Saturday, April 25, 2020

The Other Shoe Drops

I finally quilted and bound my On Ringo Lake quilt. It’s a simplified version as I used a good number of the pieces for On Ringo Pond, which I finished last month. This one will be a personal quilt for cuddling, as I like them not too big and heavy.

The final measurements were 54.5 x 64”, and I quilted it in a simple stipple. There are a lot of piecing 
“missssssnakes”, but I really don’t care. I’m just not focused enough to piece together hundreds of little bitty pieces going this way and that.  


I would’ve preferred to have a nice border on it, but I used all the border pieces on the first Ringo quilt, so this is what it is.


The colors are yummy, though, as I switched out the browns for grays. And about 95% of the orange fabrics are from Tula Pink’s Salt Water line. I used this same fabric line in blues for Salt Water Wedding back in 2014.


The backing was a piece that I picked up a few years ago from Connecting Threads.


So, it’s all washed and fluffy and crinkly (just like me!) and I’ll use it as my new lap quilt. I like to rotate them. Do you do that? 

My Bernina had to have the foot pedal cord replaced, but it was only in the shop for a couple days, so that was nice. While I was there to pick it up, I got all the supplies for the 2 Blocks of the Month I’d missed due to sheltering in place. We’re still practicing that, of course, but I did go out and visit the store curbside, with mask.  Anyway, here are the two blocks. The first one is a bit odd because, uh... I messed it up royally. But in my defense, they didn’t give us the right amount of fabric to cut the necessary pieces, so I had to improvise. 


And these are the mostly same blocks I’m making with a busy US State-themed background. I give myself permission to skip uncooperative blocks (I’m looking at you, purples) or substitute others. So, I only did the 4-patch economy squares. And yes, I agree that that pink pinwheel in amongst the flying geese is hideous. That will be getting switched out before I sew the blocks into a flimsy.  It will be a small donation quilt when done.


And here is my Rainbow Scrap roundup for April.  Linking up to Scrappy Saturday at Angela’s blog.


Yield: 1 Scraptastic Star, 9 Split Nine patches, 17 selvage hexies, 9 Twin Sisters blocks and 16 string blocks.  That’s 52 (smallish) blocks; a light month.   

If I have any more quilt finishes before month-end, I’ll catch those on the next post.


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Just when we think life can’t get any more complicated... OK, fill in the blank. Here are your choices:


(A) Donald Trump becomes President 
(B) You lose your job
(C) You catch Covid-19  
(D) You have to have your arm amputated 

The answer is not (A) because DT is already a bloated windbag President (my blog, my opinion). And it’s not (B) because we’re retired, so jobs are not a worry for us. We do, however, worry about our kids and friends and neighbors. And it’s not (C), because we’re all healthy here (got tested this week). So, if you said (D), the arm amputation, you would be correct. Unfortunately.

Bruce had an appointment last Tuesday with a radiologist to discuss the possibility of using radiation to kill the remaining cancer cells in his right (dominant) arm. Long story short, the doctor discovered another tumor had popped up seemingly overnight on his forearm. It’s about the size of a large pimple, but truly it wasn’t there a week ago. Anyway, we (I was requested to join the consultation) were sent back to his original orthopedic oncologist (Joan D. Miles - we love her!) and the consensus was that now is the time to stop playing whack-a-mole with the cancer. And we certainly don’t want it to metastasize to his lungs. So, Dr. Miles and Bruce decided that amputation was the next step. Like NOW. Well, technically, it’s on Monday the 27th. I raised a feeble suggestion of waiting until after Bruce’s birthday on May 3, but they just looked at me like I was an alien (I get that a lot).  

Bruce's first thought was that this provides a lot of new humor possibilities. And we were surprised at how great the grandkids think it’s going to be that Grandpa will have a robotic arm (eventually). They already thought he was cool before because he calls Brussels sprouts “turtle heads”, but the RoboGramp thing just thrust him into superstardom in their eyes. 

We, of course, know that the reality will hit pretty hard. As much as we’ve tried to prepare for this, knowing for years it was an eventuality, there is going to be a difficult adjustment period. The prosthetist told Bruce he will mourn his arm like a lost loved one. But, it’s time. We are ready. And best of all, we have each other and loving family and friends. Oh, and we don’t have Covid-19, so there’s that. 

Finally, I don’t know what my blogging schedule will be like for the next few weeks. It may continue as normal, or I may go dark for awhile. Heck, for all I know I could be shoving Bruce out of my way so HE doesn’t take over my blog. It could happen. Thanks for all your past and ongoing good wishes. Your kind messages mean the world to us. Stay safe. We’ll “see” you soon! 

25 comments:

  1. OOOh Cathy I am so sad to hear this...prayers winging out for no more bad choices to be made--and best of luck with surgery...You have had more than your share for sure...
    Take care...Julierose

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    1. I’m not sure why your comment didn’t come through to my blog (well, yes I am - that darn Blogger changed my settings again and I had to fix it). Thanks for your good wishes, Julierose. I hope you and Thom are staying healthy and at home.

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  2. Glad you were able to share this today, and that there can even be some positives or humor found in the situation. God bless those grandkids! I would have been right there with you, asking to wait until after Bruce's birthday, too. Wishing you some fabric therapy in the coming days! Hugs, Cathy!

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    1. Thanks, Diann. As with Julierose’s comment above, yours didn’t come through to my email, but I’ve fixed Blogger’s hissy fit now. As always, we appreciate your kind words and good cheer. We do try to add some light through humor whenever we can. I hope you and Mike are doing well and that Mike is mostly healed from his ordeal by now. I’m sure we’ll chat soon.

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  3. I don't think the pop of pink is terrible. I say, add more few more blocks like that and call it a design feature! Nice work on your BLUE blocks for the RSC.

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    1. Ugh! WHY?! Why didn't I read the entire post before commenting? In my defense, it started off with politics. Go, RoboGramp!! Best wishes for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery. Stay healthy!

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  4. Oh my goodness - whack a mole begone in a big, big way. I hope it is totally successful with a relatively short period of grieving and little or no significant phantom pain. Best wishes to both of you!!

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  5. You forgot option E: You find out that DT is now assigned to be your medical doctor. Meanwhile I’m thinking of you and Bruce. And I am very happy to hear about the possibility of a robotic arm...maybe with a sewing attachment?

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  6. Oh my! It's a good thing he has a sense of humor to fall back on, that's a big change.
    I am also looked upon as a bit of an alien, when I say things, I'm a weirdo or so Ive been told. He's got good support in you and you have good support in your community and family, that's important. Robo Gramp's does sound cool.

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  7. So sorry to hear about Bruce. Glad he has a sense of humor but I don't find Brussel Sprout turtle heads very funny. I find them very delicious, though. Wishing him all the best.

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  8. Sorry it has come to this after all he has been through. But I think your decision is probably for the best. Prayers for you and RoboGramps.

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  9. So, so sorry to hear about Bruce's upcoming surgery. Covid-19 must seem minor compared to everything else that's going on for you right now. Will you be able to see him at all after the surgery? It's bad enough to have to go through something like this, but hopefully not alone too. Will keep you and Bruce in my thoughts.

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  10. Like so many things, even though you know it's coming, it's not any easier to bear. Prayers to Bruce, you and your family to weather this newest storm. Glad your got the Bernina repaired so if the mood strikes you'll be able to sew away some hours in mindless piecing. We'll be hear when you are ready.
    Pat

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  11. OK, you win the "We had the shittiest week" award! The grand prize is a new arm that's probably, no DEFINITELY, smarter than our president. After all, it won't be tempted to stare at solar eclipses or drink Lysol. In my family, we say Laughter is the Best Medicine and Panic is Worse than Bombs. Here's hoping for a funny anesthesiologist and a calm surgeon :)

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  12. I add my condolences, a day late! I hope all goes well with the surgery and recovery, I applaud your good humor, Bless those grandkids. They give us hope in the future. We are here if you need to vent or just share! Best wishes!

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  13. Wishing lots of positive and healing thoughts to you and Bruce, aka RoboGramps, for tomorrow and beyond.

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  14. Oh my! I hope the surgery goes well, the hubby heals quickly and the robotic arm is as cool as the grandkids think it will be! He's got kitties to snuggle him through the healing, so I'm sure that will go splendidly. As for people looking at you like you're an alien...well...I know that look well. And if they're gonna be judging me anyways, might as well give them a reason I approve of, right? And the BH quilt - I did one. Too many fiddly pieces that never did fit together well and the top is still hanging there, waiting to be quilted, but I'm still (4 or 5 years later) so annoyed at it, it will have to wait a bit longer. Lesson learned. (And fiddly bits aren't all that bad, just easier to manage if I know what comes next. And I can choose my method of construction based on that knowledge.) Sending good vibes your way!

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  15. Best of luck for Bruce surgery. Such a difficult time for you and lots of adjusting. Cancer is such a scourge and I only hope that the increased level of research and development for a cure for Covid19 can be be funnelled into cancer research once this is all over.

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  16. Oh, sweetie! Hugs to you both!
    And here's hoping that robo-arm is mega-cool!

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  17. Sending continued good wishes and healing vibes. So happy you have a batch of loving family and friends to help you through this! Hugs to both of you!

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  18. Oh, Cathy -- what a scary time. But, the silver lining: this was detected in time and you have access to good healthcare. Prayers for Bruce and for you!

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  19. Cathy. So sorry to hear about Bruce needing such a drastic measure. Sending prayers that this stops the metastases and that you both come through it ok.

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  20. Have you seen the movie, Fried Green Tomatoes, where they have a burial for Buddy's arm? Just a thought. You both will survive this and come out winners! Already grieving the loss of an arm. The purple substitution makes that block so much more interesting. Your Ringo looks wonderful, not as cut up with color and sharp as many of her (Bonnie's) quilts are. I find them just too busy, and too many points. SO KUDOS to you!

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  21. Hi Cathy! I knew I didn't like the title of this post. I am sorry I haven't had a chance to read until now. You can never be over-prepared for an event like this. You can talk about it, see it coming in the headlights, but when the doctors actually say it is happening there is always hope that it won't become a reality. Gosh. I am glad that they let you attend the consultation - it would be difficult enough to hear let alone second hand. I'm rising you both up in prayer . . . and I'm going to go read your next post. {{Hugs}} a bunch. ~smile~ Roseanne

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  22. Fluffy and Crinkly like you :-) Then I am sure it is also soft and warm and comforting like you. You have been on my mind and I have been thinking of Bruce. Hope he had a good birthday - that he was reminded he is loved and respected. Not sure what I can do at a time like this but whatever it is, don't you hesitate to ask. I am just a call away. Sending Big Squishy Hugs to you. Keeping Bruce in my thoughts and prayers.

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