For my friend Sue and Margaret too!

Okay I am trying to get Charlie's ankle off the top of my page. Since I posted the many legs of Charlie, things have been so hectic I haven't had time to post anything else. Charlie continues to heal but still can not bear any weight on his leg - next week he has another appointment and we are hopeful that he might get to bear just a tiny bit of weight.

I am going to try something new for me starting November 1 - I am truly going to try to blog every day. I haven't decided the theme - the reason I am going to do this is that my boys aren't coming home for turkey day and I think November may be a bit hard for me - so this will keep me distracted. I am thinking of sharing memories of the boys, or one cool memory of the day, or possibly crafting stuff as I will be putting the Christmas machine in full gear this weekend. Any ideas?

School has been busy - the first of the year is always so hard to adjust to and get things running smoothly - I am hesitant to say that it is getting there because that might jinx it. We had a fun little party (Harvest not Halloween) yesterday at the end of the day and everyone got too much candy for sure. Glad I got to send them home right when the sugar really hit their systems.

Charlie's Leg

I thought that starting a new school year and having Casey and Toby being gone would be the hardest thing.....
This is Charlie's foot after he fell in our backyard - he was back there trying to chop down two cottonwoods that had started to grow. That was 10 days ago.

He had to crawl back around the house to get me - I drove him to the ER and ran his leg into the the door there - it made me very inappropriately laugh hysterically...

We both thought/hoped that it was another dislocation....

When he lifted his pant leg in the ER the nurse whinced and we knew it was not good.

X-Rays and relocation and the first cast

Then a few nights in the hospital and a second cast... a soft cast. This led me to the DME store where I learned many new things... DME=Durable Medical Equipment - I got Charlie a rolly scooter to rest his knee on and zoom around the house. He also got a shower chair as he can only get half way in the shower and then only after we bag and duct tape him up.
Insurance and DME stores are not my friends!!!

That is what Charlie got - I got all his chores and projects!!! This is his second cast - if you are weak of stomach don't read on
Ten days later we headed in to the doctor office. Our first chance to see the surgery. This is the right side of his leg - they took the staples out - doesn't he look like Frankenstein - scroll down for something even more Halloweenish...
This is the left side of the same leg - this is where they went in to fix the skinny bone in his leg with 3 breaks - more staples..
And he had the most beautiful bruising - I wish I could buy fabric that color of green, blue and purple. We had the greatest nurse - she put the blue paper under his leg so I would get contrast in my photos - we had a fun visit. And then it was cast time - this nurse is an absolute artist. When she asked what color Charlie wanted, he said white. She looked at me and said "white?" I looked at Charlie he has to live with it after all... he decided on...
Bronco colors and the nurse decided it should have stripes like a tube sock and a little bed for his toes - it is a thing of beauty... We disagree on what the doctor said - I think Charlie would like it to be less time - but it looks like 8 weeks with no weight and another 6 weeks in a boot and partial weight - he can get something holidayish at his next check. We got to see x-rays - he has two plates and 8 screws in one and two long screws to hold the ankles and leg bones together...
Ain't life funny???

Crown Cop Out

My challenge was suppose to be to paper piece this block. I don't really understand paper piecing, it takes extra fabric and extra steps - the up side: the block is always perfect. As you can see above I used the paper piecing paper to create templates which I am very comfortable with. My excuse is that is our first day over 90 degrees here in Seattle!!!! I can't learn something new in this heat. SO here is my block:
I am so much more happy with my color choices this time but the photo doesn't portrait the colors very well. The two pieces that look blue are actually teals and gorgeous vibrating against the limes and gold of the print. I haven't decided if I will build on to this block - I like it that when you put a few of the blocks together you get a cross and a frame - doesn't really show in this setting.

New Challenge

Okay, my cousin has presented me with a return challenge that will TRULY be a challenge for me - A paper-pieced block - I don't paper piece - I don't like it - I don't get it - I hate it!!! My first thought is to draft the pattern but it is hot and that sounds time consuming - so maybe I will try paper piecing - it is a challenge after all!!
I do love this block - crowns, rings, and crosses - the crowns are fab - you don't see the crosses unless you piece several (which is probably not in my future) nor the rings. If you want to play along follow this link: Crowns, Rings, & Crosses. Blocks are due Friday at 1:11 PM CT

Aster Block Complete

My cousin Shaney and I have completed our first blocks. This is mine - I am not very happy with the color - the greens are way to similar to the blue background and the blue background is way too dominate.
I decided to make 4 blocks and try a small quilt top. My thought was to add applique around the outside edge in an additional border. However, I am kinda disappointed in the colors so I probably won't invest applique time in this piece. Anyway, my cousin is posting another block in the next few hours - so I will be off on that one.