Merry Christmas from Covid

The covid is apparently gone, but it left me a couple of gifts to remember it by. The cough wouldn't go away, if fact kept getting worse. I was having some chest pain and shortness of breath. So I figured I'd better listen to my daughter Andy and see my doctor. So I did, yesterday afternoon. Andy went with me.

Diagnosis: Asthma, bronchitis, and bronchial spasm. So I'm on all the proper meds. I'm still trying to get comfortable with the Albuterol mister, and the Prednisone is making me very shaky. I''m not feeling much better yet, but I have hopes for the future. 

I sit here and look around me and wonder. All the Christmas stuff has to be put away. And there are nooks, crannies, and corners in my house that looks as if they've never been cleaned. I know Andy and Jess with help me with the Christmas stuff, and Jesse keeps the upstairs clean. But I'm going to have to get busy, give in to my limitations, and hire some cleaning help.

Thanks to Jesse's help with grocery acquisition, we're stocked up on black-eyed peas, turnip greens, and ham for New Year's Day dinner. We'll have chili Mac for New Year's Eve.

Have a Happy New Year, everyone.

"May your hands always be busy

May your feet always be swift

May you have a strong foundation

When the winds of changes shift

May your heart always be joyful

May your song always be sung
And may you stay forever young"

--Bob Dylan from his song "Forever Young"

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This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 12/30/2022, Barbara Anne said ...

What good news that you're feeling better and good that you saw your doctor so now have the proper medicines, I remember when, at age 78, AMIL was diagnosed with asthma and she said it wasn't possible because she had never had it before. Her doctor kindly told her she had "adult onset asthma"
Love your Mr. and Mrs. Clause and their tiny tree and really tiny ornaments!
I need someone for cleaning help, too, but will start with doing one room a day and see how that works out.
Happy New Year and may 2023 bring you and your family much joy.

Hugs!
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Balls!

I hung these beauties from the chandelier in my dining room last Christmas and left them up all year. I don't know if I'll take them down this year or not. I love looking at them.

The white one on the bottom was made by a quilting bee friend. She gave it to me when Vann and I got married in 1994. The one above it, red and green star, was made by my friend Rhonda who worked with me at Oxmoor House. Rhonda is an extremely talented quilter and editor. She's now at Victoria magazine I believe.

The pink ball was made by my Mama, I don't know how many years ago. She passed away in 2005, and I know it was a good many years before then.

I think I bought the one with yo-yos at an Oxmoor House prop/projects sale. I have no idea who made it, but I love it.

I'm truly blessed to have so many creative people in my list of friends and family.

 

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This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 12/29/2022, Barbara Anne said ...

What precious memories and love are represented on those lovely balls! What a good idea to leave them up all year long and live in their shelter.

Hugs!
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A Movie Gem

Last night I found this movie on Amazon Prime and watched it for the first time in my life. I don't know how I had missed it all this time. It was made in 1983, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and filled with wonderful young stars, most of whom went on to become older adult stars. Emilio Esteves, C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise, Diane Lane, Ralph Macchio, and Rob Lowe. I probably forgot some of them. It's a sad movie, especially the ending, but well worth watching.

I read the book by S.E. Hinton a while back when it was in the news for being banned in some schools and libraries. I disagree with all book banning, and I strongly disagree with this one. It has lessons to teach both the young and the not-so-young.

So that's what I did last night. Today I don't feel like doing anything again. I'll start to feel better, actually feel like the covid is leaving the building, then wake up the next morning sick all over again. This is one of those next mornings. The biggest problems are the congestion/coughing and the weakness/fatigue. Jesse is much better except for he hasn't got his taste back yet. (I never lost mine.) So I'm sending him today to get me some Mucinex, which I've found to be very effective for congestion.

Got some bills to pay today, then I'm think of going back to bed.

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This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 12/29/2022, Barbara Anne said ...

I missed this movie, too. I was working full time, had a 3 year old son, and was pregnant. Maybe that's why I missed it!

Wishing you WELL!

Hugs!
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A Very Covid Christmas

Above is a photo of me and our pastor at our annual Christmas brunch. This was on December 11, the last day I was out and about. That night, I awoke coughing and in pain even worse than usual. I took a covid test and found that I had covid. I haven't heard whether anyone I was around at church that day has got sick. I hope nop. Unfortunately Andy and Jesse both got sick. But at least they could be here to keep me company during Christmas. We were an absolute coughing chorus.

We are all feeingl better now. In fact, Jesse and Andy both seem to be ok. But I'm still very congested, coughing, and very weak. I'm going to give it a little more time before I get out and around people.

That and trying to get ready for Christmas have got to be my reasons for ignoring the blog for so long. Because those are the only reasons I have. I also haven't' been in the sewing room in over a month. I'm going to try to keep up with the blog and get back to sewing within the next week. Please don't give up on me. 

Below are a a few good things from Christmas at the Yellow House.

Some Handmade Ornaments
Made by Me, Family, and Friends









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There are so many, many more, but that's all the photography (plus the ones below) I could manage..
Below are a few gifts from Santa. The t-shirt is emblazoned with one of my favorite expletives. I already have a plan for the beautiful fabric. So let's wait and see how long it takes me to get started on it. (Secret: I still haven't quite finished Karen's quilt nor found a new long arm quilter since Lena retired.

And let me not forget that this is a Heavenly Birthday for my big sister Joanne. I miss here every day. The photo below shows her holding Baby Ramey (born Patricia Ann Ramey)  and me with a scowl on my face. I do remember having the photo taken (by our mama), but I don't remember what I was so disgruntled about.

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This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 12/27/2022, Barbara Anne said ...

It's good to see your new post!
Love the photos, of the brunch with your pastor, those wonderful ornaments, and the cherished family picture. I imagine your facial expression was because the sun was in your eyes and was too bright. Maybe?
Sorry you've been sick and hope your symptoms will disappear and your strength will return. Meanwhile, nap when needed.

Hugs!
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Murky Monday

I have so many ornaments that were made by family and friends. This is a chandelier buib Santa, painted by my sister Ramey, one of my very favorites.

Well, I slept late this morning and missed my quilt bee's Christmas party. After falling asleep at a decent hour last night, I awoke in the middle of the night with much pain. I finally got back to sleep as it was already getting light outside. I awoke at almost 10:00 a.m., which is the time the party was to start. 

Still haven't made it to the sewing room.

It started raining sometime last night, and it's still dark and drizzly. That would be all right with me. I love to lie on the couch and read during rainy weather. But I really need to be doing stuff. 

I did get a pot of beef stew made for lunch. Then back to the couch to sooth my back and other aching parts.

If you like really strange and exciting movies and series, I can recommend "The Devil's Hour" on Amazon Prime, Series 1. I watched it the last three nights and can't wait for the next series. Note: There are no devils. It gets it's name from the time (3:33 a.m.) that the main character, Lucy Chambers, wakes up every night of her life.

In the area of books, I'm trying very hard to read Horse by Geraldine Brooks and finding it a big bore. It's our December choice for book club, and the meeting is next Tuesday. So far, I've read less than 100 of 416 pages. Normally a week would be plenty of time (and then some) for me to finish a book. But I don't know about this one. I just can't seem to get interested.

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On 12/06/2022, Barbara Anne said ...

The Santa made by Ramey is too cute!

So sorry you missed the guild party but worse that you were in such pain. How disappointing and no fun at all. Big hugs!

Your beef stew sounds yummy and you've made me wish I could still et beef. Sigh.

Sorry "Horse" isn't interesting at all.

It's a gloomy, rainy day here and I hope we get the Christmas tree up I also have a little Christmas project I need to finish.

Hugs!
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Rabbit, Rabbit Plus Two

After Jesse got my mugs and Santas down from an upper cabinet, I was able to put my mug tree
together for the kitchen table.

OK now, so we're three days into December, and the stress is building. I have so much on my to-do list, and I can't get started on any of it. Well, the decorating is done, thanks to the help of Andy and Jesse. But that's it. I still haven't even got Karen's quilt to the quilter yet. Since Lena retired, I haven't even decided on a new long-armer yet. Seems all I can accomplish these days are the things that absolutely must be done: cooking, dishwashing, laundry, showering (you wouldn't think that would be a job, but for me it is), occasionally making my bed and running the Zoomba. Three minutes (I timed it) is the amount of time now I can stay on my feet without severe pain.

But God is good, and I try to keep a good attitude. I am certainly blessed in many ways.

It's early afternoon on Saturday now, and I swore to myself as I was getting out of bed this morning that I was absolutely going to get into the sewing room and finish the backing for Karen's quilt. I haven't made it yet. 

I was also determined to start thinking about gifts, make a list, etc. I haven't started that yet either. But lunch has been cooked and consumed, and three loads of laundry are done. I think now I'll get a shower, wash my hair, and see if I have anything left to do anything else. I doubt it. I also have dishes to wash. 

Note: Most everything now is done sitting: cooking, laundry, dishwashing, etc.

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This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 12/04/2022, Barbara Anne said ...

Love your cheery Santa mugs and wish I'd collected some years ago. My Christmas mugs will do: decorated with peppermint disks, gingerbread cookies, or wreath, candles,and Christmas tree.

Bless your hearts, my friend. I know the frustration of fatigue and cannot imagine having pain in the bothersome mix. Have you thought about trying CBD lotion (no :trip: ingredients)?

I suggest Amazon Smile (they donate part of your purchase to a worthy cause; mine support Heifer, Intl. and DH's support Habitat) got your gift purchases as you can do that while sitting.

Hugs!


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