December 2018

December was smooth and it was nice to observe some "family time" and the traditions of the holiday, "couple time" and some "me time" as well.

Near the first of the month, my youngest grandson turned 10, (my favorite number btw!).
He and a friend who was too quick for me to catch on film were having fun popping the balloons by sitting on them.

Robbi won in this endeavor.  They are great friends.  They play Fort Nite on the X-box, Hockey, are in the same grade though not the same class this year at school and have been friends for years.







Then we were back in Boston for another heart biopsy, clinic check, echo, and blood work.

While there, we were able to see "How the Grinch Stole Christmas at the Wang Theatre, it was a fantastic show.  The props, music and story line so closely followed  the Suessical book and DH tolerated it well as he'll go to honor my enjoyment of these shows.

The following two pictures are some of the architectural details within the Wang theatre.

We had a nice dinner before going back to our hotel room at the Park Plaza with an enjoyable stroll along the street.

I actually was humming the "Silver Bells," Christmas Carol while strolling and just a hint of snow was falling.

It was Beautiful yet so.o.o.oo Cold.

Our stay at the Park Plaza was very nice and comfortable besides it was conveniently located.
They happened to have an in-scale  gingerbread House of the Plaza as part of their decor in the lobby.  You could walk around the whole gingerbread table for a full view of the establishment and the accessories finishing the scene were perfect and quite nice.
It was massive and Gorgeous!

Shortly after that, my Mother sent a package for her Great Grand son #3, my  PGS#3.
It wasn't for any special occasion like Christmas or Birthday it was just because she loves him and she wanted to make this quilt.  She made a label hinting at him flying to the planets in the future and when I saw it, thought they were flying pucks, so I'm calling it "triple play" not quite a hat trick yet, lol. 

He showed me his favorite block and then started dodging away from the camera.

While spending the night, we played games as is our usual but we spent time reminiscing by looking through my blog books of years gone by.

He loved hearing stories about what happened and the roles he played within those stories.
I let him know that I couldn't produce those stories and pictures if he kept hiding from my camera.
He graciously  thankfully stayed put and I as able to take the shots.  (Not sure how long this will last!)

This pic he reminds me of Mcauley Culkin when he did the Home Alone series,
another holiday tradition we l;ike to watch and make time for. 

Then Christmas came with all the usual flurry of the season.

Christmas concerts, church services, family gatherings all contributed to make it a wonderful Holiday season.

PGD#! plays trombone for the Christmas concert, she's the second one in.

PGS#3, is in the grey sweater for his class song presentation.








I found and made some time to sit by the fire and stitch while listening to Christmas music.  Heaven!  Started a new Cross stitch project after the holiday just befor eNew Years.













As for finished projects, there were a couple of successes in that domain-


The long time WIP of St. Patrick's Day a Patch-a-bilities design took me
F-O-R-E-V-E-R!

The rainbow I embroidered the old fashioned way, then started to play with shiva paint sticks for those coins and then Mod Podge for the white petals on the daisies so the background fabrics wouldn't' show through as I learned from Lara's book, Crafted Applique.

Then to make the daisy centers stand out better I did colonial knots, not a gazillion but probably around 35 or so until it was enough.  The next step I puttered around to make the gold piping which I used a roll of lace sold by Sue Spargo wrapped around the cording to "finish" it. 
Am so happy with the final results.







Another project that I started and actually finished in December was the needlepoint called "Liberty Stars" designed by Nancy's needles.
I  find the rhythm of the needle even in needlepoint is so enjoyable and with this design found it easy enough to do anywhere.  When company stops by I can pull a length of thread/yarn  as the pattern became quite evident to me.  With this one,  I'll wait to frame for a couple of months, perhaps get it framed later in the Spring.
Notice the Christmas themed reading glasses.



It was a very eventful year and I'm glad to see it behind me.
Things can only be up from now on.

More finishes and back from the Framers

November seemed successful to me.

Finished my tessellated heart which has been a WIP for way too long, I continuously wonder why I do that to myself!  A top is almost finished and then it sits there, aka: percolates as I wonder how I'll finish it.  With this I decided to just meander it while I did my asthma treatments in the sewing room.  Surprisingly, it didn't take long. Then I did the next step....and then the next.

While making the piping I inadvertently sewed one strip of grunge red fabric right side out and then the other needed strip was sewn with the wrong side out.  Calling it a happy accident because I ripped out the correctly sewn one and did 2 wrong so I could get the look I was looking for.  Click oon the picture to get a closer look of the piping.  It's barely visible here.

Finished with label.  Hand sewn while in Boston waiting for another last minute biopsy needed 2 days before Thanksgiving.

Another wool finish is a class I took while at my quilt retreat last month.  It's totally finished and just in time to put away.    My son and husband think it looks more like a  llama than a deer but what do those hunters know anyway!?  LOL

She's setting around here at this step.

The Secret Santa SAL a Mystery QAL sponsored through Temecula Quilt Company, I truly love small detailed items.  Finished step one in a  relative timely manner  but then was derailed as we had an unexpected trip to Boston for another biopsy needed to double check a couple of elevated numbers.

Even then, Tufts is great to work with.  The  phone call came on Monday morning, the 19th and being just before our Thanksgiving, I quickly asked, "how about tomorrow for the needed heart biopsy" as I didn't need to worry wonder and knew DH didn't need the added stress either.  Luckily they had an opening and we left within the hour to get to Boston.  That's finishing laundry, booking a hotel, vacuuming the floors - uh-humm... okay pushing roomba's button then packing.  Oh and calling his chiropractor to change his appointment as we had to leave immediately.  Luckily there too, they cancelled his appointment that was suppose to be in half an hour and said whenever we got there, they'd work him him immediately.

Would you believe the chiropractor even tried to find last minute lodging for us too?  He is such a great person!  DH told him I already procured lodging and I was returning the cans at the redemption center and currently at the bank for $$ while he was there.  Sometimes things just fall into perspective with many blessings and a little luck.
While waiting on Biopsy day, my daughter  sent me a text and said she'd bring 2 pies and supply quite a few of the side dishes to help out for our dinner.  Sounded great to my ears!  (And they were delicious too. )

Since her Birthday was on the Holiday we celebrated with those pies, cake, Austrian tea cake and ice cream after a full Thanksgiving feast.  Played games, vegged in front of the TV and just hung out.

Thankfully we rec'd word the night before Thanksgiving his Biopsy was ZERO!   Yeah!!
Much to be grateful for.

Also back from the Framers was this:


I absolutely love the finish Michael's store offered locally.  
The mat, frame and workmanship was perfect for what I had visualized.


Nancy's Needle "Autumn Medley" in the called for threads and canvas.  The only personal-ization I did was in the diamond  squares, (the smallest squares showing in the top and bottom rows).  

love, Love LOVE  it!   smiles and giggling!

TTFN,
Jane

That is #3  Totally finished UFOs and a new kitted  project in November!   Yippee!

Hi, I'm well

Hi everyone.  I still am here and doing well considering the roller coaster the whole family has been on.

within 24 hours of his new heart.  Thank you Anna!

Hubby on his recovery road sharing his art work of his medical "Wilson",  He spent many hours flat on his back with his balloon pump, so he gave it a name.....

DH in Tufts Medical Center in the Cardiac ICU while he was on his 4 or 5th swan catheter and the balloon pump was whirling...















Hubby with his two sisters while waiting in CCU....

Our daughter, DH and I........

As many of you know, my husband's heart has been an issue for us for the past 14 years.
Unfortunately or better yet, fortunately, he had a heart transplant done in April 2018 in Boston at Tufts Medical Center, (a Number #1 Care facility in our experience).  Since we live in NY the transportation and travelling to and from for his several months' long hospitalizations (there was 3, one quick (days), one for a week and the other months long) not considering all of the necessary weekly follow-up care that has been trying.  It's been my number one priority and taking my focus and energies.

With our absence the neglect seen in our home, gardens, etc. is evident since all that took a back seat considering the immediacy of his health and the possible risks.  When returning home, I prioritized to get to the most urgent chores done first.  His recovery and recuperation as been the priority, predictable and continues upwards without many troubles.  Thank goodness.

He and I are both doing well and feeling blessed.  Recently his followup care has been stretched out to once a month.  So we are easing our way back into a new "more normal routine" and thought I'd try to blog again, besides work on some of my projects to share as I've done in the past.

Sorry I was away for so long without comment.  I'll share more later.

TTFN,
Jane



Hubby listening to his new heart on Tax Day with his NP Kelly and Nurse, MacKenzie at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, MA.  

Some of the excellent staff from Tufts Cardiac Care Center taken when returning to Boston for DH's heart transplant follow up care.

BOSTON, BROWNSTONES, BRONZE and the T

While it's fresh  and I can remember correctly the chain of events, this post shares the highlights of this past long weekend's Boston trip we took along with our daughter's family.

1. Rode the Subway on the T  Missy was a great navigator and knows how to read those maps.   Rode them over the Salt and Pepper (Longfellow) Bridge many times, photo taken from Michelle's  blog she pictures it beautifully. 
2. Walked through Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market had snacks.
3. Riding a carriage via Cheecko and Jared to get across the Charles River.   Clip Clopping on those cobblestones at dusk with the lights glowing from the underside of the carriage. 
4. Boston Children's Museum, the 2 youngest grand children had a blast.
5. Copley Square tour with dinner following at a California Pizza.  YUM!!  The arugula salad with asparagus, roasted peppers, almond and a lemon vinaigrette was lovely.  Wish that franchise was around here.
6. Rode the T which the grand children wanted to do constantly, if not that than ride the escalators. She was a Pro and he quickly caught on.
7. Ate breakfast at Champions cafe at the Marriot Hotel.
8. T ride to Boston Commons, seeing Monuments and then to the Public Gardens for the Swan boats.   When I went to Boston when I was little and realized they had Swan boats I have always wanted to ride them.  Can I say Wish list - CHECK!  We treated all since this was an item on my wish list and of course I purchased a couple of souvenirs so we'd remember it more easily.  Besides magnets, Lil' man wanted a stuffed swan, while lil' Miss selected a sweet swan T shirt, I selected a charm for my ever expending bracelet  with earrings and an ornament beautifully painted  of the swan boats for our Christmas tree.  Our  Daughter even picked out the same ornament, it amuses us when she and I select the same things at almost the same time.  lol
9. Watching several artists in the commons like the Japanese gentlemen elegantly playing the stringed instrument near a fountain and cascading tress overhead.  Also near the entrance of the park with BOSTONIA molded over the gate, listening and watching the wily Hurty Gerty man sing his Eagles' songs with all his instruments strapped all over his body.
10. Went to visit Chinatown.
11. Saw the sights from the Skywalk at the Prudential Tower with a cocktail and dessert on the Top of the Hub, 52 stories high.  Daughter and her family went to Dunkin Donuts and stayed low since they'd already seen this in a previous trip.
12. All of us returned to the Hotel at the same time since the guys were headed to the Red Sox White Sox game and the ladies were headed to a belated Birthday Party at the American Girl Doll  in Natick for lil' Miss.  Spent a fortune there and when we returned realized just how little were in our bags.  Must have been something in the nice dinner we had there.  Lil' miss enjoyed herself and brought along her babies: Rose, Emily and her nephew Danny for the party and I do have to say the staff there really know how to treat the dolls and visitors correctly.  Even the dolls had lil Birthday crowns in their high chairs.  Rose had her hair styled and then McKenna shopped for her look alike doll. The newest addition to the family is McKenzie also known as Kenzie and ZZ.   She got an outfit, had her ears pierced and shopped like the rest of us girls.   Great time with a Ka-ching! 
13. The menfolk enjoyed a terrific game at Fenway Park with the Red Sox winning 7-2.  DH said the worst part was the wait for Subways on the way back to the Hotel.  He mentioned that they luckily they got one of the last trains out of that area and many people were left without the T transport back to there destinations.  Also that the Yankee Stadium kneww how to do it correctly compared to Boston (that was the only negative point on this trip.)  Lucky enough for s but not for the next fellow and I can just imagine trying to cope with a 4 year old and obtaining a cab at that time of night, no thank you.
14. Take out breakfast via Dunkin Donuts for the kids and grands while DH&I ate the veggies and coffee cakes I brought from home then on to an escalator ride to a Hop On Hop Off tour.
15. RJ wanted to get a Hard Rock Cafe T shirt so we got off near the Aquarium to access Quincy Market.  He didn't buy one though because of the prices but his daughter (age 8)  did, (Go figure that one out?) 
16. Walked part of the Freedom Trail to see the Paul Revere House.  The youngest one (age 4) was all ears as his imagination was taking over.  Couldn't believe there were so many fireplaces and that the children had to work as part of the family just to survive.  That Santa would bring maybe marbles if the child was really really good but most likely Santa brought them a new pair of shoes or boots if that.  Did you know that Paul Revere had 16 children!  Lil' miss saw the kitchen and was impressed with the bread making accoutrement's and the cradle setting next to the fireplace.
17. While finding Mike's Pastries we stumbled through the  Little Italy section.  The Aromas, pure heaven, so.......
18. Backtracked to have a Beautiful family dinner at Villa Francesca and really PAID for it.
19. Walked more to The Old North Church and enjoyed the tour there, 37 crypts and 1100 people buried there.  Enjoyed the stories of the One if by Land and Two if by Sea  River  (the Charles).  Actually it's because of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere that he got credit for hanging them.  Two other gentleman actually did hang the lanterns after his command to do so but their names didn't rhyme with here.   The following day the "Shot heard from around the world" started the American Revolution.
20. Hop On the Tour Bus to return to our parked cars and finish the tour seeing the Liberty Gardens(name?) MIT, Stata Center along the way.

It was a very nice vacation with us able to hit many of the tourist sights.  Should we ever vacation there again, I'd buy the hop on hop off tour tickets first besides the 7 day passes.  Expensive but worth the convenience.  The sights I wasn't able to see but would love to are the Church of  Science Complex, Trinity Church,  MFA, the Liberty Gardens near Fenway Park area, actually Walk the whole Freedom Trail Tour with all those enactors dressed in the period costumes, visit Hardvard, Bunker Hill, the Hatch Shell with the Boston Pops during the fouth of July weekend along the Esplanade,  have dinner at The Lobster Shanty (a restaurant that was on the Drive Ins, Diners and Dives Program with Guy Fieri) and   DH mentions that he'd love to do the Cheers Tour.    lol

We'll have to save much for all that if it ever happens!

Oh!!  That reminds me of another sight I'd like to see, the ducks at the Public Gardens......

 

Thank you Boston for a wonderful and very memorable trip. 

Such a friendly city and it deserves it's well known title as the Walking City.

It's easy to get around and walk to the many spots.

Enjoy your week.  Soon the little ones will be back at school and my schedule will have more demands, now I'm getting off this computer to work on some quilts that need finishing......

Jane