Autumn Table Topper...Finished!

I have been working on this table topper for the past few weeks, little by little it's coming together.  I have the center hand quilted.  Just need to embroider the words on the inside border, bind and wash.  Didn't pre-wash the fabrics so the color catchers will need to do their magic.  This 22 X 22" design can be found in Terry Burkhart's Primitive Gatherings ...Quilts and Accessories.  

Hope to have it done by Wednesday.

I sure do hope to get back to quilting, would be nice to make some real progress!  I also want to get some practice in on my Juki/Pinnacle quilt frame set-up.  Practice practice practice and hopefully some quilts finished soon.  I have tops waiting to be quilted!

Happy quilting and stitching!

Tanner Crosses the Rainbow Bridge...

Schuster's Tummy Trauma...

UPDATE:  Schuster is looking well and playing around like he used to.  Amazing what that little guy went through, even more so that he has made a full recovery.  YAY!!   I will have some quilt news to share - next post!  Life is getting back to normal.

In addition to the thread incident, we learned that Schuster had also swallowed two 3/4"X 1/4" pieces of double stick tape . When his health continued to decline we had X-rays taken again and found that what showed up in the first set of X-rays was still there and was more defined in a square shape which was now blocking the entry to the intestine. If you have ever seen what a piece of foam looks like in an X-ray you know that it looks black and is easily compared to gas or other solids in the stomach and intestines.

Pre-surgery labs revealed a fatty liver disease was occurring as the result of extreme sudden weight loss and illness related to the obstruction, the obstruction had moved further into the intestine and finding dead tissue in the intestine from the thread was likely as well. Options were weighed, we thought we were going to lose Schuster. Surgery options were considered and thrown out. We struggled with giving up on Schuster, letting him go, he was so sick...ultimately, Dr. Goebel agreed to go into the stomach in an attempt to retrieve what turned out to be the foam squares. He was able to massage them from the intestine back to the stomach and then pull them out. He repaired a small area of damage to the intestine at the opening of the stomach, found healthy intestine tissue, then, happy with his work he closed up.

Schuster's first night home, after two days at the clinic brought the challenge of blood seeping from his surgery site. An examination at the Animal ER showed a lot of bruising under the skin. More to this story, but more than anybody needs to hear. Two more trips to the clinic, more blood work, a repair to the incision and Schuster was home again.

The week of nursing care involved force feeding him food, water and medications. The jaundice from the liver issues has gone away. After weeks of struggle, our little guy is resting comfortably, moving about and looking like he is going to be just fine.

Update: I did finally make that apple pie for Tom. Also made apple bars that were sort of half-baked when I went to serve them. The pie was perfectly delish!  Our friend, Bob is seeing more cancer growth and is looking forward to beginning chemo tomorrow. He has had some infection and is considerable pain at this point. We hope the chemo provides some relief. He is going deer hunting this weekend, as planned. :)