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--

 

WELL--FOLKS--IT'S OCTOBER!!!

 

And this past week --looks like October and Fall in my sewing projects--that is for sure!!!!

But first here is the Month of October counted Cross stitch from a few years ago--believe this background color is the darkest fabric I have ever worked with--don't remember it being a big problem--this was 28 ct linen--

First up--

I did some Fall embroideries last month and this week those got put into finishes--

both are Melisa's designs--I did get out my 'fall' fabrics--only what I had did not go with my decor at all--way too dark--these seemed to go better and look better on my bed where I display them--and I did change out my comforter yesterday--took the pink one off and put the Navy blue one on for the fall and winter!!

And I did put this fabric on the back of both of them-so the week of Halloween I will show this side!!  I love this fabric--black cats and witches hats--perfect--

Then I remembered I still had '4' embroidered pieces yet--from last year's bom with Melisa--so dug those out and am working on them--

I have 2 total finishes of those--

October's heart block, and this one got hung up this morning after it's photo-shoot!!

And this one is for Thanksgiving --baking those yummy pies!!! and the border is not 2-colors--it's just the way the photo came out--the border is the color at the left hand side!!!

Also for finishes in stitching--

I did get this 'old' counted cross stitching blocks all finished--I kinda don't like the black lattice but--I am not changing it--this is the 3 or 4th time I have tried to finish off these 12 blocks--at one point there was buttons--at least one per block--who knows-- with my moving around the last 10 years-- where they are????

this is the one I am working on hand quilting now

the Mr Jack top--the color is way off on this one today--

In counted cross stitchings--

I got this Sunflower ABC piece done--

And I found this one all stitched but not finished off in the project box with the other fall pieces, I did--so Mr. Turkey got finished--do want to find some braid,around each, for both of these projects--but at Amazon's price per spool it runs about $10--each--not sure that is in my budget????

And here is the present Counted cross stitch project I am working on--

Okkkk--so where are you going with this one, Di????

Can you believe I am attempting this piece--and would love to have it done by this Christmas--well--maybe by next Christmas!!!  as I do have a couple, much simpler, Thanksgiving pieces I want to do also!!?????  This pattern definitely needs to be enlarged and just know as I am getting ready to do that, wreath, and all it's color changes--like 6-7-I am going  to enlarge that area again!!!!

Now don't forget about my knitting--

one hat is knitted--and somehow I still have 2 hats on needles--

and another sweater is finished and again--there is 2 more sweaters on needles!!

What is up for this next week????  Well--I have started my Fall cleaning yesterday and need to continue that this week and changing over the china cabinet with the blue dishes and decorating for Fall--so lots of things to work on there----

ARE THE LEAVES FALLING WHERE YOU--ARE THEY COLORFUL --HEAR THEY ARE NOT VERY COLORFUL THIS YEAR WITH NO RAIN IN MANY AREAS--SAD--BUT THEN AGAIN--WE CAN'T BE SAD CAUSE THERE IS LOTS OF SQUIRRELS HANGING AROUND AND WE NEED TO CATCH A FEW--------------------

HUGS, TO ALL--DI

  

HAPPY THURSDAY---

 Well--we are officially into Fall season here in the USA--but--

I am slow on the changing over from spring/summer decor to Fall one--!!!

But then it is hard to get into the Fall mode here in Florida--we have less humidity--but our days are still sunny and low 90's--sooo--that's my 'excuse' and I am sticking with it--!!!!

Been working steady on all my projects--of which I did get one Fall piece embroidered--

But have not been able to get to my Fall fabrics--cause my back and left side has decided to be a bit on the painful-stiff side and don't dare lift totes right now and my Christmas/fall fabric tote is on the bottom of the stack!!!!   I am also working on a second Fall embroidery piece---

I am also working a bit each day and doing the detail work on my Flower blocks--

Can you see the details  I have added to these--

I have '8' done out of 21 so far---I am thinking of finishing these blocks in the quilt as you go method--talking about this--I think our computers, etc, can hear out thoughts--I woke the other day to this idea and low and behold on facebook that day--they showed me '2' different videos on how to 'quilt as you go' and this has happened a few times now to me---scary crazy!!!  If I do this method I can do each block separately and then sew all the blocks together, cause I believe this quilt will be wider than my table to sew it first and then baste it-soo?????

And some finishes--

this Bee hive cross stitching is all finished--

I even ordered the black twisted braid to go around it but also decided to add a bit more to it with the green ribbon!!  I really love how this piece came out--once again one of Melisa's designs--thanks Melisa!

And another of her small projects was finished--

a sheep in a basket with sunflowers--I decided to try the black braid around it this time too--and did like the way it came out--I just might become  'a braid girl' after all!!!!!!!

And this is the latest cross stitch I am working on--

And yes--another of Melisa's designs--

and another little sweater--was finished--

a nice bit darker, purple sweater than the photo shows-- and I am nearly done with another sweater--I was thinking this morning about where I might be number wise in knitting these sweaters--I had started knitting them just before moving to Florida--10 years ago--and I send about 30-50 per year to World Vision-so that must mean I am working in the --oh my--can I be somewhere between 400 or so--oh my that is so hard for me to believe--but it must be---so!!!!!!

***********

One of the conversations within the blog sites I read--this past week--has been where and when did you learn to sew and to crafty things and who taught you???

Two things stood out to me--one my mother sewed alot of our clothes till we got to Highschool--I was the oldest--and she was a good cook--but she did not teach me either one--I learned most of my sewing and cooking in 4-H--I was a member for 7 years--Jr high through Senior year -- my mom also crocheted, but again--I believe I taught myself, as well all the other crafts I did and do--another quick story about the knitting--my Dad's best friend and his wife and kids and the best friends brothers always came to our house for Thanksgiving--the men went deer hunting-my Mom worked in the kitchen all day doing the cooking for the big meal at dinner time to feed 20 people--and the wife--well--she sat on a tall metal stood in the dining area --knitting away on '4' needles--making mittens for her kids for  Christmas--I used to sit and watch her -those '4' needles fascinated me alot--not sure if that is why I enjoy knitting more than crochet or not--but I would rather knit any day--

I taught myself--with the help of a quilt store to quilt in 1999 or so and haven't stopped yet--oh and I used to make my own clothes as an adult and for my daughter when she was young--but not now!!!

SO IS EVERYONE ELSE ALL DECORATED FOR FALL (OR SPRING)!!!DID YOU MAKE ANYTHING NEW THIS YEAR FOR THE SEASON????

KEEP ON STITCHING AND DREAMING--

HUGS, DI