It's Been Awhile...to say the least!

It's been over a year since I last posted.  I kind of fell off the bandwagon and decided to take a break.
Seemed like many of the bloggers I followed were no longer blogging and it didn't seem like I had much to share.

My life took a turn with the passing of my husband in the fall of 2017.  While hiking the end of July, he took a fall and ended up with a traumatic brain injury.  He spent the next three months in a rehab
center and then in a memory care center.  Mentally and physically, he never really improved.  So, in many ways, it was a blessing that he passed.  He would not have been happy living as he was.  But, we know he is in a better place now.

In 2018, I decided it was time to do some updating in my home.  So for four months, things were pretty much torn up.  I redid the master bedroom, living room and another bedroom which I turned into a office.  Replaced hall and office carpet with wood floors.  Added bookcases to the sides of the fireplace in the living room and painted the brick fireplace.  What a difference it made and how I LOVE all I did.  Had hoped to do one more bedroom this year and start on the kitchen, but all of
that came to a halt in March.

I broke my ankle, tibia and fibula, and spent three weeks in a rehab center after surgery and a short stay in the hospital.  I have been on a non-weight bearing status for 9 weeks.  Thank heavens for wheel chairs.  This past Thursday I was able to start walking with a walker and oh, the freedom!
I will do this for a couple of more weeks and then meet with the surgeon and see what the next steps will be.  I have had a boot for a couple of weeks now.  Nice to get rid of the cast.   With all of this and the workout at the rehab center, I recently had a flareup of my arm and now have a occupational therapist coming to work on the lymphedema.  Am really looking forward to getting back to "normal".  Whatever that is.

But, through all this I truly feel blessed to have had amazing doctors, therapists, neighbors and friends.  My family has taken on so much and been there every step of the way.  I am so grateful for their sacrifices and time to help me through this challenge.

I'm looking forward to getting back to projects that have been put on hold and getting outside once again. 

A Finish...and Happy Flowers

Was able to finish the little table topper for my daughter
and gave it to her when we went to lunch today.  I think
she was very happy with it, especially as it was in the
colors she loves.  It was a fun project and now I'm
thinking I may make me one in blues and yellows.  I
like the small size, about 10-11 inches finished.  Forgot
the exact measurement.

Outside my window Spring is showing its face as my
little crocus' are blooming.  When I see them, it gives
me hope that winter is coming to an end.  This has
been a long, cold winter with more snow than we've
had in several years.  We need the water, but I am
not sorry to see winter coming to an end.  Even though
we may have a few more snow storms, I know that
the snow will not stick for long.

Now I just need to convince myself to begin cleaning
out the dead leaves from winter before the rest of
the spring flowers start blooming.  Looks like I have
buds coming on my daffodils.  Just looking at these
sweet little flowers brings me joy and much
happiness.

New Project

Found this sweet little Grandmother's Flower Garden
project at my favorite quilt shop and thought it would
make a nice gift for my daughter's birthday.  But, I
don't think it will get done by Monday.  Too many
interruptions.  Still have to applique it to the back-
ground and then do the embroidery around it, back it
and bind it.  Can't decide whether to give it to her
late or wait until Mother's Day as I do have a few
other little items for her.

Guess I'll just see how far I get.  Think the hardest
part is done---making all the little half-inch hexies
and sewing them together.  

Just Hangin Out

Today I got to spend a few hours with my grandsons
who were not feeling well.  I love it when we can be
together.
When they felt good, we played games and when
they started feeling lousy, we watched movies.  But,
for a short time, Kohler wanted to stitch a little
something...and it was a cupcake.  We found the
perfect clip art picture and printed it off.  He traced
it on the fabric, picked out his floss colors and
had it completed in a short time.  Instead of a cherry
on top of the cupcake, he chose to make it into a
blueberry.

He did a great job and I'm so proud of him.
He mentioned to me that we are a lot alike...
We can stitch and we love sports!  How
special is that!

365 Days of Photos

I'm a little late, but thought I would take up  the
challenge of keeping a photo journal--a photo a
day for the year of 2017.

Because of all our snow, I have not been able to
hang my bird feeder in its normal place.  So, I
found a old camping fry pan and have filled it
with seed.  My little birds didn't take long to find
it, but are very bashful when it comes to the
camera.  But, at least I captured a couple.

I am hoping to post them on my old blog:
http://funthingsbynola.blogspot.com/

"Little Hats"

Finally got the border on my "little hats" wall hanging.  I have
been working on this forever, it seems.  Several years ago,
Vicki shared these sweet little hat patterns.  I knew
immediately that I would do these sometime in honor of my
Mother who was known as "The Hat Lady."  Mother had a
hat for every occasion and when she traveled always came
home with a new hat.

Mother has now been gone11 years and it is time I finished
the stitcheries and assembled them.  The binding will be made
from the fabrics surrounding the stitcheries.  Not sure how
long it will take me to quilt this as I want to do it by hand.

Once it is completed it will hang on my wall along with a
poem I've written about Mother and her hats as well as a
picture of Mother in one of her hats.

Thanks Karen for you great suggestions!

Patriotic Wreath

I'm finding it hard to believe that summer is here
and it will be the 4th of July in a week or so.
Time is just racing by and I don't like to think
that soon fall and winter will be here.  I want
summer to last "forever".

My friend came down from Logan yesterday
and after doing some fabric shopping, we
made us each, plus one for my daughter, a
patriotic wreath using up some of my old
fabrics.  It is a take off on the popular bandana
wreaths that you see everywhere. We just "tweaked"
ours a little and I love the fluffy look.  So glad
we cut the strips of fabric after tying them and also
"pinking" them.

I think they turned out so cute.  Much bigger than I
thought it would be, so it is on my fireplace and looks
perfect.  All we have to do now is go find a cute
little patriotic sign to attach to the blue section.
Maybe we'll end up with stars, but I would prefer a
sign.  Just have to see what's out there.