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mcair · 03-27-2014, 07:17 AM

We will be making a few fleece quilts to send to House of Hope. I think I have. Showed you pictures before, but I will get one put up when I get to my computer.

mcair · 03-27-2014, 08:17 AM

This is a sample of one of our Scripture blankets. These are made mostly for people going through chemo but we do make a lot of them for other reasons.

When we can, we like to customize them as much as possible with things like favorite colors/scriptures.

I looked on the Faithworks website and the house is used a lot for people going through chemo so I think they might like to have a few of these there for them to use. These have been very much appreciated because chemo treatment makes you cold. We have been making these now for 3 to 4 years and are getting close to 100!

Most of the blocks here are embroidered but each quilt has a few that have something done by hand. The hand ones are usually either blanket stitch applique for 3d fleece flowers, both of which are very easy to do.
We could also incorporate some small crochet, like a small heart.

Lily&Me · 03-27-2014, 08:48 AM

Alice, what a lovely and personalized idea! Thank you so much!

Gives me an idea, too, for homeless blankies that I accumulate from time to time. Also chemo hats.

Karen's House of Hope is primarily for chemo patients, begun with unused funds that had been raised for a cancer patient who died. Many cancer patients in rural SE Georgia were foregoing chemo because they couldn't afford the travel back and forth.

They do, however, take in stranded travelers such as myself and my family, as well. Love these people, who are Christians from their very core, practicing with every breath what they believe in.

The house is fully furnished, complete with bedding, towels, toiletries, etc.

I am going to read Theresa Caputo's book before the 17th, too.

Maggie

mcair · 03-27-2014, 09:27 AM

When you have the squares done and ready to go, these are very quick to sew together. The last step is to snip the edges to make the fringe around each square. I can bring supplies and sewing machine to Moraine View and we can have a blanket making party one afternoon. There are a lot of crafty gals coming who will want to play !

Having a community service event at a rally would be a great way to honor Doug. He'll probably get some good entertainment watching it.

Lily&Me · 03-27-2014, 09:29 AM

I love that idea!!

Please post it on the Moraine View thread.

Doug would be pleased, and honored.

Maggie

mcair · 03-27-2014, 10:22 AM

I will put it on the Quilting and Airstream thread also. We have been talking quilts over there too. A few of those ladies will also be at Moraine View.

Lily&Me · 03-27-2014, 10:23 AM

Awwww, how nice.

Thank you.

Maggie

SilverGate · 03-27-2014, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doug&maggie

... Have a loaf of wheat/oatmeal bread for the DO setting, to bake when I get back. It's time.

I saw a picture a month or so ago of artisan bread baked in one of those double dutch oven/griddle combos, the dough placed on the griddle part with the inverted DO as the lid. ?? Tried to copy the picture to post, but it just wouldn't. Loved it, had to have it. Doug just shook his head and smiled,

I have a lot of cast iron.

I had ordered it online and it had arrived at my son's when I got home. Thinking I will like putting the bread onto the hot, shallow griddle better than into the deep DO. Have burned my arm more than once, although the parchment paper as lifter/placer helps a great deal. We'll see...

Just checkin' in. Doin' okay, all things considered.

Maggie

Here is a photo and recipe for artisan sourdough bread baked in a Lodge Combo Dutch Oven Cooker:

Rustic Sourdough Bread Recipe - Real Food - MOTHER EARTH NEWS

Thanks, Maggie, for sharing so much of your life here, and glad you're doing okay, all things considered!

Bill

Lily&Me · 03-27-2014, 02:33 PM

That's where I saw it, Mother Earth news! Thank you.

I saw another of these, by Lodge, that had just the two small handles on each side, rather than one small and one skillet-ish. Would have preferred that one, but have this, and it will be fine.

I finally figured out that Lily has been asking me in the evenings to sit on the couch again. I have stayed in my big chair with the ottoman, if watching TV or the Downton Abbey seasons 1-4 that Doug and I had just begun. She keeps coming over to me, sitting at my knee and giving me "the look". Would pet her a bit and tell her to lay down, she would and then would be back. On and on.

Doug and I sat on the couch together in the evenings, Lily between us, curled up on my leg, getting scratched. I haven't sat on the couch since I've been home on March 14, and I think Lily is missing it. Will start doing it tonight.

Maggie

Air Cruiser · 03-27-2014, 10:05 PM

Oh my Maggie, I just came across this thread, so pleased you started it.

About the Medium............I'm certain there is some life after earthly death:

My sister, who was four years my senior, developed Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma cancer at age 28yrs, and due to being over radiated by a machine gone amuck, lived another 30yrs, although quality of life was not great and got worse the last 15yrs. I used to check on her, help her out, took her to dr's. appts., etc. and the last perhaps ten to fifteen years we talked every day.

One day, a couple of years prior to her passing, we were talking about life after death, etc., and I said that whichever one of us passed first needed to do something to let the other know that she was okay where ever she was and that it is okay there.

Well, place into that thought we (my DH and I) have a special needs son whom we adopted in 1988 which I had most of the care of -- untold amount of stress and after much difficulty and discussions, my DH and I decided when he was 19yrs. he needed to move to into a supportive living home with roommates where he could learn to live without depending upon us as one day we wouldn't be here any longer. Well, my sister was beside herself and so angry with me, felt we were turning him away, etc. About a month prior to her passing she said to me that she wanted me to know that she was okay with Adam moving out of our home and she knew it was the best for him in the long run.

She passed about a week before Adam was scheduled to move out of our home (she knew the date he was due to move). At 6am the first morning after Adam moved out (and one week after she passed), I was lying in bed having all sorts of painful thoughts running through my head about Adam, about Roxie, when all of a sudden I heard Roxie's voice call out my name in the strongest voice which she used to have prior to her losing a vocal cord from the radiation on her chest/neck area. I know she was fullfilling our agreement that who ever passed first would let the other one know if she was okay and it was okay "beyond".

I do believe, and I am so hopeful for you that you will be told some wonderful things regarding Doug (and you).

Take care.

Deb

mefly2 · 03-27-2014, 11:14 PM

In God we trust ... as can you.

Lily&Me · 03-28-2014, 04:48 AM

Thank you for the kind words.

Lily snuggled up next to me on the couch last night, and seemed very content. Such a creature of habit and routine.

She wants to sleep in the bed with me at night, though, now that she sees all this extra room.

We have an antique double bed, really not enough comfortable room for me and a 53lb dog.

Have told my children that I am going to hear Theresa Caputo speak. They both said "Really!", but don't seem to think their mama is going off the deep end. Downloaded her book onto my Nook yesterday, also read "Proof of Heaven" by neurosurgeon Eben Alexander, describing his afterlife experience.

It's all very interesting, credible and comforting.

Doug's sweet daughter said how difficult it is to speak of her dad in the past tense. Yes, and I also speak in the plural rather than singular. It's okay, methinks. I feel plural rather than singular.

Going to give our little house a good scrub today, make myself do the dusting and little things Doug always did.

The exterminators seem to have ridded me of the ants, thank goodness. Signed up for a quarterly service with this local company. It's time.

XO Maggie

daymonjones · 03-28-2014, 06:35 AM

I am so so sorry for your loss.

Lily&Me · 03-28-2014, 06:52 AM

Thank you.

Making myself focus on the positives, and what is good in my life (the best way to live a happy life, IMO), there are many things to be grateful for.

The many friends we have made through these Forums is one of those things.

Maggie

Lily&Me · 03-29-2014, 05:29 AM

Little house is scrubbed, rugs washed and floors steamed. Feels so much better seeing order where there was dust and chaos. I like neat and tidy.

Sheets going outside on the line this morning. Doug would approve. One of our favorite things was line-dried sheets.

Dealing with taxes, financial stuff, survivor's benefits, etc. Going to spend the weekend filling out forms and getting things in order for appointments next week. Good thing for me that I was always the one who handled bill-paying, budgeting, monitored the bank account, etc., so am not trying to find my way thru unfamiliar things. I was the OCD-leaning one, but someone's got to be, right?

Did a little shopping yesterday, as multiple grandchild birthdays are coming up. ToysRUs has big sales and I had a $10 coupon.

Resuming Sunday-dinners-at-Grandma's tomorrow, and going to get the grands to come early and help me bring wood in for the week. A good thing, I feel, for them to help grandma, even though I could do it all myself. They are very willing. Such sweet babies.

Started reading Theresa Caputo's book "There's More to Life Than This" yesterday. Fascinating, but hard to grasp. Will be something I will have to read more than once.

Checkin' in, and doing okay. For those who are asking...... yes, I will be reading threads and posting again at some point, I'm sure. Just don't know when.

XO Maggie

xrvr · 03-29-2014, 05:38 AM

Easy to get more out of a book the second reading. Different perspective, different times, and more understanding. Jim

Lily&Me · 03-29-2014, 05:42 AM

Yes, I think so.

It seems fantastic, but very comforting.

Maggie

Mockinbrd · 03-29-2014, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doug&maggie

Little house is scrubbed, rugs washed and floors steamed. Feels so much better seeing order where there was dust and chaos. I like neat and tidy.

Sheets going outside on the line this morning. Doug would approve. One of our favorite things was line-dried sheets.

Dealing with taxes, financial stuff, survivor's benefits, etc. Going to spend the weekend filling out forms and getting things in order for appointments next week. Good thing for me that I was always the one who handled bill-paying, budgeting, monitored the bank account, etc., so am not trying to find my way thru unfamiliar things. I was the OCD-leaning one, but someone's got to be, right?

Did a little shopping yesterday, as multiple grandchild birthdays are coming up. ToysRUs has big sales and I had a $10 coupon.

Resuming Sunday-dinners-at-Grandma's tomorrow, and going to get the grands to come early and help me bring wood in for the week. A good thing, I feel, for them to help grandma, even though I could do it all myself. They are very willing. Such sweet babies.

Started reading Theresa Caputo's book "There's More to Life Than This" yesterday. Fascinating, but hard to grasp. Will be something I will have to read more than once.

Checkin' in, and doing okay. For those who are asking...... yes, I will be reading threads and posting again at some point, I'm sure. Just don't know when.

XO Maggie

Maggie,
Think of you often and admire your forward-positive actions.
Something I do/did when silence seems too much and TV seems too little; is listen to audiobooks while I do chores or hobbies.
Perhaps you'd like this too.
My iPad is of great value to me for this and other reasons.

Let me know how your new DO works out. Sounds great.

A-G-A-I-N, this weekend I'm trying my goofy bread recipe. Maybe the third time will be a charm...charming...the charm?
This recipe, is the one with flax seeds, banana, dates, whole wheat flour.
I end up with bread that is very much the consistency of Play-Dough. I cook it and cook it and it's still this..this...BLOB.
Well, I'll let you know ... Maybe this time ....
Mockinbrd

Lily&Me · 03-29-2014, 11:00 AM

Audiobooks are a good idea. Thanks.

I think the new DO combo cooker will be great. The loaf I made up the other day came out perfectly. Am still using the parchment paper, as it is just so much neater, but like not having something so deep and also scorching hot to get the dough into.

Methinks there is something seriously wrong with the recipe you are using.

You are missing leavening or something. If you created it yourself, perhaps find a banana bread recipe already tried and true, add a bit of flax seeds and use just half whole wheat flour, the rest unbleached white. If you want to pm it to me, I can tell you what I think.

If you are using a published recipe from someone else, it may have a typo in it.

Maggie

Lily&Me · 03-30-2014, 04:57 AM

Well, our little house is scrubbed and shiny clean, I had line dried sheets on the bed last night, tax documents are ready for drop off.......and I finished Theresa Caputo's book,"There's More to Life Than This".

Just sat in my big chair yesterday afternoon til I was done. A great lot to digest. I need to read it again.

And so, I get up this morning to a sweet, condolence pm from someone here, including mention of a song for me to look up, that she says just has to get to me. Alice by Cheryl Wheeler.

Never heard of the singer or the song, but find it on YouTube and it was written in and about a traveler in Grand Marais, MN, one of our favorite places, and where we have been many times. Beautiful.

Coincidence? I think not.

Getting the Sunday papers today, something Doug always did, for the first time since this happened.

Kids and grands will be over for dinner tonight, and Grandma will cook, like I always do on Sundays when we are home.

Thanks to you all,

XO Maggie