I Was In A Lollipop Mood Today!

I'll explain the Lollipop Mood in a minute, but first.......

What a day!!!! I was already awake, but not out of bed yet when the phone rang. It was a nurse from the nursing home telling me that my mom was very upset. So, I jumped up, threw on clothes, ran my fingers through my wild hair and drove up there. She was REALLY upset. She'd had a bad dream and was scared. She settled down when I got there and talked to her. I helped her eat a little cereal, but I could tell that she wasn't totally calmed down. (She actually started being anxious yesterday.) I told the nurse that it would be ok to give her something to help her settle down and sleep for a while. I stayed until she was sound asleep. I went back at lunch time and dinner time. She was awake both times and ate good meals. She was much calmer!!! I don't understand what's going on with her, and neither does the doctor, but it is hard to see her this way. This stage usually lasts for several days, then she usually sleeps for 2 - 3 days, then she's usually ok for a few days. She actually had a great week all of last week!! I guess I should just be glad there are good days.
My mother-in-law is doing well. She goes back to the orthopedic doctor on Wednesday, and my father-in-law is hoping she will get to come home then. He will have help from home health workers, physical therapists, and occupational therapists at home for a while.

This afternoon, I sewed. I find that sewing helps me take my mind off of other things, so it is really like therapy for me. Does sewing help you this way, too?

My daughter bought this light turquoise cotton fabric and the green ribbon to make Lil' E a pillowcase dress, but instead she gave it to me to make. I've had it since Christmas, and I finally got it done today. I added this polka dotted fabric as the hem band and the lollipop! The top is simply a casing through which the ribbon is threaded. I stitched at the ends of the casings to hold the ribbon in place. I made bias binding to bind the arm slits. As you can see, I added a border of yellow rick rack on the top of the hem border, blue around the outside of the lollipop, and pink to simulate the swirled candy. The lollipop stick is 4 rows of cording that I just zigzagged into place. I added the green bow, and Voila, a lollipop pillowcase dress. I guess I should be calling it a faux pillowcase dress, since it really isn't made from a pillowcase at all. It can't get much simpler than this! I hope Lil' E and her mom like it.