Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Tuesday's Orts--8/23/10

How is it that suddenly the end of August is nearly here?  Time for another edition of Tuesday's Orts, things that float around my head all week and land here.
  • As a Medical Transcriptionist typing for the hospital's physiology department, a lot of the patients are elderly.  But last week was the oldest yet--I typed an echocardiogram on a patient who was 104!  Astounding to imagine that she was my age in 1953, 57 years ago!  As a quilter, I am picturing the kinds of fabrics she would see by the bolt in the stores, to make her dresses and household goods.
  • Today the patient worklist included, one above the other, an O'Hara and a Butler.  I often quote dear Scarlett, "I can't think about that today, I'll go crazy if I do.  I'll think about that tomorrow!"  I have read Gone With the Wind about 10 times.  Love that book.
  • The ladies at work are trying to turn me into a Chica.  In high school there was a club called MECHA that the Mexican-Americans joined.  I started to joke that they would induct me into that club but couldn't think of the name MECHA.  All I could come up with was La Leche League, but knew that wasn't right!  We all got a laugh.  I shared my favorite story about the only La Leche League meeting I went to, when Nick was about 5 months old and I was having trouble getting him to nurse.  Another new mom was expressing her difficulties with having all of her attention on her new baby and how guilty it made her feel that her husband now came second.  One of the group leaders, a mom of three, laughed and said, "Wait till he's 5th!".  When I came home from the meeting and told that story to Grant, somehow he did not find it as funny as I did!
  • I have a new cousin I just learned about but have not yet seen.  He was born at 24 weeks gestation and underwent heart surgery at 4 days old, stayed in the hospital for four months and just got to come home a week ago, slightly after his due date of August 8th, now weighing almost 7 lbs.  Modern medicine can work miracles, even on babies born at 1 lb 9 oz.  Welcome, Baby C!  May you grow fast and stay healthy.
  • I sewed on the new desk last night for the first time!  What a pleasure that was, to be able to rest both my arms on the surface and not have them hunched at the shoulder, and even have lots of room to spread out my project on the same surface.  I also had a friend to sew with.  Tanya brought her machine and this time there was an extra desk for her to use.  What a fun time we had!  Tanya worked on a 9 patch while I finished the last of the bowtie blocks for my brother's quilt--50 bowties for his 50th birthday.
Next, finish all the double four patch blocks and then it will be time to play Layout and Switcheroo, one of my favorite games. 

Happy Tuesday all!

9 comments:

Unknown said...

What great stories have been rolling around in your head. I like the La Leche one! I also like the one about Gone with the Wind. My mother thought that I should name The Baby Ashley, I told her I would never be able to say it without a southern accent.

The bow-ties are really looking good. Can't wait to see it together.

Quilter Kathy said...

Glad your new desk is working out well and you are cranking out lots of blocks!

Joyful Quilter said...

I am in the process of reading Gone With the Wind for the very first time. I can't believe I've never read it before...great book.

quiltingnana said...

glad you are enjoying your new table...isn't it fun to quilt with a friend?

Candace said...

Great Orts, Annie! I love the idea of what the 104 year old would have seen in a fabric store back then! Ohhhh - and I have new sewing desk envy! You must love it!
Cheers!

Cindy said...

I love your bowtie blocks! I have a bowtie quilt made by my grandmother. I've replicated a grandmother's fan quilt she made and was thinking how fun it would be to make an updated bowtie one in today's fabrics. I like the new way of building the block. I think I can do that!

Vivian said...

I look forward to your day of orts and enjoy your free flow of thoughts.

There's no better way to enjoy your new table than being able to quilt with a friend.

I also read more into patient lists that the typical worker would -- love your O'Hara and Butler connection!

Finn said...

Hey Annie, having to respond to your Tuesday orts on Wednesday, I am force to say I was a young woman sewing with "those" fabrics in 1957...LOL Of course, I was 17, not quite the age of the lady afore mentioned. The fabrics were quite nice, as I remember. Good quality cotton, only 36" of course, but nice thread count and just beginning to have some of the new surface finishes added. I mostly made full skirts, and sometimes with a matching summer sleeveless blouse. It was also cheap compared to today, way less than a dollar a yard at JC Penneys!! 3 yards for a skirt, and another for a blouse. Sure was nice to be able to sew! Hugs, Finn
P.S. Love the new sewing desk!!!! Major cool!!

Stephanie D said...

What fun to sew on your new desk for the first time! And to have room to sew with a friend! Good times.

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