Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Recalled to life.......


If any of you are Charles Dickens fans you may realize that my blog post title is the same as Chapter 1 of "A Tale of Two Cities" - one of my favorite books. That's how I feel folks as I finally am starting to feel better since my shoulder surgery on Oct 29th. I had a mixed surgery - part of it was done using arthroscopic techniques but the surgeon also had to make a 2" incision to repair a big hole in my rotator cuff, remove a large bone spur in my shoulder that caused it, and do a lot of cleanup around my joint, tendons, etc. I wouldn't wish this on anyone! It's been a very painful recovery as it was my dominant arm - having to sleep partially sitting up and wearing an arm brace for 5 weeks and now I will be doing physical therapy for almost 6 months. At least I am now out of the brace, finally off of narcotic pain pills, and starting to feel like there is light at the end of this long tunnel. Whew! I took 2 weeks off of work after the surgery, then worked at home for 3 weeks and have been off work since Dec 15th until January.

It really puts things in perspective when you can't do your hair, you can't drive, you can't quilt, you can't stitch, you can't bake Christmas cookies, do much shopping or other seasonal activities. My husband really pitched in with the cooking and Christmas decorating and we had little shopping to do this year fortunately. I am so grateful that I eventually should get back full function in my arm and I have a lot more sensitivity to those who struggle with illness and disabilities every day.

So although I don't have any stitching or quilting to share, I do want to wish everyone a very happy holiday season! I have so enjoyed reading all your blog updates over the past 2 months - I haven't commented too much as typing was hard for me using only my left hand. I never was too much into stitching ornaments but next year I fully intend to get started on all the ornament patterns I've collected in past years - you've all inspired me. I found the cutest metal ornament tree with hinged branches and I plan to leave it out in my sewing room all year as I stitch. Not being like a traditional Christmas tree, I can decorate it for any holiday or season. (it's pictured in one of the photo collages below).

Thought I'd share a few photo collages. I collect Olde World Christmas ornaments which are made like the old traditional breakable ornaments. Some of our favorites are pictured here - husband and I have exchanged ornaments every year we've been married and I date them all on the bottom. Many of them have special meaning for us - places we've visited or things we like to do etc. My favorite ornament is one of a mill house - we used to visit the historic Graue Mill in Hinsdale Illinois when we were dating. Also I've added some photos of our yard - we have beautiful bushes with bright red berries - and at the same time the oranges are getting ripe. Our stockings are hung on the mantle and I've been watching my favorite Christmas movies - there's a snap of Judy Garland singing 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' from Meet Me in St Louis.

I am just starting to be able to stitch a little this week and can't wait to really get going in January! I am not going to join the challenge of starting 15 new projects as I already have so much in progress and waiting to start. I hope all of you readers have a festive holiday season whatever you celebrate and wish you good health, prosperity, and a lot of stitching productivity in the new year!

20 comments:

  1. Love all your mosaics, very pretty! Hope you continue to heal and can get back to normal quickly :-).

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  2. I love A Tale of Two Cities too! Hope your shoulder gets better quickly so you can get back to stitching! I love all your decorations. Gorgeous!! Have a wonderful Christmas!

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  3. Anonymous12:20 AM

    Glad to hear that you're on the mend, I hope you can get back to stitching and quilting very soon. Merry Christmas!

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  4. Merry Christmas . glad your shoulder is starting to improve. Take it easy. XX

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  5. So happy you're starting to feel better! The tree you found is perfect and I can't wait to see what you decorate it with.

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  6. Merry Christmas, so glad to see you back. Love your picture collages. Hopefully you will be stitching up a storm -

    Have a wonderful Christmas the best to you and your husband and of course the pups.

    Take care.

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  7. Jeanne - I 'm sorry to hear of your painful surgery and long recovery - I hope the therapy will go well and you regain your use quickly so you can get back to stitching again - like you said you never appreciate all the little day to day things you can no longer do when you have issues. I'm not doing the challenge either - I am doing the 2011 SAL with the Attic so that will be fun. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas - Melody

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  8. Glad your recovery is progressing, Jeanne - good luck with that needle and thread! Merry Christmas!

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  9. I hope the new year gives you all the time you need to start stitching again. Just one stitch at the time, giving your arm the time it needs to recover! I love the photo's of you Christmas ornaments!

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  10. Sorry to hear about the arm--that sounds miserable, but am glad you're starting to feel better! I hope you have a really great Christmas!

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  11. Glad your feeling better. Love your pictures.

    Have a very Merry Christmas!

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  12. I so enjoyed seeing the photos of your Old World ornaments. How fun that you and DH have exchanged them since you were together. Love your metal tree. I too have decided I would like to start stitching ornaments. I also have another major theme project though for 2011 and not sure I can manage both.

    I am so thrilled for you that you are able to slowly start stitching. Just take it easy with a stitch at a time. Let's email when it will be good for you to start out BICO SAL once again. I could not think of doing it without you with us.

    Merry Christmas dear Jeanne!

    Christmas hugs,
    Heidi

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  13. I'm glad to hear that you're on the road to recovery, Jeanne! I hope this finds you feeling better each day. I loved seeing your decorations. About 10 years ago, I went to a Longaberger consultant's Christmas party. Her house was decorated with a themed tree in each room of her 1700s Pennsylvania farm house, and each room matched the tree. She had a tree full of the ornaments that you collect, plus nutcrackers, and that theme was carried throughout the room. Truly magical! I hope you had a great Christmas and that 2011 is a happy, healthy & prosperous one for you & your DH.

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  14. Oh gosh, Jeanne so sorry to hear that you had to go through all of that, but so glad it is behind you! Hoping that your New Year is fantastic and I look forward to seeing your progresses!

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  15. Glad to hear you're starting to make a good recovery, time is the best healer. It's a shame you haven't been able to craft, but at least you've still got the enthusiasm ready for next year! Can't wait to see some of your new starts and Happy New Year to you.

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  16. Glad to hear you're on the road to recovery with your shoulder. Hope you get more movement back each day! Loved seeing your ornaments - we also have some Olde World ornaments, and I love them. Happy New Year!

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  17. Glad to hear you're feeling better.

    Your ornaments are lovely, thanks for sharing. I hope you have a good 2011

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  18. I just discovered your wonderful blog today! Hope that your recovery goes smoothly. Love your very special ornament collection. Blessings to you in the New Year.

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  19. I am so glad you are on the mend! It has been a long recovery time for you. My husband was on crutches for 6 weeks after his hip replacement but I have feeling your recovery is a lot more difficult than his was. I have a similar metal tree but have yet to stitch anything for it. I want to do tiny (over 1 maybe) animal ornaments and have it up year round. Happy New Year Jeanne!

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  20. So sorry to hear about your painful recovery. But I hope that the worst is ov er for you and that you will soon be back to your normal self without suffering any pain, and back to stitching and quilting.

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