Saturday, November 28, 2015

Catching up- Post Thanksgiving-Mom in heaven

It's been a long time since I've been on the WWQP, much less post.
We finally had all the floors in the condo finished with the vinyl 24  X 16 " flooring tiles.  Looks great.  Bedroom is wood, so good contrast.
The kitchen was totally redone, cabinets --a 1 week delay since the lazy Susan corner unit was late getting in.  Granite countertops, not what I wanted, but could't really find any quartz that went well with other things.  The closed in wall was removed to give a good view of living area, and out the windows to the ocean.
Still waiting on grout on backsplash, but was able to make Thanksgiving dinner for 10 in kitchen.  DH helped a lot, and things are still in large bins in bedroom, but dinner was great.
DD, DSIL, 4 grandsons and SIL's Italian parents were here.
I had seen my Mom on Saturday last, she was failing fast, had been on oxygen for a month or more, Hospice nurse on Monday said she wasn't in the first stages of death because she was still drinking (had asked for orange juice, which I had brought)  I was shocked that Hospice that she was that well off.  On Thursday morning Hospice nurse again called saying they were giving here 24 hr. care -but not to rush over as it could be weeks, she could rally, etc.
Not to bore you with more details, but several phone calls later as we were getting ready to serve dinner she passed from this life to the next, at Home with Jesus now.  She is at peace, and I am so relieved that she is at peace, and not having to linger between life and death for weeks.
My DD, and whole family were here with me, which helped.
I will make a last trip to the nursing home across town on Monday to collect her belongings, which will be bitter-sweet.  Funeral after the first of the year where she will be buried next to my Daddy  in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Sara in Fla.

Friday, November 27, 2015

From MaryJoG

Our black Friday is gray, looking like snow.  Wednesday was a nasty day with snow, wind and then rain leaving a slushy mess.  Most is gone but it is cold and more is on the way. Yesterday was sunny and white.   Marion, your pics are a delight.  Spring is a way off for us.

Every fifth Thanksgiving, my ex hosts and I abstain.  We tolerate each other but going to his home would be too much.  (Too many memories of abuse.  It is evident that the long ago divorce was a blessing for this family.)  The other years are at the kids' or my home and are delightful.  My off year is spent volunteering for the local mission.  We fed +2000 on Wednesday and sent food boxes home for families who preferred to cook. The plan yesterday was to quilt but I woke in a different mode.  The house is now decorated for Christmas.  It was a good day.  

I experimented with another gluten free dressing recipe.  One of these days I will accept that gluten is what makes bread good and there are no decent substitutes.  Crumbly dressing but getting better.  Last year it was gluey, not good.  Consistency is the problem.  Knowing that, this one had half veggies and much less bread.  So, the taste was great. May try wild and brown rice instead next time.   Roasted chicken, orange sweet potatoes, salad and a parfait completed the meal.  Much will be frozen for times I want to quilt instead of cook.  Did cook a turkey for the grandkids for an early T. Day before they headed home.  Still do Sunday dinners for them.  Three are in the local college plus one's wife and friends.  Up to eight come each week.

My grandson worked at a seed company for several years and learned that GMO wheat seeds contain pesticide, fertilizer and four times the gluten that it used to have.  No wonder we have an epidemic of intolerance.  My parents were celiac; am much better off with only intolerance.  The seeds were developed to be drought resistant and to be used in hungry third world countries .  They are used here because the wheat is much easier to grow.  We wintered in Yuma for two years and watched how other crops were grown.  Fields were bare, then flooded with fertilizer and pesticides.  They were covered with black plastic for a week, then planted.  Once harvested, the cycle began again.  We often saw three crops during a winter.  And, we stopped eating that manufacturer's products.

No shopping here for black Friday.  Only enjoy shopping at quilt stores nowadays.  This is a great day to spend upstairs in the quilt room working on UFO's.  Several are Christmas projects.  Fred and Sadie, the cats, help by lying on whatever I have out.  They are enjoying the flannel quilt most.  Will either quilt it or a table topper today.  And, there are six to bind.  Not my favorite chore.  Read Mary Maschuta's book on quilting with a walking foot.  She uses a very heavy top thread and regular in the bobbin.  I am able to use bottom line for the bobbin.  About ten stitches to the inch makes a real statement.  Am very happy with the first quilt done that way.  It gave a great contrast to the curvy free motion quilting in the quilt's center.  Used it in the border.  

MaryJo