Blast from the Past

The picture's not so great, but here is one of the first ever quilt projects I made many years ago. I remember making it when my sewing area was in our basement in a corner of the guest bedroom. I made a few of these gingerbread potholders that year to give away as gifts, saving one for myself. I see that I even hand quilted it, though only around the binding - haha! Still love it though.

I felt like today was my first really "normal" day in an entire month. Dear Driver B took Mom to the nursing home to visit, so I had the entire day to sew, cook, and do laundry. So that is exactly what I did. I started out the day soaking some dried navy beans. Then I put them on to simmer with the ham bone from Thanksgiving. The "soup" simmered all day, and made a delicious dinner.

I sewed off and on all day, making lots of progress on multiple projects. My hip is a bit better too, I think. A few more days, and I'll be fine. But I think I'll sleep with a heating pad tonight for good measure.
Here were my helpers. They were so glad to be out of the cold and in my lap. Though as I write this they are both in Hubby's lap, of course. Mickey is growling in his sleep.

Slight Detour

I took a small detour from quilts for the upcoming new book today to work on a very small project. I had some help. More help than I wanted or needed. Have I mentioned lately how Mickey likes to be in a lap? Actually, he INSISTS on being in a lap! So he sat while I sewed. I think we were both glad when I was done. What is this project? You'll see in a few days, I promise!

I managed to totally pull my left hip out of whack this morning. I wish I had a good story for how I did it, like a snow skiing accident, a long distance running injury, or something equally exciting. In actuality, it happened when I bent over to pick up the TV remote from an ottoman. I'll be fine in a few days, I hope. Meanwhile, Advil helps with the pain.

Nothing new with my father. I think he's slowly adjusting to life in the nursing home, though he still asks when he can come home. My mother is adjusting well to living alone. She adores her driver, my good friend. I knew she would! Thank you, B!

An Organized Tool Caddy

Here's a peak inside my newly organized tool caddy. Loving it! My Aurofil thread spools are handy in their elastic bands. There's a place for everything!
And here's a peak at something I've been working on for the last few weeks. This project has been to San Antonio. It also spent a few days in the hospital while I sat with my dad. When I see parts of a quilt, I have memories of where I was and who I was with when I made it. So this quilt will have built-in memories of great times and not so great times, all within the stitches and patches. I love that part of quilting - the memories it preserves, one stitch at a time, one scissor snip at a time, one scrap of fabric at a time.

As of this morning, our house is quiet. Everyone has returned to their own homes and lives. There are tons of leftovers in the refrigerator, so I won't have to cook this week. (Sigh.) We're in for a soaking rain all day, so we will stay inside, resting under quilts with dogs in our laps. (Sigh, sigh.)

Our Thanksgiving

Here's the entire family (minus my father). On the sofa, my brother-in-law, me, Elizabeth (Daughter 2). Seated in the middle are my mother-in-law (white shirt) and my mother. Standing left to right, my three nephews, my brother (black shirt), hubby, father-in-law, Tommy (son-in-law) and Emily (Daughter 1).

We had a great day. After lunch, my brother and my mom took pie to the nursing home for Dad. He's asking to get out of there again, but my brother stood firm with him.
After the extended family was gone, Tommy and hubby threw a football.
Doesn't hubby have good form?
By the time darkness fell, we were all SOOOOO tired! But it was a good day.

Today the girls are dying to get in the middle of the Black Friday sales. I'm not so excited about it, so I haven't decided if I'll go along or not. After the last three weeks, my body and mind are both tired...

Craftsman, Cooking, and Condos

Finally, a quilty post! This is the sad state of my hand sewing that sits besides my chair and goes along with me on road trips. Today I made a trip to Sears for something in the hardware department and I spotted this:
Ooo - la- la! A pink tool caddy! They also have them in red and black. Look at all those elastic loops for thread spools!
Each end has a mesh pocket. That metal clip is to hook a tape measure.
One side has these velcro straps (for a level) - not sure if I'll use them.
Here are the details in case you want to buy one, too. It was $12.99. I'll post another photo once I've filled it.

I'm busily getting ready to host 13 for Thanksgiving Dinner. My dressing is made and in the freezer. The turkey breast in brining in the refrigerator. House cleaning is almost done. Daughter 2 will be here Wednesday. Daughter 2 and Son-in-Law will be here Thursday morning. Brother and 3 nephews will be here sometime Wednesday.

Dad Update: Yesterday Mom and I had a good visit with him. For the first time, he didn't complain or ask to come home. He seemed resigned and very tired. I'm so relieved, and hope his attitude continues. He's fallen once since he's been there, but didn't hurt himself.

Condo Update: On the day Dad went to the hospital, hubby and I were looking at a condo in Auburn to house Daughter 2 while she's in Pharmacy School. We made an offer that day. While hubby was out of town on business and I sat at the hospital, I negotiated the deal and we came to an agreement. Yesterday hubby went down there for the inspection. A few problems came up and the seller will fix them. We close in early December. Yay!

Still Stressed...But Making Progress

We decided not to visit Dad today. We don't want him to expect us to be there every single day. However, he managed to call me. He can ask a nurse to call me or Mom so he can get on the phone to talk. He did this THREE TIMES today. Count em, three.

He has trouble saying the right words, but he got his point across:

He. Wants. To. Come. HOME.

I think it's interesting that each time, he called me instead of my mother.

He said that if we'd let him come home, he'd help with the housework. He cannot even stand without help. And he's never (in his life!) helped with any housework. He's really working on us. But we will stand firm. We will.

Hubby, Mom, and I will visit him in the morning. I warned him not to spend the visit complaining or asking to come home. He said he would not, but I know he won't remember that by then.

The good news: a good friend of mine (a fellow quilter) is going to become my mother's wheels. She'll drive her to the nursing home 2-3 times per week so that I can get back to my regularly scheduled quilting - that book is not going to write itself! My mother will be paying my friend, so it will be a win/win/win situation for my mother, my friend, and for me.

I can't say enough about my dear husband. He has gotten me through this. Though I did cave and have a good cry this afternoon. Then a nap. And now I feel better.

Relieved....

Dad is in the nursing home. So glad.

Everything went as well as it could have yesterday. We took him at 1:30. Hubby was with us, thank goodness - what a help he was! Hopefully this facility will be a good fit for him. For my Birmingham friends, he's at Greenbriar at the Altamont on Highland Avenue. It's in a beautiful historic area.

Within 5 minutes of arriving, he was talking about improving and getting discharged. How do you tell someone that will not happen?

I'm taking Mom to visit him this morning. We will not stay too long. Then I will have the rest of the day to catch up on the rest of my life. This has been a long week!

I think I will make the cornbread today for the Thanksgiving dressing. And maybe work on a grocery list for the rest of my Thanksgiving shopping. I look forward to cooking again! And quilting! QUILTING!