2007 April « Thoughts from the T-Shirt Lady

I finished my very first quilt!

April 18, 2007 at 2:17 pm | In Quilting | Leave a Comment

I finally finished my quilt! And it’s a very satisfying feeling.

It sat on the table for the longest time – basted, and I always found other things that had to be done. Do you think I was putting it off?

I took my quilt to the local quilt shop Ladybug located here in Suffolk, VA. The owner took a picture for her website that’s being redesigned. So as soon as the picture is uploaded to her website – I’ll add it here too!

Also found some useful tools at her shop – a large basting needle – that should make the basting go much faster. And some clips to use on the binding to hold it in place better than pins when I am hand stitching it. And yes – I used hand stitching on the binding. I’m not much good at hand stitching and usually try to do just machine sewing – but I tried it anyway. It came out looking good

I did the quilting itself on the sewing machine – just with straight lines at the edges of the squares. Another time, I will try my hand at quilting by moving the quilt around as I stitch. But that’s for when I am more proficient!

For my next quilt project I will be making one to fit on a twin sized bed, for one of my granddaughters. It uses Pooh and Friends fabric. I’ve started cutting out the squares – but I’m not rushing…

Sandi

Our crops

April 18, 2007 at 2:01 pm | In Farm | Leave a Comment

After the last snow and cold snap we had, my DH checked out our early crops.

As I had mentioned before, he did an early planting of the corn. Well the leaves turned yellow and we thought for sure it was going to have to be plowed under. But it is growing – he doesn’t think it will be really good – since the frost, but we will have to see.

Everything else – peas, carrots and potatoes seem to be ok. My blueberry bushes don’t look all that great. I think the front did damage to the first blossoms. If it doesn’t affect the remainder of the blueberry harvest – we will still be able to sell them. We always have such a large amount of blueberries and they are a good seller in this area. Here’s hoping!

It’s still very cool – can’t wait for spring to get here in earnest. Then we will really begin to see the fruits of my DH’s labor!

And I do love to watch him on the tractor!

Sandi

Results of bone scan and rib xrays

April 18, 2007 at 1:53 pm | In Cancer | Leave a Comment

Got the results of my whole body bone scan and rib xrays a week ago. Just haven’t had time to post them.

The whole body bone scan was normal – no cancer found anywhere! Yeah

The rib xrays showed no breaks – so I guess it’s just a pulled muscle. Still have twinges every now and again. Went to Curves and told them I couldn’t come back right now. I don’t want a repeat. So my neighbor and I are trying to walk in the area a few times a week. And since the weather seems to be getting better – it’s really nice walking outside.

So for now – everything is normal!

Sandi

Down on the farm

April 8, 2007 at 2:15 pm | In Farm | Leave a Comment

Yesterday was the 8th of April, and it SNOWED!

We live in the southeastern corner of Virginia, almost to the North Carolina border. So by now, it’s supposed to be getting warm and we should be seeing crops starting to grow.

My DH – the farmer – has planted potatoes, peas, carrots, and sweet corn already, with the hopes that we will have a good crop this year and be able to sell some of our produce. The sweet corn was an early planting – he always tries to get one of those in each year. Since the major portion of our vegetables is sweet corn, he will be planting that every so often through out the coming months.

Well, when it snowed yesterday – actually we saw lots of small and large snowflakes, all day – but since the air temp was about 40 – none of it stuck. However, it went down to the 20’s last nite, and that doesn’t bode well for the crops already coming up.

DH went out yesterday afternoon, and covered the potato plants with dirt in the hopes that they will not be hit very hard with the cold temps from last nite.

The early corn might be a loss. The carrots are coming up, but most of the veg is underground, and we don’t think the ground froze as the temps have been more in the 50s-70s range for the last couple of weeks.

He also needs to look at our blueberry bushes and see how the cold affected them.

I’m glad we don’t depend on our farming to support us. I feel for all the farmers who do – the weather plays a big part.

I asked my DH if he had checked any of the crops yet – he hasn’t. Will update with more info after he has seen what damage there is.

Once our crops start coming in, and we are ready to sell – we will put an ad in the paper. If you all are in the area, don’t forget to stop in!

Sandi

Donating crocheted caps for cancer patients

April 8, 2007 at 2:07 pm | In Cancer, Crochet | Leave a Comment

I started crocheting the caps the other day, that I’m going to donate for cancer patients. I’m using a very soft yarn, and some of the patterns that I got from Head Huggers

Each pattern is slightly different, but I’m enjoying the work, and I feel very relaxed. Not trying to get a lot of them done in a short time – will do what I can. Usually sit in the evening, before my favorite show (CSI Miami) comes on, and do what I can. Since there is always a supply of patients who need them (what a tragedy) I will continue to have the opportunity to donate these caps. And I love to crochet – what a wonderful way to do what I love and feel good about it!

Sandi

Results of my 3 month checkup

April 8, 2007 at 1:59 pm | In Cancer | 1 Comment

Called the doctor’s office on Wednesday, and got the results of my lab work, from my 3 month checkup. Everything is normal!!

Also had the bone scan and rib xrays taken on Friday. This is to see if I injured my ribs or side – as I mentioned in my last post. Hopefully will have the results back on Monday or Tuesday. Also hope that it’s not a serious issue.

This will determine if I can go back to Curves. Really miss the friendship and exercising. But if not – I’ll start walking everyday – either on the treadmill or outside up and down my driveway. Not as much fun, but need to keep up with the exercising.

Sandi

My 3 month checkup

April 3, 2007 at 11:23 am | In Cancer | 1 Comment

Yesterday, I went to the oncologist for my 3 month checkup. I call back tomorrow to get the lab results.

Mentioned my big toe nails – I talked about losing them in a previous post. The dr said, while it was not real common – lots of cancer patients had the same problem. And they should grow back eventually. (I think I mentioned before that if there was an obscure side effect, I was likely to have it!)

Also mentioned the pain in my side, on the same side as the surgery – my DH and I thought it was a pulled muscle. Since the news about Elizabeth Edwards, my dr said he has had numerous calls from past cancer patients about pain in their side, and he has made sure that everyone is checked out.

I’m supposed to go and get a rib study and bone scan to see if it’s anything other than a pulled muscle. So far, I haven’t heard back from his office as to when my appt is scheduled. Hope to get this resolved as quickly as possible.

Have put off going back to Curves, until I know definitely what’s going on.

More later.

Sandi

Finally got my computer back!

April 3, 2007 at 10:22 am | In Family & Friends | Leave a Comment

Finally – my computer is fixed. Brought it home on Friday, and then began the large task of checking all my programs, reinstalling those that needed it. Everything seemed to work ok, until I got to Quickbooks. Had to uninstall it – but it was nowhere to be found in the add remove programs. So had to do a manual task of deleting entries from the registry.

Did that and reinstalled the software. Still no luck. Tried again yesterday morning and went to the support site to see what else I needed to do to resolve this issue. There was a long laundry list at the support site of things to try. After about the 5th one – it finally worked. And I’m back in business.

We use Quickbooks for my t-shirt business, our farm business – growing and selling vegis, and my consulting firm – hired on as a consultant to a contracting firm when I retired. Not much work yet – but there is always that chance.

So hopefully, knock on wood – we will be set for awhile with the computer.

Have lots better things to do

Sandi