Day 296 of 365

The cat got let out of the bag.

With me at work two days this week, then working furiously on my daughter's quilt blocks, us heading to the casino, yesterday being a full day of doctor stuff and last minute grocery shopping, and my daughter coming home for the night, I forgot.

I forgot to hide the blocks I was making for her quilt (Day 294). My repeated insinuations that it was a "girl's quilt" (implying it was for charity) didn't appear to carry much weight with her. I think she knows it's hers because of the kitties in the middle of the blocks. It didn't help that I had texted her last week asking her favorite color (pink).

But she doesn't know the part of the quilt she'll like the most. It won't be revealed to her until she opens the wrapped present on Christmas morning. It isn't quite done so no picture yet, but it better be done by tomorrow!

I already have a picture for today, anyway. My daughter wanted my help making some cookies for her work. A joint mother-daughter baking-decorating session. Good job kiddo.

Day 295 of 365

Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it. I wished for time in December to work on my health. I might want to take that back.

After a nice little jaunt on the casino bus yesterday with my hubby I turned around and had to get some things done today. A letter from the insurance company informed me that my request for benefits has been denied. Again. The second attempt at trying to get approval for the infusion treatments has now failed, requiring yet another call to the rheumatologist's to file the final appeal.

An attempt to try and delay knee replacement surgery for a bit longer cost me a $1,200 big ole shot of synthetic synovial fluid at the orthopedic surgeon's office. A pain in the pocketbook and a big pain in the knee. If this treatment doesn't work another knee replacement will be looming in the very near future.

Now that I'm on this additional arthritis medication that can cause blindness (an anti-malaria drug, actually) I need to have several new eye tests to establish a baseline. An expensive eye doctor appointment added to my day's list of non-Christmas related expenses.

Thank goodness the casino was good to me. The bus ride, not so much. Hours of cramped knees equaled painful knees. I did have something to keep my mind occupied, though. I believe this sign right below the window was an attempt to use symbols to show me how to either open the window or exit the window during an emergency. I spent quite some time trying to figure it out, but gave up.

Here's hoping someone is better at interpreting than I am.

Day 294 of 365

I don't know if it's a mom thing or a Christmas thing or just a me thing, but I didn't budget my time wisely.

I didn't intend to be this far behind on the quilt I'm making for my daughter for Christmas. (Shh, don't tell her. She doesn't know about it.) I would have expected it to have been put together, quilted, and wrapped under the tree by now. And it should have been.

A couple months back, I had an idea of what December would look like. I'm only contracted for so many days at work which meant December would be a slow month with not much work. It turned out to be much, much busier than I expected. Long days, late nights.

I expected December would be a month of crafting, baking, and sewing. I have done crafting with the tutorials and have done several batches of Christmas cookies and breads. My sewing has turned out to be sewing either for the tutorials or the quilts for charity. While I have spent my time crafting, baking, and sewing it unfortunately has not been all that relaxing. It has been at a frantic pace as I either spend cram sessions on the weekends or late nights and early mornings to get it all done. (Who the heck decorates cookies at 5 in the morning? This person right here.)

December was going to be the month where I could relax and regroup. Get my thoughts in order, clear my head. Focus on my writing. Focus on my health.

It hasn't turned out that way. But now that Christmas break has started and Christmas Day is rapidly approaching  I must, must, must get my daughter's quilt done. I have some of the blocks finished, but there are some special blocks I need to work on before the whole thing can be put together.

Make Homemade Pinwheel Christmas Tree Ornaments - Day 293 of 365, Tutorial Tuesday

A week of firsts and lasts.

For over 20 years I had taken my husband to work every single day. When I started with my multiple surgeries he started getting a ride from our neighbor across the street who works in the same building. She's been sick these last couple days so I've had to take him to school for the first time in almost two years. (Personally I think his favorite part of getting a ride to school from me is that he gets a goodbye kiss before he gets out of the car.)

Today is the last day of school for both of us until January. Hooray for Christmas Break! This week we're taking the bus to Jackpot for the day. Another first - it'll be the first time in years and years and years we're going together.

But another one of my firsts is one I wish didn't happen. Last night was the first night I've taken pain medication since March. I've held out for a long time but after barely being able to move at work yesterday I caved in. Just half a pill, but my long-standing streak of consecutive days without pain medication ended.

Today the last of my Christmas cookies are heading out the door, I got the last of my charity quilts mailed out yesterday, and today's tutorial is the last homemade Christmas ornament of the year.

For this project you will need:

• fabric 
• paper backed fusible web like HeatnBond Ultra Hold
• button
• ribbon
• hot glue
• marking pencil
• iron and ironing surface
• scissors or rotary cutter, cutting ruler, and cutting mat
• printable pinwheel template from the pattern
• optional pinking shears or pinking blade

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

Now available in my Etsy shop as a digital download with step by step written directions, color photos, and the printable template. Click to find out more!

If you want a pattern using fusible fleece instead, it's also a no-sew project and it's available in my shop, too. Click to find out more!

Looking for something else? 

Check out some of my other Christmas sewing and crafting projects!

You can find the step-by-step how to tutorial for the homemade fabric pinwheel Christmas tree sewing project right here:

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