I am Back! -Post Surgery Update

I've been terrified about surgery my whole life and thus far my oral surgeries have given me enough reason to have kept this fear. My hysterectomy the end of July was, however, a great experience! (Easy recovery, great doctor, etc)

I wanted to let the people following me know why I’ve been absent for a bit, and know it won’t be much longer until I am regularly posting- hoping this is the beginning of normal! I just truly haven’t had much to talk about as I was hanging with my parents for a couple weeks after surgery and taking the occasional nap as my energy level was down for a bit. Then, when feeling more myself have had more work to catch up to where I was. I’m in that now.

If you’re curious about what led to my having this surgery, I had a lot going on. I had adenomyosis causing me a lot of troubles, endometriosis, and a large ovarian cyst that had atleast a liter of fluid in it- impressive, ha! (And uncomfortable, sometimes painful, bloaty, and generally not feeling well- all the time)

I am never too sure what counts as an over-share. Women's health has been so stigmatized and kept secret, and when shared it's seen as making a statement. I guess if I am making a statement it’s to take care of yourself and have doctors that really listen. Also, that women's bodies are bodies- they can fail and do weird things and have problems, and being half the population those problems should get more study.

Anywho. I usually post on Mondays, but my goal of catching up is a bit behind and Cory was off yesterday for a work holiday. We went hiking on my favorite trail on my favorite mountain- a first for the year and a first since I have had surgery. It was so great to be there! The weather was perfect, some twenty plus degrees cooler than town, 55 degrees, and clear skies with great views to Mt Adams. We not only heard pikas, but were rewarded with seeing one! I love those furry little guys.

There was a variety of fungi on the way up, with some especially interesting ones sighted.

Ok, seriously, how CUTE are these tiny mushrooms?!

Mushrooms everywhere!

Mt Hood was really showing off.

It’s funny how this always seems the case- Mt Adams was so clear, but just far enough away that photos don’t do it justice.

My Barbie-Themed Quilt!

When I found out Barbie fabric existed I had to make myself a throw quilt. My sister suggested the Perfect Picnic pattern by Moda, and though I haven’t done a quilt from a pattern it looked easy and cute so I went with it. I bought four of the charm packs by Riley Blake, yardage in a purple and a white by Kona and backing and binding material from JoAnn.

After cutting the purple and white to five inch squares to match the charm packs I bought, I laid out the material accordingly. It took some swapping around to come to an order I liked.

In progress sewing.

Quilt top finished.

Basted and quilted! I like to long stitch quilt by hand. I think the threads are pretty and add visual texture.

Edges squared and clipped. I next zigzagged the edges to compress them for binding.

Front!

Back!

My sister gave me some cute labels so I had to use them!

Making this was a lot of fun, and (I think) a great way to incorporate a little more Barbie into my home. I credit Barbie with sparking my interest in art as when I was playing with my dolls my mom would teach us how to sew simple swim suits for them. This got me into drawing clothes and thinking up elaborate fashions, then drawing portraits to go with. It all started with my dolls, so keeping some Barbie around the house feels right 😊.