Four Weeks Out from Surgery

Recovery is going well. Sometimes frustrating, but most times pretty positive

A doodle in my pattern book



Failure to get me and my walker into the back yard

And today, I got outside! 

Today was a good day!





Field trip to my studio

Field trip to my friend Libby’s studio for some art fun with her and Jill Berry!


Having workmen in my house while I am in a wheelchair was rather scary, but my husband kept calling to make sure everything was alright



One month since hip revision surgery and still can’t put much weight on my left foot. Still using a wheelchair and my walker, but getting stronger everyday. Hopefully, all of this confinement will strengthen my hip and heal the way the doctor hopes it will. I want to go swimming. Alas, wait g for my incision to heal so that I can!

More from my Sketchbook

Continuing on with my recovery journey and drawing in my sketchbook 

I decided to take a walk on the positive side of healing to get me through some hard days

Just looking on the bright side of life

My first shower has heavenly!

McDonalds makes the best oatmeal raisin cookies. Who knew?

I learned to use my crutches today, but won’t be using them until I can put more weight on my left foot

It’s better to ask someone how they are, instead of hope you are doing better. Better to know the answer from the person, than to assume to know, unless you don’t really want to know 



My first outing to see my doctor and happy to have gradual weight bearing. Home on Halloween for the first time since 2002. Missed Quilt Market and Quilt Festival this year

It’s good to have friends who bring you coffee, lunch and a hearty conversation! Laughter is good. 

Had my first pain lapse, so now I know what my limitations are

My husband is my hero: from his cheerful good mornings, to making me breakfast and coffee, and taking excellent care of me, I am one lucky girl


Went on an outing to have dinner with family. It was so great to hang out with family. 2 hours and I was bushed. So, onward and upward to healing and getting stronger!  

Pages from My Sketchbook

My greatest therapy when I am down for the count is drawing. This Moleskine Storybook is my go to. My surgery told through my drawings. It helps.





I was told by the PT person that I could not put any weight on the surgical side. Major upset. I had no advance notice to get my house ready. Crap. The nurses were amazing at Hoag Orthopedic Irvine





The PT person told me that I would have to hop on one foot with a walker for six weeks. Nope. Ordered a wheelchair from Amazon

There is no way I am going to hop around my house. My feet are deformed and not able to do this. Of course the PT person had other ideas.

After much convincing and talking to the PT person, she insisted that we get wheelchair assistance and have a truck take me home. We opted out of that. I have 2 steps into the house and they aren’t over 3”




Nurse Derpy can watch over me. He’s on Instagram @theoderpyshire



A little depression is seeping in. It’s hard to stand on one foot to get from point A to point B

I am using my 4 wheel walker to get around my house until the wheelchair arrives. One baseboard in my house will have to be replaced after this

This is from last Sunday, October 20th and there is more to come. Thanks for coming on my journey. Onward and upward.

Airstream Dreaming...again

My actual first brainstorming sketch of some of my iconic images that I use in my work. This became the inspiration for my first fabric line with Hoffman Fabrics ‘Home is Where Your Story Begins.’ This begins my obsession with trailers.

The year that my red trailer (Airstream Dreaming) that landed on the cover of Quilting Arts Magazine (2013), for which I am still thrilled about 

Sweet pillow

A page from one of my coloring books

More fun stuff with trailers

 Now to where I am now. Starting a new watercolor painting series ‘The Trailer Series.’ Here we go! 

Oh no, not again!

Just leaving for the airport to visit our kids and the grands, my hip dislocated and I fell hard onto the carpet at my husband’s office. It knocked the shoe off my left foot. My Apple Watched dinged and told me that I took a hard fall, and then asked if I was okay. It even gave me a 911 button to push if I needed it. Amazing technology 



Another ambulance ride, only this time to Hoag in Irvine. Do you like the stripe sock with my pink Birkenstock’s? I can’t figure out why no one put my shoe back on?

That’s me in the mirror. I thought it was rather cool. Why, oh why do emergency room workers want to cut your clothes off? I didn’t let that happen. Oh my.

A picture after pain meds. Oh so fun! That oxygen mask is such a fashion statement. Just fix the issue already. Dr. Doozie was there to explain to me what I was not going to be doing this next week. Nothing stupid. So, would that mean - digging holes in the backyard or re-doing my garden, or climbing a ladder? He was not amused. Lucky, for me, my hip doctor is a tad more positive than Dr. Doogie. I could resume driving and whatever else. No heavy lifting and to just be careful. I can live with that.

Technology. That blue box on my wrist keeps track of me in the hospital. My Apple Watch and the finger thang. I was well taken care of in the emergency room by a score of men in all beautifully colorful scrubs, each one with their own meaning: helpers, nurse, specialist, surgeon. They were able to put my hip back into place with drugs and I don’t remember a thing, thankfully. Home in 4 hours. I found out that I am pretty talkative on drugs. Who knew? My husband thought it was hilarious. He has made dinner every night since I got home. He put together a walker with a seat for me to get around the house and wherever I need to go, so I can feel safe. Onward and upward to the next chapter. Now, back to drawing and painting.