The Stuff We are Made Of.....

Pender County, North Carolina... 2 days ago...water continues to rise.

Houses gone, power gone, no access to food or fresh water,

no access period.  Florence is still a nightmare.

Meantime, Lynsey prepares for a curly head tomorrow.

Thank you Ms Eithne, for the very cool head bands.

I have finally quilted, from 3 year ago...a favorite from

the brilliant work of   Sujata Shah

 Stitch loves it too.

 Because Ms Stephanie and Lynsey folded some of my fabric,

I found this for the binding.

My son starts a new job tomorrow...A miracle.

He is a bit anxious...I tell him 50 miles into the woods  means

50 mile out..and he is going in the right direction

Tonight he took his children on a long bike ride,

I am so grateful. He blew leaves off the deck, organized the garage,

did the dishes and the laundry and gave me a hug.!!.

He and I have the same temperament, we catch each other's angst and joy..

I have started in with Anne Lamont's encouragement...say..Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, every single day (Tender Mercies..my new favorite book).

 I do not remember where I saw this...but I have all the fabric..I am so making it.

 ALS is the dragon...we insist we will slay it...no matter how long it takes.

 My man and Evan..happy memories.

 At Emily's wedding.

 My mother..showing off.

 My grands enjoying Santa...especially Lynsey.

 Staying all night with my mother as she headed to her next great adventure.

In memory of life's great adventures and great loves.

From my mother:

Then it Happened

The moon rolled over

turned out the light

covered itself with

a blanket of night.

The Buzz of the Dragon

Mr and Mrs O'Quilts laugh and love each other xoxo

My daughter, Emily..at 19 months, taking her first stitches..Yeah, Emily xo
Making, by the way, her own stroller quilt..😍

Some feed sack squares from Lucy's estate. Thank you Lucy xo

Number 12 is also used in my Swedish flag quilt...yet to be done...

Number 12

There is a low volume buzz everywhere...in my mind, in the air, a buzz in my ear..

I have been slaying the dragon for 5 years now..

The day of diagnosis to the day of death to now.

At first check, I want to say that I am not very good at slaying..

Considering the type of dragon, ALS,
I have actually become quite good.

Folks wonder why I am not fixed yet.

The P in Post Traumatic Stress....Is for post..as in after.

As in seeing the Hoyer lift years after he has died.

As in watching him unable to talk or breathe.

As in having to communicate with the alphabet board.

As in having young children, 3, 4 and 8 running around the bed,  in adoration of their granddaddy, paralyzed in the bed, one limb at a time.
As in them saying goodbye to Granddaddy before going to the school bus..but he was already dead
and no one knew it.  He was on the breathing machine with his heart going up and down.

As in seeing him dead, when I continued to advocate for him.

I did not know he was dead...I could not know it.

I hated to know it.  It could not be true.

It still cannot be true.

He was my everything.  I loved him so.

This is the buzz I live with, some days better than others.

Memories to cheer the day
Our first trip to Ireland once the adoptions were final.

 Being baptized Catholic...by Uncle Brendan

My two guys...love

Songs to sustain me...

When I Go
A Better Man
The Rose