Catchup - May 14th-24th, 2026

 May 14th

Gosh what a day!!! I was very productive at Meadowood Quilters today, only two outer vertical sashings to sew together and on and another I Spy quilt top finished off.

But "dang it" my just cleaned car was just a huge mess when I came out 2:30ish! WHY!!! And the trees out my window are totally lunatic tossing around like crazy with a dust laden sky, winds gusting to 80-100kms. And even though we've got new windows and they are closed I'm totally plugged up, hard to breath and smells dusty INSIDE!!! The window ledges feel gritty.

May 16th

YAHOOIE!!! I've booked my Nordic SPA day and found the "fastest" option for the cheaper UBER ride rather than booking it ahead!!! I checked the forecast and it should be hot and sunny that day!!! I can't wait!!!

Maybe my supper?

May 18th

Cool, recycling too!

Well even if this head cold is annoying, I have enjoyed the calmness of tatting scissor fobs. I'm not impressed with the variegated colours for the leaves and covering the rings, in future I'll choose complimentary plain colours. Maybe tomorrow I'll try a snowflake pattern.

May 19th

Ohhhhh I had bought a scrumptious Mandarian orange chicken salad and a new to me salad dressing!!! AND oh boy talk about YUMMY!!! I'll definitely be keeping this in stock!

May 21st

Well I go from inactivity for days to walking two days in a row. Yesterday was a bad day but I had an appointment downtown so with numerous stops I walked. Today I was feeling better so invited Aiada to join me and we walked Edmonton to Osborne, Broadway, to Edmonton home, minor aches and only three stops!!! YEAH!!! But that DANG wind. For some reason my tracker did not register, lucky the Samsung Health app does record movement!

May 22nd

So very very true!!! Thanks Barb for posting this.

May 23rd

I started celebrating early with Edna at the Keg. Usually I'm not keen on it but glad I tried again as food and service was awesome!

Garlic shrimp appetizer.

My BBQ pork ribs and Edna's prime rib.

Gifted Billy Miner cake.

Enjoyed this glass, wish I could have had more!!!

A Then and Now "story" came up, not much change my dear!

May 24th

Well so much for my going for a walk 2ish! While showering the lights went off, hmmmm, heard of cold showers here before but first for a dark one!!! Once out, I thought maybe my lights burnt out but nope an email from MB Hydro says power outage at my address! DANG that's twice recently!!!

So silly me thought we'd have emergency power to keep the hallway lights and elevator working so I could still go for my walk!

NOPE, NADA, NO SIREEEE - NO POWER PERIOD!!! And I'm not walking down six floors in the dark either!

About 3ish the power came back on so out I went for a walk but my body ached badly and I needed rest stops a few times.

Hmmm not sure where this is but will have to check it out one day!

On May 23rd a Then and Now "story" came up, not much change my dear! I didn't realize they disappear after a time! So I'm posting this to keep!

Tomorrow I'll be treating myself to Thermea Spa, not sure when I'll be home! ♥️

Catchup - Jan 7th-25th

 Jan 7th

Well I had my first treatment yesterday after a week of off and on bad back/hip to ankle pain. I honestly can't say much as to any immediate results but it felt good with gradual stretch release with laser heat. But I noticed about halfway through that my ankle pain was just about gone and the needles/tingling in the ball area was greatly lessened. I did notice that my walking was easier and not in excruciating pain afterwards, just achy sore. Also I didn't take any Tylenol Arthritis during the day so that's good! It's a backup if pain is bad.

Today morning pain was back but again not as intense, will see how more treatments progress.

Laser-Spinal-Decompression

Jan 18th

Cool!!!

Jan 20th

So much for my feeling better than before, but not total relief yet. Today I woke 5ish in PAIN, say 5-7, got up took a Tylenol Arthritis and moved to the recliner and slept in. Needless to say I needed one of my sticks to walk to my spinal decompression treatment and out too. Today I did get my back brace and wore it for two hours afterwards, feel a little better but not good.

Dr Suzanne said it could fluctuate before lots better, so this was the bad day, hope not any worse in future!

Great idea to hopefully keep larger birds and squirrels out?

Jan 21st

WOW!!!

Jan 22nd

Well between appointments and relaxing this past month I decided to finish off two gifts for friends. Then decided to make another for myself in my favourite Lizbeth threads and then for quilty family members.

Left to Right in size 20 tatting threads:

Ring and leaves in Lizbeth #122, flowers a crochet cotton

Ring and leaves in Lizbeth #122, flowers in Lizbeth #180

Ring and leaves in Lizbeth #190, flowers Oren Bayan Dantel from Turkey (gifted to me)

Ring and leaves in Lizbeth #676, flowers in #136

The pattern was designed by Bev Pedder for an Australian National Conference in 2025 call for patterns. I was her exchange partner within Fringe Tatters and she gifted me a lovely scissor fob and the pattern (but not for sharing sorry).

Jan 24th

Well I must be crazy to be venturing out Friday, Saturday and Sunday in this frigid weather for a quilting retreat! At least we get to go home to our own beds to sleep comfortably.

So yesterday I worked on more I Spy potato chip blocks and hopefully after lunch to sew up the easy I Spy blocks into another top. Pat is using the fabrics I gifted her for a table runner. Sylvia made a tote, fabric from Adina's, then switched to her work in progress quilt. Today she's working on a PPd spiral blocks and maybe switching back to the quilt top.

Jan 25th

Yesterday we continued on our projects. We went to Tavern United for supper then back for more sewing. My quilt top has been donated to Anne of Piece it Together for their group to finish off as a donation to their MCC fundraiser. I've blocks for another two similar sized tops to prep into quilts for donations to other organizations.

Today Pat finished off her lovely table runner then started on her 2.5" batik strips for our future sewing day rug making session. Sylvia continued on her quilt making progress and also working on her spiral PPd blocks for a wall hanging. I finally finished off the Potato Chip blocks and with sashing completed a twin sized quilt top.

Heather gave me another scrappy idea that she knew as Grandma's Sick Quilt, or what I call the "match it quilt". So the two of us may get together and with my novelty fabrics stash we might give this idea a try!!! Plus Anne of Piece it Together was working on her version of a scrappy quilt!!! There were a couple more on display so hopefully I'll have more ideas for scrappy I Spy quilts for the future.

And Pat's finished pillow cover from a previous sewing project!

This year I've two quilt tops I plan to donate to Piece it Together for their group to sandwich and quilt them maybe for their May fundraiser with funds donated to MCC relief etc. I will have two more of each of these quilts to donate to MPQ and another group sometimes this year, but will quilt them myself. I love doing these but after 72 I Spy blocks (yellow sashed quilt) and 24 potato chip blocks (red sashed quilt) with more PC blocks to sew up in the future, I need a change! Glad I've some different designs for more I Spy quilts!

Myself, lap quilt and Anne of Piece it Together.

Maybe 50x61"

Finished Potato Chip twin sized quilt.

Maybe 62x91"

Catchup - Dec 1st-10th

 Dec 1st

Thanks for posting this image Aruna. AND I used my Baileys coffee creamer this morning alongwith Edna's cranberry biscuits. YUMMY!!!

Dec 3rd

Today Sylvia and I enjoyed Olive Garden lunch before shopping. Then home and finishing off tatting the angels by WIKI with my changes, found years ago on the Web. Next to dress them up!

Dec 4th

Well today in that blustery morning I ventured out to Meadowood Quilters sewing day, worked on more of my now pressed potato chip blocks (3 more added to my stack). Love this and my Assiniboine Circle Quilters group sewing days, I seem to get more done here than at home, too many distractions! If I'd gotten here an hour sooner, maybe another block could have been sewn up. I just wish I could snap my fingers and transport magically not hauling stuff!!!

On the way home the wind had calmed down and it seemed warmer. So over to Sylvia's for some puzzle time. One finished and another started!!!

Hey for once it's chilly in my apartment, shorts were a no no this evening!!! The wind must be from a different direction!

Dec 6th

As far as my hip/back pain, well I've good days and then some bad ones, but I keep going and am very thankful for my family/friends within my quilting community.

I did have my MRI recently, results back last week, not good news. Basically L1-2, L2-3, L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1 all affected to various degrees.

Results "Impression: severe central canal stenosis at L4-5 and moderate to severe central canal stenosis at L3-4. Recommend consultation with spine surgeon."

My sports medicine Dr said spinal injection maybe a first step with "lyrical - nerve pain blocker" and discuss surgery (not my choice). He's referred me to a spine surgeon and I've a phone consultation set up for end of January.

Hey I'm still mobile and have many good days ahead hopefully.

If anyone in my FB friends has undergone spinal fusion surgery (or have immediate family or close friends) recently, I'd love to hear their thoughts on their surgery, results and how they are now. Thank you very much.

UPDATE:

Has anyone with these symptoms been for laser spinal decompression therapy? If yes, what are your thoughts on it please? Thank you!!!

I've also joined a back pain therapy group, posted my qyestions there and read mostly good news on surgeries but still leary of that.

Dec 8th

I think I need that wine that's in the fridge. Now I know my body is falling apart but my mind is not ready for all this shit! It took me 30 minutes to walk 4 blocks and only benches at the Law Courts to rest halfway, otherwise stops over my sticks?

Just back from my 6 month cataract check only to be told surgery on my right eye will be January 26th and the left to be scheduled afterwards! And January 30th is my phone consultation with the spine surgeon.

So got home and promptly found the ad for Dr. Suzanne's Laser Spinal Decompression Clinic, I've a phone consultation for Wednesday, then will see. I'm open to this than surgery.

SHEESH!!!

Dec 10th

Well I've had my phone consultation with Dr. Suzanne of the Laser Spinal Decompression Clinic noting my L4-5 was severe and might take more treatments. I start therapy January 6th. She noted the usual was 3x/week but said many from out of town can't do that so I also chose 2x/week. I pray this helps and I can forget about the spinal injection and spinal surgery too! I need all the help I can get to hopefully get back as much of my mobility I can!