Seeing 20/20

Another week; another cataract eye surgery. 

On Monday, I had my right eye (dominant eye) cataract surgery, and I'm delighted to say that it went as smoothly as the left eye did 11 days ago. This time my eye seemed a little more light-sensitive, so for the past three days, I've worn sunglasses, even indoors. Initially, there was also a little more blurriness, but that's gradually fading. 

What I keep noticing is my thought at bedtime... "It's time to take my contacts out." 😂 

Until about six years ago, I wore contacts all the time, every day, since I was 16 years old. So, the old habit has been instilled... I can't go to bed with clear vision! Everything has to be blurry! No doubt it will take a while to stop having that thought! 

Otherwise, I'm delighted with the outcome of these surgeries. I can see with much greater clarity, particularly things in the distance - roadway signs, palm fronds, and people's faces. It's all good. I'm only waiting to find out how closely I can see. Right now, a good reading distance is 14". I'm hoping I can eventually bring that nearer, without the need for reading glasses. 

So, with somewhat limited near vision, I've spent much of my leisure time knitting dishcloths and round loom knitting caps.

This is a recently-finished toddler-sized cap, knitted with two different yarns. It's nice and thick.

From Hobby Lobby, I bought several skeins of very plain yarns, in gray tweed and blue tweed, thinking to make caps that a fella might wear. The gray cap is teen-sized (41 peg loom). The pink one I'm working on, with just a little bit of yarn left, is infant-sized (31 peg loom). I'm really, really enjoying peg loom knitting, and want to make more things!

On Sunday afternoon, the day before my second cataract eye surgery, I decided to make a cover for one of my Bibles. This is The Message version that I hadn't used for quite a while. (My most often-used version is NLT - New Living Translation.) 

The reason I wasn't using this Bible is because the faux leather cover had become sticky, perhaps due to Florida humidity which also ruins rubber bands, and the soles of shoes. The Bible cover vinyl was flaking off, and felt sort of gooey.

So for the second time in several weeks, I pulled out a cast-aside piece of improv fabric that I saved from a 2020 improv-along, and made it into a Bible cover. 

In the pieced fabric, I located a block that looked like a cross, and fussy cut it. Then I walking foot quilted the fabric layered with a background and a piece of fusible fleece.

It turned out just as I hoped, and I'm now able to use this Bible again. 

In brief increments of time, I continue to piece my black and white Diagonal Scrap Quilt (pattern by Maryline). The close work needed to match and pin seams, and machine piece with a watchful quarter-inch seam, puts strain on my eyes. So, after joining a row or two of blocks, I set it aside. But it will be a completed quilt top soon! I'm using the web-piecing method to join these 90 blocks. 

Last Saturday was the monthly meeting of the local 4-H club. I was delighted to walk into the room and see my young friend who gave me a hug. Saturday's lesson was to learn how to hand sew to fabric buttons (hole and shank) and snaps, and to machine sew a pouch with a zipper. We had a good time working on these things together, and shared some giggles. At this young age, she's very skilled. After all the kids had completed their zipper pouches, she gave them a crochet lesson! 

The dear girl also gave me this patchwork thank you card she'd made herself. 

 

I am touched by her sweetness. It's lovely to have a young person in one's life. Linda