Here we are heading towards Thanksgiving and 2025. Where does the time go? I know it sounds trite, but since COVID-19, time has disappeared at an alarming rate. It has been a while since I’ve posted, as we had guests, and then I had to deal with the never-ending oral surgery saga. Three weeks ago, I had a total bottom implant installed in my mouth, so I was stuck at home trying to keep myself busy and distracted. I have tried to vary the days by keeping myself occupied. So, the variety of crafty activities is always ongoing. After years of collecting, I realized how well-stocked my room is with different materials without making a single purchase. So here are some things that kept me busy. I scrolled through Pinterest and found these little gnomes, so I drew the pattern, pulled out the felt, and created these two little gnomes. An attempt to make a little mouse sleeping in a cup Christmas ornament seemed demanding, so I gave up. It is fun creating abstract free-range embroidery. The weighted blanket in my previous blog has been steadily getting bigger. It is slow and steady because adding the beads is time consuming.

Ironically, my Maeve book is about Maeve visiting the dentist. I have started working on the books again and am putting the final touches on them. Hopefully, they will be published soon. The Maeve books have been selling at a steady pace. It is fun watching weekly to see the sales. I have not designed much in the way of wallpaper or fabric for about 8 weeks. I will get back to it soon. The amount of book sales is not astronomical, but it is exciting. I have some other ideas that are in the works. I have included my nieces, mom, sisters, and son as characters in the books. I used their AI likenesses and their first names. AI likenesses are remarkable because they are not entirely identifiable. Earlier this year, I purchased a crochet calendar from England and started working on the blanket. It is almost complete, but I must be more patient while working on the details. This is how far it has come along.

I still need to add random buttons and seasonal decorations, but it is almost complete. My Christmas cards have been designed, and I have also created photo calendar gifts that I give to certain elderly acquaintances who have helped me over the years. Wow! I feel exhausted just reading this. I have also been watching the Monday morning quarterbacking of November 5th. My mind has truly been occupied, and thank goodness the healing is coming along nicely. I cannot say enough good things about the wonderful surgeon and his nursing staff. They have made me feel so safe and secure, and the healing is coming along nicely. Please have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and as we go into the Christmas season, take time for yourself wherever possible. Do not sweat the small stuff. Let us hope that January 2025 is the dawn of a new era. I am looking forward to 2025.