It's amazing to know that people all over this place we call Earth say prayers, think good thoughts, and enjoy stopping by to see what I'm up to.  You are amazing.  You know that, right? 

Using the Random Number Generator I came up with comment 13:

Left by Susie.  I don't know Susie but I plan to get to know her.  I know I'm going to like her for the simple fact that she has a rooster in her blog banner.  Susie, did you know I love chickens?  You poor thing.  You may never get rid of me.  

But I can't let Susie be the only winner.  I want to make a little dress for each of you who commented on my last post. I will send you an email to get your address and over the next couple weeks I'll whip up some dresses. 

I do have one favor to ask.  My husband is healing well but needs another surgery on his eye tomorrow to put in a tube to drain fluid from his eye.  It's a minor procedure but a bit scary nonetheless.  So, say a prayer for him and the surgeons.  Thanks!

Since starting this blog almost 4 years my husband has proven to be a mess.  He's had MRSA, tore his esophagus, had broken bones, and had multiple stitches.  Two weeks ago was a nightmare.  He was making a horseshoe in the barn and when he hit it the 10-inch piece of bar steel flew out of the tongs and hit him in the right eye. 

We drove 45 miles to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics emergency room.  I knew it was bad when the doctors began discussing his "open globe" and the seriousness of it.  To make a long story short, they were able to save his eye but compared it to "squishing a grape and sewing it back together."  He no longer has an iris and will eventually need to be be fitted for a pupil-control contact lens.  During surgery the doctor was unable to find the lens inside the eye.  I found it the next day on the barn floor. 

He had another surgery this past Thursday and in a week will be referred to the cornea service for that special contact lens.  I told him I will kick his butt if he gets hurt again.  I'm not sure how much more I can take.

Ellie (age 6): Mom, that stuff on the stove smells BAD.

Me:  It does not.  It's ham and beans.  It's yummy.

A few minutes later.

Ellie:  It smells like somebody pooped in here!

Me:  Sigh.

I know some of you are familiar with this type of pincushion.  Mine is a combination pincushion/cat perch.

This is where I sew.  See that arm there next to the table?  That is my usual pincushion.  Last night I placed my hand there to balance myself while stepping over the dog and something stabbed my palm!  Yeouch.  See how the stuffing is hanging out of the arm?  I had to do a little surgery.

This, my friends, is what I found in all that stuffing.

Yes, 17 needles.  I think it's time for an arm-rest pincushion.
 

Nice break from usual red and green of the season.  Special order.

I'm on a bit of a goat kick lately.  I just know there are some sweet fainting goats wanting to live with me.  The trouble is finding them for a reasonable price and having Craigslist sellers honor their word! Hmph.  Anyway.  When I saw this with regard to how to use an apostrophe, well, they had me.  I'm sure it's the journalist in me that appreciates proper use of punctuation, but thought you might get a kick out of it, too.  Go here for the whole entry.

This is Zip. 

Doesn't he look sweet?

  Last Saturday he was a very bad boy.

He decided to be a bucking bronco for Halloween and bucked my husband into the air.  Brett landed on his left shoulder, breaking his shoulder blade.  He has this pretty blue accessory for the next few weeks. 

Good thing Zippy looks so sweet.