Keeping Busy

While being out of work has had devastating consequences, and feels pretty darn awful too, I have been keeping as busy as possible.

I've been doing a lot of writing, mostly for Yahoo's Associated Content on health news. It is fun and challenging and I make about .05 cents for every kabillion hits each article gets, so far to the tune of about $1. Woo hoo!!

If you are so inclined, you can find my stuff here:

http://contributor.yahoo.com/user/911950/marie_cooper_lpn_ma.html

Become a fan, Stumble me, Tweet me, leave a comment, help me earn that next .05 cents!

I have been doing a lot of sewing too and have several unfinished projects. Here are some of the things I have been working on.


I was going to make this into a pillow, but now I am thinking maybe a wall hanging:

I embroidered eyelet and then added a fabric flower.  This will be a little pillow:

This will be a holiday pillow:

A sunflower surrounded by leaves.  I am not sure what this will be.  Maybe an insert into a tote bag?:

A vintage design that reminded me of my home from the same era.  I will frame and keep this one:

My motto:

A scarf I made for myself out of super soft cotton, in yellow, my favorite color.  Still putting the fringe on:

A hat for a friend's nephew, but I don't like the way it turned out.  So...

I'm making a whole new one out of cream colored cotton.

I have more things I've finished and have for sale on Etsy.  Check out my site if you need a nice gift or just want to treat yourself.  :)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/stitchesthroughtime


Did you like what you read? Let others know. Thanks!

These Days

Happy Birthday, Shep!!

December 8, 2006. I am born.

My beloved grandson James Shepard made his way into our lives on December 8 in 2006.

The staff at the hospital kept referring to him as a towhead, but Kate and James had never heard that old-fashioned expression and, to their great distress, thought he was being called a “conehead”. That took a little explaining.

When we got there, my sweet, hours old boy looked into my eyes and I got this amazing photo.




And here he is today.






He is ALL boy. Chatting with his other nana last night I mentioned I was knitting him a hat for Christmas. He heard this as he flew by us and, without missing a beat or pausing he declared, “I don’t want a hat.”

Alrighty then.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for being you, Shep.

The Body Human

Well, if it’s post-op, I must be blowing up like the Michelin Man. And sure enough, I am.

And if it’s post-op, I must have cellulitis in aforementioned swollen legs. Check.

And because the pain of a shoulder replacement could never be enough, edematous, infected legs, with skin stretched practically to the breaking point, must be incredibly painful to walk on. Check again.

And even though I haven’t had a cold in about 20 years, I must be getting one now. Check.

Add a stomach virus for grins and giggles. Check.

So I am a tad miserably self pitying uncomfortable.

I am incredibly lucky this go round to have a marvelous health team and all of them are on top of these crap symptoms. Unfortunately, the treatment is usually pretty crap too, but what are you going to do? One hundred and sixty milligrams of lasix might cause someone to pee forty times a day, but it might also help prevent heart failure.

Dr. B., my regular doctor, is every word you can come up with that is synonymous with kind. I knew the reason for every obnoxious medication he had to add to my already obnoxious regimen. But he made a gentle little case for each one because he is so respectful and so generous with his time, subtly reminding me he is not out to deliberately torture me.

So What Else Is New?

I am actually disappointed that I was not able to be cleared to go back to work yesterday.

I am filling the idle hours with puking and blowing my nose reading and knitting. My friends had twins last week and I am knitting them hats. The babies, not the parents.

Because my sleep schedule is off kilter right now, I do most of my knitting in the middle of the night. I needed to check the size of the hat I was working on, but was reluctant to drag myself up to the attic and search for a dolly to fit it on to. Then my eye rested on this:



Not that I did, mind you. But it was tempting.

I once read a suggestion that for a baby hat, a grapefruit is a good size check. I would not recommend this. You will never look at a grapefruit or a baby quite the same way again.

So here is the first hat:




And the second will have a pink lambie. Fun to do.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Template

Changed the template. I do that every few months because I just get so bored with one thing. Which is weird, because I never do that in real life. I never rearrange the furniture. I practically need to be sedated before I will think of changing curtains or a bedspread. But there you have it, I needed a change. I am trying to find the one that feels the most right.

Weekend

What did they used to say women did to cheer themselves up? Had their hair done and bought a new hat?

Well, I got my hair cut.

Before hair:

After hair:

And I made a hat:

And the beginnings of a sort of matching scarf:

Had dinner with three dear friends last night.

Bella and I went to the St. Francis service at church today to be blessed along with dozens of other people, dogs, cats, birds and a horse. Although the horse stayed outside.

Bella was knackered afterwards. Doesn’t she look it?

Our church is an incredible community. Check out our website: http://www.trinitynj.com/

About the Apple

The little notes about donations in Dennis’ name were on apples because that was part of the Fall theme.

Ryan and Claire

They will be home soon!!! It will be so good to see them!!

Cranky Saturday

I am cranky.

On a typical Saturday, I have maybe three or four errands to run.

Today I have THIRTEEN!!! Mostly associated with the wedding.

What I really want to do is knit:

AND

Have a cup of tea, read and write:

(Alright, so it isn’t War and Peace. Cut me a break.)

I will admit, I am spoiled. After 31 years of raising children and putting everyone else’s needs first, I have an abundance of “me” time.

So I will get my stuff done as quickly as possible and hie myself back home to my yarn, book and laptop. Except by that time it will be time for wine, not tea.

Cool. :)