Cat time

 

Well, I tried to do some hand quilting last night. The dog was in with Greg, so I closed him in there and opened the master bedroom door to let the cats know the dog was locked in a room and they could roam. Last time I did this, Ollie explored and Peanut stayed in the door. This time, Emily picked up peanut and put him on my recliner and petted him. He stayed put... then decided he would curl up on my quilt hoop. I got a couple of strands worked before he took a nap.

My FIL is continuing to improve. I'll head over with Greg tomorrow for the kid drop off and to see him in the hospital since I have tomorrow off. I hear we may go out to lunch..... it will be our 17th Wedding anniversary after all!

Tuesday

 Monday was a long day and not a single stitch was stitched!

Greg left with the kids in the morning around 7:20 and he did not get home until after 8:30PM last night. He had a very long day. His Dad had a procedure or two before a late afternoon surgery to break down and remove most of the stone in his kidney. A stint is in place for the remaining bits to flow out. This morning, he is in no pain, which is a good thing. He will have a bit of a recovery to get his strength back, but he is in good hands.

Turns out, Greg did not tell the kids what was going on with his Dad while I was gone! They are updated now. I got the kid pickup and errand running yesterday after a crazy day at work. On the way back from getting Emily we saw this beautiful sunset. I pulled over to get this shot.

Then we got a text from Aidan asking when the heck we were getting home! It was after 7:30 and I left to get her for a 6:40 pick up. We did hit Doller Tree to get a poster board she needed for school today and Publix to get a few things.

Turns out.... the chickens escaped their area and he had just fixed the zip tie they undid and secured it before getting them all back where they belonged. 

I forgot to bring the headphones with wires to listen to my audio book on the plane, so I quickly hit the store before boarding Thursday and grabbed this book to read on the plane. It has been forever since I have read an actual book - audio books while driving or doing things around the house are the only way I can read lately. It was nice to hold a book in my hands. This is a really good book too. I'd recommend it. I am about halfway through.

Home

 It was an uneventful trip home. The plane just landed about 30 minutes late with the head wind and we left a little late from NY. Arrived home around 9:20 last night. Greeted at the door by Bear the dog, then Greg, then Emily .... then a boy with a big smile since Mom was home! 

Greg dropped the kids to school and has been over at the hospital with his Dad. Well, his Dad has been moving to procedures and we think he might have gone right from the procedures to surgery. He has not come back to his room yet. Still waiting on an update. 

Work is a little crazy this morning as well. I did get to go out and check the girls out back with Bear around lunchtime.

Ivy and Buttercup - the Rhode Island Reds.

Myrtle, Poppy and DC - the old girls. 

Blackberry.... who might be a rooster?

Bear likes to help me check on them.

One of the Plymouths is molting... They look horrible when they loose their feathers and then grow them back.

Eggnog, Blackberry and probably Ivy.

I'm hoping I can relax with some hand quilting on the Frosty's later tonight after the second kid pick up.

It appears meals while I was gone were from Papa Johns and Publix. 

Vermont

I got 3 towels crocheted last night.  I added buttons this morning.

There was 2 cords of wood outside that got put into the cellar and stacked Friday morning. My sister Jo, niece Kristin and I were outside passing wood through the window. Kristin's hubby James and her Dad, my bother David were inside stacking. That was a workout.

Today was a wedding and reception for my niece and her hubby. It was a nice day filled with seeing family. Tomorrow is a travel day home. Good news on my FIL. A golf ball size stone in his kidney. Surgery is scheduled for Monday. 

Time to add a couple more buttons and crochet the last two snowmen towels for mom. This was the beautiful sky last night.

Chaos....

I swear, every time I head to Vermont in September, my FIL lands in the hospital! Greg is insisting it should not affect my travel plans. So, I am still planning to fly tomorrow up to my nieces wedding while he and the kids stay home. 

My FIL's neighbor called to let us know there was emergency vehicles (ambulance and fire truck) at his house yesterday morning. Greg called the house and hospital. Once he was at the hospital, he headed over. It was a long day. Turns out, he fell in the bathroom but was smart enough to phone 911. He was very weak and has no energy. After lots of tests... he has a very bad UTI, is dehydrated and some of his bloodwork is off. The man will be 88 next week and is living on his own, despite being essentially blind in both eyes now - a new development over the last month.  They kept him overnight, since they know they can't release him home alone.

Greg and I have been discussing his living situation for the last few years and a lot more the last month as his eyesight is failing. He did not want to move in. Now he is a little more open to the idea. I have a feeling I will be packing up my sewing area and the office in the finished garage soon, and that might become his new space. We will see how things progress, but the first step is getting the infection cleared and his energy back. I'm hoping for a few weeks in rehab so I have some time to clear out rooms and figure out a new office space. We do have an interim plan in mind in case rehab does not happen. 

I had this stack of cutoff triangles leftover from making the Christmas Cactus Wreath. I trimmed them and pressed them on Sunday. I don't know what they will become, but they will be a little leader and ender pile next to the sewing machine this month.

 

Fixing a quilt

 I was over at a girl scout volunteers house last week and she showed me a quilt she has that needs repair. She loves pigs. It was done by her favorite aunt, who has since passed. It looks like the fabric on that one block has shredded.

 I think a box of the black appliqued on top should work to fix it.

I did some measuring and pinned a fix to it on Sunday. I have yet to stitch it down... I want to get the frosty's done first. I might need to adjust the size just a bit, although I know with needle turn applique I can make this one work. I did press about 1/4 an inch in but it got undone when I pinned it. Well, the iron was not as hot as it could have been either! I hope to have this done by September 20 so I can hand it off at my next meeting with her.

This will probably be my project for next week.... 

Crochet towel tops

 My mom uses these towels in her kitchen and I know she could use some new ones. Since I am flying up in a few days, I figured I should check and see what towels I have before heading out to buy some. I have some oldies here, tags from Richs, which has been out of business for over 20 years! 

Two fall ones just needed buttons. I added them yesterday. I'll pull a selection of fall themed ones and Christmas to work on while traveling.