Sunday, January 18, 2009

Once Again

Once again, I must start off by thanking everyone for your wonderful prayers, thoughts and e-mails regarding my mom. You folks are all awesome! The care and concern that I have found in the blogging world has been inspirational to say the least. It IS just like family.




My mother continues to improve since a diagnosis was made and she was transferred from the hospital to an acute rehab facility on Thursday night. Since she has not been well since Thanksgiving she will need some intense therapy to get her back to being able to do her own transfers from bed to wheelchair, etc. She has used a slide board which is a flat board that bridges the gap between wheelchair and whatever. It does require a lot of upper arm strength to lift your body even to slide across. She is feeling well, is very upbeat and eager to accomplish this goal and return home to living on her own again. So, again, thank you one and all. Today she was educating her occupational therapist on how to play Spider Solitaire.




Much of my time has been spent at the hospitals so I am now beginning to get a few of the very necessary things done around the house. Today was spent pruning roses. I have over 100 rose bushes and I generally have them all pruned by the beginning of January. We have had such a heat wave here and I noticed that the bushes were starting to bud out already. I would have much rather spent the day in my sewing room, but needs and wants can differ.




I have not been able to get to any sewing since the beginning of December and I was going to post some of the items that I was working on for Christmas. Since I did not get to it then, I will show you a few that I did manage to finish.



This was a gift for one of our granddaughters. She has one of the 18" dolls and needed some clothes for her.







This is a small quilt and pillow for a doll bed for the same doll. It was actually a Santa gift that my DIL had asked me to make.





I did manage to finish up both stockings for the new babies this year. I have always done the counted cross stitch ones and have loved doing them, but this year I did the felt ones. It is ironic and a pure coincidence that the felt kit that I selected for Jack was actually a Jack-in-the-box. I had picked up the kit before we even knew what the baby was going to be. All the same, I thought this was appropriate.



One more project that I completed was a table runner for Christmas.







SOME AWARDS FOR 2009.




I have also been blessed with two wonderful awards to start off 2009. The first one came from Baba and it states:



"This award focuses on the friendships that blossom here in blogland. Blogs who receive this award are 'exceedingly charming' say its authors. This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

Be sure to check out her blog and meet two adorable little twin boys.








The second one came from Midlife Mom and it says:


"The Blogger manifests exemplary attitude, respecting the nuances that pervades amongst different cultures and beliefs. The Blog contents inspire; strives to encourage and offers solutions. There is a clear purpose at the Blog; one that fosters a better understanding on Social,Political, Economic, the Arts, Culture and Sciences and Beliefs. The Blog is refreshing and creative. The Blogger promotes friendship and positive thinking. The Blogger who receives this award will need to perform the following steps:



1. Create a Post with a mention and link to the person who presented the Noblesse Oblige Award.
2. The Award Conditions must be displayed at the Post.
3. Write a short article about what the Blog has thus far achieved – preferably citing one or older Post to support.
4. The Blogger must present the Noblesse Oblige Award in concurrence with the Award conditions.
5. The Blogger must display the Award at any location at the Blog."



I am thrilled to add both of these to my blog, but to choose only a few of the blogs for these wonderful awards would be exceedingly difficult. I therefore welcome my faithful readers to accept them and pass them on to others. I find all of the bloggers that I follow to be friendly, charming, witty, talented in so many ways and very inspiring. I think we all are motivated by one another and are vastly improved because of blogging.



Did everyone enjoy the HUGE full moon that we had last week? I heard that it is the biggest moon of the year and I had to take a picture of it rising from the East.







One more note of interest was my Amaryllis that I started in early December. I had planned to have it bloom in time for Christmas, but it shot right up and had five huge blooms on a short stem the second week of December. I cut that one off and would you believe it shot up another stalk with SIX huge blossoms on a very tall stem? I was so impressed in spite of the fact that I did not get my Christmas bloom. I have never had one do that before. Has that happened to any of you?

Second bloom.






I am off now to soak these sore muscles in a warm bath. I wish the best of all for everyone this coming week.






































23 comments:

  1. Congrats on the awards. That is wonderful about your mom, now you can take a breathers.

    when I was a young girl my mothe made barbie clothes for my barbie...that was the best gift and I am sure your granddaughter will love it. Love the stockings....

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  2. Your Mom is a real trooper! I pray for her healing and for you as her caregiver. You have been so good to send us your best wishes during our trials recently in the death of my son-in-law, and here you are having such a time with your dear Mother's health. What a great blogger friend you are to everyone. I pray for your Mom and for you. Thank you., and you well deserve all the awards you have been receiving! The doll clothing you made is outstanding! Reminds me of when I used to make those Barbie clothes for my little girls.

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  3. Such good news that your Mom is on the road to recovery. Sounds like she is very determined and I'm sure she will once again be able to transfer. I'll continue to pray for her and you.

    Love the doll clothes and the quilt. I remember making Barbie clothes about 45 years ago. Oh how I hated the skinny sleeves and pant legs! Did you machine sew or hand sew as you sat in the hospital? The stockings are beautiful too. How did you find-make time to get all that done?

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  4. Congratulations on the wonderful and very deserving awards! And I am so pleased to hear that your Mom is doing so well. My mother is also an expert at Spider!

    The photos of your gifts are superb. The doll's clothing is just beautiful. My gran used to knit little clothes for my Barbie back in the 60's and I think I still have some of the dresses somewhere. I
    I hope you are enjoying resting after all your hard work in the garden!

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  5. I am so glad to hear that your mom is improving. With her gumption, I'm sure she'll be back to her old self eventually!

    Your sewing is just amazing. I wish I could still sew. I have so many girlies that would benefit!

    I haven't had an amaryllis in years - so beautiful!!

    We've had a heat wave here the last few days - over 60, which is pretty weird this time of year for Colorado. But we'll enjoy it while it lasts and hope we get some more moisture soon.

    Have a great week!

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  6. Hi, My computer is in the shop so I am trying to catch up on a few posts on R's computer. I don't like the keyboard so this will be short. Should have my computer back in a day or so and then will really get caught up.

    Glad to hear that your Mom is doing so well and has such a great attitude! That makes all the difference in the world. Will she be home before we go to OR?

    Your sewing is just fabulous!

    Don't have my e-mail on this computer so will check in a few days hopefully.

    Take care. xoxox

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  7. Thank you so much for your visit to Gatherings. I am so happy to have you visit. It looks as if you are a very talented lady! I will enjoy reading your past posts and learning more about you. Please come visit Gatherings anytime! Blessings...Tonja

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  8. LOve the photos of the things you made and you must have a SUPER amaryllis to do that double-blooming thing. I"m glad your mom is doing better and hope the rest of her recovery will be rapid and complete. Congrats on the awards, too!

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  9. Glad to read that your mom is improving! Lovely projects you have completed! Don't forget to take good care of yourself! Cheers!

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  10. I too, am praying for your mom and you. I know how it is to have someone in hospitals and nursing homes. It zaps you. But we love them so. Congrats on the awards and I love the doll clothes. You are very talented.

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  11. Hello dear Mary:-)

    Finally getting the chance to visit you...I'm sooo behind once again! What else is new?! lol Such wonderful news to hear that your mom is doing so much better. I'm sure she is anxious to get back home again!! My prayers continue for her.

    I wish I could be pruning my roses...unfortunately they're buried under a few feet of snow! lol

    I just love all the doll clothes you made, just precious! And those Christmas stockings are so delightful, just perfect!!

    Congratulation on receiving those two well deserved awards, my friend. Isn't it a wonderful feeling to know that we all love and appreciate you:-)xoxo

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  12. You were sewing up a storm! How special to make all of those clothes for your granddaughter. She'll treasure them, I'm certain.

    I'm happy to hear the positive update on your mom.

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  13. My goodness...you did some beautiful articles. Those doll clothes are precious. Love the quilt too!

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  14. Sounds like Mom is well on her way to recovery! That's good news.

    Loved the doll clothes, especially the bunny robe and slippers.I remember making those for my daughter when she was little...she's 30 now!
    Seems like you still got a lot finished with all you had going on.

    Congrats on your awards!

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  15. I read your comment on my sister's blog that you would be praying for my husband when he has shoulder surgery. First of all thank you for that, we appreciate all we can get. Secondly, you sound like you are really something(all the crafts and flowers) plus taking care of your mom. She will now be in my prayers. I know that paraplegia is tough to handle and she sounds like she is not a quitter. Good luck to her and to you all.

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  16. Glad to hear your mom is doing better. The doll clothes are so cute. Do you have a pattern or did you do them on your own? My daughter has a couple of American girl dolls, buying clothes can get spendy so I was wondering.

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  17. Great news about your mum.

    You are a talented sewer!

    Thankyou for sharing.

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  18. Great news about your mom and I will continue to pray!
    Hugs,
    Kelli

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  19. Great news about your Mom, its always nice to hear someone has good news!!!!
    My mother made me Barbie clothes yearssss ago, I bet I still have them somewhere!!

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  20. Re your comment - you made a much better choice of where to go on 9/11 than my co-worker. She and her husband were flying to Europe for their 5th anniversary, I believe, when airports closed. They got in the car, too, but went to Las Vegas instead. Of course, Estes was no big deal for them, just up the hill a few miles.

    Next time you're heading to Estes Park, we definitely have to connect!

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  21. Glad your mom is doing better. I wanted to thank you for your prayers for our twin babies. Come on over to my blog and get your Lemonade Award. Your certainly have a good attitude thus the award.
    Have a great day!!

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  22. I've just been doing a bit of catching up on your news. So sorry to hear about your Mom's health issues. My prayers are with you both.
    xo

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  23. Hello!! Thanks for stopping by yesterday on our anniversary!! You really are a great seamstress..Anyone that can sew those little bitty things is great in my eyes for sure.
    Hope you day is going great!! Sandy

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