I was a very good girl today – I walked like I was told to do and let Rick do all the work. I have to admit my rib area is so sore I can hardly touch it. Feels like broken ribs. Surgery recovery is not easy but this is already Day 3.
The dogs have been so bored I drove – very slowly- to the hay ground so they could run around.
They won’t go outside with Rick – why are they so attached to me that they refuse to go with him? Of course you know that doesn’t make him very happy.
And here’s proof I took a nap!
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Let’s send another birthday card! One of my readers named Cathy sent me this request.
Dear Mary,
Please consider my mother when choosing a person for a lovely card shower.
Her 96th birthday is September 28 and she would be so thrilled and honored to receive a card, even from a stranger! Cards mean so much to her, I think she has saved each one she has ever received, displaying them for months. Sadly, she now can’t help but remember the loved ones who have passed on and won’t be remembering her…
My mom has sewn and quilted all her life, teaching others to do so has always brought her great joy! She is now a widow and lives by herself. After a stroke eight months ago, she no longer drives and has steadily declined in health. Hospice is now coming to her each day…
Thankfully, my sister lives close enough to see to her needs, whatever they are.
(I can’t do much as my husband of 56 years has dementia and I am his full time caregiver, as well as being handicapped and unable to drive. Also, my mom lives six hours from me…)
Please know how very much I enjoy your blog and your sweet friendship…give Hazel a tummy rub from me!
Love to you,
Cathy Haney (from Texas)
My mom’s address:
Theresa Young
I don’t know how you’re managing, Cathy! I wish I could help you in some way.
Quilts from Cindy and the Kansas State Fair
What a great quilt show!
The quilts from the Kansas State Fair are wonderful. I miss going to our county fair and seeing the quilts. I’m watching WV/Pitt football game in OT. Good game. Go WV! I have Theresa’s birthday card ready to mail next week. I love sending cards. So glad you started this Mary. Keep resting and healing.
such beautiful quilts,
your dogs are so cute, love seeing them both
Card for Theresa will be mailed tomorrow.
Keep up going slow, LOL
Great quilt pictures. There is not a shortage of quilters. Isn’t that nice?
Your comments made me think of 2 times in my life. I had the flu and a horrible headache. I was home alone with the 6-month old rescue cat. Of course she was as close to me as possible, but I started crying because it hurt so bad. She was frantically rubbing herself all over me trying to make me feel better. That was about 60 years ago. She lived for 16 years old . And I still miss her.
The other experience was 2018 on my 1st robotic hernia surgery. I couldn’t turn at my waist. Each morning I had to turn my whole body — until about 4 or 5 days later. I got out of bed and discovered I could turn at my waist!!! Dumb how such little things make us smile? That was so exciting.
Our guild had a practice of making some sort of a heart on a 4 1/2″ background when somebody is sick., etc. It is amazing what some people accomplish. The friendship and caring of our quilting friends is so nice.
In the meanwhile, don’t get buggy while you recuperate. Walking is great, resting, reading, all of the great things we enjoy when we’re quiet. Seems terrible at the time, but patience. You’ll get better quick.
Take care.
Betty Klosterman
Quilting is alive and well in Kansas! Thanks, Cindy, for sending the pictures and to Mary for posting from your sick bed/recliner/sunny porch. I’m glad to hear you are following our advice so you can heal. Prayers for patience and thanksgiving continue.
As for me…Surgery to remove a kidney went reasonably well. Immunotherapy for the cancer continues with more scans scheduled into the future. In the meantime, I’m visiting my husband in the nursing home, making quilt tops for LWR as energy permits, and finding my “three good things” each day. I even walked around the block twice this week. Woo Hoo! Kris in WI
Kris, Thank you for the health update. It sounds like you are recovering well from your surgery. Congratulations on the walking. Do you experience any side effects from the Immunotherapy? Janice Traverse City area
Janice and Mary–
Yes, I have some side effects, but nothing like the folks who undergo chemotherapy which is not effective for kidney cancer. About a week after each infusion, I get the “itchies.” First it was a rash on my arms, then my back. I looked like a cow rubbing against a tree when I wiggled my back against an outside corner in the hall. Ha! Fatigue and muscle and joint aches are a bit of an issue, some days. And then there is brain fog. Finally figured out how wide the outer border on a donated 40″ by 60″ quilt center for a LWR quilt should be and it only took a day and a half! Just add 10″ to each side to make it 60″ by 80″. A tough one, right?
All things considered I am doing well, but then it has been nearly two months since the surgery. Mary, I expect you will be running circles around me when you are at that point! Take care everyone and enjoy each day. Kris in WI
Kris – you are doing great!! All those health issues and you’re making quilts on the side. The porch calls me and I ignore the sewing room but tomorrow while the games are on I’ll sew at the machine.
Love the quilt show, especially the two table runners at the end – that’s more my speed right now. Will my stash of scraps ever end? (I already know the answer.) Have a great weekend all. 🙂
Jan
The Kansas quilt show was fabulous but the pic of you & Hazel taking it east takes the cake! Best wishes for fast healing.
So glad you’re being wise and taking it easy. My husband has often said any inside pets are my pets and they tolerate him!
Love the quilt photos-especially the most simple one with all the rectangles. It would be perfect for the shirts I have saved. Does anyone know if this is a pattern? I could probably try to figure out but due to my much younger sister in laws death Saturday my brain is tired. She was 54 and died from pulmonary fibrosis. We just got home from TN today. It is definitely rapidly becoming fall. It is getting so chilly in the mornings and there were lots of trees turning color in the mountains of SC, NC and TN as we passed through. We traveled over interstate 40 from NC to TN through what is called “The Gorge.” It is still one lane in both directions due to the massive Hurricane Helene destruction last year. I read an article that said the road will probably not be fully repaired until possibly 2028.
Debbie – I’m so sorry you lost your sil at age 54 – that’s definitely too young
Great blog quilt show from Kansas for you to review while recuperating in your porch! Thanks to the thoughtful sender so we could all enjoy them.
One day at a time of the easy life…hope you are good as new in short order!
What a wonderful way to honor a quilters life by displaying many of the quilts that she stitched with love.A big thank you to Cindy for sharing photos of those A-M-A-Z-I-N-G quilts at the Kansas State Fair. Someone must be or have an entomologist in their family. I can relate a little to the dogs’ relationship to Rick. When we adopted our dog she only liked me but then she discovered it was more fun to go to the farm with HB. So I think they attach to you because you take them on so many farm adventures. Plus they know who cares for them…feeding, washing, etc. Cooler days are ahead for us this weekend.
Martha – the dogs definitely hang with me – today will be a day to go to the field again – 80 degrees !!!
I am sorry your rib hurts so bad. Wishing you less pain each day until it is gone (and soon)
Thank you Cindy, for the great quilt show. It is Awesome. I enjoyed and lingered over every single one. Especially the Lady Bug and the Praying Mantis. I found a live praying mantis in my hoop house yesterday. Very excited about that.
Sue, what is a hoop house?
Hi Mary, so glad you are improving enough to be up. No words of wisdom from me other than keep up the good work. The one thought that’s been helping me as I heal from surgery is that pain will lessen over time.
You asked. For updates on surgeries that had been mentioned. I believe I did say I was going in for surgery July 2 for major foot reconstruction. I’m beginning week 11 of recovery and am beginning to see improvement. I will be in a boot for at least another 3 weeks and then will relearn how to walk.
Thanks for the quilt show!
Judy – thank you! I do remember you telling us about your foot surgery – I’ll bet recuperate g has been annoying if you can’t walk. Everything about this surgery is annoying to me / ugh
Mary, quit your bitching about this hernia surgery. It could be a whole lot worse!!!!!!! Get a better attitude!!?
Betty in Rapid City
Good to hear you are up and about but taking it slowly. Best way.
The quilts were amazing today!
Glad to hear you are taking it easy (well, easier perhaps…) – slow and stead and all that, ya know…
Those quilts are fantastic! I especially like the lady bug and praying mantis!
Off to a Sweet Adeline event for the weekend – always wonderful to hear all that 4-part harmony with all those wonderful voices!
My dogs are the same way Mary. Oniy respond to me. My husband tries. My kids have even held the phone up the dogs ears to hear my voice once when I was in the hospital and they wouldn’t even go out for them.
Glad you are “behaving” 😁 as you recover! Praying that all goes well. Hazel looks like she’s a good nurse 😂 know we out here in blogland all wish you the very best ❤️
Gorgeous quilts from the State Fair 🤩
Wonderful quilt show!!! So inspiring. There’s a quilt show next week in Jacksonville and I am so looking forward to it. Hopefully it will get me back into the sewing room …..
Mary — slow and steady wins the post op race! I absolutely love the pick of Hazel and you resting. Years ago I had foot surgery and one of my cats would do that as I rested with my leg elevated. Infusing their healing powers……. 😂😂😂
I love that we send cards…. who doesn’t like getting mail?? Maybe we should come up with a name for us out here…… the blogettes? Mary’s chicks? (like baby chickens) Hahahaha
Lynette – we’re going to have another birthday girl on the 28th – it’s a popular birthday date, I guess. I love that we send cards, too – think how tickled they must be to get all those cards when their health is diminishing, their families are far away and they feel alone. I am elated to send a card!
Mary — happy to hear of your recovery. The cards that mom has received have been such an outpouring of caring from virtual strangers. And the notes and handmade cards…..She is so enjoying them. I will get a card in the mail to Theresa from a stranger in Connecticut. Keep getting better everyday. You do wonderful, thoughtful, gracious for the lot of us. Thank you for you.
I am glad to hear you are taking care of yourself and not overdoing things. Please continue to do so. I enjoyed the quilt and dog show.
Hi Mary, good to hear you ate taking it easy with your recovery. It takes time. I loved the quilt show from Kansas. What wonderful inspiration. The bug quilts are fantastic! I really enjoyed seeing Hazel keeping you company while napping and Keeper’s not far away. The unconditional love!
The quilts from the show were amazing! Wonderful Idea to display a quilter’s quilts in church, very special!
Good you are following orders and taking it easy! Looks like Hazel and Keeper really enjoyed their time out with you but it looks like they also love spending indoor time with you napping, such good dogs!
I hope your recovery goes quickly!
Thank you Cindy for the quilt show from Kansas!!!
Enjoy this weather everyone. Summer hasn’t left us yet.
Your dogs are devoted to you! Even though Buster grew up around my grand kids, he is devoted to me. Must be all the food I give him! Ha, he has settled in at my house. I think he likes the quiet here.
Wow. What a spectacular quilt show! Those Kansas quilters are something. Thank you for sharing. Healing from surgery is slow but following doctors orders speeds the process. Slow and steady is the ticket.
I will get my card in the mail and happily wish Theresa a lovely birthday. I bet it was nice to get outside and enjoy the fall weather and let the dogs run. We are having some lovely days here in Wisconsin and I try to get a walk in every afternoon. The days are getting shorter and the maple trees are turning colors. We managed to survive pressure washing all 3 houses, cleaning the gutters and then window washing everyone’s windows & screens. I hope to not climb a ladder for another year! We have a chef in town who occasionally hosts a night of cultural foods from a different region. One time it was Cajun feast (New Orleans foods) another was a New England Lobster boil and tonight its Indian foods. Our kids are taking us as a thank you and we are intrigued.
Hi Mary, glad nurse Hazel is taking care of you! Off to our quilt fiesta tomorrow, 40 years for our quilt guild, we are having a big show and tell , merchants and special speakers, looking forward to seeing all the quilts displayed. Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
Great quilts and it’s nice to see you are doing what you should do and having a nap. Keep it up and every day will be better.
The big move is tomorrow and I’m so excited I can’t sleep. I feel like a little kid.
Have a wonderful day on Friday everyone. Rest up for Sunday, Mary.
Teresa, soon you’ll be feathering your new nest. I’m excited for you! Hope todays move goes well.
Teresa – we all can’t wait to see your new digs! I hope the move today is smooth – next up for cards is your mother in law, Gerry. I love sending these cards. Let us know how it goes today.
Lots of really great quilts today!
Glad you are taking care of yourself! It is very important after surgery. Those naps are important and so is the walking. Everything in moderation! Loved the picture of the dog with you for your nap!
Great quilts and I especially like the picture of Hazel and your legs taking a nap.