Two Thirds a Good Thing

 

My man's 7 year anniversary of leaving this earth due to ALS is in two weeks.

I have never healed.

Below is the Flame Azalea my mother bought us to remember her by.  That was probably 10 years ago.  Still lovely, still going strong.

Started and finished my Moda Blockheads #1 tonight.

And my, oh my what a terrible mess my sewing room is in....all due to one block.

I did it because I was so sick of pink.

I did it because my dear man said to me, in troubled times, I should.....

"Just go Sew"

Wisdom I still adhere to.

The Girl and her Grandma

For the first time in my entire life, I have the weekend alone with  my grandgirl.

It is the fault of life, that it has not happened sooner..

There seems like another crisis all the time.

But, now, my cup runneth over.!!

Self-care for Lynsey and self-care for Grandma.

The Charlotte Quilt show was today.

With friends, we went...

We all loved it...

I was so happy to see so many of my friends.

There was a collection of vintage and antique quilts which were stunning.

Here is Lynsey in front of a favorite...They say it is 1930.

I gave her five dollars to spend on fabric...

She really loved the fidget quilts and was thrilled she could touch them without gloves..

Making dinner...frittata....an egg pizza with spinach, onion, mushroom, red pepper and parmesan cheese.  Don't kids always love best what they help cook ourselves.!!

Both last night and tonight...we played Old Maid
And, we laughed and laughed and laughed.

Hot chocolate for her..with marshmallows
A great girls weekend.
Tomorrow...the plans..a morning breakfast movie.
More Old Maid.
We are having the best time ever.
She played for quite awhile in her room with her dolls.
This girl loves to play alone.
She is the  best girl ever...so smart and kind and good.

OMG  Ms Stephanie has created a cleaning monster.
9 year old Lynsey insisted that we get a new broom and that she gets to pick it out.
Once home, she was upset that the floor has been swept already..
I told her that I did not know how to sweep.
It was hilarious watching her try to teach me...where to place my hands, etc.

I love these bowl covers...always in my fridge with leftovers..mine are lined with rip-stop




A friend of mine was diagnosed with ALS this summer.  She kept it a secret until now.
I feel weak and nauseous, I feel exhausted and depleted and helpless.
It brings back visions of the Hoyer lift and the feeding tubes and the suction machine, and the Trilogy breathing machine...and Hospice and death.

I am so glad Lynsey is with me to laugh over Old Maid.
I am grateful.

ALS and My Sorta Survival......

My love, I am sorry.  I love you so.

A grieving friend of mine insisted that positive thinking come before despair...
How is that I ask???
We cannot control grief..
Alas, it did get me thinking.
I have just listed in my phone notes..all the delight in my marriage.
How lucky I was to have him, etc..
Positives, I was too upset to see before.
Then, somehow,  I was able to cut up the suede jacket that reflected his charm.
 Too painful before.
Goodbye one year and three weeks.
I am going to upcycle this jacket!!!
Karma and spirit...not lost, just transferred.

Here is to hoping I get a creative bug and am able to make a bag incorporating ...
the already installed zipper and the many pockets...
I am excited...a far cry from despair.
That is why widow groups are so helpful...sharing ideas..
Look at my new found flexibility!!!!

The Land of Denial and other personal things

I finished the book this morning, The Orphan Train.  I found it awesome that the story begins in Kinvara, the little seaside town in Ireland where my dear man was born and raised.
Not only could I not put it down, but when it was over, I felt like a good friend had left(:  I think that for sure I will try to find something else by the same author.

I have been on vacation for awhile...my favorite spot...the Land of Denial..!!!  So comfy and warm and safe.  Tonight Mr. O'Quilts and I had a date!!  It is an unusual thing as he is fatigued a lot.  We went in our wheelchair van to the ALS support group to be with friends and share ideas.

We both like to go, it is a once a month deal.

However, how to handle feeding tubes and breathing machines,etc is sobering. My vacation to the Land of Denial...ended abruptly as it often does.

Tonight there was a older lady (probably my age..) who came in a special transportation bus to our group.  She said that the bus driver drove roughly leaving her in discomfort and pain. It was sad.
 I am grateful that we could afford a used wheelchair van and that one of my best friends is a car mechanic who found it for us.  My friend at the meeting also had to take a city bus to the dentist and she fell out of the wheelchair when the bus rounded the corner too fast.  OMG

I am having to  learn how to softly turn corners and go over bumps.  Mr. O'Quilts is loosing his diaphragm muscle strength which affects his talking, his eating and staying upright when I go around curves in the van.  Soon it will affect his breathing.  I learned tonight that ALS is just one of about 46 common types of Muscular Dystrophy.  There are more uncommon ones.  We have entered a new world.

 I know well that this is not a blog about illness...etc etc etc.  However, sharing is good and so, I am.

I am only buying angel hair pasta now for the swallowing issue.  Here I am chopping it fine and bagging it for the freezer to make things easier for him to eat spaghetti with lots of sauce.

Cooking has become more challenging now that Mr. O needs special meals and the three grandchildren need food that that is easy too make...and that they will eat!!

Sooooo  TBTG I have friends like Beth and MP who have once again signed us up for Take Them a Meal.and TBTG I have friends who are signing up to make soups and foods for us...So much to be grateful for.

p.s.  My sister has now left her babysitting post..lol...The report:  one grandchild has a fever, one wet the bed, no one brushed their teeth and all camp bags are packed, lunches are ready.
 Mr.O is watching soccer....sooo  I have at least drawn the lines on the corner squares for these blocks...no sewing, but...at least...

 And, at least I have a pattern and the fabric for Lynsey's dress and doll dress.  Oh, I know I am dreaming...but it brings comfort to know that if I can, it is ready..

I do not give up...M&M's help..........................