Many thanks!

Above is a small quilt I had made for one Monthly Mini with Wendy, the constant quilter.  I just decided to send it off to my friend to be quilted, and here is what she did.

Isn't' that sunflower quilting so awesome!!!  Thank you, Paula Sue!  (my friend from childhood)

I recently bought a Moda scrap bag, sight unseen...(1/2 price).  The above fabrics were in the bag...mostly selvages. The most I could get from the strips was 2 inches, so I trimmed all I could to 2-inch strips and came up with this baby quilt.  Hurrah!!!  I am all ready for a baby to come along now!

This is a chemo quilt, and the top was given to me before it was tossed, I think.  It is so pretty quilted!

The little tomato plants are getting bigger!!!

I wanted to tell each of you thank you so much for your sweet and caring comments about the loss of Rosie, our poodle.  Your kindness is truly appreciated.  We are slowly getting back to a new normal around here.

Julie
 

A great loss of a small baby (Our Rosie poodle)

I have been making progress on this quilt, which is unexpected and very squirrel-ish in nature.  I had no idea I was going to make this quilt, and then?  There I was, making it.  That border was tricky, I must say.

EQP Mystery 2022 | Facebook

All the patterns are here.

I received my Quiltville mystery quilt back from the quilter!  Hurrah!!!  I have the binding on...just need to sew it down, and it will be a wrap on the mystery.  

Or will it really be a wrap?  I cut out another mystery quilt!!!  Different fabrics...here I go again!!  Same pattern...way different look.

Ukraine is on my mind, and I made another little quilt with their flag colors.

I planted tomato seeds five days ago, and wow!  They are springing right up!!

Rosie on the Dear Jane quilt.

Rosie on my plaid scrappy Jewel Box quilt.

Rosie on the apple core quilt.

And Rosie on the mini bear paw quilt.  All these pictures have been taken through the years.  

Rosie is gone from this life.  Here is a bit about her.  

******************************************************************

 01-30-2023

There comes a time when it is obvious there is no cure, and no treatment. When the drug or the knife can do no more good. When the relentless juggernaut of the dying body supplants the will of the mind to survive. When all hope is lost for this life, and hope arises for another one, after death. Comfort becomes important. Being clean, fed if able to eat, good things to drink, positioned for comfort because you cannot move, to have someone who loves you present to supply a calm, kind, loving voice; to be touched and held if that comforts you. All these are paramount now. Meds to ease suffering and pain, to promote sleep and rest, and to ease the anxiety of the unknown.

You may think I am telling my hospice nurse story, and yes, that is true, but this is the story of a different kind of hospice...the one for my dog, Rosie. Rosie came tripping into our life many years ago, a stray, dumped in the neighborhood; discarded, uncared for, ungroomed, covered with six inch long matted, muddy poodle hair and full of brambles and weeds, covering a famished, starving little body and a will of pure twisted steel. It was love at first sight for me.

After fresh water, nourishing food, love, and a good grooming and vetting, who sat before me? A darling tiny poodle, most likely purebred, full of the fierce intelligence of the breed. Full of strength, honor, wisdom, a fierce devotion to me. She would always get between me and anyone at the door...and she would have died in a heartbeat, using all of her 15 pounds, defending me if needed, there is no doubt.

Full of play! Catch, fetch, running in circles and just full of fun. Down on her forelegs, bottom in the air, wagging so hard the air got out of her tail's way.

Full of love! She would launch herself into my arms when I came home from the day and liked nothing better than to be nestled close to me, being stroked and petted and told what a pretty girl she was. (For of course it is true)

Full of intelligence! She just knew. I never had to teach her a thing. She could do all the normal things...sit, fetch, stand up, come (only if she wanted to though!) ...all the tricks. But she also would take me to the bedroom, so she could be placed on the bed for her naps...to the door for potty time...she would tell me with a short bark. She just knows what I am saying and taught me what she wanted and needed.

Full of honor! Dignified and beautiful, too, in that way of dogs. An honorable person, with no spot on her character whatsoever.

A traveler! In the air on planes, in the truck...she just did wonderfully, and was such a joy.

And now? We are to this point. Hospice for the poodle doodle girl. Gently singing the poodle song to her..."Rosie Posie Pumpkin pie, you are the best girl in the world, in the world, in the world!"

The liver malfunction, Cushing's disease, insulin dependent diabetes, blindness from the diabetes and cataracts, hypertension, collapsing trachea with cough that does not seem to cease.... all have taken their toll, and now we are at the end of her life.

So? What does a nurse do? What does anyone who loves a dog as much as I do, do?? As many, many of you have done???

Love...presence...cleaning the patient...good food if wanted...cool water...strokes and holding...life review...and those meds to ease suffering...a gift for her that is wholly inadequate to the gifts she has given to me.

Tears for my loss. Tears for her suffering. They just don't stop, do they???

More as the journey goes along.

2-1-2023

Rosie just will not eat. Maybe a bite or two. I put a bit of baby food into a syringe and trickled it into her mouth, she seemed eager for it. She mostly sleeps. She enjoys being tucked in tight to my leg, as I sit on the couch.

2-2-2023

More of the same. A few wiggly tail moments, but mostly sleep, goes out to potty, and back. Drinking water like crazy (diabetes)

2-03-2023

Started her on megace, and she ate like a trouper. Later on in the day, she went into respiratory distress...a subtle increase in the respiratory rate. Then full-on rales, exp grunting and wheezes. Did she aspirate? Is this heart failure, or just her large liver crowding her stomach? Just heart breaking. Her final vet appointment is tomorrow, and I cannot, just cannot stop crying. It is now 1:40 AM, and I am bawling...she is asleep at last. I keep on checking her for respirations.

08:00 2-4-2023. Rosie had rapid respiration’s part of the night, interspersed with deep sleep. She will no longer take water or food, but went out to potty. We had a final vet appointment at 8 am. Rosie started have irregular respirations and a slowing heartbeat. She passed in my hands at 0800, right when her appointment was supposed to be. A huge part of my heart goes with her. She was my darling girl, and I grieve her loss. Dog moms know....my heart is broken.

And that is why I have not posted for a bit. Quilting brings me some solace, but I look for my baby everywhere, and she is just not there.

Julie

Good morning!

Good morning to all!

Above is a pure squirrel.  I had no clue I would even start this, but low and behold?  I did!!!  I like it so far.  You can find the link here, with all the patterns freely given.

(4) EQP Mystery 2022 | Facebook

This is my leader and ender.  My great friend sent me some reproduction scraps, and away I go!  It is too small so far, so I am cutting more scraps, so I can continue to leader and ender away.

I made a few key ring straps...these go around your hand as you are walking, so to carry your keys in your hand.  Just fun sewing.

While my machine was out being treated to a spa and diagnosis appointment at the Bernina shop, I cut out all these star blocks.  These are 6 inches finished and are cut from scraps in a bag that was all together and seem to go together.  These are fun!!

I made some homemade lotion.  A lipid, along with sweet smelling almond lotion.  My hands are a wreck from all the hand washing at the hospital, and the lotion seems to help.  It is vitamin e cream, a bit of Vaseline, and almond lotion. I use it at night. 

I found an old piece of upholstery material and made this wristlet purse.  I find I carry less and less when I go to the store or anywhere now, so these small purses work very well for me...a lip chap, credit card, driver's license, keys and twenty bucks!

 Not a Dooney-Burke purse or the like! What kind of purse do you carry, please???

 The Bernina store advised me to use a small vacuum each time I change the bobbin or needle, to vacuum bits of lint out, or at the start a new project. 

There was a ton of lint that I could not reach or see with my cleanings of the sewing machine, they said, and also some bits of dog ears that I had cut off and did not know they got in there, too.  So this tiny vacuum is a wonderful 20-dollar investment.  There was nothing wrong with my machine!  Hurrah!  Although my sewing machine does sound different now?  The shop gentleman said it was perfect, and the sound was just different because it was cleaner.  Anyway!!!  It is louder!

I just loved making the Quiltville mystery quilt this year!!  I have chosen fabric to make another one!  Several times, I have gone through what I have, and chosen different fabrics.  Indecisive much??  LOL!!

I received this amazing towel to celebrate National Squirrel appreciation day!!!!!!  It was January 21st.  I adore it!!!  Thank you, thank you!

Rosie the poodle loves it too!

Speaking of Rosie:  She rescued us 13+ years ago.  The vet seems to think she was 2-3 years old when she came to us and she appears to be a purebred poodle.  Because of her little stretched out boobies and body, and non-docked tail, maybe she was a breeder dog?  Not sure, but we have adored her and spoiled her each day from then to now. She is at the end of her life.  So many things are wrong, and much care each day goes to her.  In return, we are blessed with the most loyal, wonderful little baby dog in the universe.  She has glaucoma, collapsing trachea, chronic cough, Cushing's disease, diabetes, blindness.  On and on.  and yet?  She takes very good care of us.  Guarding for us, outside the bathroom and we never step a foot anywhere that she is not right with us.  She will not eat now.  It takes an act of congress to get her to consume any calories. So?  We have put her on hospice care.  Pain meds, nausea meds, bp meds, insulin (cut drastically due to not eating) ...all of it, but the emphasis is on loving care and comfort, dignity and peace.  Just like my human hospice patients. You have seen Rosie on many of my quilts, and I pray for all the good in the world for her...peace and comfort.  I will ensure this.

*****************The 1940's***********************

My study of this era has started!!  The overshadowing event of the era was World War 2, of course...both the events leading up to it, and the aftermath of it.  I was surprised to find few books on it at the library...the young librarian asked why I wanted to know about that anyway, and that I could find it all online.  Ok, well I am doing that, but really wanted an old history book, just the facts, man!  I have found two.   

I loved that the ladies stepped out of the home, and onto the assembly lines.  People gave up, conserved and saved everything, for the troops and the war effort.  Victory gardens! Paper drives!  Anything to help. I love that spirit!!!

Much information is available about the holocaust, enough to make it a separate field of study.  So horrific, and there is a newer movie and book out...Sarsh's key. Actually from 2010, so not so new, LOL! New to me, I guess. 

I love history, and love reading, so on I go.  

Thanks for hanging out with me...if you would like a key fob or handmade lotion, please leave a comment, and I will have a drawing for these.

Have a lovely day, all of you!

Julie