Two More Weeks

Ok, so I don't get to go without my ear bandage for another
two weeks, but I do get to drop down to a large band aid
that I will trim to fit my ear.  It feels so much more
comfortable and like my ear can breathe! lol  Dr. said things
are coming along nicely.  Guess I really don't want to rush
things and end up with a scar or not have the skin graphs take.
Just hope my daughter can put up with me having to be my
nurse for two more weeks or longer.

Went on line and found a few places that still have "Ruby"
and was able to order the acqua w/white dots to use for my
sashing for "Full House".  The piece I found from Vintage
Modern just didn't work....a little too much green in the blue,
if you know what I mean, so I'm hoping this will work out.
Really didn't want more red and no green.  Just hope it won't
be too light and that it will work with the binding and backing.
Hope I haven't made a poor choice, but it is hard to find
anyone that still has "Ruby".  

Have the houses all sewn together and if all works out, my
fabric will be here Tuesday and I can finish the top by the
end of the week and then take it to be quilted.

This came in the mail today:

Think I am going to do it in Moda's Vintage Modern
and since I have a gift certificate to the fabric
store, I'm going to get sashing, backing, and
binding now while the line is available.

"Full House"

Today seemed like a good day to pull out another small
project that I started before all this ear problem came
about.  The pattern is "Full House" by Schnibbles and
I'm using "Ruby" by Moda.  I love the bright, cheery
fabrics.

I was able to complete the houses and hopefully
tomorrow I can sew the house rows  together.  I
thought I purchased sashing fabric, but it wasn't in the
plastic box....just the backing and binding fabrics.
So, I may have to wait to finish it until  I can
find something to use to connect the rows.

Hello again, my friends!

Since it has been some time since I posted, thought I'd
share a few things that I've been focusing on.

Met with my dermatologist the end of May and  had a
biopsy done on my ear.  It turned out to be Basal Cell
Carcinoma. Morph surgery was schedule for June 18.  It
was done in four stages and was a rather complicated
surgery.  Gratefully they were able to get all the cancer.
The skin graft has taken well and my ear seems to be
healing well.  I have been grateful to my son and
daughter for changing the bandage daily.  It will be 5
weeks this Thursday and I'm hoping the Dr. will say
"no more bandages." when he checks it again.  I have
been going in weekly to have him check it.

This has been hard for me for some reason and I don't
know why.  It is nothing like I went through with
breast cancer.  But, I'm getting through it and I
tell myself to be grateful I still have my ear and that the
cancer had not gone into the cartilage or I could have lost
my whole ear.

I have also been working on my personal history.
Have been sorting through files and some boxes trying
to find things on my business, "fun things".

   















I think I have found copies of all the catalogs we did.
When I compare the first one to this, one of the last,
I'm surprised we got the orders and requests for
catalogs that we did.   Even found a couple we were featured
in when we were rep'd in Japan.

As I begin to compile things, I wonder how we ever
did all we did having a young family.  Most everyone who
worked for me also had small children.  Yet, somehow we
did it and survived! 

Finally finished all the stitcheries for the "Miss
Birdie" quilt and now have the top all sewn...and it's
only been a year.  lol
















Made this simple mini banner and it was so fun think
I may do some more for gifts.










Enjoyed our local 4th of July festivities with the
family.

Kohler, Hailey and Ian at the parade with their bags
hoping to clean up on candy!

Celebrated life with the help of my adorable
grandchildren.

Well, that's probably enough for now.  Next time I'll
try and share a few upcoming projects.  And who
knows, maybe I can get back to blogging more
frequently.

Nola

Animals Living in Harmony!

Today as my family was driving up home to visit
the graves we came upon this unusual site.  How
often do you see a buffalo, zebra, donkey and two
small goats grazing together in harmony in the
same enclosed pasture?

It was really fun to see and the kids got so
excited to be up close to the animals and  to have
their pictures taken with them.

And, of course, we had to stop at the cheese factory
for an ice cream to eat on the way home.

A good time was had by all even though the day
later turned cold, windy and rainy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday to my sweet granddaughter!

This evening we gathered together to celebrate
her ninth birthday with a barbeque and of course,
her favorite: chocolate cake and ice cream.

Isn't this just the coolest bike from her father?  I love
all the fun, bright colors.  She can't help but be happy
and have fun when she's riding this with her friends.

It's a tradition!  The famous $1.00 bill in a birthday
card started by my mother many years ago.  We
have chosen to carry it on and to never change the
amount.  Funny how we all look forward to getting
that $1.00 bill. I'm the one doing it now and
hopefully when I'm no longer here, my children will
decide to carry it on in their families.

Hailey and her father just before we cut her
cake.  The awesome twosome!


















Happy Birthday, Hailey!

Two-tailed Swallowtail

It isn't often that I get a chance to take a picture of a
beautiful butterfly at close range.  But, it happened to me
this morning as my friend and I were taking out her
garbage cans.  We just happened to glance down at the
grass and there, all neatly folded up, was this butterfly.
Even with its wings pressed together we knew it was
going to be beautiful.

I thought about running back into her house and
grabbing my camera, but I was afraid by the time I
got back it would be gone.  So down the road we went
setting out the garbage cans.  To our surprise and to
the delight of her cat, it was still there when we came
back.  It was slowly opening its wings and the
markings were beautiful.

Jo Ann held off her curious cat while I ran and grabbed
my camera.  I'm not sure if the butterfly was injured
or if it was too cool and damp for it to fly and was just
waiting for the suns rays to warm it up, but it hadn't
moved and seemed to be having difficulty opening
its wings fully.  I was able to take several closeups.

Here its wings are barely beginning to separate:

Although it fluttered its wings briefly, they would
close back up.  We weren't sure what to do and
wondered if it would be alright.  Because of the cat's
interest in it, we locked her in the garage and then
went in the house hoping it would be ok.

A few minutes later we looked out the window and
to our dismay the sprinklers were coming on.  So
we grabbed a piece of newspaper and sprinted out
side and carefully coaxed the butterfly on to the paper
then moved it to a little flowering bush at the
edge of the sidewalk away from the sprinklers.

When we looked later, we couldn't see it.  Hopefully, it
was able to take flight.

In the early afternoon, as I left to come home and was
driving down the country dirt road I was delighted to see
the same butterfly or its relative fly up from the grasses
along the road side and flutter by in front on me.
I couldn't help but wonder if it was "our" butterfly.

Arriving back home, I did a little research and
found out it is a "Two Tailed Swallowtail " and
ranges in size between 3.5 and 5 inches.
Scientific name:  (Palilio Multicaudatus). It is found
in the foothills (where Jo Ann lives), valleys,
woodlands and gardens.

What a treat it was for us to observe this beautiful
butterfly up close and personal and see its intricate markings
and beautiful colors.

On My Soapbox Again

Forgive me if I get on my soapbox once again and push
about the importance of having a yearly mammogram,
I was reminded again of how important they are and how
fast things can change as I spoke with a close friend
today.

But, let me digress a little back to March of this year.
I went in for my mammogram and received a call back
concerning a mass.  I was not too concerned as I had
spoken with my oncologist about it earlier and he
indicated it was a cyst, but we would watch it.  So,
back in I went, only to be told that it was NOT a cyst,
it was a solid mass and that I would need an ultrasound
guided biopsy.

Each time I tried to talk to them about a cyst, I was
told very emphatically that it was NOT a cyst.  So
in I went and 7 tissue samples were taken.  Went to
set up my follow-up appointment and the gal there
said, "At least you've had five good years!"  Can
you imagine what went through my mind?  In the
next few days I about had myself dead and buried.

The day after the biopsy I got a call and almost
didn't answer it when I saw who was calling because
results were not to be in for three more days.  But,
I did and was told they had good results for me.
It was consistent with ruptured epidermal cyst and
there was no cancer.

Needless to say, I was very relieved but a little
upset that the people there had insisted that it was a
solid mass and not a cyst and would not even
consider that it could be a cyst.  They should have
been a little more careful in what they said and how
they handled things, I thought.  But, I'm ok and
that's the important thing.  And, I'm glad I had my
mammogram because now we have a marker and
they can just monitor things from now own.

Anyway, back to the main reason I'm writing this.
Spoke with a dear friend this morning who had
recently found out she has breast cancer and just
had a mastectomy.  A year ago everything was
clear when she had her mammogram.  This year
they found a mass.   She wasn't too concerned
when she was called back in because she had
been called back in before and it turned out to be
nothing.  But, when they told her she had
cancer, she and her husband just sat there in
stunned silence and total shock.  As we talked, she
said if she hadn't gone in for her mammogram and
had put it off, she probably wouldn't be here next year. 
As things look now, prognosis is good. 

So, please don't put off making that appointment.
Even though my cancer did not show up with
a mammogram (Inflammatory Breast Cancer), it
is important you be checked---even if it is a cyst.
You just never know!  And don't forget  those
breast exams.  If you have any question what so
ever about a lump, rash, etc., call your doctor.

Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now!