Hangin' at Mom's

My mom is recovering from a hysterectomy. It was an aggressive treatment for some rogue pre-cancerous cells. We are happy she took this route. But now she is stuck at home for six weeks. Well, one down, five more to go. She is doing VERY well. The only thing she needs help with is getting in and out of her bed. So here I am helping out all the days I can (about 3 a week), but her big sis, my aunt, Paula is here for the first 11 days and my sister comes by too, so she has lots of people around her helping, with more to come.

I have to say I love spending time with Mom. And when Paula is around, that's a bonus. So although I wish she hadn't needed the surgery, I am glad I am able to come and help and spend time with them.

Especially since it is the perfect enviroment for craftiness...

My big sis, Julie, has started keeping all her scrapbooking stuff at mom's, so I am treating this as the perfect opportunity to work on Erin's Wedding Scrapbook, my wedding gift to her. I am making good progress, have 11 pages done so far.

And then there's the knitting...

Hours of tv we all love, Bargin Hunters, CSI, Let's Make a Deal and MYSTERY!, are very condusive to knitting. I have made this pair of socks for Mike...

...And one of a pair for Mom

Paula is a sewing machine...

She makes adorable soft flannel blanket for people having babies, which there always seems to be lately

And cross stitches, too.

I am excited about this one, becuase she is making it for me. A cross stitch version of Van Gough's Cypress Trees, I CAN"T WAIT to frame it for my living room.

We are getting mom into it too, between naps.

These "Puzzle Balls" have been a family favorite for years, we just call it a "Baby Ball." Mom got the pattern years ago in New Hampshire at a quilting shop. Now it is in this great book, "Last-Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts" by Joelle Hoverson.

And let's not forget the food. Talking about it, making it and eating it. I love being with the women in my family because we like to plan what we will be eating over the next couple days. Every meal or found recipe is an opportunity. I love that. So when I found a recipe for "Prune Bread," they said make it, make it! And so I did.

And it was good. The recipe made two loaves, the second of which will be coming home with me to share at my Stitch n Bitch this sunday.

That wasn't all the good food, there were oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, stuffed potatoes, meatloaf sandwiches and more. Best of all, I'd have to say, was when Julie's husband Jeremi made crab legs, lobster tails and shrimp for Julie's birthday, yummy.

But no blog about Mom's would be complete with out a pic of Josie...

Modelling my new baby bib design. She's such a cutie, such a sport.