Stitchin' by the Bay

 was close to causing Fire by the Stairs.  Damn.  This extremely heavy canvas bag that can stand by itself even when filled with heavy items, was splattered with blood during a hospital visit.  A port entry decided to play fire hose and sprayed everywhere.  I used liquid Biz and peroxide, and the bag actually held water, but a thorough rinse was needed.  A brief run through the washer and it's completely clean, but what a wrinkled mess. My steamer in the unused tiny bathroom did nothing, so I moved to the next room where my ironing board is set up.  Nothing helped, tried everything.  I want it to stand again!  How about inserting a box to shape it?   No way I would have one that was a perfect fit. ....  I'll be damned, I do!  Inside is the motion light Mark will install on Carole's back porch tomorrow.  Still can't shape/stretch the bottom back to flat but we'll cut a board tomorrow.

I am on the phone with her and a strange beeping starts.  Outside?  Where is it coming from?  A search for a brat that may be up to no good takes me up the steps where I realize it's the fire alarm.  Not the usual alarm pattern, more of a random disco beat.  The steamer was still plugged in with an extension cord that was too hot to touch.  No smoke, so maybe that pattern is for heat?  Getting a new one just to be sure, it is older.  Like me.  Could have been a disaster if I had gone to bed early as I have been since we use mom's bedroom, furthest from the stairs and would not have heard it.  We also sleep with the door closed because brats roam.  That was close!

This bag was my SIL's, an extraordinary needlewoman, and 2007 is the year she passed.  I wish I hadn't had to wash it but there was no other option.  We've lost so many small and large businesses here, I don't even know if we have a dry cleaner left.  

Restrictions for SNF visiting were lifted and we are now offered morning until 7:30 pm and three people at a time.  I took my salon equipment and cut her hair (five months of growth), in the bed, and all hairs were contained in the cape.  She's happy.  My mom was bedridden her last year here and I had a cape with a raised edge for her cuts and shampoos.  So where is it?

Have a great weekend folks.  Last one of June.

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All set

 The beautiful green wasn't working for me with the 500's.  After removing half of the floss bags from their box, I think that series will be good even though I'm tired of it.  So I chose new greens that go very nicely with the teals, less yellow and very complimentary.  You can see the difference compared to the green stitching in the border.  Should not matter at all in a sampler but you know I have a phobia regarding color.

Changed a few others for this linen background, and we're good to go.

Wait a minute.  That doesn't look so bad with the 3346 does it?

Good grief I have a problem don't I?

Thanks for the birthday wishes!

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Starting a new decade

  Seventy.  Holy crap.  

How old do you have to be before you stop making the same mistakes over and over?

I'm considering a new start to the sampler.  Even though I love the green, the following row's chosen colors aren't great with it. That 501 series has been in several of the last projects, I'm tired of it.  And the conversion charts for GAST to DMC can sometimes be way off so before I get too far along, I'd like to look up the skeins online and try to find my own DMC match.  And it would help if I did not put 6 strand cuts in the wrong bags.  I wondered why the reds were so different, I had several pieces of 22 in the 3721 bag.  Happened before and will again.

If you're wondering how the sewer project developed into such a large price tag, the tap in fee is $3000.  The excavating down seven feet, a twelve inch layer of gravel, the plastic pipe, and pushing the dirt back in is $7200.  Breaking up and removing the stamped concrete patio, removing deck boards and joists, and running a second line from mom's added bath, $3400.  To have the 1000 gallon tank emptied and filled with dirt from a sanitary company, $500. To replace the deck joists and top boards, smooth the former patio area so we can walk on it, and hiring a landscaper to remove the three foot pile of removed soil along one hundred feet and rake and seed the lawn, we don't even have a price yet.  Mark started on the deck to save some bucks but the screws break when removing and a pry bar is needed to pop them off.  Not good for anyone's back when one lets loose.

Yesterday my eyes were so bad I could not look up at the shelves in Lowes, nor peruse the plants at the garden center.  I could only look down and when the sun reflected on concrete, Mark had to steer me because I could not see.  He took me back this morning during rain and clouds to get a yellow petunia to add to the barrels.  They usually die but this is a new variety that promises to be outstanding.

 Carole was told by the SNF doctor this morning that both legs will need to be removed.  It was mentioned in CC, not certain, and I wish he would not have said that.

I'm making myself one of my favorite cakes today, the chocolate zucchini bundt.  It's in the oven now, did not have time today.  I never really celebrated birthdays.  Good thing!!  With only a few family members, most of whom forget, that would be pretty upsetting.  
https://marlanco.blogspot.com/2014/09/chocolate-zucchini-bundt-cake.html

After waiting for Amazon deliveries and another storm to dissipate, we drove out to give Carole the items she requested.  Really nice cosmetic bags with handles for the new hooks to hold, a larger mirror and folds flat into a vinyl case perfect for the tray table, and a few other dookies.  The magnetic hooks we found that hold 28# work really well on the inside of the tray's support leg, out of the way but easily reached, and is holding a large hardcover with ease.  All of her toiletries, necessities, notebooks glasses and pens, all have their own bag on a hook.  Perfect for those that are confined yet have everything within reach.

Hope you had a nice day.

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Thin and sweet

 Finally a morning that I did not need a jacket, so I sat on the swing and started Lucy Beam's sampler.  I have a preference for narrow pieces, seem to be less tedious when a row ends quickly.  A sampler with only four rows but great width, would be frustrating for me.  This is very narrow and should be an enjoyable project.

Of course I changed a few colors but only slight variations to work with the linen.

The beautiful facility that Carole is in is the same as before this last trip to CC.  She was in a different section dedicated to short term stays and rehab, and on a different floor.  The 105 year old is known as the candy lady, and passes it out to other residents and wishes them well daily.  Carole said she can't walk at 82 and this gal is all over the place at 105!!  God bless her!

Some of you questioned the problem with her legs.  You can skip this if you know.  
Three weeks before March 1, her lower legs and feet swelled and were very painful when walking.  Bonehead that she is, waited to see her doctor.  Her son took her since she could barely walk, and that appointment on March 1 turned into a trip to the hospital.  Hasn't been home since.  There was one blister on the right toe, nothing else.  They performed an angiogram and diagnosed peripheral artery disease, one blockage in the right and three in the left.  After waiting a full week for a bed in Cleveland to have the procedure (usually done as outpatient) which couldn't be done here, it turned into a completely different issue.  Well, she was there for two days and to everyone's surprise, she had an intra-aortic balloon in her heart to keep her alive, kidneys failed, and her second TAVR (aortic valve) was put OVER the first one.  Mitral is critical too, but she would not survive general anesthesia.  Once released from ICU with delirium, they continued to save her life for another twelve days, and did not treat the blockages.  She returned here on April 3, and the left legs and toes started to blacken, continued for over four weeks. We didn't realize the extent since her legs were always covered, and Covid lockdown prevented visits.  Her docs knew, and I begged for an earlier appointment because they couldn't manage her pain.  Five weeks later she went to CC for the appointment and they kept her, worked on the left, restored some flow, but there is extensive damage and necrosis.  Earlier intervention would not have had the same result.  After that second TAVR, her echo went from 37% to 24%, and what should have been one night after the procedure required twelve days before discharge. The right leg is excruciating, worsening, and we are wondering if this one will be lost too.  They will not open the blockage, said she is not in good health.  So we wait another month,  But don't understand how she would be considered for general anesthesia and the hours involved with amputation, but not the treat the right so she doesn't lose both.  They are the best, but we still don't comprehend.  She is accepting the loss which will be within months, but is asking why if the pain has lessened and flow returned.  It's been a circle of confusion and frustration for us, and devastating to her asking for help, especially with lingering delirium.  Wherever she is, they insist she can sit, she cannot!  PAD pain is commonly during rest, not movement, hers is the opposite.  The main cause of the this condition is smoking (we were told), they can't believe she never did.  

Storm brewing here on a hot and humid day.  June will be ending very soon.

Hope your weekend was enjoyable.

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A nice layout

 Carole seems to be settling into the new room at the SNF.  They put her in a regular room so the remaining 40 days of rehab paid by Medicare can be used after her surgery.  ...... Wait a minute.  When Medicaid takes over, those rehab days will be gone anyway.  It took me a full week of phone calls, tearing her house apart, requesting, and copying all the documents to apply, even though her income is half of the poverty level.  I haven't worked that hard or done that much research in decades.  We visited this morning for the designated hours, with a vanilla iced coffee from McD's and a lousy cheesecake from me.  I have no idea why it turned out like mush.  Her roomie is 105, there is another lady at 110 down the hall, and 106 off another hall. 

This is the room layout for residents which is quite nice and private for a double room, and a curtain can be pulled at each doorway if you prefer being alone.  The other locals are closer to home but have a two bed hospital type room.  It really is a beautiful place with every type of senior accommodation.  But we still wish the right leg was treated so she could move on.

The loss of those gowns was not from WW.  After six weeks and several inquiries I did receive the credit.  And I will never use prepaid labels for returns through a "shipping agent" that I cannot track.  The adaptive gowns were for bedridden patients so I can't imagine why they would be snatched, but we know where they disappeared.

Here's a few snaps of this lovely and massive senior community, offering every type of care from stand alone house, to apartment, to assisted, to memory, to rehab, to full skilled.  On a hill in the country.

End of the hall right off her room,  I so wish she could sit in a wheelchair and enjoy the view.  So may areas have balconies or recessed porches.

The long hall upon entering to reach elevator to rooms, offering a view of the outdoor patios, fountains, and landscaping the entire length. The amenities, salon, spa, exercise room are all in the area, the outdoor grounds are very large and meticulous, completely encircled by buildings.

The interior is outstanding,  divided lite double oak doors throughout, several rooms for small and large parties, comfortable and large gathering rooms for residents, and excellent care. 

Enjoy your day.

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So what can I buy with $4?

 
The equipment is here to tear up the yard for the $15000 sewer mandate and I need to move my black scallop ajuga.  I adore that plant and never found it offered locally again.  Very low and tight growth, lovely blue flower spikes in spring.  Spring?  When was that?  Oh yes, nearing the end of June aren't we?

 My flowers are slowly croaking and the multi colored mini tunia is half dead.  The white variety never fails to thrive and they are doing well in the front.  So I stopped at Lowe's and bought the plug packs of pink begonias to stick in the barrels, they should be a nice size by the time the pink petunia dies (or the equipment destroys them).  No sign, but they priced at one half.  First financial break in months, even if it was only $4!  Still no recovery on that fricking $60+ nightgown and the other one.

I had to drop off pages and pages of copies for the Medicaid program which Carole reluctantly needs.  My government offices are still not open to the public, but for the second time, it appears they aren't open to employees either.  They are in the stores and restaurants and bars, but they certainly can't take the chance to sit six feet away from a person in need that has been paying their salary and benefits.  In stark contrast, the bank employee went over and above her job, and I am extremely grateful, and will certainly let them know.

Carole is discharged today with many appointments scheduled for follow ups.  They said her left leg is at this time not life threatening and she could wait a few months to accept the surgery.  Not treating the right, which if done, would prevent the destruction and loss as what happened to the left.  No longer in rehab, she will have a room mate, not happy at all about that.  Of course, that is up to me to change it regardless of the countless calls that explain I cannot.  Not diagnoses, treatments, locations, time, medications, and now $$$ with self pay admission.  Everything is running on empty. 

I keep up with little Levi's site on FB and a sampler caught my eye.  Jeny Brimer was searched and searched and finally I found out that Milady's Needle will be releasing it.  First time in months I actually had a resolution to a query!  Another interesting but uncomplicated sampler of manageable size.  Sweet.

Hope you have a good weekend!

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