Home Again

We returned home late Sunday afternoon, tired because all day was spent in airports. We did have a lovely time though. Savannah is a beautiful city with such charm. The architecture and the 23 squares are worth the trip. The live oaks in the squares were huge. We got there a little after noon on Thursday and walked in the cold and rain until we were exhausted, but there is so much to see that even all day Friday and Saturday didn't cover it. The above picture is of the two old homes that make up the Gastonian Inn.
A fireplace in every room, including the kitchen where we ate breakfast at one of two tables. The dining room hosted the afternoon tea and wine bar from 4:30 - 6:00. We only managed to make one, but it was very nice. Each morning, we enjoyed a nice fire before going to breakfast.
The food in Savannah was wonderful! We ate at a number of places, but my favorite was Vic's because of the sweet potato bread pudding with vanilla bean ice cream and ganache (no chocolate in the ganache, unusual but delicious). However, every meal was delicious; the city can really pride itself on its food.

Yesterday and today I've been babysitting so Amelia could go back to work to get caught up on some stuff. Tomorrow, she and Bryce will be staying home. When Fee came home last night, he said, "This house looks like a nursery." Yep.

This and That

Has anyone watched any of Brini Maxwell's podcasts? These are so funny! I've just discovered Brini's blog, but it will be a regular from now on.

Mac's treats are due for a refill. They stay on the hutch which is convenient for giving him a reward when he comes in on the first call. :) He does love those treats, but since we will be gone for a few days, there is no hurry.
Marie, I'm planning to get the book in the mail to you today. Yesterday, it was all ready to go, but I was so miserable, I never left the house. Today, for sure.


----Later---
I've run all my errands and taken Mac, his bed and his blanket to Dr. Core's for boarding. Since it is time for his shots, that will be taken care of, too. Shoot, I miss him already.

I've picked up my prescription, mailed the book, bought a few things I needed for the trip. Now it is time to pack.

One of my Christmas gifts from Erin was a new subscription to Quilting Arts magazine, which arrived today. This one is full of ideas that I want to try!

Nellie has trouble accessing my blog. It freezes up and won't let her comment. Is anyone else having this difficulty. I've looked at my settings, etc. and can't find anything that might be causing the problem, but I'm so computer illiterate...

WIP Wed

A few more projects in progress. Why I won't finish one thing before starting another, I don't know. I always have several going and when one becomes a bit boring, there is always another. Unfortunately, it means finishing anything takes a lot longer. I do the same with books...read this one a while, then this one, then back to the first, then on to a third. Probably a symptom of some documented mental illness or neurotic trait.

Saturday was spent at the cabin, which is still unfinished, but has a working bathroom and heat. Plumbing is a great benefit, folks. Chris's parents were visiting Chris and Amelia, so they were able to join us for deer chili, ribs, sausage, etc. The girls (Linda, Amelia, and I) mostly stayed inside with Baby Bryce while the guys stood around outside talking hunting. Inside, we girls talked baby stuff (Linda & I comparing past baby advice with current baby advice, etc.), fashion, film, and generally, more interesting topics than hunting.

Later Marty and Robin joined us after attending a wedding and reception. Late in the afternoon, the guys went duck hunting; we stayed in the cabin and listened for possible results. Shots were fired and eventually 9 ducks retrieved and exhibited for admiration. Some were consumed at Amelia's the next day, and she said they were delicious, no gamey taste.

Yesterday was wasted with a sinus headache. In spite of the medication I kept taking, it got worse and worse until I was eventually sidelined, unable even to read. Fear crept in...what if this were the flu, and we can't make the Savannah trip! Eventually, I was able to take the prescription meds and things began to improve by about 9:30 last night. Whew! canceling our little escape would have been a heartbreaker.

I thought all the Christmas decorations were put away when I glanced at the hutch and realized, I've overlooked one of Fee's Santas. Poor fellow! Forgotten and, although in plain sight, completely unseen for weeks.

WIP -

Yesterday, we actually had snowflakes. It wasn't cold enough for anything to stick, but it was pretty and rare for these parts. Today is cold and clear, and yesterday's flurries seem hard to believe.

I've been working on a few projects. Mostly trying to come to terms with some ideas and experimenting, but working on samples, discarding, trying again. The projects are so varied, and I move from one to another when the block appears and shuts me down. Three different projects pictured here, although I'm using the same scraps for two of them. I forgot to take pictures of a couple of others, but we'll see how things progress in the next few days.I'm experimenting a bit with ruffles, which is both a bit frustrating and fun. May have to invest in a ruffling foot, but will have to see first if I'd really want to use it enough to make it worth while.

Laddie is improving. The Life Care rehab facility is marvelous. I'm so impressed with the quality of care there and wish that were available all of the time. Not to be critical, because I realize that hospitals are overworked and understaffed, but the kind and quality of care at Life Care far, far exceeds what was available at the hospital. The nurses are so involved and seem actually happy. Amazing the difference that can make to us as we struggle with each phase of these difficulties. At first, I was dismayed because the trip out there takes so much longer (from about 25-30 min. to 40-45 min.), but that feeling evaporated once we realized how much progress Laddie made almost immediately. Not that he will ever fully recover the use of his left arm and leg, the AD interferes with the therapy and although the body is willing, the mind doesn't always send the right message... but still...

We will be heading for a long weekend in Savannah on the 24th, and I'm so looking forward to that visit. We'll be staying at a bed & breakfast and will be centrally enough located to be able to walk to most places.

Links and blah, blah, blah

Via Rebecca's Pocket: this great list of 50 Things I've Learned in 50 Years, a partial list in no particular order.

Kitchen/cooking tips

How is your vocabulary? Freerice.org is a great fun for testing your vocabulary. I played this last year and have found it posted on several blogs again this year. My average is usually 48, but have on rare occasions gotten to the 50.

I'm reading Outlander for the first time and have been enthralled. A huge 600+ page tome, but what fun. I'm now officially a Gabaldon fan and happy to know that there is more, much more where this comes from.

Yesterday, I spent much of the day making a pattern for diaper covers (and a prototype). Still don't know if they will fit baby Bryce, and the pattern still needs tweaking. Or I could stop by Joanne's and find a pattern. These look fine, but we will see. Today, among other things, I plan to make take another onesie and make it matchy, match.

Little Steps & YMMD Award

Yesterday, I finally made a foray into the sewing room. The only way to begin is to begin. I began. I stopped worrying about the cluttered drawers and closets and the chaos all around in the sewing room and began. Now that I've make a little progress in cutting and pinning a few things, I can stop and straighten the room up a bit. Before, my delaying tactic has been: everything in the house, the yard, the whole world must be just right before I allow myself to have fun with fabric.

It matters not at all that I am perfectly aware of what I'm doing. Sewing or fabric related activity of some kind is on my agenda every day, but "no, no, not yet." All of life must be in perfect order. As if! So yesterday, the only thing on my to do list was something fabric related, and although a number of activities kept intervening, finally I washed and ironed my new fabric, used rulers and rotary cutters, and was on my way.

I've been in here and sewing (not just online) a little again today. Now, I must leave it to get back to dutiful behavior and doing what must be done. All those real world things...

Oh, Oh, but first:

I've been the recipient of the You Make My Day Award from Kim at Mouse Medicine, Rissa at Rooted in Mississippi, and Marie of Zquilts. Which made my day on each occasion! Thanks to each of you!

Here are the rules:

“Give the award to up to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel so happy about blogland! Beware! You may get the award several times!”

So since the award can be received several times: My first three awards will be to Kim, Rissa, and Marie!

And because I have no compunction about cheating, here are a few more:
Rian of Rian's Pages
Karoda at Seamless Skin
Jane Ann at the jettstream
(let's just get all of the D's together)
Debby at Cold Feet Quilter
Debby at ...pieces, too...
Deborah at Knitstory
Debra at Design Studio
Gerrie at Crazy for Fiber
Nellie at Nellie's Needles
Fran at Toad Haven Annex
Connie at Simply Quilted
Kim at SkybellArts
Acey at Nichobella

I know I've not been visiting as much lately, and I do miss it, but will try to do better.

New Fabric, Epiphany, and Twelfth Night

Many thanks to all of you who have sent prayers and well wishes for Laddie. They are deeply appreciated.

Today, I'm hoping to take some time to clean and straighten up the house, and hopefully, resume some sewing. One thing I'd hoped to continue into the new year was the habit I'd developed of finding a little time for sewing each day. I've not been doing that-- all of the December events, birthdays and births, Solstice and Christmas, New Year's and the events it brought about-- have made sewing a random activity. However, I am ready to begin again with the philosophy of finding time and re-developing the habit.

I have lots of projects on the table and need to be moving forward on them. And, of course, there is this: before Christmas, I ordered these lovely fabrics from Z & S (in 1/2 yard cuts) , and I want to make use of them!And right after Christmas, the Christmas fabrics that I might need for next year called to me. Like sirens, they whispered, "Buy me. Buy me."

I am weak. How could I resist? My gifts to me. :) They will make lovely gift bags a la' Lazy Gal Tonya. I made a few gift bags this year and even have some that I must finish before cutting into these lovely new pieces.
I am through buying fabric for a while. Not one 1/2 yard will be purchased in January. I will not. I will not. I will not buy fabric.

In western tradition, January 6 is celebrated as Epiphany. In some traditions, tonight is Twelfth Night; in others, it would have been last night. Twelfth night is traditionally a celebration and a feast, and in our area, is often associated with the anticipation of Mardi Gras and may mean the first King Cake of the season.

I love the definition of the word:

epiphany - a realization or comprehension of the essence or meaning of something or someone. An inspired understanding arising from connecting with profound insight, awareness, or enlightened truth.

Many people leave their Christmas decorations up until today, and then put them all away before Twelfth Night, as it is unlucky to leave them up after Twelfth Night.

If your decorations are still up, in accordance with this tradition, now is the time to take them down and put them away until next year.

Time to get to work on all of the things on the "to do" list that I can manage!

New Year in Motion

My New Year's Day began with the newest member of our family, Bryce Eleanor. Her parents, despite having been out until the wee hours of the morning, came to fetch her shortly after 11:00 A.M. I thought she would be able to stay until the afternoon, given the circumstances, but Amelia and Chris showed up with a peppermint mocha from Starbucks as an exchange for the baby. I really wanted to keep both...
The picture, of course, is from the night before. Bryce is covering her mommy's sparkly black top with the beaded scarf. They looked decidedly less chipper the next morning.

Unfortunately, the afternoon resulted in Laddie being transported to the hospital with a stroke. It was on the right side of the brain, and he has lost the use of his left arm and leg, but since the stroke was on the right side, his speech was not affected. At present, he is doing as well as can be expected. He knows us and is able to swallow and to eat with help.

Today has been better than yesterday, and we hope tomorrow will be better. I'm reading and commenting on blogs when I have a chance...it provides distraction and stress release. :)