Quilt Project From My Library, Finishing Hand Quilting, Medical Story

I've been really busy. Well, what seems to be busy for us. Daily chores and lots of shovelling too. There for a few days it kept snowing every day, all day. We ran the snowmobile over the trails to flatten them for our walks. I've been taking the dogs down to our frozen pond for playing ball and they've been loving that. I get to do my little run about as well, safely, on a flat snow covered surface for now. The weather will change it soon enough. Update, it has. Milder temperatures and pouring rain for a day or two and then freezing at night so the pond is unwalkable just now. Sigh But more snow will change it back. I hope you are keeping well and away from the germs. There have been massive numbers of influenza cases here starting with the holidays. 

I've been busy with my stitching too. I mentioned I want to make a project from each of my stitchery books and I've also been casting about for a 2026 RSC project. I've found one in this book below that I'm going to give a try. This book provides the cardboard templates in the back which is very convenient. 

I've chosen the quarter Dresden block which I'd seen at the  Stitched in Color blog and loved the particular treatment Rachel used. Of course, I don't have anything like the stash that she has. But like hers, this time round, I'm going to aim for the brighter and bolder fabrics for backgrounds. So starting with blues, I found these fabrics to make a beginning. And as contrast, the blades will be low volume/neutral fabrics. These are my test blocks so to speak, and yes, I'm using EPP for the blades.

I think stitching these could hold my attention as we go through the colours each month. 

I've almost finished the hand quilting on my Christmas Presents quilt. After much messing about, I wound up getting it to feel comfortable for stitching draped over my lap. I use lots of pins and check often to make sure there are no folds or puckers on the back. But what I really had to overcome was my fear of the stitching being bad laying them like this. But so far I'm happy enough with my lines. 

LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week is about singing. I used to sing just well enough to be in church choirs and then the university glee club. But after years of teaching, I developed a nodule on a vocal chord that changed my voice. Oddly I've noticed recently I can kind of sing again which I do on my walks with the dogs where no one can hear me. I wonder can these things clear up on their own. I'll have to look that up. 

 You can skip the following if you aren't like me who loves reading medical stuff-

I've been told I have mild IBS because I have symptoms about 3 times a year even though I'm pretty careful about my diet. I was scheduled for a colonoscopy during covid and decided to decline during that crazy period. So I mentioned it at a recent check up and the nurse practioner said yes, let's get you that consult with the gastroenterologist. A couple of months later and I've got my appointment. I've read a lot about the procedure; people have related their experiences to me with all agreeing the prep is the worst part. So I'd done my research and I felt good about getting this done and over with. The doctor was really young; looked about 20 to me which made me think of my grandfather who came back from taking a friend to the doctor and asked since when do they allow teenagers to be doctors. This fellow was wearing a mask cause he said he had a cold which made me think of Physician heal thyself. You see the foolishness that bounces around in this head of mine. Anyway, I could tell right away he, as one would expect, knew lots about diet and the brain/gut connection and all the IBS stuff. After chatting quite convivially for a couple of minutes, he told me I didn't need the colonoscopy. You don't need to put yourself through that were his exact words. If I insisted, he would proceed, of course, he said. He had a page of notes in front of him I assumed were from the nurse practitioner. I wished at that point he would leave the room so I could read them. Which I absolutely would do; would you? That makes me wonder, can you ask to read your medical file do you think?

Anyway, I said okay then, thanked him and left. Part of me is relieved and part of me is wondering if I should have gone ahead with it. Tony, the ever practical one, figures that doctor turned down quite a chunk of change to not proceed so I should accept that he was confident in telling me I didn't need it. Your thoughts, wonderful readers??? I should add here that I do the FIT every two years and that has always been negative so far. 

Right now I have a fruit fly situation in the kitchen I have to deal with. It comes with eating so much fresh vegetables and fruit. Perhaps why I don't need a colonoscopy I guess. :)

As soon as I press publish, I'm heading out for a walk and am now wearing my winter boots with the cleats attached. Really don't want to take a fall. And you all be careful too!

Happy to share this post with Alycia Quilts, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Quilting Patchwork Applique and Kathy's Quilts.