It's Valentine's Day 2023

Just a few minutes ago, I wrote this blog post - and posted it under "Love Notes". 
It's long.
LOL.
It's about my Sweetheart, and our Valentine's since 1979. 

In other "news" so far this year of 2023 - 
- I started the year sick. A nasty upper respiratory virus that did not want to let go. Coughing, sneezing, headache, earaches, just miserable - couldn't find comfort and ease in standing, sitting, or stretched out in my recliner. As momma would say, I slept in snatches. A moment here and there. 
Finally, after about 2 weeks, I survived. 

- These last 2 weeks have been a horrible yeast infection. Not in the "normal" places for a woman to get one either. Think bottom side. I had a couple of days of diarrhea (not meaning to give too much information here) that honestly felt like it blistered me. I thought it was a typical pH balance off. So I ate the yogurt, drank the water, and thought it would be ok. NOT ok. It's been a trial and error of what works, powders and creams. With nothing giving me more than a moment of relief. Finally, after much frustration, pain and tears - I prayed about it. Debated greatly about going to the doctor, not sure if it is called "pride", "vanity", or just not wanting to be so humiliated, at baring my butt - I decided to try something else first. 
Take a hot shower every morning. Hotter than was comfortable to my skin. No shampoo, no soap. Just to stand, bent over, in the hot water - until my skin screamed I just couldn't take it anymore. 
Then, take 100% cornstarch baby powder, about 1/2 cup, mix it with 1 Tablespoon baking soda. And every trip to the bathroom, after cleaning with an aloe based wipe, use the mixture. 
Allow myself only my coffee in the mornings, and the rest of the day, drink water! Water! Water! 
Eat light and easy. Mashed potatoes. Toast. Ramen noodles. Yogurt. Jello. Popsicles. 
Now, after 2 weeks of intense burning and pain, enough tears to float the Titanic - 3 days of this, and I am so much better! I feel almost "normal"!!!

- Earlier in January, I went thru my quilt supplies and scraps. Thinking that since it's been too cold to do anything outside, and my bottom didn't feel like going anywhere - maybe it would be a good time to do some quilting. 
I found a smaller quilt top that was put together, even with a border around it already. Not real sure where it came from. It's about the size of a baby quilt, or lap quilt. Would work good for a picnic quilt, or a stadium quilt. 
I put it together with a blanket I had for the inside, and a cover on the back. Got it all quilted by doing 3-5 blocks a day. Now, I am adding the final cover to the back. Once I get it all tacked/tied then I will be able to hem it. 
It's not perfect. My hands are too arthritic to let it be perfect. And I do not have a quilting frame, so there are puckers that I don't like. But, it will work! 

- Next, I am going to start working on the quilts for each of the kids and grandkids. I have most of what I need, and will be gathering the rest a little at a time. 
I think of my momma when I hand quilt. 
Remembering how I started helping her when I was about 3 years old. 
Her arms were too short to reach the middle of the quilt when it was in the frame, so I would sit under the quilt, and push the needle back up thru to her. Hours upon hours of helping Momma hand quilt. 
Listening to her stories, and her life lessons. 
Precious times. 
I hope, and pray, that our kids and grandkids will treasure these quilts as much as I treasure making them. 

- Quilting gives me time to think. Some of the thoughts are memories of working with Momma. Some are thoughts of my life with Rick, our lives with the kids and grandkids. Some are thoughts and ideas of what I want for the rest of my life now. 
My arthritis doesn't allow for me to quilt as long as I would like at a time. But I am thankful that I know how to quilt, and that I am able to quilt. 

- This little house is standing the test of wind better than the RV did. 
Been thinking about the RV lately. 
Rick and I enjoyed our RV so much. I really thought that living in one would make me feel "at home" again, after all these years of wandering. 
It didn't. 
But then, I really don't feel at home here in the little house either. 
Can't bring myself to call it "home" yet. 
Because it doesn't feel like home. 
And then, that light bulb moment came the other day - - 
Home is not walls about me, nor is it a roof over my head. 
Home is not the things that fill a room, or take up space on the floor. 
Home is a person. 
Home is people. 
Home is laughter, and love. 
Home is life. 
Rick was my home. 
- as the post mentioned above says, since I was 10 years old I loved him. He was my person. He was my people. He was my laughter. He was my love. He was my life. 
Rick was my home. 
And now? 
Well, it's all empty. 
It's up to me to find a way to be home to myself. 

*Well, that's about the "news" of me so far this year. 
I'm going thru some notes and stuff trying to find that way of putting a book together. (One of my goals for this year!)
It's 11:43 am here now. 
And I'm hungry. 
​So, I'll write later!