a sense of accomplishment…

I’ve been on a roller coaster the past few weeks in the ongoing rehabilitation of my second knee replacement. Just when I was making stellar progress my knee became unstable…too much flexibility I was told! So the physical therapist grounded me for 6-8 weeks. After I sobbed for nearly an entire day I decided to eat this elephant one bite at a time!  The Universe and my surgeon intervened a week later and put me back to work building strength on this still uncertain knee. And I’ve recycled a mantra from long ago…will it matter in a year? Hopefully not.

Last week the five art quilts I purchased from the SAQA annual auction arrived. After several polite requests to have the sticks cut for hanging purposes the slats  magically appeared in my studio last night.

So today after the gym I hung all five pieces, walking gingerly with cane, hammer, nails, pencil, sticks and quilts! I managed all of them including two in a tight space. It gave me such a sense of accomplishment and also a HUGE sense of relief because unlike my husband I could care less about making holes in the wall!  That’s why they make spackle!  Had he been here surely there would have been a disagreement about where to hang which work. Besides most of the holes now have quilts covering them!

I started my art quilt collection with the SAQA auction about 5 years ago. Between my own art, paintings we have purchased, family photos and now the art quilt collection our walls are filling up fast. Perhaps next year before I begin to bid maybe I can consider this…uh, probably not!

My collection now includes the beautiful work of Deidre Adams, Jill Ault, Liz Berg, Pat Bishop, Betty Busby,  Benedicte Caneill, Leslie Carabas, Julie Filatoff,  Claire Gimber,  Eva Henneberry, Cathy Kleeman, Denise Linet, Janet Moran, Yvonne Porcella, Alison Schwabe and Sidnee Snell.

Meanwhile I am taking back my life in little pieces. I am moving fabric around in the studio but not yet standing at the design wall. I am prepping some quick and awesome salads like fresh figs, goat cheese, walnuts and balsamic or fresh tomatoes, lemon cucumbers, goat cheese and balsamic or red cabbage, daikon, carrots, pecans, goat cheese and you guessed it balsamic and EVOO.  This dash of creativity makes my tummy happy as my husband continues to do most of the cooking with the menu primarily meat and potatoes. I am blessed to have an in-house cook but miss my usual crunchy foods.

Soon enough…