Sep 25, 2014

I'm Broken :(

Just as I got back into the swing of things-quilting and blogging on a regular basis, catching up on projects, and finishing my last block for our swap this year-life threw me a HUGE curve ball. 

I walk our dog, Molly, two miles twice a day-morning and evening. On the evening of September 4 we were out for our stroll as darkness was approaching. I decided that I could get home faster, wear the dog out some, and maybe lose some weight if we ran (ok, jogged) instead of walked. We were doing great until that millisecond where Molly decided to dart between my legs from behind. I never saw it coming. One second I was running down the street and the next I was flat on my face in the road. The first thought that came to mind was "Help, I've fallen and can't get up!" As I lay there, I began to assess my situation. My left cheek was on fire-there was blood and pain, but I didn't think it was broken. I could see lots of swelling in my right arm-definitely broken! My right knee was burning too, but didn't feel any worse than some bad road rash. I has scrapes on both hands, my glasses were laying broken, about 10" away from my face, and I could see my cell phone, laying just beyond my reach. 

Thank goodness I had my cell phone with me! I was able to wiggle my right arm enough to pull it closer. And then I saw-the crystal had been shattered in my fall. I prayed it would still work and after about 15 attempts to put in my lock code with a very shaky hand, my phone finally opened. It worked and I quickly called my husband. He said I sounded really calm when I told him what had happened. He immediately jumped in the car and came for me. By now it was pitch dark out and there I was-laying on the side of the road, looking like the victim of a hit and run! Thank goodness Molly stayed by me. She was very concerned about me and even though she is terribly afraid of cars, she didn't leave my side as our car approached. 

After spending all night in the ER, having X-rays of my arm and a cat scan of my head, we were finally back home at 5:00am. But there is no rest for the weary-we needed to be at the orthopedic hand specialist at 7:45. I took a bath and shampooed the sand and gravel out of my hair (using only my left hand, since the right one was in a splint) while my husband walked the dog, fed her breakfast and showered. 

As luck would have it, I broke the head of my radius at an angle and it had to be surgically repaired with a plate and screws in order to heal. But, that surgery wasn't going to happen until Tuesday. They replaced my splint with a more comfortable one and sent me home with pain medications for the next three days. Tuesday morning I reported in and after a short outpatient surgery was sent home in a third splint. 

Two weeks have now passed since the surgery and yesterday I had a follow up dr. visit. My sutures were removed, I got to wash my arm, and I got a cast on. I found out that I also have a small fracture in my ulna too! If I'm going to break something, I'm going to do it all the way!

My family and friends have been my salvation. My sweet husband has been by my side every minute, attending to my every need. My daughters have prepared meals and friends have also sent dinners, books, gifts and get well cards. I have felt spoiled! 

My biggest frustration---I have all this time on my hands and I can't sew! I'm right handed and this has totally incapacitated me! I have written thank you notes with my left hand and my first grade granddaughter has better handwriting than me! I can eat with my left hand, but my husband has to cut up my food for me. :)  I have passed the days reading books and watching TV. I had done some one-armed laundry folding and loaded a few dishes in the dishwasher, but I'm pretty much worthless. The next four weeks can't go by fast enough! But then, I'm going to have 4-6 weeks of physical therapy. I hope to be back to my old self by Thanksgiving. 

Sep 2, 2014

A British Quilt Show with Tisha

One of my dearest and most favorite people in the world is my "friend from across the pond", Katisha-or Tisha, as we all call her. Those of us who are friends with her love her wacky sense of humor and her infectious laugh. 

Tisha and I met five and a half years ago on a online quilting board. Our friendship started because of a sale of fat quarters at my local quilt shop. I posted a picture of my great bargain and offered to shop for others. Tisha took me up on it-and the rest is history. We began to chat in a private chat room on the quilt board, then we emailed back and forth and eventually we began to Skype. In October 2010, Tisha and her friend, Avis, flew to Texas and met up with me and my peeps (Anne, Pam, and Karen) for the Houston Quilt Show!! It was awesome! We all had a fabulous time. And when it was over, Tisha and Avis flew back to GA with me and stayed at my house for a whole week. We did lots of sightseeing and shopped the area quilt shops. 


We had fried green tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe in Juliette, GA. (This is where the movie was filmed)

That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Tisha has been back to visit me every Fall since. I have taken her to eat hot dogs at the ballpark, to Jekyll Island for a stroll on the beach and to Jacksonville, FL for a quilt show. 

Tisha has become a big baseball fan-or rather a Braves baseball fan. She has been to two games and had a great time learning all about the game, eating ballpark food and people watching. 

We have been to SC to visit Anne and spent a fabulous day together in Charleston. We have been to Maryland and stayed with Pam's daughter, Melissa, for a girlfriend get-together. We have been to Lancaster County, PA and visited Amish land and all the wonderful quilt shops. 



We have made so many great memories, have had so many belly laughs and have shared so many ups and downs. We have been through the heartbreak of losing a parent, the joy of new grandbabies, and the pain of a divorce. Yes, my friend from across the pond is a treasure, a true blue friend, a sweet, thoughtful, darling person and we are all so fortunate to have her in our lives. 

Tisha lives all the way across the pond in England, in Stapleford, Nottingham (the home of Robin Hood) with her two dogs, Harriett and Hamish and her cat, Oscar. 


She's an avid gardener and has a very green thumb. Even though her yard is small, it is such a peaceful place with all of her beautiful plants and flowers.





Tisha's other passion is quilting. She has been sewing for a long time, but started quilting in the last 6 years or so. She is very lucky to have been gifted a free-arm featherweight by a friend who didn't want it! Obviously, she didn't know what a gem she had on her hands!!


Tisha has sewn countless miles on this machine. And I'm sure she will sew many more. 

Last Friday Tisha and Avis attended the Great Northern Quilt Show in Harrogate. Tisha took lots of pictures and shared some of them with me. I hope you enjoy these. 



























I love this quilt! And I'm so glad that Tisha sent a close up of it too. It's made with 1930s fabrics. :)


This quilt won best of show. The quilting (the two pictures below) is beautiful!



My favorite quilt that Tisha sent a picture of is this one. Being a "scrappy girl", this quilt makes my heart sing. The pattern is called Going Buggy and is from the quilt book Miss Rosie's Spice of Life Quilts. I think this quilt may have to go on my quilting bucket list! 


That is all of the pictures that Tisha sent from the show. And as the sun was setting, she wished me sweet dreams from across the pond.


Happy quilting to all and to all a good night. 

Grammy

Aug 25, 2014

Carson's Courtyard

In January, 2013 I posted about a block swap I was doing with five friends. The pattern is from the Summer 2012 issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects and is called Carson's Courtyard. 


This is the picture from the magazine. It's made in much darker colors. We made our blocks in 1930s reproductions fabrics and I love the way they came out. 

I had so many blocks that I decided to make two throw quilts out of my blocks. Since each block is 11" square and I have 60 of them, 30 per quilt in a 5X6 setting is already a 55X66" quilt. Add borders and its a great size throw. 

I divided my blocks into pastel and primary colors. I finished the pastel one first. I decided to do something new and different for the borders on these two quilts. I have never done prairie points before, so on the first quilt I have added them between two white borders. They are not perfect, but I think it came out pretty cute.


Now I am working on the border for the second quilt. I'll show pics of it when I get the border on it. I am enjoying finishing these tops-but I know the quilting awaits me! 

Happy sewing! 

Grammy

Aug 22, 2014

A New School Year

Summer vacation came and went in a hurry! We were busy with all the usual activities. And it is hard to believe that school time has rolled around again. 

We held our 5th annual back to school tea on Sunday, August 3. Our family has grown so much that we now fill two tables! The food was delicious-finger sandwiches, fruit salad, mini cupcakes, brownies, teas, and lemonade. And my daughter outdid herself with all of her cute decorations.


The girls loved being at their own table this year-lots of talking and giggling came from this side of the room.


Those of us at the "big girl table" had just as much fun. My sister-in-law, Claudia (on the left) is the registrar at a middle school. Her daughter, Elizabeth (next to her) is an elementary school teacher and both of them were already back to work for this school year. This back to school tradition started out as an "all girl" party years ago-but now we have our cute little Ollie with us too-this is his second tea.


The very next day was Sofia's first day of school. Yes, her school started back on August 4th! She's growing up so fast and is in the first grade this year. Her mom made her this  precious new dress for her first day. 


Three days later, on Thursday, these three sisters went back to school. Madison (left) is in 3rd grade. Katelyn (center) started middle school this year as a 6th grader. And Emily (right) is in the 4th grade. 


Then we had to wait a few weeks for our preschoolers to head off to school. Chloe is a 4K student this year. I just love her new back to school haircut-those curls are just bouncing!


The next day Ella started 2 year old preschool. This is her first time to attend school, but her sisters have been going here for years, so she isn't new to the classrooms or the teachers. She was so precious-giggling and smiling all the way into her class. She's officially a "big girl" now.

Now all six have gotten into the school routine......and life is as busy as ever for their moms! 


Ollie is our youngest (until October) and the only one not in school. He is growing up fast, but right now, he is just too cool for school. 

Happy school year! 
Grammy