Hospice Cards for February 3rd.

Hi there everyone, been awhile since I last blogged. No sorry's, just not much to talk about, I guess. Since Jay's death 16 months ago (now where has that time gone?) life has been quiet but there has been a lot of hoop jumping for me. And I do so hate the hoop jumping at times. Going around and around and getting no place.

Making cards has been at a minimal because the inspiration has been probably at about 45-50%. I look at a lot of ideas, but none click. I had a lot of Christmas cards made for Hospice, but then, I came down with the flu, or was it Covid, or was it a virus....I just don't know, but I was out of commission for 6 weeks, after which I finally started feeling better. It took a lot out of me, wonder where I would have been if I had not gotten that one shot, no, no boosters, just one shot and I got it when Jay was about to enter the assisted living. I thought, better get the Covid shot or assisted living people won't let me in to see Jay. I did run into a couple of times that the nurses almost did not let me in to see Jay, but only after they realized who I was and who I was visiting.

So, I missed the December meeting and now the next meeting is on the 3rd so for the last couple of weeks I was into making Valetine cards and using different techniques as you can see by some of these cards.

The 1st card is embossed, and I just added a cardinal at the bottom....pretty simple. The 2nd card is an old valentine card that I ran off on my copy machine, then fussy cut and glued onto some fancy background cardstock.

Now the above cards were kind of interesting to make as it was an idea from Simon Hurley. I found my stencils and placed the stencil on cardstock and taped it down so the cardstock would not move. Then smudged with ink where I wanted color, lifted the stencil and "wah lah" this was the result. Check out Simon Hurley on YouTube, he has lots of great ideas.

"Sending BIG hugs" card is from a card kit from the UK. I have had this in my stash of stuff to make for a couple of years and finally put them together. Sent 2 cards off to someone in VT and one to WI. They were so cute; I could not resist.

Valentine cards are so much fun to make. These are a few I put together with odds and ends I had sitting around. Of course, the bottom two are copies from the original Valentine cards which I copied, fussy cut and glued to the background.

Now these were fun, the backgrounds are from a pad of cardstock, probably in my stash for a couple of years and finally used the cardstock. The flower is from Stampin Up. Embossed with gold, pretty flowers with many ideas for using it.

Now this was a fun technique and another Simon Hurley idea. Using a 3-D embossing folder, the inside of the folder was inked (ink the indented side) then spray with water, place cardstock in folder and run through the cuttlebug or whatever machine you have. Take out of the folder and let dry and run the process over again. I am going to try this technique today with another 3-D folder I have using multi colors. Want to see how it works.

Last but not least, I had these 4 prints from wherever I received them, cut them out and placed them in a frame, simple but pretty. Well, now I suspect, if you are still with me, you probably got bored and clicked on to the next blog....that is okay, this is getting pretty long and anyways I am ready for it to come to an end. I need to get started on doing some work around the house.

So, I had 61 cards made for the January meeting and now that I have an extra 4 days to make cards, I shall try for 75 cards total. That would make a record for me as I usually make 50 or so cards.

Well, I shall close this blog before it turns into a BOOK!!! Here's hoping the weather by you is not so cold and with little snow. It's supposed to be sunny and cold here for the next 5 days, that will be nice. You all have a great February and keep warm and looking up, Jesus is coming soon!!!! Cheers ~ Louise
 

No Masks????

WHAT?!?!? No Masks, I cannot believe it.....how and when did that happen???? Like overnight???

Friday I was at the Kwik Trip....sign is off the door, no one entering wore masks, people in the store were not wearing masks and people behind the counters were wearing no masks!!! I was like in disbelief!!! Of course, I did not wear my mask...I say FREEDOM!!

Well now....we started to watch NASCAR......NO ONE is wearing masks!!! It is like normalcy has returned, like "Overnight". Then I noticed no one in the stands were wearing masks and the stands are packed out, shoulder to shoulder!!! The announcers are not wearing masks, the drivers are not wearing masks.....OK!!! 

Then, I realized the race is in Austin, Tx. That explained it!!! I just read this morning, before the race....."Texas has had "0" Covid 19 cases since they stopped wearing masks" Wow, wow, wow!!! Please explain the unexplained to me!!!!

I must say...it looks good to see no masks on people. I know it was protection from the Covid....but sure was carried too far. I noticed also, hospitals are not as strict. JP and I were at Theda Care in Neenah, no thermometer checks. St. E's still checks though. AMC (ThedaClark) had no checks, although when you went into the office, they pulled out the thermometer. All the symptoms they ask you if you had.....can be symptoms for the flu....does not mean you have Covid, does it???? So glad the masks are disappearing, slow but sure!!!

Yesterday, I worked outside, planting seeds, pulled a few of my ceramic animals out. Straightened up the garage....little stuff. So much more to do for just one person. JP used to help....that extra help is not there anymore.

So I had to keep checking up on JP in the house, to make sure he did not fall. We were safe! So much to do, so little time. I have a feeling JP will have a lot of Doctor appointments this week. So far, I have one tomorrow, to find out what my A1C results are. If high, I am sure to get a talking to, stay away from this and that. Hopefully it will still be low.

I guess we will be going through another MRI as the Doctor thinks JP might have Parkinson's disease. The eye Doctor wants JP to have a liver test and lung test to make sure cancer has not spread to those areas, because if it has, he will not do the eye surgery. 

Well, I think I will close here, need to get some bills paid. Lately I have just been piling the bills on top of each other, just don't want to deal with finances....on top of everything else. Our SS can only stretch so far and no further. Oh well, one bill at a time!!

You all take care and keep looking up. God wants us to depend on him alone....He is the only one that can help us through these trials and tribulations. Cheers ~ Louise

What's New February???

Hi there everyone. This is crazy....blogspot still does things I do not understand. Oh well, least I can still type an intro....

Well, Valentine's Day is not far off....what, one week away??? The Valentine cards you see on my blog are from 2016...have not gotten downstairs to make new ones for quite awhile. I did send some cards to Hospice that I had laying around...time to clear things out.

I am thinking the cards above and below are cards I found on the internet and wanted to make, kinda cute aren't they??? I did duplicate the cards above, but can't find the cards or pictures. Must have given them to Hospice.

The card above looks like an easy one, I do have LOTS of eyes, should be an easy card to duplicate.

Now the next 3 cards I did make....in 2016. Really need to take some time to make cards, lately I have been too busy being a "Caregiver" for JP. He requires a lot of work to keep him going. My life sort of disappeared on the back burner of late. February have so far been very busy. Lots of nurses coming daily, Visiting Nurse, Physical Therapist, Speech Therapist, Doctor appointments, Walker/tub seat pick-ups at Easter Seals, Shopping, that was last week. 

This week will be the nurses coming again. Then JP has an appointment, as he will need surgery for a hernia, (not sure when the hernia surgery will be) a Covid test on Saturday and the following week, Upper esophagus and lower colonoscopy. (I am not looking forward to that one, AT ALL!!!!) So that means having him drink all that stuff, running to the bathroom and still do the catheter. Needless to say, he is NOT a very good patient!!!

I have a lot of paper work to sort through, and get taxes done by March 1st. Hopefully I can hold it together for the rest of this month. Another thing I am having to do is, catheter JP 3 times a day, oh and make sure he gets his meds and his food is soft and if meat, it is cut up in small pieces. When did I become a Nurse???

Looking at my calendar right now, I am counting 5 trips to the Doctors and Hospital. That is no easy chore, getting JP out of the house and into the car. A belt is wrapped around his chest, so I can catch him if he falls and get him into the car....what a chore, for him and me!!!

I think, getting downstairs will be my "get-a-way" place, cause he can't come downstairs, he might loose his balance and fall down the stairs....that is all I need. My Chicago Blackhawk games are a get-a-way too. Hopefully they will win lots of games....it is looking good for them this season, lots of young kids that are out to win the Stanley Cup!!!!

 Well, time to close here, hockey will be starting at 2pm and I need to get some lunch for JP. Breakfast was pancakes and jello for JP...gosh those were good pancakes....yummy. Lunch is Air Fry potatoes and chicken, (Thank you Biz, that Air Fryer has come in real handy...a life saver for cooking stuff for JP)

So, this is what's new in February, SO FAR. I suspect more is coming, hopefully the weather will cooperate also....pray for no snow on the days I have to take JP to the Doctor and Hospital visits. Have a great month, and if I have time, I might add another blog this month, if not, see you in March. Take care and keep looking up, better days are coming round the corner. Cheers ~ Louise

Christmas, Christmas, Christmas

Hi there everyone. Merry Christmas to you all. I have not been in the mood to blog much lately. Nor have I been taking many pictures. So what you see here are OLD PICTURES from 2016 and 2017. I guess sometimes OLD is GOOD. Least in 2016 and 2017 there was NO COVID, right???

I am still not ready, the small fake tree is up with it's lights, but I still have not decorated it, maybe today. Got my cards out, I should take a picture of them and put it on this blog....maybe tomorrow. My village is still downstairs.....I am not sure it will come up from the basement this year. I might change my mind....looking at this picture now.

I missed seeing the "Bethlehem Star" last night. Cloudy skies, did look to the south/west but to no avail. Last time the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter was 800 years ago. Then before that, it was back when Jesus was born. Such a historical thing and I could not see it. Guess I will have to depend on the news and "You Tube."

JP had a couple of Doctor appointments this month. One for his arm pains, X-rays were taken and the Doctor did not see any problems. Next on the agenda is a MRI, that's if the Insurance pays for that. After that, not sure what will happen. 

He had a sleep test taken. I had to pick up the instrument at the hospital, hook him up to it, leave it on for 8 hours, take it off and take it back to the hospital. We have not heard the results as yet and that was on the 10th. His next appointments are in February and March. He is really not doing that great. It is hard to watch someone deteriorate to barely being able to get around and needing a wheel chair cause it's hard for him to walk. So scary getting old.  

I was going to make this a short blog....but looks like it has gotten a little wordy. So I will close here for now. Hope you all are enjoying Christmas, it sure has changed quite a bit for many people....one good thing, maybe in the next few weeks that $600 each will show up in the account and I will be able to pay a few bills. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! Cheers ~ Louise