Archive of Marcia's Musings May 19-25, 2003Sunday, May 25, 2003
How Fun Is That?
I spent the day being relatively productive and unproductive at the same time-- that is what long weekends are for, right? When we got up, we made breakfast and headed out-- first, to Wal-Mart because there were several CDs that I wanted to purchase. One, to show my support for the right to free speech, I wanted to buy the Dixie Chicks' "Home". I may or may not agree with their statements but I do agree that they have the right to state them. That's one of the first premises that this country was built upon so I do believe it to be an important one. Anyway, I also picked up some Faith Hill and Tim McGraw-- yes, I do like country. It has to be a very unique sound to country but I do like some of it. I also got Sheryl Crow's latest (although its quite old by now) so there is a variety of music on our shelves.
After that, as threatened we went to Old Bowie but we were only able to get into one antique store before my knee went south. Yes, I got a shooting pain in it and that was all she wrote-- so we went through that one store and, I did find the only antique I'll ever want to own: A Hall Tree. But, I did not buy it and probably won't until we have a house-- it'll either be there or it won't be there and, I'll survive either way.
I came home and did some sewing after a snacky lunch. I decided I didn't like the way that the "doilies" were going on the tablecloth so I began embroidering them with my machine instead. I like that touch much better and I think it'll turn out nicer on the tablecloth, too.
Yes, by the way, I did call my sister in Brazil. She's doing well, thanks-- says "Hi" to all, too.
At any rate, its getting late and I've missed the window of opportunity to updating the quilting page again-- sorry. I'll get to it earlier in the week next week, I'm sure.
Take care of yourselves and thanks for stopping by-- have a great evening and a safe holiday tomorrow!
Saturday, May 24, 2003Lazy Weekend!!
This is just the way I like it: a late sleep in, a little quilt shop-hopping and a nap followed by a wonderful steak dinner. Wow-- what a life, eh? Obviously, we've done nothing productive and have had fun doing it today, too. Tomorrow seems like it'll be a little more productive: we've been threatening to go to "Historic Bowie" so maybe we'll make a trip over there.
Of course, if I posted any earlier, I could have time to put up the pictures of Pat's quilt but, since I'm not doing a very good job of it these days, you're going to have to wait another couple of days. Bear with me-- it'll get posted soon enough.
In the interim, hope you're as relaxed as we are! Take care and have a good evening and/or night!
Friday, May 23, 2003I forgot!!
I forgot to mention that I was off from work today, didn't I? Well, with Brian being off, I figured out that it would be a good time to be off from work, too. As it turns out, I ended up making a trip up to Annapolis and to the Amish Market there so, we now have our very own: "Carb Counter" which has nothing to do with the Atkins diet, unfortunately. We're stacked to the gills with breakfast breads and fun things for the weekend-- it is after all a holiday!
Pat's Quilt
Pat's quilt has been nicely delivered, opened and well-received. She really likes it a lot and, if I get a moment when I'm more conscious, I'll post the pictures and the story of the making of the quilt . . . probably later this weekend.
I know this is short but, I am after all, on vacation so you can fill in the gaps with naps and movies, okay? Thanks!!
Thanks for stopping by and have a great evening!
Thursday, May 22, 2003Knee Update
So far, it appears that the cause of the swelling in my knee has to do with the arthritis that is trying to develop there. I've been told not to take stairs any more than I have to take them, keep my knee straight (not bent), etc. The physical therapist's idea of strengthening the inner calf muscle is also right on along with the loosening of the thigh tendon. Oh, joy-- this should be tons of fun!
I've gotta get a five pound weight for my ankle so that I can strengthen my muscles-- a lot. Oh, yeah, I'm just excited as heck!
Did I Mention?
One of the negotiators quit at the office so we're all trying to cover her region-- lots of fun. Yes, we're a bit busier-- DAH!!! We're all running around trying to work around vacation schedules and the like. It should definitely be a fun few weeks, don'tcha think.
Well, I've gotta do some work for my sister's site so, if you'll pardon me, I'm going to sign off and get back with you later. If I don't, have a good evening!!
Wednesday, May 21, 2003Surprise!!
No, I didn't expect to see me tonight either but, between the rain and my knee, I didn't feel like going to a quilting class and sitting for two hours. Oy!! Okay, so the rain has come back and I was remiss in informing you that we had two (count them-- *2*) days of sunshine and pleasant temperatures. Of course, now that there were two days of sunshine and pleasant weather, we're heading for 7 days of rain. Oh, well, at least we got to put the ark building tools away for awhile. Yeesh!!
Speaking of Surprises
This morning I received an email from one of the dancers that Brian has photographed over the years at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Roberta Wong (on the left in this photo) was in the Green Show for all of the years that Brian and I have attended and apparently, a lot more years. She's getting set up for retirement and wants some pictures from our website-- I wrote back to see about how to get a CD to her but I thought it was neat that she wrote.
As Mentioned Above
I had a rough day at physical therapy today. The worst part is that its just going to get worse-- the doctor isn't going to lack my reverse progress from my last visit with him. The swelling is there and not feeling good and, of course, there's the bursitis acting up again. What's a patient to do? My therapist is talking about some sort of deep tissue massage that is likely to bruise me its so harsh because of some tendons that are too tight causing over-compensation in other tendons. Not good, eh? Well, I'm going to keep working on it and see how it goes. I'll give you an update tomorrow night as to what the doctor says.
For tonight, that's it-- I've got to pick up my mess from sewing last night. I have the quilt top of the tablecloth for Brian and me finished but I'm going to work on some of the stencils tonight. I'm going to be doing some unique quilting with this one!!
Have a great evening and night!
Tuesday, May 20, 2003Nothing New To Report
And, in this case, that's a good thing I suspect. My knee is not better-- it is still quite swollen and my back isn't better. I was telling my sister tonight: it hurts only when I go to stand up-- it doesn't hurt when I walk, stand or just plain sit or lay down but, when I go to stand up . . . Oy!!
Next Best Thing
The next best thing to medicine for me is, of course, sewing so I've been sewing since I got home from work. I've just about got the top for the tablecloth for Brian and me finished. I don't think that there's going to be a lot of quilting to it but I may offer it as a class on my website. It is a basic quilt block pattern and a good one to learn from for a beginner. You may want to watch the business site for that class, if you're in the Bowie area.
Speaking of quilts, Pat's quilt is on its way!! It is scheduled for a Thursday delivery (since I won't be home tomorrow night, that made sense to me) so I'll hope for a phone call then or maybe by the weekend. The girls at the office had to admire it first, but then I put it in the box and on its way to her. When she has received it, I'll post the pictures of it along with some of the "How To" process.
For tonight, I think that's it-- tomorrow night, after physical therapy, I am going to swoop myself into a quilting class so I may not be around here to post. I'll try to get to it if I can-- if I don't, thanks, as always for stopping by and have a great evening!
Monday, May 19, 2003Lots of Pain
Because of the swelling in my knee, I had a lot of pain in my knee before, during and after physical therapy today. I've got an appointment set up for Thursday to see the orthopedic doctor. Again, its not that there's any pain involved-- its just swollen. The swelling feels weird but it doesn't hurt which is always a big factor for me-- I'm really lousy at dealing with pain.
Anyway, Wednesday I'll have another physical therapy appointment and go see the doctor on Thursday. Hopefully, he'll be able to tell me why I'm having so much swelling on that knee. Hopefully . . .
As promised . . .
As I mentioned in last night's post, I'm going to put up the new pictures of my sewing room/office. You know, last year when we first moved into this house, it was an office/sewing room but, alas, I must admit to doing very little writing work lately. Sewing seems to have taken up that space in the creative side of my brain.
Bookcase-- I can find things now!! Sewing and embroidery reference on top shelf with writing reference below.
TV with drawer storage underneath and thread spools on the wall. Cutting mat for quilting in the foreground-- hopefully, enough space on the table for me to lay-out fabrics and patterns for clothes.
Fabric stash boxes (for quilting) are still under the sewing table. The extension table for quilting is standing on end on the plastic storage box for cone threads.
Sewing machine in front, serger with the wooden storage box/pedal stool that Brian made for me on the floor.
Very end of the room (actually at the entrance to the room) where the ironing board is now standing.Unrestricted . . . Sort Of
Sally's wanting to come and go on the stairs as she pleases or, at least, that's what we surmised when she figured out how to unlatch the gate at the bottom of the stairs and followed Brian up earlier this afternoon!!! She's so sneaky!!! Apparently, she developed opposable thumbs quite easily and figured out how to unlock the gate or perhaps she did it with her nose-- we're not sure. At any rate, unless we're completely not home, i.e., can't be with her to go down the stairs with her, she's going to be able to come and go as she pleases. She is more stable on her feet and has been going up and down the stairs more sure-footedly of late so hopefully her healing progress will continue.
I do still have to keep reminding myself, as depressing as it may sound, that she is not going to be here forever. It is hard to imagine that as she does The Happy Dance after I get home from work because she seems so young then. But she is soooo cute and we'll just enjoy her while we've got her here with us and look at that side of the coin for a long while, okay? Okay!!
Okay, I've tired myself out-- Enjoy yourselves and have a great evening!
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