Starry Night

I finally finished the lap quilt I started over a year ago. It was a paper piecing project and I had finished 9 of the 12 blocks before I found a more efficient way to complete a block. The first blocks were each done in a day.... it did not take the entire day but after sewing each seam, then pressing and situating the next piece of fabric, trimming the sections and assembling them I was usually tired of sewing after completing one block. The last 3 blocks I completed in a couple of hours. I think I can quilt this one on my machine...simple quilting in the ditch if I can get it assembled and pinned. Wish me luck. I was considering another border of the blue outside the black border...opinions, anyone?

This a picture of my newest gadget. It is a sprouter. I am using it to grow sprouts. Before I grew them in a jar which required that I rinse and drain the sprouts twice daily. With this machine I put the seeds in the trays and it automatically mists them at preset intervals during the 24 hour period. I just need to add water to the reservoir each morning. Then I move each tray of sprouts one place to the left after rotating each tray from back to front. If the machine were smaller I could put it on the kitchen counter and put some sort of splitter on the faucet so that the reservoir would be filled automatically but I really don't have room on my kitchen counter and besides I would have to change my faucet out and I really like my faucet so we opted to put it on a table in my studio. Gary had two aerogardens in there with my sprouter. Right now he is growing mega-cherry tomatoes and green beans. These sprouts are 4 days old and will be ready to be harvested tomorrow. We will eat them either on sandwiches or in salads. What I have growing here are alfalfa sprouts, broccoli sprouts and triticale sprouts.

I am so excited. My daughter-in-law and I are going to Baltimore to see RIVER DANCE. I have seen them on TV and always wanted to see them in person. DH does not like this sort of thing so I could never depend on him to take me. I mentioned it the last time we had dinner with my son and his family and my daughter in law offered to go with me. Evidently my son is like his father when it comes to stage productions. I know I will be tired this evening but it will be worth it.

I went yesterday to physical therapy for my hands. Lots of questions asked, measurements taken and joints tested. After that I had my hands dipped in hot paraffin which is great. I have one of the machines here at home and use it infrequently. I may use it more after this. I have a few exercises to do at home and will go to therapy 3x weekly for the next two weeks..after that, I don't know...I guess it will be if I still need it. The physical therapy is supposed to help me regain the dexterity in my hands.

Well, here it is another day with little or no improvement but I am determined not to let it get me down. I managed to get my shower by myself this morning right down to dressing myself. I felt like this was a good start. I managed to mix up a meatloaf and put it in the crockpot. After that I had a bite of breakfast and started in on the laundry. My fifth load is in the washer and I would imagine the things in the dryer are ready to be cared for. Baked my hubbie some cookies that he requested. By that time the fingers were complaining so I took a break and read for a while.

This afternoon we have to take the cat to the vet for some booster shots...I am sure he will like that. He loves to ride in the car is we let him out of the carrier but I am not up to carrying him so he will just have to go in the carrier todayprobably complaining all the way.

Saw a hand specialist on Friday but my problem was not one that he could alleviate so I will wait until the 11th of March when I see the rheumatologist. I am determined to find someone who can diagnose the problem and fix it.

Saturday evening and all is quiet here. I have dosed myself with some Aleve so I am feeling pretty good. I sat down at the computer to check my e-mail and found a note from 'America's Test Kitchens'. This is a site that I really like. It is connected with the Cook's Illustrated magazine which I also love. On the web site I can watch cooking videos. I believe the supscription fee was something like $19 per year and I can watch the videos as often as I want to. This evening I learned to make French Chicken in a Pot, French Onion Soup, Garlicky Shrimp, Crispy Pork Chops, and Blueberry Pie (that does not run). I may try the porkchops for dinner tomorrow. I may have to go back and watch the video again...somehow or other I don't seem to retain things like I did when I was much younger, but I don't mind watching it again since they fast forward through the time consuming parts of the process.

My dear sister has this site listed under her links as "My Sis, the Carver". It has been two months since I have been able to hold a carving knife. Somehow it seems much longer than that. I try to keep busy doing the small things that I am able to do with the limited use of my hands. You never know how much you treasure something until it is taken away from you. I am optimistic that soon we will find a doctor who can correctly diagnose the reason for my problems and find the solution. In the meantime, my dear husband is taking good care of me doing things that I never thought to need help with. He is getting really good at putting on my socks and refuses to let me lift anything....like I could. I am looking forward to being able to carve again.

Well, the end of another week and I have accomplished very little. Tomorrow is generally the day I go to Weight Watchers but this week will be a bit different. Whatever is bothering my wrists, hands does not really allow me to function until about 11:00 or 12:00 noon. I am quite sure that there is no way I could get up, shower and make myself presentable in time to attend any class. Not to worry, there is a class at 12:00 noon on Wednesday which should be perfect. I had great plans for this morning. Thought I would get up and work on the crumb blocks for my next quilt top but morning brought enough pain to put an end to that notion. We will see what tomorrow brings.