Thankful Thursday | caring kindly
This week, I am thankful:
for the way my hospital cares for people
One of the most touching things I see at my hospital involves incarcerated patients. More often than not, we have one or two on my unit, guards at the bedside, patients often handcuffed to the bed.
The thing that is beautiful to me is: for us, the inmate status is irrelevant. These are just human patients. We treat them the same way we do other patients; the surgeons meet with them, perform surgery, and we care for them post-surgery just like usual.
I think it is beautiful that, although these patients have possibly broken the law in some way (I say "possibly" because we never know their stories), we treat them with dignity and respect. People do not have to be perfect to receive calm and professional care.
And even when there are behavioral problems (which can happen with any patient, not just with inmates, trust me!), we try to handle the situation in the most non-violent, non-harmful ways possible.
I feel proud to be part of this team of people, truly I do. 🙂
for the ability to listen to my textbooks
Is the reading voice a boring, monotone computer? Yup.
But I can throw it on 2x speed, put in my earbuds, and get some "reading" done while I fold laundry, wash dishes, and clean up my kitchen.
for the brightness of the snow
I say this every time it snows, I know. But I love how it makes my house so bright! I would like to have this lovely reflective surface on my yard the whole winter long. 😉
What a nice little bonus in these dark days of winter!
for the lengthening days
Speaking of darkness: as of today, sunset is at 5:40.
And on the last day of February, sunset will land almost exactly at 6:00 pm. Woohoo!
that I'm at the six month mark in nursing
My group started mid-August, so now we have been doing nursing for six months.
I have always heard that the first year is really rough for new grad nurses, but honestly, all things considered, I feel decent.
Do I frequently have dreams about forgetting to give a med or about charting improperly? Yup. But overall, the stress levels feel manageable.
I figure that if I can handle the first year ok, I'm probably gonna be fine. And here I am, halfway through that first year.
that my iron pills are treating me all right
Regular iron supplements always made my stomach hurt, but the slow release ones my doctor recommended are working well.
It's a lot easier to stick with taking a supplement when it's not painful to do so!
It's nice to hear about such compassionate care for everyone.
I'm thankful the cortisone injection I received in my knee on Tuesday seems to be helping.
That my husband very cheerfully picked up the slack while I wasn't very mobile -- walking our dogs by himself daily and driving me around, cooking dinner and doing laundry, etc.
For YouTube videos that help me figure out how to do things -- whether that is a new knitting stitch or a cooking technique. So handy!
For the inspiration offered by all the athletes at the Olympics.
I love reading what you write, it makes me reflect. Always learn something new and come away with a list of recommendations as well 🙂
Your #1-- I can't help but wonder if people had cared for these incarcerate folks from the very beginning, how many of them wouldn't be in the position they are in now. Don't get me wrong: I know some people have all the right beginnings and then make one bad choice after another, but showing caring is so important. When I was teaching, I loved working with my "at-risk" students best. It felt like a most needed job.
This week I am thankful:
*for electricity. On Tuesday morning when I was trying to type up my comment here, our electricity went out. It was out for almost 6 hours. Later, when the power was back on and I had time, I sat down to type my comments again. The power went out again, so I gave up.
*that my son’s solo flight went well. I’m so proud of him for finding a way to make one of his dreams happen. (He’s still working on scholarship applications for college to make another dream happen.)
*for my daughter’s can-do attitude. Her brother wanted her to knit a piano shawl as a gift for his accompanist. She’s putting together a few different patterns to design such a thing because there aren’t many piano shawl patterns out there, and what she found didn’t seem elegant enough for her. It’s coming together nicely.
*for yesterday afternoon. I moved our read aloud time to the dining room table so the kids could create Valentine’s Day cards and boxes. It was a delight to read from _Little Women_ while they were creating.
*that the weather is warming up. I was motivated to go outside and walk on Tuesday. The forecast is more warmth, and that feels so wonderful to me. Except— I really want next Saturday to be colder because it is butchering day—and we need a bit of chill for that.
*for the knowledge that difficult things tend to clump together—yet they pass, and we get a breather.
*that my eldest college boy is starting to feel better from a sickness.
I think you're exactly right that a reason many end up doing badly is a lack of care, along with circumstances such as low income, poor mental health and general low support, as well as various individual reasons. It doesn't mean there is no choice but it adds understanding.
I often wonder this about many of my patients; feeling sad for them and wondering if they have had a terrible lack of support and resources and hope in their lives.
Obviously, we do all have some agency in our lives, but some of us have had it much easier than others, and remembering that helps to promote an attitude of compassion vs. judgment. I hope I can keep remembering this so that I don't develop a case of compassion fatigue!
I remember watching the young resident (in his 20s) consulting with my last incarcerated patient, and it really made me think of the contrast between his life and the life of the patient. What a different start in life they must have had.
Idea: maybe your daughter could make a printout of her piano shawl pattern and sell it on etsy or eBay. College money, perhaps?
I just love what you say in your first paragraph of your comment.
Hoo boy this is going to be hard.
I'm thankful that DS#3 went all night last night without an "incident" (anybody with ulcerative colitis knows what that means). I'm thankful that they finally, FINALLY decided to start staggering his steroids rather than do one big dose, because that approach wasn't working.
I'm thankful that it looks like he'll be coming home today. Scared and worried about him being off the IV, which was keeping him hydrated and delivering the stronger steroid...but we think we figured out that if his pain is managed well enough he can avoid incidents.
I'm thankful for grown sons with driver's licenses that can go pick up food for me at the store. Thankful for my faith which I'm leaning on HARD right now. For friends who listen to me rant in our text chat group.
Hands across the miles again to you and yours in this latest tough time, Karen A. And I hope that the Commodore is continuing to do his feline duty.
I just said a prayer for your son, you, and your family that you will navigate this latest medical challenge as quickly and incident-free as possible. This, too, shall pass.
I am sorry about what you're going through. Lean on friends by all means, and remember to take care of yourself, too.
Sending healing thoughts and prayers to your son, Karen.
Oh friend, sending you and yours a big hug. Hoping for improved days ahead for you!
I’m sending every good wish your way for a healing result for your son. Glad to hear about your faith, too.
Sending my best to you and your son. I know this is not easy. I hope that they can find a medication that works for him and can control the situation. I know that can take time. Hang in there.
I'm sorry about your son!
Oh, Karen. Hang in there. God is with you in this, too.
wishing your son a full and speedy recovery.
I'm thankful for nurses like you!
This week I'm so thankful for my trip to Florence! On the afternoon when I arrived I went up the Duomo which was incredible. I am doubly thankful for this because it was closed for refurbishment for the rest of my stay. A lot of places were closed on Monday so I took the train to Pisa and climbed the Leaning Tower! That was also amazing (although I'm done with towers for a while), as was a basilica and synagogue I visited in the afternoon. On Tuesday I went to the Academia museum where I saw Michelangelo's David and the Uffizi art gallery where I saw the Birth of Venus, along with several other beautiful pieces of art. I am thankful to my past self for taking the time to prebook tickets and print them off, so I didn't have to stress about loading them on my phone! I hiked up to another church which ended up being futile as the floors were currently covered, and I had gone to see a special zodiac floor design, but it was worth it for the view! I had some time before my flight back yesterday so I went to a monastery and admired the frescoes. Past Me stocked up on food so I was able to relax today (and as I live near a supermarket, I was able to pick up a couple of things I forgot when I was coming back last night).
Otherwise, I visited the Cathedral, discovered wine windows (and enjoyed a glass of wine overlooking the Arno river), rode a merry-go-round, ate gelato and had a lovely conversation with some fellow guests at the hotel, where we enjoyed our drinks with a beautiful view of the Duomo.
I am thankful to all the various people who helped me with directions and for the fact that I was able to go to Florence and appreciate such a special city!
This sounds like a lovely vacation. Travel abroad isn't on my bucket list, but if I were to travel, I'd want somebody to lead me around by the hand. I am not sure I would be able to be so independent!
I adore travelling alone; I get to decide where to go and what I feel like doing and when to go to bed! I do enjoy travelling with my friends as well but I really love solo trips, despite my negative sense of direction.
Sophie in Denmark,
I had never heard of the wine windows until I watched Somebody Feed Phil! So awesome that you saw them, and maybe got a glass of wine? 🙂
And I haven't heard of Somebody Feed Phil! Yes, I got a few glasses of wine 🙂
Phil Rosenthal is a TV writer/producer who also happens to have an infectious zest for life, good food, and travel/human connections. Occasionally he elicited an eyeroll from me, but I watched the first couple seasons of Somebody Feed Phil and am glad I did. It's available on Netflix in the U.S.
Sophie, so glad you had such a lovely trip!
Thanks! 🙂 I looked it up and saw he created Everybody Loves Raymond. I have issues with that show lol.
I'm thankful for NDN1's (and CF's) PCP, who--when he asked her at last Friday's 6-month appointment if she was thinking about a possible move to assisted living, and she gave her usual hedge of "Oh, I might do that in a few years"--looked her straight in the eye and said, "The time is now." So now AL is "doctor's orders" instead of just CF and me trying to persuade her.
I'm also thankful in many ways for CF: for her pull with the PCP in persuading him to be the first to suggest AL, and for her help in everything else pertaining to NDN1. Most importantly, she's pulled the necessary strings for us to take NDN1 tomorrow for lunch and a tour of the AL facility that she and I visited back in January. May the Force be with us all.
Finally, I'm thankful that when I went over to the Bestest Neighbors for dinner last night (taking a half loaf of bread machine bread and a salad), nothing really bad happened when the ribs that Dr. BN was grilling caught fire on the grill. Dr. BN was able to put the fire out quickly, and we all crunched down on the ribs and reminded ourselves that charcoal is said to be good for the stomach. 🙂
@A Marie As one who was raised on and loves Mr. Rogers, may I say that You are the VERY BEST Neighbor! I think we all wish you were in our neighborhood!
for sure i wish you were in my neighborhood. was wondering how things went. hope they go well on the al visit. 2 of my good friends from stuy town have moved to different states for independent living and they are both very happy. a third will be moving shortly.
Ditto on the slow release iron supplements; they are much gentler on my stomach than regular multivitamins with iron.
I just want to say that your compassion keeps me coming back to your blog. But, please be mindful of inmates. I live in a rural area with a prison nearby. An inmate brought into the ER pulled the gun off the female guard. The other guard had to shoot him. They did try to save him but he died. Never let your guard down, please, for your safety. Yeah, everyone is treated with dignity but trust your instincts.
Oh yes, they always have two officers at the bedside, and the handcuffs are generally in place too, so we are safety minded while also being compassionate.
Today I am thankful for:
*the abundant sunshine and plenty of yard bags (ha!) as I am raking up leaves and debris. Seems like spring has already sprung here. (:
*thankful for my little tooty coffeepot which does a good job of making coffee so I can ignore the urge to buy a new one - a co-worker had me almost buying a Nespresso!
*crafting time yesterday spent making gift bags for two very special co-workers for Valentine's Day. Today I will fill them with goodies from IKEA.
Side note: In my hospital system, the care of incarcerated patients is also no different than for anyone else. It is an expectation, and I have never witnessed anyone behaving otherwise. We frequently see teens in cuffs, which is hard to witness when you yourself are a parent. But we can compartmentalize this and do what we are trained to do - the same applies in trauma. For people new to the medical field that seems amazing - but again, expected. I would want it for my family members, too.
What is a little tooty coffeepot? It sounds like the most delightful thing in the universe!
Every human has dignity, and every human deserves to be treated with dignity. Thank you for what you and your fellow medical professionals do.
I am grateful...
that my mother's hand surgery went well and she was discharged from the hospital.
for the great medical care in my country.
for a challenging day at work that was less stressful than expected.
for longer days.
for good friends who send me nice messages.
for a few days off.
for good food at home. I am a big foodie and enjoy spending money on food.
for coffee, always!
I am thankful that my friend came through surgery beautifully! I will be going down to her house this weekend to help her out for a few days.
I am thankful for libraries. Not just because they provided employment for me for many years. I will be picking up a book on hold later today and it strikes me how supportive a service this is. Want a book? A few clicks and some time later a come-and-get-it email arrives.
I am thankful for a spell of winter weather that is just normal.
I am thankful that even though I am 76, I can still climb the 30 steps into my condo without huffing and puffing.
I am thankful for a full pantry, a full freezer, a full closet -- and later today I'll be thankful for a full tank of gas.
Libraries are the best!
Thankfuls:
--For a day without wind today. We're coming into our windy season, which sort of kills the enjoyment of the increasing warmth. So I will enjoy today's 66 degrees with little wind.
--That my son who struggles with school has had a much better time with it the last couple of months. He's trying very hard, but also I think the material is just easier in the most recent math units.
--That my eldest decided to do track on his own. I really, really thought he should, but I didn't say anything because if it's not his idea, he will double down on the resistance. He came home with the form for the physical last week out of nowhere, though, so I hope he actually manages to get through the season this year.
--For a good talk with a good friend.
--For a book that was challenging to read, but ultimately resulted in some clarification for me. (It was "Come Be My Light," which is a collection of Mother Teresa's personal correspondence. Hard to read, and I don't think I would recommend it to a lot of people, but it certainly made me reflect on some difficult things.)
--That my entire family shares my love of reading. For a big reader, there is nothing so satisfying as reading the same book as someone who will talk to you about it. I can do this with all of my children now--with age-appropriate books, of course, for my younger ones--as well as my husband. And I also have a friend who's a big reader that I lend books to a lot, which is also fun.
Ah. The seasons of New Mexico: Summer, Fall, Winter, WIND....
Here's the expanded forecast:
SEASONS OF NEW MEXICO
WINTER
FOOL’S SPRING
SECOND WINTER
SPRING OF DECEPTION
THIRD WINTER
THE POLLENING
ACTUAL SPRING
SUMMER
HELL’S FRONT PORCH
FALSE FALL
SEOND SUMMER
ACTUAL FALL
JD in NM,
Lol!! Ohio is like that, too.:-)
I was born in Toledo and lived there until I was about 8 or so. I remember cold snowy winters and hot humid summers!
Clear mamogram, a Wednesday that was full of sun, cute pets, a running car, and loving the Olympics.
-Thankful for compassionate and kind caregivers like you Kristen. Believe me, I have seen both ends of the spectrum in caregivers over the last several months. People like you do not go unnoticed by those of us entrusting our loved ones to your care.
-Thankful that I can finally get my car up my steep hill and into my driveway for the first time in weeks.
-Thankful that my Mom sounds good this morning and isn’t as confused as some days. We have good and bad days and this is a good one.
-Thankful that, although we are all spread out, my siblings and I can work out a schedule so that the two of us who are main caregivers can have some back-up.
-Thankful that it is warming up enough to clear the remaining ice out of the gutters.
-Thankful for an emergency fund that I will need to dip into to get through the next month or so.
I'm thankful for these weeks off work with my sweet baby, and all the support friends and family have offered <3
Enjoy all the baby cuddles!
- I'm thankful we got to pick grandson up from daycare yesterday. Daycare was closing early and our daughter was still working at closing time.
- I'm thankful that hubby jiggled the HVAC thermostat and got it working again. It tends to lose connection and then doesn't run.
- I'm thankful that I am getting off early today and don't have to be back at work until Tuesday.
- I'm thankful that today is bright and sunny.
- I'm thankful that hubby is going to ride with me to go visit my sister. It will be nice to have company on the 3.5-hour drive.
Bless you for being kind to the incarcerated patients. I can't imagine how that status would contribute to their medical anxiety. I was surprised to learn that iron absorbs better if taken every other day. It's counterintuitive.
Today, I'm thankful for getting to talk to people about their awesome kids in parent-teacher meetings. I'm also grateful for the pandemic-silver-living that has us doing so on Zoom, so I'm in the comfort of my own home. Additionally, I'm grateful for perspective; this is my last round of meetings, likely ever, as I prepare for my end-of-school-year retirement. While I am trepidatious about leaving my career (to care for DH who is living with early onset Alz), I focus on gratitude for so many fulfilling years at my school and the opportunity to be closer to home. Here's to me enjoying my last term as teacher-librarian!
truly a double edge sword. remember to treat yourself yourself with kindness during this difficult time. sending you love and hugs as you navigate your future. prayers too of course.
Shelagh, my heart goes out to you for the reason for your retirement. I recall our email and blog post exchange from last year about trying to balance frugality with Alzheimer's caregiving, and I wish you all the best on the road that still remains for you and your DH to travel. I'm here if you need me.
Sending hugs from my teacher heart to yours! Yay, yes, so many kids are so awesome! And when I get to teach them across multiple years, seeing them grow in so many ways is very encouraging. Best wishes for the rest of your school year and your transition to retirement and all that caregiving brings.
Sending a hug to Karen A. You are a wonderful mom.
My 22 yo cat still enjoys lap cuddles and excursions out to the back porch as he is blinded by cataracts.
Grateful that his travels no longer include the back fields as he would be snatched up by the eagles.
The older neighbor kids will be dropped here after school. We will be planting zinnias, sweet peas and yummy pea pods. I salvaged an old shower door for their dad to make a cold frame for their garden. This will be a fun project.
The Daphne is blooming. the fragrance is scenting the foyer, bathrooms, laundry room and the den. The early daffodils are just starting to bud.
Thankful for sunshine. It's especially nice to have it shining on the snow. Michigan has lots of overcast weather in the winter, so it's a treat to see the sun.
For time to have coffee out with my son this morning.
For kind coworkers.
For finally finding a bed pillow that works for me.
For health.
I start radiation next week. I am thankful that my breast cancer was diagnosed early, the surgery was successful, and I did not need chemo. Wow - that's a lot.
That is a lot. I hope everything goes well for you.
all the best to you for a speedy recovery.
Best wishes, Daisy, and I'm especially glad that you've been able to avoid chemo (misery, by all reports).
Daisy, I'm sorry you're dealing with this.
Daisy, sending all best wishes to you in your recovery.
I can't take iron supplements in any form as they rip my stomach apart. My naturopath recommended something called Grass Fed Beef Organs by Ancestral Supplements. They are expensive but both my iron, and blood levels are going the right direction. They can be purchased either from their website, or from Amazon.
thankful for you. after 48 days in the hospital my zozo is home for 8. she is cooperating with us and hopefully will continue to do so. my son is happy to have his sister home. he was too young to visit her. the dog was beyond excited to see her.
so glad you are happy as a nurse. this is your calling and your passion. may you always enjoy it.
So great that you have both your children home again.
Happy half-anniversary, Nurse Kristen! Don't feel bad about the anxiety dreams. Twenty years after leaving newspaper reporting, I still get them. Mine are about not being able to find the newsroom and therefore missing deadline. I'm told anxiety dreams are normal...but I sure wish mine would stop.
My thankfuls;
1. Snuggly Wuggly dogs who live you with all their hearts.
2. Rare but not yet extinct: handy men who listen to what you tell them and follow your instructions.
3. Chiropractor offices who get you in to see the doc right away. Yes, I pulled another muscle in my back.
4. Large print books.
5. Hogan's Heroes reruns on OTA TV, great for a laugh, and TV subchannels that let you watch for free.
6. Sunny weather that's not too hot and not too cold.
I still get anxiety dreams about high school exams or hell, just high school in general!
Lisa, in my recurring dreams I'm still trying to open my locker and find my classroom to take a final exam for a class I never attended. And I've been out of high school for almost 50 years!
This week I am thankful for….
• My upcoming weekend trip with my son and his team. We’re heading down to AZ for a tournament over the long weekend. I’m looking forward to some quality time with him, seeing him be himself with his friends, and some warmer weather.
• My husband’s speaking season is wrapping up. There are conferences sprinkled throughout the year that he travels to, but late winter is always busy. I’m really looking forward to having him home more.
• Some girl time on Saturday night. I spent the evening exploring a new bookshop with a friend and then getting dinner together.
• An energizing volunteer shift on Saturday.
• A great visit with my grandma on Sunday. We brought our puppy along to her assisted living facility and the other residents and staff had a good time seeing him. My grandma never remembers that she’s met our puppy before, so each time she sees him she’s delighted to “meet” him.
Sorry to say this weekend in AZ is supposed to be cooler than normal. Hope you have a fabulous weekend anyway.
Your sunset time sounds nice. Up here, we are thrilled that we're up to a 5:06PM sunset.
I just LOVE reading everyone's thankful comments each Thursday. Gosh, the more joy I can see in this world these days, the better. I am thankful for a stable job (at least right now haha), fun vacation plans in the calendar and a loving relationship with my son.
If you can listen to your book on an Apple Device, go into Accessibility settings and choose one of the Siri voices. They have a lot better inflection than the typical screen reader. Set up "Voice Control" in the control center to toggle on and off (you don't want it constantly on!) and also "speak screen". When you are reading, toggle on voice control and tell your device to "speak screen". This works really well if you can open your online textbook in the Apple device's Kindle app.
I focus best on audio books when I'm housecleaning or knitting.
Since TJs is close by and I truly love the ambience of their store I am a regular.
I am a single senior and convenience is a priority.
Try these items:
Carne asada burritos 2 pack enough for 2 meals with a salad. Chicken burrito bowl is good too.
They have a variety of pot stickers that can be fried or steamed and are great with their fried rice. For change of pace their Butter chicken is good too.
I use the appetizer meatballs with spaghetti and sauce. And finally their little pizzas are very good and 2 are ample for a single person. I get the cheese ones and add veggies.
There are more but these are my favorites.
I feel they are priced reasonably but you don't have leftovers.
Thankfuls:
My team won the Super Bowl on Sunday - woohoo!
A grandson (a senior) was the league leader in steals this basketball season, and his team starts playoffs this week.
I'm thankful they won't move until summer, so I get to enjoy his senior year of sports and a younger grandson's soccer season before they move.
For my oldest granddaughter's new job (after she graduates in June), which will be at a Speech Therapy clinic in Las Vegas - the airport I will need to fly in to to go visit my daughter and family after they move. I'll get to see her both directions most of the time...although she will be a busy working woman lol!
My guy has completed round 3 of 28 radiation sessions for prostate cancer and so far, so good. He is being a good sport about the awful "manopause" side effects of the hormone therapy (poor sleep, brain fog, hot flashes, night sweats) but hopefully those will lessen as time goes on.
For the beautiful, sunny weather we've had this week in the PNW. And...we might get snow next week!!! Our poor plants won't know what to do with the whiplash, but we definitely need some snowpack and moisture.
Today I am thankful for
1. a long weekend starting tomorrow
2. Kristin@goingcountry's comments about using leftover broth for cooking rice. I ended up with a lot of delicious pork broth filled with onions and green chillies. It made a delicious pot of rice that gave me multiple meals
3. For coworkers that plan fun events for multi-class activities. This week we've had Twin Day, Olympics watch parties, and a primary soccer play day. I've only had to do minimal support but no organizing.
4. Leftover dessert from a social gathering on the weekend. I love to bake, but I don't do it a lot because then I just eat it. However, it has been so nice to have treats available this week.
5. Safety.
I'm thankful for:
▪︎Clean running water and being able to brush my teeth with tap water.
▪︎Church bells. There is an old church outside my apartment and I love the sound of the bells- it always makes me smile.
▪︎Cozy blankets. I was sick last week and it was so, so nice to have a comfortable space. As a nomad, I have stayed in many not-cozy places and can't imagine being sick in a place with s throw blanket and comfortable furniture.
I remember seeing prisoners in my days as a student at an academic hospital in Johannesburg, complete with orange uniforms and shackles. All the medical and nursing staff were always caring and professional. The one piece of advice we received from a lecturer was to NEVER ask a person about the nature of their conviction; you may not always be able to put your feelings aside, once you know that.
Yes! I never, never want to know what they are charged with. Some things would make it very hard for me to offer good care.
Wow, beautiful sentiments about the incarcerated patients. Resonates so much for me and I just had a little chat with my students this week about developing curiosity instead of autopiloting to judgement when we encounter people in life who hold different beliefs or make different choices than we do. Everyone is doing the best they can with what they know and understand. <3
This week I'm thankful:
- That I'm not sick or traveling (even for good things) like some of my coworkers. Glad to be in a more daily routine after the snow disrupted things for so long.
- That the snow stayed around so long to brighten things up for a while this winter!
- That Mon-Tues are parent-teacher conference days which includes some additional time to actually work and 2 days next week that don't need classes prepped.
- For nurses! Every time I read things here or elsewhere, many of the triumphs and challenges give me echoes of teaching. I think at the heart it might be the difference between a vocation and a job.
- For my snuggly cat on my lap right now. And for my husband who takes actual good care of this dear cat (feeding, brushing, playing), so I basically just chill and have a good buddy who hangs out with me sometimes and literal no effort ha.
Yes, it's a good self-check to remember that altho we do get to make choices, not everyone has had the same advantages as we have, and not everyone has access to the same choices as others do.
The snow covered tree photos were beautiful. I can see where that would be a pick-me-up moment. Thanks for sharing.
I am thankful for Ravelry--an online site for knitters (and those who crochet)
A previous comment from one of your readers was looking for a piano shawl. Although not labeled as such, I made something referred to a Textured Shawl Recipe by Orlane Sucche. I made it with four skeins of Malibrigo Rios, and I love it for an extra layer to wear around the house. One could make it as large as they wished. Ravelry is so well organized and cross referenced! Very helpful.
I actually don’t process iron well so my blood usually has too much iron, so I’m thankful that the solution is just to give blood! What a great problem to have.
I am JEALOUS!!
* I’m learning how to quilt, which is something I’ve wanted to do for 30 years.
* Valentine’s Day was lovely yesterday - and it was finally kind of warm!
* My young teen daughter still likes hanging out with me.
* I have finally accepted my limitations post-cancer treatment and am (mostly) ok with it.
* That said, I am continuing to push myself physically to get stronger and brighter, which I love.
Love your username!