9/29/13

Real Comfort


We arrived home yesterday around noon. Our trip was wonderful despite all the bad weather. How can we complain when nothing broke and we didn't run into the back of anyone? (For the back story on that, click here.)

The weather coming out of Great Basin National Park was a little scary given the amount of snow and rain we traveled through, but the trip from Winnemucca to Bend couldn't have been lovelier. This is a view of the Santa Rosa Range in Nevada.


The drive from Bend to home...oh my. Terrible weather. What a difference a day and several hundred miles can make.


We're in the middle of a pretty bad storm here in the Northwest, but we're home now, and so we're indulging in the "real comfort" that only one's home can provide. This morning, Mike made Spanish Coffees (his recipe right here). Mike doesn't like cooking much, but he makes one helluva bartender.


Gracie is parked on her favorite quilt.


Smitty is currently parked in front of the fireplace, although he's spent more time outside in the rain than inside keeping warm. I think the cat doesn't have the good sense his mother cat gave him. We now have installed a towel on the breakfast bar so that we can dry him off when he comes inside. I think turning on the fireplace will be a definite incentive to stay warm and dry.


Mike is parked in front of the TV watching the America's Cup that was recorded while we were gone.


And I've been parked on the couch, sipping my Spanish Coffee and madly stitching away at my Home Sweet Home stitchery, trying to get it done for the day when Erik and Mae get the keys to their new home next week. So exciting for everybody! I smile every time I think of it.


And that's where it stands...or sits, depending on how we're feeling at any given moment.

I sent myself 64 emails while we were on the road...things I needed to do, print, remember, etc. It's my method, and it works. I went through most of them yesterday, but I still have about a dozen to deal with. I need to send out partner assignments for the Doll Quilt Swap, and I still need to unpack. Ugh. The worst part of any trip. I'm about half done now. The refrigerator is emptied out and that is always the most loathsome part. I've needed to go out to the trailer for this thing or that thing since arriving home yesterday, and each time, I filled up the laundry basket with stuff that needed to come inside. I should be able to finish in about an hour, I imagine. And then...I need to make up a grocery list because we have food for just one more night.

Next week, I start physical therapy for my knee. The knee has slowly but steadily declined since finishing up the anti-inflammatory. Knowing how much I love PT (not), you can imagine how disappointing that is. I spent quite a bit of time thinking about this PT "assignment" from my new doctor while we were gone. Will I go or won't I? With my knee declining again, it seems I don't have much choice. I have serious doubts that it is going to help, but I can't really go back to the doctor and whine about my knee still hurting if I haven't done what he told me to do, now can I? So here's what I'm telling myself about this: I decided to think of it as working with an athletic trainer, and I'm going to tell him that I want swimming to be a part of my therapy. That way I can trick myself into thinking I'm not at PT, and hopefully, I can convince myself to return to exercising. Not bad, eh? We'll see. And just maybe the doctor will be right. I imagine he learned something in medical school.

So that's it from me for today. Unpacking awaits my arrival. And in my effort to get back on some sort of schedule, I'm linking up to Slow Sunday Stitching


Enjoy your Sunday!

25 comments:

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Welcome Home!! I am sure Smitty just needs to get the 'cooped up' out of his system - I nice cozy fire sounds good to me. And your stitchery is just lovely in the blue.

gpc said...

Not to be a nag, but he was right about the anti inflammatories, so he deserves the benefit of the doubt maybe? Your quilt is going to be beautiful, and those coffees look scrumptious. Welcome home!

Ray and Jeanne said...

Glad you are home - safe and sound! That is a great photo of the Santa Rosa Range - beautiful! I wish modern medicine could just fix 'what is ailing us' instead of trying different remedies. Best of luck with your knee. ~Jeanne

Jeanie said...

Vacations are great, but being snug and safe at home is even better! Good luck with the unpacking and deciding what to do next on the knee. I'm glad that it held up pretty well for your trip. Thanks again, for taking us along on your trip!

Kathy Felsted Usher said...

The coffees look good! It's nice to relax just a little when you get home. My husband always made us come in and sit for just a bit before the unpacking madness began.

I love the embroidery in Blue!!

Quilter Kathy said...

What a wonderful post to read today!
I am enjoying the thought of your special coffees!
Thanks for linking up...enjoy your hand stitching!

Michele said...

Yes it is always nice to come back home.

WoolenSails said...

I am glad to hear you made it home safely and have enjoyed the trip with you. I saw that the weather was horrid, but nice to snuggle up by the fire and catch up on stitching. I hope your therapy goes well.

Debbie

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you arrived home safely. You have enough memories for a lifetime!!! A cozy home is the best!!!! Love the stitchery and those coffees look awesome! Welcome home!!! Hugs.....

Lyndsey said...

Oh I love the look of those coffees. It's a shame it is almost bed time otherwise I would be making one.. maybe when I get in from work tomorrow. Glad you're home safe and sound and good to see you've already settled into your stitching routine. Thanks for all your posts about your trip. I've really enjoyed 'seeing' more of America.

Quilting Babcia said...

Welcome home! And hooray for Erik and Mae! How exciting, they're probably all packed and ready?

Junebug613 said...

Glad to see that you made it home safely! Despite the warm weather here, Bruce has the A/C on a little chilly in here and my feet are cold, so your fireplace looks mighty nice! Oh and Smitty too, of course. Wow, you must stitch very quickly to have that much done on Home Sweet Home. Thanks for taking us on your trip and back!

Kristine said...

Take 2 on this comment. I really hope PT works for you, as it has helped me since I started a couple weeks ago. Welcome home!

quiltzyx said...

Welcome home!

Sorry you had to go to the grocery store so soon - maybe next time you could ask Eric & Mae to pick up a few things the day before to give you some extra breathing space.

The blue work is looking so good! Is 6895 the number of their new place? They are going to love it!!

Janarama said...

Welcome home and thank you for taking us along on your adventures. Smitty and Gracie look quite comfy being back home. Hope the physical therapy helps your knee. I'm going through PT now for my knee and it's been working for me.

Brown Family said...

It is always good to be home, safe! Even though you know the unpacking and cleaning the trailer is a chore, it is worth it! I agree that you have to at least try the PT before going back to the doctor!

Carole in Nebraska said...

Glad you're home safely! I've enjoyed bumming a ride along with you - even though it was vicariously. My cat, Rudy, has enjoyed Smitty's adventures and thinks that he needs to graduate from being an 'arm-baby' checking out the back yard with daddy, to actually walking on a leash in a harness. He has thick!!! long!!1 hair and I don't want any bugs in it. Take care of that knee. Dealing with my own issues and am commiserating with you.

Judy1522 said...

Glad you made it home safe and sound. Too bad it was to all this rain, but at least it is supposed to clear up by the end of the week. Sorry to hear your knee is not doing well, that must be so frustrating for you.

Tami C said...

I'm glad to here that you got home safe and sound. The Santa Rosa Range is really beautiful! Sorry you ended you trip in a pouring rain, but I know how wonderful it is to finally be home. Gracie looks quit pleased to be home. Smitty's a young boy and they always like playing outside in the rain. I hate unpacking after a long trip too. I like your Home Sweet Home stitchery. I'm sure Erik & Mae are going to love it. I really like the cat sitting on the front steps! I'm sorry to hear that you knee had slowly declined after you finished your anti-inflammatory medication. I think that swimming would be a great part of your therapy. It's really good because it is low impact exercise. Thanks again for a lovely trip!

Dana Gaffney said...

Looks like everyone's happy and content to be home, I'm glad you're all settling in (except for the unpacking), just keep drinking that coffee, it looks wonderful.
I hate to say it, but I think it's "big girl panties" time for the PT, you have to at least give it a try, what if it works?

DebraKay Neiman said...

I have osteoarthritis in my knees and already have had surgery on both. Anti-inflammatory medication and steroid shots to the knees did not help. My orthopedic provider did a series of injections to my knees with a hyaline product called Supartz. Made a real difference for me. FYI

Heidi said...

glad you are home safe and sound. I enjoyed following your adventures, and your fantastic photos - thank you for sharing!
That coffee looks sooo good !

Diane Wild said...

No matter how far you roam, there's no place like home. Just look at the kittys. Back to reality, Barbara. Yes, that means grocery shopping and PT. (Do I hear a "Yes, mother"?

kc said...

Maybe the rain was just God's way of helping you wash the road grime & love bugs off the camper? The kitties look all comfy curled up in their special places & it's nice to see you've picked your needles back up. I looooved getting in the warm pool for hip therapy - it's just about the only thing that makes the hurt go away! Just be sure they know your insurance limits, 'cuz that stuff adds up FAST, and we'd hate for you to have a heart attack when you see the bill you incur.

Kate said...

Glad you got home safely. Hopefully you are fully unpacked now and are able to get back into full stitching mode.