Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Exciting events!

Hi Y'all! I have been working pretty much non-stop for a while, and what a blessing a day off is! Spring is officially here, and we are greeted by this lovely creature...is she a moth? Anyway, she was on a tree in the front yard, and was happy to pose for me.
Above doesn't look like much...but I can say it was labor intensive! I pressed for hours on the back and top of my blue and yellow monstrously big quilt, so I could send it to be quilted. I am so proud of this! I cut threads, and cut threads, and cut threads! Can't wait to see this on my bed, all finished. It is all folded, ready to go in the box to send.
I layered this little quilt for hand quilting...that kind of quilting is so much fun! So relaxing...
My friend Joyce sent some fabrics from Arizona, so what did I do? I made spools! Klosjes!! I love them!
Is anyone out there working on this project? What else for a background but...plaid!! I love the blocks, they are found at Bunny Hill, and the patterns are free.
The second of the snowman blocks. I have a third prepped, but not done yet.
Do you ever sift through those tiny cuttings, thinking, wow, those are sure pretty...and then toss them? You can keep them you know...just get some in a pile on two layers of cotton batting and a backing, arrange them like you want them, spray with spray starch and press the daylights out of it, then I just quilt across from edge to edge and side to side. Presto! A fun hot pad, guaranteed to protect your hands while getting things out of a hot oven...and you did not have to throw away those tiny trimmings! I still need to bind this one.
OK, for the exciting stuff. For a couple days, we saw this tiny poodle (about 12 pounds, maybe), running around our house and part of the neighborhood. When we approached her, she would duck and run like anything. Well, dear husband eventually got close enough that she trusted him, and now she just eats out of his hand! She is overgrown with fur and dirty, and hungry...and darling! So full of life and fun. We have tried to find the owner around the neighborhood, but we have come to the conclusion that she has been dumped here. We have so many animals just show up around our neighborhood, it is unbelievable. So....I will keep you posted what happens with her, she is a little love, and eats well, and cuddles better! A very sweet lap dog type lady.


***************************Nursing notes!!!!!!!!!!!***********************

Well, this is the REALLY EXCITING part! I had a patient come in, fresh from the tele. floor, with positive cardiac enzymes and chest pain. Exactly my age. A huge mountain of a guy, nearly 400 pounds and 6'6''. So, off he went to cath. lab, and this test showed that he had a huge clot in his left main (the large artery that feeds the left side of the heart). This is a killer...and the doctor was shocked that he had not died immediately. Well, long story longer, he went for emergency bypass surgery, and had a balloon pump placed, and guess what? I went to surgery with him! I totally got to see the entire bypass surgery, and truly, I am forever awed. Wow! Magic in a surgical team's hands. Long day, and a routine one for the team, but I will never forget it. After 20 years of this nursing thing, I still am awed each day.

Today? The patient is sitting up eating lunch and walking in his room! Yippee! A save!!!


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Thanks for listening...and have a super day!


Julie

23 comments:

~Joan said...

Julie, I might have asked you this already, but would you want to swap a group of spools with me? I am making a quilt from 5" blocks (directions on my blog). I have swapped sets of 25 with 4 other ladies so far (well, waiting for the one from Australia). If yours are that size, would you want to swap? Pretty please??

~Joan

A Garden of Threads said...

Yes, the creature on the tree is a moth and a beautiful one at that. Love the hotplate idea, will remember to save all those little pieces of fabric. Take care:)

Loris said...

Lots to show for your days mostly spent at work! Can't wait to to see the yellow and blue quilt quilted. It's going to be a beauty.
Love the pot holder idea and to keep the cute dog :-)
Hoorah for the successful cardiac surgery. Wait till you see a heart valve replacement. It will blow your mind! How they keep the sutures from getting tangled and knotted was amazing to me...my stitches get tangled just using one thread :-)

Lorraine said...

wow....Julie you have been super busy! Love the little quilt you are going to hand quilt...so pretty! How cute is the little dog....looks like she has adopted you guys! Would love to see what you do with a couple of days off....give you one and you are on fire...! Love the little hot pad...very clever!

Nancy said...

Wow, your post was packed with exciting news from top to bottom. Great job on the quilts and blocks!

Sharon said...

How cool was your day!!! I love watching surgeries on the medical documentary shows. After my ordeal with B.C., I'm so glad I chose and got the dr that I requested. I heard so many comments from all the techs in all the different places I had to go saying "who did your surgery? Dr. K?" Yes, and their reply always was. "he's the only one I'd let work on me!"

mkhquilts said...

Julie- Love your idea about the scrape potholer! Fun way to use scrapes. Your spools inspired me to make a spool quilt of my own. I will post a photo of it when its quilted. That is Awsome about the patient.
Mary H

Anonymous said...

I hope you'll get to keep the pooch. Sounds like your smitten.
Loved seeing what your working on...and I must say unsure that I could survive in a surgery room. I'm just sayin. :0)

Amelia said...

The dog is a cutie...do you think you all might keep him?

God is using you to help sick people feel more confortable regardless of what is happening in their world...your patients should be very thankful.

Enjoy the rest of the week!

Camilla said...

That's a butterfly, not a moth; the clubbed ends to the antennae do it. It probably overwintered and is still a bit sluggish from the cold.

Might be a 'Question Mark' (Polygonia interrogationis), if that's plausible for your area.

Ali Honey said...

Love your butterfly.
Love the top quilt.
Love the scrappy potholder / heat mat.
Love hearing of successful surgery outcomes. I would have loved seeing that too ( no I'm not a nurse not doctor just a noisy person who loves to know and learn ! )
Happy Easter!

Karen said...

I am working on two of the Bunny Hill blocks today.

Sue-Anne said...

Can't wait to see you blue and yellow quilt on your bed! How sad to think that a cute little puppy like that has been dumped. I am so glad you found him/her and will look after it.

Isn't it amazing what can be done these days, it wasn't that long ago that someone would surely have died from that. I am always surprised at how quickly people recover from open heart and other major surgeries.

Jan said...

So glad that cute puppy found a home with you! Your spools look so good. Glad your patient is up and going good!!!

Connie said...

CUTE CUTE little dog, hope he get a good home. Really like you ideal of makeing the hot pad. Your quilt is really pretty, can't wait to see it on your bed. So glad the man is doing good, you can say the good Lord was watching over him. HAPPY SEWING!

Unknown said...

Love this post! Yes, that is definitely a moth. You can tell the difference between a moth and a butterfly in a couple of ways. When they are resting a moth has its wings open and a butterfly has them closed. A moth also has furry like antennae. Love all your projects and the dog is just way too cute!! I think it was meant to be and he is a keeper. So cool that you were able to witness the surgery. Isn't it great that you feel so invigorated about a job that you have had for 20 years. That is the best part.

Sew Create It - Jane said...

If ever I find myself in a hospital, I sure hope I have a nurse as wonderful as you. I can tell you have real passion for your job and that's wonderful!

Libby said...

I am so hungry for signs of spring . . . thank you for sharing *S*

Lori said...

Your blue and yellow quilt will relaly come to life after quilting. How exciting!!
Such a wonderful full post!!

Denise in PA said...

I am making Snowbound too! I love your plaid background! What a great idea. I'm being a big 'ole copycat and using Rural Jardin, but the yardage hasn't come in yet, so I have't even started yet (and now I'm three months behind!) That little puppy sure is a cutie!! I wish our patient a speedy recovery too!

AnnieO said...

A plethora of beauty and joy on your blog today! And I assume since your DH was chasing around a dog, that he is feeling much better. Thanks for sharing all the great projects and animals, flying, four-legged, and human!

Ginger Patches said...

O.k. I had to back track a bit when you said something about wanting to keep a dog, guess I'm behind lol!! I love your scraps idea!!! I have GOT to try that. That pooch is a cutie pie! Now I have to go back up and see if you're keeping her!

Rachel said...

I love your Snowbound blocks! They're looking great. That's a project I had hoped to do this year, but first I couldn't find background fabric I liked, then I got busy with other stuff. I have been keeping the patterns, though, so someday...
The jelly roll quilt-along blocks look good too. Another project I wanted to do but passed on. Someday... sigh.
So glad to hear (from your more recent post) that you're keeping the puppy! She's so sweet.

Puffins and purples!!

I was tempted by Puffins...a squirrelly breed!!  LOL!  This fabric was shared with me, and I have been loved these bright, candy corn colors...