Snail Mail

I want to give a shout out to my friends Eileen Vivell and Virginia Sasse Wagner for your lovely get well mail that I received.  I got your letters on the same day.   I was so excited when I read the return addresses!!  I waited a few moments to savour the thought.  To think that you would be so kind as to think of me.   Thank you both, your gifts of art out a smile on my face! 

It is so wonderful to meet such lovely people in this art group! Hugs to you both!

Ring sizing complete

I am so happy to get my ring back yesterday.  I’m even happier that the store that made the ring is still in business. 

I’m pretty stoked that I have been a full 24 hours opioid medication free! I’m not saying that I have no pain and everything is peachy keen but the pain is at a level that I can handle with the help of Tylenol.   However, I must remember, no more than 6 tablets a day (I don’t want to mess with my liver).  

I renewed my library card early before surgery because I didn’t want to get cut off during my convalesce but I haven’t made much use of it.  I’d best go and renew the book anyway just in case I get the desire to pick it up again.

Cold packs and a scar

Oh happy day! I got the nasty staples out.  I had no idea that there were so many!  I got the incision a bit lopsided on the old knee but decided that I didn’t feel like moving it.  Close enough is good enough for me.  It was a happy but painful moment in time and I’m glad it’s over. I glanced at it but averted my eyes right away when my husband told me it would be best if I didn’t look.  He knows me well.  Before she began, I had asked the nurse if she had barf bags available; the response was a sorry but no.  I survived and I didn’t retch. 

I must say that I’m enjoying my new soybean ice packs.  For everyone who isn’t Canadian, LOBLAWS is a major grocery store chain.  The “President Choice” is about Galen Weston, President of this food distribution company.  

Oh and I’m not overly fond of soybeans for eating, I like them as a cold pack. 

Sleeping Position

I hadn’t considered that I would be having this much difficulty with my current sleeping position.  I had figured out loads of stuff before my knee replacement but the issue of sleeping hadn’t entered my head.  Bottom line is I’m a side sleeper and sleeping on my back is totally foreign to me.  So I must be healing (even if the swelling isn’t going away very quickly) since I’m whining about this problem.  The first week after the operation I didn’t care but maybe it’s because I’m going to be starting week 3 tomorrow.  

It’s the little things

It’s all about the “little things” albeit being able to put on my own socks, enjoying a bottle of pop or appreciating Mother Nature’s spring flowers.

Day 12

I’m trying to wean myself off of using meds if I actually don’t need them but I think I will change my tactic a bit.  I don’t want to further describe how I felt.  

I get so fed up with all the con artists trying to fleece people out of their hard earned money. 

Look Ma no walker

I think the breakfast that my hubby made for me on Sunday was fabulous.  He went the extra mile!  First he brought me ice for my leg and then coffee in bed! What could be better!!

It’s funny how I just completely forgot that I’m supposed to be using the walker.  It wasn’t until I got to the throne that I figured out what I had done.  It seems instinct took over.

Raining and pouring and ice

It had been pouring rain all day.  I looked out the window on my way downstairs to see our spring mallards “swimming” in the giant puddle in front of my car.  It’s so big, I’m calling it Lake Superior.  For sure we need to call a gravel truck.  Not until fall though, it is a lot of work even with the help of my husband’s ATV (it has a snow plough blade on it he uses to move the gravel around). 

Oh dear, my poor Bertha won’t get her snow tires off until mid to the end of May this year.

I continue to “ice” my leg especially after exercise.  I thought I had everything ready but I just hadn’t realized how much ice I would want or need.  Our fridge freezer just doesn’t seem to be able to make enough exactly when I want it.  Oh well, there is no way that I would buy a new fridge when this one still works.  And yes, we ate the sausages for supper! 

Day 8

I’m so glad that I didn’t stuff the rag bag so I couldn’t get at it (on my own).  I hadn’t realized that this homemade “leg lifter” would have double duty as an “exercise assistant” as well.  It’s a old pair of pyjamas bottoms that I had cut away from the seams a week or so before my operation.  So glad we have a big deck cuz the ground below is a little uneven for walking and the lane way is mucky at spring time.  

Thankfully we live in an age where my smartphone can remind me to take my meds.  I wasn’t sure if I had taken the important anti-coagulant and had to do a count back.  Even then I didn’t recall taking the stupid thing.  That made me nervous.  Glad that the half life of the drug extends the benefits into the next day. 

First physio appointment

It was a big day for me yesterday, I actually left the house.  It was nice to see something besides the inside and outside of our house.  My husband had to change my huge bandage.  He was really nervous about doing it.  I couldn’t look at the incision, I just couldn’t.  He said it looked good though (no pus).  So, now I have physiotherapy appointments set up for 2 days a week and for 8 weeks. 

Live TV on my iPad

We can’t get cable internet or TV out here in the country and that means we don’t have internet television.  We do have satellite television so I was happy that I can watch the local news live via the satellite provider app on my iPad.  I wasn’t sure I was going to figure it out but in the end I was successful.  Yay me! When I don’t have much else to do and nothing vying for my attention I tend to slow down and move methodically. 

The bonus is,  I’m frugal and I like the fact that I’m already paying for a service and I am happy I can get full use of that service.  Now why didn’t I think of this before is the burning question?  

Peas are a winner

Part 1/2  You my not know this about me but I’m quite frugal (okay bordering on cheap).  The surgeon recommended that purchase cryo ice packs.  I bought them at the same store as the heavy duty compression socks he said I needed.  Well, the thing is, I prefer the peas.  The flat cryo packs are good for under my knee but that’s about it! 

When they are no longer needed they will be put in the compost.  My husband tried to get me riled up saying that he was going to keep them.  He was quickly set straight by my daughter and I! 

Thankfully, cold therapy works as a fabulous pain reliever. 

Another day in paradise

Part 2/2.  IM using the same sketchbook and watercolour travel palette that I had at the hospital plus a few other tools.   This page makes me laugh since it is so busy and just a jumble of images.  

Anyway, this takes time.  I’m not use to drawing in bed. The biggest disappointment are the new sheets that I bought for the “occasion”! My goodness, lovely soft Egyptian cotton they are not! Honestly the rustle like crumpled paper!  I had washed them before putting them on the bed and had wondered why they seemed different from our other old sheets. I’m not a happy camper that I wasted my money.  I know it has been donkey’s ages since I’ve bought sheets but I don’t ever recall them being this coarse in the past.  I guess I need to “get off my wallet” when I buy sheets again. 

I had wanted to paint my toes for spring (as per usual) but I’m glad I recalled that the pre-surgery instructions said no nail polish.  And then again I forgot that tidbit of info when I was adding text to my page earlier today. 

It has been snowing here (not staying on the ground though) so I couldn’t go out for a spin on our deck like I did yesterday.  I don’t feel like getting my socks and long pants on.  Our deck covers one full side of our house (32 feet) and wraps around to the front door).  

Here you go Carol Booz-Myers! 

My quick hospital stay

The view from my hospital bed.  I completed this spread by 2030 hours yesterday.  It was a totally new experience for me!  I’ve never been cut since I had my adenoids out as a child.   My first knee replacement but not my last.   I’m all dressed and waiting for the Occupational Therapist to get me going up and down stairs.  Then to get the IV out and home.  It is beautiful here so I can wait to feel the sun and smell the air.  I’ve only been in the hospital a day but it feels like a long time.

Stitching a scroll

Part 1/2. I’m a slow starter but I finally found my way! 

I’ve had this spool for a couple of eons at least, a friend offered it to me.  No idea why I took it but now I have it to make a scroll.  So far, I’ve just pin fabrics down on my backing fabric.  Years ago I collected men’s silk ties and I have used many of them here in this project.  I’ve also used some purchased white white fabrics that I’ve over painted to change the colour to that of my palette (the dotted fabric’s on the bottom left).  I painted some white lace purple and cut out the rosette and toned down the colour of it to make it different.  The grey fabric on the top right with the writing is from one of the cotton masks I wore before we were able to buy them at the beginning of the pandemic.  Under the lacy piece is an area of plain fabric so I made a design on a white eraser and stamped the bare spot with black Staz On ink since it is permanent.  I’ll have to unwind the wool yarn from the spool and see how I can include it as an embellishment to the piece (or on a new piece).  I look forward to stitching it together and then spending time with it, slow stitching. 

I’ve really enjoyed seeing everyone’s beautiful projects and have found it all very inspiring!  Thanks to all here and of course, last but not least, Shelley Rhodes for offering this class.