A donation creation

A wonderful friend of ours, Don, is very ill.  He has esophageal cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiation at the Cleveland Clinic.  He's a firefighter in our fair city and his firefighter brothers are sponsoring a dinner, reverse raffle and silent auction in May.  I wanted to create something and donate it for the silent auction or door prize.


I went through my stash and I love these two fabrics.  Pictured is a dish drying mat, two pot holders/hot pads, two mini pot holders/hot pads and two linen dish towels.

This is not a "big" item to donate, but something I enjoyed making for this purpose.  As I made this, I was constantly thinking and praying for Don, his wife and his entire family.

We pray for Don often and if you are so inclined, a prayer for Don Beckett would truly be appreciated.  Don is the author of his personal journey.  If you would like to read his story, you can click on this link:
Don Beckett Medical Update.


God bless.

Day trip

This is me and my sweetie, Rick.  We decided to go away for a little day trip and went to The Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh yesterday.

Rick was the lucky one.  (He got to spend the day with me!!! )  Actually, his luck involved in winning a little money!  Not GOBS of money, but a little to make going to the casino lots of fun!

After we left the casino, we went to our older daughter's house.  She lives just a little south of Pittsburgh.  When we got to her house, our grand dog, Guinness, was the first to greet us.  Isn't he one handsome pup?

This is Vivian and she was in the arms of her nanny, Cindy (pictured just below) Viv.  Vivian was being a bit of a pistol and scowled at us and teased!  She's the fourth of four children and she's quite a trip!  

Now this silly-faced girl is our Evie.  She's 7 years old and the first of our grandchildren!  She's full of silliness and sweetness, not sure which is more prominent.  She was very glad to see us.  Our visit was unannounced, so we surprised everyone there. 

The twins, Anna and Nathan.  They absolutely adore each other and they are so fun!  They were outside playing when we arrived and they were like little ice cubes when they came inside.  Anna likes loves animals.  I've never seen one so little be so enthralled with them.  Nathan, well he LOVES numbers.  He also likes "hoops", bowling, puzzles and to RUN.


This is Kelly, our daughter/the Mama.  She's a pretty amazing woman.  We are very proud of her.  Here, she's wrestling Viv, trying to quickly rediaper her (Viv likes to go without) bottom!

I love this picture.  It's Papa and four of his grand babies.

I'm dragon...maybe I mean dragging

It's unbelievable how tired I am. This morning a huge burst of energy came upon me and I scrubbed my kitchen floor. I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but it was a huge job and I think I'm still recuperating from the pneumonia and all the things that attacked my lungs a couple of weeks ago.

Anyway, I got the floor scrubbed and my kitchen put back together. Then I hit the shower, threw in a load of laundry and drove to my favorite hamburger joint (Swenson's) and got the hubby and me a burger for lunch. THAT'S when the energy burst left me.

After lunch, I needed a few things from the store, so off I went. I had some outdated bread and thought the geese (near the store) might like it. I bought the things I needed, then stopped by the pond to see the geese. They were happy to have a little treat, they honked me kindly and then I drove away.

I bought a pattern for a hand project I thought I'd like to do for the grandchildren. Animals made from yo yo's. I made some templates and read over the instructions and then I was COMPLETELY out of energy. I really wanted to cut out the circles this afternoon, but that's just not going to happen right now!

Rick is now home. I put a pan of stuffed peppers in the oven (thank you to my daughter, Jennifer...she made them for us). I'll throw in a couple of baked potatoes a bit later and we'll have a yummy dinner with VERY little effort.

Lookie what I found!

Flowers... in MY yard! My first of this spring!

I went out to run some errands this morning and when I came home I found my first crocus!! Ooooh, it's a sunny day and then you add flowers...my goodness what a beautiful day.





Then, there's this picture of my baby, Gracie. She's really glad to be able to go out and walk with me!






Here's another picture...still crocus, just a different variety. Have a wonderful spring day!

Sunday activities

I went for a little walk with the dog today. It's a little chilly and a bit gloomy today, but it was good for Gracie and me to get out for a bit.

After that, I did a little sewing. A friend wants a couple of mattress pads covered for her soon-to-arrive grandchild. They are big Steelers fans, so of course, these are being quilted with Steeler's flannel! So fun! I got them cut out and quilted. I have to make binding, but I don't really want to do it in flannel, so I'm going to go to the fabric store (maybe tomorrow) and pick up a solid black to make it.

Because I was sick and taking steroids, my sugar level is messed up and I have to take a medication to get it all straightened out. The medication warnings say it can make you feel all weird--sweating, chills, etc. I'm supposed to check my sugar level if this happens, but guess what?! I have no glucose meter! So, I'm just kinda stuck with feeling wacky now and then. Oh well...

Time to put my feet up, watch a little television and then decide about dinner.

Better is good!

This morning I awoke to sunshine coming through my window. What a beautiful sight!

I am feeling better, a bit stronger each day and I am so very happy about that. I was having a lot of trouble with being so sick, but I can now see better days ahead.

I did some stitching this week and it felt good. I have a couple more projects (for others) that need to be done, then I'm going to get myself really into making a couple of baby quilts for my youngest granddaughters. I'm not sure of the design(s) yet, but I know I'll have a great time doing them.

I defrosted some ground beef a couple of days ago and now I need to do a little cooking today (meals for the freezer). Think I'll make a Mexican Casserole and some meatballs. I love having ready-to-cook meals in the freezer. Makes me feel SO domestic!!

Rick is still feeling yucky. His cold hasn't let up yet, still a lot of coughing and sinus pressure. (I gotta doctor this boy and get him feeling better.)

Whining

Ok.

I want spring.

I'm getting impatient and I want it NOW!

I see crocus sprouting in my yard, but there are no flowers as yet. It's gloomy today. It's been a long winter.

Yep, I'm whining, I'm stomping my foot and I'm getting downright ugly about this weather!

Ok. Enough. I'm going to go upstairs to my studio and do a little stitching. That should help my attitude!

Hope your day is good, the sun is shining, the birds are singing and so is your soul.

Doctor appointments day

It's a beautiful sunny day today and I have been SO ready for sunshine I could bark at the moon. Rick had a check up at his ophthalmologist this morning. It was a good check up and he goes back in 6 months. All tests look good, nothing
to worry about. His eyes were dilated, so this beautiful sun is a bit difficult for his eyes, but he likes the blue skies, too.

This afternoon I went to see the doctor. It's been one week since I was released from the hospital. One of my questions...WHAT did I have. Turns out, I did have a strain of the flu, bacterial pneumonia with a reactionary asthma element. WOW!

I'm doing well, still going to finish taking my remaining medications...metformin (due to steroids, my blood sugar is not quite what it should be), advair and mucinex. I go back to the doc in 6 weeks for another check up.

Tomorrow I go to my gyn...such fun at our house now!! Have to laugh, all these appointments come in clumps!

February 2011

I came down with some sort of vile bug. I went to the hospital on Thursday, February 24th. I was running a fever, difficulty breathing and was dehydrated. I had been to the doctor on Tuesday, got some medicine, but it didn't do the trick.

Rick took me to Dr. Uhall late Thursday afternoon and he said...hospital. I didn't complain a bit, I knew it was the right thing. When we got to Akron General Medical Center, I was put into an isolation room. It was thought I had the flu, despite having tested negative at the doctor's office and again at the hospital.

Caregivers came garbed in masks and gowns. Medication was given, changed, added and continued.

Yesterday, February 28, I got to come home. I'm still sick, have a list of medicines to take every day and instructions to be mobile but rest.

It's good to be home. I got to sleep in my own bed. I am traipsing around on my own floors and get to pet my doggy and kitty. Today I even went outside and threw some bread out for the squirrels and birds. The sun is out, but it's cold, and the cold hurts my lungs. (I just remind myself, little steps, little steps.)