The Itsy Bitsy Post

A dark fog descended tonight...until I remembered what Mr.O'Quilts
used to tell me..."Just go Quilt"
Grabbing this basted top, I quilted it in one of my favorite quick styles.
It  has been sitting here for a year. It was quilted in one hour.

When the storm comes through, I cannot find the umbrella.
I start to slip....but
I am held up by...
My Naranon peeps who love me even when I fall.
My ALS support group peeps who PTSD right along with me.
My quilting friends who stay by my side.
My blogging friends who send me emails and comments and more.
My children, who wish the storm away.
My grandchildren who give me hugs.
I am one lucky son of a gun Grandma. O'Quilts.

from Brain Pickings comes this piece by Anne Lamott...speaking of course directly to me

Rosa...Thank you for the comment...pls send me your email so I can thank you properly xo

Adios Halloween...Hola the Rest of the Year....

Hello and Hello

Bye bye Halloween

It is nice to be back and posting.

After two times in the ER
After IV antibiotics for Cellulitis
After two courses of take home antibiotics
I do not have Cellulitis.
A young new doctor...first year after residency, age 36
told me that I really have Edema.  Can you believe it.??
She is so young and so smart...She is my new doctor now.
She said I can go back to the pool...
Thank you all for your encouragement.
I have been trying to balance my depression meds...
It is a real upper to find a new smart young doctor.

For your fun perusal:  

Witches of Oregon

Great quilting spots:
Passage Quilting, Sherri Lynn Wood
Sherry Lynn Wood is coming to Charlotte in March.
Please to the universe, please let me be able to go...eg
no surgery, no sickness  ...let me live...!!

LeLand Ave Studios
Has these awesome posts called the Creativity Project
Today I enjoyed:
Zak Foster

My son is saving me...He is still our miracle.
We are all adjusting to his being back home after all this time.
He gives me hugs.
He helps with the children.
He fixed the garbage disposal...again...
He goes with me to Aldi and loads and unloads all the food.
He encourages me to stay in the day and enjoy what we have
instead of indulging in my hobby of worry.
He even brought out the Oreos he had been hiding...


I took the three grands today to get their flu shots..
A little counseling with the pediatrician for the 13 year old
phone/ vs grades temper...whew...
I am so exhausted.
I am so glad to be back in the saddle.
xoxoxo

Short and Sweet

Here we go...It is only October and I have finished
little thank you presents for the holidays.
100 tissue covers
Also have 80 hand warmers done for the schools..
Working on 40 potholders..I have 22 now..

My blogging friends cheer me up.

Look at this awesome picture Margaret sent me from her cotton farm in Missouri.
Cotton, moon, dirt road and all...Wonderful!!
Her closest quilting shop is 2 hours away, across the Tennessee border.

My leg is still sore and swollen, my heart wears a permanent hole. but
I carry on with the help from my friends.
My son is getting tree trimming and handyman jobs.
He is a great comfort to me and to his children.

Here is a quilt that our widow group (friends in stitches)
is making for Hospice.  Hopefully I will quilt it this weekend.
It used up some orphan blocks I had on hand.

And a random cutting from a T-shirt of my son's 33 years ago..
There is such a cute little pocket on it.
And thanks to Michael, my son became a car mechanic.
It is not that I save everything!!!! you know....

Thoughts on Bereavement

The Blues...no longer my favorite

I loved my grandmother and her pig collection....

They reminded her of growing up in Sweden.

Her job as a young child was to feed the pigs...

She said they were so smart.

I have saved this postcard for years from her pig collection.

At my UFO group the other night, my niece, Alexis..tomorrow
turning 32..showed me a "Feel Good Quilt" I had made for her years back

On Tuesday I attended UFO quilting group at my sister's house
 Wednesday night IQ quilting group.
On Thursday, My Friends in Stitches quilting group for Hospice.

Here Jackie...who had downplayed her sewing,

showed us a hand sewn quilt she had made in college.
Her first and only quilt. Bravo!!
She wants to have it quilted, but I cannot find Mary Jerz!!!
Does anyone know the pattern?

Our dear 4th grader getting help from Zoe with her homework.

My sister and I bought this fabric in the early 70's
I have just loved it ever since..I only have a tiny bit left
just enough for memories of fabric shopping with my sister in Arizona
at Christown Mall..I was 22 and she was 11.

Getting a post up here..
Last week's visit to the ER sent me home with an antibiotic
that did not work.
So, I spent THIS Wednesday too in another ER,
One hour on IV antibiotics, chest X-ray, blood clot scan,
heart monitor, blood work..all fine.
I was sent home with a hefty new antibiotic for 10 more days.
No pool, leg up instructions
Since it is in the same leg that I need the other knee replacement,
I am hobbling around in pain...all irritable and tired.
Blue funk...no quilting...

Meantime, my brother has spent 8 days in the hospital in NJ
with very serious Cellulitis that has gone into the muscle
He has spent the entire time on IV antibiotics.
Can you believe..both of us with Cellulitis??

Made new friends in the ER...You know me, I never meet a stranger.
The blood clot scanner had my same birthday and was from Miami, just like me.
The nurses shared family issues with me. We laughed and cried together.
The doctor introduced himself as Jonathon  instead of Dr.
and was the nicest doctor ever...we discussed politics..Ha!!
Who ever spends 4 hours in an ER and actually feels good about it???

My son has been terrific...more than terrific.
Helping me with everything.
How did I ever function without him.?

Tonight I am going to read another Maisie Dobbs mystery.
Fluff to cheer me up.

 Links for your viewing pleasure:
North Carolina thanks Florence for Mosquitos

Katy's quilt made from men's ties
Katy's finished tie quilt

Lady Sings the Blues

On the Home Front and more

Now that our internet is back on...you can see I have been to London for the Olympics..

Oh. Ok..now the truth reveals itself....2012

This UFO is SIX years behind..but finished now!!!!

Terrible pix, but I was so eager to show you how quickly I can finish a piece,

when I really, really put my mind to it!!!!

 The back....Thanks Marie for the extra fabric.

In the mail from wonderful Mimi de Idaho...came finished blocks 

from someone's T-shirts for a holiday quilt. 

( cannot say who...cuz Who.. is quite snoopy)!!

Can you imagine...from across the country, a kind quilting heart

Thank you Mimi!!

 On the home front

Dylan helping his father re-attach cables to the battery.

Daddy stalled out on the way to work the other day.

Dylan loves cars too...and is a marvelous helper.

The leaky sink being fixed by my dear son.
The only reason I am showing this uncompromising picture
is so I can brag on my son...It is about time  I get to do this.

My bro and his wife came by a few weeks back.

They had driven to Florida from New Jersey to renew his

driver's license...sure enough...he showed me an 8 year renewal

with a gold star...amazing., just amazing what a bit of persistence can do.

Look who I discovered today, on Blueprint.
Fascinating quilter.

Sylvia Shaeffer

Cancelled my Pepper Cory workshop due to
old lady fatigue...
Sleeping was so worth it..

1.  I found my phone....Really, that took forever.
2.  I figured out the sound on my computer...the speaker was turned off.
Really??? That took forever.
3.  I learned about Sylvia Shaeffer and I learned that one must put
Parenthesis in the search engine for Blueprint...to find what you want.
Really??? That too, took forever.
Age is so upon me!!

I  have  lovely books to read, thanks to Carol and Deb.
Finished already, Beyond the Pale...great!!

Friday fun....Grandma has one swollen leg, twice the size of the other.
All day in the ER again...no blood clots, Cellulitis again..in the other leg!!!

Happy news:
I was thrilled to be able to put my son on the emergency contact list.
The doctor was charming, oral antibiotics only
ER totally full for Friday night as I left...Lucky, lucky me.

Anne Lamott  has taught me how to pray
The easy prayer is  just to say:
Thank you , Thank you , Thank you.
It works and brings me joy.
She also coined the phrase, "Grief is like narcolepsy"
Amen to that  one!!

I could not resist sharing Dylan doing his reading homework in my sewing room!!!!

A  peaceful, lazy old lady day today...with
Children happy they went to the school Friday night Fall Festival with their daddy.
Children happy to go with all of us to meet up with  my Peeps for breakfast Saturday.
My son playing Big Bad Wolf with his children, playing Barbie with Lynsey, making Cake Pops with Lynsey, taking Evan to breakfast and in general taking care of me...xoxo

I am one delighted grandma this weekend.

If There has to be Waves...I Prefer Those of the Ocean

Finally my zigzag is done.
Thank you Cultural Fusions
Hate that it took 3 years...
I do love it.

Twenty years ago when my father had his fourth open heart surgery,
we waited forever for him to get well.  Instead,  he died.
My mother gave my sister and me $200 each to go to fabric stores
as a break from the sad and grueling hospital stays.
My mother was so wise.
I bought this piece then..and it is a gift to remember.
Perfect for the back of my zigzag quilt

Here: our second quilt for Hospice.
from our new widow quilters...Friends in Stitches!

 I am not used to pale...quite pale.

Another in process:.
Other members have more at  home to work on.
Quilting friends are the best kind!!

 Guess who is coming to Charlotte in March?
To our Charlotte Modern Quilt Guild

Sherry Lynn Wood
and more
Sherry Lynn Wood
So excited!!

More death came today as my mother's best friend died
Her wisdom gave me great comfort.
I thought she would live forever.
The tears now, come again for my mother and her friend, Thelma.

My librarian has gone on a three week vacation to Europe.
I tried to get a book or two from the library today, but
my knee hurt and I had to come home with no book.

I have lost my quilty focus
I was so tempted to buy a few treats on Hancock of Paducah.
to cheer me up...Instead..
I ate frosting off the cake...Jeeze Louize
Some people never grow up!!!

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.

O'Quilts and a New Quilting Group

My widow group has formed a new sewing group.
We are working on a name.
Today was the second meeting and boy did we get a lot done.

 Starr put these blocks together at home
and I quilted it tonight.

We used one of my favorite batiks on the back.
ONLY because I have finally realized that there is no
trailer hitch on the hearse for my fabric...

We have mixed skills here...ironing, pinning, basting, cutting and more.
But at the end of the day,
I assure you that all will be great accomplished quilters.
who know how to quilt and have fun too.
Originally the deal was for Hospice, but now with
North Carolina so desperate, I am wondering if anyone has
set up a distribution place for quilts for those affected by that nasty Florence.
Let me know

Latest dim news...
3.4 million poultry birds are dead.
Every day, a new statistic.
I support sewing for a cause.
My mother always said that the way to get out of
your own funk, is to do things for others.
xo  I miss  you Mom

Cry for Me North Carolina...

This past week was scary...so...why not Halloween?.
Planning includes two more..and I am done...
No more Halloween quilts for the rest of my life.
There will be enough for each bed this October 31!!.

Now that we are safe and the children are back at school.
Grandma O'Quilts is sewing.
Four Patch Halloween quilt
To find  this pattern, I went on Missouri Star U-tube tutorials.
I looked and I looked...There must be millions or trillions of
tutorials there....Our Jenny Doan gives us no excuse at all not to sew.

Rain has stopped.

Wind has stopped.

Flooding is unimaginable.

Roads, creeks, yards, ponds

Yet, I am relieved.

We are safe and we have no damage. TBTG

The North Carolina Governor has asked the world
to please stay out of the state of North Carolina.
Major freeways are rushing rivers.
Dams are breaking.
People are cut off, there is no gas, no food.
In the flood waters are snakes, hog waste, fire ant colonies
among other things.
1.7 million chickens died, trapped in their cages.
and more and more and more.
Send love and hope and prayers to North Carolina.
The rivers have not yet crested...awful.
Cry Me a River

Looking for more on the cry theme..Of course..I found
Don't Cry for Me Argentins
It doesn't fit here..but I got carried away listening.
I loved it...so I just  linked it anyway.
Never realized it was Madonna.
Once again...Thank you all for your emails and comments of hope for us.
xo