A Little Finishing...At A Class That Is...

Oh, where to start...

First, happy Friday.  I was pretty much ready for Friday on Monday.  I am not sure who planned a five day work week, but sometimes they just plain hurt.  LOL

Last weekend was my finishing class for the Hands to Work project.  Really, too much fun for one person to have.  LOL  I visited with friends, laughed, and ate my way around Modesto.  Lois Bear is an amazing teacher. She is so fun and filled with great ideas, they just fall out!  I learned how to use bookbinding glue, Mod Podge, scrap booking paper, and how to make cording like a pro!!

Here is the wax bag and pincushion.  I love how the pincushion looks. I can definitely see doing another one like this...not the same pattern...but the same shape.  LOL  See that cord?  I made that cord!  I usually just use the door knob and a pencil, but oh my goodness, used a corder and WOW! Went and bought one that afternoon.  LOL

In the right picture, you can see the wall paper that was added to the inside of the box.  So cute! That's where I learned how to use bookbinding glue (less water) and then cover the paper with Mod Podge to seal.  I've already picked up both products for practicing at home.  LOL

We painted the box and then rubbed on a brown tint wax to dull the color.  One person in the class did a green box, but I like the coral.  If you look closely at the picture above, you can see the color right above the paper. My box top fit just right.  And any areas that were a little wonky...covered that up with pompoms.  LOL  You can see the scissor fob at the bottom corner, but still need to get it stitched close and add the pompoms and cord. More cuteness!

In between class, I hung out with the ladies from my table.  They are very adept at knitting, crocheting, needlepoint.  I perked up when a couple of them said they knitted.  With circular needles? I asked.  Why, of course, they answered.  Hmmmm...I have problems with circular.  How would they feel about a mini-lesson?  An hour later, I FINALLY GOT IT!!  Here is the finished project:

Yes, it's a washcloth, but it's a knitted-on-circular-needles washcloth.  LOL  Now that I am one with the needles, I can seriously look at knitting some socks.  Maybe...LOL

I managed to get a couple of walks in while in Modesto.  Sunday morning sunrise was absolutely fantastic and the weather was perfect.  This picture is the sun coming up over one of the canals that run through the city.

So, I am off to plop my behind on the couch and get in some stitching time.  I wish each of you a wonderful weekend.  Be kind to one another.

Quiet...

Quiet weekend here at the rancho.  We had normal weather last week, then up into the 100's again. Sigh.  We are expecting rain and thunderstorms later today and tomorrow.  With all the fires, now there is the threat of mud slides.  We love the rain in the Spring, but not so much at the end of Summer.  I managed to close up the house early and get my chores done before the worst of the heat. 

I worked on my stitching this past week and made progress.  Lots of tiny, four stitch squares. Tedious, but at least you don't have to keep checking the pattern.  LOL

One of my friends sent a washcloth pattern.  Has a very cute pumpkin outline.  You know how I feel about anything pumpkin.  LOL  I didn't have dark orange cotton yarn, but did find this variegated with Fall colors in my stash.  

Can you see the pumpkin?  I have another skein of this yarn, so will be doing one more in the next few weeks.

Just had to show my little cow vase.  I found it at an estate sale and fell in love with its little face. And how about that flower on the tail?  Never had any of our cows with one of those!  LOL  I went out and grabbed one of my Christmas Aloe babies and moved it into its new home.  Very sweet.

Dad is the same.  I sat and watched him for a while yesterday.  Just sat quietly and cried.  I don't know why yesterday was any different than any other day, I just felt sad.  So, then I got up, pulled up my big girl bloomers and got on with my day.  We all do what we need to do.

I hope that all of you are safe and sound.  As much as I dislike the heat, it's not a hurricane or a tornado.  Be kind to one another. 

A Very Long Week...Time to Regroup

Good morning from the rancho.

It is early, early, early Saturday morning.  Quiet and cool.  Okay, it's 70 degrees, but that's not bad. Our forecast is in the 100's, again.  Here is what I found last Saturday when I got in my car...

It dropped to 113 degrees as I went down the highway.  I guess that was a bit better.  We have at least another week of this weather.

Since it has been so hot in the afternoons, no yard work for me.  Here is my stitching update.

So...we have failed at hospice.  Medicare filed a request for review.  Since my dad has been on hospice for four years, Medicare felt that we were abusing the program. Based on the review, we have been taken off of the program.  I am not angry at hospice.  They have done everything to keep us, but Dad is dying too slowly for Medicare's liking.  That is the nature of his disease. There was not enough monthly change to justify their participation.  To be honest, the only parts of hospice that we used were the weekly baths, the nurse visits, the music volunteer, and the social worker.  I use a caretaker service while I am at work, and the ladies have offered to do Dad's baths.  My husband's doctor is also a friend, so he will take Dad as a patient and do house calls.  But the moral support? The music?  Those I will miss.  Our music volunteer had made a point to learn the old western songs for my dad.  Sigh.  I don't know who cried more, me or my worker...

I am torn.  I want my Dad, but the man in the hospital bed is not really my dad anymore.  He hasn't spoken in over a year and his body is very contracted due to the Parkinson's.  I miss his smile so very much. All I can keep thinking is that my dad would be angry to know that this is what he has become. Hospice has recorded in our file that my dad is alive because of the excellent care that he receives. But, I won't ignore him. I will take care of him until the end.

So, after a pretty trying week, I am looking forward to a three day weekend.  I have a few chores to do, but plan on spending some quiet time with myself, trying to regroup.

Be kind to one another.