Category Archives: uncategorized

It seems that I have been doing nothing but what I call “utility” sewing for the last little while.  My dear, sweet 89 year old Aunt Aileen has lost a good bit of weight in the past two years and asked me to do some alterations for her.   Robert’s favorite Transformer pajama bottoms needed mending.  My Aunt Rheeta’s son has just been called as  pastor of a church (his first head pastor position)  so she wanted a little design with the church name and “Pastor” embroidered below it.  Bob’s yard work shorts needed mending.  And there was more like this. 

Of course, I am happy to do my part for the family.  It makes me appreciate the time I spend on more challenging, creative projects.  I appreciate my wonderful sewing room, shelves of notions and sewing equipment.   I was pleased to finish the seams of my aunt’s linen dress and its lining with my Evolve Wave serger.  My PE-Design was pressed into service as I worked up the “Pastor.”  My ever faithful Pfaff 7570 did the mending and alterations.  Continue reading →

of mice and men gang aft agley,” according to Scottish poet Robert Burns.  John Steinbeck gave us the more contemporary finish, “..often go awry.”  Whatever.  Whoever.  My best laid plans most definitely went awry. 

The best laid plan was to whip up a tote bag for my darling daughter-in-law’s birthday, today.  She seldom asks for anything but about a month ago mentioned that if anyone asked for birthday suggestions, she would really like a good size tote bag, personalized with some embroidery.  I was so excited to think I could finally do something special for my special friend, beloved daughter-in-law and respected homeschool co-teacher.

Before surgery I selected and edited all the designs, laid out the bag and was ready to go.  Certainly with 3 full days between arriving home and her birthday, I could complete this project.  And Monday or Tuesday I would photograph it to post to this  blog.

As it turned out, I felt so good, so robust, so strong when I arrived home Saturday morning that I decided to deadhead 20 of my Knockout rose bushes and weed those beds.  The other 20 roses, I thought, could wait until Sunday.  I had some restraint.  But while I was at it, I might as well start on the mountain of laundry, all 7 loads which I managed to wash, dry, fold and put away.  The house needed a little tidying up, Bob’s shirts needed ironing and my newly transplanted passion vine, ginger lily, plumbago, oak leaf hydrangea and others did need some watering.  And so I did.

Big mistake. Continue reading →

Susan, my miracle worker therapist, waving goodbye.

After 3 days in the hospital and 14 days in rehab, I am finally going home.  I can’t wait.

But it’s not so much that I’m eager to leave this place as I am simply eager to go home.  Rehab has been a very positive, educational and meaningful experience.  I’ll come away from this place with more than a good knee.

This Latin charmer waxed eloquently on the joys of American citizenship and the hardship of spending most of his life in Cuba.

I’ve met incredible working women, seen patients with more challenges and courage than I hope to ever have need of, and watched residents in the final chapters of their lives, facing the end with a wide array of grace.  They have enriched my life and given me a new appreciation for the blessings God has showered upon me.  Here are a few of their stories. Continue reading →

day #14 post op

serenity: the state of calmness or peace; the absence of trouble or disturbance

I am putting a lot of effort into thinking positive thoughts.  Though I have missed the comfort and joys of home and family—not to mention Laurel’s dance recital and today’s swim meet, but I’ll get over that, someday– I’ve just realized that since coming to rehab I have experienced  an unrecognized and heretofor unappreciated serenity. Who expects that in rehab?  And yet, it is as real as the 23 staples that hold my incision together.

Laurel lining up for her first event

My bad knee has been replaced with a good one, my therapist is making it work, the nurses monitor all aspects of my health, the CNA’s are at my beck and call, my family and friends  have smothered me with love, visits, calls, cards, flowers and prayers.   How could I not be serene?

This realization came to me today. Having just completed my third and last therapy session of the day, I  stretched out on my hospital bed to relax for a few moments.   The lavender booklet, next to the roses in the photo, caught my eye so I perused the contents.  It was sent to me by my dearly loved Aunt Rheeta, who lives in Indiana.

The presentation is very feminine, which is to be expected with the title Women and God, Moments of Grace, 25 Devotions.  It opens with some detailed advice on making a good pot of tea and a recipe for vanilla scones, then begins the devotions, each built on a “tea/ty” concept such as beauty (beau-tea), identity, heredity, modesty, creativity, productivity…you get the picture.  Continue reading →

day #12 post op

Just next door to the facility, these magnolias are all in bloom, as well as a few lingering wild pink phlox.

This was a really good day in rehab.  First thing this morning, Bob checked me out of the facility to take me to the orthopod.  It is less than two  miles to the doctor’s office, with the hospital in between the two locations.  But it is mostly rural, the street lined with magnolias and orange groves–a pretty drive. 

I wore my green therapy shirt, posted yesterday, and I was amazed at that everyone from the receptionist to the X-ray tech to the doctor himself noticed not only the shirt but the incision on the knee in the design!  It made everyone smile, including me. The doctor checked the X-rays, declared my knee  hunky dory and was out of there in a flash. 

We decided that since the appointment was so fast,  I wouldn’t be missed for some time.  So we a run for it and dashed home, a mere 8 miles.  I loved on Rastus, who was just beside himself, and Hannah, whose smug attitude made it clear to Rastus that my arrival was no big deal as she sees me alllll the time.  Continue reading →

day #10 post op

I’ve been away from home now for 10 days and am getting a little homesick. Still, I had another good day in rehab. My day began, as usual, with a visit over breakfast with my dear, dear husband, Bob.  I really miss him.

Each day he brings Hannah, our 90 lb. German Shepherd/Great Pyrenees mix.  With her 4-5″ long coat and distinctive markings, she looks  a lot like a wolf.   Continue reading →

day#8 post op

You have a lot of time to think in rehab.  Certainly, you are busy enough with all the therapy and nurse visits, etc.  But a lot of time is spent resting, trying to think about anything other than the aching  knee.  Sewing related topics, of course, are a common diversion.

Back in the closets of my mind a memory hangs, one that sometimes falls off its hook, requiring my attention.   A reader’s recent comment brought this particular recollection to the forefront of my mind.  In response to the post, Spring is Sprung, Karen said,  “I, too, used to buy smocked dresses at Dillard’s and Strasburg when they were on sale. That way my sweetie was dressed in sweet traditional things that I wasn’t concerned about her ruining. Although, I always felt that the beautiful things I made her were meant to be worn by her. There were some that were tossed or given away to Goodwill but not many. Most survived!”

That comment spurred this memory, more than 25 years old, of an anonymous child wearing one of Rebecca’s dresses.  It left me with feelings that I have been unable to accurately identify, express  or understand, even to this day.  Allow me to give you some background so you might see this from my perspective.  Continue reading →