Monday, November 9, 2015

November Cape Weekend, Virtual Quilting Style...

November Quilt Weekend, Part 2: More Virtual Quilting

Nancy D. is still making Boxy Pouches. On Friday, she sent me a photo of one.
If my friend Toni is reading this, I know she wants it! Elvis! (the legend, not the black pug!)
By Saturday, there were six!
Nancy D. sure has a lot of friends! I hope that I make it onto her Christmas list this year! Honestly, Nancy, I've been good!

Here is Joannie C. hard at work. This quilt is a gift for her sister.
Here is Joanne S. making an elephant, at least according to Kim G.
Marion assembled this star quilt top. Joannie gave her this kit as a birthday gift in January.
My favorite photo from the weekend. My empty chair at breakfast with my sad-faced quilting posse.
My delicious home-made cookies from Sue. They are all gone. Please send more.
Back Attack Update: It is late Sunday night and my back is finally starting to feel a little better. Mike and I spent our Saturday at the Urgent Care facility and then revisited the ER because I was having bad spasms again plus some dizziness. When we finally made it home, I took a nap and felt well enough to go out to dinner with him. Today I was finally able to take a hot shower and put on my socks all by myself. Recovery is near!

Monday Morning Addendum: Some additional photos have arrived from Kim P. My back is sore but I'm starting to feel human again. I'm eager to get out of the house for a ride and do some laundry, but I won't...at least not today. No heavy lifting for me, nothing heavier than a spool of thread. Perhaps I can sew for an hour or two after work.
Joanne S. has quilted the Minions!
Pat is working on her Kaffe Fasset Trees Quilt. Kim G. made one the last time we were at the Cape.
I'm resting, I'm resting, I'm resting. I promise. Today I've switched from ice to Ben Gay (boy is my back toasty) and from Aleeve to Advil. I also have some lovely muscle relaxants.

And one more thing. I have the absolute best husband in the world. He's been taking care of me all week without one word of complaint. Putting my socks on, fetching me ice packs, taking the pug boys out for their walks and keeping me company. He is one in a million and I am very lucky. Love you, Mike!

Thanks for visiting.

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

Sunday, November 8, 2015

The Weekend that Wasn't

Virtual Cape Cod Quilt Weekend, Part 1

Thanks to my Back Attack, I missed my November Quilt Weekend at the Cape.

The girls were good to me. Before leaving, Sue and Marion dropped by to give me some hugs and kisses, Sue also brought me a plate of home-made cookies (white chocolate chips with cranberries) and two novels. The rest of the weekend, most of the girls at the weekend made sure to reach out and call, email or text me. I felt loved, but I was in a lot of pain and I was miserable. I actually went to bed in tears on Friday night because I was so disappointed not to be there. I have never missed a Cape weekend before.

Anyways, the girls had a great time and were very productive. On Thursday, at 3:20pm, Kim P. logged in with the first photo. She did the machine quilting on this t-shirt quilt for Marion.
This is a t-shirt quilt that Marion made for her oldest granddaughter, Sydney as a college graduation gift. How long have I been friends with Marion? I remember the night that Sydney was born! Looks great, just needs binding!
Kim G. took lots and lots of photos and kept me laughing with the silly emails she would send me with funny captions.
Kim G. and her Kaffe umbrellas.
Cordula put together a Yellow Brick Road in 30s prints.
Cordula also worked on this Bento Box quilt in Kaffe Fassett prints.
Pat, at left, assembled her Dresses Quilt. Last time we were at the Cape, a drunken guest peering into our quilting room thought they were lampshades. Looks good, Pat! Also in Kaffe Fasset fabrics.
Pat also put together this quilt top.
Nancy D. put together her 2015 Birthday Blocks.
I'm particularly fond of this cute little owl.
This is one of Karen's newest patterns. Sign me up, I want one!
Kim P. worked diligently all weekend on her Judy Martin Snake River.
Here is the center of Kim's quilt all laid out and ready to sew. Amazing!
Part 2 tomorrow! Thanks for visiting.

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Back Attack!

Tuesday appeared to be an ordinary day. It was a beautiful, sunny, unseasonably warm November morning and I had just returned from taking the pug boys to the park. We met a new pit bull puppy named Naaz, who was unbearably cute and was eager to play with the pug boys, who of course wanted nothing to do with him.

We arrived home and I picked up Romeo to give him his eye drops. My back smarted and I told Romie that he was getting a little chubby. A hot shower will feel good, I thought. I got out of the shower and my back was still smarting, so I put on a disposable heat pack. I got dressed and no sooner than I had put on my socks, than I couldn't straighten up. The pain was excruciating.

I managed to get downstairs and I called Joannie who took me to the Emergency Room.

This was my view for the rest of the day.
My overhead view.
On my right.
I had Valium, extra strength Tylenol and eventually Oxycontin, but the pain continued to be unbearable (on a scale of 1 to 10, it was a 47). "Muscle spasms in my back," declared my darling young attending physician (who was so young, I don't think he has started to shave yet).
Mike left work as soon as I called him and took over nursing duties from Joannie.
Eventually, after spending the day in the ER, with a lot of help from the nurse, an aide, and a walker, Mike was able to get me to the car and take me home. 
Sprung!
Mike stayed home with me all day on Wednesday, which was wonderful because I could barely move. After helping me shower and dressing me this morning because I still can't bend from the waist, he went into the office for a few hours. Of course, my girlfriends have been calling me hourly and checking on me.

I'm finally starting to feel a little better, but unfortunately not well enough to attend my November Quilt Weekend, which started today. The girls have been sending me photos, so you will be treated to a virtual report.
Move over, Oxycontin. Chocolate cheesecake has been the only thing to really make me feel better so far.
Thanks for visiting!

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

Sunday, November 1, 2015

Howl 'Oween 2015

Hot diggety dog! It's LarryPug.
Did someone say ketchup? Romeo.
I'm just down to a bag of bones. Elvis!
Pug Daddy Mike offering up some post Halloween treats.
This year I found the funniest Halloween card ever at Whole Foods Market.
Front of card.
inside of card. Really!
My Mom and Dad were convinced that Mike and I had made it. Too funny!

Thanks for visiting!

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy