Besting Pearl, etc.

Yesterday:

Once again, that pest Pearl, would not leave my side... I ignored her and went to the pool....lovely.  Out of the pool, she was lurking by my car.  I could not find a friend for lunch, and I certainly was not eating out with Pearl.  Instead, I came home and went to bed!!  Lynsey so wanted to go to Aldi.  I so wanted to stay in bed.  Alas, I gave in to Lynsey and we went food shopping.  She picked out everything she thought we needed.  Once again, I loaded the car wrong, so I was told to sit in the car while she put the groceries in the trunk in an organized way.  At home, I was way too tired to help.  The girl put all the food away.

Pearl insisted that we sit together at the computer, but I bested her by looking at adorable pink Halloween fabric online, and then watched the quilt show: Jinny Beyer, a Legend at the Quilt Show

Pearl must have given up by then as I just loved watching the above show. I was surprised to see that Jinny was born in 1941.  Indeed she is a legend.  Again, this legend, too, lives on a huge piece of property with quilt designs worked into the landscaping!!

Above, is Jinny's first quilt...sign on to the The Quilt Show, legends, to see the fascinating way she blends fabrics.

Today:

Sherry's idea was to put my quilts in this cupboard instead of fabric.  So, I did!!  Some of them anyway.

Kids at karate tonight, using the tricks that they learned on each other..such fun...they are laughing!!

Tonight I made a pasta salad to go with the yummy salmon that Lynsey made.

The green pepper is from our garden...A garden of one green pepper and 3 cherry tomatoes!!

Tonight I will finish the bag hanger that I made for a friend

All this while I wait for the peach pie Lynsey has in the oven.

She asked me to help her with the crust....like I know how to make peach pie!!!

This morning we went to the farmers market for the fresh peaches.

Hoping my design wall can go up tomorrow so I can work on my UFOs

The next two days are supposed to carry a high of 97 degrees F.

We are going to play Canasta now, like I used to play with my own grandmother.

Pearl is not invited!!

I See the Light

 Tonight I watched a story about Virginia Avery, quilt artist on the Quilt Show.I remember her.  Born in 1912 and died in 2012 gave many the chance to know her.  She was so amazing.

The Quilt Show  (Cousin Ann gave me a subscription to this...I love it xo)

Virginia lived in a historical home on a large piece of property.

Can you imagine the reaction of my homeowners group if I tried something like this!!

Virginia painted this herself.

I have a wrapping paper book similar to this, from forever ago.  Find this one 

at Katy Quilts, Virtual Garage Sale

This is how I used mine:
The bottom decoupage is using a used tea container.  It now holds quilting supplies.

This one is a random sale box from Michaels with my  60% off coupon ages ago.

Once again, holding quilting supplies.

On my way soon to meet the family for late lunch, etc at my oldest grandson's job.

Then kids to karate.

Still fighting Pearl today...will be good to get out of the house.

Look for the Light

Thursday I am hoping for my design walls.

Then, I can start to work again on my UFO's for group challenges.

Or, just play.

Right now, I am waiting for the upstairs carpet to be replaced because of the dog stains...Then, I just might have my place ready for Sit and Sews and pot luck dinners...(It will not be perfect) but ready!!

Oh, my..it has been a long time.

SEWING!!!!

Tonight I finished a bag using my cool and awesome African fabrics:

The same bag, different sides.

The pattern is:

Origami Bag by Teresa Down Under 

She has wonderful videos

This cat wall hanging is from a pattern forever ago...I do not remember the designer's name.

The colors and button eyes have always been a favorite 

Tonight I cheered myself by hanging it on my sewing room door.

I adjusted this shirt purchased online...Now I can wear it!

I admired the two lovely knitted dishcloths from Linda.

So encouraged by sewing that I did 30 reps with my 7 lb weights.

I did feel a bit sad at their neglect the past month....outside, lonely...

Hey....today was the day!!

I have worked all day clearing off things and doing laundry.

Things that Pearl usually does not let me do.

So so so happy to be able to report that I am sewing!!

Our Aoife Turns One In Ireland

 Our Aoife turned one and was in no celebratory mood....Way too hot in Ireland yesterday.

The party went on anyway...relatives, cake and fun.

My girl and her little family...so loved.

Yesterday was productive here in Charlotte too.  

Sherry and Margaret helped with the house and with Lynsey, helped pick out new carpet. $3000 for upstairs carpet where our beloved Zoe ruined the rugs with her incontinence...Two bedrooms and a hallway.....Life...around every corner is a new surprise.

As for my Aoife, I have never seen her....sad but true and now she is one year old. Covid stole that from me...alas, we are all safe, so far.

Lynsey was asked to spar with the teacher last night at karate...she was pleased with herself. I was proud.

The children and I did some grocery shopping....They had it finished before I even had pulled out my list. And, they had it put away at home, before I even got out of the car.

Big big surprise.  Lynsey told me tonight that I should not fret on the messy dirty house as it is coming together....and, surprise...she had cleaned the fridge, checking dates and organizing..OMG

The kids definitely had a bonus on their allowance last night.

Lynsey and I played canasta and ate ice cream.  Dylan chatted with his friends on the computer.I exercised at the pool, the children got compliments...that always earns them a bonus chip.

My man is watching over us in the newly refurbished sewing room. The picture brings both comfort and tears.

A few things that were accomplished yesterday...Every little thing brings comfort.

But, it is the friends who inconvenience themselves by helping me, that bring the most comfort. They keep me from going over the edge.

I , also have tons of weight to lose...Alas, there is so much stress here, I must confess that I stayed in bed till one thirty and had ice cream for lunch. Had to throw away last night's beef bone as there is no longer a dog here.

Having the yellow thread rack back up with pretties in place helps too.

I am trying to remember that one minute at a time thing.

So, this morning I did three chores, not three thousand.

I am missing the comfort of my son.  And, of course, this widow thing is for the birds!

RIP our Zoe

Today was the sad day.  My sister and the three children took Zoe for her final vet visit.

Our Zoe was a great part of our family.

Zoe  sewed....like all the O'Quilts do.

                                   

She visited my mother at her assisted living.  Everyone loved our girl.

                                            

                                                                           Even the snowman

This morning before they left....saying goodbye to Zoe.

The Rainbow Bridge for old dogs with lots of love left inside.  Zoe, we love you and miss you so.

The children made pillows tonight to sleep with.  Thank God, we have such a brilliant collection of fabric. Here they are with their lackluster smiles, on the way to bed to cuddle with the pillows they just made of Zoe riding in a truck.

We are praying that tomorrow will be a bit better.

Bob Marley, It's Going to Be Alright

A big thank you to all of you who commented yesterday with your encouragement.

 

 

Sunday Strong

Yesterday's plan was for Grandma O'Quilts, Dylan and Lynsey to participate in our guild's Sit and Sew by Zoom.  It was hardly relaxing, but we did have some fun.  Kids idea of a great time is to tell me that my Zoom is on mute when it is not.....then to be naughty and have me react (which I always do) giving all my Zoom friends a verbal treat, while the children laugh away. 

Lynsey could not find the cord to her machine, the one she had being an old cord to a long garbaged chair.  

Dylan could not figure out what to sew.  Lynsey used my machine. So she was able to make her pillow.

Here is the girl with safety gloves practicing with the rotary cutter.  She needs a shorter desk.

The three of us covered the old ironing board with a funky fabric from the sale bin at Walmart.

Reminds me of growing up in Phoenix. AZ.

Today, I made a must do list.  I hate doing that.

Get gas (almost $50), turn in long lost library books, and go to Belks...a department store, to return online shopping gone south. This was a big one.  I had not been in a store like that for a year and a half.

I took pictures of the receipts on my phone.  They were not good enough, no bar code. There was a problem because I had paid with PayPal...Dear me..the things I learned.  They had to call a supervisor to come down to analyze the situation to give me my money back. But...I did it!!!!.  I drove there, I walked into the store with my cane.  They found a cart for me.  Big girl, Grandma O'Quilts....Big girl!!!

We are planning to put down the dog on Tuesday morning.  My sister will take them to the vet.  The children want to go with her.  It is hard for everyone. Tuesday morning early, then I will go to the pool and the crisis counselor will come to talk with the children, for our many other issues.

Look what brilliant idea Sherry had to put my iron on the bookshelf.

See, my iron is cordless.  Now, I do not have a cord to trip over and an iron handy.

Thank you Sherry.

The dog is now running around playing with the cats.  I feel terrible for scheduling her euthanasia on Tuesday.  Then I realize with dementia, there are some clear times.  And, that I cannot risk tripping in pee, or having the alarm go off when she is biting the wooden frame of the door and might break the glass of the door.  Or her being unable to stay outside for more than 15 minutes without throwing herself against the door.  This is so hard.  I am sick of hard things...but, I am Sunday strong!!

 

Through the Woods Darkly Into the Sun

 Part of my new post flood sewing room...all thanks to my friends. I still need them so much ...and hope they will come back very soon

Poor, poor Zoe, looking through the sewing room window...I think she knows what we are thinking....

One patch navy and orange growing.

I might use Lori Holt's 16 patch tute here..

Our Dylan and his first clean room ever!!!!  JK

Anything for his new hoodie, Anime

And so it goes for a good day at the O'Quilts place xo

Thank You God for Everything, Amen

In a random empty sewing machine bag in the upstairs bedroom, I found, this morning. my month long overdue library books...

Up last night for hours crying about the old dog we still have and their daddy.

All in the sewing room, the room of all things. From 11pm to 1am as we discussed  how normal anger is in grief and how it is best not to take it out on each other....I am exhausted.

Today, we celebrated our family of three with lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, The New Zealand Cafe.

A hole in the wall in a random shopping center...soooo the best.

Look at the middle schoolers inhale their sushi...Jeeze Louize, they know more about it than I do.

They are bottomless pits..They loved it.  (I had tempura) After last night's drama, we decided that today would be different...And, it was.  With the generosity of friends, we found a few back to school things at Marshalls after lunch.  The deal is that the clothes stay in the car, until their rooms are cleaned....Sigh.  Clothes are still in the car!!

It is OK as they are skateboarding with friends outside and I am working on my sewing table with it's random bits and pieces.

Dear God, please save me from telling others what to feel and what to do with those feelings.  Help me to stay in my own lane...Even in my wobbly old age, I still struggle.

Dylan decided he would put together the new Sit and Sew chair I got.

Alas, he stalled...and here is one more mess in my house....

At least he tried.

Kids are off again to their mother's house tomorrow as I do guild Sit and Sew and continue to putter.

Tonight's goal is sewing a bit more blocks on my orange and navy 16 patch.

PS  I hear the vacuum upstairs...amazing what a few back to school deals will do!!!!!

Finding Hope Within

 The unpacking after this flood is arduous. I absolutely cannot  imagine how I could even begin to do this without my friends...Friday, they came for hours.  Monday two friends came for hours.  Tomorrow two friends will come back for hours.  How lucky am I??  Soooo grateful!!

A break in the work allowed me to sew a bit.  My new set-up has a sit down ironing space. Very nice, I must say..Now 12 blocks are made,..2 inch finished...more to come.

Exhausted this morning until my pool time.  One hour of pool exercise made me feel like a brand new person.  I swear I was 57 instead of 73!!  The pool is still not open fully,  I will take whatever I can get...which is two days a week.  Happy!!!

Our Zoe..just past 13 years old.  She is deaf, she is incontinent, if left outside for more than 15 minutes she will chew the back door, she is confused.  She is that southern expression, "up under me".  Always attached.

Our Zoe chewed back door!!!!

No one wants to put her down.  She eats and drinks fine.  She has to go outside to pee every hour or there will be a puddle on our new floor, or worse, I might slip in it and fall.. The children glare at meanie me when I even mention it may be time...and so we go on...with diapers at night.  Very bad smells upstairs....We all just love her, especially the children who have lost so much

Cousin time in the cove outside of Cork.

Summer fun, getting to know each other...my heart.

Aoife will be one  years old in one week.

Amazing.

Today, I got my second shingles shot...so far so good. Knock on wood!!

Tomorrow, lunch out with my widow's group.

More unpacking ( I have lost 3 overdue library books in the process!!)

Karate and Quilt friends zooming.

The children are coming home tomorrow for karate...They are so thrilled to be able to go back,

and still be black belts, not having to start over. (did I mention that Lynsey flipped her brother several times...)

Plodding through the unpacking, seeing hope of a finished house. And, dreaming of new social adventures...like sit and sews with friends here...and widow group get-togethers...and sewing with the children.

I would not have this kind of hope without friends holding my hand as I stumble.

PS.  I cannot figure out how to sign the kids up for their bus for August

I cannot figure out how to install my McAfee security.

I cannot figure out why my computer sound is off.

Sooo, tomorrow, my darlings will have their work cut out for them, helping Grandma!!!