaving an open slit in the middle of the fourth side. Then I turned the pillow form, pushing out the corners. Both fabrics worked well as outer shells and I am sure that leftover pieces of muslin and other fabrics would do as well.

Now for the stuffing-- I always have pieces of leftover polyester batting. I attacked it with my rotary cutter, being careful not to cut myself, until I had strips about one inch wide. Then I attacked it again until I had pieces about one inch by three inches. There was no measuring to this; I just chopped at it until it was usable as stuffing.

I stuffed my pillow form until it was the firmness I wanted, being sure to shove the stuffing into the corners. I folded the open slit edges in and pinned them. Since no one is really going to look at these seams, I finished the form by machine; sewing all around about a quarter inch in so that I could close the open slit and also reinforce the other seams.

These forms are totally washable and can be made to any size and firmness! The process took me about a half hour for one and it was free! Just wanted to share.

Stressed Out!

The snow keeps coming and I'm still stippling. I work at my shop 5 or 6 days a week, approximately 6 hours each day. But I don't stand at the Gammil all 6 hours. Bad knees and other issues always interrupt so that I probably actually quilt 2 to 3 hours on a good work day. That means when a 108x108 double wedding ring comes in to be stippled, I know it will take 6 to 8 of my quilting days.

When the Level 2 snow keeps me home, the retreat closes me for 3 days, and my knees give out, it takes longer. It's the end of February, and I am still working on this quilt. It's not all my fault. The backing isn't big enough and I have had to add more muslin to it. The quilt was sewn with a partial row that connected to another row as though continuous; I had to take that off.

But I do feel responsible; I like to get my work done in a timely fashion. If I don't, the big time stress begins and the fun of the job ends. So, this quilt will be done by Saturday finally, and I will do other quilts after it that can be finished in one day. This way I can feel productive. I have never caught up with myself -- meaning there have always been tops waiting to be quilted since the day I received the Gammil. This in itself is somewhat nerve-wracking, but it also pays the bills.

Retreat Report

The retreat is over and I hope everyone had a wonderful time. I finished Lisa's quilt top with cornerstones, adding another 12 appliques to sew around, to the 108 I had already sewn. I also finished two other baby quilt tops. Now I just have to find time to quilt them. I like to do smaller projects at the retreat so I can feel as though I accomplished something, especially when some of my time is taken up with actually running the retreat.


Strip poker was a great success at the retreat! Not what you're thinking -- we used width of fabric strips as the currency. Some people were stripped of their strips while others had enough to make a quilt when they left the table. It was strictly voluntary and a few quilters just kept their ten strips for a later day! The theme was "Cowgirls Know How to Kick Up Their Heels! " so we tried to go western in every way including bandanas for everyone, sheriff 's star name tags, and a shoot'em up stage coach robbery to hand out some of the favors. We had large cowboy and cowgirl figures on the wall and the cowgirl, all dressed in pink, came home with me for 5-year-old Quinn who helped me put it up on the hallway wall- it' a bit startling when you first notice it but Quinn loved it and also has worn her pink bandanas -- she looks a bit more like a mini-snowboarder than a cowgirl.

The weather has not cooperated and the snow is piled in small mountains everywhere. Now that I can get into the shop, I've lost a bit of my retreat inspired get-up-and-go after being trapped at home for 4 days. I am currently still stippling on a 108x108 double wedding ring which I hope to finish next week. The owner has been very patient since the Level 2 snow has kept me from getting into the shop off and on for 2 weeks and I've been out of town at the retreat as well.

Next I'll quilt the three baby quilts as they each have a destination and a deadline. They're my favorite type of quilting as I can do one in a day and be creative since they are mine. I have heard rumors that there is more snow coming. It's more than a quiltin' cowgirl can take!

Being a Bump

We're on the last week and a half of the dash to the retreat. Denise, Rosie, and I are whirling with ideas and last minute details so that the 2010 Retreat on the 12th, 13th, and 14th of February will run smoothly, and we will also have some fun and some time for our own sewing. We are turning the reins over to someone else for next year's retreat so we can just be bumps (you know, bumps on a log).

All three of us are a bit burned out and are trying for major bumpage next year. However, I am going to be working on the webpage (www.heartofohioquilters.com); Rosie's already agreed to help with the retreat 2011, and Denise will probably let all her free time get swallowed up by her involvements with her students at Licking Valley High School.

Being a bump is hard when you are used to being involved and having your opinion heard. So we will see if these threee bumps are able to lay low for more than a year.

FAME!

For most people, fame is being a rock and roll singer or movie star, but not me. I write an email to Quilter's Home which was published in their letters and -- Voila, I have my 15 seconds of fame. Most people get 15 minutes, but trust me, this is only worth seconds.

It all started when my good friend Denise had the opportunity to give someone a free subscription and I immediately snatched it up. Quilter's Home is a great magazine and totally hysterical sometimes. Originally inspired by Mark Lipinski, it has had a different slant on many quilting stereotypes. I love it, of course!

I had been reading Denise's castoffs, and so greedily grabbed my very own January, 2010, copy out of the post office box. I looked at the front cover showing a modern quilt with what was immediately recognizable to me as longarm quilting. I looked closely at it, since that's my thing, and then I saw it. Needle Deflection! I have had issues with this and I am sure every longarmer has. It's when the Tension Gods strike and the stitch doesn't catch underneath. It's usually erratic and happens most often on curves so it can be a real beast. Remember also that the longarm quilter may not even be looking at the quilt as she quilts but at a pattern at the back of her machine so may not even see the problem until the entire row has been quilted. Correction is a tension nightmare while the quilter figures out if it's the thread tension, the quilt top tension, the quilt backing tension, the type of thread, the needle, the fabric used as the backing --you see the pattern, it's a horrendous dilemma sometimes to figure out what went wrong.

Repair of Needle Deflection is one of two things. 1. Taking out the quilting and putting it in again --doesn't always work because that place in the quilt didn't want to quilt in the first place, why would it want to now. 2. Repairing by hand or on a small sewing machine also works. The size of the problem and where I am in the progress of the quilt determines for me how I will repair it. I have done both.

So I am not surprised to see Needle Deflection in anyone's quilting; I am only surprised to see it on the cover of a quilting magazine. Since I am feeling chatty, I write an email, gently, I hope, telling Quilter's Home about the January, 2010, cover, just so they'll know, not really thinking it would be considered a letter.

I get phone calls. I get emails. Have I seen the February/March, 2010, Quilter's Home? I'm in it. My little email is published as a letter under the heading "Um, excuse me...." Hence, my fame. Just in case you don't get the magazine, here's my claim to fame.

Um, excuse me....
I love your magazine and just started receiving it as a gift from a great friend. I couldn't help but notice that the sample shown on the January 2010 cover had needle deflection in the quilting. Needle deflection can be the bane of a longarm quilter's life, but it is very noticeable and easy to repair. Someone needls to look more closely at the pictures of quilted items.
Quilt on,
Barb Whyte
Hebron, OH

Ok, I noticed it too. I said it was easy to repair. Oops to me. It's easy to spot but not always easy to repair -- it's not hard, just tedious. Like all do-overs.

So I think my fame is done!

WW4

The first time I went to Weight Watchers was when my first child was about 4. I lost weight, felt great, and stopped going. The second time I went back was when my second child was maybe 7. I lost weight, felt great, and stopped going. Third time was right after Quinn was born; Laura and I went together and often sat way in the back so we could hold Quinn and not bother other people. I lost weight, felt great, and stopped going.

I am sure you see the pattern. The reasons for stopping were many, but often it was just a case of other people being more important than me. Each time Joe is ill, I eat all the wrong things and I don't take care of myself. My skinny sisters-in-law worry about whether I am eating, whenever Joe is in the hospital. God bless them -- I am eating enough for me and all three of them.

So this is the fourth time I have gone to Weight Watchers, and I am hoping it's the last. I will lose weight, feel great, and not stop going!

The Power of Three

Anyone who has worked with flower arrangements or any design knows about the magic of three. While working on Lisa's quilt, I have used that same idea --there are twelve blocks with three flowers in each one. Each flower has three layers to mimic the ones in the Amy Butler fabric she loves. The multiplication tells me there are nine applique pieces to each block and 108 appliques pieces total. Each one to be traced, cut out, pressed on, and now to be sewn around --with three colors of thread -- green, blue, and brown. What was I thinking? It will be gorgeous when I am done, but the sewing will take forever. At least, I am doing it by machine.

The blocks alternate blue and green with multi-colored striped fabric as the sashing. It sounds crazy but it replicates the Amy Butler fabric in color and somewhat in design. The power of three creates triangle patterns between the blue and green blocks. I'm still feeling the joy!

Mr. Rogers

This weather makes me feel just like Mr. Rogers. I come into the shop, take off my coat and boots, put on my indoor shoes and pick out a sweater to match my outfit while I wait for the shop to warm up. I leave the heat at 60 degrees overnight and it's take about 30 minutes for it to come up to a temperature where it's really comfortable. I keep three or four cardigans at the shop so I will always have a choice. I don't have any boys and girls to talk to while I am doing this as Mr. Rogers did. I guess I could say "Hello Quilts and Projects!"

As well as quilting the quota of January quilts, I have been working on a blue, brown, and green nursery. Lisa, my younger daughter, is expecting her first child in March, and I am making the curtain valance, crib skirt, a wallhanging, quilts, and drapes for a closet door. She fell in love with some Amy Butler fabric, and because I don't like things to be too matchy, we also bought other fabrics. She didn't want the typical nursery, and I love doing this for her. I was also able to do it for my other grandchildren. Kai's was yellow and blue with hand applique blocks from a spring exchange (Overall Sam, Frogs, and other fun stuff), and Laura put similar designs on his wall. Quinn's was shabby chic with roses and pink and blue everywhere--just the thing for a girl.

In many ways, it's quite a gift -- A gift to the mother and child, of course, as it would be way beyond their finances to pay someone to create such a unique nursery. But also, it's a gift to me that my daughters will let me do this -- To know that my grandchild will grow and develop his first years in a room designed by Grandma is, as the cliche goes, priceless. Mr. Rogers would have understood the joy I feel in doing this.