Mixed feelings

I don't have any pictures to post today...Mr Wazoo has been busy quilting, but I am trying not to do the stairs as much as possible. Progress with the knee recovery is slow and steady, but frustrating. Forty minutes at Walmart to get cookie fixings laid me up for the rest of the day! The Christmas glacier is moving slowly in my direction and there is no stopping time so I can get all the things accomplished that I want to. There will be minimal cookie baking, for sure.
Then there is my heart... Just when I think I can't take another setback, my arrhythmia (supra ventricular tachycardia) has made an appearance yet again. Since the surgery, I have had some scary episodes of the rapid heart rate and dizziness associated with the disorder. After a trip to the cardiologist, I will be on a monitor for about a month to they and record an episode. This is how he will decide what course of action to take. I am petrified over anything cardiac happening to me because my favorite and beloved Grandma died of a sudden, massive heart attack when I was 12. I'm trying not to get to wigged out, but it is really scary to me. I only share this with you, dear bloggies, because it helps to verbalize my fear. I'm sure this, too, will pass. We'll see.
So with this in mind, I am starting the cookie and candy making blitz and starting the christmas wrapping. The cards are written and will be sent tomorrow, along with the presents I have to send off. Who'd a thunk it?! I actually did all my shopping from the comfort of my chair... Thank you, internet!
Pictures tomorrow! The outside deck is being stained (house swathed in plastic), Mr Wazoo is quilting his fanny off (and it is a nice fanny...) and cookie baking should be in full swing.
Stay tuned!

Spotlight on Mr Wazoo!

Tim has been carrying the ball for Wazoo since I had my surgery, and he has been doing a great job. He has been cooking, cleaning up the dishes and taking care of Molly, too. What a guy. 

He is getting close to earning the coveted Employee of the Month! We'll see.

Here is what he has done so far.

I have been slowing along with repairs, and am beginning to think I will finally see the end of the Irish Chain...if I can get Molly off of it. ha ha

On another front, Andy and Chikako sent some new photos of my seriously wonderful grandson. You have to look at them. It's required blog reading. Just kidding. No really, look at them and say "Awwww!"

Three generations.

I have been able to unpack some of the  Christmas stuff, too, and get it set out for the holiday fun. I love these little mice. I wish they still made them.






And it just wouldn't be Christmas without Santas and snowmen. Fa la la la la, la la la la!

Slow recovery

The surgery was successful, and I am in the long recovery period. I sure didn't think it would be so painful and debilitating, but I am dealing with it as best I can. Thankfully, my daughter and her boyfriend came for the week of Thanksgiving, and picked up the ball doing the cooking and cleaning up. Mr Wazoo started back quilting on Monday, and he is being a real trooper about working, cooking, and caring for me, too.
I have been back to the handwork for a couple of days, but between exercising, icing, napping and just plain vegging out, I haven't gotten much done! The red shoofly quilt work is done and I have decided to add new binding to it before getting it back to the customer. I also finished the repair on a dresden plate quilt for another customer. Work will progress, but rather slower than I thought it would. I am looking forward to Christmas and having the family here for a few days.
Thanks to Jenny for putting up the tree!

We have a new tree topper! Mr Owl keeps watch over the living room.

Our Christmas tree

I made and replaced this block

All finished!

I used a red floral for the binding on the shoofly quilt.

My new grandson, Dechen, in a pensive mood.

My son and mini-me!

So macho, he already has a mustache!! ha ha ha

The moods of a two week old baby

Tuesday Bits and Bobs

This week is a mish - mash of things, and today is no exception. I will be doing a trunk show later today at the Misty Mountain Quilt Guild, and then getting ready for the trip to Dahlonega.
Its blustery and cold outside, so Mr Wazoo cranked up the fireplace to keep it cozy inside.

The other thing I hadn't blogged was the little project I did while resting my knee on Sunday. While cleaning out a drawer, I found a photo on fabric that I had made years ago of my twin daughters. I figured it would languish in the drawer unless I did something with it, so I made a little pillow. I'll give it to Jenny when she comes for Thanksgiving. Scraps and a pillow form are all you need to have some fun!

I am still working on quilting the shoofly customer quilt, but expect to finish it tonight. Molly is always close by, relaxing in her bed while I work.

And this post wouldn't be complete without a recent photo of little Dechen with his Daddy. He's one week old, and cute as a button!

All done for now

I finished the last big quilt today and the rest will have to wait until I can stand up for hours at a time after my surgery. Mr Wazoo did one big quilt for me, but the biggest one (108 x 113") was all mine.

Mr Wazoo's big challenge, conquered!

I'm not sure of the panto...small splat?

The first quilt we have ever had with a corduroy backing.

This quilt is HUGE!!! It took most of the day to quilt. I had to sit down for a while a couple of times because of knee pain, but it's done!!

This quilt could be a tent for a family of four, I think!!

Panto: Hearts surfing

The backing was sure a surprise.

We skipped with my son, his wife and her mother tonight and little Dechen is just a chubby cutie!! They promise to try to remember to send a picture, but they seem a bit overwhelmed at the moment. It is amazing how someone so small can turn the world upside down! They will adjust and be fine, I am sure of that, but right now they are frazzled. I'm glad grandma is there to help!

Tomorrow, I'll be off to Dahlonega and the final check-up before the big event. I'm sure nervous about this, but I can't stand it anymore.Stay tuned for the whole gruesome story!!

Sewing day and quilting night

I spent the day yesterday sewing the lone star together. It turned out 106 x 106", 3 inches bigger than the customer wanted, but I think it will be fine. She opted for custom quilting, so this will go on a hanger until after my surgery, and when I am able to stand long enough to do custom work.

Finished and ready for quilting

So big, it hangs over the back of the frame as much as the front!

In the evenings, I have been doing the hand sewing on the shoo-fly quilt. I have finished the repair and am now doing the quilting. The original maker used a pretty big and uneven stitch, so I had fun trying to duplicate that style. A few more nights, and it will be finished!

All the new blocks are sewn in and the quilting has started!

One of the new blocks with its wonky quilting

My effort on the left, and the maker's quilting on the right. Pretty goo, eh?

Today, I will be putting the finishing touches on my trunk show and talk for Tuesday, and getting the parts made for the hand repairs I will be doing in the weeks to come. 

We go to Dahlonega for my pre-op appointment tomorrow. EKG, chest x-ray, blood work and a physical exam. Oh yes...the payment of the remaining deductible for the surgery. Thank you, Obama, for making this whole event cost me only $2000 out of my pocket. I wouldn't be having the knee replacement if it wasn't for my wonderful Affordable Care Act insurance. I know there are detractors out there who don't agree with me, but it's not their knee!! And when you have a sole proprietorship business, and have to get your own health care insurance, it is a godsend.

Enough preaching! I need to go to the studio and get things done!

long time no post!!

Oh my goodness! I have been so busy, I forgot to post anything here. Lots of quilting has been going on here at Wazoo, as well as preparation for my surgery and my daughter's visit. Being busy can be a good thing, but sometimes I feel like I'm meeting myself coming and going!
I've already figured out I won't be able to finish all the custom quilts before I get my new knee...bummer! I am hoping to get the repairs done, though, since I will have plenty of time to do handwork. Someone else will have to pick up the slack cooking and cleaning up, which makes for a nice break for me.
Little Dechen is one week old, and I just finished his wall hanging. The crib quilt will happen as soon as I can use the domestic machine, but he is in a bassinet for a while, so I caught a break there, too!

Mr Wazoo did some work, too!

Panto: Alfresco

I did this one

Panto: Big Splat

Mr Wazoo's work

I can't remember the panto name :o(

Panto: Springtime

I quilted this for my sister!

Panto: Featherize

Mr Wazoo again!

Panto: Ebb and Flo

My sister made this beauty! I quilted it.

Panto: Flower feather

Customer commission well under way!

I hope to get this top done tomorrow so I can have the quilting finished before knee-day. I have two more, too. Ain't gonna make it...

Meanwhile, the mountains are beautiful. The air is cool and the nip is in the air. I love it here!