Happy News

 First up....Happy Father's Day to Brian...My lucky daughter got a mighty fine Irish man just like her mommy did...Grateful!!

And then, our Dylan...16...His first driver's license...and....with his own savings, bought  his first truck...So Proud here....

More relaxing potholder fun for Grandma...

Our first group quilting...One of our own has an old quilt his mother made....from the 40s...It needs mending so he can still cuddle in it....(he is 85)  We did a mending session for him.

Below:  the last of  my husband's shirt scraps....

A few more bowl cozies...

The finished "Happy Cloths".  I have used so many face cloths to make these..Now I realize that the cloths do not have to be made with high quality toweling.....

A friend at my place is a retired PT...She has taken me under her wing to help  my walking..Before I was able for my 5th joint replacement last year, I was in a wheelchair for 5 months, the pain was so great....Now, pain free, my walking is wobbly.  I have had PT before, but nothing like this one...She is giving me hope.  I am so grateful ..

Another Day

Drinking red wine at 1:30 am seems to be a wonderful way to handle arthritis and a big over-do with  physical therapy.  Trying to be strong and brave and true in just one week did  not work.  Sigh...Guess I am just what I am.

Above is the beautiful Calla Lily gifted to me last May after my hip replacement..Such a beautiful bloom.  Below a linen towel on sale in our thrift shop for a dollar.  I am making it into a bag...Stay tuned.

With millions of  unfinished projects and tons of fabrics from my collection of 60 years, I decided on somethings new...The above potential bag and the below scrap mug rug or hanging...I so love whimsy.  I ironed these small scrap pieced onto fusible fleece and pencil quilted it.  It is my meditation to put myself outside of life's messiness.

A bit of leftover batik made the back so happy.  The color above in the piece is much paler than in reality.. So much fun to play with fabric.  Now if only my Monroe family would start sewing a few things, I would feel more joy.  They have 3 sewing machines out there!!  I know making things is just a matter of starting.

In old age we have to decide where our money works best for us.  My children know there is no inheritance....but they also know I can take care of myself and they can be free..   I no longer buy fabric, but I do hire a friend to clean my apartment once a week....That is a wonderful treat for me.

Hmmm, as for no longer buying fabric...I am indeed tempted....especially by the new Anna Marie Horner pieces.

I am taking the shot to lose weight for more upcoming surgeries....The only thing it is doing is making me crave jelly beans and Necco wafers...instead of real food.

And, so it goes...Every day a challenge and a joy...Gratitude as I sit on my  beautiful porch reading a book...

A Gift or Two

It has been a long time since I put a zipper in a pouch...and never have I put in zipper ends...This bag wins no awards for workmanship...A card playing friend of mine had her bags and cards taken to the garbage by mistake by the clean up crew. She asked me to replace them....This  laminate bag is  big enough for her 5 decks of cards.

Usually I put velcro on these card bags, but my friend has had two strokes and two heart attacks...She  has only one viable arm and leg.  She asked me to put a zipper on it so she could open it with her teeth ..

I put a length of ribbon in the zipper and added a pull...Hope she likes it.

This friend has the best heart...She includes everyone in the card games and other activities.

Next ,comes Tootsie's dog biscuit bag.. Tootsie comes to visit me from the neighbor across the hall...Immediately she looks for a treat.  I usually cannot find the bag.  Now, it is clear that this is the dog treat bag...The dog on the bag even looks like Tootsie.. I added a string and a bell...so I will find it for sure.

This funky picture is of Aoife washing her hair.  Every time Grandma here calls, she insists she wash her hair for me...Evidently she washes it several times a day for the fun of being a big girl... She turns 6 in July.

In order to keep blogging, I must post whenever I have finished something...So here we are!! 

Tomorrow will be  90 degrees F with rain.   Perfect for sewing and sleeping.  A friend is doing some grocery shopping for me, as I am still in PT for my weak muscles...I am so grateful to be here safe and sound...

What I am Making!!

 Not much to show...potholder...and...

 African charm pack...gifted to me from Linda...Busy here, snowballing them and loving them.

The Happy Birthday present to my friend, Linda, the birder...so perfect on the quilted jacket she made.

The news I know as age is upon me:

At Scrabble the other day, I sat on a friend's antique chair...Of course it collapsed...with me falling to the floor.  Note to self:   Antique me no longer can sit on antique chairs...I broke nothing, but my wobble is worse as I walk around.

Last night I stayed up till 4:30 am sewing.  Got a rush of energy as I cleaned up projects...UFOs and emptied my scrap bucket for quilt loving friends here.  I miss all my friends and family from forever ago...Covid ruined most of it; my arthritis ruined the rest.  Life  is still good and I carry on xo

Just a note from Portland where our loving Stitch is alive and loving every minute!!