The Chemo Bandit

Time passes so quickly!! The last year has been a challenge of a new kind to us.  I did get two quilts finished.  I have a new diagnosis of breast cancer; triple negative.....so I am on Chemo until May; this means my hair fell out and I am coping with the symptoms between the treatments.  God is good and He gave me my perfect match in my husband of now 50 years this past December 27th....married on my 20th.....enjoy the photos.....we enjoyed seeing some of our precious family too here in the SE for our 50th too......a delightful gift from the Father Above!!.........God bless your Quilting and also just stopping by.....Quilted Blessings, Karen

Maddie and Ellie's Quilts

Love My Buckeye's!!

Sweet Grandgals! at Anniversary Party

Just sat and enjoyed each other!!

Yep, Chemo does this!!

Loving Husbnad 50 years!!

MOST LOVING HUB!!!  EVER!! 

40 Years With Elenor Burns!!

She is a treasure!!  Quilted Blessings!!

Precious Moments

Getting trim on the precious dress

The Joy of Family...Our Oldest Granddaughter Alyssa was celebrating her first anniversary this year in Colorado.  Saying their vows.  Little Cora and Millie were invited to be the flower girls.

Handkerchief Linen and pintucks.

Girls were measured in Indiana
Dobbie sewed and prayed in SC
It all came together.
Alyssa designed the cape and dresses.
Much texting and pictures sent To Texas.
Next post?.......our Winter Princesses, of Course
and Winter Bride and Groom......in the fall!!

We used vintage patterns

Ready to travel.

 

 

Holding On

  " I am a Mighty God.  Nothing is too difficult for me.  I have chosen to use weak ones like you to accomplish My purposes.  Your weakness is designed to open you up to My Power.  Therefore, do not fear your limitations or measure the day's demands against your strength.  What I require of you is to stay connected to Me, living in trusting dependence on My limitless resources.  When you face unexpected demands, there is no need to panic.  Remember that I AM with you.  Talk with Me, and listen while I talk you through each challenging situation.
   I am not a careless God.  When I allow difficulties to come into your life, I equip you fully to handle them.  Relax in my Presence, trusting in My Strength."
  Luke 1:37; 2 Corinthians 12:9     From Sarah Young

    HELLO!!!!
  I am back to quilting little by little.  I have been through a long journey that is not over yet.  I have more stamina but not alot.  Not like my life was like before this hit me.  No control. But, God, He knew before and now and in the future what it would be like for me and my husband.  Gary is my greatest supporter and greatest believer in who I am.....whom I am becoming.....by faith.....by God's precious grace.

  I have experience more compassion for those who are weak, in pain, sickness or anything like that.  The body can go through very tough things; it is amazing!!   I hope you have been quilting...or sewing....or knitting....crocheting....whatever is your "happy place".   Mine is just that I can walk....I can cook again...clean again.....yes, I still rest and it takes me longer than before....but I can do it....I am alive.....I am getting well....day by day......year by year......
 
  I am sorry my blog looked so ugly with the photos taken off the side....still have to figure all that out....but I will share my grandgals Graduation Quilts soon.....time to load them and quilt them.....so so sew fun!!!

                                                       

Many Quilted Blessings!!   Karen

                                                     

Road to Recovery

In days like these, I tend to go to simpler days.  How about you.

I started knitting again.  I am practicing at this point.  Knit and purl.   Simple.

Life got much more simple when my Neurologist came to a diagnosis for me.  Not MS.  We
could not have been more relieved and Praising God was real.

The diagnosis was difficult to arrive to and many tests and labs brought us to the two words....
Amyotrophy Neuropathy , or a Simple word....Diabetic Stroke.  All this thourgh an Excellent
Doctor....
My journey with this follows the article to a "T".  From the extreme pain in hips and legs, to weakness, stamina, insomnia,
and on and on.

Yes, it is rare; less than 1% of women have this occur.  Diabetes does not cause
this condition but it does not help with healing times either.  My Blood Sugars were out of the
roof.  With less inflammation and healing of my nerves and muscles responding well, the sugars
will fall also.

It sounds simple.

It hardly is.  Our bodies are complex and still being "found out" but the base of chemicals the Lord
used in creating us are basic.....simple?....hardly.

I made a simple quilt for my sister Deb that is 5 years younger than me...she and my 4 other sisters
placed me in the Middle....not a simple spot in a large family....but simply Safe!!

To put is simple, I am sewing again, sweeping, cooking, walking outside better with walker than
by myself, unsteady....we enjoyed our family again in June...a surprise vacation.  Simply put it was
Heaven to have family here and little girls enjoyed the Simple Pool we had up.

Enjoy the Simple Pictures....they say it all.

Photos Say it All

            Family is simply.....Healing...... We are still Praising God....    Healing is Slow but

Here to stay.....                                                                                        

The Sweetest Day

 Family.  Such a great word.  It means strength in numbers for some.

We were raised in a large family of 8, Spanning years of new babies coming into this world with
welcoming arms and hearts too.  Bonding with many people as a baby in this family; as babies
look into the eyes of so many. 

Across The Pond

And Friday we had a special visit from some very special people.....my sisters.....it was so wonderful
and healing for my ailing body.  We went to our pond for a visit too; they loved it.  The pollen that SC is famous for was layering on the top of the pond.

Judy, Me, Debbie and Lori   

We made pizza for lunch with veggie munchies.  No, we never quit talking or laughing for  the 9 hours that they blessed us with their time.  They drove from Ohio, so it was a LONG drive just to
see us.  Debbie kept making me sit down.  Ha, I laughed as she is 6 years younger than me and
as we grew up I had to take care of them after school and the evening when Mom went to work.
So, this was role reversal.

Yard Flags

   

At one point we started making yard flags for the reunion.  They chose some civil war fabric of
flags, of course!  and when they return to Ohio they will add an initial to each yard flag for the
families expected to attend the 25th reunion of the Nesler's.  Our Dad started it before he
unexpectedly passed. We all still miss him and later our Mom too.

Debbie

This is Debbie; a real miracle seeing her sew.  She HATED sewing as a kid.  She told us Friday
it was because of the bobbin issues....drove her crazy.  But, now she has grandkids and has spent
the last few years teaching them to stitch.  It is the first thing that they ask to do when they come to
visit.  That is just sweet!! Sew, she is going to buy a sewing machine!! URA!!!

Judy

Judy is the oldest girl in family.  we have 3 brothers too and Patti 9 years younger than me passed
8 years ago this August to stomach cancer.  We miss her.  She loved to create and sew.  Judy taught
us all things from walking to so many household duties in a large active family  and sewing of all
kinds.  She is our 2nd Mom.  She hand quilts beautiful quilts.  She is helping with the flag edges.
So happy she came along to see us!!

Lori Ann

 Lori is always the most active one of all of us.
Being the youngest of 8, no one could ever
keep up with her.  She longarmed a smaller
quilt top she had made a few years ago.  Her son
and his wife adopted a brother and sister from
Africa in the last couple years.  They came at different times.  Georgia just came this year. Sew, she is doing meandering on this quilt for her.
She backed it with one of our Mom favorite
fabric that we had in our shop we managed 9 years
ago. A fun time in our lives together.

Quilt DONE !!

Fabs for Flags

Gifts

 My Sister Deb painted me beautiful quilt with texture on it.  I love it.  Judy brought me coloring
books and a word search too.....plus two color pencils.  I love to color.  We all did as kids too.
One of the coloring books is patriotic.  She said Gary can color too in that one!!!  Sweet!!

Just a very, very delectable day together.  We agreed, when I can travel, to meet half way and
rent a place so we can do more sewing or as Deb does paintings!......

I hope you have a blessed Easter Day.  He is Risen.  He is Risen indeed!!!

I know people celebrate the Sweetest Day in the fall; but truly we had one of our Sweetest Days
Friday.  It was medicine to my body and soul, for sure.   Thanks Sis's!!!......and we will all see Patti
in Heaven.....the one we celebrate today.....


Because He Lives!!!

Crayola

Decisions!!

Precious Hand's   Precious Colors!

A day in the life of an Avid Quilter.  Right?  I say so!
                                             
                                                          

Even a Stamp for the sweet Crayola

I heard today that they are retiring a crayon color.....Makes me sad!
What color will it be?  My mother in law's sister named the blue Cornflower
color.  She worked in NYC then. So, we hope it is not Harriets' color....she is close
100 years old now.  Amazing!

Back to Quilting.  I have added a few Quilts I found on Pinterest with an
interesting link to one that weaves a basket with lots of crayola colors!

Terry's

My favorite color box was when the 64 box came out with a sharpener..

How good it smelled on Christmas Morning!  and Please little sister's DON'T break
them in half......please!!

Oh, WOW!!  I think my favorite with this Pinterest Grouping is the last one.....the actual Crayola's ...
Excellently done!!  Our imaginations are our only limit, I think.

I am bound up in binding today.  A little over 3 weeks until my 3 sister's will be here.  I am blessed with Company recently.  My son and his family and our daughter and her 3 girls were here Sunday and Monday.  They squeezed fun out of every minute together.  I imagine our chicken's miss them
collecting the warm eggs!! and our young dog Gracie misses them too.  She got the best attention
she has had in while now!.....they all fell in love with her....I think I heard a little voice saying....I would like to take her home...... followed later by, Well, I AM the birthday girl!!.....wise at 8!!

Have a bright and colorful day!  


Who REALLY loves your Crayola memories? and who doesn't love the Taffy Quilt!!!!