First quilt finish of the year

I'm looking for things to do inside because I can't drive anywhere (the sling thing) and it's been raining for three days.

So I finished the "Green Desert" quilt that I started a year or two ago. I had planned to do some big hand stitching in the borders, but my arthritis won't allow that so I called it good enough. Since I also couldn't hand sew the hanging sleeve, I fused it on! Then I fused a label on the back, dug out a hanging stick that's just the right length, and now I just have to wait until someone can come over and help hang it since I can't move my right elbow away from my waist. I cannot wait to be fully functioning again!

The four-inch squares are mini collages representing the blue sky and green growth of the Sonoran Desert. Those are mountain foothills covered in rabbitbrush, creosote, juniper, yucca, barrel cactuses, prickly pear, palo verde trees, mesquite, desert grasses, ocotillo, cholla and, biggest of all, the tall saguaro cactuses.

I also decided that the "Sun" spirit doll needed a belt:

When I did all I could in the sewing room, I got bored and ended up making brownies in the evening because I couldn't find anything good to watch and I had finished my last library book. (Have to wait for that friend to drive me to the library to stock up. I'll never take driving for granted again.)

The heavy rain flooded my favorite hiking area, Catalina State Park. It's been closed all week but they hope to reopen in tomorrow. Three hundred campers are stranded there!

Yesterday I got out for a quick walk in between down pours. Here's what it looked like from my neighborhood looking at the Catalinas. I can't believe I have such awesome scenery just beyond my house!

Have a colorful day

Hiking, healing and sewing

 

I've made it on a few hikes since my shoulder surgery, but I'm picking easy trails where I'm not likely to trip and fall.

We had a lot of rain earlier, so there's water on some of the trails where it's usually dry. The horses didn't mind on this hike in Catalina State Park.

The saguaros are fat and happy from the rain. They store water by expanding, which is allowed by their accordion pleats.

The desert is greening up, and I'm slowly healing. In case you've ever wondered how arthroscopic shoulder surgery looks afterward, here are my stitches covered by bandaids. It's amazing what can be done by inserting those tiny little tubes into the shoulder instead of cutting the whole thing open.

My recovery this time will take longer because the surgeon added a patch over his repairs (under the skin), and I can't start PT for another month to allow the patch to take hold securely. That means no driving for too long!

At least I'm able to make spirit dolls while I'm in the sling. Here's my latest one.

I ordered a new batch of buttons for the faces and am well supplied with sticks from pruning in my back yard.

And our sunsets have been spectacular lately!

Have a colorful day

First spirit dolls and hike of 2023

 

I've finally got my first sewing project and hike of the new year under my belt. I got off to a slow start because of my surgery (hard to sew initially) and rain (hard to hike).

I pulled out some old fabric that I had painted and did some layering and stitching with gold thread for the lavender spirit doll.

Then I used an old Southwest print from my stash to make female and male mountain spirit dolls.

Speaking of mountains, here's how the mountain behind my house looked earlier this week during our winter storm.

After the rain stopped and the ground dried, the Shady Ladies got out and hiked the 50-Year Trail in the Catalina Mountains this morning, my first hike of the year. It was beautiful and invigorating!

Last night's sunset was spectacular! This shot is in the little town of Catalina north of Tucson, where I went to check out a new restaurant with Beth and Sandy. While Beth drove home, I took pictures for miles as the sunset just got better and better. 

Have a colorful day

New year, new sling

 

I decided to be in a good mood about my redo shoulder surgery, even though it means another month in a sling and having to do everything with my left hand again! I tore my rotator cuff again lifting a suitcase a few months after the August surgery and I had a repeat surgery three days ago.

Here I am the morning after surgery icing my shoulder while savoring my coffee. I spent much of the day in my pajamas on the patio enjoying beautiful weather before today's storm moved in. Tom took me to and from surgery, fixed my food, cleaned the kitchen and was generally a savior!

Saturday I skipped Beth's New Year's Eve party because I was too tired, but I did catch a gorgeous last sunset of the year from my front porch. I was in bed by 8:45.

Today is rainy and dark, but I'm still choosing to be in a good mood!

I loved following Leslie Jordan on Instagram throughout Covid. He left us way too soon, but his spirit lives on.

Have a colorful day

Spirit dolls and surgery

I just made my last spirit dolls of the year and took them to the gallery. They're slowly getting bigger -- about 7 inches wide and 14 or so inches high. The blue one is "Starlight," the purple is "Full Moon," and the one with the Australian fabric is "Desert Paths." I wanted to call it "Walkabout" or "Dream Time," but I'm wary of being accused of cultural appropriation. (In my mind it's honoring another culture, but ...)

I know they're the last dolls of the year because my redo shoulder surgery is tomorrow morning and it will be awhile after that before I can sew.

After I delivered the dolls, I rewarded myself with lunch at Mosaic Cafe II -- chicken enchiladas with a spicy green sauce. 

On Christmas Day I made this tree of pizza dough and a cheesy spinach filling. You sandwich the filling between two triangles of pizza dough (the kind you get in a tube at the grocery store, but I'm sure homemade would be even better). Then you slice and twist the branches and bake it until golden. The final delicious step is to brush it with melted butter and herbs. I've seen recipes for all kinds of fillings, including Nutella.

I also hiked Christmas Day, so I felt justified eating the tree for lunch and breakfast the next day. I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or whatever you celebrate!

Have a colorful day

Merry and hike!

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah -- may your holiday be bright if not hiked!

Yesterday I took myself on a Christmas Eve Day hike under glorious blue skies. I went to Catalina State Park where the parking lot was full of license plates from all over the country and Canada and the trails were full of families gathering for the holidays.

Today I'm going on another hike with Tom, then we'll come back and make some Christmas goodies in the kitchen.

Happy Holiday!

Winter solstice lights

Last night for the Winter Solstice I surrounded myself with lights at the Tucson Botanical Gardens!

More than a million lights and hundreds -- maybe thousands -- of luminarias turned the longest night of the year magical.

Mexican tin star lights are popular in Tucson. The tin is punched to let light shine out. 

The blue "dancing" trees were synched to music from The Nutcracker. Magical!

Foam cups protect the cactus tips from frost, and the Santa hat makes it fun. A lot of yards in Tucson have Santa hats on their cactus tops.

As I strolled through the gardens in comfortable temperatures under a clear starry night, I thought of those of you facing the big winter storm that's rolling across the country. I hope you stay safe and warm!

Have a colorful night