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So Much for the Chiropractor...

6/16/2015

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I say that rather tongue-in-cheek since I don't really feel so messed up...and I didn't really have too much that needed adjustment when I went to the chiropractor yesterday morning with Savannah. 

However, since then, I have done some Grandpa lifting in addition to some other things (we'll get there in a minute). Anyway, Grandpa is going through "med-adjustment syndrome". The dear old guy is so dreadfully susceptible to medications...he gets knocked off his head nearly every time he either goes on a new one, or even if he runs out of something and has a few days off. By this evening, he seems to be leveling out some. He spent the entire afternoon in bed and we just recently got him up. He did most of the transfer himself. Maybe by tomorrow evening he will be able to transfer safely on his own. I hope so! 

This afternoon, I tackled a job that caused Grandpa to turn up his nose when I told him what I was fixing  to go do. I cleaned the chicken coop. I should have taken before and after photos--or not. I would then have shown off what a dirty chicken farmer I am. The long and the short of it is that I cleaned out all winter's build up out of the old coop. The first wheel barrow load was a bit too much for me and I ended up accidentally tipping it over. Almost half of the stinking mess then sprawled all over the ground in front of the door--so I did my best to clean that up. After that, I stuck to roughly half full barrow loads. It is interesting how heavy wet chicken "stuff" is. It took probably an hour and a half to do the scraping and shoveling. When I got done with that, I put the hose on the most firehose setting I could get out if it and washed the coop down from ceiling to what is currently mud floor. 

Once it dries out (probably tomorrow), I will go in and put clean straw down (making a mental note to do a little chicken coop clean up at least once a week), prepare all the 'furniture' (water can, feed bucket), and then run the girls from the newer coop on in. 

Then, oh joy! Another coop to clean. Unfortunately, the second one is rather mite infested (more evidence that I need to work harder at chicken farming). Once I get that cleaned up I will organize it to my liking as a brooder coop. I am looking forward to getting peepers soon! Chickens may stink when they are wet...but I rather like the insane birds.

Savannah tells me supper is done...and am I ever ready for it!! 

Bye y'all!  

     Racheal

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"Mad Skills" vs. Magnets 

3/11/2015

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When Savannah and I went to go see Grandpa this afternoon, both he and Grandma were sound asleep when we got there...so we went and took a walk. There is actually a nice, fairly good-sized park right next to the hospital. By the time we got done with our stroll around it, my right knee decided it was going to act up. One reason that I do not really like walking for 'pleasure'. That knee always seems to bug me after a short-ish period of time. 

We re-entered the hospital and rode the elevator up to the 3rd floor--where Grandpa is--and spent a few minutes leaning on the window bar and laughing at the de-construction zone below us.

One of the three big machines had a magnet on it for picking up the iron scraps out of the felled building's former structure. We watched that for a while before we realized that the guy in the one to the left was using the big bucket on his machine to pick out the same sort of metal rubbish! We burst out laughing over this, because it would have been simply faster (and probably easier) had he gotten out and done it by hand. Still, the man did have "mad skills" (wherever that piece of slang originated). Anyway, for some reason, Tommy and Ricky came to my mind and I gestured towards the magnet man, "The guy with the magnet would be Ricky...and Tommy would be the one picking the metal out with the scoop!" We thereafter erupted into more effusive mirth, imagining the things that the brother's might say to each other (or about each other) under the circumstances. I am sure we were equally successful in envisioning the teasing, ornery gleam that they might have in their eyes and even the body language that would have accompanied any such teasings.

In all, we had a pleasant few moments enjoying a hearty laugh.

We then drifted back to Grandpa's room and he was just waking up. He was in one of the chairs, so I plopped myself down on the bed, my feet dangling over the edge (y'all know about my short legs, correct?) and sat there for chattering at and with him until suppertime. I had fixed him up a cup of coffee before I seated myself...he seemed to enjoy it. 

When supper arrived, it proved to be a sloppy joe (we always called them "sloppy jane's" in our house due to the all-girl population amongst the children), a salad, and some tater tots. Since Grandpa would have ended up with most of the 'joe' down his front, I wrastled the bun filled with tasty-looking stuffing for him. I mean, I held it for him; I didn't eat it!!

We left around six as he was starting in on his stewed apricots. It was high time to get the chickens fed...and me for that matter. By the time I got in from my chicken chores, my stomach was burning. I'm blaming it primarily on too much coffee over the past several days. As soon as I put food into it, the burning was quelled. 

In mighty happy news, Grandpa should be released from the hospital tomorrow morning!!!!

      Racheal

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The Day that Started at Mid-night

3/8/2015

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Yes, I know. Technically, every day starts at mid-night. However, most sane persons are tucked safely in bed, fast asleep at that hour. 

Last night, I went to bed at a reasonable hour, say ten "old time", eleven by the already set-ahead clocks. (I detest "Daylight Savings Time", you know.) I was nearly asleep (or perhaps had been dozing) when my phone started ringing. I honestly probably wouldn't have heard it except that I heard Savannah stumbling down the stairs. I assumed it was Grandma and I knew I should get out of bed immediately, but I thought I would lay there until Savannah called me (I wasn't in very good shape). However, after what may have been five or more minutes and still not being called, I figured that I really had better get out of my comfortable bed and go see what was up. 

It was actually Mama. Grandma had called her, rather upset. I think that Daddy was on the phone with Grandma simultaneously to Mama being on the phone with us...but I'm not really completely sure about that. What I do know is that Grandpa had had another "crime scene" and I was asked to go out. I was practically in tears, feeling crazy stressed and completely overwhelmed, but I forced the salt-water back and poked out my stubborn chin and tromped out--after tucking my nightgown down into my coveralls. 

I helped get Grandpa cleaned up and cleaned up the floor...

We managed to get some protein shake/chocolate milk into him--actually Savannah did. I fixed it up, but while she talked Grandpa through the drinking of said concoction I sat cross-legged on the floor talking with Mum.

When we came in, it was 1:00 o'clock "real time" and I was hungry. Anyway, Savannah and I had us a real mid-night snack of fried eggs. I can fry an egg half-asleep to perfection it seems. :P Bragging on myself...sorry. Actually, I managed to bust both my yolks, but Savannah's were perfect.

I woke up about 8:30 (7:30 if it were yesterday) and by the time I had gotten my coffee, both Savannah and I decided to play going to church by ear. As it turns out, it was providential that we did not manage it. We went out to the apartment about 10-ish, I guess it was, and it was soon apparent that Grandpa needed to go to the doctor. He was still refusing food and while we did get a chocolate milk and a plain ol' warm milk down him, food was NOT going into him and, as Grandma had noted, he was not urinating. 

In order to get the wheelchair van out of the barn required breaking the hold the ice still had on the bottom of the door. After taking the edger tool to it and breaking it up some on the outside of the door and yanking and pulling and panting (both inside and out), I 'chanced' to remark something about a crowbar. Savannah saw one and picked it up and started banging. I saw a serious pry bar (tall as me). Grabbing it I said, "Git out of the way." (I was still a little groggy so it probably sounded harsher than I meant it to.)

Savannah backed off and I gave the wood along the bottom of the door a couple of serious smashing blows and the door was free. 

To cut a long story shorter, we eventually got Grandpa loaded and to the hospital.

They put a catheter in him (I cringe at the thought!) and it was quite obvious that he has  a UTI. He was also dehydrated and the ER doctor (who reminded me a little of my cousin's husband) said that his kidneys were in the process of failing--which Grandma already had said. They put him on a saline IV immediately as well as an antibiotic via the drip-line.

Grandpa was half-out of his head most of the day. He apparently woke up on the battlefield and was initially (as he thought) in a field hospital. Even though he knew who we were, he asked if we were field nurses. That was what was so strange about his hallucination--he was perfectly clear and was aware of what was really going on around him, but he was equally certain of his dreams. Grandma has still not learned to "play along" with hallucinations...and Savannah does it better than I do. At any rate, he was crying on and off throughout the day. Partly due, I know, to his memories of Harold, his uncle who was but five years his senior and his best friend. Harold was killed during the war. (WWII)  

Anyway, Savannah had forgotten to bring the food with us that she had prepared before we left, so I was getting really hungry...however, and I thank God for this especial providential blessing upon myself today, I simply "got hungry" and did not have the requisite irritation both emotional and physical (burning stomach, et al) that so frequently accompanies my hunger. She went home at some point to bring both Grandma and myself something to eat and to pick up a few other things that were necessary. She got back around 5:30. 

That was the best egg sandwich ever. 

Shortly after my appetite was sated, Grandpa's supper arrived. While he did not eat it all, he ate over half of it (I think) and enjoyed every bite (particularly that hash brown, I think). He drank the milk that came with it and the coffee (another providential blessing--they had put one sugar packet on his tray and it was not sufficient to sweeten his coffee to taste; however, the dinner tray cart had been left just outside his door...and I was able to snitch the last two sugar packets off it!). This is the best he has eaten and drank probably for at least two days, so it was good to see him eating and apparently enjoying it. He had half a piece of cake too. (All that sugar...I'd be tipsy if I had that much!)

We left to come home shortly after that...I had to feed chickens and I like to do that before it gets dark. I took care of a few other little things that needed doing before I went to the shower...and I think we are fixing to eat again. :) For which I am glad because I'm getting hungry again. I have sort of caught up with my fluid intake--since getting home, I have had over a quart and a half of water.

Overall, I think Grandpa is doing much better this evening than he was this morning. Grandma has stayed with him at the hospital, for the expressed purpose of being able to see the doctor when he comes in (as it may be early). Hopefully, the fluid getting into Grandpa will, for lack of a better, more scientific term/understanding of the situation, re-kick-start his kidney's into full and proper functioning. 

I shall sleep soundly tonight, Lord willing, knowing that Grandpa is not in my hands...but in both those of persons who really know what they are dealing with...and ultimately in the hands of my Heavenly Father.

     Racheal

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So...Led's See if I can write...

3/7/2015

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Note to the grammar-freaks out there...that mis-matched, mis-spelled title is purposeful. It's me at the moment...or really most of the day.

I have been borderline, crossed the border, back over to borderline on and off all day meningitis-y. I finally figured out (maybe again) how to describe it to an "outsider". I look kinda high...or drunk...

I feel kinda high...or drunk. 

I can't stand up straight. I can't sit up straight. I have difficulty holding my eyes open past half-shut.

I slur when I speak. 

I was singing while washing my hair this evening...and that was when it hit me...that I sounded drunk. I do. 

I have difficulty focusing my eyes.

I hear slow. Or maybe I should say that it takes extra time to process what I am hearing. 

I move slower than usual.

At dinner, in order to keep my face out of my soup, I had to prop myself up on my elbows. 

I would probably go into a giggling fit if something funny enough passed before me. One of those that leave me helpless and red in the face, unable to breathe. (Called "giggle gas" amongst our family.)

My thoughts are muddled. If I'm thinking at all. I can just sit here and be as blank as a clean slate if I don't force myself to be somewhat more alert. Not kidding. That's some serious "dead-brain".

Now...take that and imagine me trying to be of assistance to my grandparents. That's one of those "force yourself to be slightly mentally active" times. 

Grandpa apparently got up at 5 or thereabouts this morning. (He put himself to bed last night, for which I am grateful.) Grandma didn't get up until after noon. In the meantime, Grandpa had not eaten anything. He was complaining of his neck hurting and feeling to weak to hold up his head. He was literately holding it up with is hands. He was really pale and had terrible low blood pressure. Then I found out he hadn't had anything to eat since supper last night.

Grandma fixed him some eggs and I sat there for nigh on two hours...essentially force feeding him. He said he had "had enough" after half a dozen bites, but I kept demanding him to open his mouth and he did eventually get it all down. All the eggs...and a little over half the bread. I got him to eat all the eggs by telling him I wasn't going to make him eat all the bread (but I was slipping some onto the spoon with the eggs each bite). He did have a big cup of cocoa and half a mug of orange juice. By the time that force feed was over, his color had been restored to normal and I think he was feeling a little stronger.

It's a hard thing to sit there and demand of your 92 year old grandfather, a man who has always eaten, to "Open your mouth. Grandpa. Open your mouth." 

By the time I got him fed (Savannah was in and out and helping hold up his head and rubbing the knot in his neck), I was so hungry myself that I had to come in and get something to eat before I could take my next set of killers.

We went back out later and he was in his recliner...but was needing to get up and go to the bathroom. Well...to shorten the story, we had what is known as a "crime scene" amongst elder-care persons...Grandma primarily took care of that, but I assisted in what ways I could without getting in the way. Grandpa decided to stay in bed at that stage of the game and there is where I left him. I hope he sat up to eat...Grandma was making shrimp. Between "breakfast/lunch" he had an ice cream bar. He is NOT getting enough to eat...and he doesn't want to eat. It's not even like Grandma isn't feeding him either...

I think protein shake is called for. However, I'm about wrote out...so I'm going to weave myself off to the big recliner in the living room. 

Now...how sane was all of that? *blinks trying to focus eyes* Nevermind...

      Racheal

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Buzzz...buzzz...

11/11/2014

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I am grateful that I have had a pretty decent energy supply so far this week...because like the busy bee I attempted to mimic in the title line, I have been buzzing from one thing to another. Granted, my lines may be at times, as zig-zag as a bees own, but at least I have addressed and completed multiple jobs. ("Jobs" could equal something as small as locating a cuphook for Grandma or something as big as vacuuming the house.)

Maybe I ought to preface any further chit-chat with the mysterious sounding line: I am the only woman at home. ;D No, really, Mama and Katherine left yesterday morning to go "recover" Savannah from the east coast, so I am in charge of the cooking and cleaning...and yes, let's not forget that sewing I'm still doing.

Anyway, yesterday I caught up with the laundry (!)--minus the stuff that just isn't enough to justify running the water into the machine. I cleaned up the mudroom some (in other words, I swept it and grabbed a washcloth and cleaned the strange sticky substance off the floor). I cleaned up and packaged eight dozen eggs (no, more actually...I forgot about the ones I had to pack for M and KT to take to the S's). I fed chickens (duh)...and nearly broke my ankle.   

At least, I had the sense that I nearly broke my ankle. See, I came barging down the basement steps with my feed buckets and I somehow managed to miss the last step. Once I got to thinking about it, I think I was subconsciously avoiding the iron skillets on that bottom step. Anyway, I didn't fall (thankfully, or else I would have not only spilled chicken feed all over the place, but I very well may have busted my head open on the pipes running along the wall and maybe even broken some jars), but I landed with most of my weight through my right foot. Yes, the right one; that's my weak ankle. Anyway, it jarred pretty hard. It didn't actually hurt (as in shooting pain), but it didn't feel good. My ankle was stiff for the rest of the day (still is a little) and the top of my foot still hurts. I'm gimping worse than ever. I really need to go to the chiropractor to get my leg lengthened back out again. 

I cleaned the kitchen and cooked (duh again). I vacuumed the living room and dining room thoroughly. I did some odd straightening. I did a little writing. And...I finished the commissioned baby stuff!! 

Today I completed a few other small tasks--the pumpkin for one. Daddy helped with that. He also made breakfast (for him and Granddaddy; I just had left over mustard greens with my fried eggs) while I tromped out and fed chickens and gathered eggs. I cleaned up the bathroom some. I vacuumed the kitchen (I didn't do it last night for two reasons--1: I didn't want to disturb Granddaddy and 2: I figured since someone was supposed to come over today [cancelled; probably because of the rain and the planned activity don't go together] that it would look better if I vacuumed this morning.) I fed my chickens (boy, that's getting as monotonous as "I did the dishes", isn't it? :D) I folded laundry...I took laundry to the respective rooms in which it belonged.

And here I am going to take minor break from this post. I will complete it later...once I get done with another bit of "buzzing" about!

Later...by a couple of hours.

Well, I got Grandma's bedroom window, ceiling fan, and closet mirrors cleaned up. I cleaned the toilet too, even though she hadn't had that on the itinerary.

Once I was finished in the apartment, I fed chickens again. I cannot remember the exact order of everything after that. I know I put the rabbit on for supper--but then Daddy decided he would attend the Legion dinner if I thought I could handle Granddaddy by myself for a while. I did. I had to give him an ear-full (stern, but not grouchy) about leaving his "sleeves" (literally) on...but as I found later he already had the gauze pulled down past his elbow on his left arm. (His hand slipped on the chair which proceeded to gouge a hole in his arm.) But anyway, while he would not put the right sleeve back on, he agreed to leave the left one on. And he did until Daddy came home and got all his bandages changed up. Granddaddy is what one calls a "picker". He simply cannot leave bandages (or IV's if in the hospital) alone. 

I got started on my next sewing project...the fabric is really nice...but I'll just leave you hanging on that for now. :) If I hadn't had to stop for chickens, dinner, dishes, and yes, being a naggy old cluck-hen at Granddaddy, I might have been able to get all the machine work done. However, I decided not to push the issue. I would rather do a good job than a so-so job because I had split attention.

It occurs to me that I have not gotten my Civil War post up yet today...I shall go remedy that as soon as I get this one posted. 

      Racheal

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Strange Providences

4/27/2014

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Well, at any rate, it may seem strange to me. You see, I stayed home from church today because when I woke up this morning I wasn't feeling overly well and I felt like I might get worse, so I just decided to stay home.

By mid-morning, I was feeling fine! I could have gone to church after all, but this is where the "strange providences" came in.

Granddaddy took a backwards head-first fall, or slide, out of bed. If I hadn't been home, Mama would have had to deal with it all by herself. As it was, it took both of us and a lift to get him off the floor. I wasn't strong enough to get his torso (with a gait belt) more than a few inches off the floor without help...Mama was at his feet, so she couldn't help me.

Mama called Daddy, who was in church by that point, figuring he had his ringer turned off, but with vibrate on. Of all days, today was the day that he forgot to turn his ringer off. He said later when he came home that it was turned all the way up...

About the same time she called him, I started dabbling with the lift. Daddy told Mama to use the lift and by the time she handed me the phone to get instructions, I had already figured out how to operate the thing. (It's easy.) 

We ended up having to rearrange Granddaddy on the floor so I could get the lift over him (and I still bumped his head with the frame! Poor man...two falls and an inconsiderate granddaughter banging his poor head all within a 12-hour period!) I do not think he likes the lift very well at all--but we did get him back in bed, his bloody arm bandaged (he had managed to flay some of the skin on his left arm back again), and nicely covered up. The only thing we forgot was the absorbent pad that we place between his legs (he refuses to wear a brief, so we improvise).

Before I went back to my reading, I crawled under Daddy's desk and retrieved his bundle of bungee cords (perhaps it's a strange place to keep them) and put two of them between the head and leg railings in hopes that it would at least slow Granddaddy down if he decided to try another Houdini trick on us today. We had already picked him up off the floor at five this morning (Mama came and woke us up to help). It amazes me that he got practically all the way across the room before falling down...his legs are basically strapped together with a couple of braces to protect that left hip--which I do not think came out of the socket either time he fell (thankfully!)

After lunch this afternoon, Daddy and Mama went to town where Daddy purchased the needed supplies to make better bed-railings (one could easily call this a work of both necessity and mercy). Hopefully, with the new railings, Granddaddy will not fall/slide/Houdini his way out of the bed again tonight.

On a more positive note, I hear he ate a whole two eggs with sour cream and cheese in them this evening and had some apple juice!

           Racheal

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Radio Silence

4/18/2014

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I suppose you thought I'd dried up and died or something, didn't you? Well, I didn't. I've just been "dark" because my computer was down, then in the shop. I just got it back last night.

I'll try to give you a quick run down on life in the past two weeks (seeing as last time I posted was two Sundays ago). Last week we spent Wednesday through Friday (afternoons) over at some new friends house helping them to make dresses for that conference that is coming up. They aren't finished yet and we haven't done anything on them this week because of illness going through their house.

I also, during the past two weeks have been busy sewing. I finally finished my "button-dress" and my sailor suit! I have yet to be fitted/cut out my ball dress (this is assuming we are still going, see the next paragraph and draw your own conclusions).

Granddaddy has been in the hospital until Wednesday afternoon when he was brought home in an ambulance. He is basically tied down with what is called an abductor brace between his legs (both legs strapped to it). This is to keep the left hip from coming of of joint. He is not doing so well, practically completely off his food and drink. He sleeps and hallucinates most of the time. The majority of his hallucinations seem to be from his childhood/young adult life with him working cattle or hollering for his sister. He is even thinner than ever. It requires a certain amount of purposeful practically to do what needs to be done around him. There is nothing pleasant in looking at a naked, emaciated, (and likely) dying old man. (He refuses clothing...and at this point it is easier to care for him without having the hassel of clothes.) He doesn't know any of us most of the time, except for Daddy. The call was made yesterday to put him under (in home) hospice care. He was supposed to go from the hospital into rehab, but none of the rehabs would take him because he probably has Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) (there has been no offical diagonsis, but he has 32 out of 40 some symptoms.) Apparently a large percentage of LBD patients are violent (which Granddaddy is not).

I got my first sunburn of the season yesterday! It was very, very mild--but it still counts.
I got it sitting on the front stoop working on my 1940's hat. I'll do a whole blog post on that when it's done--replete with pictures and just enough words. ;)

I have a huge number of pictures to show you, so I did it slideshow style. Don't ask me how long it took to upload them all...but they are primarily from last Sunday when we took a glorious walk to the property line. We got kind of silly as you will see, but it was a really good time. (Note they aren't in order exactly because both sisters were taking pictures and I wasn't about to go through and rearrange them all in the slideshow...) You will please forgive me if I put up too many...it was too hard to pick (The final group of Katherine makes me think of the squeaky girl [Mary-Elaine?] who was sweet on Newly on Gunsmoke...Sorry Bug!)
My bull (you remember Abe, don't you?) had to be sold because the neighbors bought the rest of what had been my uncle's land and they were going to put cows on it themselves, so my cows were relocated to Granddaddy's place and Abe had to be sold because there are already two bulls over there. I was kind of upset about this, but I knew from the get go that my Abe would probably have to be sold at some point. (That's the nature of the ranching business.) Anyway, to soften the deal, Daddy gave me the profit from him (I did bottle raise the critter, you know). I turned around and put some of it to work in purchasing myself a new laptop (as of today). I am going to take my "monster" offline and just use it for my writing and filmmaking stuff and do all internet stuff on my new laptop when I get it. I was going to get this really cute red Chromebook, but when I found out "No Skype" I changed my mind in a hurry. I don't do much Skype with other people, but my family is constantly sending each other links and communicating up-stairs and down (and room to room sometimes! :D)...I would definitely have missed it.
So...you may have to wait until next week for another blog post if I decide to go ahead and take this thing offline before the Gateway arrives.

See ya around!

        Racheal

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Hospitals and Stitches

4/7/2014

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I didn't follow my usual Lord's Day course of reading yesterday. I just didn't think I was going to be able to concentrate on it. So, instead, I spent the afternoon doing some handwork while listening to some nice edifying music. If you've never heard of Kemper Crabb, I'd suggest you pop over here and give him a listen!

All the ladies went to church yesterday for the first time in weeks. Daddy took Granddaddy into the hospital to get his hip replacement put back into proper joint. When Daddy put him to bed last night, he noticed that it was out again, so this morning they headed towards the hospital once more. The doctor got it put back into place and said that he thought there was a 75% chance that it was going to pop back out. Granddaddy is going to stay in the hospital for a couple of days and then he'll be sent to rehab for a while. He may have to have surgery again.

This morning I managed to cut my thumb while peeling one of those big squashes we use in breads and fried up with onions and eggs for breakfast...thankfully, I had already washed the dishes. :) I then whipped up a bread...mmmm. Something to snack on! :D

On the sewing front today, I got most of my sailor suit finished. What remains is a zipper in the skirt, as well as the waistband and of course, the hemming; and pockets, buttons, and hemming on the top. So far, I'm quite pleased with how it looks. :) I wouldn't have gotten that far today if I hadn't stitched all the ribbon on the collar and sleeves yesterday.

The livingroom is a lovely wreck. It just can't help it when people are sewing....

        Racheal

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Saturday Stitches

4/5/2014

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That title is actually kind of fancy sounding... :)

I got started on my stitching around 9:30, 10:00 this morning after the usual morning routine and cleaning the bathroom (part of usual Saturday life). I started on lunch around 11:15 and continued my sewing--therefore, I stuck the cabbage, but since we all like it kind of carmalized, it wasn't a big deal.

I got my "button dress" all put together, minus the hand sewing, button holes, and buttons. I realized, right before lunch was ready, that when I had stitched the front panels and back panel together at the shoulders, I had put the front one's on backwards! In other words, the side seams (still unsewn, of course) were front and center! Once I realized that, it also made sense while the neck lining was refusing to lay like it was supposed to.

I 'freelanced' a bit and made pockets for it. They are pretty shallow and I'm not even sure I will be able to carry my pocket knife without fear of it falling out. Oh well...I learned a little bit more about sewing today.

Another 'detail' that wasn't called for is the pleat thingy in the back. It was kind of big and baggy looking in the back, so Savannah suggested a little pleat/tuck/whatever you call it. It looks pretty decent actually; kinda dresses the back up a little. I fully intend on wearing a belt on this dress (I'm a belt kind a girl anyway).

Savannah needed a little help being fitted (she has three dresses other than her ball dress she's making), so I did that. I'm getting semi-competent at that, I think. Once we finished fitting her, we fitted me for my sailor suit. The skirt was perfect, but the jacket/top had to be let out in the hips...other than that it was fine (that is, as far as one can tell when wearing paper!)
 
I decided that I wouldn't actually start sewing this particular garment until Monday. I did go ahead and pin the trim (ribbon) on the collar and the sleeves (I'm going to handstitch). The decoration is not called for in the pattern for the sleeves (which I'm making short rather than long), but I thought it looked pretty nifty. I'm really, really hoping this comes out fitting just right instead of being a hair baggy like everything else so far! :D

For most of the afternoon Granddaddy was convinced that the house was fixing to explode. Literally. He thought there was a bomb in the house. He had me check the yellow chair at least twice for a bomb...and apparently he thought a particular ball was a bomb. He wasn't very happy to say the least.

Because I spent the majority of the day on my feet, barefoot, my heels are killing me. Sometimes I wonder if I have heel spurs or if I'm just so flat footed that when I'm on my feet all the time, my bodyweight just concentrated on my heels and makes them hurt.

I sure am ready for supper...so I'm going to scram now! :)

        Racheal

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"Stuff" Or Rambles...

3/21/2014

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I know things have been kind of quiet around here...but I don't really know what to say of any interest. Daily life continues to be cooking, dishes, a little of that, a little of this, laundry, playing with the cats some, eating (of course!)...you know, stuff that isn't boring but doesn't make for very exciting blog posts.

What did do today that was out of the ordinary (besides reading for the first time this week!! Shame on me!) was that I cleaned my room this afternoon. I really don't spend much time in there most days so I kind of let the dust and mess get out of hand. The cat box really, really needed to be changed so I did that too. Suffice to say, it's much more pleasant in there now. The cats don't care of course, but I do. :)

I know I didn't vaccum the floor as well as I would have liked, but the old Oreck just doesn't like that antique carpet. I'm not sure why...but it doesn't. I do so love our Oreck (we've had it since '97 or '98 and it's gone through many beater bars, bearings and Daddy even replaced part of the cord once), but it is getting old and not as reliable as it once was. Still, I'm thankful it still works!

On a very positive note, Granddaddy was in a good mood today. In other words, he was real easy to deal with. Reasonable and easy enough to talk to. He even said "thank-you" multiple times today...and he kind of chuckled once! I am thankful for that because I "had him" so to speak for most of the day. He was kind of grouchy and out of it yesterday, so today was a nice change.

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon going through my current Cow Cavalry timeline. I found a place where I had no audio (not even my stand in narration!) I wonder how that happened?

I considered going through the AfterEffects compositions (most of which I decided not to render until I have Mr. Joe's version of the narration) today, but I settled on returning my nose to God and Government today instead. It doesn't do me much good at the moment to get all wound up over my Cow Cav. project since I can't really go forward with it at present.

Anyway, I think I feel like "scribbling" as Jo March would say...so I think I'll go do that for a little bit. (Granted, George Gershwin doesn't exactly fit your classic "Western" background music!)

        Racheal

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