Martha's Sewing Project

You would think that my sister-in-law, whose name begins with M, should stand for Martha.

See it here; Hobo Bag that "Martha" is going to be making. I chose the fabric for her & it will be going out in the mail tomorrow. I can't wait to see the finished bag.

I hope she decides to put the paisley on the outside.

She asked me at Thanksgiving to Marthaize her two daughter's, little did I know that my work is paying off with her. She even offered to make me a Tootsie Roll rabbit for Easter. I bet the real Martha never thought of doing that for a friend with a low fat diet.

The above is a picture of my next project. I will be making cushions for our Adirondack chairs on the deck. I have been looking for cushions for several years & never found any that I liked. The fabric is "Sunbrella" and the cushions are made for marine or boat use. The piping will be black, that is the part that makes in nervous, all that sewing of 22 yards of cord. Wish me luck.

I'll post deck pictures, with finished product. Good thing there is still four feet of snow on the deck, gives me more time.

PTI

For you non-sports fans; Pardon the Interruption.

Big news!

Go look at my side bar, Favorite Blogs.
There is a new addition.

The Birds

Yesterday, when I was driving home from work, I saw a Robin on the side of the road, my first of the season. When I looked closer there were about 15 other Robin’s. As I proceeded, there were two other spots containing over 10 Robins each.

Hopefully, this really means spring weather is coming.
Later during the 6 o’clock news, I looked out the window and saw a pack of crows, I think, flying around & around.

What this all means, I don’t know?? Maybe it’s an omen that I need to start moving a little faster.

My favorite bird of the day, in my own kitchen.

Everyone have a great weekend, fly high & keep your tail up! Yeah, lame I know, I have to keep with the bird theme.

Food Issues

This is what my life has turned into, more prescriptions in the last week than in the last 25 years.

I am starting to feel like the worst is behind me. I am adjusting to my diet, the meal planning, grocery shopping and meal preparation. It takes a good deal of time but I am now becoming acclimated.

A typical meal after I arrived home from the hospital.

I now have grilled chicken, grilled fish or roast pork; I was just to hungry without meat.

Had my surgeon appointment, he will now work on setting a date for the gall bladder removal. I’ll let everyone know that BIG date once I know. I am trying to work on getting a picture of my gall bladder, after removal. I have a sister-in-law (my husbands sister who lives the closest to us) who is very interested. Are any other of my readers???? My Mom insists on coming and staying a few days to take care of me. I really don’t think it is necessary but I understand her concern and it will be so nice to have to visit.

Today, when I went to pick up another prescription, what else, I purchased the below. One bag for each of the four days after my surgery. If I have any teeth left from all the cavities I’ll have from the jelly beans, hard candy, marshmallows, gum drops and Tootsie Rolls I’ve been eating to satisfy my sweet tooth, actually sweet teeth.

Recieved another call from Paris. Tomorrow it's on to London via train. Saw the Mona Lisa and the Eiffel Tower at night. She now thinks everyone needs to see the tower. It's a spectacular site at night.

How dare they?

I received this email from Gertrude Hawk yesterday.

They are having a sale and they want me to buy some chocolate.

If they only knew.

Maybe next time.

I received a call from Paris yesterday.

"The city is just beautiful & very clean. All the food, so far, has been delicious. I was NOT impressed with the Eiffel Tower. You know it's just a bunch of metal."

Permission to SHOP

The jugs on top of the pine cupboard replaced the pine tree and snowman that I had on top for the winter season. Prior to that I had leaves and a wire basket for the fall.
The jugs are the first thing I used on top that I really like. The jugs were previously displayed on the shelves in the living room with crocks. When I mentioned all this to Mick he said go out and buy more to put in the living room. I had him repeat and say after me; “You can go out and buy more jugs or crocks.”

I did stop at one antique shop on my way home from work. One jug and it was $65. No thank you. I don't think I spent $65 on all the above jugs added together.

Yesterday

Mick was in LP at the NCAA DIII Ice Hockey National Championship Tournament, Bone was coloring eggs & having dinner with Kristen’s family & LA girl is in Paris; I spent the day ironing. I’ll save you the time, 19 shirts, one was mine. It wasn’t that bad. Actually, the thought of doing was worse than the job itself. I’m hoping the long sleeves will be replaced with short sleeves before I have to do this project again. For some reason, the short sleeve shirts do not require ironing.
I had an Easter ham dinner, like no other, Bean with Ham Soup and for dessert, flavored marshmallows. The bread sticks were nasty, I couldn’t eat them.

Easter Sunday

May everyone have a blessed Easter day.

It's not the typical Easter at our house. We still have about 7" of snow on the ground and 4 foot snow banks on the sides of the roads. Plus, no chocolate bunny for me. If anyone can find chocolate that has 4% or less total fat send it to me. I'll pay you back, plus shipping & handling.

There has been so much talk about how early Easter is this year. The next time Easter will be on March 23, will be in 2228. The earliest possible date Easter can be is April 22. That won't happen until 2285. Good, I like Easter in April. Another Easter fact, my daughter celebrated two Easter's and she still was not one year old. I always tell her that it is just another thing that makes her special.

Now, go out enjoy your day and eat a BIG piece of chocolate for me.

Back from the D.....E.....A.....D

On Saturday, March 15, 1:15am I awoke with bad stomach pains, they would not go away. Finally at 6am I decided I had to go to the Emergency Room. Mick was down sleeping on the couch (I drove him out with my moaning & groaning.) He was quite surprised when I told him I had to go. I went in my pj’s and was hoping I wouldn’t feel foolish showing up in pj’s for the stomach flu. A CT scan showed I had gall bladder issues. I was admitted & put on IV antibiotics, see below. My diagnosis ended up being Acute Calculus Cholecystitis

I had an ultrasound on Sunday morning, I couldn’t eat or drink until after the test. The no eating part didn’t bother me but I was SO thirsty. The scan showed a stone of 3mm and the lining on one side of my gall bladder was infected and 7mm thick, normally it should be 1mm. I now realize that the stomach ache I had on and off for most of March was not the flu. I was finally discharged 7pm on Tuesday, the blood work done every morning kept coming back that I had an infection. I basically slept on and off my entire stay, I didn’t feel like watching TV or reading.
The highlight of my stay was hearing the food cart come down the hall three times a day. Mick was beginning to think I was using the stay as a mini vacation, I don’t think so. I was happy to just lie in bed and look out my window.

I go to the surgeon on Wednesday to get the date to have my gall bladder removed. In the mean time, I can’t eat anything that has more than 4% total fat. I am going to do a post on that issue.

The first time I was ever admitted to a hospital was for the birth of Eric, this admission was EXACTLY 25 years to the day.

BiG nEwS

Finally, someone from my birth family has started a blog.

YoO HOo

Welcome to Lilpoppy.

Everyone needs to stop by and say "Hello" to her.

Another First at Fifty

It seems like yesterday, it was a summer afternoon, Eric was attending summer school, finishing up his last class to get his degree, when I called him on his cell and told him; “I just spent over $30 to fill my gas tank.” Now at 50 years old, I am telling everyone who reads my Blog. It was a winter afternoon; “I just spent over $50 to fill my gas tank.” OMG I don’t drive a Suburban either, a cute metallic green Mazda Six station wagon. The best car I have ever owned. I wish I had a picture of when I filled my car for the first time in October 1974.

I hate to do this but, I have BIG news for my post tomorrow afternoon.

March

March did not come in like a lamb here so I can only hope that it will go out like one. This month I have a son, a brother, three brother-in-laws, four nephews and wait, what, a girl, one sister-in-law who have birthday’s this month. How did Amy, the 31st, end up in March? I guess her MoM just didn’t want a child born on April Fool’s Day. Kristen also celebrates her birthday on the 11th.
March is National Crafting month. Bet you didn’t know that? So in honor of that occasion, I am going to go up to my craft room and craft. Most of you probably didn’t even know I had a craft room? I would take a picture of that room but the room is a big huge mess. Crafting is a messy endeavor. Below is a recent craft project, a St. Patrick’s Day wreath for our front door. We still honor our Polish heritage with the orange door. I have to justify an orange door that was supposed to be orange just for the fall and then red for the winter somehow.

The reason for my February question was because I have a photo wall that I can’t find the right photographs to fill the frames. Mick built the shelves and this wall has looked like this since October, I hate to admit. I call the pictures my family during a blizzard. I know the vote was 9 to 4 against all black & white but I am still leaning towards all black & white. I can’t decide if I just want the four of us with only current photos or include baby pictures. Do I include our parents and grandparents? I need HELP.

Well, I am off to craft.