Birthdays and Knees

Today is Brayden's birthday party!  He turned 7 on Wednesday but it's hard to get families from far and near together on anything but a weekend so today's the day!  I'm sure he'll get lots of cool stuff and money too.  Beth requested money for short trips and activities which is cool with me and truthfully what I do for them every year-a new hard cover book and a check-they like it.

At the Doctor's on Friday I found out that I had a torn miniscus (who knows how that's really spelled), a cyst, and that it generally looks very beat up in there behind my left kneecap!  I'm scheduled for arthroscopic surgery Wednesday morning bright and early.  I'll be laid up for a little while and then "activity as tolerated"  which I assume to mean much time sitting with ice on an elevated leg with short bursts of activity.  Lots of time for hand work!  Lots of time for reading!  Not too much housework.  So other than the initial pain I think this could be okay.  The right knee will get shot up with cortisone while I'm under as it has nothing seriously wrong, just good old arthur!  It's not promised that it will fix it all but it's hopeful, kind of depends on me.  In a couple of weeks I should be all better.

Anyway, I'm busy preparing for this event by getting everything together.  Stitching, food, movies to watch, books and magazines, pillows, blankets, etc.  I don't want to have to go down the basement  stairs for several days!  I'll be on crutches for a couple of days and a full flight of stairs seems like a challenge I really don't want to undertake!

Another little finish and the weekly cross-stich update!

Over the weekend I made this!

A little cushion for the piano bench, so my legs don't stick in the summer when I wear shorts.  It was on the list though so I get to mark it off!  It really doesn't take much to make me happy.

Now for cross stitch.  First, last time- two weeks ago.

And tonight.  I really doesn't look like I made much progress but I think I ripped out as much as I stitched on that raccoon!

He is finished and the buck begun.  Outside of a few stitches here and there when the buck is done I'll be ready for backstitching.  Really getting tired of this one, I think I say that on every stocking!

I have an incomplete report on my knees:  I have a torn meniscus in my left knee, which means orthroscopic surgery, probably soon.  The right one has only arthritis so it will get a shot of cortisone.  I'm in to see the Doc on Friday and I should know more then.  I'll be glad to have all this behind me.

What I'm Reading-Tuesday

So Judy over at Patchwork Times has a Tuesday link up on what you're reading, so I thought I'd play along.

I nearly always have at least two books going.  I love to read but it can get me in trouble!

I just finished this

A wonderful ending to the Wheel of Time series-I've read all 14 books, most more than once.  My sons and I like to discuss these books and have waited impatiently for each new book to be released. We'll have to find another set of books, this is the last one and Mr Jordan crossed over several years ago, :((.  We can still read Brandon Sanderson's books though and Rob and I like them.  Really great storytellers if you like fantasy.

I'm about half way through this one as well.

This one is a lovely tale about a storyteller, the oral kind, and a boy (who grows up).  The boy is fascinated by the storyteller and tries to find him.  The best part though are the stories the man tells!  Wonderful stories about the history of Ireland!  I am in love with all things Irish!  I have a set of photographs I took in Ireland hanging on my kitchen wall and I look at them several times a day.  

I started another one today, but I can't remember the full title and it's in then other room!  I am insatiably curious and my reading reflects that!  Can't wait for the next J D Robb due out later this month, I've already pre-ordered it!

Another small thing checked off!

The problem:  Quinn eating the cat food.  First I put it on the bench, then Quinn figured out how to get to it.  Then I put it on the table.  I do not like cats on the table!!! I did not like the cat food on the table.  Solution:  repaint one of the school desks white and put it in the corner of the kitchen.  Like This:

We bought four school desks back when the children were in grade school for $1 each (I think) and they have been used for SO many things.  This is just the latest.  I have two that need new tops and that will happen when the weather warms for good.

Anyway, one problem solved.

Crazy weather and simple projects

Last week was the crazy weather week!  On Monday we had a record setting high of 74F, on Tuesday it rained-all day.  We desperately need the rain so no complaints there.  On Wednesday it snowed, not a lot but the grass was white.  On Thursday the low was 5F with wind chills even lower.  It has gradually warmed up again but what a ride!

I've been working for the past week or so on some small projects not related to stitching.  I took the sides of the crib and put them to use.  You remember I used the ends to make a headboard for my bed:

So the sides have been reworked as well, the Before:

Then I cut off those pieces that were sticking up:

After a little sanding I took them into the laundry room and spray painted them.  It takes 4 different sprays to get all the sides painted for every coat, they have three coats of paint on them!  Used 7 cans of spray paint!!!

The shorter of the two, with the help of some LARGE command hooks is hanging on the back of my sewing room door

Holding the freshly pressed strips for an Irish chain quilt.  If I can figure it out-strip piecing is new to me.  Hanging them here emptied a project box!  When I want to sew I can lift the rack and all down then pick it up and put it away when I'm finished.  That sewing room is so small I have to use every available space.

The longer piece has been given a hanger via zip ties!

It will hang in the front closet and hold my table cloths.  As soon as the closet is cleaned!  I had planned to hang it in the sewing room and use it for quilt tops awaiting quilting but it's too wide so table cloths it is!  That will empty out another plastic tote!

I have done lots of sewing too but nothing to show.  I forgot the cross-stitch update last week but I'll be back with that on Wednesday!

The purge and organizing bug!

I've been bitten by a bug!  That's the only explanation for what is going on around here!

I've purged, ordered and inventoried all the freezers and the big frig upstairs.  It was crazy.  I'm sad to say I threw out a significant amount of food as it had been in there so long as to be unrecognizable (and would be yucky to eat.)  I doubt I've ever done the freezers before, or not for at least three years!  Now I can see what's there and I plan to eat all the meat type stuff before I buy more.  I'm also adopting a plan to keep an inventory, including the date I put it in there, so that this doesn't happen again.  I want a serious stockpile but I don't want it to go bad!  Do have to inventory the cabinets next.

I've made pretty good progress on the suffering for 15 minutes with the books.  I've finished the three shelf bookcase in the kitchen (cookbooks) and have only two shelves left on living room bookcase #1 (of 2 seven shelfers.)  I am pleased with the progress.  If I can continue this pace I'll finish next month!  Still have to buy a BIG hard drive for the photos-may be a while before that can even begin.  I can apply the 15 minutes to cleaning up my garage-oh joy.  It does work, even these little 15 minute increments.  Just being able to say I can quit in 15 minutes makes it easier.

Also I've been hand-quilting every day for an hour and I am happyish with that progress.  I do hope I get faster and better as I practice.

It was 70F today-yep in January-which won't last but Quinn and I have enjoyed the past two days of walking with my having to bundle up against the cold.  This afternoon I walked in a short sleeved shirt and no jacket.  It is to cool off again now but it was a nice break!

Happy Australia Day!

To my blogging friends down under!

Happy Australia Day!

Stay cool and away from the bush fires!