Connections

After a harried, hurried morning-Channing going to preschool for PJ & A Movie Day and Kathy, Maxwell & I briefly hitting the local mall-we grabbed lunch from Noodles, Channing from the parent's pick-up lane and popped over to Maxine's for a quick visit.  She's recuperating from double knee replacement.  It's remarkable how well she's doing.  Atta girl, Maxine!!  

We dined on noodles with real silverware, something I wish I had noticed before shuffling dirty dishes from the nook to the kitchen sink, for life, when you take the time to really look, is full of exquisite diversions.  That's Maxine, an exquisite diversion.  

Kindred spirits, we are.  She's creative with a capital C.  She thrives on it the way I do.  It flows through her veins.  Every nook and cranny of her house is inspired.  Truly.  I dare you to pay her a visit and not get caught up in the wonder of it all.

It's a magic place for Channing.  In the middled of our post-lunch, adult conversation, he snuck off into the corner and began exploring the cabinet that houses EVERYTHING.  No joke.  You name it, it is likely in one of those little triangular drawers.  The favorite discovery this time?  A wind-up Godzilla.  A yellow one, no less.  

Rather than sit next to Kathy as Maxine shared photographs in a much treasured album, I held back, choosing instead to be the passive observer, to try to capture with my camera just a few of the details.  I half-listened while marveling at things like paperwhites growing on the coffee table and the tiniest bubble lights you've ever seen on an equally petite Christmas tree.  It was decked out in all sorts of vintage ornaments and screamed tiny but oh-so-grand in the very best of ways.  

We didn't stay long, little ones and this mama needing a nap, Kathy with a zillion pre-holiday projects to complete and Maxine awaiting the arrival of her sister, an afternoon of shopping on the agenda.  We left with full bellies and brimming hearts.  Happy.  

Red Umbrella-One & Done

For the record, my mother-in-law is a bad, bad influence on me.  We're talking B-A-D.  She has this habit of piling all sorts of crazy projects onto her own plate at the 11th hour and has been known to pull all-nighters before heading to the airport on vacation just to ensure she's got a carry-on filled with the likes of embroidered fingertip towels for the hostess, crayon caddies for the grandkids, embroidered t-shirts for the same grandkids, embroidered travel blankets for overseas flights.  I'm sure you get the gist.


She has rubbed off on me.  Yesterday, I found myself, Kathy & Channing in tow, anxiously awaiting the door of Quilt Cove in Eagan to open promptly at 10 am.  I'd started a chemo quilt a while back and was less than pleased with the results.  Less than 24 hours before the first round was to begin, I was on a mission to make a new one.  

Channing managed to find the bin of toys at the Quilt Cove and had half of it emptied onto the floor in the twenty minutes we were in the store.  No complaints here though.  We were happy he was so well entertained.

We were in and out of the store in no time flat.  10:29 and we were already back on Cliff Road making a bee line for home.  We had a couple of visitors as we cut and pieced and sewed.  Those visitors were put to work.  Maxine helped lay out the blocks.  Leanne helped rip out mistakes.  

Did I mention that when you do the crazy things Kath does, she more than willing to participate?  Not one eyelash was batted when I requested she be at our house by 9am sharp and declared I was making a new chemo quilt.  She gave up her entire day to help cut, piece and sew this lovely quilt all the while washing dishes, helping with laundry and entertaining Channing.  

Around 11 PM, I called it a night, leaving WM working at the dining room table.  He attended to his client's needs  all the while keeping a frantically sewing Kathy company.  She was hand sewing the binding onto the quilt as fast as her fingers would fly.  At 2 AM, I heard the ding of the alarm system.  The house was suddenly still.  It was done!  


Channing tried it out this morning.  He snuggled in it watching a movie while WM & I got dressed and packed our bags to head to MN Oncology.  Filled with extra Channing love, it was the last thing we grabbed as we headed out the door.

Round one is now done.  Aside from having a difficult IV placement, it went well.  Emily & Liz, my nurses, were wonderful.  Informative, reassuring, attentive.  All the things you want in your chemo nurse.  When Emily reviewed my labs with us, she noted that the indicator for my immune system shows it is highly functioning.  That's a definite plus.  She also told me the red chemo drug would turn my pee color.  It did.  I laughed out loud as I flushed the toilet in the chemo suite.  

Now, we wait for the dust to settle, to see how my body reacts and hope, of course, for the absolute best.  For those of you who have been blessing us with your prayers, keep them coming!  

It's Electric

We came together as seven women should, taking great delight in the unknown and the unexpected.  The anticipation was electric right up to the moment the key turned in the lock at the Shangri La, our home away from home.  We had arrived.  Nieces Trip 2011.  Nassau, Bahamas.  

Aunt Kris did her utmost to ensure we would want for nothing during this week.  She lavished us with unending generosity, no detail left unattended.  We ate.  We drank.  We took in the sights.  There were a few terrifying moments involving the jitney (bus), the (not so) lazy river and a shark or two.  There were many more moments where that relaxed feeling overcame us and we slipped into that place of total contentment.  

Enjoying a pool-side drink at the Atlantis.  Needed to settle our nerves after our not-so-lazy river ride.

Collecting shells and walking along Jaws Beach, the site where the movies were filmed.

The view from the top of the Queen's Staircase.  Part of our island tour courtesy of Chef Marci.

There were several of us who never showered in the house.  Nope. Not once.

For one bliss filled week, we lived in the sunshine, swam in the sea and drank in the wild air.  We've now returned.  Renewed.  Refreshed.  Reverently grateful for the time we shared.  

Sew Lovely

It happened almost all at once.  One timid knock at our door announced the arrival of Melissa and Baby Theo.  Really, I don't think she could have balanced one more thing in her hands-a sewing machine and all its related necessities, Theo in his car seat, his diaper bag.  Is that it?  I don't know.  I didn't even say hello, just scolded her for not asking for a hand.  Funny because I know darn well had roles been reversed, I would have lugged all of that to the door on my own too.

Kathy, Kelli & Megan arrived in the middle.  I no longer recall in what order.  They brought their machines as well.  A sewing basket.  A purse that looked like a basket.  Five steaming cups of tasty goodness from Caribou Coffee.  Pumpkin latte anyone?


Ellen, not having been to 'the red house on the left,' was the last to arrive.  Mapquest, Google Maps and the like do not yet know our location.  That's OK though.  I talked her in through the last few blocks via cellphone and at last our group was assembled.  Sewing Club.  (Since a GPS cannot find our location on a map, does that make our club super secret?)

Month one.  Aprons.  In roughly three hours, five determined women with all levels of sewing ability whipped up as many aprons.  The tutorial we followed can be found here.  Theo napped & awoke as happy as ever while Channing & Megan entertained themselves with only a few reminders of 'please share' and 'no pushing' or 'there are enough for you to each have one.'

Can't wait to see what our next meeting brings.  We'll be taking turns choosing the project and bringing the treat.  You know we can't get together without involving food.  I made not one but two apple crisps for our first meeting.  WM, WC & I ate a mini one last night just to make sure the crisp was Sewing Club worthy.  It was.


Darling, aren't they?  

Or should I say 'sew cute!'?