I think She's Waking Up

My new header picture, there temporarily, shows my good buddy Bella, waiting patiently for me to return home.

My knee replacement surgery last Monday morning went beautifully, and my post operative course has been without problems.  I am expecting to be released back into the general population once again on Monday.

(For the two people in my circle who would like to know medical particulars, I had a spinal anaesthetic, and level 8 pain the first day.)  I am impressed with all the machinery that helps to prevent pneumonia, clots, and excessive sleep. 

Rehabilitation is the name of the game now, and I am the poster granny for that.   I can bend my knee---or maybe My knee can be bent to 90 degrees and lie full flat on the bed at 0 degrees.  All they ask of me.  Getting it on and off the bed isn't as easy, but as the incision heals that won't be so painful.

So here I lie, reading books, collecting flower arrangements, fielding phone calls, and solving puzzles.  And healing well.
Thanks for your well-wishes and prayers.  They are much appreciated!

Home on Monday, methinks.

Speedy McReady

I am amazed and excited at the quick turnaround that is possible when a quilter brings her work---in this case, as pieced top----to a person who can machine quilt it for her. Or him.

Last weekend I got this top which isn't a thing of beauty, but used up some beautiful furnishing fabrics.  They were too stiff and closely woven to hand quilt, so I brought the top and a flannel backing to my friend who has large quilting machine. 

She got this on Monday.  Wednesday morning she called me to tell me it was ready.  I was dumbfounded!  I have a fine gift finished already.  I love to hand quilt, but looking over an acre of unquilted material is disheartening.  Especially when you're not young anymore. 

The son of mine who will be receiving this gave me a quilt journal to document the work and pictures of projects.  He's very optimistic, because there is room in this book for over 50 projects!  If they could go this quickly, I have half a chance.

By the way, the radio station down the road about 40 miles west of us, reported snow flurries this morning. 

Time for quilts, mittens, jackets, and such.

Have a good weekend, whatever your weather.

Story Tellers

It's Wednesday again and time for a cuppa with shannon of asouthernbellewithnorthernroots.blogspot.com .

I have grumped before about the dragging inefficiency of  "the bureaucracy" and the license my daughter was waiting for then still has not arrived.  The state's 60 days have elapsed and it's time to call a lawyer.

But I need to tell you a different, older story. 

Back a long, long time ago, in a country across the river, a young man and his wife and babies moved from Illinois and needed to register their Dodge Dart in their new land.  They procured the forms and filled them out, and sent them to the Great Maw of the State Paperwork Center.

Several times the paperwork went back and forth, yet they still didn't have their car registration.  There was never any indication of what the problem was.  Finally in exasperation, the young man wrote a letter to the Paperwork Maw, insulting their intelligence.

Quickly a letter returned explaining (patiently) that there was a discrepancy in the car description between two of the forms.  One described the car as having two doors, while another said it was a four door vehicle.  If they were having trouble determining the number of doors, they could take the vehicle to the nearest law enforcement officer who would be happy to count the doors for them. 

The young man and his wife dissolved in helpless laughter, and took the car to the sheriff, who happily complied by counting the doors for them.  Then, in due time, they received their car registration.

Happy ending.  Plus they got to tell the story on themselves for decades afterwards.

The moral of the story:  Someone at the Maw had a sense of humor.  Luckily the young couple did, too.

Well, I'm just puzzled!

This yarn picture (of some of my yarn purchases in Ireland) is just to get you in the mood.  I know
some of you are knitters and crocheters. And maybe you subscribe to some knitting blogs and some newsletters?  And you get catalogs?

Me too, and I thought I sort of had my ear to the ground, so to speak.  But I was surprised to learn today that I can purchase a product called wool stainless steel.

Lion Brand yarn products, which include basic staples such as merino, baby alpaca, silk mohair, organic wool, and even cashmere, now also has this product.

"Wool stainless steel allows you to create amazing pieces that keep their shape".

Well, no kidding!  Like now I can knit a new toaster oven!  At least if I can get an electrician to install the switches and coils and stuff.  I'm excited.  Enough with the afghans, and lined mittens and sock for friends.  I can probably knit a scooter or maybe even a Hog.  Now to find some patterns!

I'll be MIA for a few days next week while I have my knee replaced.  Well maybe more than a few days--depending on how long it takes to get my knee to bend again properly.  Wish me well, unless you're a pray-er.  Then I'd covet your prayers, as we say at prayer meeting.

While I'm out of commission, you keep your eyes open for patterns for me.  ( I just finished Steve's Christmas socks and was wondering what to do next.  So I texted youngest son.  Socks are always appreciated, was his reply.  I thought maybe I could branch out and do something else for a while.)

Rave On, Maxine!

I'm pretty sure Maxine is copyrighted and I'd go to jail for posting her image--but surely you've seen the grumpy, sunglassed, sourpuss image of Maxine while you're looking for a birthday card at the mall.

I was looking through my fabric catalog, dreaming of projects to come, when I came across a fabric printed with Maxine images and pithy sayings.  It's supposed to be Christmas fabric---the time for warm fuzzy feelings and thoughts of good cheer.  You remember.

Now, before I sound like I'm critical, I have to tell you that I laughed.  What I'm wondering about is "Why?"

Maxine is growling Christmas greetings such as,  "Have yourself a merry little Christmas.  Just don't drag me into it."  Or "I baked!  It's a Christmas miracle!" or my favorite---"My soul's had enough chicken soup.  I want some chocolate."

Is is that deep inside we want to be free to be grumpy, and have that be acceptable behavior?  More like I'd like to be grumpy and have it be profitable.  Now there's a combination you don't see so much.  I don't even feel grumpy that often, so maybe it's good to have a surrogate Grumpy Person, like a designated driver---who can be grumpy for us all. 

Whatever it's all about, nobody bears her any ill will, and I even send Maxine cards to people strong enough to bear up to the laughter.  So be who you are, Maxine.  You are a valuable public servant.  Hee-hee.

Story Tellers Entry

Shannon at asouthernbellewithnorthernroots.blogspot.com hosts this Wednesday get-together, where we can share some great stories. 

Meet the young me with my baby sister, Jane (her real name).  She was born after the proper amount of time elapsed after my father's return after his service in WW2.  Up to that time, I had been the queen of the hop, living with Mom and my Grandma Anderson without any fathers, uncles, or men eligible to be off fighting wars. 

A little before this picture was taken, probably the winter before, my parents evoked some Tough Love in my direction.  It seems that when they would place
that sweet baby in my arms in the rocking chair, she would gently roll down the length of my legs and land with a thump on the floor. 

To discourage any further episodes, my parents packed a suitcase for me and sent me off to my grandmother's house.  They put some very heavy stuff into the suitcase, so I couldn't get very far.  And we lived in an extremely tiny town so I wasn't in any danger.

I struggled with the suitcase, across the street and was cutting through the schoolyard when two girls asked me where I was headed.  When I explained that I was going to take the bus to Iron River, and explained that I kept dropping my sister on the floor, they convinced me that my folks would probably take me back if I stopped dropping the baby.

Hmm.  I could do that.  I'd just stay away from the little monster.  So I headed back and stood at the bottom of the long steep stairwell.  (Little voice)  "Can I come back if I don't touch the baby?"

My dad was standing, six feet tall, at the top of the steps, voice booming,  "Are you going to drop her any more?"

(Little voice, squeaks) "No, I won't drop her any more". 

He heads down the steps to carry the suitcase upstairs for me, pats me on the head, and says, "See that you don't." 

They admitted to me later how they had stood in the front window, watching me the whole time, struggling with the suitcase, talking with the older girls, and heading back home.  I don't think the whole episode took even half an hour, but it still sticks in my mind a great many years later.  Lesson learned.  I never drop her now.

Radical, man

Good Guy and I have a couple of people in our lives who are really close to us.  He, especially, has known one of them for all his life.  This guy is his older brother, known in this blog as Brotherbob.  Since I always wanted an older brother, he kindly consented to be my older brother, too. 

His wife, who was born into a different family than I was, is my "adopted" sister.  My mom while she was still among us, said she could be a daughter too.  With three of us already, one more was welcome. 

So, this sister of mine, is trained as an architect, and works as a spec writer at a busy architectural firm. Her keen eye, and her willingness to share knowledge has given me great appreciation for structures we have seen in our travels and of course, here at home, too.

In her work she comes across a great many avant garde, bizarre, and kooky facts and buildings.  And today she shared some with me, that I'm going to share with you.  I think.  I hope.

Check this out, if you have four minutes to, as my friend says, spit and snort (with laughter).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waxfmSpifRw


Please tell me what you think.