Tracy's bird shirt

Well Shoot! I was trying to capture the snowflakes whizzing down-but they must not want to co-operate. But those "bleeps" are snow-flurries & I told them to hurry up & flurry on by. LOL  And they did -by noon when DH had his doctor appointment they were REALLY big & beautiful as we made the trip. I enjoyed seeing them so much - especially since I knew they would not stay.

DH's doctor is so nice & he was really UPSET that DH had not received his medicine yet - making it over a month without the cancer meds.  The sweet lady who works on paper work took me with her to phone these people -it turned out that they had tried to call us -but where our phones have been OUT OF ORDER for two weeks now & the phone company just will not fix them. It is disgusting to pay for a service & then when something goes wrong they can just do as they please-which was NOTHING.

I was so glad to get home . Our youngest son & his lovely wife bought us some groceries so we stopped to pick them up & see them & the baby. Golly - BABIES sure do heavy ! I could barely lift the little guy. Our son was on the couch -down in his back. Tomorrow DH is taking DS to the hospital to have shots put in his back & both of them are dreading it. I despise it because it seems there is nothing that seems to help him. Two years & he has been in this TERRIBLE pain -with no relief - also two surgeries & each doctor says the other one made a bigger mess of his back than the other one. How do you ever figure out who to believe? DD-in-Law told me that her insurance oked work on her teeth & they are going to pull All of her teeth. That breaks my heart because she is just in her early twenties. I had managed to  hold onto mine until I turned 60. I really MISS them . I am one who loves crisp-crunchy foods & I had just learned how to crack the walnuts that our trees bear. I thought I was going to have a neat winter eating walnuts in everything-but NO.  The only bright spot I see for Meagan is since she is so young-maybe she will learn how to use them -better than us old folks????

I told DH that I managed to keep my big mouth shut when I almost let it slip that those shots in the roof of your mouth are one of the most awful things I have ever experienced. Then DH looks at me & says that they did not do that to  him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I could feel my horns grow -??????

It was dark when we got home & we are low on wood . I managed to pull some down to the stove  & then the new flashlight that DH got for Christmas went dead on me- leaving me out in the field trying to lock up the chickens with no light and no moon tonight either! GRRRR!  I had just charged that booger too! Seems like everything these days are JUNK.

I did manage to pull off one more tee shirt for the oldest daughter in law? She has a birthday in July so I am not for sure if this shirt will be for that or Christmas???? Probably the birthday.

This is another piece of fabric that I got for Fabric.com & it is a cotton knit -which I really prefer.

This is the cute little "quirky" birds that are on it.  I thought I would be "smart" since I only had  a few minutes left & I SoOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO neatly fixed the neckband for a second shirt. I REALLY did a fantastic job on it too- I was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Proud of myself until when I hung it up to admire my work - which was now sewn on backwards -with that nice big seam shining right up front!  So, I guess you know what my next meeting with it will require- yep - that old froggie  that sings rip-it, rip-it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  LOL

New Lounge Pants

I enjoyed working with this cotton knit fabric. It behaved itself for me. I am always grateful for that.LOL

Yesterday was a bad day for us. DH was in so much pain in his stomach. I called his cancer doctor who told me to take him to the emergence room where they could run tests. We were there 12 hours-went in around lunch time & came out very late. When we first started neither of us wore a coat -but both of us wished we had one as we headed to the car.

I had chores & then worked on the wood-stove. Thank goodness it still had coals so I could coax it back to life. I was so distraught that I could not sleep. I tossed and turned & woke up at 3AM & the house felt cold so I boogied outdoors to check the stove. It was hungry once again & I turned the fan back on & headed back to bed.Then I tossed and turned for an hour & a half. I decided if I did not go to sleep in ten more minutes I would get up and sew. I knew I needed the sleep as I had one of those "lack of sleep headaches". But I got lucky & those ten minutes sent me off to dream land once again.

Today we went to the country to get our dog tags to make our furbabies legal for another year. That is one burden off of my mind.  We came on home & worked outside with the firewood & my critters. We were doing good until our eyes met & we both started to cry. The hospital had been bad news that his distended tummy -the one giving him so much pain - is the cancer & his lymph system , plus more in his reproductive system. Seems like it is going every where.   It is so hard to see someone you love suffering.

I kept thinking today that there is so much that I do not know how to do because he has taken it over .I got a bright idea to see if I can video some of the things that he does & file them so maybe I can figure it out when I get in a pickle. (one thing that I AM really Good at!) ;-)

I was attempting to get a close-up , but those little green spaces says Cheers!
I did test using a crochet belt & I think I like it?

Well midnight is almost on me- so I better go feed that stove.
love to all & many new wonderful projects~
love-linda

Starting on lounge pants for Christmas 2012

Yep, working on Christmas is up & running . I fret all year long until I manage to pull of some gifts for Christmas- . When I get stressed I stop to remember how wonderful it is to not have to fight those crazy crowds at a time when we are suppose to be happy & relaxed , a time to really count our blessings.

I managed to catch this particular piece of cotton knit on sale at Fabric.com. It is entirely out of my "comfort-zone". I have discovered that for me I enjoy solid colors & this was like taming a wild horse. But, we came to compromise & I think both of us ended up happy.Me because I have a Christmas present & the fabric because it transformed from a flat piece of fabric into a usable pair of lounge pants

This is a closer look at the design, cotton rib knit Abstract Sorbet Citrus & it was on sale for 1.74 yd.  It was very enjoyable to work with after we reached that agreement & I was afraid I would scorch it when it came time to set the stitches, but it pressed like a dream?  So, live & learn or at least that is my motto. LOL

It was a lovely day -probably because I got to work in the sewing room all afternoon.It was cold enough to have to wear a coat outside & it had rained this morning so everything was soaking wet. The fire was down to a few coals this morning, but with some tender loving coaxing she was up & running by the time I had completed the outdoor chores.

DH is not having a good day today - it is still his belly that is hurting him so much. I will be glad to see his doctor this Weds. I do not like to see him suffer like this. I know that he is scared because I am also.

I did get to take my afternoon walk & did not get to see any of "my deer-now that the deer hunters are finished hunting for this year."  I did hear one snort in the brush warning the others that I was around. LOL
Back to the building I cleaned out the guinea pigs cage & carried in my grain from the vehicle , which we had picked up on Friday. It took me this long to get my strength up to tackle it.

Last , but not least - I tackled the stove once again. I wobbled back to the stove with a heavy log ( heavy to me) It took me a while to sweet-talk it to where I needed it to go. There were two logs already in the stove bottom & I wanted this one to fall on top of them so I could then heave it in with their help. I thought it was going to whip me there for a few minutes , but I did not give up & ever so slowly I inched it in there. That should hold the fire until bedtime .

We had a light supper , I had eggs & beans & DH had eggs & a venison burger. He only ate half of his & he tried an apple but he could not eat that either. He said it did not taste good, but I tasted it & it was a good apple so it is his taste buds. I hope it is only a bug that he can shake.

Well, I better get moving (not hopping tonight- lol) I still have dishes calling me & some laundry to put away . You know how it is , seems there is always something that needs to be done.

O let me add a link to a neat blog I visited .
http://freebiesforcrafters.blogspot.com/

AT the top is a quilt block that is so neat & you can really use some small scraps here.
Then on down the page is a project that is a tote -since Moments blog by Liz is having a tote sew along this month -this might help inspire everyone.
Just sharing - you never know when it will help to get somebody else s Mojo working. LOL

Creativity Feeds Our Soul

I am very proud of myself -no I did not build a mansion or climb the world's  tallest cliffs-but in the mist of exhaustion & too much to do & a drizzly dark & gloomy day I did manage to sew me a set of plain , comfortable slacks from a pattern that I drafted by myself - for myself. There are no pockets because I did not want to draw attention to my nice big, fat & wide hips, probably from birthing 3 babies through the years. : -)

I did get those bills all ready to go out on Monday morning and that makes me so happy. I do need to get some sleep for a change. This staying up will 3 AM is not good for anybody. I love it because it is so quiet and peaceful -but IF I could turn myself around then early in the morning would be too. I know this & yet I still drag my feet!

I did take an afternoon walk in the drizzling  , dark clouded afternoon. I wish I had taken my camera because when I went to lock up the chickens I was so tired & hurting so much that I thought that would be as far as I could drag myself-But- now that I tell myself that I am "renting " this body & I should try to upkeep it better-that gave me the initiative to wobble up the hill trying to avoid slip-sliding in the mud.

I made it to where the grass was & Heard a loud commotion , which turned out to be the wild deer warning each other that danger was coming. First I saw 8 white tails as they flashed in the dusky pine trees . I was elated to discover that there were still deer after all those deer hunters killed as many as they did.

Now still watching where I stepped I hear more sounds and all of a sudden it looked like a deer jamboree .
They seemed to just explode like a star-burst in all directions.I counted 26 flashing white tails. I was in pure awe! With all of the excitement I had made it to the top of the hill & could now come back down. I wish the deer would come put on a show for me more often as it makes the walk less like work & more like fun.:-)

DH is still under the weather & in his chair. I had kept carrying him water today . He needs to drink more , but he is like a kid who hates water.We honestly do not know if this is from his cancer or a bug of some kind, but his stomach has been so sick for the last 4 days & nights. His lips are badly chapped & he is weak , but you know how that is when you are under the weather , so we are calling it a bug. He does have a doctor appointment for this Weds..so we will see?

I  hope you have had a dose of "something feel good" today.We all need that both for our emotional & our physical health!
Love to all & hope you are having a great weekend.

Gosh!

I was so tired today because DH was up sick last night & he got me up at 4am to help him. Since I had only gone to bed at 2am -well now you can understand why I am pooped .

I did get him comfortable & he feel asleep quickly . I got up at 8 because I had that dentist appointment.I went outdoors & did up all my chores .By 11 I was ready to go even though I knew that DH was really feeling rough.

He stayed in the vehicle & slept while I was inside . I got to meet a new dentist & he was truly a really Good Human being! He took a good look at that blasted little bone & smiled and said no -problem. Of course it was SO painful & swollen from poking out of my gum & actually cutting the gum that was trying to heal with every bit I would take.

I was determined to be the very best patient I could be. He got hold of it at first with some tweezers & pushed it backwards through the gum and then took a nipper & nipped that booger out of there! Wow- two months of pain instantly relieved. I was so joyous that I threw caution to the wind & gave him a "thank you hug!" He took it like a gentleman - there is something about "granny hugs" that do not scare people to death and I am glad because I was SO appreciative . I still looked like a disaster as I left the office with blood on my face -but I guess people are used to seeing that around there. : -)

We stopped & got DH some supplies & then boogied on home. I called his sister & told her I was so sorry but we could not meet her to celebrate her birthday with her. DH went to bed & I enjoyed my nice quiet retreat in the sewing room while he slept the afternoon away.

My only burr under my saddle was the fact that I had made an appointment for the phone company to fix our service Yesterday  . When I looked it up last night online -the case was closed -but our service was still unusable. I was so miffed at them!

I was trying to figure out where to start on all the projects that I wanted to get a handle on. So , I picked up that first piece with the birds on it & cut out a shirt for my girlfriend over here. She likes shirts that have multiple colors in them so she can wear them with different slacks for variety in her wardrobe. I had cut out the front & back & I got the bright idea to see IF I had a left over scrap??? I did have & it was exactly the same color blue as the birds in the fabric.SOOOOO - I cut out the front & back from the birds & then the sleeves & neckband from the blue. Because I did that I now was able to cut out TWO shirts instead of one! That put a smile on my face. LOL

I was trying to decide on where to start & I decided since I Hate to cut out projects that I might as well tackle the cutting out today , especially since I had a picture in my head of what fabric was for which person. That way I could be able to just sit down & sew-my favorite part of the project! LOL

I managed to cut out Four shirts - two pair of lounge pants & one pair of slacks. YEA! I know that does not sound like a lot -but I spent a good hour trying to locate a pattern that I had stuck in the wrong envelope! BADDDDDD! ME!

That is one thing about you being the only person in your sewing space - you get all of the credit - but when there is a boo-boo - you get all of the blame! LOL But, just being in the sewing room lifted my spirits - as I know that you guys understand all about that!!!!!!!!!!!

Plus, our weather today was SOOOOOO beautiful & I got to take a morning & afternoon walk & at the top of the hill do 20 pull ups! Yea!  Looks like we will have another week that we cheat Old Man Winter out of his fun & that suits me just fine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, I am just as happy as a bug in a rug & am sending you guys hugs of love! Yea! LOL

New Fabrics

Well, it's a terrible picture , but it is a new box of mostly knit fabrics I caught on sale & am getting ready to work on that Christmas list again. The camo colors will be some kind of shirts for the guys. The yellow & pink mixture will be a pair of lounge pants . I think I have enough fabric for at least 3 pair of lounge pants so far. I think I enjoy can do a better job when I do several at a time, as that kinda helps  me learn what to watch for & get a little better with each one as I go along.

One lesson I have noticed is : I like to start on the project that I want to make for sure will be completed first-but if the really important one is done first -then as I move along -the next ones down the list just improve in quality as I "hone" my skills. LOL

It has been a nice busy day. I got the fabrics & have them all washed & dried now -almost ready to begin. The morning was nice & I got to take that morning walk & do ten pull ups. Yea, I know ten does not sound like a lot , but a Granny has got to start somewhere again. LOL The ground was dry at the top of the hill where I walk , so I like to do them up there -where there is peace and quiet .

I had my counseling sesson this afternoon & we stopped at the drug store to pick up DH's pain meds & arthritis meds - only to be told that they had not received anything from the doctors???? That was suppose to be called in when DH went to the doctor the last visit???? With all of the red tape & hoops you have to jump through now-a-days it is hard for him to get what he needs. Adding to the fact that he is dealing with More pain each day it seems..

Dealing with the fight against cancer is a little like feeling in the dark. When it comes to understanding how it works - it is like a big mystery. When I did ask his Doctor -he said that it is a disease that steadily destroys your health. Then when they said that it  metastases into the bones- I kept attempting to visualize that picture in my head I knew I needed a better answer - so I asked today. I knew that they had mentioned tumors -so I asked how that worked & they said that the tumors can attach themselves to the bones & grow from them or as I visualized the cancer cells can grow inside of the bones & kinda make them crumble & fail.

Also when we got back home this afternoon I fixed us both a banana smoothie & then he ate an apple &  then he got a terrible stomach ache. I do not know what to do to help ease the pain.

While we were out he took me by the dental clinic where I had those top teeth pulled. I told the receptionist that I had one bone growing straight out -like a unicorn's horn - what can I do about it. I think I got lucky because when she reappeared she asked could I be there tomorrow at noon & of course I said yes.You could have blown me over like a feather????? I cannot imagine what in the world he will say & I am scared to death. After those last shots in the roof of my mouth- let's just say that the "fear" I had in the beginning has multiplied! But, I have tried getting it out myself & I cannot get that thing to budge!

Happy stitches to you! :-) 

What A Mixed Bag of Tricks

these last few days have been? I went from trying to draft a shorts pattern for my sister-in-law & because the knit was stretched out of shape they had given me a few "head scratching" times -almost to the point of throwing it all in the trash- to

Actually completing a pair of size XXXL shorts -all completed. But , they fought me every stitch of the way. Now , I just need to see how they fit before I make my final  conclusion.

Remember we had taken the embroidery machine to a new man only 28 miles from us. Well, that is another funny story. We took it last week- and we picked it up yesterday . He said that it gave him a FIT & that he had tried to call us 3 times last week to tell us to come get it . LOL  BUT - it turned out that our phones were out of order & we did not know it -until a girlfriend finally figured out a way to get a hold of us to tell us what was wrong.

Isn't it funny how things work out sometimes. LOL

This was my excuse for not saying hi last night. Our youngest grandson & his Mom & Dad came by for a visit- well, they brought us some groceries & they were deeply appreciated . They brought some bananas so I made everybody a banana smoothie. We ate them but they were not so great because the bananas had a green taste to them & I had run out of banana extract that I could have added to help overcome the green taste. But , none of us wasted them . He is 14 months old now - how time does fly?

Just like tonight - I had tried numerous times to send the pictures I have taken of them -but for some reason the computer would just freeze up- stubborn like a mule.
So, I got the bright idea that I would put them on a flashdrive -why in the world I had not tried that before now????????????????? I went though all of my digital pictures & I think they will be amazed at some of them that I do not think they know about. But, you know how it is when you get lost in time & the next thing I knew  another day had slipped away as that clock hand went over the midnight hour & here it is 2:30 in the morning? GRRRR!
So, love to you all & hope you can keep up with your day better than I seem to. : -)
.