October ReCap and November Goals

 

Panto pattern for QOV front

My October goals were:

✖1. Cut the fabrics for the 2024 temperature quilt. Piece blocks if possible.

✔2. Embroider the legend of Rita's temperature quilt.

✔3. Embrace PT for my left knee--joint replacement surgery is October 1! 

✔4. Begin a mini handwork project using scraps.

✔5. Document the making of the back of the guild challenge quilt.

✔6. Document the latest sourdough recipes.

✖7. Catch up with the August bonus lesson and the September and October embroidery software lessons.

✖8. Document the art classes I did through the 2024 Sketchbook Revival online course.

✔9. Document the art classes I did with my school age granddaughters.

✔10. Document the last few days of play with my youngest granddaughter.

✖11. Select fabrics for the Rainbow Scrap challenge. The color is brown.

While I wasn't able to machine sew in October, I still accomplished the majority of my list. My favorite post of

Panto pattern for QOV back

the month, was the one that my 12 year old granddaughter wrote. She was tickled that her post had so many views. When there was a comment to the post, I'd text her the comment. She texted back an answer each time. Her responses were fun to read. 

My November goals are:

1. Trim, bind, label and sleeve the QOV that I started back in August. It's back from the quilter.

2. Trim, bind, label and sleeve Indigo Way that was the Bonnie Hunter mystery last year. The quilter delivered it last Friday.

3. Catch up with the 2024 Temperature quilt.

4. Determine the fabrics for the 2025 Temperature quilt.

5. Determine the pattern for the 2025 Temperature quilt.

6. Continue with my knee PT rehabilitation.

7. Complete the August bonus lesson and the September embroidery software lessons.

8. Gather fabrics for the 2024 Bonnie Hunter mystery. Have enough prepped to begin the mystery on 11/22.

9. Finish the blocks for the 2024 Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

10. Share the results of the Mt. Hood Quilters Guild show.

11. Make progress stitching in the ditch on a RSC project.

12. Document any play time with the two older granddaughters.

I do hope that I'll be back in the studio soon. I'll try again today. I might be able to cut a few pieces of fabric and maybe sew a few together. Regarding my knee: yesterday was the first day that I could sit with my knee in the neutral position. Perhaps, I'll be turning the corner soon and see some rapid progress with this rehab process. It's been a tough 32 days since surgery. The new parts are not the issue. It is all the muscles, tendons and ligaments that support those new parts that are giving me the issues.

Linking to Cynthia at Oh Scrap.

 

Embroidering the Legend for Rita's Temperature Quilt--post 3

Goal number two on my October list was to embroider the legend for Rita's Temperature quilt. I used two strand of black DMC embroidery floss and the back stitch to work the numbers. Because I am early in my recovery from my left knee joint replacement surgery, getting this far took me much longer than I had expected.

Temperatures embroidered on legend

While I still have the snow, rain, sun days to add; I feel great that I was able to complete this much! The finished quilt will be going to live with Rita's husband, Brad.

I'm still unable to sit in a straight back chair for more than a few minutes so machine sewing is not an activity I can do. I also am unable to stand so cutting fabric isn't in my wheelhouse either. I'm not able to walk far with the walker either as the muscles tighten uncomfortably. This rehabilitation is becoming harder than the first one. I will get there. . . .eventually.

Linking to Alycia at Finished or Not Friday and Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts.

Granddaughter Sleepover with Guest Writer Miss K

Peach/blueberry crisp oven ready

Hi, this is Miss K, and I had the pleasure of a sleepover with my Papa and Gran. I'm writing the post today while my Gran recovers from knee surgery.

Contents of the bag of solid scraps

For lunch Papa made us BLTA (Bacon Lettuce Tomato Avocado) sandwiches with chips. It was the perfect lunch! I baked a yummy Peach and Blueberry Crisp recipe. The recipe turned out to be super easy to make. It was delicious! If you have any peaches and blueberries, I would suggest this.

Marking the pieces

Gran taught me how to make curvelets, picking through all the colorful scraps, and finding pieces that were the right size. They were so easy and fun to make using templates and extra scraps! We used a thin needle and small stitches. We don't know how they will be used; but, they are fun to make. . .well, the small stitches are hard! I like the gluing part though! I showed my sister how to make them too.

Cutting the pieces

After we watched a show, we had an appetizer of tater tots and an entree of Gran's famous chicken noodle soup made by Papa! It was amazing and very filling! We next had our crisp with ice cream and all I can say is it was great.

Teaching Miss J where to place the glue

Go Beavers! We turned on the Beaver football game. Miss J and I went to bed just after the second half. That morning we woke up and had pancakes, bacon, and orange juice. Our mama came around ten to pick us up. I had an amazing time!

The first three curvelts before trimming and pressing

Goal number four on Gran's October list was to share the information about a new handwork project. Gran wanted to link to Alycia at Finished or Not Friday, Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts and to Cynthia at Oh Scrap.

Game Time--A Day with Oldest Daughter

Orange was the color to wear for the game

My oldest daughter, Amanda, is mom to Miss K and Miss J. She and her husband, James, are great parents.She has been a special education teacher for more than 15 years. Her days are full with teaching and managing the girls to soccer and basketball activities. We don't see one another often. When she invited me to an Oregon State University (OSU) football game, I accepted. I was concerned about my mobility.

Sharing a Bloody Mary

My husband and I had gifted her and James season tickets. We enjoyed attending the games. Unfortunately, my knees made it uncomfortable to attend the games. Long story short, Amanda invited me to attend the OSU versus University of Oregon (U of O) game. 

We left from her house early on a Saturday morning because the game began at 12:30pm. She found a restaurant for brunch and made reservations.  We each had a Bloody Mary and we shared a pumpkin spice doughnut as an appetizer. I didn't think to snap a photo! She asked me when was the last time I had a Bloody Mary. I replied I had no idea!

I asked the server what were the most popular dishes people ordered and I asked what dish the chef was excited about making. She gave me a list of favorites; but, didn't have a list for the chef.

We both ordered an entree that was from the popular dishes and then split it so we could sample more of the menu. Our dishes were both delicious. 

Our entrees

After brunch, we drove to the parking lot at the game and we made our way to the stadium. The last games I attended were in the old stadium. The stadium underwent a renovation that demolished the stands on the west side of  the field.

Now spectators can walk all the way around the inside of the stadium. The renovation took a couple of years. I didn't think that I would walk around the stadium or see another game.

When we first attended football games post college, my father-in-law had season tickets on the west side of the field. When we purchased our season tickets, the seats were on the east side of the field. We've had the tickets three rows up from the student section and at the 50 yard line about twenty  years.

Standing where the stadium ended

Once we arrived in the stadium, we did walk all the way around. Amanda took a photo as proof! The new side of the stadium is nice. There are a lot of eateries which is so different for the days of either hot dogs or hamburgers! 

Unfortunately for us, the Beavers were no match for the Ducks. We were beaten soundly, 14-49. I enjoyed spending time with my daughter.

At the game

More Sourdough. . .post 2

Goal number six on my October list was to document the latest sourdough recipes that I've made. I first made the Puffed Sourdough Crackers with Gruyere and Thyme. . .except, I left out the thyme!

Puffed Sourdough Crackers

These were not difficult to make; but, it did take some time to roll them out thin and cut them into 1 1/2 squares! My husband loved this recipe. I made it a second time. This time I did add the thyme; but, the results weren't as great as the first time. I used a cheaper Gruyere cheese and I think that was the issue. Still, they were good crackers. They resembled Cheez-its.

Next, I made several loaves of Basic No-Knead Focaccia. I was dubious about the no knead; but, the texture was great with no kneading. I was also dubious about putting the garlic cloves, paper and all, in the dough. The baked garlic was good to use a spread and the area around the clove tasted like garlic. Everyone who sampled this loaf was surprised at how good it tasted!

Sourdough English Muffins

The next recipe that I made was Overnight Mini Sourdough English Muffins. Years ago, when I baked all the bread that we ate, I also made sourdough English muffins. This was a little different recipe than the one I used years ago. It also was great!

Egg, cheese bacon as a breakfast sandwich

I liked being able to cook the entire recipe at once on the griddle. I may have kneaded these too much because I didn't get the holes that I was expecting. I'll have to try again one of these days! We ate these as egg, bacon, cheese breakfast sandwiches! They were great!

Sourdough waffles

Finally, I made a batch of Sourdough Waffles. The recipe was perfect as it made six round waffles. We ate four. I froze the other two and ate them like a commercial frozen waffle. They were tasty. My husband liked those too! Although, we both decided that we didn't need the cinnamon sugar topping that the recipe suggested.

Creating Art with the Older Granddaughters

Miss J's elephant first session . . .lines

Goal number nine on my October list was to document the art that my two older granddaughters created. For a number of years, I've participated in a free online course called Sketchbook Revival that spans a few works with two classes released each day. Classes can use acrylic paints, color pencils, crayons, watercolors, pens, inks, pencils as materials. Participants may draw, paint, collage any combination of all! Each video presentation is between 30 and 60 minutes. 

Miss K's turtle first session

Miss K and Miss J came for an overnight the weekend before my surgery. The online course was in full swing so we watched and participated in three lessons. They brought their art kits which contain watercolor paper and watercolor paint. 

My horse first session--pencil, color pencils

Carla Sonheim led the first session of drawing some lines on the paper with a pencil and then turning the lines into something. I like her approach. We all had different animals at the end! We were all surprised that we were able to draw "something" recognizable. Most important, we had fun!

The set-up

The second presentation was about using different art supplies to be inspired which Janine Vangool led. We all liked how Janine gave us a variety of examples of how to incorporate various supplies into her work. We stuck with what we had before us. 

We painted colors of emotion for the second presentation

In the third  presentation, we watercolored some flowers with Tamara LaPorte. Tamara is one of my favorite presenters. I always learn so much from her. Again, our work was similar, it was also different from each other. Miss J is so fast with her movements. Miss K takes more time. She said she liked darker/bolder colors. I was trying to practice the blending. Again, we had fun. 

Watercolor poppies 

The girls are coming over for an overnight this weekend so we will be making more art. I'm not sure how much I'll physically be able to participate as I am still in the early stages of healing!

The Youngest Granddaughter and Youngest Daughter

Playing spools with Mama

 Miss A had so much fun with the empty thread spools. She showed them to her mama. Mama played with them in a way different than what Miss A and I had. This is so like my daughter. . .always outside the box with her thinking!

Sampling a blueberry smoothie

Miss A and I spent a lot of our time together cooking. We made a couple of blueberry smoothies with the Magic Bullet. She liked layering the ingredients into the container. When we turned on the machine to mix, her eyes grew so big. Immediately, she was intrigued with the noise as well as the color change of her drink! When it was time to drink it, she preferred drinking it with a straw. She left nothing behind!

Dressed for baking bread

We made some sourdough focaccia bread. This process made me laugh as the dough to Miss A looked like play dough. I showed her how to knead the dough. I gave her a chunk of dough for her to "massage" or knead. She picked it up and slapped it on the bread board. She said, "Not working." She repeated the process and this time said not play dough. I explained it was bread dough. I took a bite of the dough and she was aghast. When I encouraged her to taste it, she wouldn't. I don't think she ever realized the dough we put to rise was the bread we ate for dinner!

Salad making

We made salads. She loved using the spinner. She was awed by the water that was left behind in the spinner. She also loved pushing the top as fast as she could so she could see the bowl spin around fast!!

She also liked tearing the lettuce. Although, there were a number of times that a leaf went in with a twist; but, no tear! Mixing the ingredients together was her favorite part of the process. There were times when she helped herself to a cucumber and or carrot chunk!

Helping Papa in the garden

She had a great time helping my husband outside. I chuckled over her imitating his actions in the rose garden as he pruned spent blooms and placed the discards in his bucket. Of course, she had to have her own bucket. She watched his actions carefully. Then she went to a plant, picked up a few leaves from the ground; which she put in her bucket. Then she moved to the next plant at the same time as he did! She was careful to avoid the thorns on the plant.

Riding the "horse"

She also had a great time convincing her Papa to get down on his hands and knees so she could ride him like a horse. I laughed as she mounted backwards! She giggled the whole time. Her giggles grew louder when she hit the ground. She never did mount a different way!

"Shopping" at Starbucks

She loved hanging out with her cousins. Miss A and her oldest cousin, Miss K,  played human burrito with each other. Unfortunately, I have no photos of this activity. The two of them laughed and laughed as they rolled each other up in a lap quilt!

Enjoying her drink

The two also spent some time at Starbucks. Miss K is all about shopping. Of course, Miss A decided she was a shopper too. Although, enjoying her drink was the best part of the visit.

Being a "star" in the pool

She and Papa also spent some time in the pool. He was able to get Miss A to float on her back as still as a star in the sky for about seven seconds! For this busy gal, seven seconds fells like a lifetime!

Documenting my first spin cycle ride

Her mama and I took a cycle class. My daughter loves to spin/cycle. It was my first time to cycle. I was concerned that my knee wouldn't hold up to the movement. My daughter helped me clip in to the bike after the instructor had given me some pointers about how to use the bike and how the class was organized. When the instructor asked if I had any injuries, her eyes grew larger with each of my admissions. I said, I most likely would spend most of my time sitting. Sitting was not comfortable for my backside!! It was a fun class. My knee didn't like standing so I didn't do that often. This activity is one I'd like to do when my left knee is up to the task. It was special to be able to share this experience with my daughter.

Documenting a few more activities with Miss A was goal number ten on my October list. I am feeling better after my knee replacement surgery; but, I'm still not able to sit for handwork. I hope that I can stitch on a hand project next week.

Knee Update--Not Quilting Related

Upper left and right: Bruising after October surgery
Lower left and right: Bruising after April surgery

WARNING: This is a non quilting post. I'm documenting my knee progress.

When I last reported about my right knee May 1; I was planning a two week break from PT because I wasn't making any improvements on my flexibility or extension. I still had the thigh pain from the quadriceps tear and the pain from the Achilles Tendonitis. My range of motion (ROM) was about 115 degrees for flexion and 3 degrees for extension.

The first week, I worked on the exercises on my own. I continued to ice my knee, heel and thigh at least three times during the day. At the beginning of the second week, I came down with COVID. Other than going to the bathroom, I was most comfortable laying in bed. About day six I could sort of sit up. I restarted my PT exercises on day 10. Day 12, I tested negative for COVID. Fatigue and a cough remained at day 13. 

Upper: Swelling after October surgery
Lower: Swelling after April surger

So for ten days, the closest I came to PT exercises were a few stretches and flexions while I laid in bed. It was like starting over with the quadriceps muscle exercises. I sure wish the muscles would remember like the brain does!

Laying around did have benefits because the swelling in both of my legs reduced. The pain in my Achilles  also lessened. July was when I came down with COVID. It was mid August before I started feeling like me again.  

In August, I went to a podiatrist because of the heel pain in my right foot. Turns out, I have two bone spurs. One on the outside of my heel which could be removed in an "in" office procedure, The other is at the bottom of the heel. This one would have to removed by going through my Achilles tendon. . .ugh. . .!!!!

The leg wrap that worked in April

I lived with that pain because October 1, I had my left knee joint replaced. The surgeon reported to my husband that this surgery went as well as the first. One would think that the same surgery would bring similar experiences. The short answer is yes and no!

First, I've had a lot of nausea this go around. Last time I had none. Second, I have little numbness around the knee. I still have a large area that is numb on my right knee. Third, the NICE ice machine isn't the winner it was last time. It is uncomfortable to use. I think having more of my nerves intact is a factor. I also have more bruising under the bend in my knee that I didn't have last time.

As an aside, the colors again are amazing. Perhaps, these will become the inspiration for a future quilt!

Fourth, I'm more comfortable sitting in my chair or laying in bed than I am laying on the couch with my leg elevated. It actually is uncomfortable to elevate my leg. Fifth, I have more range of motion at this point than I did last time. Sixth, my pain level is about the same. This time, I've taken one oxycontin dose. Last time, I took one and a half oxycontin doses. Seventh, swelling and bruising feels and looks similar. This time, I've been able to wear the support stockings as prescribed. I wasn't able to wear them last time because the stockings rolled down, caused a rash and bruising.

Penne pasta in a wine and sun dried tomato sauce with 
broccoli and pecorino cheese

This time before surgery, I got to have an echocardiogram because I had too much swelling on my pre-op appointment. The echo showed that while I had been diagnosed with a congenital heart murmur about 20 years ago, this echo showed I had none. Improvements in technology was the reason given for the false murmur diagnosis

The test did show that my left atrium was a bit dilated as was my right ventricle. So, while surgery went ahead as scheduled, the consensus of the surgeon and pre-op team was that I would be spending the night. I asked to reevaluate because I wanted to go home same day.

Me with my husband--the best care taker ever

On surgery day, my prep went well. We had a CNA, Alex, who gave us a great tutorial on how to get the support stockings on my body without so much pinching! 

Again, the surgeon said I'd be staying the night and I asked if we could re-evaluate after surgery. He wasn't excited about my request; but, he agreed.

Surgery went well as well as it did the first time. My heart performed "normally." I was again on the list to go home same day! 

I've had two PT sessions. Embracing PT was goal number three on my October list. The therapist spent our time reducing my leg swelling. Tomorrow, I have another PT session. We're going to work on stretching my thigh muscles. He did see how much range of motion I have in my right leg. . .122 degrees! (My goal was to get to 120 degrees.) I'm not at zero yet on the extension on the right leg; but, I'm working on it. It pays to keep doing the exercises!

The therapist was impressed with my progress. I imagine many people don't follow through and are back with the same issues. Thursday, I have an appointment with my primary care doctor for his opinion about my echo results. I imagine that I'll be seeing a cardiologist. Perhaps, having COVID a few months ago is a factor. Perhaps, having this surgery uncovered an issue. We shall see.

My husband has been by my side the entire time. My in town daughter sent us a casserole Sunday which was good; but, delicious the second day. It was nice for my husband to have a break cooking! I wouldn't be able to advance as much as I have without him!

I haven't been able to sew. . .even hand stitch yet. . .maybe in the next day or two. So far, I have been able to report today is a better day than yesterday. All is good!!