A Little Thought About My Mom and Dad

I just got off the phone with my mom. We had the most normal conversation, and I thought: that's Mom! For about two minutes there was no glimpse of Alzheimer's to be seen.

Then we hung up, and I thought: I wonder if Dad was really doing/where she said he was, and I wonder if she will remember to give him the message. I'll have to call back in a few minutes just to make sure he got it. Usually she hangs up and can't remember the conversation.

My Dad's memory is slipping also. Somehow his is a little harder on me. Maybe because I consider my mother's memory loss as a disease, but his seems more an indicator of aging. Maybe because he's been such a bastion of good sense amid the craziness (literally) of his life with my mom. Maybe because now I need to keep a closer eye on the two of them. Maybe there are too many reasons to count.

Meanwhile, I'll just bask in the two minutes of normalcy that I just experienced with my mom. That's enough for right now.

A Couple of Bags

I whipped up these bags last week. I've finally figured out a few things that make life easier when making bags. Like how to put a zipper into the top. (I learned how when I made my Zippy Strippy Bags.)

Also I have several patterns I've used over the years, and now sometimes use a combo of patterns. I like a stiff bag that will stand. Putting in a layer of cotton duck under the batting helps nicely with that. 

I always think a bag will be easier to make than it is. In my mind it should be just like making a very small quilt. But the details take longer than I think they will, and sometimes working with small things is not easier than working with big things, and seams add bulk, etc, etc.  But I sure like the look of a quilted bag. 

April Report

First of all, kudos to me for actually having this done on the first of May.

1. First things first: there was a decided upswing in this area this month. I've decided to relax a little bit about making myself get up in the morning, and just take a slightly later outlook on life. That's one advantage of my stage of life. No kids to get off to school, no having to get up and out the door for work. So on days where I don't have an early appointment, I just get up when I wake up. Since I'm naturally a fairly early riser it's not like I'm sleeping in until noon every day. It sets a decidedly more relaxed tone to my day.

2. Photo labeling/scanning: I'm beginning to wonder if I'm having more fun figuring out how I want to do it than actually doing it. Then I take stock, and remind myself that I'm making some progress. This month I scanned about 450 slides from my husband's mission to Germany. A hint and reminder to all of us: you can never over-label a photo. Trying to figure out 35 years later the where/what/who of a photo is no fun. A few seconds now saves hours of frustration in the future.

3. Household organization: I did not get to my family room as planned, but I did get my bathroom shelves organized. Feels great.

4. Project list: This month I finished up my emergency binder and 72 hour emergency kits. I love having my binder all set to go. I also reorganized my inbox, and put all those miscellaneous little papers into a binder and now things look much neater, and I know right where all those things are. I'm loving my clean desktop.

Goals for May: get the yard and garden going/ the living room and dining room/ and organizing my passwords list. We'll see how it all pans out at the end of the month.

Happy May!

An Irish Country Wedding by Patrick Taylor

Oh, I love these Irish Country Doctor books. This one may be my favorite so far.

Start with An Irish Country Doctor. Then keep going until you've reached this one, or if there is a new one out by then, read it.

I've been getting more reading in than I have in months and months, and I am loving it. I feel like a new person. Poor Ray,  he must think all I do all day is have my nose in a book. That's not true at all, but I wouldn't blame him if he did think it. I wonder how often lately I've looked up from my book and said, "I've only got about 20 more pages and I really want to finish this book..." Next time he turns around I have my nose in a new book.

Oh well, it's not like he didn't know that about me before we got married. And I guess there's a reason my license plate is: BOOKS.

I'm just sayin'.

Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman

I read this book as a possible choice to review for one of my book clubs. It turns out that lately I've recommended books for other people to review, not thinking ahead that I'd have to come up with one for myself to review. So at the last minute I was going through lists of books I've read and not finding one I was in the mood to review.  Audrey suggested this one, so I read it to see what I thought.

I liked the book. It's a young adult book, and only 70 pages long. It's about a group of people who turn a vacant lot into a community garden area in the city of Cleveland. Each chapter is from the point of view of a different person. I zipped right through it, and had decided to review it next month. I think you could have some good discussion about people in general, which character you thought you were most like, and which character you liked the most.

In the end I went with another book. Probably not as good for discussion, but it was a book I really liked, and I think everyone else will also like. I'm just in the mood for a feel good, fun book. Sometimes that just has to win.

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

This is an excellent book. On many levels. The story sweeps you along, almost not realizing all the themes and life questions embedded within it. Almost.

I've been ruminating about the book for quite a while, seeing one side, then another. Seeing more and more symbolism as I reflect back.

It will make for an excellent discussion in our book group. I'm just itching to talk about some of these things.

Rachel's Dance Recital

A few weeks ago Ray and I went to see Rachel in her dance recital. She was darling. In case you can't tell by the fact that she is front and center in each of these pictures, Rachel is the one in the green shirt. The dance was done to music from Newsies. 

Without further narration, here are the pictures--Ray took them.

Good job, Rachel!

Baby Quilt

Another quilt finish for the year!

I made this quilt for a friend of mine who is having a baby in June. My friend is bright and cheerful and fun to be around. I wanted some fabric that would reflect her personality in the quilt. I used Ticklish by Me & My Sister Designs for Moda. I picked up a couple of charm packs and just sewed the squares together. Simple and easy for a bright and cheerful quilt.

I used two charm packs, and made the quilt nine squares by nine squares. The finished size is just a little over 40 inches square.