Ch-ch-ch-changes....

How fast time flies! I can't believe it has been so long since I posted. I am still quilting, and am back to doing paper crafts.  I made this card for my niece's graduation, using mostly Stampin Up stuff. I love cupcake motifs, but don't actually like to eat them!

Mikey's health hasn't been great, but he keeps pluggin' along.

I hope to post more often.....

I love daylilies!

I tried to find daylilies at the Big Box hardware stores last week. The guys in charge of the nursery departments insisted that you can only plant them in the spring. I showed them online that in Arizona you can plant them just as well in the autumn. They both said the internet was wrong, wrong, wrong.

Stupid pseudo plant guys.

I found one common daylily at Walmart. Gonna order some fun ones online. Planted the daylily in a pot on the porch today. Even the green-ness of the foliage makes me very happy.  I lost all of my plants last year when my ankle was smooshed and I couldn't care for them.

I think I will do a planter out front with a crepe myrtle in the center and daylilies all around. Perennials are the way to go!

Take care, and hug a daylily!

Cathy B

Dryer repair day

Okay, so we fixed the dryer. Didn't need the meter. Really didn't need the tutorial.

It was a clogged dryer vent. Sigh.

Well, at least hubby has a volt meter and I have a lovely, functioning dryer.  I can't believe we didn't check that first. I went almost a month without it.

Anyway, I appreciate having soft towels and undies and sheets. I re-washed a bunch of stuff that wasn't as softy-squishy as I like. Yay!

Take care!

Cathy B

Water, water everywhere...

Yesterday was Plumbing Day for us. The toilet in the master bath wouldn't stop running, so hubby replaced the tank innards. We have a system. I go get the stuff, he works with the wrenches and pipes.

We also had to replace the hose bib and water shutoffs in the back yard. That was more of a project. Same system. I go get the stuff, he works with the wrenches and stuff. Well, I handed him stuff as he needed it for this project.

The water bill should go down a LOT now!

It feels good to get things done around the house. Stay tuned for the next project: fixing the clothes dryer. I found a diagnostic tutorial, and got a new multi-meter. Hope it is something easy. I've been drying clothes by hanging them for the last 2 weeks. I don't like line-dried towels or undies. Too much info? hee hee!

Take care!

Cathy B

The long, hot summer of the soul......

The post title doesn't really mean anything, but it sounds good, doesn't it? hee hee!

Today was supposed to be really fruitful, getting lots done. Yeah, right!

The day started with me at wally world, picking up just a few items. Debit card didn't work. Called the company and they said they couldn't even talk to me. The account was in my husband's name, and I evidently did not exist.

Drove home. Hubby had to come in from the workshop. He spent the entire morning trying to get it all worked out. Now I exist, and went back into town to buy the few items and pay bills.

Came home in an un-airconditioned car. In southern Arizona.  Hot!!! Maybe that's where the post title comes in?

Gripe, gripe, gripe. My hubby is so loving he did MY work in the shop, as well as his own. Told me to watch home improvement shows on Amazon Prime and relax.

Gotta love him!!

I am knitting washcloths and kickin' back. Tomorrow will be my really fruitful day.

Cathy B

I'm Baaaack!

It really is ridiculous how life can get in the way of living.

Since November I sprained my right ankle and broke my left ankle in 2 places. (All at the same time.) The doctor says it will never heal properly.  Oh, well. I have fibro, so I know pain already.

Was eating canned peaches in February, and broke both of my front teeth. Lots of pain meds, and 2 crowns. Blehh!

In March I got an abcess. Thursday night it was the size of a grape, Monday morning it was the size of a grapefruit. Hubby made me go to the doctor, and I ended up in isolation in the hospital for a week. Almost died. The surgery incision still hasn't completely healed.

I'm waiting to see what part of me falls off next! LOL!

I haven't been able to sew much at all. Knitting tons of dishcloths, though!

To keep things in perspective, an artist friend of ours just got home from the hospital yesterday. He had one of his eyes removed. I am going to be listing items on Etsy that I made last summer (some even before). His insurance paid for the surgery and the 'prepwork', but won't pay for a prosthetic eye. Friends are trying to come up with money to help him, and anything I sell on Etsy will go 100% toward helping him.

Like I said, it keeps things in perspective.

Take care!

Cathy

Saturday and Sunday

Well, I got work done on UFOs on both Saturday and Sunday.  I worked on some crumb blocks from pieces in my crumb bin.  And (yay!) I worked on my dining room curtains.  They are golden-cream faux silk, and they really do look like silk!  I bought the panels on sale at wallyworld, $7 each for floor-length panels.  I had planned on sewing 3 rows of assorted neutral buttons on the leading (inner) edge of each panel.  On Saturday I basted guide lines, and then was set to sew on the buttons.

At that point I decided that I would use only hole buttons, no shank buttons.  Sooooo......I spent more than an hour sorting buttons.  I had a gallon ziploc bag plus a quart plastic container full of neutral buttons.  All sorted now, and I have 1.5 of the lines of buttons sewn on.  I glue-basted each button in place with a washable glue stick (25 cents at wallyworld).  It goes on purple and dries clear.  I used the width of my thumb as the spacing guide.  As all the buttons are different widths, it gives a randomness to the placements.

I am SO loving this look.  Hubby has the camera with him, but I will post a pic when I can.

Happy UFO-ing!

Cathy B

UFOs in September

Hi all!  My goal for September is to work on UFOs, and only UFOs.  I have so many things half done, from potholders to curtains to quilts.  Some only need binding!

I will post progress every day, even if it is just a little bit.

Anyone want to join me?


Cathy B

Family visit

My mom and my daughter and her hubby (my sweet boy!) came to visit for a few days last week.  It was soooo good to see them.  Who would think that California and Arizona were so far apart!

We spent most of the time eating and sleeping.  And watching corny sci fi movies.  I have quite a collection!

The kids slept here, and my mom slept at my sister's house.  It was good for her to have some alone time with Mama, and I needed alone time with my kids.

Mama always looks for quilty things to take home with her.  I didn't have any that were not already slated for someone else.  Then, surprise!! I remembered that I had a bin of potholders and a bin of dishcloths.  She took about a dozen of each, and shared some with my sister and sister-in-law that live in California.  Yay!!  She just loves the dishcloths.  I kept forgetting to send her more.  She also made new kitchen curtains out of fabric from my sister's stash (the sis that lives in Arizona).  They go really well with the potholders she claimed.

I am hoping we get to visit them in October.  Will see.  It works out well because hubby's mom lives 15 minutes from my parents.  Wish my son could have come out, but we will see him in October.

Family is wonderful.

Cathy B

You know how life gets to be a bit much?

As I've talked about before, I am my sister's primary caregiver (she has ms).  It has been much more time intensive since February, when she lost her sight and the use of her legs (her sight is about 50% back.)  I really don't need a whole lot more stress.

Well, Friday we took my hubby in to the emergency room with chest pains.  He has had 3 stent procedures in the last 7 years, and we knew he needed another.  His tests always come back fine, and they want to send him home.  When we finally convince them to let him stay and have the procedure, they schedule him for a nuclear stress test.  Nooooo!!! His cardiologists have all said that it would kill him.  I sit myself down and stand guard over him until the cardiologist comes in in the morning.  Soooo tiring.

His regular cardiologist is on vacation for 3 weeks, so I got to explain the whole thing to the doctor filling in for him.  It was a new hospital, new doctor, and we were both exhausted.

Thankfully, the new doctor was wonderful.  He actually listened to us, cancelled the stress test, and did the procedure (reaming out three of the existing stents.  No new stents this time!).  It is amazing what they can do with medicine these days.  Hubby is feeling much better.  It is hard to keep him resting for 3 days!  Hopefully he will be back to work tomorrow, on a light scale.  Self-employment and no insurance is hard!

I am so grateful that he got this taken care of.  I love that old poop!

Take care!

Cathy B
(was up until 3 AM working on crumb blocks.  Fibro hurt too much to sleep.)

Dentists

I have a great dentist, but I hate going to the dentist.  It's a shame, because I have brittle teeth.  A genetic thing.  I brush and floss, and they still crack.

Yesterday I got to go in for the third crown on one of my molars.  I went to an oral surgeon and he said that the one on there was the wrong size for the tooth! It was put on by the dentist I had in Minnesota.  I had it on there for almost 5 years!  No wonder I got a couple of infections there every year.  The new crown fits really well, and hopefully that is that.  I could have gotten a new car with what I've spent on my mouth in the past decade.

On a happier note, the air conditioner in the house works, the strawberries at Safeway have been wonderful, and the skies in Arizona are spectacular!

The picture below is called Aqua Sky, and was a challenge wallhanging that I made..  I like it!

Take care!

Cathy B
(queen of the exclamation point!!!!!)

What a week!

I have been soooo busy this week. We got a glut of orders, in addition to playing catchup from Mikey being sick.  I got the orders out for the people who were whining the most, and should be caught up with my stuff by Wednesday.  For those of you who don't know, our business is Puppets and Props (puppetsandprops.com), and we make ventriloquist figures. I am taking today to clean and do laundry.  Don't like running out of towels and underwear. 

The picture above is a Lone Star made by a quilt student of mine in the early 80's.  It was only her 2nd quilt!

Take care!

Cathy B

Blessings!

There are several really good things that have happened in the past few weeks.  For those of you who have followed my blog for a while, you remember that I am the primary caregiver for my sister who has MS.  WELL, 2 weeks ago she got a wheelchair ramp!  I am in love!  She can roll herself down from her mobile home to the edge of the patio, where I can help her get to the car.  It used to be that she had to 'bump' herself down the stairs while I carried the wheelchair down to the bottom.  Whew!  MUCH better now.

Also, we found a 6-wheel power chair at a yard sale for her.  The battery works, but it only goes around in circles to the right!  It is rather hilarious!  We are going to the independent living counselor at the end of the week to see about getting it repaired.  Her insurance won't do anything.  At all.  They said that even if her regular wheelchair breaks, they won't do anything.  So much for her Medicare.  Anyway, the independent living counselor will be able to help, we hope.  If not, her doctor (he is great!), will have the foreman of his ranch come out and fix it.  He is evidently a mechanical wizard.

The photo above is called Brown Cobblestones.  It is a wedding gift I made for some young friends years ago.  I put it here because the post looked boring without a photo.  (giggle!)

Take care!

Cathy B

A Party!!

Today we are having a going away party for 3 families that we know.  I threw a wake last month, and am evidently now the go-to person for gatherings!  A friend asked me to help put it together for her.  She is the money person, I am the organizing and invitation person.

I am hoping it all goes well.  So many of our friends have yucky viruses this week.  If not many are able to come, more cupcakes for me!!!  hee hee

Well, off to pack the cupcake stuff.  I am making them in the kitchen of the community center.  Why heat up my kitchen in 98 degree weather.

Cathy B

Back to Reality

Well, my lovely mother-in-law flew home today.  She has been here since Thursday, and I wish she could stay longer!  Love that woman!

Since she was here on vacation, I got to take a vacation.  Back to work tomorrow.  Sigh.

Cathy B

Annette's Purple Quilt

Today I am posting a pic of the quilt commission from our friend Anthony to his wife Annette for their anniversary. As you can tell, she is a purple person!

This is one of the Nickel quilts from Pat Speth. I can't remember the name right now.....

Anyway, I really like this quilt. I had it quilted with a large meander.

Annette cried when she got it! Happy tears!

Take care!

Cathy B

Pics!

Oh rah! Hubby found where he filed my quilty photos! Today I am showing the quilt that I helped my dear quilt student (I use her as a substitute daughter, as mine lives too far away!) make for her inlaws anniversary.

This is her first quilt, and I am bursting with pride!

Isn't it a lovely String X quilt? The fabric is mostly cowboy themed, as that is what her inlaws love. The backing is a denim-printed cotton. She is making this quilt in green and pink for her daughter's room, then we move on to a more difficult string quilt (pics will be posted!).

Take care, all! I should really be putting piles of fabric and yarn away. My lovely MIL is coming in tomorrow for a few days! We haven't seen her for more than a year!

Cathy B

The months have flown!!

I can't believe I haven't blogged since November! Between being sicker than I have been in 20 years, taking care of my disabled sister, and taking care of my sick hubby, I haven't had time to breath!

I have been spending at least 2 days a week taking care of sis (she has MS and has lost most of her sight and the use of her legs since February), and at least 2 days a week helping hubby with our business. Whew!

I have been feeling very put out that I haven't had any me time. What a sissy! Most women I know have to work 40 hours a week, plus housework and taking care of kids and husbands. I have been spoiled, and need to get real. My life is changing, and I have to adapt.

I want to have me time, but it will not be as much as I had before. Such is life.

I will post pics when hubby tells me where he filed them.

Take care!

Cathy B

What a good hubby!

When we got up, the first thing hubby asked was where the motion sensor light was. We have had it for more than 2 years, and it was supposed to go up at our old house. He put it up this morning at our new house!! Another thing to cross off the honey-do list.

And that's not all!

I tweaked my back, and my dear hubby weed wacked the front yard for me.

And he gave me half of his Hershey bar!

Love that man!

Cathy B

Yardwork

You know, when we lived in northern Minnesota I only had yard work for 3 months of the year. Here in SE Arizona, there is yard work of some sort 12 months of the year.

Good thing I like yard work. It is exercise that changes frequently, and I feel in touch with my roots. (In touch with my roots! I crack me up!)

In 2.5 week we are hosting a luncheon for a bunch of friends and a visiting minister and his family. The inside of the house is pretty good, except for putting up new curtains in the livingroom. (Waiting on hubby to help me put up the rods.) The front yard, however, looks like a very successful weed farm. At least my neighbors are mostly in the same situation.

During and after the monsoon season, the weeds went crazy and I had major fibromyalgia pain. Not a good combo! The weeds are winning! At least they have mostly stopped growing, as the weather is a little cooler.

Today I started spending 15 minutes a day weeding and trimming bushes. That should get a lot done. On the day before the luncheon hubby will go wacky with the weed wacker and rake everything up for me. Yay!

In the midst of this, our son sent back the Lone Star king size quilt he has had for about 10 years. He 'borrowed' off of my bed when he moved out on his own. The front is perfect, but the backing is torn and 'rotted'. I thought it was good fabric, but I guess not. I was going to just put a new backing on it and quilt over the old quilting (wreaths of leaves and roses), but the backing is all wonky, too. Much as I don't want to, I think I may take out all the quilting and treat it as a new quilt top, sandwiching and having it quilted. (I can't quilt big quilts anymore, my shoulders won't take it.)

Sigh. It has been loved for many years. It deserves to be lovely again.

Cathy B