Monday, November 22, 2010

An unexpected day off leads to....

Hi Y'all! I was supposed to work today, but we only had 8 patients in the whole unit, and ten nurses scheduled, so I was called off at 5 AM this morning. An unexpected day off! I have been cleaning and scrubbing and baking...all the usual stuff. But! I am supposed to be finishing UFO's too. So, I worked on the Plaid Pineapple Friendship quilt! So named because every piece of fabric in this...I mean all the plaids...came from other people! Joyce in Arizona! (no blog) I know you will recognize some of these...and Crystal (no blog) in Canada! I know you will see some you sent...and Sylvia!! do you see yours? And Amy!! And Annett! Do you see your bright turquoise cornerstones? Just click on these ladies names to go and admire their blogs!
OK, after all you helped me decide...I decided to finish with a very simple border...frankly, that is all the fabric I had left, and I did not want to bury the checkerboard border...which I love to pieces...under another border. so! this is it!!! Please, no applause for the model...she is truly on everything I work on!




*************************Nurse's Notes*************************


The weekend (not telling which one)! ( Remember, lots of details are omitted for privacy issues...but the story is true.

I was a "customer service recovery expert". I had a little old man who had fallen several times on the general floor...very confused...broken arm, concussion...really bad falls! So, the doctor sent him to Critical care so we could watch him...and I hardly left the room. He was so precious, so sweet...and so very, very confused! Many times he was trying to get out of bed and nearly falling...quick little fella!! I am so elated that by the end of the weekend, he was lucid for the most part, and still having a few mild visual hallucinations (bats on the walls?), but knew my name and that I was there to help him. Such a sweet little old fellow...polite and always a please and thank you...even when he was absolutely nuts! Much, much better by today! I am so thankful...what a darling person. I hope he is all better so soon...it was such a pleasure to care for him, even though very, very labor intensive!!


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Hope everyone is having a wonderful day!!

Julie

42 comments:

Quilter Kathy said...

Another fabulous plaid quilt! Makes me want to get out my plaid UFO and make some progress too!
So wonderful that you could spend time with the elderly gentleman and that he is doing better.

WoolenSails said...

Love the plaids with that pattern, beautiful!
And I like the simple border, it is perfect for that piece, so it all blends in so beautifully.

Debbie

Karen said...

I like pineapple blocks done in plaids. I made a quilt using some quite some time ago.

Mad about Craft said...

My days are full of that type of older person! I empathise!

Chris said...

I love those unexpected days off. I wish we had snow days here!! Great quilt.

Elyte said...

I think that the unexpected days off can be so productive because you have not made other plans and can do anything you want! The results speak for themselves and the quilts look great. The plaid works so well in that pattern and the checkerboard border is a real winner. Love them both.

Pat said...

Love both the quilts you showed. Isn't it great to get called out unexpectedly?? My friend who has worked ICU for YEARS has had that happens sometimes and I know she loves it, too.

Marilyn Robertson said...

Love the plaid quit - but I really love what you did with your borders on the tree quilt! Perfect! :)

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

Enjoy your day off ...love the quilts...and your little old man story..

Diana said...

I love the pineapple done in plaids--really a fresh idea!

Finn said...

Oh my...unexpected bonus in deed! An extra day off, hurray!! Love the pineapple in plaid. How fun that it is one of your UFOs. I just finished the binding on my smaller red pineapple.
Touching story regarding your elderly gent. What a blessing to be the one to steer him to solid ground. It may be challenging work, but knowing that each of us, God willing, will be there someday, must help. Blessing for your tender heart, big hugs, Finnie XXX

Carrie P. said...

What a nice surprise phone call which left you lots of time to catch up on things and time to sew. I like the cornerstones.

Wonky Girl said...

Glad you shared the pineapple quilt. It reminded me of the Christmas fabrics pineapple blocks stashed in my UFO pile. Gotta pull 'em out now.
Love your plaids, started collecting after seeing the header quilt on blog.

scraphappy said...

What an unexpected gift to have an extra day off. Congratulations on having two great quilts to show for it. They both look fabulous, but I can't help but admire all the tiny squares in the crabapple quilt. Stunning!

Linda said...

Great story! Very sweet! So I love your friendship pineapple! It's perfect! Both quilts are gorgeous. Glad you had a great day off!

Carol said...

Both quilts are so nice. You have a good helper there.

Loris said...

Great idea for the pineapples. Plaid makes everything even better!
And congrats on getting your crabapple quilt top completed. It looks wonderful!
Happy day off :-)

Anonymous said...

Your plaid quilt is wonderful! The tree top reminds me perfectly of Bonnie's! Fantastic job!! How will you be quilting yours?

KaHolly said...

Oh, yes, those unexpected days off. As a former teacher, I remember how I loved snow days! Your quilts are gorgeous! ~karen

Jen said...

I love your taste in quilts! I love the tiny pieces and the repurposed fabric and the whole scrappiness of them!

Darlene said...

You and your machine come up with some plaid beauties. I love it!

The small green border is perfect.

Unexpected days off are wonderful. I'm glad you had fun.

Darlene said...
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Darlene said...
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Darlene said...
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Anonymous said...

Hello Julie, I loved the simple border you chose.....what would we do without special nurses...like yourself Julie...Hugs Lyn

Meggie said...

Your posts always provide enjoyable reading. Love seeing you projects too, now that I am non producutive!
Do admire your "Critic"!!

Debi said...

Love your plaid pineapples and the tree top is awesome. Such a sweet story about the old man, reminds me of how my mother is getting.

Lee Prairie Designs said...

Neat story about the elderly gentleman--also that you helped take care of him! Thanks for sharing with us.

Hugs, Carolyn :)

Lori said...
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Lori said...

OK, let me try this again. My last comment posted with my first 4 words!! LOL
I love your tree quilt and think the border is perfect!!! I'm lovin' the model too!!

What a fun pineapple quilt. The plaids are fantastic!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

House of Mouse said...

When I finally finish work today..I am off the rest of the week! thank goodness.

What another lovely quilt...I really do need to move to your neck of the woods and figure out how you get all these quilts done so fast!!

Another job well done! I love it.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

My best,

Anett

YankeeQuilter said...

Love that plaid quilt...plaids really make me think of the holidays. So glad your patient is doing better..

Alycia said...

I love your plaid pineapple. It is a real beauty! Thanks for sharing about your patient too, I hope he heals as well!

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

Loving your quilts, they are stupendous! You are such a truly loving and compassionate nurse, your patents are among the luckiest!!

Stray Stitches (Linda G) said...

I really like both quilts!! I'm so glad you went with the simple border for the tree quilt.

Barb said...

the tree quilt is really scrapalicious!
love the pineapples in plaid too
happy turkey day

MARCIE said...

Love your quilts! Nice to be finishing them up! Very sweet story from the hospital as well.

Cathy Burk said...

Julie, I can only pray that when I or those I love are hospitalized we will have nurses just like you. Bless you for the way that you bless your patients.

Annmarie said...

Your tree quilt turned out just wonderful. Love your blog - especially your nurse stories - I'm a retired nurse & appreciate what you do!

Mary Johnson said...

Love both of these quilts. A tree quilt of some similar form has been on my list for a long time.

Helen in the UK said...

How lovely to have an extra day off, even if they didn't tell you until 5am!! Glad you put it to good use the quilts are looking wonderful :)

Nancy said...

Beautiful work! I have yet another favorite quilt. How on earth do you mange to get so much done?

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...