Gingerbread Men

I finished the candy canes Friday night while we watched Secretariat with Tommy and Emily. Good movie!
Saturday night I decorated the gingerbread men, using white floss to stitch details, and sewing on teeny tiny buttons. When I bought the pattern set in Houston, it came with all the buttons. Now I'm appliqueing the ribbon that wraps around the block.

I'm expecting my Feb. Sue Spargo kit any day, so I'm glad I'm almost done with this block!

I had finally started accepting my Mom's decision about waiting to put Dad into the nursing home. Then I talked with her this morning....

Apparently he had a really bad day yesterday. She's regretting her decision. So...I took her to Walmart today so she could buy all the things he will need at the nursing home: extra pajamas, laundry basket, extra pillowcases, etc. The paperwork at the nursing home is good through the end of the month. After that, we'd have to start over, with another chest x-ray and everything else. She promises she'll make the final decision by then. But she's not ready to tell him yet.

Shoot Me Now....

Things turn on a dime around here. The nursing home sent someone to do Dad's assessment this morning. I was thrilled to hear that he can be placed in the Assisted Living area - he'll get help with bathing and dressing and taking care of other basic needs. Their insurance will cover 100%! All good right? Not so fast...

The nursing home employee hadn't even made it to her car in the parking lot before my Mom called me back to the bedroom. On the edge of tears, she told me she wanted to cancel the whole thing. She said she feels like she can continue to take care of him.

As it stands now, I've canceled on the nursing home, and on the movers who were going to help us. I've been in close contact with my brother, who lives out of state. He's going to talk with my Mom tonight about the possibility of her moving to the nursing home, too. They could live in an apartment there together, with my Dad getting the extra care he needs. Not so sure how well that will go over with her.

Anyway, I am emotionally drained. Hubby says it's a good thing I like rollercoasters.

Candy Canes

I'm sensing a theme here: from lollypops to candy canes. Sugar overload in my applique. These candy cane stripes are proving to be a challenge, though not as bad as the angel shoes were last month.

On the home front. today was my Dad's 87th birthday. I took my parents a nice hot lunch from their favorite restaurant, and also a platter of cupcakes. My Mom had come to her senses this morning, realizing she absolutely can't give my Dad the care he needs at home. So after lunch I had another talk with him about the impending move. He's not taking it well. I made a second trip to their apartment later in the day to talk with him more.

It's hard because he knows what I'm talking about, but then he will suddenly become confused (his dementia is worsening). We told him, (with tears flowing from both me and my Mom) that we really wish we could keep him home. But it's just too much, and he deserves better care. As I left the second time, he said he'd go along with the move, but if he doesn't like it, he's going to tell us. I'm sure he will.

Moving day is set for Friday.

Need a Lollypop!

I remember when my kids were little, they alway got a lollypop when they were done with a doctor's appointment- a little treat to reward them for going through a not-so-fun check up. For me, my Lollypop quilt will have to do.

After days of visiting nursing homes (and calling many more), we made our decision. It fit all our needs for my dad - close to home, affordable, quality care, and they have an opening. So I spent the rest of last week making the arrangements: calling his doctor, arranging for an assessment appointment, arranging movers. Move in day is this Friday. Sigh of relief....

This morning I went by my parents' to have them sign a form allowing me to get information on their behalf from their insurance company. My dad told me how he's managing to bathe himself a bit more (wishful thinking, I'm afraid). My mother walked out with me when I left and burst into tears. She's having second thoughts. She doesn't know that she is ready to move him to the nursing home, expecially since he's obviously trying to fight it. I told her that it is ultimately her decision, and we can back out. What else can I do? Not much. So sad to see them in this state. He's struggling to remain home. She's struggling with the decision to keep him at home. Not sure where this is going now.
This was the view from my kitchen window Friday. I guess the hawk was looking for lunch - maybe a chipmunk?

Dad and Doughnuts

Last night I basted several fussy cut pieces on my Februrary Lollypop Tree block. I'm loving my new applique command center!
I missed quilt guild yesterday - I took my Dad to the doctor. The doctor agreed Dad is ready for a nursing home. He helped me break the news to him. Dad took it better than I'd expected. At first he said he'd like a chance to try to take care of himself, but when I told him that he wasn't able to do all the laundry or clean the bathroom when he makes a mess, he realized I was right.

Then he asked if my mother and I would be moving in with him - funny since I live in my own house with hubby. I told him no, but we would visit him often. Then he wanted to know where he would sleep. I told him he'd have his own bed, along with a recliner, and a television. He seemed satisfied. Then he said he wanted a doughnut. So I took him to Krispy Kreme and bought him a dozen hot fresh glazed before I took him home.

Once at their apartment he settled in with a couple of doughnuts while Mom and I chatted. She was relieved he took the news well, and relieved she didn't have to be the one to tell him. Today she and I are going to visit a few nursing homes to select the best one for him. Now that we've made the decision, we are anxious for him to get moved as soon as possible.
I'm hoping that by the end of today, we'll have made a decision on one, or at least narrowed it down.

I almost forgot to tell you - this blog was named as one of the top 50 quilt blogs- click on the badge on the right side to view the others - you might find a new-to-you quilting blog! I feel so honored!

Attacked by an Octopus!

This is (was) the sad state of my command center for applique. You might notice that the new Ott lamp is missing. It just didn't work out. I was constantly adjusting both the lamp arm and the magnifying glass. They kept getting in my way. I felt like I was under attack! The last straw was Friday night. I reached to answer the phone - my arm knocked the lamp - the lamp knocked my drink- ya da ya da...wine (RED!) all over the place, including the curtains!
Not only did a need a new and differnt lamp, I needed a new system! Every thing for all three BOMs was in a jumbled mess. So Saturday morning I returned Mr. Ott to Joann's and came home with this.
Only one arm! The light is built in behind the magnifying glass! No more octopus attacks! I spent the next hour organizing my BOM supplies. Ta Dah!!!

This is more like it! By the way, the brown basket/box on the hearth contains my Kaffe Fassett collection, at the ready to stitch into a BOM. The cup on the table is where I put my snippets of thread and fabric.
I separated the supplies for the three BOMs into three plastic bins, easily stored in the table. I have my scissors, thimble, and applique thread bobbin in the drawer - it's used for all three. Look at the curtains - can you see the wine stain? Grrr. Better do some laundry! Anyway, I'm trying really hard to live productively!

A Day Off

I did a bit on my tie project yesterday. I'm not sure if I like it yet. I'll fiddle with it a bit more and then carry on. My new Ott lamp is very helpful! I am so grateful for the comment from that post, warning about the hazard of fire if the magnifying glass is catching the sun's rays. I would have never thought of that! So I'm very careful during the day - leaving the magnifier positioned safely.

Today was a nice day off. Hubby has sensed my stress over my Dad's impending nursing home admittance, and he want to get me out of the house. So he took the day off and got my mind of things. We visited the brand new library in our area; it opened just before Christmas and we'd not been yet. It is absoluely beautiful, set into a wooded area with a hiking trail just outside the door. There are beautiful areas within to sit and read. And WiFi everywhere. We came home with a three movies to watch together and a few books for me. I know I'll be spending more time there.

Then I asked hubby to drive me by a nearby nursing home so I could see exactly where it is. We ended up going in and getting a tour. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. It was a clean and happy place. We came away with a bit of hope and a bit less worry. It will still be difficult to break the news to Dad, but I'm hoping he will make the best of it. I'll be taking him to the doctor next week to get his assessment before moving forward.

We then went for a nice lunch at a local Greek restaurant and then home again, both of us curling up in bed with the dogs for a nap. Hubby then went to the driving range while I relaxed with a couple of magazines and mindless TV.

What a nice day - just what I needed to get me back on track. We are looking forward to a wonderful weekend - no plans and nice weather - the best kind. I will probably do a bit of sewing, and maybe I'll even begin the huge task of cleaning my studio; it's quite a mess.