ARE WE REALLY ONLY 31 DAYS TO A NEW YEAR????

 Well--life is still rolling right along--and I have 'no' idea where I am  ---or where any of us are???

Everyone is talking about Christmas and some of you are in such a big hurry that you decorated the day after Halloween--I finally got to go through my Fall tote on November 23--yep--just 4 days before Thanksgiving!!  I ended up missing decorating for Fall, Halloween and, mostly for Thanksgiving--

I did leave out these little pillows for the week--as I knew they would fit in the top of the tote before taking it to storage--when I get the Christmas decorations out!!!

Had a lovely Thanksgiving day and dinner at my son and daughter in laws on Turkey day!!  Sarah did an 18 lb fresh turkey that did not want to get 'done'--we finally had to turn the oven up more--!!

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I have been still struggling with energy and alot of muscle spasms especially in my left leg--so that has slowed me down too!!!

But have had some good days, here and there, where I am cleaning and organizing and getting rid of--actually went though my fabrics and donated 4 bags to my quilt guild last week--and am even thinking about some new projects--been awhile since I was energized enough to think about doing something new!!

Today I finished up the china cabinet with the blue dishes and even put a string of fairy lights in the blue flower arch that hangs over the top of the cabinet, before I put it up there!!  first real creative thing I have done in awhile!!

and I moved a couple pieces of furniture around--to get ready to put up the Christmas tree--but first --tomorrow after going to get some new eyeglasses --I still have this corner to clean where the TV is and a new sound bar to try to hook up--it's always some project to be done before we can do the actual project we want to do!!!!

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Update on the 13 point dish cloths--I did later that day finally figure out how to do them--

Have 3 done and a 4th one on the needles--I also have gotten a couple more baby sweaters done and one hat--

I finished the hand quilting on the pink heart quilt--

and the other day I even had time and energy to go through my fabrics to find a fabric for the binding--it was not easy to find something to 'match' this shade of pink--but I did it--the strips are cut--now to find the ironing board and sewing machine area to sew--(right now that is where the Fall tote is and the thrift store donations are!!!)

I am now working on this quilt for hand quilting--

I have just 2 more flowers to do --the inside hand quilting on--but, lots of other hand quilting to yet around the flowers!!!!

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I have been steadily working on Mrs Claus counted cross stitching--of course some days I have to take a a few 'hundred' stitches out that I put in--and redo some--but it is growing!!

And here is where I left off today--under that lantern is a side stand--gonna do that next before I go back up to the rocker and start on Mrs Claus!!!!

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And one of the Catci that I got last year, at this time --had one--yep--one bloom last week--

But it was a big one!!!!

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While at my daughters in October, she had someone put up a wire tree in her back yard that has all kinds of lights in all colors and combo's on it--I though how pretty one of those would look on our patio out front--the other day, after going out the back door to walk around and throw some recycle out and then walk to the front door and as I walked up on the patio area--look what I seen?????

Got to out after dark and have alooky see!!  one of these nights!!!

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I am sure everyone is in a Christmasy mood starting today--so --take care and don't forget to be good to yourself and take a break now and then--

hugs, di

WHERE I AM ON STITCHING TIME

 Yes--I have done some stitching and knitting--though not very fast----

First up is counted cross stitching--

While at my daughters--once we got home from the hospital--I worked on this piece each morning--I developed a habit of doing some counted cross stitching each morning while I was in New York the year I had shingles so bad--2018--and I have kept it up--I got the tree done and started on the little fox--and finished him and the words when I got home--I had to but the word 'air' under the tree because for some reason it didn't fit up above!!!--but I kinda 'like' it where it is!!!

and I have been now working on Mrs Claus--

The first picture shows how I am trying to 'control' all the colors--by coloring in the different colors of all the greens in the wreath--can't say it totally helped--somehow I was still off a bit--but all I can say is--it's my 'version' of the large Christmas wreath--and I did stitch in the globe part of a lantern--to make sure the wreath would come out in the right space--will start on the other side of the globe now--and there is still work inside the globe!!

I also did some knitting--even did some in the hospital--and got this little sweater finished-

and since I have been home-I set up and actually finished a larger one--

and yes--there is another one or two on needles--plus a couple hats--but--

I also want to knit some more of the '13 point' dishcloths for Christmas gifts again--but am having trouble with remembering how to do them--grr!!!!

I have also worked on the hexie project some--

and am working on the hand quilting of this smaller quilt--

I am ready to find a stencil for the outer border--

I have been working at a very slow pace in the last 2 weeks--lots of issues here within the building I have had to deal with--

As you might of remembered I was dealing with a mold issue before I got the call to go to Illinois-and had more to deal with when I got home--took 2 full days to clean all the kitchen drawers and cupboards--it was mostly wooden items--but knew that everything needed to be washed and all cupboards and drawers washed out--I even bought the little gauge to let me know how high the humidity was in the apartment--it should be reading 60 or under--not in the 70's--I have dehumidifiers running --one really small one--and tomorrow another one should be coming-- but our weather has changed too--and this past week it had read between 35 and 50--so we will see going forward how it goes--for now--so far--no new found mold--my girl freind has used the above product in her A/C for years and never has mold--so we will see!!!!!  Also came home to "ghost ants'--hoping I have that under control now--too!!!

Have been on 2 adventures--

Carolyn and I went last Friday to Harvest Thyme Cafe and tried Lemon french toast--and it was yummy- and then Cheryl and I went to Jade Palace on this Friday and I had my favorite there--Sweet and sour Chicken and fried rice--

There is still the trip home to tell you about--but will wait on that for another day--

WELL--IT'S TIME TO REALLY THINK ABOUT GIVING THANKS--AS IT IS TIME FOR THE TURKEY CALL---

I AM SO THANKFUL FOR ALL MY BLOG FRIENDS AND WHEN YOU LEAVE ME COMMENTS--EVEN THOUGH I HAVE BEEN TOO EXHAUSTED TO LEAVE YOU ALL COMMENTS--PLEASE FORGIVE ME--SOON--I WILL BE BACK TO NORMAL--WHAT EVER THAT IS????

HUGS, AND BLESSINGS, DI

A memory here--I did have a job in a craft store--and got lots of '0' paychecks!!!!

TIME TO DO SOME CATCHING UP---

I am not sure where to  start--so let's start with the plane---

I had to be up at 5am to meet the Uber driver out front at 6 am--and I was on time with 5 minutes to spare and he was right on time--at 6am--his name was John and he was my age (77) or older--and he was a friendly sort--so we had a nice chat for the next hour and half to the airport--the only 'worrisome' part was--when cars came at us in the other lane--he would slow right down until we passed them--then he would speed up some!!!  Got to the airport in plenty of time and had no trouble checking in!!  I did go to buy a bottle of water and it was $5 a bottle and yes I did pay that!!!!  Was a nice flight and got to see lots from the plane and sat in row 4 by the window--a very 'fluffy' young man sat in my row and had paid for the seat between us--so had lots of room--we visited the half hour before the plane took off--but I do believe he had a hard time with flying--and was sooo happy to land!!!

My daughter's realtor picked me up at the airport--

I forgot to take my mask off!!!

After we got all my luggage rounded up she took me to a health food store for me to get some groceries that I could eat at my daughters--to McDonalds for a fish sandwich and we picked up a prescription for Dawn and to Dawn's new house to drop off extra luggage and food--then on to the hospital--it was a bit after 2 by this time-and they had not  taken Dawn into surgery yet--so I got to see her for a minute--while there, I heard the hospital cafeteria closed at 3pm--so as soon as they took her in--I found the lunch room and ate a Cheeseburger and got some cottage cheese for later--

This is the nurse who helped check you in for surgery--and helped family members--she was so cute and friendly--and did such a neat job on decorating her hat--!!!  Dawn's doctor came in about 5pm to say he was done--he wasn't sure how he was going to fix her arm--but did a big job with metal plates, wire and screws and even brought me a photo of what he did!!!!   We got up stairs around 6 pm or so and I was allowed to stay with her as I had flown in and didn't know my daughters house yet--and it-- was a very good thing--as we got no sleep that night--her pain level was high and they did not give her enough pain meds--the 4 hour pill only lasted 2 hours!!  So around 6am--I said to Dawn--lets show those who come into work on you what the doctor did--and boy did that make a difference when they seen the picture--when her day nurse came in and seen the photos--she really took over for Dawn as a between with the doctors and got her more meds-- which helped more--but still lots of pain--the second night we got a couple catnaps of 30 minutes or so here and there--so on Friday-- we announced to the day nurse--we where leaving at noon--so she worked to get Dawn discharged--it was around 2:30 -but we got out of there --so my daughter could control her pain meds better--she has had a 'few' surgeries since she turned 21--so she knows how to control the meds and how to get off them quickly once the main pain easies up!!! and she is already on 'no' pain meds!!!

Here she is--holding my new little doggy from the gift shop!!!!

Even once home we did not get alot of sleep--was up every couple hours getting her ice packs and keeping her company in the night--

So by the morning of the 29th when I had to catch my plane back to Florida--I was one super tired old lady--her girlfriend from Florida was on the plane coming in that I was getting on to come back--Sandy can drive--and Dawn had alot of medical appoints for the next 10 days!!!

Jessica--my newly adopted by me--granddaughter--took me to the airport--

Peoria, Illinois is full of large 'Bull's" so one must get their picture in front of them--my "new" granddaughter is 28 and just the sweetest person--she came to help me and Dawn for 3 days--and on Sunday she bought her boyfriend--Jacob--and so--as I fell in love with him too--I adopted him as my new grandson!!! ( I have no grandkids--soooo!!!)

here is their Halloween picture of them in their costumes--

 My  trip home wasn't as easy as the fly up there--this is all I seen from the plane--I was in row 19 window seat (I have to do a window seat or I get plane sick!!)

I hate wing seats--it's bumpier too--but it was like flying on a big white fluffy cloud all the way here!!I had 2 male seat mates--the gentlemen on the aisle seat was 85 years old and he talked non stop the whole trip 2 hour and 22 minutes in the air--plus the ground time before take off--he said he was in Illinois to meet up with girlfriend number 4--he lives in the Villages here and has 3 girlfriends there!!!! Poor Bill next to me--learned this whole guys history and then some --I could only hear bits and pieces of what he said--!!!!

The airport at Sanford-Orlando airport coming back was a nightmare--they parked the plane at Gate 1--which was at the very end of the airport on the west end--we had to walk to the very far part to the East end--and when we  got downstairs--a security guard told us we had to go outside--yep--outside and walk that nearly 1/4 mile back on the side walk to a door at the west end to get our luggage--are you kidding me---somehow I made it--and found my son and daughter in law--who picked me up--I was so tired at this point that -------!!!!   

I have to say--it was one of the 'toughest' 8 days of my life--lots of neat things happened and I loved seeing my daughters house and meeting her neighbors and friends--but it was also the most exhausting and emotionally draining week for me--!!!

Think this post is too long now--so will continue at another time--we still have photos of the house and yes a couple crafts did get done--and what has happened since I got home--yep--another whole story there!!!!!

I will end with picture hanging on the wall next to the Nurses station on Dawn's floor!!

WELL--IF YOU LIVE IN FLORIDA--HOPE YOU GOT YOUR LONG JOHN'S AND SWEATERS READY FOR THIS NEXT WEEK--BECAUSE OF MY TRIP NORTH--MINE ARE AREADY!!!

HUGS, DI

 

WELL--MY BLOG BUDDIES--

 

I am back in Florida--got back late afternoon on the 29th of October--and here it is '4' days later and I am still soooooooo tired--that most of the time I can't even see straight--let alone see--or think straight!!!!

All is better with my daughter--but for the 8 days I was there--there was little to no sleep and 2 plane rides--sssssssssssssssssssooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

Lots of stories I guess--only a bit of cross stitching got done and some knitting--should say --a little knitting---

I will be back with more soon--hopefully--though for some reason this week coming up is busy with appointments--go figure!!!

Oh my--it's coming really fast now????

Hugs and blessing to all--di

OH MY GOODNESS--HAVE I GOT NEWS!!!

 First off--I will be on a plane at 9am tomorrow--Wednesday to fly to Illinois--to be with my daughter--more on that in a moment--

but like I said--first things first--

I have gotten some stitching done and even finished some things--

I got Mr. Jack finished--

here is the 2 sections--

and my favorite block is still the one with the 'green frog' on it--

I have gotten a few more flower blocks worked on--

All purple flowers!!!

and got the last 2 blocks of Melisa's 2024 bom month hearts finished for displaying--

And  3 more knitted items finished--

and then there is the Cross stitch projects--

Remember--I put Mrs Claus in timeout so I could 'quickly' whip this small sampler up--I mean it does look small and quick right???

Well--it is much larger than it looks here--

that tree is tall and alot of stitches--never thought I would get it done--there is 3 colors of leaves on the tree so still some stitching to go--

And yes --this cross stitch project and Mrs Claus will be flying with me tomorrow, at 9am to Illinois--along with some other hand work and --yep--some knitting projects!!!!

But--first--I did spend a good 10 days cleaning this little apartment and hunting for 'mold'--it was funny, I'd find an area had alot--other areas none??? and I  made the apartment guys take my a/c out and flush it out--and what a difference with the smell in here!!!!  I also got a new larger dehumidifier and that is running 24 hours a day now--so hopefully----

Now the reason for the trip--my daughter, called me on  Saturday to tell me she had fallen in her new house--this house has one step into a room and one step down into others--on Thursday night she was going from her living room--with step up and got distracted and did not realize her foot was not on the step all the way and down she went---she has broke a small bone in her right leg--and a couple bad breaks in her right elbow---she thought her girlfriend from down here was going to fly up there tomorrow, but got sick over the week end--so I am going in the morning----oh her kitchen is one step down and they don't want her putting any weight on the leg--so--she can't get to the kitchen--( the reason her girl friend was going is cause she can drive--I do not drive anymore--grrrr)

I called her just before noon my time and she was in the doctors office and they were in a panic as she needs to have the surgery as soon as possible, or sooner--I am waiting to see if she will be in surgery when I land tomorrow or not--she does have a friend picking me up--but we may have to go straight to the hospital--they do have to keep her overnight--as this is a 'big' job--with pins and rods--ect---I am planning a week--but if her girl friend is well enough to come next week--I'll be gone longer--I do not believe I am going to take my computer--so????

And guess what--she says it 'cold' up there--so that meant getting out my heavy-warm sweaters and shirts and pants and getting them laundered this morning---

Just waiting now to see when the surgery will be as to how to pack--I may be staying in the hospital all night too--as I have never been to her house and do not know where anything is ??????

 SO BE GOOD MY FRIENDS AND TRY TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE  WHILE I AM ON THE 'FLY'!!!!!  AND KEEP THINKING GOOD THOUGHTS AND STITCHING--

HUGS, AND BLESSINGS--DI---OH AND WOULD YOU COVER ME AND DAWN WITH YOUR PRAYERS--THANKS--