Twinkie Sewing

I know some of you are here for the quilting content and I am sorry to disappoint you. I haven’t abandoned those projects. At this point, though, with my schedule and prepping for 2023 classes, I happen to be focusing on serging and clothing projects. I’m rather enjoying the fact that making clothing is such an instant-gratification process. I can knock out a top or a cardigan in just a couple of hours. I’m also loving the transformation that is happening in my closet. After years of black, teal, muddy earth tones, and sad pastels, it’s nice to wear bright colors again, and that’s kind of addictive.

I will get back to quilting. Most of my quilting gets done in the early months of the year, anyway, when I am inside all the time. I also expect that this trip to Spokane with Robin will get me energized for quilting again.

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I had a blood test on Friday in advance of my appointment with my naturopath next week. He checks all of my labs twice a year. I got stuck twice because the phlebotomist had to go searching for a vein. I have a lot of scar tissue in both arms because I had so many blood tests when I was being treated for leukemia—before I had a central line—but I don’t say anything to the techs because I’ve found that it tends to freak them out if they think they are going to have trouble. This phlebotomist missed the vein in my left arm. I asked her to take the needle out when she tried poking around to get into the vein. I can tolerate a lot of discomfort, but not that. She moved to the other arm and was able to get the blood drawn.

[When I was still working in medical transcription, I did a report once for a woman who had finished chemo but refused to let the doctors remove her central line. She kept it for several years afterward because it’s so much easier to get blood draws that way. I totally understood her reasoning.]

I’ll be curious to see the results and hear what my naturopath has to say. I have just about weaned myself off my thyroid medication. According to the medical profession, I shouldn’t have been able to do that—most doctors will tell you that you once you are on it, you can’t stop taking it. This has been a years-long process, with my naturopath’s blessing and oversight, but I am down to a tiny amount once a week. I may not even need that anymore. I seem to have plenty of energy and stamina. I tore apart our bedroom yesterday and did a deep clean with the air scrubber running. The husband helped me move the furniture so I could vacuum underneath and behind everything and get all the dust stirred up. I emptied the Dyson twice. I changed the outside filter on the air scrubber when I was done because it was obviously filthy. The inside filter is a HEPA filter and there is a light on the scrubber that indicates when that one needs to be replaced.

I am making progress, one room at a time.

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I’m about three-fourths of the way through my first Squash Squad block. I work on it in the evenings when the husband is watching YouTube videos.

I am following the directions in the pattern, mostly, although I’m not being slavish about it. For one thing, I don’t have hundreds of dollars’ worth of specialty Sue Spargo threads. I improvise with what I’ve got. And my stitching isn’t perfect but I am learning. I just think it’s funny that I am embroidering vegetables.

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According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, studded snow tires are not an acceptable substitute for chains if chains are required on mountain passes. Huh. I’ve been driving back and forth to Seattle and Tacoma for 12 years now—including once in a snowstorm over Snoqualmie Pass—and that was news to me. The husband says I can get cable chains for the BMW, although I pointed out that if chains were required to get over Snoqualmie, I might rethink my travel plans. I’m not worried about my ability to drive in those conditions. I live in Montana and I’ve driven in all sorts of bad weather. My concern would be the people who think four-wheel drive means they can go 75 mph on ice.

I’m keeping a close eye on the weather forecasts, as usual.