29 December 2023

Friday Fontius

28 December 2023

Lessons from 2023

Quiet moments are priceless.

The pandemic and Lizard's anxiety have robbed me of my ability to exist in crowded spaces.

I have not yet learned how to answer acquaintances who are not close friends when they ask how my husband is doing without crying. So I avoid those situations altogether.

Walking around the block will never be as good as riding around the block, but it's better than sitting on the couch.

Sleep anytime it hits is precious and beneficial.

Walking laps around the kitchen/dining room/living room will never beat walking outdoors, but it's better than sitting on the couch.

Squirrels may be a pain in the backyard, but they sure can entertain.

Prayer and strong faith can get me through the most difficult times.

26 December 2023

Tender Mercies

It was not a Christmas to remember, but it is one we won't soon forget. And yet, there were so many tender mercies.

I completed CPR recertification for the first time in five years literally the week before I needed it. My employer paid for my training, even though I am not in the office the required "at least three days a week" they mandated. I volunteered to pay for it myself, but I was never billed.

While growing up, my grandmother taught me, via application, that Vicks Vaporub is the key to winter survival. She taught me, again, through how she tended to me and my two little brothers, that (pure, local) honey and lemon work just as well as any over-the-counter concoction. As does a warm salt water gargle. And vitamin C in almost any form, particularly pineapple. Oh, and steam. Breathe it in, breathe it in, breathe it in. Back then, Grandma would drape a towel over our heads as we stood on a kitchen chair to lean over a steaming (blue with white flecks) tea pot on the stove and breathe in the steam. I don't need a towel these days. My hair LOVES pretending to be a towel. And it looks pretty darned healthy and wavy after I finish!

Drugs prescribed to treat Parkinson's don't play nicely with over-the-counter meds, so natural remedies are just about the only way to kick the common cold. Thank heavens, one of my super powers must be my often unbelievable immunity. While growing up, I cared for my entire 9-member family through two bouts of "Hong Kong" flu without ever contracting it. I did steal Lizard's sore throat for two days a couple of weeks ago, but only after accidentally using his toothbrush. It's been so long since either of us was sick, I'd forgotten I ALWAYS replace our toothbrushes after we've had a cold or virus.

Steam. My goodness, who in the world would have ever expected me to be thankful for those pesky tiny black "no see 'em" bugs I couldn't get rid of, even after I gave away nearly all our houseplants? Back about three months ago, another gardener told me the best way to get rid of those mini monsters was not the dish soap/apple cider vinegar concoction I'd been spraying on the pots and soil for years, but to instead dump a pot of boiling hot water down each drain (where the vexing little bugs nest) every day for at least ten days. It worked. The steam also humidified the kitchen/dining room/living room of our house, and I wanted to make sure the little bugs didn't come back. So I kept doing it. I think that homemade humidity made our air healthier when we needed it most.

The prayers of friends and loved ones literally got us a next-day emergency appointment with the general practitioner, which prevented us from the likely hours-long wait Lizard would have had to endure at an urgent care center while I filled out mountains of paperwork then trusted his life to strangers who don't know his history and which meds he can take. Not to mention the potential exposure to more winter germs after he had just successfully recovered from 12 days of a common cold complicated by allergies. The week before Christmas! I expected we'd have to make that emergency room visit because no one would be able to squeeze us in until after the new year.

I didn't find out about the medical emergency until 2 a.m. Sunday. It would be 28 hours before I could call the family physician. (Yes, I tried the number, and was directed to call 911). The aforementioned CPR training (which no longer includes splinting or stopping bleeding, which I independently studied up on at the same time because these skills are as important to me as a caregiver as CRP and AED) was just what I needed just when I needed it.


2019 total knee replacement

Four of my bosses did not protest when I informed them Monday morning of our last-minute medical emergency appointment the following day. My fifth boss sent me one of the kindest emails I've ever received: "Deb, you do whatever you have to do to take care of your husband and get him the medical care he needs. Nothing here is as important as that." My sweet co-worker graciously volunteered to cover for me during the appointment, just as she did during the pandemic when I attended my dad's funeral and Lizard's step-sister's funeral. (Assigned coverage during time off in summer and fourth quarter requires months of advance notice.) The miracle of me being allowed to work from home is continually one of our most huge gifts.

Hardwood floors. They came with the house, and boy, am I ever thankful most of the house is not carpeted. Lizard dripped blood everywhere his restless legs carried him before he discovered he was bleeding. So grateful this Parkinson's-ravaged, often-confused and sometimes childlike sweetheart of mine noticed he was oozing before the bleeding began and took the time (fighting all-out achiness, given the nature of the looming medical emergency) to cover each seating surface in the house with a towel and an old bicycle T-shirt. Every single T-shirt he used now displays "war wounds" of the night neither of us will ever forget.

The ability to calmly and tenderly slow the bleeding and encourage coagulation while panic was banging on the door and screaming in my ears. The almost magical healing power of fresh air on highly irritated skin. The ability to keep cleaning and dressing wounds without violently displacing everything I'd eaten the previous day and everything I ate the next 56 hours. The power of hydrogen peroxide in removing blood stains in the tub. The ability to forget how much the blood in the tub scared me when I discovered it hours later. The ability to keep eating after some of the horrendous views I thought would haunt me for months or perhaps even years. The miracle of not dreaming about Lizard's suffering every time I close my eyes.

Hold on.  Pain ends.

The example of my sweet mother, who three times daily dressed the wounds on my diabetic father's legs for nearly a decade to prevent gangrene. The doctors told my dad all those years it would not be high blood pressure or cancer that got him. It would be the gangrene. Cancer won.

Dad, Mom, Princess and Me

The example of my friend Shonna and her husband the last four months of her life when she was the one bleeding and in agony as her bed-ridden body slowly succumbed to ovarian cancer. Shonna's closest friends would volunteer to sit with her eight to ten hours while her husband went to work to keep the medical bills paid. The first time I volunteered, I had never seen such suffering in person, and I was horrified. I didn't know if I could finish my shift. But sweet Shonna, between bouts of unimaginable pain, would ask me to massage her feet, which is how I learned to massage Lizard's restless legs. She would ask me to sing "I am a Child of God." And she requested I sing it at her funeral. (Yes, I did.) I think God helped me finish that first shift because there's no way I could have done it alone, even though I love Shonna with all my heart and wanted to do whatever I could to help ease her pain. The biggie, though, was watching her husband lovingly do the tender but painful necessary cleaning of highly sensitive skin as she screamed and moaned in pain. He would continually tell her how much he loves her and how everything was going to be okay. Not once did he shy away, and not once did he express any hint of negativity. I'm not sure he knows he taught me to do what I had to do for Lizard last week by teaching me how to do it for Shonna.

The miracle of sleep. For both of us. I had to work each week day of our trauma, and I was able to get sleep once Lizard was able to get sleep. Sleep allowed me to keep functioning, even when it seemed our whole world was being ripped apart at the skin creases. The miracle of healing. Lizard is mending. And he's still getting some of that precious sleep.

Christmas is a time of miracles. Our lives may not have turned out the way we dreamed, but we certainly receive enough miracles to make up the difference. All year long. Most especially, this year. Not a one of these tender mercy "gifts" was wrapped, but if we were able to pile them, I think the tower would be taller than the skyscraper I call work.

Last week was a nightmare. But I know Whose footprints are in the sand. And snow...

25 December 2023

Snowflake Monday

I just love the shape of this fast and easy tiny little snowflake! The name is inspired by, well, TODAY! Plus, what I guess could be its companion, my Christmas Eve Snowflake. Reading about the flake I designed on Christmas Eve so long ago brought some bittersweet memories. With all that happened in the year that followed (Lizard's Parkinson's diagnosis), I never did get that new macro lens. However, my zoom lens seems to work pretty well for shooting snowflakes with extension tubes!

You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and a very Merry Christmas to you!

Finished Size: 3.5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 7 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, water soluble school glue or desired stiffener, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

Christmas Day Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in ring, [ch 4, 3 dc in ring] 2 times; ch 2, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 4 tip of Round. Pull magic circle tight.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 3 dc over post of tr directly below, [in next ch 4 tip work 7 dc] 2 times; in next ch 4 work 3 dc, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 3: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in same ch as sl st, [ch 20, sl st in 18th ch from hook, ch 2, in next gap between 7/dc groups work (3 dc, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, 3 dc), ch 20, sl st in 18th ch from hook, ch 2, in middle (4th) dc of next 7/dc group work (3 dc, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, 3 dc)] 3 times, omitting last 3 dc of final repeat; sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 3; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: I've been stiffening my flakes with undiluted, full-strength water soluble school glue for quite a while now, and I've been squishing the glue onto and throughout each flake with my fingers (yucky mess!!!) instead of gingerly painting the flakes with glue. Yes, it's a mess. But it's faster. And stiffer.

Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box. Pin snowflake to box on top of wax paper or plastic wrap.

If using glue, mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture or desired stiffener. Sprinkle lightly with glitter. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow snowflake to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel snowflake from wax paper or plastic wrap. Attach 10-inch clear thread to one spoke, weaving in end. Wrap fishing line around tree branch (or tape to ceiling or any overhead surface) and watch snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

18 December 2023

Snowflake Monday

Today's snowflake was inspired by an old snowflake, Mount Silex, just after Winter Storm Cait, which caused our trip home from our Thanksgiving visit with Lizard's mom to take about twice the normal drive time. I love snow. I don't necessarily love driving in it anymore. (Mostly because of other drivers.) But oh, how I miss being out in the snow!!!

There were some spectacular White Friday photos to be snapped during that nine-hour drive, but road conditions and traffic made it impossible for me to find a safe place to pull over. The fleeting rays of sunshine sparkling through crystalized branches in the Palisade peach orchards, the bright orange and red leaves (which very likely are completely gone now) throughout the orchards and three snow-covered peaches still on the tree all will remain etched in my memory every time I look at this new and improved version of my Mini Silex Snowflake!

You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!

Finished Size: 5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 7 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, water soluble school glue or desired stiffener, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

Tempest Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: 12 sc in ring; sl st in starting sc. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), [1 dc in next sc, ch 1, in next sc work (1 dc, ch 10, 1 dc), ch 1] 5 times; 1 dc in next sc, ch 1, 1 dc in next same sc as sl st, ch 5, 1 trtr in 2nd ch of starting ch 3 to form 6th ch 10 tip of Round.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 5 dc over post of trtr directly below, [in next ch 10 tip work (6 dc, ch 5, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, ch 7, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, 1 dc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 4, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, ch 1, 6 dc)] 6 times, omitting last 6 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: I've been stiffening my flakes with undiluted, full-strength water soluble school glue for quite a while now, and I've been squishing the glue onto and throughout each flake with my fingers (yucky mess!!!) instead of gingerly painting the flakes with glue. Yes, it's a mess. But it's faster. And stiffer.

Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box. Pin snowflake to box on top of wax paper or plastic wrap.

If using glue, mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture or desired stiffener. Sprinkle lightly with glitter. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow snowflake to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel snowflake from wax paper or plastic wrap. Attach 10-inch clear thread to one spoke, weaving in end. Wrap fishing line around tree branch (or tape to ceiling or any overhead surface) and watch snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

14 December 2023

to be done, or not to be done...

That is the question. It could be done. Or it could go another 31 days.

What to do. What to do.

If I make Tuesday's motif, I'm committed to two more rows, or 30 more motifs. I probably run out of three or four more colors. I continue to pressure myself with daily motifs through what has been a very challenging fourth quarter. And I perhaps nix any ideas of doing another temperature project because I don't think I want two overlapping crochet temperature projects. And if I decide not to do another one, I cheat myself out of another masterpiece like this, perhaps in an even better color combination.

I keep telling myself deadlines won't be as crushing come January 1. But I can't stop thinking about next November and December. Part of me really doesn't want that part of the repeat. I could do a 10-month crochet project. Or I could dig my heels in and do the actual fabric quilt I wanted to do this year.

Oh, man. I hate decisions like this!!!

On the very bright side, another month of digital snowflake temperature quilt is done!!! Man, this is going to be a beauty when I finish the next panel, which also will run into January. But digital isn't as much of a time hog, and oh, how I adore this project!!!

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