A Couple Of Small Tops

 

Two  Small Tops

each 42 x 42

Someone gave me some Sixteen Patch blocks made of 4 inch squares. The blocks finish at 14 inches. I made a couple of 14 inch Stars for the quilt centers. 

I probably will not get them quilted and donated until next year. 

And sew on...

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I have been blessed with several packages in the last week or so. Dawn and Leslie sent some scraps, Liz sent a couple of sets of vintage blocks, and Gail sent a box of blocks and a few scraps. I'm overjoyed! There's lots of fodder for comfort quilts!

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With the beautiful weather I have still been working a lot out in the gardens. I have planted quite a variety of bulbs. A lot of them that will result in black, white and pink flowers have gone into my new perky goth/moon garden in memory of my granddaughter who passed away unexpectedly a few years ago from "probable cardiac arrhythmia".  

I have most of the veg garden cleaned up except for a few pepper plants. I can't believe I am still harvesting peppers in November. 

I have started digging up my Dahlias. They need to have a hard frost before being dug up. Then I let them dry a bit and wrap them in paper and store in a box in s cooler part of the house. 

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John is waiting on a portable oxygen concentrator. He doesn't need oxygen at rest but his blood oxygen level has been falling below 80 whenever he takes a short walk. Pulmonologist said that is putting stress on heart. He has bronchiectasis and lung scarring from aspiration pneumonia- side effects from radiation and oropharyngeal cancer years ago. Since the last bout with pneumonia he has been trying to improve strength and stamina with exercises and short walks but now he needs to slow down again. Doctor thought some speech therapy might help him with swallowing; however, now he doesn't believe there is much hope for improvement of swallowing much but a few sips of liquids now and then. And even with that aspiration is always a problem. We hope the portable oxygen will allow him to resume some walks and minimal activity. 

My son is diabetic and they amputated a part of his foot a few years ago because he had a wound that would not heal. He recently found out his insurance would cover shoes with molded inserts and I took him to pick up his special work boots yesterday. Today he wore them out to help me in the gardens and he is thrilled with his boots. 

John sister was recently diagnosed with lung cancer that has spread to her lymph nodes and brain. Doctors recently removed the brain tumor and she was released from the hospital. I guess she is going to receive radiation treatments. But now she is in the hospital with kidney stones. I wish she lived closer so I could help her and her husband out. 

I am so thankful that I am a healthy 73 year old. 

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I finished a book! Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure by Rhys Bowen. It is not the type of book I usually read boy I enjoyed it. In 1938 Mrs. Endicott's husband wants a divorce after 30 years of marriage.  And so her adventure begins.