Skipper

Skipper Lou Blue
Circa 2009 ♥ March 2, 2022

With a broken heart I announce the passing of precious SKipper.

He experienced what was probably a stroke while under anesthesia to have dental work done. It left him in such a condition that there was no hope for recovery nor the kind of life my Skip deserved. I had to let him go. The pain is indescribable.

Thank you, my dear buddy, for being my friend and furbie for these past 11 years. So many treasured  memories are stored in my heart. I'll remember and love you for the rest of my life until I meet you and Sophie at the Rainbow Bridge.

Run free, sweet Skip.

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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 03/03/2022, Karen said ...

Oh my goodness, I am so sorry for your loss. I seem to type that a lot these days. I remember when Skipper chose you. He had a good life with you.

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On 03/03/2022, Barbara Anne said ...

My sincere sympathy at Skipper's departure for the Rainbow Bridge after those many years of good life with you and the family. Your good memories with him will warm your heart forever. The sadness in life is that our beloved pets don't last as long as we do.

Big hugs, dear friend

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On 03/03/2022, Jan said ...

I'm so sorry for your loss of Skipper. It's incredibly difficult to let them go. But, I'm pretty sure he's digging holes all over the place with my beloved Zu! Imagine the holes those two can produce together!

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On 03/03/2022, Jed said ...

Hey Aunt Susan - I'm so very sorry! I love you - Jed

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On 03/03/2022, Sandrs Clarke said ...

Sad news!! Love & peace to you.❤️🙏❤️

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On 03/03/2022, Nicole said ...

Oh no. I am so sorry to hear this terrible news. I hope your cherished memories of him will give you comfort.

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On 03/04/2022, Denise in PA said ...

Susan, I am so, so very sorry for your loss. I completely understand. I lost my beloved Lilly peke two years ago this month. I have enjoyed seeing and hearing about Skipper (and Sophie) on your blog. My heart breaks for you. May your wonderful memories bring you some comfort. Many hugs to you.

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On 03/04/2022, Lisa Allen said ...

Susan, I am so saddened by this sudden loss. I'm sure your sweet Sophie was there to greet him.

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On 03/04/2022, Bev. S. said ...

My condolences.

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On 03/05/2022, Joy said ...

I am so sorry.

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On 03/05/2022, Sandra Hutchins said ...

Sometimes we hear of a dear friend who has passed away and we feel shock and dismay. It is hard to believe that a creature so full of life is gone.

Even though I never met your Skipper, I feel like I knew him through your photos and blog posts. I know the pain of losing a pet and it is no small pain. My deepest sympathy to you dear Southern Lady. Sandra Hutchins

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On 03/10/2022, Mary said ...

I am so sorry. Pets give us so much joy and ask for so little in return. I have enjoyed the stories you have told and the pictures you have posted.

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On 03/14/2022, Pat said ...

Have just read about Skipper and I’m so sorry. It hurts so much to lose a fur baby. Didn’t he “choose” you? He was a found fur baby? He had a wonderful life with you for his mom. You both were very blessed.

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On 04/17/2022, Sandy said ...

Oh Susan I'm so sorry to hear this sad news about Skipper. He is the third dog I've seen recently dying after having dental work done. I can't help but wonder what's going on!! I lost my little Gracie a year ago from kidney failure and I still grieve for her. They are such wonderful friends.
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Happy Surprise

TTuesday, after returning from cataract surgery. I look a sight, but I feel ok.

I have to say that I was surprised at just how quick and easy cataract surgery really is. I had my first eye done on Tuesday morning. No pain at all during the very quick surgery, maybe 5 to 10 minutes. A little bit of pain after I got home, which a couple of Ibuprofen took care of. The hardest part is remembering the eye drops and remembering I can't bend over.

I can already see results. I have better vision in my fixed eye without glasses than I do with my unfixed eye with my glass. I still have a tiny bit of fuzziness which I expect to be gone in a day or two.

I'm scheduled for the second eye on March 8. Can't wait to get it done and have good vision again.

I was able to get back to the sewing room today. I now have six of the log cabin blocks done for the Afghan quilts. I plan to have 12 blocks done to give to Serene by the next guild meeting (second Monday in March).

 

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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 02/24/2022, Shasta said ...

I am glad the surgery went well and hope that the other eye goes just as well.

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On 02/24/2022, Barbara Anne said ...

Looking good! Both of my cataract surgeries when smooth and quickly, too. Wasn't it a nice surprise at what a non-issue that whole thing is.was?! Wishing you a perfect re-run when the 2nd eye is done.

Don't look down for too long while sewing as that's akin to bending over and was, for me, a no no.

Hugs!

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On 02/25/2022, Nicole said ...

Glad to hear your procedure went well. Good luck with the second one! I was amazed at how much brighter the world looked after I had my surgeries. I'd been looking through a dingy yellow curtain!
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Fright Night

Thank God the couple who lived in this mobile home in Leeds, Alabama, escaped with only scratches.

On Thursday evening, Jesse, the fubries, and I had to flee to the basement for a while to wait out a tornado that was headed straight for us. Fortunately for us, it missed our neighborhood and everybody in our family. But some people were not so lucky. There was lots of property damage, and at least one family lost everything. Leeds is hardly ever hit by tornadoes, although they often get very close. This one decided it was our turn, I guess.

The next morning brought snow flurries. Today it's just cold and sunny.

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On 02/20/2022, Barbara Anne said ...

Goodness me! Am glad things weren't any worse weather wise! stay safe!

Hugs!

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On 02/21/2022, Shasta said ...

That must have been really scary. I am glad it missed you.
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Quilts for Afghan Refugees

The church of a Guild sister of mine is making quilts for Afghan refugees in the Birmingham area who left their country with nothing but the clothes on their backs. She has asked that anyone who feels so called to make 12" blocks for the project. I immediately knew that I wanted to help out with this effort. My friend asked for traditional blocks, 12" finished size, in either blue and white, red and white, or autumn colors.

You might recall that my cousin's wife gave me all her quilting fabric and supplies a few months ago. She had a bin of beautiful autumn-colored prints. She had even cut many of them into 1 1/2" strips. So I decided to make Log Cabin blocks using Patsy's Autumn prints, since she already had much of the cutting done. Below is my first block. I don't know how many I'll make. There's enough fabric for a whole quilt's worth I think.

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On 02/18/2022, Barbara Anne said ...

What a beautiful block that Warmie is showing off!

I have some 12" blocks I'd love to send for this project. Would that be okay?

Hugs!
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Christmas Gifts, Valentines, and Football

Here 'tis almost two months after Christmas, and I don't think I've recorded any of the great gifts I got from the kids. Below is a photo of some of them. Some have already been eaten or used or are attached to other things and hard to photograph.

I can't believe I still haven't got around to playing with the two great puzzles: Nancy Drew and Russian River landscape. I'm still thinking of what project to use the beautiful fabric layer cake with. The little stuffy is my gift to me (I always pick out something to buy just for me). It's a Warmie, a lavender-scented Meerkat. You heat him in the microwave. My hands get cold at night, so I heat up my Warmie and hold him while I read or watch a movie, using my spiffy Google Chromecast that Jesse gave me for Christmas. My Roku had become extremely ornery.

More recently, Andy came by Sunday with strawberry cheesecake for Valentine's Day, but I already ate that.

I didn't watch the Super Bowl, so I can't get into the "It Was the Greatest Halftime Show Ever vs. It Was the Worst Halftime Show Ever controversy. From reading comments, however, I'll just say, the older generation said some of the same things about rock and roll as this older generation is saying now about rap. I don't enjoy rap, but I sure do enjoy classic rock and roll. To each his own, I say.

Sophie and Taco and I did watch Puppy Bowl XVIII, and it was fun, fun, fun! If I recall correctly, Team Fluff won--or was it Team Ruff? And the halftime Kitty Show was adorable.

The Puppy Bowl is used not only to entertain but also as a tool to find shelter animals their forever homes. I had to stay far away from the phone all during the show. I wanted to adopt them all.

Kitty Halftime Show was fun too.

Coach Snoop and Martha

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On 02/18/2022, Barbara Anne said ...

Great gifts and I LOVE the Nancy Drew puzzle! Your meerkat hand warmer is too cute.

How did we miss the Puppy Bowl? Hope it's on You Tube.

Hugs!
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Black History Month

Some years back, I was into making fabric art journals. Some I did in round robins, and some I did alone, just me. Below are photos of one of my favorites that I did alone. I just call it "Africa." I'm not African nor African American, so my knowledge of the continent and the cultures might not be exactly correct. So if my art shows any glaring errors (or God forbid, offenses,) please forgive my ignorance. My intentions were pure.

Happy Black History Month, everyone. I hope we all learn much. I have already learned several things this month about black brothers and sisters, past and present, that I didn't already know.

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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 02/11/2022, Barbara Anne said ...

How perfectly marvelous! I think you've captured the glory and joy of the people and the colors that seem to me a shine in Africa. My frame of reference is from South African friends and from movies like "The Gods must be Crazy".
Thank you for sharing your wonderful creation.

Hugs!

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On 02/12/2022, Judy Cloe said ...

I love it Susan! African fabrics give me much joy and I have made many quilts using them. Your journal is beautiful!
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Full of Hot Air

A few days ago Jesse got us an air fryer. I haven't used it yet, but the steaks he has cooked in it have been excellent. I'm going to use it tonight to cook pork chops.

I've spent the last few days trying to clean downstairs. Since I let the Merry Maids go, things had got a little grungy--and things weren't too neat when they were coming. That's why I let them go.

I'm a good cleaner, I think, but very slow these days. I have to take frequent breaks. I remember back in my working days, I would clean the entire house on Saturday morning, do a few loads of laundry, then go out with Vann in the evening for dinner or a movie. Those days are history.

Sister Ramey and I were talking the other day about how getting older brings numerous challenges. I was telling her about an incident here one recent night when I was cooking, tangled my feet with Skipper, almost fell, thew a pot lid across the room, but managed somehow not to fall or do any damage to me or to Skipper. After I had straightened up, Jesse (who was in the kitchen sharing the cooking) looked at me, shook his head, and said, "Lord have mercy." I cracked up. Even now when I think about it, I get the giggles. So after telling Ramey about it, I said at least we still have a sense of humor.

"Yeah, that's all we have left," she replied.

Oh well, it beats the alternative. Not everyone is blessed (?) with enough years to be considered a senior.

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On 02/06/2022, Barbara Anne said ...

Gotta love it when a young man or woman uses a tried and true Southern expression, perfectly placed for the circumstances!! Well done in not falling, not hurting Skipper, not spilling the food, and hope you didn't dent the pot lid.

It's a real bummer when you have to sit more than you're up and doing but I"m right there with you. Good thing I'm retired because I certainly couldn't work an 8 hour shift, then do all I used to do effortlessly. Sigh.

I need the Merry Maids of some equivalent service to give this house the once over.

Hugs!

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On 02/07/2022, Alicia P. said ...

Our cleaning ladies hardly ever come anymore and boy can I tell. I had to laugh at the image of the pot lid flying across the room.
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