Murphy likes the quilt

 Goodness, it is Christmas week. Are you ready...gifts? meal plans? I just need a few food items and that will be it. This week I will be baking and making ahead some of our Christmas Eve and Christmas day dinner. Christmas Eve celebration will be around 8pm. Both Alan and Lisa are working. We will enjoy an Antipasti tray, Crudite tray and baked goods. Christmas Day we are having Lasagna and Braciole and that will be depending on how the morning goes as to what time we will actually eat.

The Hexagon quilt is finished. Once again I sewed it completely by hand and no repeats of prints. It measures approximately 40x60. I was lucky that Dianna gave me some of the floral prints...we swap fabric when needed.

these 2 hexies are special. These 2 floral prints are special. The fabric was bought in Hawaii when Dianna vacationed there. The hot pink one is in the center of the quilt and the yellow hangs off the edge...just like the special Murphy hexie. What next? Not sure but I do know it will be another quilt. I have been thinking of Quillow ...maybe a French Rose quilt...maybe both! So ambitious.... we will see. This week will be plan time as I get ready for the holiday. 

Happy to have you stop and visit with me. Thank you for the kind words and the encouragement. Thank you for your friendship.

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Almost finished

 Can you believe that Christmas will be in 13 days?! We are probably ready here at H & P Homestead.. (Horton & Piccirilli) who knows though. December here in Arizona is mild and well compared to my hometown in Rhode Island, perfect . Anyway, The Homestead is not well these days. No, Alan and Lisa in Sick Bay #1 both have colds....I am perfectly content to stay in /apartment end of the place. I have just about everything I need here. I did have a couple of days that I started a cold but stuffed those cold capsules down and doing okay now. I have kept busy.

The Hexagon Quilt is almost...almost complete. It measures about 40 x 60. Now the edging needs to be done....

Not the best picture I know, but Murphy wanted to jump up on the bed to check it out. Do you see the blank muslin half hexie .... that is how the edges will be finished. I will start cutting the hexies today and see how far I can get. I am pleased with the look. 

There are so many storms around the USA. The one coming down the West coast is hitting Northern Arizona (not us here in the Valley) and then there are the ones blowing across the Midwest to the East coast....sending stay safe wishes to all. 

So happy you had some time to stop by. Thank you for the kind words and the encouragement. I am truly on the mend! Thank you for your friendship.

Grinch has a sewing friend

 Took a short break from the hexies to create a sewing buddy

For Christmas, The Grinch is sitting on my sewing table corner...Hilda is now joining him. She will remain after the holiday when Grinch returns to his home in the garage. The Little Mouse is from Shabby Art Boutique, Kerryanne English, designer. Kerryanne,s blog Shabby Art Boutique offers beautiful projects. Be sure to stop by and check it out.

Woke this morning...3:30 and since sleep did not seem to return, I made a cup of tea. I woke with a dry scratchy throat and a light headache. Drinking ice water has helped a little. Today will be a sew the quilt day. Chores on hold today. 

Are you ready for Christmas? I got a late shopping start but finally caught up. Just a few little bits to get. Packages mailed. The back surgery...doing great....held back going out to shop for the most part. Good old on line shopping! 

Glad to chat with you today. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Thank you for your friendship.
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Moving along slowly

 Goodness, tomorrow is December 1st hard to believe that tomorrow is December 1st. So much has happened this year that honestly I am looking forward to Christmas cheer and a new year...my goal is to stay out of doctor's offices and surgeries. If Santa is listening, please bring me a bubble to save me! This past week I have had a stomach bug. Thank goodness I was sthe only one in the house who was sick. Finally feeling better. The house is decorated

Not the best picture...maybe one at night...anyway, we have been giving our friends across the courtyard, Robyn and Dave have been seeing a light show with Alan switching from one light setting to another! Remember it has 7 functions....

In between not getting out of bed and when I have this past week, I have been slowly sewing the hexagon quilt

Only have 3 more rows to add...I think. What I mean is that I may add or not. I am working on row 16 now. While sewing I have Christmas music play via radio. Found a station that plays a great assortment. Just in case I need something special my CDs are at the ready.
Nce again this year I have joined Jo's Christmas Blog Hop. My posting date will be December 16th. I will remind you when the time arrives so you can visit her blog to see what everyone is posting. Both Alan and Lisa are working late tonight so Murphy and I are are on our. A simple supper it will be. So glad you had the time to visit with me. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Thank you for your friendship.

No loose screws no matter what anyone thinks!

 Oh I am so proud to show you my great-great niece!

Meet Alanni Lee (not including her last name). Just look at that beautiful face. My great-nephew Joey and Heaven (parents) are so happy. Such a cute snuggle bug! They live back East so I enjoy every picture I see.

Speaking of pictures.... I saw the surgeon on Tuesday and the x-rays looked good.

The one on the right is straight on to back and the other a side view.  I think I stood a bit crooked! As long as the screws are in place. I was a little disappointed to be told 6 more weeks of restrictions; no bending, stretching, twisting or lifting. As the doc said, you have come this far let's make sure it heals good. I walk and I make sure not to sit too long. I am actually following orders. My hexagon quilt is coming along. Don't think it will be too long before it is finished. Then onto the next project. Before you ask, I do not have a plan yet.

I ordered a new Christmas tree...last one is 6 years old and now needs a new home. This tree has a 7 function light switch. Need I tell you that The Brother Alan has played with it already...yes it is up. Lisa and I thought why drag it to the garage when we will need it in a little over a week. Decorations are still stored until Alan gets them down. Had a busy morning so now I need to relax. Leg and back are sore. Happy to have you visit. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Thank you for your friendship.

There is an elf in the house

 November..... one of my favorite months. Growing up in Rhode Island it meant the color changes on all the trees...acorns everywhere and the wait for Thanksgiving. Dennis and I loved this holiday best. Why? Well it was for gathering and sharing without expectation of gifts. We were the gifts to one another. This year we are having a guest, Patrick. The planning has started and today will put pen to paper for the list of have and to get. 

Our main bathroom reconstruction began yesterday. The plumber is next to connect the toilet and clear the sink drain. Freshly painted walls have brightened it up. Lisa chose the wall color...a soft grey and she decided on teal towels and rug..... pretty. Once the plumber is finished all the shelves and accessories will be back in place. Recently I bought 2 Christmas theme patterns for sewing. One of them was a little incomplete.

But I can and did take care of the problem. I feel for any inexperienced with sewing. The issue was there was no template for the arms. I read and looked at the pages of the printed pattern and no where could I find it. Soooo, I messaged the seller on Etsy. Her reply was that she no longer had the pattern and could not look but that sometimes the designer puts it in somewhere. Okay. simple solution was to measure his jacket and make my own template. Very simple and even though I knew that was what I would do, I thought if I was missing it I would like to have it pointed out to me. Anywho, he is complete and cute. The rest of the pattern is a sleigh on a pillow that he can sit in...maybe I will make it. Of course I have been working on the hexagon quilt.... soon to be completed. As always it is so nice to have you visit with me. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Thank you for your friendship.

End of month

 Where do the days go? Seems to me that the days fly by... but wait; there are a few days that seem to linger. Part of it is that I am still restricted and when I think of something I have to remind myself if it is okay to do. Soon, soon they should be lifted. I see the surgeon on November 15th for x-rays to make sure the cage and spine are still okay, All in all I am doing okay and feel good. Happily I have sewing that has kept me busy.

Since I reached 100 hexagons it is time to begin to get it together. I started to lay out the hexies.. using my trusty old cardboard mat...if you sew you may still have one. It is making it easy to plan and will make sewing this quilt easier for me. I will just pin in place and rearrange as I think I should. I must start to think of what project will be next.

Friday I planted my herb garden; Italian parsley, oregano, chives, creeping thyme and rosemary. The pot is a large high one so no need to bend or stoop down. There is already a pot with basil although it is beginning to become straggly. Possibly a cut back would help. Our Arizona weather has been wonderful...no more 100s. Having my bedroom slider open is so nice. Of course Murphy likes going in and out as he pleases.

Still have some blooms on the Fairy Duster bush...the hummers love it and soon there will be berries for the Goldfinches and House Wrens.  

Since it is almost Halloween, I will leave this post with a bag of Zapp's Voodoo potato chips...New Orleans style kettle chips. Nice to spend time with you. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. It really means a lot. Thank you for your friendship.

Slow but steady

 One of these days I will be able to say, no more tests...no surgeries.... no injuries. But for now, it is what it is. The incision is healing well although the surrounding area is still achy and sore to touch. Still with restrictions...no bending, stretching, twisting or lifting, and not sitting too long. In case you missed it...I had a fusion of L4 and L5 with a cage placement. A bit more than the fix the disc surgery.  I have been using the walker as needed in the house but using it when I leave the house. I go outside daily for a walk trying to increase my distance little by little. Following doctor orders...and The Brother Alan's too. Tuesday was a Nuclear Stress Test. I had put it off because of surgery but the cardiologist feels it is necessary. I had one in the past but this was different. Of course if something is going to go wrong, I am the one to have a reaction.  Just glad it is over. It really left me very sore both back and shoulder. This has been a tough year for me.... only two months to go.

Thank goodness I keep busy...sewing. I am almost (will be today) at the one hundred hexie count. Then the work really begins...laying them out and trying for the best looking placement of each hexie. It really does not matter. They are a mix of flowery prints and no repeats. I am waiting for one more center...Dianna has a Hawaiian print she is giving me when she returns from vacation.

They are in Hawaii celebrating Dianna's birthday. From the photos being posted they are having a wonderful time. It is Dianna's favorite place.  I miss our weekly sewing sessions. 

Our Arizona weather is finally cooling down...temps under 100. Nice to have my bedroom slider open. Murphy loves going in and out. I am happy to have you visit...thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Thank you for your friendship.

Slow down you move too fast.....

 That maybe what the song says but it certainly does not describe me lately. If you have not read earlier...much earlier it seems posts, I had surgery on my spine. Specifically an L4 L5 fusion with a cage support.  If you google there is lots of info and

pictures like this one. It is an involved surgery. I was due for a one night stay but problems with drainage was another night. Can not complain though. This was a CORE Specialty Hospital...27 beds. The staff were excellent and the food, well delicious. Before you ask, yes I have lots of restrictions....no bending, stretching , twisting lifting...all common sense and there is the pain if I forget. I have a 6 inch incision center spine at waist and staples which will be removed Monday. My companion The Walker on wheels is usually with me----yes once in  time I find myself without it. I have kept busy when not napping sewing hexies. Soon I should spread them out to see how many I need. Dianna has given me wonderful flower prints. She also has started a hexie quilt. Thank you Cynthia for checking up on me and others whose emails made me smile. Debbie sent me musical note...the Macarena to do while sauntering around....haha. Thank you for all your wonderful words and for you friendship. I appreciate the encouragement very much.

A pain in the neck!

 Well, I am certainly cutting it close with surgery preparations. Finally having an EKG on Monday morning at 9am. Surgery is October 3rd....it will have to do. I have had 2 other surgeries this year and did not require an EKG....not going to question the powers that will be doing the procedure. I would have had it last Monday but I incorrectly wrote the time down...so I missed the appointment....so not like me. Monday will be my first time using Uber for transportation. Alan is away until Monday very late evening and Lisa is working.  Today literally I have a pain in my neck. When I visited with the Pain doctor, we decided to wait and see if it is somehow connected with the disc issue. When I return in 2 months he will decide how to proceed. I have never had so many issues as now. Truth be told, I have been feeling a little stressed lately. I know it will work out.

Remember the baby quilt...

Well here is McKayla all wrapped in it. so nice to see it really being used. Message received from the dad Joe is that they love it.

👀Look at my hexies.... did I mention it might take 100 complete pieces which means 200 pieces cut...I am once again enjoying my project. Sewing by hand is very relaxing for me. My sewing table is on the opposite side of my bed area so it is like another room.  I have a floor length window...my view is nice and if I turn to my right, I can look out the slider and peer into the lanai and garden. 

Recently when I did look into the garden this is what I saw...a pair of Goldfinches enjoying a bath in the fountain. They stayed for some time and of course interrupted my sewing.  Then there is Murphy...at this very moment he is under the sewing table leaning against my legs waiting for attention. How can I get things done with all this stuff around me. I love it. time to continue chores...the House Faerie once again missed my house. Dishwasher swirling, laundry swishing and dryer fluffing.... I need another cup of coffee. Say something nice to someone today...share a smile, it just maybe what someone needs.

Glad you stopped by today...another nice interruption. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

Too busy!

 Do you ever think...How am I going to get this all accomplished? Well, that is where I am right now. We  just found out we have a problem in the main bathroom... a leak. Alan was able to find a restoration company and the insurance is onboard so now the work will begin. All I know is that things are going to be messy and noisy for the rest of the week. Murphy is not too happy but he did offer kisses to the guys! At the moment he is upset with the landscapers. so it goes.

I am busy with sewing but also trying to get all the necessary paperwork and clearance for the October 3rd disc removal/fusion surgery. Tomorrow will be the EKG and hopefully the cardiologist will not add a monkey wrench to the mix and give me the okay. 

Just look at all the floral fabric Dianna brought to me!the next few days I will be cutting the hexie centers....I have 6 to finish, and that will be 26 done.. I will plan the layout when they are all finished.

These are not sewn together yet...but I already love them. I think it may take close to 100 hexagons for this quilt. Sewing by hand is very relaxing to me....even with Murphy yelling at the landscapers....and soon there will be a bathroom tear up. Thank goodness for Alan, he has it all under control. I can just sit in my domain and stitch! 

Did you watch the Queen's funeral? I happened to wake at 2am (Arizona time) and it was starting, so I made a cup of coffee and watched. It was beautiful and the people...my goodness, it was a sea of people lining the streets. The finale was touching...the piper playing until it faded away...the removal of the scepter, orb and the crown from the coffin... the breaking of the wand over the coffin...symbol of his end of duty to the queen. I was just 5 years old when she was crowned queen...watching it was special and I do remember the pomp . Now 70 years later I watched the end of her rein. 

Nice to chat but should get back to sewing while it is quiet around here. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement, Thank you for you friendship.

Ta Da......it's finished!

 

My Cathedral Friendship Quilt is finished and on my bed. I am so pleased with how it looks. Thank you to the friends who joined in to send fabric to be included. (Names listed on the right sidebar). Fabric arrived from England, Germany, France, Surrey Canada and New Brunswick Canada, Pennsylvania Alabama, Wisconsin, Connecticut and Rhode Island as well as Arizona. Names are written on the reverse side of windows,,,, I will be adding a label soon. I began this project in April of this year...but really it did begin in 1991 in my mind. It took 5 months and completely stitched by hand.

The binding did not take long at all to attach. I took pleasure and pride  in each stitch. It is a very heavy quilt! These past few days I have been planning the next one....Hexagons. They will measure a 5 inch finish. It will be all floral centers...large print, small print and different colors. Time to look through the fabric bins for square that are 6 inches before cutting. The back squares will again be of muslin. It will be a little smaller than my bed quilt as it is for the living room. Once in awhile even in Arizona you need/want a blanket to cover up with. 

I join many in thinking of the Queen's passing. I send thoughts to all my friends in England and Canada who also mourn their leaders loss. Now to remember to say King Charles III. The royals all move up one to new roles.