Of pills, blood pressure and bags

I have sisters. Lots of sisters. Seven, as a matter of fact. 

We all grew up in very close proximity: three bedrooms and one bathroom--for a family of 10. 

Nothing special, all utilitarian.

There are no brothers. That seems to make us unusual: eight girls and no boys. If I had a nickel for every time...

The orange paper is the size
of a medical card or ID.

We are all adults now. Growing old together, it turns out. Most of us are grandmothers. I said just a couple of days ago that it was wonderful to grow up with many sisters close in age, because we always had friends. But as we grow older, we realize that we are experiencing aches and pains at about the same rate. Hmm, I hope we take care of each other like we did when we played together. 

Lots of space for pill bottles

Our families call us "the sisters." And they aren't always being nice about it.  "The sisters" text each other.  "The sisters" have secrets.  "The sisters." It's almost as though we're an anomaly or a rock band. 

Anyway, two of the sisters are experiencing medical issues. One is taking quite a bit of medicine and must carry a blood pressure cuff. Hence these two small bags. The smaller one for her cuff; the larger one for her meds. If there aren't many medicines, the cuff bag can fit into the larger bag. Convenient, no? Do you think they'll work? I didn't take time to quilt them, because hopefully, these are a temporary necessity. I'll be happier when she doesn't need them.

On Friday I brought her a small sampler quilt that I made years ago to cheer her up a bit. It fits nicely in their living room decor, so if it gets tossed on the sofa, it may look like a planned thing. Before we left I held it up to get a picture since I lost the ones I'd taken before.  Can you tell that I'm not tall enough to do this? My arms don't reach to the edges and I was stretched with all I had. There has to be a better way of taking quilt pictures on the fly. Do you see the house in the background? Won't this work?

A New Little Pouch

Some time ago I made a cute little pouch to carry my phone and other small necessities in while at work.  I’ve lost a few phones and small amounts of cash. 

Keeping things safe in hand is necessary, and I’m the worst at setting things down and walking away.  No more, thank you. 

As you can see, my little pouch is much the worse for wear.  I’ve washed it a couple of times but the stains are here to stay.  It’s just time for a new one.  

Since I have a few days off, I figured I’d make another with a little different design—the length is now oriented up and down.  I liked a few things about the first one, so I kept those elements and added a few that I thought would be useful.

I like the three pockets and the metal clip on the back.  I also wanted to add a place for my school ID and wanted to be able to get my phone out without touching the bottom since a touch in just the right place can end the call.

 I really like the fabric and am hoping that the darker colors will hide the grime that I seem to attract.  Do you think it will at least appear clean for a while? 

The phone will fit in either the topmost or middle pocket, as will pens, so I have a few more options.  The smallest pocket is just right for lip balm and a small pill box.  (Gotta have some headache meds when 30+ teenagers are your clients!)  I’m guessing this will get me through till May. What do you think?

Mary

Pin it Wednesday #44

Pretty Fall Things to enjoy

Happy Fall,

Mary

Excited Granddaughters and Relay for Life Event

Last weekend I made a few small purses for our little granddaughters who are three year olds (read the post here).  Marley got her purse on Sunday and on Monday Richard mailed off the other two purses.

 
 








I packed everything up into a box on Sunday and got a very excited phone call on Wednesday with Caki and Sophie both trying to say thank you at the same time. 

That was an interesting call!  I asked about the shorts that I'd made and tucked into the corners, but neither of the girls had noticed the shorts.  Caki knew that I was making the purses and was so excited that, when she grabbed one purse, the pair of shorts flew to the floor where her dad found it.  I don't know whether they fit quite yet, they'll try the shorts on this weekend, if it warms up enough!

Also this weekend is the Avoyelles Relay for Life event.  I purchased a few luminaries for my mom and grandmother.  Because I also helped in decorating the luminaries, I was able to decorate their bags myself.

 I got a few of my students involved, and of course the Betas and Explorer Club students, so that Mrs. Higgy, our in-house RfL guru and luminaria chairperson, was able to get all the bags decorated and ready for tomorrow's big day.  It's a good feeling to know that we helped in a small way to raise money for cancer research and to help cancer victims. 

  

The front of the bags.

These are the bags for my mom, Ellen, and for Ma-ma, my grandmother Volcie.  Both were cancer victims just before their deaths, although Ma-ma's cancer of the blood lasted for three or four years.  Mom's cancer was much more aggressive.  

The back of the bag in the
center names all eight of us
girls on one of mom's bags.

My one consolation is that neither one was in much pain.  I've heard and seen horror stories of pain and agony from cancer and am grateful that I did not see that with the two women who raised me and were such wonderful influences in my life. 

When is your Relay for Life walk?  Do you participate?  In whose memory or honor?  I'd love to hear from you!

Three Wild Friends

This weekend's sewing seems to be all about granddaughters.  Strangely enough, we haven't seen the first grandchild.  They are all busy with other goings-on, leaving us to do our own thing, except that I'd made a promise earlier this week to make a doggy purse.  And THAT means I'm not doing my own thing.

Since I'm playing with paradoxes, I should explain why I promised a doggy purse and have made instead three cat purses.  Caki called (with help from her dad, of course) and told me that they had been to the mall where she found a doggy purse.  Daddy didn't get it for her, though, so could I make one?  Of course I agreed.  What grandma could squirm out of a personal request from a 3 year old? 

Did Rory know what he was doing?  Oh yes!  He was saving himself 20 bucks times two because, you know, Grandmay can't make something for one granddaughter when there are two in the same house.  Sophie needs a purse, too.

Rory described the purse saying that any animal would do, and I should feel free to cheat by buying a stuffed animal.  That's what I did, of course.  Dollar General had a few stuffed animals but not one doggy.  So, we have here three wild cats--a tiger, a lion and a cheetah.

 Why three?  Because Grandmay has three granddaughters in the toy purse age range: Marley, Sophie and Caki. 

The first cat took quite a bit of time to modify because I didn't consider that a cheap toy might be cheaply made.  All I wanted to do was open a hole in the back, remove some stuffing, and add a zippered pouch and strap.  I ended up losing a tail and having to hand-sew it back on.  While I sewing the tail back on, the head started bobbing about like crazy and required some hand stitches, also.  The zipper was also a time consumer, but I figured out ways to avoid the pitfalls, so the other two cats came together quickly. 

It turns out the three are great friends and love each other very much.  They can barely wait for the little granddaughters to start playing.  I hope that the girls play as sweetly as these three cats do.