Spring to summer to surgery and recovery ...

I made a resolution this year to blog more often, find a job, have my foot surgery, finish more UFOs, and possibly have a great harvest from an early garden. Well, the blogging didn't happen, the job hasn't happened, I have had my foot surgery, I'm still working on the UFO's, and the harvest, well, other things took priority.

I had planned a Memorial Day post -- and was waiting for a picture of my comforter curtain project that I completed the day before my surgery. I'm still waiting, but will post it under projects completed 2013. I planned the entire month of May to complete a lot of work outside before my surgery was to happen. Plants needed dividing, seeds needed planting, new pots, deck washed, gardens, seeds dried, 2 dogs to groomer for summer clip. Well, the garden got some work, and seeds dried, but too much to do!  Then, I had a hen go broody, so I got her 4 baby chicks to raise. The goal ~~ get them independent and into the flock before my surgery. And it worked !  They are now 2 months old, and from the four I have 2 hens and 2 roosters.

     

One Week old 



                      2 months old



Well, the week of the surgery, my sister brought me a case of sweet potatoes to can ~~ and I did that too ! I cooked them down, made fries, tried cubes for freezing, and used a pressure canner .. phew !

Then my surgery was performed the 31st of May and I've been out of commission since. The first week was demarol. I weaned myself down by the end of the 2nd week as it put me out completely. My SO took his entire vacation for the year to come home and take care of me and took over chores on the homestead while I recovered enough to be a bit independent. However, I still had to assemble a small army of people to cover outside chores with the horses and flock. I was instructed to not put any weight on my foot for the first FOUR weeks. I had one mummy foot, a cast put on within 3 days, and a 2nd cast 2 wks later. I've been using a wheelchair around the house for 3 1/2 wks, plus crutches and now am trying to walk on only my heel. I have to rest, ice and elevate so I can keep going. It has now been 5 wks, going on week #6. I tried doing outside chores with horses and the flock this past weekend, just ONE feeding -- it was a huge NOT READY sign. Will try again this next weekend.

     

And I even had to bag it to shower ... in a chair ... with duct tape .. so I picked up some argyle tape !

Now, week #5, I had the pleasure of having my cousins from Tennessee come to visit and help with the chores and the invalid I am in this wheelchair. It also gave all my army a chance to do something else for a week while they were here. They cooked, they cleaned, they did chores, the kids collected eggs, picked berries, did dishes, and we had a project. My cousin's eldest son that just graduated High School in May. He's grown up on the water, will be going to Florida to college, so we decided on a Mariner's Compass ~~ we started on the 5th, and the center of the compass is almost complete. It won't stay a UFO long !

Now to find compass letters for N- E - S - W that will compliment the compass ...

I must get back to stitching .. have 3 more grids, want to get this done so I can work on the background and borders .. and so many other things .. life is an adventure, I do it in quilts ~~

Stitch on ~~~

Dee