Glimpse

 First, wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving.

My follow up visit showed the retina is healing nicely, I am able to recline now.  Unfortunately, that moved the bubble to center, perception and vision problems will continue for a few more weeks. 

 This holiday is very difficult for us, Chris is really struggling.  His favorite meal, her favorite to prepare, she loved to cook and bake.

Here is a snap of before, and a glimpse of progress.  

We had the shiplap left over from the back room, just enough for this tiny area. I wanted to have a counter for candle/accessories which wasn't possible with the pedestal.  Also, the wainscoting was a cheap mess, covered with saw chatter marks.  So added the shiplap over, scott will construct a wood top with apron and two bins.

This is a test for height and apron size.

Panels/trim installed, putty and paint touch up after vanity is installed.  My tiny iron towel rack with bean ends is not to be found.

The vessel sink is white and the waterfall faucet, other hardware and mirror frame will be black.  I wanted an unusual sink but none are available in such a small size. 

Happy Thanksgiving to you.

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Help me sparkle

 My oh my.  Friends told me that the laser repair of a retinal tear was quick and a piece of cake.  My treatment for detached retina was not so sweet.  The nurse said she never had a patient tolerate those laser settings.  Did I have a choice?  My rear end was lifting off the table and the procedure lasted much longer than I expected.   Great doctor and staff, explained there was still fluid at the outline resulting in two passes around the horseshoe flap.  Still nauseous, dizzy, off balance and very grateful.  The bubble shaking and distorting my vision is not helping and will be present for a while.  Sleeping upright with head down will also continue.

I have a request.  Until my vision returns, searching online is quite difficult.  I have decided to make a few decorative pins with beads from some of Mom's and Carole's jewelry.  What are those fancy pincushion pins called?  When I tried searching for 3" and 4" pins for jewelry or beads, they are flexible for earrings and such, not sturdy at all. What are those pins called?  Hat pins?

Chris was released from hospital, severe inflammation of esophagus, stomach.  He is still finding totes with her clothes and I was hoping it would get easier to sort them.  It is not.   I considered cutting this sweater for a pillow, not enough of a margin for small ornaments.  But someone would love to wear this I'm sure, probably better to donate.  Mark is missing her so much, especially when making her favorite dinners that he enjoyed sharing.

That's all.  Head is spinning, time to stop.

Hope everyone is well.

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Dammit

 I can barely see. My exam and tests last thursday showed a retinal tear. The fall right after caused me to reschedule repair to today.  In that time, it detached.  I had the gas bubbles injected into my eyeball (i know, always looking for a good time), and must keep my head down as low as possible with a tilt.  The bubbles apply pressure to the detached pieee, hopefully enough to allow the laser to fuse.  If not, full surgery in hospital.  I go back tomorrow morning to see if laser repair is possible.  Must sleep upright with pillows pushing head down.  Even if it works, this will continue for a week.  Been a few hours and the bubbles combined into Mickey Mouse's hat. 

Chris is getting scoped in the morning.

Carole leaves and all hell breaks loose!

And yep, all cats are neutered except for the two mothers and their kittens.

What a difference a few days can make, huh?

Dammit.

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Continuing

 Good grief.  ......  

is there really any grief that is good?  Never thought about that.

Anyway, two consecutive ER visits and next day admission for Chris once again. As before, each visit costs him $200.  Admit from the ER is no co-pay, not next day!  Total of $800 which is frustrating.  They suspect internal bleeding, so sick, cough will not stop, dry and choking.  Sinus and chest are clear.  I'm assuming esophagus ulcers/inflammation.  If not, gallbladder surgery from a few weeks ago is wacky. 

I had vertigo for two days, dramamine and zofran will hopefully get me through my retina repair today.  If the laser sends me spinning, I'll be packing a barf bag next to the heart monitor cell.  Always be prepared.

Please send good thoughts for Chris to finally have answers and healing.

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Saturday. Am I right?

 When trying to find a small bag to carry the monitor of my heart sensor, I found this very small seed sack purchased decades ago.  I little too long but glad I found it, so sweet.  And in need of a wash.

I don't have a fanny pack and the crossbody mini purse is too small, plus would be swinging in my way.  We bought several thin ones for Carole's wheelchair, don't know where they are but with everyone sick, not going over to look.  We just drop off food.  

Chris was in ER again last night, coughing, choking, dizzy, so sick.  Like the kids have been in the last few weeks.  They asked him if he had pets. ........ 'Ya think?  With no agencies to take the cats, she was told to release them or take to an Amish farm.  None have ever been outside.  They have lived together but need socialization with people, need fostering to adjust.  Some are fine with Sophia and Tracy, others still hide.  No one will adopt a pet they can't interact with during initial visit.  

Seeing Carole's long rope necklaces of wood beads, pearls, sparkly beads, chains and such, hanging here ready for donation, I thought about connecting them for a tree garland.  Then decided ..... not a good idea.  But Sophia said she would love to have gram's fancies on her tree.

Lauren and Cherie, so sorry about your injuries!  I feel fortunate about mine after reading what you dealt with.

Scott is starting a few jobs here Monday including tearing off damaged ceiling drywall.  I need lots of tape and plastic drop cloths.  I hate that dust.  I will share the tiny tiny half bath changes.

Enjoy your weekend folks.

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Sit, stay

Ask for a treat.

It's raining.  Went to my 6 month check at ophthalmologist's office which I dread.  The fierce light through the dilated pupil is unbearable to my sensitive eyes.  But necessary.  He found several problems but one needed treatment very soon, horseshoe tear in retina.  They made an appointment for laser surgery at 4 pm.  Between those appointments was a long overdue hair cut.

Do not like the end layering, but since I am wearing it pinned up (I leave shedding hairs everywhere), it's fine.  We talk for a while about Carole and as I am leaving, I went flying.  The exterior door mat slid on the wet sealed pebble concrete as if on ice.   My back was not hurt on the door frame or threshold, but my foot was pointing the wrong way and my bad knee took the brunt of the fall.  As I was helped into the car, seeing this was not a good sign.

I was right.

Those are deep holes from the decorative stone pebbles in the concrete.  Might not have been so bad had I not been airborne before landing.

Eye surgery was rescheduled to Monday, brace and ice on ankle, knee feels like a sledgehammer hit.  So I sit.  My eyes always take a day to return to normal after dilation.  It's been six hours and no change yet.  I can't imagine dealing with the laser light and such during surgery but it has to be done.  Numbing does not reduce light sensitivity.

Hope your day has been going better than mine!

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The door

 After the ridiculous number of times the door was stitched and removed, I decided to follow the chart.  The same as I originally stitched and removed because I did not like the stripe, the color, the size.  Now, smaller, back to those charted colors, and it's over.  Did not expect the size change to make those colored stripes more appealing.

Incomplete Anne is folded and in the plastic bag with her chart.

The End.

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Shut the front door

 Pick a color first.

Still haven't decided what to do next on this project, or just set it aside.  House and roof are complete, door may be the gray at bottom with the pink stripes as the original.

I went through Mom's large plastic sewing chest that Carole had, found vintage items I remember using during my high school years of sewing.  Sears electric scissors, an odd green magnetic pin holder, perfect fat spool for a stitchery wrap, and very fine elastic thread on bobbins.  An A&P needle packet to add to my collection.

Leaving soon for my cardio appointment, not looking forward to seeing the doctors that were treating (not) Carole.  So many questions I need answers to, but I doubt I will get them.

Tracy came home yesterday, Sophia still has a fever and they need to take her to urgent care TODAY.  Her brother had a fever for five days two weeks ago, no openings with doc.   Chris returned to light duty, three employees are out with .... pneumonia.  What the hell is happening?

Have a good day, be safe.  Be well.

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It wasn't my fault

when the ballot machine jammed and caused a line to form.  I don't think I've ever had that many eyes on me.

The bottom of the machine is locked, inside is a removable box with lid into which the scanned ballots fall.  Lid was closed causing crinkled and strewn ballots to pile up.  All were retrieved and put into the box, scan was accepted.  I am in PA but not Cambria County which has software issues preventing ballots to be scanned at multiple locations.  They are tested before election day, so why not working today?  Paper ballots are filled out and handed in for poll workers to scan .... when?  Not folded, the voters' choices are easily viewed.

Tracy is still in, sepsis is resolved, pneumonia is improving.  Sophia (so sensitive) is having a difficult time because she was there when her g-gram was taken to the hospital, never to return.  She is closer to Tracy than her mother, totally understandable.  Matt has a distant relationship with his mother because of the same issues.

If you like sausage gravy on biscuits, head to Wendy's in the mornings.  Wonderful biscuits, gravy is peppery, very reasonable and always so good.  I don't know why they don't advertise that offer more, maybe not available at all locations.

Thursday cardiologist, lung doctor following week, dentist several times before year's end.  My advantage plan is cutting many benefits in half or more, co-pays are increasing.  I expected the enticing offer of get more and pay less to be a scheme to get Medicare rolls reduced.  Once removed, getting back on it with a supplement is near impossible.  Preexisting illness forgiveness does not apply to seniors and a supplement to basic Medicare will be extremely costly, if you are even accepted.  I was not.  Advantage plans are still the best option for most seniors without pensions.

Beautiful very warm temps today.  Finished washing outsides of windows, still picking up leaves.  No real desire to get moving and dust inside.  I ordered two styles of washable microfiber covers for the dust mop, swiffer cloths don't impress me at all.

Have a good evening.  Stay safe.

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How far will I go?

This large house has been an easy, no chart required, boring fill.  But anything else would not be tolerated.  The red is complete, second cross of the ecru just starting.  I usually stitch the first half of the cross when a placement error would be much easier to remove.  

Have not decided on door color, chimneys or not (roof was changed), or whether to stitch the second vase on the house's right side.  Doing so would be good proportion for a drum, but is that large house awkward for such a finish?  Do I care?  Not really.

But since so much time has been invested, I will complete the ecru.  Do I want to?  Not really!  I'm forcing myself to stitch, flosstube and new purchases are not even interesting right now.  But Lori's little folks are winking at me, and after mentioning them I received her Santa as a gift from a sweet friend.

And yes, I used to knit, even made my home ec teacher a fully fashioned cardigan with double placket, buttonholes, and two inset pockets.  That was ninth grade (and an A).

Heartache is worse at times as you all know too well.  Illness continues at her house, and no doubt it's covid again.  New home tests are not showing positive, but the symptoms and fevers don't lie.  My three tests two years ago at urgent care were all negative before the er visit where the swab went much deeper.  

EDIT - Just got a call that Tracy is in hospital, fever reached 104, tested negative.

I hope everyone is healthy and doing well.  Hard to believe this is November.

Thanks for visiting.

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