Friday , Weekend Plans, and a lot on my mind...

Yesterday was a very busy day for both Don and I. It began "normal" enough with each of us following our morning routines, Don puttering around, picking up this and that and accomplishing some things, while I spent my time on the computer - waking up. It never ceases to amaze me, how totally different we start our days. Don is all get up and go, diving in head first; while I love to "ease" myself into the day, complete with several cups of coffee and some quiet time to myself. I dislike being "rushed" about first thing on any morning; but with anything there are the occasional exceptions; Don thrives on busy mornings. In fact, he prefers them. Getting up and going is his specialty. Somehow, this all works itself out between the two of us.

During the late morning, I finally am ready to face the world and dig into what needs and desires need to be met. Yesterday, was the chore of bill paying and figuring out where our finances need to be going and what would have to be put off for another day. Over the years, we've established quite a system to the routine and together we accomplish so much more than one of alone could achieve. Afterwards, I made my way around, getting showered and dressed, putting on my "running" shoes.

The first thing on my mind afterwards was talking to my dear friend, Sheila. I needed to know about any updates and/or recent events with her, her family, and her mom. After talking to her, I was left in shock of how, in this day and age, something of this nature can happen --- although, I'm no newbie to the consequences created by lack of communication. It seems that there was a lot of confusion over the diagnosis, treatment, and care of her mom when she had her shortness of breath experience. The bronchial scope she received was done at Brady Hospital, before she was ever transferred to Riverside. There was also some confusion about why she was even transferred there to begin with. Sheila and Barbara, her older sister, weren't given a lot of information and, so it seems, neither were their questions regarding their mom given or provided to them accurately. In fact, in my mind, the situation bordered on neglect as Sheila and Barbara were under the impression that the broncial scope would be done on Monday at Riverside, not knowing it had be completed on Saturday at Brady. The hullicinations seem to be the result of her deteriorating condition after the chemotherapy treatments, the anesthetic given during the procedure, and the morphine given to her for comfort afterwards. The confusion began clearing up a bit, after staying with her mom for several more days after Sheila's mom was released to go home {which is another area of confusion - Riverside was attempting to place her in a nursing home!}, Sheila's other sister, Brenda, made the follow-up appointment with her regular Dr. It was during that visit that some light was shed on the situation.

It seems that Sheila's mom signed the paperwork, giving permission for the bronchial scope to be done at Brady on Saturday. No biopsy was taken due to the size of a tumor in or on her lung putting pressure on the stomach and her esophagus. All of us were in shock! What's this about a tumor? Riverside had told the girls there was mucus there and that her cancer hadn't returned! Now, there is a tumor and to add further insult to the injury, it appears at this time nothing other than making her mom comfortable and no time frame given, just "spend as much time with her as you can". The Dr. added that it was time for the family to pull together and do shift work in her care, that she should not be left to live alone anymore. Not that she's by herself for any real length of time, there's always family in and out assisting her. But anyways this was a huge blow to all of us!

Sheila and I discussed some options that the family has. We discussed how she truly desires for her mom to give up her apartment and come live with them. Her mom loves the farmhouse, the land surrounding it, but there is no way in hell she's ready for "giving up her independance" of living alone. As we chatted, my heart ached for my dear and faithful friend. I fought back tears as we talked and her pain and confusion over this entire situation, and her pain became my own. It truly breaks my heart that she has to experience this and I dread the unfortunate day that I, myself, will be facing this with my own aging parents. It hits home like no other thoughts or actions can! I found little relief in knowing that just having me as a friend {and an adopted member of her family} to talk to, and every so often I don't really don't know what to say. So I sit and just listen to her, wiping away her tears, hugging her to let her know that I care, and offer up something funny to say to bring some laughter to her darkening days. Somehow, I know just how much it means to her and I know that one day, she'll be doing the same for me. I often wonder about how we just seemed to hit it off immediately after first meeting one another. How it now seems that each of us in an extension of the other to each other. How when we make that phone call to stay in touch, or just drop in on one another, it is like a ray of sunshine on dull, dreary day that suddenly springs to a life instantly filled with love and laughter. We have so very much in common. From the way we were raised as children, the relationships we've sustained within our lives, to how we are so alike, yet different. Our lives seem like mirror images of one another's in so many ways, and we often think and believe, our paths were meant to cross, to meet, to collide.

Anyways, as we talked Sheila mentioned that she had just realized that Sunday would be Easter Sunday. I told her that this isn't uncommon when you look at how busy she's been with everything going on her mom, the hospital, her release from the hospital, and the blow she sustained. I told her about my discussion earlier that day with Don and the plans we had made to purchase a ham so I could make us a dinner of Ham and Scalloped potatoes. Sheila laughed stating that was what she was thinking and soon we making plans to spend our Easter together in their home. Shortly afterwards, both of us were making a shopping list... I'll pick up the ham and mixings for the scallop potatoes, while she'll shop and make the side dishes and dessert. A beep from her call waiting and her sister, Barbara telephoning we cut our conversation short with promises to telephone back later in the day.

So, Don and I headed out to pay a few bills, visit the new Hobby Lobby store that recently opened in our area. YAY! No need for a road trip to visit one of my favorite stores... that is a good thing, yes/no? When we arrived, I was excited beyond measure. First stop, the needlework aisle where I looked at wood frames for stitching. As I weighed my options, I finally went with Don's decision to purchase a 18"x27" Hardwood Quilting and Embroidery Hoop with a stand certain that it will come in handy as I work to embellish my crazy quilt throw for the studio. What I didn't realize is that I'll need a smaller one, LOL! So that is now on my wishlist.

As I further browsed the floss, perle cottons, ect. I discovered they are carrying a variety of Bucilla Silk Ribbon. Go figure! I just placed an order with the Ribbonsmyth for 3 50 yd. rolls of dyable silk and a dye kit! Which will be okay as it is a cheaper option and one I look forward to learning and experimenting with. So, I picked up some Boye ribbon embroidery needles in both 2mm and 4mm sizes; those will come in handy. We continued wandering through the store, me oohing and ahhing repeatedly and acting like a little kid saying, "Look at This!", "Isn't this kewl!" and a variety of other phrases,Don teased me about putting in an application to support my own hobbies and I chided back that at the end of the pay period, I'd owe them money! LOL! But it is something to consider at a later date.

As we made our way to the check out counter, I had a burning urge to pick up something for Sheila. As we approached the Easter decor section, I decided to give in to this feeling and found a wonderful 8" vintage-style resin rabbit figurine with a small candle votive mounted to a wood base. Perfect! It can be our "Easter dinner centerpiece". Over to check out votive size candles, I finally decided upon a white tulip scented six pack. That settled it, or so I thought. Waiting in line to check out in any store is dangerous! Well, Hobby Lobby makes it even more so when you're standing next to the magazine racks. Of course, I had to browse! There mixed within the magazines was a Silk Ribbon Embroidery book complete with instructions and color examples for a variety of flowers, greenery, and garden insects. Looking at the price, I continued browsing only to realize that the booklet was a better purchase than a magazine, so into the cart it went. All in all, I didn't do too bad for our first visit! I didn't go too overboard and realized that I needed to think about my purchases and not just give into the whim of "I want this or that!" I will definately be going back, although I also want to continue to support our local JoAnn's store. They've been so good to me over the years and I shouldn't forget that.

Oh, Happy Day!!!

I took a shot in the dark during the evening last night by going through some older posts in the CQ For Newbies group. I was searching for the swap hostess of the Kitty CQ Swap and was uncertain of who to email when I stumbled onto a post. So, I shot off an email inquirying about who the hostess of this swap might be and how I could contact her. I explained that I had recently found the treasures previously mention and that within that baggie there was a Bucilla's PatchWorks Kit with a Kitten and Mittens themed applique project for a 17"x12.5" wall hanging that I won't be using and would like to offer it as an RAK {random act of kindness}to the swap hostess, if she'd like to have it.

The fabric is primitive/country style colors in burgandy, green, navy, cream, rusts,and tan with some plaids mixed in. The applique patterns are on pieces of the fabric already and there is Osnaberg for the wall hanging background. There are also threads and buttons and the instructions are included. It had been previously opened and the muslin and cotton batting have been removed, although I was certain that they could easily be replaced.

This morning, I received an email reply and it turns out that Christy, who I had emailed, is the swap hostess and would love to have the kit! So, we're communicating and I'll be sending this to her. I'm gathering up a few additional items that need to be postal soon... a birthday box for my sister, the deco RR, the "Squishie Mingle" package, ect. and this kit will be added to the mix. I'm certain that those applique pieces already on the fabrics can be traced onto tissue paper for the design shape and later transferred for additional applique use. Maybe they will come in handy for these participating in the Kitty swap? I'm simply happy that it will have a good home! Don't you love it when things just come together and work out that way? {smiles}

Just to keep me using my paper arts supplies...

This is the front cover of a Deco that I've been slowly working on for a Deco RR in one of my favorite paper arts groups. There is an accordion style book that is adhered to the last page; it came that way when I purchased it. I added the front section of signature pages for my intro and for establishing my theme with texts, photos, and embellishments. I have some things that I am desiring to finish up working on before I ship it off prior to the mailing date. Notes and ideas are jotted on a sheet of paper for when the time comes to me to focus on it a bit more or when the urge to do so strikes me. I promise to share more of it, as I continue working on it, and as it begins to circulate. I chose the theme, "Sacred Journey Vessels" which I'll explain more of when the time comes. Heck,I may have even hinted about it previously, my mind's a bit gone, LOL!

It gets a little crazy sometimes juggling so many interests, hobbies, and crafts and I often think I've dove off the deep end on too many times! However, I love the variety...in fact, it is the variety that often inspires me! I'll see something somewhere and think wouldn't that be neat to do with whatever technique or whatever medium that has came to mind. I've often wondered if maybe I should narrow my scope of focus just a bit, but quickly came to realize that somehow that just wouldn't be staying true to me! If you didn't already know, I'm an Aquarius with a ruling planet in Saturn and Uranus --- the planet controlling change! I think that truly sums it up! At least I can't say, "I'm bored!" as there's always something that I can be inspired by and working to create. That's the thing... I "NEED" to create... I feel as if my soul is shrivelling up and dying if I'm not working on something or have a project going.

I once thought that maybe I should back off on swaps and sending RAK's {Random Acts of Kindness} just so I could focus on creating and exploring my own style. What I learned is, or maybe that should be - what I fear is, that somehow all I've learned and accomplished will fall by the wayside and I won't get started on it ever again. I've too much time and money invested to stop now, LOL!

WIP's and WISP's...

To show that I do accomplish something once in a while...LOL! This photograph is a few WIP's and WISP's. WIP = Work In Progress and WISP's = Work In Small/Short Progress, however you want to look at them. I discovered those acrynons on other's message boards posts and in blogs and have adopted them. Anyways, The purple fabric within the hoop is a section of one of the Aunt Martha's Hot Iron Transfers recently purchased at WalMart in Kenton. I'm embroidering it on a section of cotton fabric; probably not one of my greatest ideas but what the heck! I'm uncertain if I'll use it to create a pillow or add it to a crazy quilt later on but it is certainly good practice for me to learn to satin, and long/short stitch.

The second piece is satin fabric and utilizes a rubber stamp image from a Sandra Everston rubberstamp. I'm thinking I'll add it to a CQ block at one time or another. For now, it is just something to experiment and play around with a bit before I add to my "collection". {vbg}

The "Guess How Much I Love You" cross-stitch pillow....

How could I resist this? ;)

I "Love" This....

It is a magazine, "100 Best Designs" from McCall's Needlework and Crafts Vol. 2 It has a price tag of $1.65 printed on the upper right hand corner, although I couldn't find a date it was released. However, it contained patterns and instructions for some fun, neat items. I thoroughly enjoyed looking at all the advertisements! They were advertisements that I remember seeing when I was a child as I browsed through magazines that my mom purchased! I'd certainly love to have some of the items featured within its pages now and at the prices they were then. Isn't it funny how that works? You look at them and think how inexpensive, only to realize that back then, they were about the same, maybe a bit less or more than what we are paying in the stores for craft supplies now. Anyways, there is the possibility of me using some of those ads in my paper arts in some way. That is IF I ever get the scanner hooked up to the computer within my studio! That's on my "one these days" to do list.... Yep! The same one that keeps growing, and growing, and growing..... {smiles}

SRE and Cross-Stitch Kits, Magazines, and Booklets

This photograph shows the kits, both silk ribbon ribbon embroidery and cross-stitch that were in the plastic package I obtained from the employee of Goodwill. They magazines were interesting and the booklets contain some wonderful cross stitch patterns. The made for some wonderful reading materials yesterday as I tried to rest and relax my back and neck. I am desiring to share them and some of the cross stitched fabrics with my sister and my mom. Both have created quite a few cross-stitched and embroidered items over the years and I know that one day it will be a treasure to have something that they have created with own two wonderful hands. And let's face it, there is only so much time and what one person can feasibly accomplish, even over a period of time! Heck, I have a problem now just trying to juggle all my interests, LOL!