Back in the saddle

The Millie is humming again and I am proud of myself for getting the software figured out this far! In my start back to work, I quilted Quilts of Valor that needed to be done for upcoming  ceremonies. There were four to do, and all are finished and ready to go to the binding person. One needs to be trimmed, so I will show you that one next time out.

I'm not sure why the quilter made this one sideways, but I think it's pretty anyway.  I think I would have done it vertically so the user could enjoy the pattern while using it.

The backing was also on the horizontal, so it was meant to be this way. The center fabric is really nice. 

I used my go-to panto, Simply Stars

Number two is this crazy quilt pattern of patriotic fabrics.

I used Simply Stars on this one, as well.

The backing is pieced with two starry fabrics, so the panto was perfect for the project.

Number three is this panel quilt. The panel has a Native American chief, so I thought I would change it up a bit and use a different pattern for the quilting.

This panto is called Woven Wind and I thought it would compliment the graphics on the front.

A sky blue fabric on the back completed the quilt.

A large portion of Sunday was spent re-sewing blocks from the commission quilt so they would fit together. The 16 blocks ranged in size from 16 inches square, to 17 1/2 inches square! I think there were two people making the blocks because of the difference in the seam allowance sizes. Some had the standard quarter inch, but many had a really skinny, about eigth inch, seam. Some points had to be sacrificed, but I think it's coming along nicely. I'm going over the mountain to fabric shops on Thursday with my girlfriends, so I'll be on the hunt for a larger print for the final border to compliment the quilt. The whole thing is from a late 1970s kit, so I may have to get creative with a complimentary fabric!

One more border, then I'll be on to the quilting!

Mr Wazoo is keen to get in the walking he is supposed to be doing as part of his rehab, so we have decided to fit walks into our day as often as we can. Sunday we went to Meeks Park and tried out the simplest trail. It was a gloriously lovely day so we enjoyed both the hike and the outdoor exercise stations as the far end. Despite the downed branches and puddles from the storm the night before, there were other walkers and runners taking a turn in the park's beauty.

Saturday night, we had severe weather and a tornado warning! Mr W, Molly and I spent some quality time in the studio waiting for it to pass. The wind howled and the sheets of rain battered the house, but there was no major damage to our little corner of Georgia.

At Meeks Park the next day, we stopped at the map to choose the trail to take. Mr Wazoo wasn't keen to climb any steep paths, so we stayed on the trail that follows the creek around the park.

The water was high and the sound of it rushing along was really soothing.

Nobody kayaking today!

You can see how high the water has been in the past by looking at the other bank. They have had some doozies of floods over the years!

Mr Wazoo enjoying the sunshine and fresh air.

On the return trip to the car park, I snapped this picture from the bridge over Butternut Creek.

Yesterday, our walk was squeezed in between rainfalls, so we stayed close to home. No matter which direction you take from the house you will be climbing a big hill. We chose the downhill for the trek away from the house, and the harder uphill slog for the return trip. We didn't go too far, but it was certainly a hard workout for the recovering patient!

At the bottom of the hill, this is the view across the gap to Epp mountain. 

Mr W after the walk up the hill. That's our driveway behind him. The final insult of the walk is the climb up the drive to the house!

Here is a nice picture of the house from the street...

...And from halfway up to the house.

I spied something bright orange-red in the garden in front of the house and went to investigate. These gross looking mushrooms were the culprits. My Plant Snap app says it is called Elegant Stinkhorn. An oxymoronic name for a yucky looking plant! Most of them were laid over or broken by the earlier rain. Still, I think I would pass them over as a food source!

Adapting to the slow lane

A week has passed since Mr Wazoo came home from stroke rehab, and I am seeing the areas where he needs work. The seatbelt is a major frustration, as is turning the knob on the outside door. These little things drive him up the wall, but he doesn't give up trying. Anyway, there are some things that slow us down, but don't run us over! He is making a jigsaw puzzle to exercise his brain as well as improve his motor skills picking up the little pieces. Fatigue sets in around three or four and he is in bed by eight.
On the quilting front, I successfully hooked up and updated my Millie's computer, but it has a couple of glitches that are making me crazy. I need to get moving on the four Quilts of Valor, as well as the remaining custom jobs. I'm reading the new instructions for the computer and hope my tired brain can remember what I have read and apply it to the machine!
I finished a repair for which I forgot to take 'before' pictures. Oops! There were only about twenty worn and torn pieces, so the repair went along quickly once I found compatible fabrics for the job. We sent it off to the owner yesterday. She was Mr W's physical therapist in Marietta! He told her what I did for a living and she brought me the quilt the next day. A week later, it's good as new.

Here is the quilt, all finished and pretty.

My gray fabric is somewhat lighter than that in the quilt. The two patches with the 'smudges' must have been bleached in the past. They are perfectly fine.

My brown is a bit darker than the quilt brown. The slight color differences aren't too noticeable after re-quilting. You can just spy black repairs on the left of the picture. There were more black pieces worn out than any other fabric.

Another gray repair.

My dots are different, but still look similar enough to blend in.

My pink floral also blends in well. It is in the upper right hand corner.

The backing was really hard to find a match for. It had bleach spots and almost white areas on the light blue patterned fabric. I used a blue and white cloudy looking fabric to mend the holes, after adding bits of batting to fill in between the top and back patches.

We traveled to Cumming this morning early to have the car's windshield looked at. Remember when we went on vacation and had two rocks hit it and crack it badly? It was replaced, but has leaked into the cabin on the passenger side every time it rains! We would come out to find a large puddle in the Weathertech mat and water dripping from under the dash. There has been a rolled up beach towel there for weeks! We'll know if it is fixed tomorrow morning...it is supposed to rain tonight!

While in the big city, I went to Hobby Lobby and bought a bolt of Kona black for the studio and six yards of Kona red. I use black and red solids often in customer tee shirt quilts, and was totally out of both. My 40% coupon there made a huge difference. Then, over to Joann for a new Ott floor lamp for next to my living room chair. 50% off that one! A good day shopping, for sure.

Ribs for supper, the man settled in the recliner and a fire in the hearth. Life is still good.

Off to a slow start

This week we regroup and make our plan for 2020 stroke recovery. It started with a trip back to Marietta for the sign off of the cardiologist. One more trip in February and we should be done with the long rides, putting the event in the rear view. Mr Wazoo is doing very well. His most frustrating task is fastening his seat belt in the car. He has given up wearing jeans for now because of the near impossible task of buttoning the top of the fly. I got him a tool for buttoning shirts and zipping zippers but it doesn't work on jeans buttons. They are too big and tough. Sweat pants for now!
I finally worked up the ambition to get back in the studio. Mr W sat and read his discharge instructions and exercise regimen, snoozing on and off. The quilt was a big one, taking three days to complete. The wide borders are a panto and the embroidered blocks are custom quilted. As a first project, it was a challenge. Here it is, all done!

The customer did all the embroidery, and found there perfect border fabric for her mountain home.

The Panto on the borders is Modern Leaves

I stitched all the ditches and then stitched around all the appliquéd and embroidered elements. Then, I echoed each one once. I did the same in the bear paw blocks in every other row. She wanted the quilting kept looser and soft, as the quilt will be used on her bed.

I love this backing fabric! Look closely and you cans see some  of the quilting.

To finish up the year 2019, I reviewed my photo log and came up with these statistics.

Number of customer quilts done with pantos and custom: 259

Number of commissioned and repaired quilts: 25

Quilts I made (both for customers ands for show, for my stash and charity donation): 43

Quilts of Valor: Quilted- 32, Made by me: 2

I hope to do more sewing for myself and my friends and family and do less customer work in 2020. I will start by not taking custom quilting for a while so I can devote more time to Mr Wazoo and his recovery. Time is precious, and I need to adjust my priorities and live every day conscious of how fleeting the time is.

Stay tuned for the 2020 adventures of the Wazoo quilters!

Happy New Year!

 It has been a busy and weird week for us here at Wazoo. No progress has been made getting the studio back in order or getting the computer put back on Millie and tested. Needless to say, I am off my game. The kids left the day after Christmas, and I really felt the emptiness in the house. You don't realize how just having the other person sitting there can create a hole when they aren't sitting there. Does that make sense? Does to me!
On Christmas we all piled into cars and drove to Marietta to have Christmas with Mr Wazoo. He was in good spirits and the visit was good old family fun.

Mr W in his light- up- cow ugly Christmas sweater

The gang.

Grandson sure takes after his Dad...

Earlier in the day we had Christmas at home. A quick breakfast, and we were on the road.

Grandson had the most fun. A new train set and some Lego

Remember the Christmas Story movie where Ralphie gets a bunny suit? This reminded me of that scene, when grandson's mom made him put on the outfit of a rainbow unicorn sent by the other grandma. I made the rainbow pillowcase he's holding.

After the trip to Marietta, we stoked the fire pit and told fun stories while making s'mores. Everyone smelled like smoke, but we had a blast.

He was mesmerized by the fire.

The kids enjoyed assembling one of Mr Wazoo's many jigsaw puzzles, too.

On my last visit, Mr W was busy with all his therapies. I should have brought a book to read while waiting. They wouldn't let me go with him and observe, so I stayed in the waiting area with the other visitors. The only action was people in wheel chairs coming and going. The good news is, he will be ready to go home next Friday!! A quick recovery that I chalk up to a burning desire to get outside and in his yard. I'm not sure, but isn't picking up dog poop good therapy?...

This is the view out Mr W's window. I imagine this is where it all began at Kennestone hospital.

I had to take a photo of the bathroom sign. For Heaven's sake! Don't stick your hand in the toilet!!

Mr W is thumbs up after the news that he can go home on Friday!

While walking through the fly-over walkway to the hospital from the parking garage a helicopter came and went. Pretty cool!

The PT and OT gals got a laugh from his shirt.
It will be good to have him home where I can find all sorts of 'therapeutic' things for him to do. ha ha ha

Things are looking up

My whole gang went to Marietta today to visit Mr Wazoo. He was in bright spirits and chatted with all the kids. Tomorrow, he moves to another floor for his intensive rehab. They work on him 45 minutes three times a day. That should fluff his stuffing!



All of us are going over on Christmas day to have Christmas and watch him open his presents.



We are winging it as far as the menu is concerned...all my delicious food plans have gone out the window and we are eating a variety of quickly prepared comfort foods. Spaghetti for Christmas dinner?! Sounds good to me.



Anyway...I hope you're having fun with your peeps, and that your Christmas will be memorable.
I'll see you on the flip side of Christmas!

Not a happy day(or rather,night)

I’m sitting in the trauma waiting room in a huge hospital in Marietta,Georgia. Mr Wazoo has had a stroke and my daughter drove me here and we're waiting for the neurosurgeon to come tell us something. Thank God I am a nurse and my daughter is a PA. I woke her up and we both agreed he was having a stroke. Slurred speech, not able to move his left arm and leg, facial droop, the whole magilla. I called 911 and they arrived in about ten minutes. The ambulance took him directly to the hospital where he transferred to a helicopter and was whisked off to the closest neuro trauma hospital. After the CT the doctor called me (in the car) and told us it was a clot type stroke and they would be taking him to surgery ASAP to remove it. He had the clot busting drug as soon as he got here. Now, we just wait. Our Christmas plan just went out the window, but we’ll still be together and that’s what counts.
Pray for us and have a Merry Christmas with your families. I love you all