Learning new things...

Continuing on with last nights post. I have learned there can be more than one "agent" on a medical power of attorney so both #1 sister and I or my husband can be listed. That makes me feel better.  My husband said he would be happy to help my parents and be their durable power of attorney agent if that is what they want.

I hate this! Very personal so you may want to avoid this post...

I just got off the phone with my #1 sister. My dad has Alzheimer's and had a stroke a a while back that left him even more muddled in his mind. My mom has been taking care of him but lately she is having a hard time even caring for herself. #1 sister called mom on Saturday afternoon and Moma was talking out of her head. She said she was running a fever and didn't feel good, but needed to get in the kitchen and finish cooking the brisket and ribs. My mom has not "cooked" in a very long time. She cooks simple meals daily but nothing like brisket, ribs, pies, etc. #1 sister was a bit surprised when Moma was talking about my niece coming over for a nap, and the whole family coming for dinner.
She called my #3 sister who lives a short distance (10 minutes) away and asked her to go check on both Moma and Daddy. Well dear #3 sister didn't feel it necessary to "GO" check on them so she called. UGH! When #1 sister finally got a hold of  #3 sister and asked if she checked on them, #3 said , "No, I didn't go over there I was busy, but me and my husband have been talking about putting them in Assisted Living.

Ok, I am a realist. I know one day and it may not be too long away Moma and Daddy will not be able to stay home alone. Daddy will get worse and Moma will not be able to care for him. Moma has enough health issues that she might be able to care for herself for a while, but I don't think it will be for long.

BUT...for today they are fine at home. They need to be checked on and talked to daily, but they are doing pretty good unless one gets sick. Well, #1 was pretty peaved when she called me a few minutes ago. She talked to Moma and wants to get a Medical Power of Attorney for both of them and get someone to be Statutory Durable Power of Attorney. Moma said she want my husband to be the SDPoA. I told #1 she needs to be the MPoA since she is the one who takes them to the doctor and she is at their house 2-3 times a week.

Living this far away makes it very hard for me to feel I can do much. I call a couple times a week and try to keep up with what they are doing and what they need.
It sounds so trivial...

I have always heard families really take a beating at times like these. Our family has never been close, and probably could be called screwed up but it is what it is and they are my family and I love them. I hope through all of the decisions that have to be made we can remember we are trying to help Moma and Daddy have the best and healthiest rest of their lives.

In my sewing room

I have been working. For some unexplainable reason I have had this need to work on and finish (get into top form) several UFOs.

I got my red white and blue Bricks and Stepping Stones all but finished. It tuned out much better than I thought it would. I still have to put the border on, and had planned on doing it this weekend end. After the rude behavior of the cashier at JoAnn's I left without the border fabric and promised myself I would search for another JoAnn's to give my business to. I need to talk with the management, but decided I was still to mad.

The Trail Mix ( I need a better name maybe?) top has been up on my design wall and decided I wanted to make it bigger for my King sized bed. So I decided which blocks I need to make and have been working on those. I do believe this is going to be a very favorite quilt. I will pay to have it quilted, I like it that much.

There are two other UFOs I have gotten a bit farther along on but may decide to give them away as I no longer love them...we will see.

Lots of culling going on. It is weird, it is almost like the nesting thing that happens when you are about to give birth. I have been going through and sorting out things I no longer love, cleaning out shelves and drawers.  I NEVER get rid of old magazines but have a stack to give away, and  I would rather stub my toe than get rid of one of my books. I have a small stack of books to give away. I feel like a stranger is taking over! LOL

Ok, now that I have this typed I am trying to locate my pictures to upload, and I can't find them...where did they go?
Ok, now I have to go look for them...
I'll be back!

Away...from the computer.

I am home, but have had a headache for four days. I just can't seem to get rid of it. I thought it was a sinus headache, but no amount of allergy/sinus meds help. Finally last night about 3am I took a very strong pain pill and was finally able to get a few hours of sleep.
I have a call into the doctor's office, but short of a brain scan I am not sure she will be able to help me, and I don't plan on any scans!

I will get back to blogging once the pain goes away.

Diane

Can we stand another surprise?

I am headed out the door to Mobile! SURPRISE! :)
I decided last night about 10pm that I would ride with Ray as heads to Mobile for a couple of meetings. It is a very fast trip just two days but maybe I will get to see a couple of my friends. Plus I may get to see my daughter. More on that later, but yes she is back in Mobile. No I don't know if it is permanent. Yes there is a boy feller involved. Of course it is serious, when has she not been serious...the question is... For how long is it serious? (all of my English/grammar scholars, did I just dangle something or mess that up, it feels weird when I read it?) LOL

Ok, later gator,
Diane

More surprises...

There has continued to be a desire to work on UFOs so that is what I have been doing. Much work has been done on a couple of military donation quilts. My daughter has a friend she graduated high school with that has just returned from Iraq with some pretty horrible injuries. One of the quilts will be for him. My former pastor occasionally draws the duty to inform loved ones of the death of their soldier child or spouse. I will send him at least one quilt maybe two.

I took my long term hand work project with me to Colorado/Utah  and got several blocks completed. (sigh)

Will I ever get all of these baskets made? I may rethink the number and size of the quilt. They are cute, but...small.
Do you see the blue flower at the bottom center of the picture? That is my souvenir of my trip. It is a needle holder with a columbine flower on it. So cute!

Tonight I played around with making some little travel bags. Last trip proved I needed a couple more so I made this...

Love it!!! It has the whole Texas thing going on...

I'm finally almost recovered. I have done more than just sit and stare at the walls. I have done all the day to day things in the house PLUS made two baby quilt tops. I have a short amount of time to get them quilted before Ray takes them to Mobile to the parents. I hope I get to go along with him, but it is still up in the air.

While in Houston for my family reunion on my mom's side I chatted with my great aunt Mary Lou. Aunt Mary Lou is the same age as my mom and lived down the street from my Great Grandma Tarver until Grandma died. From doing some research for my family tree I found that my Great Grandma was the only quilter in the family, that is until I started quilting.
Anyway, long story short I asked my Great Aunt if she still had any of Grandma's quilts or any pictures. I was floored when Aunt Mary Lou said if I came to her house she would give me one of Grandma's tops. Immediately I turned to Ray and asked if we could make a detour and drive to my Aunt's house (about 1 1/2 hours away) I explained why and he said sure.
So I have a top made by my Great Grandma. It isn't fancy, and some may think it isn't very pretty, but I think it is beautiful. My Grandma made scrap quilts. My mom told me when she was young and would go to visit her Grandma no one sat idle. If they were in the kitchen they were cooking or cleaning or canning, etc. If they were "resting" in the living room they were stitching.

After Grandma got "old" she didn't work with small scraps she worked with large ones. My Aunt Mary Lou had and has a business doing home decorating. Grandma made many tops with all of the out of date sample books. That is what my top is made from.  I have been thinking about how to quilt it. I want to hand quilt it, but it may be too thick. I think I want it done with the Baptist Fans quilt pattern, but do I put a border or do I leave it without? So many decisions.

Well now that life is getting back to some normalcy I hope to get my self back to posting.
Linda G, I hope you agree this was a really cool surprise!

Later,
Diane