Barbara – Page 4 – Organizing Threads

August 3, 2012August 5, 2012

Ruby

Today I won’t write on a creative project, but on a woman saves my life/for whom I am so grateful.

I first met Ruby when I was 18 years old and applying for a volunteer position with Mennonite Central Committtee. She worked there until retirement a number of years ago. She is a long time member at FMC and was on the committee who hired me for my current job, more than 10 years ago.

Ruby has remained a friend and a support to me. We often have long talks — today was one of those days. She has helped me move over a few bumps in the road. I am so grateful.

But I am not the only person who benefits from Ruby’s care. A number of years ago she started a Prayer Shawl ministry at the church, and has knitted dozens of prayer shawls. She visits many of the church’s elderly who are living in retirement/nursing homes around Waterloo Region. She has served as an Elder in the church, and is often a support to the pastoral staff, too.

Today I thank God for Ruby!

August 2, 2012August 2, 2012

Inspired

I have really been inspired by reading blogs on the internet. Sometimes one can feel so alone. And then you find out that you are not alone, there are many people in the world that see and feel things much the way you do.

I have also been inspired by the premise behind Happy Rambles and Sarah Bessey’s post on “What is saving your life right now?” to update this blog more often, and use the theme “What I am grateful for/what is saving my life.” I may throw in some of “What is killing me” to when warranted.

For today it is not my project that I’m putting in here, but my dear daughters. Trina has been experimenting with Tulle, turning it into tutus. Look for more information on her blog soon. And so I add a picture of my sweet wee girl:

Mina in a tutu — Little bird with bright feathers

July 31, 2012August 2, 2012

Cataract?!

I’m been struggling with my vision for a little while. A couple of years ago I got bifocals, but I couldn’t get used to them, couldn’t stand the “in between” place, which seemed always to be just where I was looking. Last summer I got reading glasses, and that was good. They are annoying, but I can see. About a month ago I realized that without my glasses I was seeing double, at least with my right eye. I made an appointment with the optometrist.

So yesterday was the day. I awoke with the beginnings of a migraine. Did all the little things I do to try to avoid a full-blown migraine, and was doing not too badly until that appointment. When you already have a pain, a pressure pushing on your eyeball, when the sunlight is already too bright, to have drops put into your eyes to open your irises, to have someone trying to hold your eyelid open — too much. No more avoiding the pain. Time to take the medication which will hold off most of it.

As my Mama has macular degeneration I am concerned about that. Thankfully, at this time there is no sign of that. But I did find out that the reason I’m seeing double can’t be fixed by any glasses — I have a cataract on my right eye. My dear Mama had one of those too, when she was 85!

Cataracts are caused by a clouding of the lens. The type I have starts around the outside edge and works its way in by ‘spokes.’ One of those spokes is going right across the centre of my eye, scattering the light that hits the lens so that I see double. The only cure is surgery — remove my defective lens and replace it with an artificial lens with the prescription to correct my eyesight in that eye (and my right eye has always been the weaker one). Bonus! And another bonus — I will now have one eye appointment a year covered by OHIP (as was this one, now that they found the cataract).

It may take months until it is done, but I am so looking forward to seeing better again!

July 29, 2012August 2, 2012

2-seater glider

My little dog is such a cuddle-bug, she really likes to be close. One of the difficulties on being in my balcony garden is that Billie couldn’t sit beside me, and I couldn’t do anything if she was in my lap — it was always easier just to move back inside.

Last night I bought a 2-seater glider. In a box. Assembly needed.

I spent almost 2 hours on it last evening. Had to do almost everything twice, because I didn’t do it right the first time. Then at 9:00 pm I quit, it was getting too dark. At least the base was together.

I tried again this morning, but I just wasn’t able to get the seat attached. I wasn’t strong enough to pull the fabric tight and get the bolts in place at the same time. Thankfully, my Beloved Man was coming over. Together we finished the task. I am so happy with the results. So is Billie.

July 28, 2012August 2, 2012

Queen Anne’s Lace

My talented brother took this picture in our back yard last night:

Two white-tail deer bucks — Two bucks amid Queen Anne’s Lace

I know they are weeds, but I have always loved Queen Anne’s Lace. I like the picture of the Queen out in the field, carefully laying out her lace to dry and bleach white in the sun.

Several years ago, after looking closely at the flower,

Queen-Anne's-Lace detail — Queen-Anne’s-Lace detail

I decided to create a doily based on the flower. Someday I may try to write down the instructions for it.

Barbara's "Queen Anne's Lace Doily" — Barbara’s “Queen Anne’s Lace Doily”