The future depends on what we do in the present.

-Mahatma Gandhi

Goals met...making more goals trying to work my way back to my normal busy...crazy. I have to show you what happened in my kitchen today. Well first I have to admit that it is MY kitchen. No the DH does not cook, nor does he grocery shop. He has been soooo very wonderful during knee replacement and has done it all!!! I'll have to tell you about the grilled cheese sandwich he was trying to make me....at a later date. Today is paper towels. I guess we need paper towels so he picked some up at the store. I neglected to give him instructions. This is what happens when he takes matters into his own hands. We don't use a lot of paper towels but here is what he chose for my wonderful kitchen.. PALM TREES. I am a plain white kinda girl. These paper towel are very disturbing to me. What is next? Race cars? Lovely florals? I don't know and I'm very scared. This is proof positive that I am getting better and ready to take over MY KITCHEN. I hope I'm not offending half of the paper towel blog reading public here....but I just like my plain paper towels. (Maybe sometime I'll blog about how I feel about plastic, then you will really be worried about me)

I told you all that I have been hand quilting for the past week...I'm loving it so much but dang! my fingers are so sore! Here is a picture of my Whig Rose wall hanging. It is a Kim Diehl pattern from her book "Simple Blessings." I should finish it in a day or so. I can't wait to bind it and hang it soon. I'm doin the happy dance! (well sort of a dance)

Happy Quilting,
P

There is no remedy for love but to love more.
-Henry David Thoreau

I got an A+ from the doctor yesterday. He thinks I am recovering well. Mobility good, range of motion good. Pain expected at this level and keep taking the meds as needed. He said I certain COULD drive but it isn't a good idea to drive while on medication...WELL HE'S NO FUN!!!

So, next week I concentrate on working in the studio UPSTAIRS. I'm getting my life back! I designed 6 new quilts during my recovery time so they are going into production. I want at least three new quilts for Spring Market which is fast approaching. I love the new stuff and will have to keep it a secret but will share ASAP.

I mentioned that I had been to the Bulloch Hall quilt show on Tuesday. I'm posting a few pictures of some of the quilts and quilters at the show. The first quilt is a Lori Smith design that just knocks me out. I think I must have everyone of her patterns. Have I made any of them? Well we just don't need to go there now do we? The next quilt was the Sweet Home Quilt Co.'s choice for favorite quilt. Good job Melissa I agree with your most excellent selection. I LOVE red and green quilts. YUM - O. This guild really puts on a very nice show every March. I look forward to going each year. One of my patterns was made up and in the show! They had a category for purses/totes and my Stringin' Along tote was hanging ... what a kick that is for any designer!

See those wonderful quilters sitting at the frame quilting. Well ! they are working on next years raffle quilt which I AM GOING TO WIN... I can't wait. I wanted to sit down and quilt the day away with them so badly but alas my group was moving on to J. Christophers for a fabulous lunch out. YUM YUM. I was so tired (and in a little bit of pain) I slept for an hour when I got home. I had a to go out with my teacher friends (remember I am a career first grade teacher in my other life). We get together once a month or so...I love them so much. So I had a very busy day.

I have been revisiting my hand quilting life the last few days. Now there is something I can do while resting. I used to hand quilt all the time but not so much in the past few years. I had forgotten how much I love it. I can picture myself hand quilting again on a regular basis! I will post a picture tomorrow of my Whig Rose wall hanging. I should finish it in the next day or so..

It's POURING down rain today..Good for Atlanta's drought situation I hope. So, I'm off to get some of the new designs ready to be quilted. I hope everyone is doing some quilting today.

Pat

I have come to understand that everyday is something to cherish.

-Kerri Strung

While being soooo impatient with myself and the time it takes to recover from knee replacement surgery I need to remind my self of the above quote. And I will. I just want my crazy life back! Oh and this morning I was watching the Today show and there was a DOCTOR on the show talking about knee pain and then join replacement. She said about knee replacement.. "It is painfull for a couple of days post surgery". A COUPLE OF DAYS... I hope I never see this chick on the street because I will be arrested for assult FOR SURE.. @#$%^&*( $%^&%^&* This is week 6 and I'm still real fond of my prescription bottle. $R%^&*I(%^&*( couple of days my foot....................

Last Friday and Saturday was our monthly Silver Thimble Club meeting...It was so wonderful to be back with the "Thimbles". I showed the three new quilt kits for next quarter (April, May, June) and they were so well received by the group. There was something for everyone this quarter. I'm so pleased when they like my choices of patterns and fabrics etc. Big thanks to Mary Ellen @ Little Quilts for getting "Glory Bound" which is our June quilt and to Melissa @ Sweet Home Quilt Co. for getting :"Dancing Stars" and "Batik Strippy Stars ( April and May kits) all prepared for us to order. If any of my blog friends wish to order any of these quilt kits contact either store (see links above) and tell them what you would like. Be sure to mention that they are the Silver Thimble kits. I am including pictures in this blog of the quilts.

Ok so here is the next frontier....the steps up to my studio. I need to be up there working/designing/sewing. It has been kind of pointless to spend much time up there because I really still can't sit for very long at a machine (or this computer). But things are looking up. Goal for next week is to spend 3 or 4 hours each day upstairs working... pretty good huh?

Yesterday my sewing buds went to the Bulloch Hall Quilt show. I really enjoyed the outing and took a few pictures of the quilts. I promise to post tomorrow. (I'm not sure if I post too many pictures in one blog ... you know...am I going to blow up my blogger. Can anyone tell me if there is a maximum the blog can handle??? kinda like emails.

Will post tomorrow.

Do what you you can,with what you have,where you are.

- Theodore Roosevelt

What a busy last few days. I began my week of "goals" with a couple of days of things FALLING down. The first thing was me. Now...the last thing my doctor said to me was "Don't fall down" . I did it! Alone in the house talking to my youngest daughter down I went. Couldn't get the phone to dial out so I had to pull myself up onto the sofa. Suzanne and Cathy came by minutes after I managed to get up. I was shook up. Then in comes Andy, Mary Beth had called him. He called home and I assured him I was ok (sure I was ok I tipped the pain meds bottle right away!) When he got home he went into the laundry room only the find my step ladder set up and the cabinets open.. BUSTED.... earlier that day I got the ladder out so I could fetch my cute little easter decorations. OK I have learned me lesson..I'll be good from now on.

So I decided to set up a jig saw puzzle. Kathy and Jean had given me one for my birthday it is the "Mother Earth and her Children". This puzzle was kicking my butt. I put it on a large TV tray, got the frame together (took me hours) and was on my way, got out of the chair and knocked the darn thing all over the place. Remember I said things are falling around here. I reset the thing on the dinning room table and began again. Finished it this am...

I have worked a tiny bit on my flying geese. Between the puzzle and and sewing I struggle to sit comfortably in a chair. The knee just does not want to sit in a bent position for more than an hour and a half or so.

I had a little outing at the new quilt shop with Becky yesterday. It was good to get out and be in a quilt shop. The shop looks great and everyone is very happy to see this shop open. I'm so happy for Mita. I don't think she has a web site yet but I will post a link as soon as she gets one.

I finished reading "The Good Earth" and I am moving on to our next book "Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton. This was chosen by Sue one of the members of our book club.

Things are getting better I'm 5 weeks post surgery today. I'm so looking forward to Silver Thimble Club this weekend. I hope I'm physically able to keep up with all the "Thimbles" they are a busy group!!!!! I'm so excited to be showing the 3 quilts for next quarter. They are all wonderful choices. I'm hoping my Thimbles will be " well pleased."

Everything changes but change itself - John F. Kennedy

It is time for groceries. First let me say that Andy DOES NOT do cooking or shopping. He is wonderful in every way but I have definitely spoiled him in this regard. So we decided to make a little trip together. We went to Wall Mart which I hate on a good day but the choice seemed to be good for all the things we needed. I used one of the motorized baskets and he pushed the big cart. We managed to make it out of the store alive and came home with a new respect for the difficulties of shopping under these conditions. All in all it went well and was good to have another little outing. I took a two hour nap when we got home. So I think it is fair to say I have a ways to go before I'm up to full Silver Thimble speed!

These photos are of my constant post surgery companions. Osma Bin doggie (Sophie), sleeping and picking up her head periodically to check on me. My frozen peas, meds (thank goodness) and my cane with my book light attached for those middle of the night trips to the bathroom. All in all things are moving along very well. I think my progress is excellent. I would like to get off some of the meds but that is going a little slower for my liking... The stuff makes me goofy, I feel like I have a delayed reaction to everything.

Today I am going to set Licorice (my featherweight) up downstairs and do some sewing on a UFO quilt I have been slowly and I mean SLOWLY working on for some time. The dang thing has 480 flying geese units which I have paper pieced and then I have to square them up. I'm starting to put the blocks together. I'll take some pictures and show you on my next blog. I'm also going to work on some proto type blocks as soon as I can get some fabric downstairs from my upstairs sewing room. hummmm.

Well time for excercises and stupid meds.

I'll be sewing this afternoon...yipeee!

Does't thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of. _Benjamin Franklin

I think the hardest part of recovering from surgery is the feeling that I am wasting time. I keep thinking of all the things I COULD BE ACCOMPLISHING...I should be thinking that this a little vacation. So where is the beach? and little drinks with umbrellas? Oh well I'm on the mend and I have decided to set some goals.

By the end of next week I would like to be able to sit at my sewing machine for at least 1 hour. (sitting in any chair with the knee bent for any length of time is difficult). I have designed 4 new quilts and I'm itching to make some prototype blocks.

Each day this week I will try to read at least one hour. Meds have prevented me from reading for any length of time and I am a reader..I miss the relaxation reading brings. We will see if I can concentrate on a good book. My book club has chosen a classic this month (we do this from time to time and I love it!) This month we are reading "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck. The last time I read this book I was in High School (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth). I loved the book then so I'm hoping I will enjoy it a second time. So here I go....off to China again.

I CANNOT BELIEVE THE WEATHER. Was it just 6 days ago that I went to a wedding in a BLIZZARD??? Well, it feels like Spring is in the air. In fact I have the door open to my screened porch just to let some fresh air inside. It's a tiny bit cool but it feels great to me. Maybe I will add a daily tiny walk outside to my goals for the week...THAT WORKS...sewing to mend my soul that is missing my quilting life, reading for my mind, and walking for my recovery...that's good huh?

I better go now I'm getting WAAYYYY to deep in stuff here.

The ultimate of life is to enjoy it

- Samuel Butler

I knew the day would come and they would arrive. I tried to resist but failed. They are here. Boxes are piled up in the kitchen sitting there so sweetly, calling me. I'm the one who invited them in...I'm the one that is responsible.... I'm the one that believes they are made to bring happiness and comfort to the world.

I'm recovering from surgery and I'm quite sure they bring medicinal healing to my knee. Heck the peanut butter ones have protein and will make me strong.

What can be bad about that? How can ANYONE "Just say NO?" It simply is not easy. We all have to do our part right?

DANG....
Pat

The Three Best Doctors are faith, time and patience.
-From a fortune cookie

Well it seems everyone from at least the Mississippi River to the Atlantic ocean got some snow. We Atlantans are enjoying the 5" we got here in the burbs. My friend and fellow Thimble Sue took this picture..."YET ANOTHER USE FOR A 6" RULER". We quilters are certainly resourceful wouldn't you say?
So, yesterday I decided that my first real venture out of the house would be eventful to say the least. We were invited to a dear friend whose daughter was getting married and coincidentally the wedding and reception was downtown at the Biltmore, the same place where my daughters wedding reception was held. Also, my daughter was their wedding coordinator (a part time fun job for her). SO.... here I go hopped up on PERCOCET...cane in hand....IN A DANG BLIZZARD. We had a huge group of friends who organized and rented STREACH HUMMER so we would not have to drive in the SNOW. The thing drives up and I'm thinking how the heck am I going to get up in that thing. Well the other 16 people got in and me "the bionic knee" (did I mention the PERCOCET) I get in last. Ok so I'm in.. I felt like we were going to PROM with my peeps. We get to the Biltmore and they parked me in a chair with my leg proped up so I pretty much looked like a potted plant sitting in my chair (oh yes remember the PERCOCET). I did some table sitting and chair dancing, held court and let everyone bring me food and stuff. I was in pain for the most part and this little event was not the smartest thing I've ever done but I was so glad to be there to see Abby get married and hug Rosalyn's neck and support the family of the bride. Andy got to dance with his daughter which is always so sweet for me to watch. I took another PERCOCET and we drove home with Emily, while the rest of the group had the return trip in the HUMMER. I think I'll stay home and not venture out until I get better control of the pain and can defog my brain cells. Typical for me to make my first trip out of the house a DOOZIE!

Sew something for me today,
P