More Adventures

Happy St. Nicholas Day. I had to add that since this is so late. May you get oranges instead of coal in your shoes.

November was so busy, I didn’t have enough time to get a second post done. Things aren’t slowing down much either but I wanted to share a little of what’s been going on.

Gift from Kate in Portland. They are stunning.

First off, I’m way behind on projects. Things seem to keep creeping in ahead of what I want to do. This week will have four medical appointments. Talk about a time waste.  My sewing room is finally a bit more organized and cleaner. It helps if you have no time to use it.

Stunning fall arrangement to cheer me

The next weekend after the quilt show, my son and I took a trip to Flagstaff with my sewing machine to learn some basics of the embroidery function. I was afraid of it. We had a commission from a friend to put a name on a baby toy.

Mission finally accomplished

The back side of the hoop

Threading the needle

The trip was made even more of an adventure by taking it in his new, used electric loaner car. Since the whole family is having vision shortcomings, he felt the need for some added assistance to stay safe. The trip to Flagstaff was a loaner until the one he purchased was brought to the area and readied. There were so many things to test out and see how well they worked that we barely had time to listen to the audible book. We even tested out how to charge up in Flagstaff. His new car is a much older version and not as many functions as the loaner but it was good practice. We had a lovely day learning the sewing machine as well. We both used a lot of brain cells that day.

So much to look at when driving

Command center, Never get lost again

Quite comfy for a low car and economical.

Just after Thanksgiving the new anthology came out and I ordered my kindle version hoping to get a chance to read other stories by other writers of these fairy tales. When first asked to write a story for this book, I told my friend, Sharyn that I was not a fairy tale kind of person and at that moment was in the throes of dealing with the breast cancer which I hope to never hear from again. Sharyn managed to cajole a story out of me anyway.

The Anthology is beautiful with short chapters that will be easily consumed. So many great writers there and then my story about a moment in time when life felt safe and hilarious. You know I’m always looking for the funny. I think my story shows that I was looking for that so many years ago and managed to find it occasionally in everyday life.

Life can be a fairy tale

I might be ready for Christmas in January or maybe even February. Life is going as fast as my son’s new car. I love the fact I don’t have to smell gasoline. My daughter bought his old car about 3 or 4 years ago and the beast I gave him a couple of years ago is a great mover of objects like a truck but not fuel efficient. It’s going to have square wheels soon.

Do you see life as an adventure or a problem-solving game?

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!” 

~Hunter S. Thompson,

From my heart to yours

Marlene Herself

Good Company

I was sitting in the almost dark after the power went out. It wasn’t weather related since it was sunny and clear, if not quite cold. Early morning temp was 22 degrees warming to 50.  Someone must have hit a power pole was my guess.

My sister called from her motel telling me she heard sirens. She and her friend were visiting and what a welcome to our city that was! They had been traveling for several days visiting friends and family and we were lucky to get on the list. It’s a three-hour drive from Phoenix where it was toasty warm.  Welcome to Arizona.

Sis in the red hat.

I haven’t seen my sister since I was last in Portland, Oregon in Oct of last year so I was delighted to have her here and let her see where I live. Shortly after arriving, she started feeling nauseated from altitude sickness. I had them both drinking lots of water upon arrival and then added pizza to the mix to give them some carbohydrates to help with the altitude sickness. Later I sent them back to the motel early to get extra rest. All requirements for adjusting to the altitude.

Shopping for a recliner but this Edith Ann chair did not go home with me.

I love company but for some unknown reason, my sister had a very hard time being at this altitude. She takes a lot of medications after her double lung transplant almost three years ago. It was also her 70^th birthday this month so I bought a cake to celebrate. My sister is one giant miracle.

Finally awake and looking good. Dec 2, 2020

I can find good company wherever I go. The weekend before, my son drove us to Payson, AZ for their local quilt show. It’s about two hours from my home and mostly a drive-by town. Not much to see here folks; much like our town. I had moderate expectations but ran into several people I knew that traveled the quilt show circuit. My son, TS (Tech Support with an artists’ eye) and I looked at everything and then looked again. Then we found a ramp up to a stage where the real treasures were hiding. As a sewist and beginner quilter, I am always impressed with what others can do with fabric. I’m sharing only a few of the photos we took of the stunning fiber art that I can only imagine doing. There was so much skill and imagination in the few pieces I’ll share here.

Small but stunning

Incredible

Yellow rocker on the porch with flowers

How on earth

Octogon pastels

Larger view

Crazy pillow

3 D fabric village

There is a cat here

This last month has been so full of this and that, I’m still catching my breath, what there is of it. There were doctors and dental appointments which offer their own challenge. Gearing up for the holidays that always seem to run together on race, left me spinning my wheels and accomplishing little. I’m looking forward to January with no special days that include food. In the meantime, happy Thanksgiving to those of you who live stateside and hopefully you will also find yourselves in good company throughout the holiday season.

Hand embroidered. Sense of humor

Lace added with lots of texture

Hand embroidered quilt

So much color it makes me happy

A sampler Christmas quilt

Do you find company enjoyable and relaxing or stressful?

My idea of good company is the company of clever, well-informed people who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company. ~ Jane Austen

From my heart to yours,

Marlene Herself

An Even Dozen

Happy Anniversary with WordPress.com!

You registered on WordPress.com 12 years ago.

Thanks for flying with us. Keep up the good blogging.

Harvest moon and friend

I never expected to be here twelve Halloweens later. Blogging was a way to reach out to the world when I could barely stand upright on my own. I was searching for anyone that had experienced a case of Bells Palsy as profound as my own. My son was kind enough to set this up for me since there was little else I could do that year or for several others after that one. I never found that person but I found something much better.

Harvest moon between the trees

Enjoying fall

Now, Halloween has more significance than ever. We didn’t do trick or treating at all until I was 12 and by then I was deemed too old. That Halloween, my littlest brother ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. So, I took my sister and the older of my brothers trick or treating in our military housing complex. When I held out the bag I carried, each person said I was too old to be getting candy but when I told them it was for my little brother in the hospital, they all gave me extra. My brother was so happy with the candy he had when he finally came home and I even snagged a little for myself. I definitely have always had a sweet tooth.

For the old folks

My door this year

We always made-up costumes for my children with what we had. You will find a photo of my one and only purchased costume below. Once, my last husband and I dressed in matching overalls to embarrass the teenagers at a Halloween party we encouraged for them in our home where we could keep an eye on them. Seemed like a good plan to me. You do not turn three teenagers loose on the world on Halloween if you can help it.

Just a T-shirt. I’m a scary quilter all the time.

I had a brain at one time. It hasn’t been working as well lately. I haven’t written a post all month because the thinking cells have been otherwise occupied. I had to look up what I’ve been doing all month that kept my mind so busy. Turns out, not only did I do a bit of cat sitting for my kids,  I wrote a story for another anthology my friend, Sharyn put together and is being published next month. She tried to convince me to write this fairy tale last summer when I was in the throes of breast cancer. I couldn’t even imagine a fairy tale. She came to visit; we talked and cobbled a story together. I wrote and rewrote. It’s at the publisher’s now after being edited. Not a simple process.

What have you done with my humans?

There is the table runner that is finally pieced and waiting for me to figure out how I will quilt it. The first attempt has already been picked out. I had to have dental work with more coming next month. LONG overdue.

Another thing for me to learn. How to quilt the project once it’s done.

Our craft group went all out with dollar store wood pieces to paint. I’m still trying to get last Easter’s done. I do have a Christmas tree all done but we jumped the gun on that so I will wait till after Thanksgiving to show you that one.

fretwork with glitter

My list gets longer as the days get shorter. Happy Halloween for the twelfth time.

From my heart to yours,

Marlene Herself

 

The Funny Side of Life

As I’ve aged and survived so much of the hard stuff already, it could be easy to be bitter and disheartened with life. I see so many grim faces day in and day out. People who have constant, chronic pain and less than needed in their bank accounts. What is there to smile about?

SEPT SKIES make me smile

As a lifelong searcher of answers to life’s questions, I found the answer to that question. When life is a pile of smelly stuff, hunt down the funny. It’s there if you look for it. I know most people find Facebook annoying and invasive but for the life of me, I can go down that rabbit hole every day and find something to make me laugh. I send things to my kids that I’ve found to give them a giggle too. They have worked so hard all summer, that finding funny became my mission. I found these to send to my son and DIL.

This one was for my son. He had a great laugh

My son and I both have this problem

My son and DIL both laughed out loud

My birthday brought several opportunities for a good belly laugh. What do you get someone my age that has all that’s necessary and no room to put more? A BELLY LAUGH! My DIL’s dad was celebrating with us and handed me a quite heavy, plain little bag. Removing the lovely tissue paper, I reached in and pulled out a zipped clear plastic bag. The shear weight of it puzzled me; and then my brain registered what it was. A bag of quarters for the laundry room. Something I can use for months to come and I laughed so hard my sides hurt. It was brilliant and hilarious at the same time. Every time I do laundry now, I think of that gift and smile all over again.

A bag of quarters for the laundry.

I get a lot of flack about my book and fabric abundance so I decided to ignore the judgmental comments and have fun with it. My daughter bit on a shirt that I found on FB and forwarded to her. She obliged me and got it for my birthday. It’s added to my growing collection of funny.

They know me. The last line says it all.

My DIL gave me this one years ago. I dyed it.

A gift from my sister a few years ago.

Well worn but a favorite

It’s so true

This made me laugh because it’s true.

A gift from my daughter. I don’t hoard though. I’m happy to share.

ABSOLUTELY.

 

How do you handle the hard days? Do you make it a point to hunt down the funny or just enjoy it as it comes?

From my heart to yours,

Marlene Herself

The Party Life

I stepped out the doors last Wednesday morning as I unlocked each of the five perimeter doors. The west doors brought in the breeze, the south door is smaller and brought in some fresh air. As I rounded the U shape to windows on the east side, I paused. The view out of those dirty windows was so breathtaking that I ran to the east door, unlocked it and blocked it open with my oxygen cart; stepping outside and took as many photos as possible before going to the last north side door and unlocking it. I was profoundly grateful to have captured the photos as by the time I walked down this last hall, the brilliance had abated. It doesn’t get better than this.

Great paint job!

What’s that dark spot?

Fading away.

Not to be missed

Great morning

The cooling is coming to offset the intense heat of our summer. The sunrise here was balanced by the most incredible Super-Blue-Moon the next morning. I didn’t see it until I headed out for my walk. It was breathtaking.

Just between the trees

West side of apartments

Super blue moon over the church

When I finished the wall hanging for my DIL’s birthday last week, my brain hurt from trying to understand the directions, much less see them. I found I could scan the little booklet into the computer and then enlarge it on my laptop. If I used the cable from the laptop to the TV, I could see the directions on the big screen.

Panel quilt

I asked an acquaintance from my old quilt guild here to see if I was understanding properly. After spending time with her, I realized I also had an outlet for much of the fabric I no longer wanted to work into completion.

It wants me to do what?

Sections cut and labeled

laptop view

Turtle Odyssey

My daughter is here for four days to celebrate my 75^th birthday. I don’t see myself as old until the creaks and squeaks remind me how far I’ve come in this life. I’m ever so grateful to get this many years. Gave myself enough to do that I have to stay so many more years to get it all done. There was a surprise party for me on Friday at the Senior Center dining room that my friend Liz orchestrated and the kitchen staff participated enthusiastically by everyone singing to me. The my son and his wife had gathering and baked my favorite impossible to do cake with their own twist on it. Thank goodness we had a car because we would not be able to waddle up the hill to my home.

My friend Liz brought this cake for me and we shared it with everyone

No pink frosting for me. Whipped cream

My Son and wife made this so I get another birthday

Slight change to recipe. Pineapple, coconut and choc chips between layers of meringe and whipped cream

Card made and laminated by Kitchen manager

There is so much more to share but it will have to wait. Next week after the celebrating is done, I will get back to bringing order into my home and life. More clearing out and creating while taking better care of this vehicle that moves me.

Do you like to celebrate big or intimately with just family?

The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate”. ~ Oprah Winfrey

From my heart to yours,

Marlene herself

The End Result

I’m still quite sore on my left side. They yanked out a lymph node that was attached to the lumps for biopsy. I think it may have been attached to my fingers because it’s the only thing that hurts all the way down my arm. Do I mind? Heck no! The biopsy showed it spotless and clear. The lumps have been completely carved out and where they inserted the needle for radiation to track to lymph node has moments of pure OWW attached. I grin and bear it because there is no cancer left in me so no further treatment needed.

Former blogger and now friend, Lois made this cross stitch for me. Stunning in every way!

I’m needing more naps as sleep is fragmented for a while but I’m doing most of what I was doing before. I did go get a very short haircut and truly enjoyed someone else scrubbing my head. It’s been tough to reach up with that arm but each day, I work at it to go a bit further. I’m one very happy person right now.

Knit Wits cross stitcher with Mary Engelbreit pattern I found for her.

I’ve been gifted with a cleaning person by a set of unfortunate circumstances. A gentleman that should no longer be living on his own, let the toilet continue to run all night and went back to bed while it  flooded the downstairs neighbor’s place to the point she had to go stay elsewhere and would not be needing her cleaner. I figured I could use the help and the cleaner wanted the work. It’s one hour a week and very helpful while my surgery sites heal. When the apartments are repaired, the neighbor gets her cleaner back and I’ll be ready to vacuum and mop again. The gentleman is in the process of transferring to assisted living. It’s a really long story. He will be safer too.

That small slit down low is where they vented fans drying out the apartment. The whole bathroom was a disaster.

Ceiling drywall had to be replaced

All new flooring will be going in including much new drywall

There are still a lot of creative endeavors going on around me. I’m about to wrap up a long-term embroidery project and have been preparing 3 more to start on along with 3 sewing projects. I’ve started one already but focus is short right now so handwork is a better for me. They keep asking me at Knit Wits if I’m still working on this same embroidery. It’s embarrassing but I’m a person with too many interests. It’s why I’m so grateful for even a part-time person to do the heavy lifting for me. I’d rather be reading, writing or crafting something pretty than hanging on to the vacuum cord with one hand and the cannula with the other. I can get myself tied in a knot with them.

Almost complete. Then comes the quilting for a wall hanging.

I’ve had this pattern for quite awhile. My friend, Arlene is to blame for all my embroidery projects. Hers still look nicer.

Arlene taught me about the sticky, water soluble material that goes through the printer for the pattern

I can hardly wait to start this one

Sticky pattern already on the fabric. Now to stitch it.

This is my favorite and I want to do it NOW!

 

I’m all over the map here and I haven’t even taken anything stronger than ibuprofen during this last adventure so please bear with me. I did feel well enough to go to our neighborhood quilt show.

Felt well enough to go to a quilt show and be inspired

I want to make this one. Love the colors.

 

Is the end result always worth the journey?

Change is the end result of all true learning.  Leo Buscaglia

From my heart to yours,

Marlene Herself

TREMENDOUS THANKS

I’m rested enough to get this out there. Yes, I’m still alive and getting better every minute. I want to thank each and every one of you who kept good thoughts and said prayers for me. The surgery went extremely well, as far as I know. At the last moment, they took a lymph node for biopsy from a separate incision. Then two cancerous lumps close together. I had the best of care all the way through with extra care and oversight by the two kids here. My DIL always asks the hard questions while she and my son make sure I’m well cared for in every way.

My favorite salad and so healthy.

I was quite surprised to find myself up and ready at 5:30 this morning to unlock the five doors to our building and let the manager know she could take it easy for a little bit longer. She has her hands full after a resident flooded his apartment and the one below. Yes, if you are renting, you need renter’s insurance.

They have a video on Netflix

What does one do when waiting isn’t fun? One finds something fun to do. Sonar, likes looking out a window that is rarely open to him since the elementary school is on that side.

Sonar looks out the rarely open window

Sonar hiding in the forbidden panty

My friend upstairs and I went to a craft sale together before we came back for Knit Wits. So glad we went early since there was no AC in that old building. Their money goes to Hospice up here and I did not win the raffle quilt. Had I, it would have hung in the hall. So I purchased a few things for gifts later this year. I did my grocery shopping at 6:00 a.m. prior to going to the sale.

Cabin Crafters

GOURD GOBBLERS the one in the wreath came home with me.

The collection table. None are mine

Nun in a wineglass candle on the top

Loved it but left it.

Angels in wineglasses

A day before while at lunch, a resident came in with a kitten the size of my first two fingers. Their dog had picked it up outside and brought it to his dad ever so gently in his mouth. It was apparently the runt of the litter and was pushed out of the way. I told her I knew someone that knew someone. I made the calls and the next thing I know, the final someone (Autumn) had all four kittens but could find no mom…yet. She would come back with a live trap and get her spayed if she could catch her. This last someone was also called when my kids found the litter dropped over a neighbor’s fence. Autumn has just been certified as “The Rescue Warriors Cat Rescue.” She is also a hospice worker and she’s who I want here when it’s time. She took in another resident’s dog when he was hospitalized for a while. She also worked for my DIL for quite awhile so they know her well. I’m making a donation to the rescue so she can keep feeding those sweet kittens.

Four tiny kittens a day old

I get a bit excited about animal rescue. There shouldn’t be a need for it but unfortunately, she has found way too many. Re-homing them is as hard as it is with finding homes for people. Makes my head hurt. Almost time for another ibuprofen.

What makes your head hurt?

From my heart to yours,

Marlene Herself

Distractions

I’m trying to keep myself from focusing on what is ahead in another week. It’s hard to swing my focus away from the upcoming surgery when doctor’s offices keep calling with questions and information they think I’ll need.

What can I do to keep myself distracted?  I did laundry and read while it was going. There are so many good books on my tablet that I relish even a few moments when I can get lost in one. On occasion, I listen to audible books or do some needlework while the laundry is going.

Two very small washers $1.00 each load

Two regulars size dryers $1.00 a load. My fan comes along in the summer.

One helpful Tablet and water.

Then a friend helped me plan a bit of a surprise for one of our favorite resident’s birthday. You know how I feel about birthdays. He was gone on his actual birthday celebrating with old friends from the trailer park he used to live in when he could still see to get around and drive a bit. He wisely positioned himself here when he realized that kind of independence was no longer possible. It’s the same reason I’m here as well as many others.

Everett at 88

At lunch with the cake for dessert, someone asked what he was going to do when he grew up. His response was “Well, he wasn’t going to get married” Most of us laughed because we fully understood.

Cake in the box before candles

I also decided to start cutting the next three projects on my list and get them ready to just sew. Two are gifts so I can’t show what they will be yet and the last one is a hall wall hanging that was like a thousand-piece puzzle. I fell in love with it a long time ago and ordered the pattern and then the fabric. Some of the fabric was no longer available so I was fishing in my stash for substitutes. My partner in birthday crime has a good eye for color and we came to an agreement about what would work with what I had, we hope.

Four more projects waiting.

It’s a puzzle

My man pajamas waiting to be hemmed

Now I’m down to seven days to distract myself. I’ll fill a great deal of it here,  catching up on blogs and writing this one. Then hopefully, a little more reading and some personal writing. Maybe even a nap or two. I’m also getting close to finishing a hand embroidery that will be made into a wall hanging.

This surgery has to go well. I have a good ten years’ worth of projects on my list. What are the odds that I get them all done?

Are distractions always a bad thing?  Do you look for things to distract you when something is looming ahead or can you just turn off the rumbling in your brain?

From my heart to yours,

Marlene Herself

 

My Kind of Books

I read novels…on occasion. I look for light, happy stories with a bit of mystery to them. Most of the time, I read or listen to non-fiction. When you’ve raised yourself, (and haven’t done a grand job of it) there is a lot of patchwork to do so I spend a lot of time filling in the missing pieces. That’s been a life’s calling for me. I’m always searching for answers. Those answers are frequently changing.

I read his books and use his meditations.

I also watch a lot of YouTube. There is so much to learn there with an endless volume of information. It seems that I love to research so many subjects because so much changing quickly. When I came down with a most debilitating case of Bells Palsy, I started this blog and researched. My brain was broken for several years from it, so I found out everything I could on neuroplasticity. I found an excellent neurologist in Portland that helped me with several forms of exercise to get my eyes tracking together again and helped me stay upright. I couldn’t find much information online at the time.

An older book on neuroplasticity

When I found out my chronic cough was IPF (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) I started researching even more when my pulmonologist suggested that epigenetics could come into play and I leave the word “terminal” out of my vocabulary. Greatest gift ever. I read more books but avoided looking at the statistics as fact. I’ve defied all the statistics anyway.

There is more to our genes than we thought

 

Now, I’m doing more reading and research on cancer. How can I help those that are going to try to help me. The need-to-know things runs very deep. One thing I know for certain is that a sense of humor is at the top of the list in every form of healing and maintaining health. So along with slogging through some tough reading, (audible helps me understand better) I find a lot of light reading helps. I look for the funny everywhere and am happiest if I can crack people up into fits of laughter. A good belly laugh is the best medicine. I’m going through another series that I didn’t think I would enjoy but it turns out to be just what the doctor ordered.

I read and laughed through all nine of this series

I’m reading the third in the series and was surprised at how fun it was to read. Perfect light stories.

The update is that I have an appointment on July 28^th at 10:30 a.m. Chemo and radiation are not an option due to IPF. I don’t want it anyway. By 3:00 p.m.’s surgery, I should be well on my way to being cancer free. Lynne McTaggart’s book “The Power of 8” is one that I found most helpful. Prayer works, with or without bias or religion. It’s intention to help another person, while at the same time helping those that are setting that intention or prayer. The research is excellent. I probably won’t be laughing for a few days but I’ll read my way into a gentle giggle until I’m back on my feet.

I have read all of these

It was a lovely, gentle read

Thank you all for the love and support you have sent my way already. You have no idea how much it means that I have more than eight cheering me on to recovery. I’m sending those intentions right back out to you as well.

She is so inspirational

Do you like to research things in your life?

From my heart to yours,

Marlene Herself

 

Longer Than ?

I just have not been able to get here. My mind wants to go a different direction than I do and we argue a lot. I want to keep going toward get things done, it wants a nap, if not an extended vacation. Every morning, I write a page outlining how I want my day to go and what I want to accomplish. When I’m done, I hear this belly laugh wafting through the air.

Happy July 4th and Labor Day

I planned to have my red, white and blue quilt done before Memorial Day. I was at it diligently. First I added a row. It looked too short. It wasn’t. Halfway through the quilting, I got a closer look at it and my machine was skipping half inch gaps in the stitching. I took them all out and started again on another machine. The 22-year-old machine is tired and may need help if it’s still possible to get parts or whatever it needs. The nearest repair place is 2 ½ hours away so I’m not sure when or if it will be repaired. Thank goodness I have a backup. It took me a whole month longer than I planned to finish it. I finally get to use my favorite word. DONE!

It’s across from the elevator so more can enjoy the colors

I’m also watching things hurrying up and slowing down. Since May 1, I’ve been trying to get appointments and answers as to what will be done about the lump I found. We are now at July 1. It seems to be taking longer than it should to come to some decision. Hopefully that will happen this first week of July. That’s only two months, but they seemed like very long months.

Summer Holiday Explosion

I decided to go to the quilt store and see if they had fabric to make a quilt for breast cancer awareness that I could hang in the hall. I walked in and found the one pictured here along with a smaller one. They were for sale. I added up the cost of the fabric to make it myself, the Minky (soft fuzzy fabric) they used on the back, the quilting and the time. I couldn’t make it for that amount. It would probably run more than twice that and take time I can spend on projects already in the pipeline. I decided to give my ego the day off with my son seconding the idea, and saved myself a couple of months of work. I’m slow and everything I do takes longer than I plan. I have no answer as to why.

Sample made by the quilt store, not me.

Quilted on a Long Arm machine

I’m not this good and I love it

I do have an answer to why my medical treatment is taking longer. We have a shortage of doctors and support staff in this area. Our singular pulmonologist left along with a handful of other physicians in the last couple of months so I understand the squeeze is on but cancer doesn’t wait for anyone or anything. My friend, Jackie over at The Last Chapter is giving me another lesson in gratitude. She was brushed off with her first symptoms that turned out to be catastrophic. I have found everyone here so far, doing all they can as fast as they can. It’s just taking longer than I’d hoped.

“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”—Joshua J. Marine

Have you had many things take longer than you expected?

From my heart to yours,

Marlene Herself