My summer took a quite unexpected turn a few months ago when I got a call from my niece, Trisha, in Utah. She said that my sister, Rose, had just had a stroke and all she knew right now is that they needed someone to take care of their dog.
A few days later, Alice (my other sister) drove down to pick up the dog so he could stay with her while I got ready for a long term stay at Rose's.
That Sunday, Rose went into a rehab center so I had a few more days to get ready. The next weekend, Alice and I went down for a visit and then I returned later that week when Rose got out of the center.
I've spent most of the time in Utah with a couple of trips home. The first one was just a few days but I've been home for almost 2 weeks now. We're heading back to Utah and it will still be back and forth for a while. We need to spend time in Utah so that Rose can continue her therapy/rehab and to continue to improve. I don't know the details about the stroke but it has left her with a "wobbly" feeling. Other than that, she's doing fine!!! Thank God! It could have been so much worse.
Trisha, her daughter, lives in the next town where she works at the University. Trisha is unable to drive so I've been driving back and forth so that Trisha can spend the weekends with her mom. We are all hoping that Rose can start driving soon but at this point they haven't even given her permission to live alone. I think I've driven more in the last 2 months than I have in the last 5 years. Good thing I like to drive!!!
Okay, that's my summer. Now, let's talk about my fall.
First of all, I will be moving in with my mother soon. We figure we can help each other out. A lot of times, especially when I have a migraine, I really shouldn't be alone. Sometimes I forget days because I just sleep through them all. That's not good! At this point, mom does fine by herself but we realize that within a few years, she will need some help as well.
My brother is a builder and he is doing an addition on to my mom's home to extend the bedrooms and give us each a larger bedroom. When he is finished, I will be moving. I'm looking forward to this new chapter.
In October, I have the wonderful opportunity to go back to
Brave Girl Camp. I'm just so excited and it really couldn't come at a better time. I'm not complaining here but I've lived alone for most of my life and having the responsibility for/with someone else has been hard. I wouldn't do anything else BUT take care of my sister now; however, it's very stressful for me. It will be so nice to spend some time with Melody Ross and several other Brave Girls that I have "met" online. I can't believe how many people will be there that I already converse with online on a regular basis! I'm so very excited for this. I just can't wait!!!
I haven't had much time for art or for making cards. I have been working on a crazy quilt swap that's been fun. This is the block that I sent in. I've seen a picture of the progress in round 1 and it's beautiful. I can't wait to get it home again! I can't find the picture of the block that I did for round 1 but I'll share it when I can.
I used to love to embroider and crazy quilting is just fancy embroidery. If you remember, I took a class in the winter that got me interested so I joined a Yahoo group for beginners and am now participating in the swap!
Also, I have a new great nephew coming so I'm working on an afghan for him. I've made an afghan for most of the greats and am working on one for each of my nieces and nephews. Still working on that one though! Also, I'm hoping to have a card made for McMahon Five Designs this week or next and I'm participating in a blog hop for one of the challenge blogs I used to design for. I'm going to leave that as a surprise.
Well, that's all that's going on with me but I think that's plenty, huh? What's going on with you? Do tell!!!
Blessings,
Christine