New picture of Brandy. She was to the vet yesterday due to a "blister" on her belly from when they fixed her at the county shelter. The vet popped it and I have to put proxide on it twice a day. She also has a slight ear infection, so drops are going in the ears once a day. She goes back to the vet next Monday to be checked...sigh... Other then that she's fine. I will be taking her to see Norm today. Norm is doing fine for the most part a little down which is to be expected. I received a call from VNA (visiting nurses association...kind of a thorn in my side) yesterday about therapy for him. They did say our primary doctor okayed it so this is good then medicare kicks in and pays for it. They will do the therapy over at Woodside. Physical and occupational...so again this is good. I'll find out how often then come when I go there today.

Our weather is still very mild. I am thankful for all the back and forth to visit Norm, etc.

This is a birthday card I made for a friend. The center stamp is a stamp from DeNami. The corner stamp is from Mostly Hearts.

Norm is doing ok for the most part. We are waiting for the strap to come in. I had to make a report with the director on Thursday because of an issue with Dan (nurse) on Wednesday and his attitude towards me. This is not how he usually is, but he basically reduced me to tears and all the aides said I need to report it, so it is done. I felt like I was in the principal's office (I had to talk to the director and some other head as well). The aides also gave their statements and so did the head of the memory care unit since they all heard him. Then I was totally shocked because Norm said Dan apologized to him for how he acted towards me (I did nothing wrong) but no apology to me!

While I was there Thursday, I had lunch with Norm and will do this from now on until he comes home as because of his shoulder I am not comfortable with taking him out and Matt (other nurse) advised against taking him out which only makes sense to me. He also told me not to let anyone there walk over me because I pay them to do what they do and if Dan gives me any future attitude to let him know. Trust me I'm more upset over the nurse issue then I am with the fall.

Friday I had lunch at the Civic Center and told them what happened and said Norm probably won't be at lunches until April now. I also turned Norm's phone off at Woodside since I can hardly get hold of him anyway when I call.

We had lots of wind and cold during the night and some snow. I decided to stay home today since it is still blowing out there and the drive would need to be cleared. I will call after Dan's shift later to see how Norm is.

This was a color scheme in the Art Charm yahoo group. Green/yellow/gold findings. Not a good week for Norm. Monday he fell twice and hurt his shoulder. Tuesday he fell first thing...each time it's due to him getting up without someone by him and of course this happens very fast with him. Tuesday they sent him to ER because he had fallen 3 times within 24 hours. After having an x-ray on his right shoulder, yep he fractured it on Monday. He is back at Woodside as they are letting it heal on its own. They want him to have a strap (brace) which I have to get (I'm ticked that the hospital didn't provide him with one)...so one is on order for him. Tempers weren't the great at Woodside regarding this, but I laugh because even in their contract it states that falls happen it's a part of life...the good thing is that he's there for the bulk of his recovery which is 4-6 weeks.

Here's a new picture of "the girls". I'm always happy to get one of them together. Bonnie goes to the vet tomorrow for anal glands and nail trim. I'll put Brandy in the bathroom since I'm not quite sure what she would do being totally alone. We shouldn't be gone that long, so maybe I'll test her!

Friday went well with Norm. He seems to keep improving on each level. Bathroom issues are improving and upstairs at the rec center when he did go over to the bathroom he didn't use his walker. The only issue he has at that bathroom is the seat is too low, so I go in and help with that otherwise he's doing well and is up to 166 pounds...laughed and said watch the weight or you won't fit into your dress pants when you get home! It's the year window for the 3rd stroke next month so I'm glad the improving continues.

The weekend was quiet here. I worked on some mini pop-up books. I mean mini as these are for the Art Charm group, so they can be no larger then 1.5". It is definitely a challenge and I need 10 of them. They are about done, just need to figure out the closure on them.

Hope everyone had a good weekend.

My winter block is done. My friend Cris crocheted the snowflake in the middle and did the bead work on the diagonal. Also did the snowman from buttons. I did the rest of the work on it. The snowflake charm in the left hand corner is one from a swap I was in in the Art Charm Group in yahoo.

I can't believe where the week has gone to! Hope everyone had a nice Valentine's Day. It was just another day here, but on Wednesday my girlfriend MaryAnne and I checked out the new Michaels (it had moved) and then had lunch at Rocknies. I had never eaten there before. Food is good.

Today I was home, sinus issues. Also went to the grocery store and stocked up on some more meat that is on my list. Norm is fine, I saw him yesterday and tomorrow is our usual Friday out.

Recently I was in a couple swaps (actually it's never ending, but it's fun...ha!) over in the Art Charm Yahoo Group (I am learning a lot there really). The one swap was anything hearts, the other was pink/red/silver findings. I incorporated both of them into this bracelet.

It has been an interesting couple of days. My printer decided not to work anymore (it's probably a good 6 years old). So when I went to see Norm on Sunday I stopped at Walmart and bought one nearly the same as what I have, just upgraded Hewlet Packard 4500 one. It has taken me 2 days to install the thing. Talk about frustrating! I finally got the thing up and running today. Not sure how that totally happened, but I'm not messing with anything regarding it believe me. Didn't realize how much I missed my printer til I couldn't print with it!

Norm is fine, I did not see him today as I finally got our taxes over to the accountant who is in Rocky River (other way from Norm). I kind of was laughing at myself because I went one way and came home another, but as it turned out the way home was better as I missed all the tie up on the freeway due to construction. I will have to remember that when I go pick up the taxes.

I'm planning to go see Norm tomorrow. When I do reach him by phone he is doing fine so that is the main thing.

These are some of the handmade paper birthday cards I received.We have snow on the ground! That is something different for us this winter. So I am in today and maybe tomorrow as well. Went to see Norm yesterday and he's fine. I think the next month and a half will be long for him, but I told him to just keep getting better.

I made up a shamrock quilt block last night for embellishing back and forth with Cris. I've done work on my heart one. I'm waiting for some floss so I can work on the winter one.

Went to Drug Mart yesterday morning and I've started stocking up on meat, canned things, etc. for when Norm comes home.

Have a great weekend.

This is our friend Emily at the Civic Center New Year's Celebration. I took her and Norm yesterday to IHOP (International House of Pancakes). None of us had been there before and we enjoyed our meal. Emily is 94 and I cook for her because she's losing her eyesight. Today I will take Norm for his workout rather then tomorrow. There is to be weather changes and so today is sunny and we will have a meal at Bob Evans after. Norm is doing well and looking forward to coming home end of March.

I finished up the orange color block last night and did some more beading on Clancy last night. He is coming along.

Recently I was in a torso swap here http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FabricInAlteredArt2/?yguid=388140631 My partner was Kathie and her blog is here http://beyondthestorybook.blogspot.com/ Alas I put the wrong zip on her package and even though I mailed it on January 6, she never got it until the beginning of February. I thought it was lost, so made up another for her and guess what they both got to her on the same day! Her torso is the top one which I have and it is awesome. She included beads and buttons. The 2nd torso is the "replacement" torso from me and the 3rd torso is the one that took a month to get to her. It was a fun swap.

Yesterday I wen to see Norm and he's fine. Took down his pictures and brought them home. Today I'll bring home the decorations that are sitting on his shelf.

Also yesterday my neighbor Dennis was here and took down the rest of the layout from the train, so all that is gone. We also worked in Norm's workshop and another bench area is cleared...yea! There is an underneath bench that has to be done yet. Then we will have to go back and put things together that we are keeping. I have actually kept a few things aside that he and I don't know what they are and we will test Norm's memory when he comes home...lol! They are definitely going to be pitched, I just want to know if Norm know what they are.

Brandy let Dennis pet her, so she's good to go where people are concerned. She lets me know she misses me when I'm gone, I've been letting her run the house. Still no messes, but pillows are on the floor and usually some paper is chewed (nothing serious). So she is comical where this is concerned.

While rummaging around the attic (as everyone knows I have been doing this year) I found this Capodimonte tea pot that I forgot I had. So this is a nice addition to my tea pot collection.

Friday went well with Norm. Weather wise it was dry and this is always a plus! He finished his workout early and is up to 161 pounds. Before the stroke he was 171, so we don't want him gaining much more weight. This will be more controlled after he gets home. For lunch we had spaghetti and meatballs, salad, roll, dessert all for $3...truly amazes me..

Brandy did well and I was gone 4 hours. She did haul my clothes that were on the cedar chest into the living room...lol! Also the pillows on the couch were on the floor and chewed a bit of batting. The batting was fine as it wasn't attached to anything. Guess she was letting me know she had been busy.

The girls were at the groomers on Saturday. I'm learning Brandy doesn't like riding in the car, so apparently her previous owners never took her anywhere. She's fine at the groomers and the granddaughters there love her. While they were gone I cleaned house, did laundry and some cooking.

Yesterday was a wash, did not sleep well, could not get warm and got up with a huge sinus headache. So I did not get to see Norm Saturday or yesterday. Headache (afer 5 excedrin at one time) finally cleared out about 3:30.

I did do some sewing on my heart block, beading on Clancy (a beaded doll) and got the green/yellow and gold dangles in their baggies for swapping).

Today is a much better day!

I was in the heart charm swap in the charm group in yahoo. This is what I received. Mine is on the bottom right. This is a quick moving group and I've been happy with all the returns from it.

This has been a busy week due to it being my birthday on Monday. The rest of the month shouldn't be so busy thank goodness..

Monday was lunch with my cousins. Tuesday we had dentist appointments and had lunch at a Polish restaurant. Today is haircut/highlight and lunch with my girlfriend.

Yesterday was normal. Went to see Norm and he's fine, he did great both days out. Yesterday was a test for Brandy, I didn't put her in the bathroom, but let her in the house while I was gone. She did fine. I told her no chewing and told Bonnie I didn't want to see blood when I got home...lol and that it was a test for both of them. When I go today I will leave Brandy free. She has really been a good dog and I don't think that will change.

Weather wise we were warm beginning of the week. Today is cloudy, but I think it is to stay dry the rest of the week which is good. I did get the car washed yesterday.