Vacation From Quilting, Thanksgiving, and Belated HQAL Post – 21 Nov 23

I would like to wish all a wonderful Thanksgiving. enjoy the time with your family or people that you love! Clay and I will veer from the traditional meal and have Boneless Spare Ribs (aka crockpot beef), potato salad, and apple cobbler. It will be a quiet day with some football thrown in.

I am sure that you are curious about our maiden voyage in “The Duck”. Well, that has not happened, nor a day trip to Rockport. As usual we have had nothing but unforeseen requirements knock at our door. So for now, hitching up the new Travel Trailer will have to wait.

On 29 November I will have my right thumb operated on and yes, I am right handed! I have Thumb Arthritis at the CMC joint where the cartledge is gone. but also there is a joint that has to be fused along with the removal of the CMC Joint. Now doesn’t this sound like FUN! I have been to a different hand doctor from the one I originally visited with and he a great Surgeon to have for this type of surgery. He is extremely professional and capable of correcting the problem. (OUCH)

Now to the “vacation from quilting” recovery time frame. It will take up to 4 months to recover from it. I will have the surgery on Wednesday (29 Nov) and the next Tuesday (5 Dec) will go back to have stitches removed (maybe). But as soon as the stitches are removed I will be put in a full cast for 2 weeks. THEN the real FUN starts. Therapy twice a week. In 1980 (wow 43 years ago) I had the thumb operated on when I fell and ruptured the ligaments and tendons. That surgery never held, so I believe my Doctor is going to correct that problem with this surgery.

The pain in the palm of my hand started in August and thinking it was from the old 1980 surgery I did not go to the doctor – instead I used a brace to calm the pain. Obviously if I had realized that I had a REAL problem things would be over with and done. Oh Well.

So here is what I have been able to accomplish since my last post of 29 October 2023.

There has not been anymore progress on In The Garden – cannot applique without mucho pain! But I did finish quilting and binding the “lap quilt” for The Duck!

I did the binding by machine. I am very pleased with how the binding came out and my quilting. Win Win for me!

I wanted to save my grey batik fabric and chose a black batik for the backing.

I have selected my entire Jenny Beyer fabric collections to make quilts for the graduates at Jones Academy next May. I finished the first quilt this week. The quilt measures 56″ x 56″ (I think as it is close enough for Government work as the saying goes!)

I will not be working on any other quilting projects unless I begin cutting strips for the next quilt – depends on my mood! I have always had a difficult time with any type of surgery – being such a strong willed individual, it is difficult to just waltz in and let someone else control your body and mind. But I am working on thinking positive and not dwelling on the surgery or the pain that will come. Surgery on hands is very painful, but I believe that my Tylenol will come through for me.

On 1 November Murray A/C installed our new Mini-Split air/heat systems. We love them! The electrical bill should drop like a rock! Thought pictures would also show the units, plus the beautiful work that Clay did to cover up where the window units were before the Mini’s.

This is the unit in the Den – Clay changed out the white cover plus to one that matches the wall.

This is the Bedroom Mini. Since this picture was taken he changed the cover on the electrical plug that now is on the outside of the house, and moved the curtain on the left side closer to the unit to make it even! He also changed the cover to a wood cover and stained it to match the wall! He is such the creative guy when working with wood! Can you tell we love the Southwest look? Must be his Choctaw blood that inspires us!

Now for my 2024 quilting plans – I will be making this quilt using Pam Buda’s fabrics.

I fell in love with this fabric when she showcased it in June. It was back ordered from Hancocks of Paducah and received this week. Going to be a fun quilt to make as I love Reproduction quilts and the fabrics to make them with.

Kathy told me about this pattern last week and thought it would make a great quilt for Jones Academy project. I ordered it through Amazon.

POLITICAL ALERT: I just pray that America can hold on for the next 11 months and then for a President Trump Inauguration on 20 January 2025. It is becoming more and more evident how incompetent the current administration is. We are all suffering from their decisions and DIVERSITY policies. I pray for Isreal and the hostages, but mostly I pray that the USA makes it though 2023/2024 without a terrorist attack. I have a difficult time in understanding why anyone would vote for another 4 years of what we are going through now.

Have a blessed thanksgiving and will blog when I am able on how I am doing with the Thumb Surgery! It is not for the faint of heart so I am working on my Mind – THINK POSITIVE and enjoy the nap! LOL

Hugs to all

Nanette,

Linking To:  My Quilt Infatuation; Confessions of a Fabric Addict; Finished or Not Friday ; Em’s Scrap Bag; BOM’s Away;  Sew Fresh Quilts; Crazy Mom Quilts;  Oh Scrap; Scrap Happy Saturday; Slow Sunday Stitching  Quilt Fabrication Mid Week Makers; Peacock Party; Design Wall Monday, Scrap Happy Days, Quilting Patch Linky Party, To Do Tuesdays

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.
Kathy, Margaret, Deb, Nanette, Sharon, Karrin, Daisy, Connie, and Cathie.