Texas Quilter

February 16, 2025

Life, Phototherapy, Catching Up With Blogging

Happy Sunday 16 February 2025!!!! What a change in our country! I often wonder how many of our Citizens were aware of all of the Fraud, Waste and Abuse of our Taxpayer dollars. I have been aware of the dirty little secrets of not tracking expenditures since I was employed with them for 33 years! But President Trump has the Swamp Creatures running wild! Enough Said! I love it! FINALLY.

OK – to where I have been the last year – Hand surgery 29 Nov 23 – cleared that hurdle in March 2024. BUT alas, I do believe that a life of stress got me, along with some medication, and food allergies. (See Post Here) Do you think I love having Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. now at the helm? YOU BET I DO! I have allergies to soybeans, cow’s milk, corn (knew about that one), and eggs. Take those things out of your diet and you have chicken, potatoes, water left to eat. I am not sure about ground beef…. Everything in our food supply is made with Soybean, Sunflower, or Safflower. All the oils are seed oils. THE GOOD THING that has come with the Eczema Saga is that I have lost 23 pounds and no longer in the pre-diabetic stage. Did you know that Soybean oil is in chocolates? Yup! Gave up all potato chips, Hershey Kisses, and cough drops along with other foods. Lost it in about 6 weeks which is not fun but I am the same weight I was in 1996 and in 1963 while in high school.

I have spent the last 11 months trying to get rid of Spongiotic which encompasses Atopic Dermatitis, Eczema and Nummular Eczema. I have been through hell and back and still in hell for a little longer. All steroid topical creams, steroid shots, and alcohol has not killed the me of Eczema. I have never had anything like this in my life before now. In December my new Dermatologist (young doctor) ordered me a Phototherapy Durable Medical Equipment (DME) for home use rather than going to his office 3 times a week. Nothing moves fast with a Doctor and Staff people need to go to school on how to do their jobs.

Anyway, I FINALLY received the DME on 7 February and was instructed by Doctor’s Staff to set the timer for 1 minute and. 35 seconds every other day. Well that got me a great sunburn and more delays. That is another reason people need to care about their jobs. So bottom line, my new doctor learned a lesson as he told me the Company providing the DME told him that instructions would come with the equipment – need I say more – it should have been set at 51 SECONDS until my body got used to the UVB rays. Another problem.

I spent at least a week or more working with my insurance trying to confirm that if we paid for the equipment up front that we would be 100% reimbursed. Cost to get the machine – $6,099.00 smackers! Of course it will be May before we see any reimbursement.

I still have bad days, but my sleep pattern is 100 better – getting 6 to 8 hours of sleep each night since last week with exception of last night where I went to sleep and woke up to put something for the itching on my body but slept until 8:30 so I would get my 6+ hours in. I am starting to slowly do my walking again. Here is a picture of my Valentine’s present!

Now for quilting!

In late 2022 we went to Rockport Texas for a week. I started the Moda Holiday SAL embroidery project. All 14 blocks are now finished. I would start working on the project every now and then but the thumb surgery kept that from completing it sooner. So here are the blocks. I have not decided how I will do the alternate blocks. We shall see – the pattern showed Court House Steps as setting blocks.

Next thing I have FINALLY finished, Block 1 of 6 blocks for a small version of A Bountiful Life lap quilt.

Here are my stars for my Kim Diehl project.

I am also working on a knitting project – dish rag. It is funny – a year or so away from knitting makes one forget small things. I had a “question” on how to do a segment and Kathy helped me with that today. So on the road with this project.

Other than a lot of pain and loss of many hours of sleep, reducing my diabetic risk is gone along with the remainder of excess weight!

Have a wonderful week in MAGA world! Never know what President Trump will do next! And you gotta love Elon and son X1

Hugs

Nanette

© Nanette Chopin Cook at Doitrightquilter.com 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nanette Chopin Cook and Doitrightquilter.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Linking To: Slow Sunday Stitching To Do Tuesdays

November 11, 2024

God and America are Back! – 11 November 2024

I think this says it all! They tried to put him in jail, bankrupt him, ruin his marriage, hurt his children, but he prevailed with God’s help. AMERICA WILL COME BACK STRONGER BECAUSE OF THIS MAN! NO MORE: Transgender, Masks, Lockdowns, high interest rates, grocery prices and fuel prices out of control, and many more of the crazy Democrat Policies, but most of all the SWAMP CREATURES are putting up “For Sale” signs in their yards! Go Elon, RFK, Jr, and most of all our 45th and 47th President of the United States of America!

President Donald J. Trump

May God Bless our New President and the United States of America!

Hugs

Nanette

November 2, 2024

Back From Oblivian – Post 716 – 2 November 2024

It has been a long LONG LONG year for me health wise and I can hardly wait for 5 November 2024 and 1 January 2025!!!!!!!! I have really missed my quilting life and blog!

This update is from my last post and it isn’t pretty! If you want a reason to vote for President Donald J. Trump and having Robert F. Kennedy, Jr on board to clean up our food and medication, then read about my experience! I am thankful I am in tune with my body!

My skin issues started in April 2024 where I provided an update as of August here

During August thru October, I averaged less than 5 hours of sleep, sometimes 2 to 4 hours due to the “supposedly” Chronic Urticaria (Hives) and night time itching. On 26 September I went back to the Dermatologist and requested a biopsy of the “bumps” for the 2nd time, (1st time was in July and she said that was a LONG process). By then I was in bad shape. She then put me on a 2 week course of a high potent Steriod Ointment. This time she did a biopsy but did not send in enough tissue. So on 3 October I went back for a checkup and another biopsy. She wanted to start me on DUPIXENT immediately for Chronic Urticaria. I REFUSED!

I do not take any Vaccines from the Government and definitely was not going to start on Infusion type medication to control “Chronic Hives” (Remember all this time I had been told that I had Hives, Eczema, and Chronic Urticaria and steriod shots, steriod creams would make it “go away” one day!) By the way – DUPIXENT costs about $20K a year and the company would provide up to $13K a year to help with Insurance deductions.). With my system I would have had a serious problem in taking those shots.

On 15 October they called to tell me that the breakout was related to a Drug I was taking and referred me to my Allergist and Immunologist Dr Vaughn. I was lucky to see him 4 days later and it only took him about 10 minutes to tell me to quit taking my HZTZ (fluid pill for Menieres) and switch to Lasix. He did some bloodwork and the next week he called me to tell me I had allergies to EGGS AND ALMONDS. WOW ! My Dermatologist should have taken the Biopsy in July (or sooner) and NEVER EVER want to put me on DUPIXENT without one. Dr Vaughn advised me that it will take up to another month for my skin issues to completely clear up and he was correct. Slowly, but surely they will clear up.

Next step was to take the LEAP blood test. This test is expensive ($355) but will show all foods that can trigger allergic reactions (Hives) for me. I did a LEAP test in 2012 and it really helped me it watching certain foods that would cause me issues.

I will know the results within the next week or so, in the meantime my diet consists of hamburger meat, potatoes, and a few potato chips and lots of water and decaf coffee. It is not a fun diet, but at least I am beginning to get well.

I also had my 6 month Meniere’s check up! I learned that because I have a Latex allergy, there are foods that will cause skin issues. Check that out here if interested. It tells me why I cannot tolerate fruits, carrots, wheat and rye.

LESSON LEARNED FROM THIS EXPERIENCE. Do not trust Doctors and definitely take time to research what is going on with your body when it decides it does not like something. I spent a LOT of time researching and noticed that Diuretics could cause it, but since neither of the 4 doctors I saw during this time mentioned reaction to a medication I did not ask. Seems that my Meniere’s NP knew that HZTZ could cause Hives, of course I had an appoint with her after I knew what was wrong! BUMMER!

OK if that was boring, here is where I am in “trying” to still enjoy my life as it was a year ago.

I turned 80 Halloween! Just feel the same as I did when I was 79 on Wednesday! LOL. Due to the fun I have been having this year with skin issues, it has delayed the goal of doing my 1.5 mile on my 80th birthday. The weather here in South Texas is still very warm and humid in the mornings so outdoor walks are not on the list. I have re-started my indoor bike exercise and Clay bought me a Life Pro leg exerciser for my birthday that I will be using to get those muscles working again! I tried to do the bike every day that I could while having so much fun with ‘HIVES’ that could have gone away much sooner if my Doctor had listened to me. We have been with her for 27 years, but will be looking for a new Dermatologist next year.

Here is what I have accomplished since my last post. I have quilted the last 3 quilt tops and working on new quilts now.

About 2 years ago I made a lot of churn dash blocks and finally got the tops put together this summer. They are now completed and quilted. The Blue quilt was my favorite, but now I think I really like my Scrappy one.

I started this project from the Moda Holiday SAL in November 2021 when we took a nice trip to Rockport for a week. I have 3 more blocks to do and it will be ready to do a setting for the top soon. I have enjoyed working on the blocks, but this one gave me problems.

I have been working (VERY SLOWLY) on my Block 1 of 6 from A Bountiful Life quilt book. I have already made a quilt top with 9 blocks but it has not been quilted yet…..I had 6 blocks left over and wanted to make a smaller quilt. Here is where I am on that project.

I have started on a new quilt from Rustic Gatherings book from Primitive Gatherings, called Desert Flower, but I call it Southwest Desert Flower. I had purchased the gold hand dyed fabrics years ago and am using it in this quilt.

I have 3 blocks made. This is a fun project – Lots of pieces but using Eleanor Burns Flying Geese Ruler makes them go very fast. This will be Clay’s quilt when finished. I rarely make my quilts with the same color way from the pattern, but this quilt gave me the chance to use some of my 15 year old fabrics.

The next quilt on my list is Autumn Sky from the same book.

Jaydee and I have selected 2 projects from Kim Diehl’s new book Simple Whatnots IV to make. I am hoping to start pulling scraps and work on Token of Affection first and then Pleased as Punch.

Well, this is where I am now. I still have some sleepless nights, and working on “just living with it” attitude. I have learned how to handle stressful things better and the fact that I can only control about 5 things in my life. Maybe this will also help me get through this issue.

Love this little Heart to Remind me what I Can Not Control. It helps to remember the things I can and the things I cannot!

Of course I cannot leave without telling you how much we have been enjoying watching our 45th and 47th President of the United States the last 62 days of non stop Trump World. We love the Speakers, and the fact that RFK, Jr is now supporting President Trump. He will be cleaning up our Medications and Food Supply! We love the fact that Tulsi Gabbord has joined the Republican Party. I predict that in 2028 J.D. Vance and Tulsi Gabbord will be the ticket and then in 2036 Tulsi Gabbord will be the candidate for the Presidency – She will be the first Woman President of the United States. I will probably be gone, but the younger generation will be happy with her leading this Nation.

If you are tired of what has happened to this Nation please vote for President Trump. President Word Salad cannot handle the job.

Hoping to be blogging regularly again! Take Care!

Hugs

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

August 5, 2024

Wondering About Things – 5 August 2024

What a wonderful Monday – Iran going to hit Israel, Stock Market falling, and a Recession on the Horizons. WELCOME TO BIDEN’S WORLD!

On to other things – like how life has been treating me. I made it through the surgery on my ‘Arthritis Thumb’ Surgery with 2 hiccups but all is well with that. Then in March I started having breakouts on my skin. This is August and I am still fighting it. I will not bore you with all the “anti-itch” medications, creams, sprays, and yes-alcohol to stop the itching. This included a Steriod Shot – which made things worse. Not to mention the ‘NO SLEEPING’ FROM A STEROID SHOT!

Days have been good, bad, and ugly! I gave up all foods (including my precious eggs) that had histamines, so am left now with chicken and potatoes. Yummy! My blood work was fairly good in February, but in late June it went to hell! My NP thought I had Lupus (wrong), my Dermatologist (love her) finally gave me the final diagnoses. Chronic Urticia which in layman’s term is Chronic HIVES! I was so excited to add this to my other skin (minor) issues and autoimmune issues like Meniere’s and Fibromylgia! I am just so special I needed one more to make it a threesome!

I had my NP run my RH Factor to eliminate the Lupus which it did, no Histamine problem, and only allergies to ‘NUTS’. She told me she would refer me to a Rheumatologist. What a trip it has been to even get to see one, but have an appointment on 17 September 2024!

On 1 August 2024 I had another bloodwork done. This time everything looked like my own immune system is beginning to work (a little). BUT, BUT, BUT, the RH Factor has increased from an elevated 18 to 19. Then I went back and looked and in 2017 it was only a “9” and the 4 times I have asked for that test it has steadily increase to the 19. It is an indication that I might have Rheumatoid Arthritis. So it was research time for understanding all about the RH Factor. The test can indicate automunine issues under the umbrella of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is the umbrella that consists of strange things when the immune systems goes nuts. BINGO. What is interesting, RA can hit the hands (not mine except for the thumb arthritis). But it is a large umbrella and rashes and skin issues are included! I am just so damn happy! How in the hell has this happened I may never know but My Dermatologist said one day it will just disappear. Humm! I have had CU skin issue since early March and this is August! The worst of it is that it interrupts your sleeping.

Things were under control (somewhat) until last week when I ate some taco mix with ground turkey and did not know that it had Rosemary in it! I also had a little (tbsp full) ketchup with my fries, some Hershey kisses, and whipped butter when cooking my chicken. Those are now on the ‘DO NOT TOUCH’ list! I had also spent 3 mornings walking in the heat for 10 minutes and then 30 minutes on the bike. Now this could have done it to.

We have learned that the hives like cold so I purchased some great cold packs to use when they bother me in the evening, and spray on Benadryl and alcohol helps.i

OK enough of the state of the World and my itchy world.

I have been working on an applique block, finished GLORY, and quilted my Purple 9 Patch quilt. I am getting ready to cut the binding for it. I also will be begin to load my Scrappy Churn Dash quilt. I am hoping to have the energy to complete the other Churn Dash Quilt this week too.

Here are the projects if have been working on and/or completed in the last 2 or 3 months.

Moda Christmas SAL – Someday I will have 14 blocks! LOL

The Purple 9 Patch – Ready for a black binding! This one is for Clay!

Cross Stitch Project

Applique Project – I had 6 blocks left over from my Bountiful Life Quilt that I finished in 2022. I am now going to make a smaller quilt with the remaining 6. This quilt will be hand quilted SOMEDAY!

Block 1 of 6 – A progress in work.

Next thing I will be working on this week is to quilt my Churn Dash Quilts! I do a basting stitch on each quilt border before I load it on the long arm. That really does help to stabilize them. But it makes for a sloppy looking picture! Enjoy!

I have really been struggling with the CU Hive problem, and have good days and bad days. I have not been in the best frame of mind, so forgive me if I have not commented on your posts in the last 4 months. I am now trying to get to the point where I just forget that I have them and want to finish my quilting and start on a new project. In the meantime I will be working on applique and finishing my GLORY cross stitch. But with so many nights of interrupted sleep I have slowed down. BUT I have about 90 days to get back in shape because I am determined to walk my 1.5 miles OUTSIDE before Halloween. Any bets?

The Duck is still with us. We took it off the market today. There were no takers and we understand. With a Recession looming, unknown election outcome, and the food and fuel and interest rates going up – who would want to splurge at this time anyway! Mr Duck is well protected and will be available after 5 November.

In the meantime, I am sharing pictures of President Trump – we must not FORGET this attempted assassination happened. I have lived through President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Meger Evers, Robert Kennedy Assassinations and the attempted assassinations of President Gerald R. Ford, President Ronald Reagan and now President Donald J. Trump. I wish the Democrats would quit lying about things and quit their hate filled statements about President Trump. This picture says it all:

Have a great week. Pray for President Trump and Isreal!

Hugs,

Nanette

PS – I need to clean of my Linky Party Links – maybe next week! LOL

June 18, 2024

18 June 2024 – A Late HQAL and Tuesday Doings

Well! I am on a “pretend” trip from quilting. For the last 3 months I have had problems with, Hives, Eczema, and Candidia, along with reactions from a Steriod Shot, and all the “fixes” that were given to me. But alas, I finally believe that things are looking up! This is the main reason I have not quilted the remaining 4 quilts that I listed on my last post. Instead I am just “doing what comes next for the day”. I am working on my embroidery, knitting, and cross stitch because hand work is so relaxing to me. I am also going to work on a Sashiko project! When we traveled to Arizona, or to Durant, OK through the years I did a lot of applique, etc. So it is fun to just sit and do hand work while I learn to relax!!! I am looking forward to July as I think I will finally be finished with the unprogrammed health problems!

I did get one quilt quilted.

And I finished Block 9 and 10 of the Moda Christmas SAL.

And on to GLORY Cross Stitch project.

My knitting is slow. One has to feel good to want to do a lot of anything!. I made it to knitting last week and Angie showed me how to connect a new thread in the middle of a project. It is called the Russian Join. Here is a link to the YouTube on Russian Join Technique.

I wonder how many quilters get burn out from making/quilting quilts? I am so glad that I have other hobbies in the works when the burn out occurs! Of course after 24 years I guess it comes around every now and then.

This seems to be a very quiet week and I love it. No one seems to like our Duck, guess we want tooo much $$$ for it. Not ready to put the rock bottom price on it yet!

Political prediction – Biden won’t make the total 90 minutes of the Debate next week, and the Liberal Idiots will have to let the Giggly Mattress Lady to run, or dig ole’ Hillary out of her Wine Bottle!

As for Republicans – I predict that Governor Doug Burgum will be President Trump’s choice for VP. At least I am betting on him to do that he is a very intelligent man and would be able to take over in 2028!

Have a wonderful week, we are waiting for the 5 inches of rain that is predicted from the disturbance in the Gulf. It could be 10 inches where we live and I would be thrilled. Of course we are on a Hill and no flooding around here.

Hugs,

Nanette

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.

May 28, 2024May 28, 2024

Tuesday 28 May 2024 and a Finish!

Greetings from the South Texas Heat Wave! The big Eczema is under control-partially! Looking like a visit Thursday to my Knitting Group!

Today I finished my Scrappy Churn Dash Quilt Number. I made 79 Churn Dash blocks in 2022. I had put them aside in August 2022 to finish quilting 18 of the 40 quilt tops hanging and patiently waiting to be finished. 13 were sent out for quilting by a professional quilter. I have 10 to hand quilt if my thumb can take it!

I am happy to say now that I now have 5 quilts to quilt, 4 were UFO’s and one small new one. I will be preparing backs and battings for the remainder of this week!

Here are the pictures of the 5 that will be going on the long arm soon.

I am anxious to have them all quilted so I can start on my next Project! It will be my 2024 Challenge quilt.

A short political statement to ponder on! Old crazy has been Actors need to get a mental checkup! And does anyone know who is running our Country?

Have a great week and enjoy!

Hugs

Nanette

© Nanette Chopin Cook at Doitrightquilter.com 2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nanette Chopin Cook and Doitrightquilter with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

May 21, 2024

Trailer For Sale – 21 May 2014

Well, we all get to the point where even though our minds tell us we can still do anything, but our bodies think differently. Clay and I have reached that time now where we must remember we are no longer 60 or 70 (actually hard to believe). I am the type of person that tends to experience premonitions about things and sometimes I listen and sometimes I don’t. This little story just goes to show that we all need to listen to the inner voice advising us.

The heat in South Texas is now unbearable if one is over the age of 75. We had an extremely mild winter and were lucky that the high temperatures have not hit until now. I have had to use the indoor bike for the last 2 summers due to excessive heat and looks like Number 3 is here. Eczema is driving me mad and now I cannot do my outdoor walk, but it is what it is. So be it.

As I told all in my last post we were headed for Rockport for a week stay and had that wonderful spot at the Blue Lagoon. Well, yesterday Clay hooked up The Duck and then washed it and the Navigator. Now Clay is 80 years old and the temperature was well into the 90’s. Need I say more? He experienced extreme Heat Exhaustion (blessed it was not a Heat Stroke). I am so glad that I went outside to where he was working when I did, because it would have been a disaster if I had not.

He survived, is doing fine, and before he could say it, I did! The Duck is for sale, and we are not going to the Coast this summer!!! After he had recouped from the heat incident, he told me that when he was cleaning the trailer roof he knew that we needed to do that.

The Duck was purchased it in August 2023 and it has never been used! Clay worked so hard when we brought The Duck home to make it better than Heartland (the manufacturer) ever could! Someone out there will have a need for a trailer like this and will have a ready made little getaway on wheels. From now on Hotels will have to suffice for traveling and I will just forget about my eating issues and suffer the consequences!

Giving up things we enjoy and love doing is very difficult. BUT Clay is fine and he means more to me than a travel trailer. For now I am just an itching idiot and that is fine with me as someday it will settle down. The alternative would have been to have had a disaster while in Rockport, or for that matter we could be really sick!

So this is not a Pity Party Post (PPP), it is just two people (79 and 80) who are realizing their limitations before a catastrophic accident occurs. Summer time in Texas is just not for Octogenarians.

I will continue to enjoy the Studio for my hobbies and Clay will enjoy being out of the house finding things to do indoors until Fall and Winter (if we ever have one again). He loves music and plays the guitar, leather work, and used to do Native American jewelry, so boredom won’t live here. Maybe we will get a puzzle and act like old people should! You never know.

PS – Clay and I both will always be young our minds even if we cannot do some of the things we used to do!

Have a wonderful nice long holiday (Memorial Day) week-end but be careful in the heat.

Hugs,

Nanette

May 19, 2024

Slow Sunday Stitching – 19 May 2024 – Post 711

Greetings from “summertime in LV”. Warm, but not unbearable. I have been working on my hand projects the last week. So here is where I am in all 3 (I started knitting again even though the thumb may not be happy that is too bad!)

Glory is coming along even with having to take some stitches out and re-doing, but ripping appears to be my forte’.

Next if you remember the Moda Christmas SAL I am working on Block 9 – think there are 14.

And of course now I am working back into knitting with a dishcloth. As usual, I had to start this one over once, there is a problem with one stitch but I am letting it go. I plan on re-joining our local group on Thursdays this coming week. Should be great socializing.

Here is an update on my last Churn Dash Quilt. This is not the final setting. I am doing 4 blocks at a time. No idea how it will go together. I am enjoying “trying” to do Scrappy Borders on each block!

I am doing better with the Eczema – think that I have a handle on it. Do not wish this on anyone as mine has been brought on by Stress. To me Stress is just what life dishes out to me and how I handle it.

And President Trump is just like the Energizer Bunny – he just keeps on keeping on!

Have a great week. Enjoy your hobbies!

Hugs,

Nanette

May 18, 2024

Happy Week-End-Post 710! 18 May 2024 – 171 Days to Go!

Good morning! Life is getting better around here. Clay and I took a day trip to Rockport to on Tuesday to check out RV Parks. The first one was a “never” and the 2nd was a jewel – The Blue Lagoon. We booked a spot that is across the street from the Aransas Bay with a private pier across the road from us. We decided since this was the first trip out in the Duck we would only stay a week. We would like to stay longer, but the hot summer days are beginning to start. If we have an enjoyable stay this will be our go to RV Park in the Fall and Winter.

The Duck will be backed in so the Front door and Awning will face the water. The Sun will be coming up in the morning from the front and then in back of us during the afternoon. We will be able to sit and enjoy the water and cool breezes. We are both looking forward to the trip. Here is the Duck – He now has privacy netting on both sides of the RV Cover.

I have not had time this week to complete my quilt or long arm, but I have been working on the final setting for the last Churn Dash quilt. It will finally be a “controlled” scrappy quilt. Yup, I am trying to see if I can do scrappy. This is where I stopped on Monday. I plan on spending the day on finishing this quilt.

I am also working on knitting a dish rag (no picture), Glory (cross stitch) and the Moda Xmas SAL (embroidery). I will take all 3 projects along on the trip. Maybe I will finish one of them!

We get a lot of Amazon deliveries and after we had 10 more yards of crushed limestone spread on the drive, Clay came up with this idea to slow the drivers down when making deliveries. Interesting how slow they drive up to the house and leave without doing doughnuts! LOL They are Camera Shy I guess! Notice that we are getting grass where all the 200 trees were!

Now for the final update on stupid health issues. Since I can do everything I did before thumb surgery that issue is dead and buried. But around the beginning of March I started getting red streaks on my back, and terrible itching. It was not fun. I worked with my Dermatologist (by phone) and it is called Dermatographia (or skin painting). So out came the Steroid creams, moisturizers, VaniCream, CeraVe’ Cream, etc. But nothing stopped it and it became wells! After putting up with home remedies and Dermatologist recommendations for 2 months I went to my local Doctor Thursday and found out it is Eczema! WHAT? I gave in and got a Steroid shot (1/2 dose). WOW that was a fun 48 hours of high energy and it calmed the mess down.

I am convinced that the thumb surgery recovery of 4 months and the 2 times I hurt the tendon and got an impingement in my shoulder that my immune system went ballistic and the anxiety took over not knowing what the heck was wrong. I am doing much better and using a lot of Benedryl Cream and CeraVe’ Anti Itch Cream (when it gets here next week). I know the trip away will do wonders for me. I am really excited that I have another stupid immune issue, but I can control it, just need to get over this hump. Trips and Quilting are the best medication. Now a dream trip is to get to ChoctawLand in Durant and gamble for a week – that will take care of anything that bothers me!

On my REAL FAVORITE SUBJECT…. President Trump was in St Paul Minnesota speaking to the GOP Fund Raiser. He was on his game and so hilarious! Today he will be in Dallas Texas speaking at the NRA Convention. This next week we shall see how smart the Jury is in his “Let’s Play A Game Called a Trial”. I am hoping that there is a Mistrial, a Hung Jury, or just plain NOT GUILTY! The Debate on 27 June between he and Biden will be something to watch, hoping that he does not agree to the “SET UP TO GET TRUMP RULES” Biden does need to take a drug test before the Debate as they will be pumping a bottle of B12 into him so he can talk and stand up for 90 minutes! That is all folks – be sure to remember how things were before Biden – you could afford go out to eat, pay less for groceries and fuel, and enjoy life!

Have a wonderful week-end, don’t forget to laugh and enjoy stitching! (PS – I need to update my “linking to”.. Maybe next time!

Hugs,

Nanette

May 10, 2024

The End of a Perfect Week – 10 May 2024

FINALLY, a week without any problems or Unforeseen Requirements! Now to go for Two Weeks of the same! The weather has been very warm and humid, but it gets me in shape for a hot summer.

I have finished Four (4) quilt tops now since I finished my 4 month Recovery (extended a month). I have one more quilt to make with the remaining Churn Dash blocks left over. I have 10 different colors (4 of each color). I love them on point, but will have to study a bit more for the final decision on the setting.

Here is a picture of one of the quilts that I will start quilting next week! Bunnies In My Garden one will be the largest one and the last one to quilt. I started it in 2022 and finished the top in April 2024.

I finished my Churning Through The Stars quilt today she measures 60” x 60”. I am pleased! I made 79 Churn Dash blocks in 2022.

I love the dark blue border because it has all the colors in it that are in the 1930 fabrics!

This was a small project to start off with after Recovery Time! I named it Sampler Postage Stamp quilt!

I made this 9 patch before my Thumb Surgery.

I have decided that my Challenge Quilt for the Summer will be A Double Wedding Ring. This time I will be more selective in my fabrics and not try to use Batiks even if they are my favorite fabrics. I think Reproductions would be a better fit. I am thinking about French General, or some Pam Buda fabrics. Whichever, it needs to be a challenge!!!

I cannot help myself on this one! It appears that the Democrats plan to hurt Trump is really failing. The current trial is nothing but a piece of trash and obvious politically motivated in an attempt to hurt President Trump’s reputation. We all know that there are plenty of men who have paid off women or men to keep their mouth’s shut. But the Storm just could not do that! Next saga will feature the real Piece of Work – Cohen!

BUT tomorrow is a Rally in New Jersey that Trump is having. I bet there will be over 50,000 in attendance! I am waiting for the Rally in Madison Square Gardens. Wait a minute – let me check me check with Siri as to how much longer this will go on – Oh Siri says “It is One Hundred seventy-nine days before 5 November 2024”. Getting closer!

AND it looks like the January 6th Trial, the Florida Records Trial are on hold, and Ms Fanny will probably be thrown out of the case! She deserves jail time in my opinion for what she has tried to do to 18 individuals! I hear that Fulton County now admits that there were a lot of votes that indicate a serious problem with the 2020 election.

Revenge is putting President Trump back in office by voting for him on 5 November 2024 to end the horrible mess this country is in due to Biden and his henchmen and women (do they really know the difference?) by allowing distruction to Colleges and allowing all the Terrorists into our country through open borders!

Here is to a peaceful week-end for all and happy stitching.

Hugs

Nanette

May 5, 2024May 5, 2024

HQAL, SLOW SUNDAY STITCHING and ETC – 5 MAY 2024

Greetings from “No Rain LV TX”. For some reason all the great rains continue to miss us. I have reduced my walk to just a mile establishing the goal for a 20 minute walk and be happy with that. When it is 74 degrees and 95% humidity, it is time to realize that I am now 79 and not 78 (LOL). Anyway, if I get a cooler day I will add the extra 1/2 mile.

I really thought (hoped) that this last week would provide me with loads of time to work on my Churning Through The Stars quilt. We can eliminate Monday thru Wednesday! Monday came with issues trying to find someone to spread 274 yards of crushed limestone on our driveway (includes the Circle). By 1 PM I had that set up for a delivery of matériels on 9 May and on 10 May the contractor will come and spread the limestone for a very reasonable amount.

I just knew that Tuesday would be great!!!! LOL to that one. When we started breakfast at 10 AM, I heard a noise of BUBBLING WATER from the bathroom! When you live in the country one does not have City water or waste services. We have septic tanks and bubbling water from a sink or a toilet means, “EMERGENCY – FIND A SEPTIC TANK BUSINESS TO GET HERE NOW!” It took 4 calls, but on the 4th I found a great company in Floresville that answered their phone and even though they were headed to a different side of town, Rudy turned around and was here within 45 minutes. He had the tank cleaned out within the hour and we were in business again he aLao advised us to go back to Scott Toilet Paper which is proven best for septic tanks!

I checked the records and it had been pumped out in July 2022. WHAT – less than 21 months and one usually has the tank cleaned every 3 – 4 years!!!! He further told us not to use HEB toilet paper anymore because that caused the problem! Cost to save some money on TP – $500.00! Yes I certainly let HEB know that their statement that their TP is Septic Tank Safe is mis-representation to Septic Tank users. I will say that they took back the 2 packages of their TP and that was appreciated. We are now back to Scotts and Rudy has us for a cleaning in 3 years.

In spite of all the interruptions I have been working on my hand projects in the evening and piecing during the day!

I am coming along with GLORY Cross Stitch project. I really enjoy the cross stitching and am anxious to finish this one. This will be the memory of my experience with thumb surgery!

Also working on Block 9 of Moda Holiday Stitch Along project, I think there are 14 blocks total in this project!

During the day I am enjoying working on “Churning Through The Stars”. Maybe I should name it “Dashing Through The Stars”…. Hummm…. I have 3 more Rows to complete and it will be a quilt top! Not sure what I will do with the remaining Churn Dash Blocks since I had a total of 79 made. This quilt will use 32 of them so there are plenty left for another quilt!

I can see the Long Arm will be firing up pretty soon!

The good news for all is that we only have 184 days before we can get our Country back AND the thumb surgery was very successful!

Have a great stitching week. I am looking forward to a quiet one and looking forward to getting the driveway completed and then a day trip to Rockport!!!

Hugs,

Nanette

April 29, 2024

Happy Monday – 29 April 2024 – Post Number 707

I do believe that summer is quickly approaching here in South Texas. A little rain out of all the storms yesterday and into the 90’s today.

Today we are heading to the road matériels yard to decide which type to spread on the driveway. Of course a short trip to HEB and UPS. Doesn’t this sound exciting? Maybe someday I will be writing from “The Duck”!

On the quilting front! Since I have buried the Tulips, I went through some of my books from Jo Morton, Kim Dheil, Susan Smith and a few other quilting books for my next project I wanted to work on. In Susan Smiths Quiltmania book, Somewhat in the Middle. I loved the quilt called Mothers and Daughters with the small Star in the middle of the Block. There were other patterns that I will keep close by for later on, but decided that I wanted to make this quilt, so I tested the block. It is a very easy block and goes quickly, especially with the new ruler I had mentioned in an earlier post.

After making the block I decided that this Star block would look good with the Churn Dash blocks that I had made in the summer of 2022 when I joined in with one of the Bloggers in a Churn Dash QAL. I made the blocks 6” rather than 8” using my 1930’s fabrics and was finished 80 blocks by the end of August 2022. They were put them away while I started the massive “quilting catchup” project and other things. I knew that the 80 blocks would yield at least 2 quilts, but I was not sure how I would set them in a quilt.

Here are the stacks of Churn Dash blocks that I will be working with.

I had one idea to make a “large” 9 patch block, but realized that I could not do that due to limited fabric left of the left over 1930 fabric for each Churndash blocks.

I then decided that I would make a quilt with 8 rows of 8 blocks with the first quilt. Here are a few pictures of my progress.

I tried staggering the blocks in each row, but ended up with the 8 blocks of each color. I also tried to put them on point, but that was not the effect I wanted either. So the above picture is where I am heading.

Well, time to run and have some “out of the house” time and hurry back to the Studio to make another row of Churn Dash and Star blocks. I am really enjoying being back in the Studio and happy to be deeply involved in a project!

Have a happy week,

Hugs,

Nanette