Grandmother's Flower Garden Blocks Complete

 Finally, all nine flower blocks have been appliqued onto the backgrounds.  Next I'll decide on how I will sash these.

I'm linking up at Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching.

Thank you for the comments and e-mails regarding my absence from blogland and the quilting community.  I'm happy to report that I have been doing better now than I have in years.  It started like this:  I had a knee injury in July.  I had been slowly gaining weight after losing weight before the big Covid shutdown in March of 2020.  I went to the knee doctor in August.  He told me I needed to lose some weight.  Finally...it took the knee guy to make it sink in with me when he asked how the mobility of my mom and grandmother was in their elderly years.  Hmmm.  My grandmother walked with a walker the whole time I knew her due to a broken hip injury and numerous surgeries.  My mom was not mobile the last three years of her life.  It was time for me to get serious about making changes.

I'm happy to report that since my August knee doctor visit I have lost 50+ pounds!  In November after different pain killers and a cortisone shot that only lasted seven days, I was referred to a knee surgeon.  He suggested physical therapy.  From August to November I had lost nearly 30 pounds.  Both knee doctors were happy with that progress for sure.  I only did physical therapy from December to January, but I continued to drop weight and gain mobility.  

I got an Apple Watch to motivate me to move more.  In January I made a resolution to exercise just 30 minutes a day EVERY day of the week.  I'm still sticking to my resolution.  I haven't missed a day yet.  BUT -- I felt I needed to finish my 90-minute walk before posting this.  I am very serious about my new lifestyle.  I had bloodwork done last week.  ALL of my numbers are in line except my iron wish was .1 from the standard!!!  I've never had bloodwork this good in my life.  I contribute my success to finding a ketovore community (I eat usually 10 or less carbs per day -- but some days I eat up to 20) and daily exercise.  I have energy and feel better than ever.  If you are interested more in this type of lifestyle, I suggest you watch a few YouTube channels such as Dr. Ken Berry, 2KrazyKetos, and KetoChow (Keto Chow is a product that I eat as a grab and go meal now and then.  I don't receive any $ for sending you to these channels, I'm just letting you know what helped me.) 

Here's what improved on me. Some of it is TMI, but it is what it is.

Less pain and inflammation

Cholesterol went from 251 to 177

Pant size went from a tight 24 to a comfortable 18

Lost 50+ pounds

Better mental clarity and mood

More energy

Better mobility

Tonail fungus is gone

Skin Tags are almost all gone

My skin and hair is very soft and healthy

Better sleep

I'm up off the couch and participating in things instead of watching things

I can cross my legs (and tie my shoes without effort)

Fewer cravings

There's more health benefits, but these are the ones that are in the forefront of my lifestyle right now.  The downside is that I have been more active.  I sub for elementary students and am on my feet most of the day vs. sitting in for high school classes.  I don't have as much sewing time because I'm outside doing things or being active with out very active son.  His baseball season picked up almost where his bowling season ended (with some play practice for about a month in-between those.)  My husband is also doing great.  :)