What happened in January

 Hello friends

 I thought I would fill in the past months along with current doings. I guess I should start in December when I fell in the yard. It was about a week after getting an injection in my right knee. So, that wiped out the pain relief. Then on January 22nd while walking to see what the fire in the neighborhood was about, you may have guessed, yes, I fell. One minute I was standing then I was down. There were two neighbors who were also going to the fire so I had immediate help. I fell face first in crushed rock and began to bleed on my face. I called Lisa who was home and she came to get me and off to the emergency room we went. Five hours there and they glued the cut on the bridge of my nose closed instead of stitches. I had many small cuts all over my face. My right eye became black and blue immediately. When we returned home, I suggested we not tell Alan. Lisa gave me a look. I suggested that since he would be home late (10ish) I would lay facing the wall and pretend to be asleep. Alan stops in my room every night when he arrives home. Lisa did not seem to buy that thought. Of course as soon as Alan came home she told him. His first words were...."so you had to check out a fire". It took a few weeks before the bruising and small cuts healed. Yes, I did see my eye specialist to make sure there was no damage to the eye and my PCP. She suggested I get a PT evaluation and that was a good idea. It seems my falling issue just may be my balance. I now have a cane for long walking times and when my right knee is painful.I  have not fallen since, On to the fun stuff.

Chicken Scratch....have you heard of it, or done it? I did many moons ago as a child. 

I decided to try it again. 

 

 I bought black check gingham and used white and red for the design and made me an apron.

I do wear aprons when I am cooking. I made the bib in a floral print as well as the band and ties. A fun apron for sure. I learned Chicken Scratch when I was around ten. We had a wonderful neighborhood playground that taught us many crafts for free and held games and such. It was the best. 

Recent;y I saw on YouTube, Japanese wood carving and I fell in love with the hair combs they made. So I searched and found just the right one

 

 

It is carved from Rosewood.  It is solid/heavy compared to regular combs. I love it. The company sells many styles and choice of woods. It will require special care, not getting it too wet and cleaning it every so often with natural oil. 

Well, that about covers a back update and current happenings.  More to come soon.....

 Thank you for stopping by and thank you for your friendship. 

Hand in Hand.....

Oh these hot days …. Murphy and I stay indoors and relax

He enjoys being on the bed while I do this or that. Just look at those eyes and big black nose!
Got the CT result on Monday. I have terrible discs, bone spurs on my vertebrae all in the C1 to C7 area. Not sure about the rest of my spine as the test was only for this area. So, not heavy lifting and that means Murphy too. He goes completely dead weight when we pick him up like a sack of potatoes! I will not be climbing step ladders and Murphy cannot sit on my shoulder anymore while watching TV.

This is the chair I sit in and he rests his bum on my right shoulder. I really think he thinks he is just a little boy. So when we walk I need to hold the lead differently as he does pull sometimes and probably started this shoulder injury. Next I will see my pain management doctor.
Lisa is still making her pillowcases....

These are not gifts and will remain in our home. 

I also have been creating....

I love these cross back aprons and finally made one.

This is one side....yes, it is reversible....

This is the other side. Nice and sturdy and not flimsy at all. Very comfortable as I already wore it to cook last night. Alan and I made Chicken Cacciatore... oh so good. I see a few more aprons …. seasonal styles maybe.

Guess you are wondering about the title Han in Hand. I left it for last so the tears would wait. 

Many years ago Dennis made this for our garden back in RI and he also made one with Elyssa (Alan's daughter). Our niece was always at our house and loved playing in the garden. They did not make one for me! When we moved to Arizona we gave Elyssa her stone and asked if she wanted Uncle Dennis' and she said yes. Sunday marked 3 years since I am without My Denny, this arrived yesterday. It weighs a ton and I am surprise it arrived in one piece. 

This means so much for me to have this. I thank Elyssa and her mom Colleen for thinking about me enough to return it to me. 

And yes Colleen, I did as you suggested and put my hand into his and we sill still hold hands. For now it is my bedroom but will find a place is this garden which he loved so very much. Thank you both for sending this to me..... I will cherish it.

Wiping the tears away....glad you found some time to visit with me today. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship. 

I don't like John Wayne

Another hot day today expected -- low 100s. Murphy and I try to walk before 10am and although still very warm it is better than later when it is hot. We generally walk around 7pm when the sun has begun to set enough to give us shade along the walk. Right now he was trying to be with Alan and Lisa as both are getting ready to go to work but are in different areas... so he is under the desk while I am here.
Went for the CT Scan yesterday. I was in and out in 15 minutes. The doctor will have results by Tuesday. When we finished there, Lisa and I went to the quilt store where of course we found just the right fabric for her to make her last 2 pillowcase gifts and I found

I love the yellow print and as I said I never liked John Wayne but Alan does so I made this one for him. The cuff is really nicely printed with him. It is hard to see but the trim is a "wood" grain print. I also found just the right prints for my apron. Hope to work on that today.
You would think with all this heat the garden would have issues.... only a few plants are not happy. Just look at the Mr Lincoln Rose..

It keeps sending out roses and now is taller than Alan who reaches around 5"8" ! There are buds here and there waiting to show-off. I chose this rose in memory of Denny..it will be 3 years tomorrow that he is gone. So happy to have roses for that day.
Chores await me. That House Fairy  did not come today so I better get to the tasks at hand. Glad you stopped by today. Thank you for your kind words and thank you for your friendship.

Christmas decorating and a gift arrived

Sometimes I sit and think and sometimes I wish I had just moseyed along. I miss having my Denny around and try to remember his words to me...… anyway, the phone rang the other evening and it was sis Lynowl worried about a package that was suppose to arrive for me around the 13th but now it was coming early!...it was arriving Tuesday by 9PM.  You see, sis can not have a package around and not open it immediately. I on the other hand can wait until the "time" …

Yesterday morning a phone call from Across the Courtyard from Robyn to tell me she could see a package left at the front door. There was no ringing of the door bell and this was early. I brought it in and texted sis to let her know it arrived. I opened the big box and this beautiful green silky bag appeared. No, I have not opened or peeked inside. Curious, yes, but I am patient.it sits prettily by the tree.
 I got to decorate again for someone else yesterday afternoon...Glenda. She asked me to add the ribbon (like my tree) to her tree. I was delighted. It was the first time since moving out here that I got to do this. I think I mentioned that I used to help decorate several homes each Christmas back in RI.

Wearing my Beaded Santa earrings, and juggling wire  was telling her that and  in RI I had a nice cobbler style apron to hold all my tools and before I knew it she appeared with this pretty apron...the very style I used to have and gave it to me. Not the I am doing more home decorating, but I will enjoy having it the next time I am juggling this and that while decorating. Her tree is pretty (already was) and some lights put around the other décor. It felt so nice to spread my decorating cheer once again. Today will be a quiet day. I have gathered all the ingredients to make Banana Nut bread and my crochet project will be finished.
Coffee has finished brewing and I think Eggo waffles would be good. Nice chatting with you today. Thank you for visiting and for your kind words. Thank you for your friendship.

An apron and a lamb

~~~~~~~and Natalia

Natalia and her mom Elyssa loved the apron and as you can see, Natalia loves the lamb that Mr H picked out for her. He said she had to have something --- other than the apron! It was so nice to have my niece Elyssa post this picture for us to see. Definitely pleased the uncle Dennis! I have someone to spoil. When Elyssa was young (until she was 11 and we moved out here to Arizona) she spent lots of time with us and even had her own room in our house. She loved helping me and wore an apron most of the time. Seems that Natalia is following her mom. I thought this fabric would be very Spring like and now to find material for Autumn and then Christmas. The pattern I bought has 3 styles and also for an adult size too. I love having aprons to wear. Yesterday we ran a few errands and I told Mr H that today would be an at home day...I simply want to stitch. Maybe even sit outside until it gets too warm...should be in the mid 80's today. Laundry is finished and the sewing room has been straightened, well, a little. So hard to keep it perfect when I have several projects going and planned. With that said, I think I will grab one of the projects and my needles. It has been so nice to chat with you...I know, 2 days in a row! Thank you for your wonderful friendship and kind words. I hope you have a wonderful day.