The 5 am phone call

I took an Ativan last night about 2am to calm down and help me sleep.  So when I was awakened at 5am this morning, my head felt like a watermelon.  She was being transferred to Cleveland Clinic, two hours from here, by her primary care physician.  He had been on a holiday vacation, just got back, and contacted the Clinic when he saw her this morning.  After the mild weather for the last month, today is frigid, windy, with a layer of ice from days of rain beneath a layer of snow.  Mark will take off work tomorrow and drive me there, I will stay at a hotel that has shuttle service to the Clinic.  I understand that area will be getting 5-8" of snow and do not want to be driving myself.  By the time she is admitted, sees a doctor, tests are reviewed, I doubt anything will take place today but if so, he will leave work early and we'll go.  I've done online research every evening and the doctors here seem to have the same conclusion.  Sudden and severe heart failure which is why she is unable to breathe with movement or lying down.  I believe that the torsades incident and being paddled 9 times damaged the heart and it's worsened ever since, even after the drastic AV node ablation that we now know was not necessary. We are cautious in thinking they will be able to help her.  Her tears and fears of dying are making me physically ill, and I need to suck it up.  I may be a bitch but I'm also an emotional wimp, and watching my Dad gasp for air for weeks is being replayed with her. 

 

 Thank you all for your prayers and good wishes.

 

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Edit - she just called.  Her room is better than a hotel, full sofa, two recliners, tables, cupboards, beautiful bath, and I'm invited to sleep on the pull out sofa.  She is very impressed with the nurses and doctor already.

Slow progress

Hi everyone.  Hope your weekend was restful. 

Here's my progress on green Harriet.  Am I happy with my color choice?  No.  Whenever I get around to upholstery or buying new, I want olive, rust, eggplant, and thought this sampler would be a nice change from the mostly blues and reds of my others. The chart photo's very dark thread contrast is what drew me to it in the first place and I thought this color would be dark enough.  Maybe I'll change my mind and start over with black or very dark green instead of the 3011.  Who knows?  Too many things on my mind right now to think about it.

 

 

I made many errors in placement.  The two biggest -  #1 ... top alpha line was off  from the border so I ripped it out and started it again, only to find that  #2 ... the border was off also so I ripped that out.  On the second inside dividing line, I started it from the right edge instead of left and worked back.  I've never done that before, and you can see I am off by one stitch.  Very minor and doesn't matter to me though.

 

 

 From all the meals and desserts I had planned but never materialized, my fridge and freezer are loaded.  Instead of the filled clothespin cookies, I used the puff pastry sheets to make my own version of Barry's Bakery twists.  I haven't seen them around here for years and we love them.  

Mine didn't have quite enough sugar and cinnamon but they're still good.  I didn't think about the melting sugar and should have lined the sheets with parchment paper so the first batch was stuck.  Right now, there is an apple pie in the oven.  Smoked kielbasa, green bell and hot peppers, red potatoes and onion halves are in the crockpot.   I took Carole fresh raspberries this morning and they were wonderfully sweet.  She has a private room this time at the end of the hall so I hope they don't move her elsewhere.  As I'm typing, the timer is going off.  So here she is. 

 

Hope your week gets off to a great start. 

Mine will have that white crap and very cold temps.

I'm sorry I haven't been reading blogs and answering emails.  When I can relax for a bit, I'll catch up.

Thanks for visiting.

 

 

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Happy New Year

Just a quick note to wish you blessings and health and happiness in 2015, fifteen years after Y2K.  Fifteen.  My head spins, but not fast enough to miss that piece of chocolate.  Really wanted to make an effort and cut down on sugar this year.  Chris was released from the hospital, still no biopsy results (its been over a week and I'm nervous), and we planned to have our Christmas dinner this Sunday.  He was home for two days before Carole was rushed back in yesterday.  I don't have answers, they don't either at this point.  The AV node ablation may not have been successful, she is in and out of V-tach, having PVCs, the third lead of the pacemaker takes a few months before optimal performance, and she is totally disgusted.  Needless to say, the third plan for Christmas is once again cancelled.

 

My first order and new chart of the year is Anna Eliza Abe, this little darling from Threads of Gold.  You can call or email Em-Li's for the chart.  I mentioned her in a prior post, put her on my list (the list of many that are never found) and forgot to add her to my prior order.  Happened to see a photo and ordered it before I forgot once again.  Darling.  Sweet. Little.

 

Have a relaxing weekend.

Thanks for visiting.

 

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It was only one decision!

And I still couldn't make it. 

 

 

Roses are red,

violets are blue,

I chose neither,

so green is the hue.

 

I think the grayish green of 3011 would make a great monotone sampler with the dark frame I have in mind.  Chose the lighter 32 count linen and set aside the red floss on the unbleached piece.  My overdyed floss is probably not enough to complete the project and ordering another skein would never be close.  I don't want to wait for a new order to come in because I am almost at the point that I don't even care about samplers.  Did I just say that?  Yes.  If I take even a short break, it will become much longer than I plan.

 

Thank you for the good wishes and prayers, once again, for nephew Chris. He has been diagnosed, it's very serious, and he is still in the hospital. 

 

 I'm sure others have these sudden moments, sort of a reality check, taking in events and the past.  I came out of the shower, wrapped a towel around, and went to the vanity.  Did you ever just stand in front of a mirror and stare at yourself?  How the face and body has changed?  Wondering what is next?  Where did the years go?  I buried my face into my hands and just stood there.  Slowly I pulled open my hands, stroking the sides of my face, revealing it once again.  I stood there looking in the mirror, and thought........

this is how I would look after a facelift.  Make an appointment.  Soon.

 

See 'ya later.  Any bets on color changes?

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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The Magma is loaded

Greetings fellow menopausians, stitchers, friends, and readers.  Instead of browsing the stash I chose one of the last samplers I ordered.  She's not too large, simple, and monotone.  Perfect for taking to the hospital without all the floss bags of colors. 

Only question - should I use luscious 3857, or the gray that looks blue 413?  Eliza Laidman was Uniform Blue which is just like 413 and I really love it, but would I want another the same?  In a different room, yes.  So I have just one decision to make and probably won't until I pull it out to start.

 

 Start what?  Harriet Hazlin from The Sampler House.  This was stitched over one as a miniature but can of course be stitched over two as I will do.  Finished size on 30 count will be about 9.5" x 7.5".  Stitching on 32-35 count would probably make it perfect for a standard 8x10 frame.   I just thought of that but I already cut a piece off my Scarlet Letter yardage and that hurt.  Hurts bad.  I rarely frame any more but this could be added to my framed group.  Damn.  I don't know why but cutting linen is very distressing to me.  Maybe I should just take a pill and cut a piece of a higher count.

 

 

I put clear shipping tape over the Velcro tabs on the Magma.  When I was working on Isobel's ornament, every time I needed to get into the pouch the loud noise woke him up and aggravated me.  Folding the tape over to the outside works really well. 

I wanted to show that ornament finish but alas, it is hiding somewhere.  Isn't alas a goofy word?  Anyway, I'll find it when I have time.

 

Have a great week!

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Burlap tree

Hello hello hello.  Just came home from errands and wanted to show what I found. 

 

 

I fell in love with this two foot burlap and rusty bell wrapped tree and wanted to create a large version for outside my kitchen window. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The large tomato cages were not working without wrapping them first with wire or twine to create a more solid frame.  The burlap was falling into the open areas.  Stacking several cages would help and using a heavy twine over the entire cage would also make a great outdoor tree.  Since it wasn't working and I have no time or patience to do it properly, I put it off for now. 

 

Then I ran into my local craft store for a quick browse and found this five foot grapevine on a better frame for only $12.50.  I can add more vines, twine, or wrap in burlap strips.  Clear strung lights on brown wire mixed in with thin grapevines will encircle the tree.  I think it will look great outside and hold up for years.  I don't know if I will work on it before I put it away or wait until next year.  Hmmm.  I could forget by then - best work on it now - maybe February?

 

Have a good day everyone.

 

 

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