Sunday, December 30, 2018

Perhaps I should sleep less



When I was in rehab for various broken bones, I had the aids find extra pillows to prop up my legs, keep my heels off the bed.  After eight hours on my back, because I couldn’t sleep on my side because of broken bones, or the other side because of “terminal osteoarthritis”, geeze, did my heels hurt! Probably I could have sourced a pair of those foam heel protectors, but they are damn hot. So I hit on a pillow under my legs, and slept until I woke up.

I’ve been home from rehab since mid November; six weeks, and waking up miserable most nights from aching heels. At Ann’s I remembered the pillow trick, and scored another pillow. Actually, I intended to write a post about the pillows, and her kitchen towels. Ann and Pat were married twenty five years ago, and we gave them handwoven stuff.


Mom was still alive back then, and would not tolerate a sewing machine if she could hand hem something. We occasionally made pillow cases then. Mom made herself happy by hemstitch hemming them. I doubt any customer realized what they were getting.


My sister wove a lot of dishtowels, too, mainly to experiment for the future use of overshot patterns. This is a twenty five year old dishtowel. The woven pattern is called “dogwood”.  Ann uses a dishtowel one day, and consigns it to the laundry. This towel probably has been through the washer and dryer a thousand times in the last twenty five years. The dogwood flower pattern is woven with carpet warp, and pretty faded, but the towel still does its towel job.

That was a sidebar. I decided I needed a new pillow, to use the old pillow to keep my heels off the sheets. Amazon delivered it today, together with a new set of pillowcases. The pillow was rolled, bedroll style, in the plastic cylinder, flatter than a pancake. We got it out, and in the pillowcase. Eventually I turned around and looked, and assumed it had taken on its load of air. That was three hours ago. It’s even bigger now.

I wonder if it will toss me out of bed tonight.

34 comments:

  1. Love Ann's towels - and that impressive hemming. And hope that bolshy pillow learns its place and doesn't try and evict you.

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  2. I hate overstuffed pillows! They hurt my neck! Can you use this under your feet?
    Be well!

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  3. My daughter keeps telling me to put a pillow between my legs when I sleep and it will help with my legs, but I have not found a pillow that I like. I do so hope that pillow will not throw you out of bed Maybe you better put something soft on the floor just in case.

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  4. 25 years old, huh? That towel looks good. May you rest well with the new pillow. :)

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  5. I remember my heels being in terrible pain when I was hospitalized for a couple of months. I've since heard that people will use sheep skins to help with that sort of thing. I prefer two skinny pillows to one overstuffed pillow. I hope you end up liking it, whether it's under your legs or under your head. -Jenn

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  6. Oh, Joanne, I love the towel! It's like Valley Forge Dogwood from the Davison green book. I like that draft so much that I turned it into colonial doubleweave for table runners. I also give a lifetime guarantee with all my woven goods, and if they last like your sister's, I'll never have a complaint. Happy New Year (may it be better for all of us).

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    1. Maybe it will give a sudden "poof" and pop you right off your bed. What fun.

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  7. Ha ha -- "The Pillow That Ate New York!" Wow, your towels are made to last!

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  8. The towels you so kindly gave me a few years ago have had plenty of use and washings and are still soft and look great. I am so glad to have them. You weave very well and I, along with many others, are so fortunate to know your talent and generosity.

    That pillow looks like a challenge.

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  9. I can't sleep on my back or at least not easily or for long. This is becoming a bit of a problems since both shoulders now get sore. Oh my.

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  10. What magic you have in your weaving.happy new year.

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  11. I've been afraid to use the pretty towels you sent me, but it sounds like they will be very durable! I'll treasure them and think of you whenever I use them.

    I hope you get some relief for your heels. And I love the quilt that the pillow is resting on in that last photo! Did you make it?

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    1. My sister is the quilter. It's her art and profession.

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  12. I hope the new pillow did the trick and that you slept more comfortably.
    Just before I made my first coffee I shook out and folded the laundry - dishcloths, including my favourite ones - they saw a lot of action while the family was home. As soon as my fingers touch that weave I think of you and send you thanks.

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  13. "That was a sidebar."

    Hahahahaha!. Love your writing. And I sincerely hope you sleep well tonight.

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  14. Hari om
    I am proud to be the owner of such weaving as this!

    The risk of of bed ulcers on yours heels warrants the challenge pillow wrangling!!! YAM xx

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  15. My mother used to make two pillows out of one.

    We made our own clothes and I did the hemming. I had more time than mum.

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    1. Mom turned a lot of hemming over to me, too. But, I didn't enjoy it.

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  16. That reminds me of the old joke about the man who dreamt he ate a giant marshmallow. When he woke up the pillow was missing.

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  17. If that pillow does the trick Joanne please let me know - I have the same problem.

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  18. Sounds like a horror movie...the pillow that wouldn't stop growing. Hope it's comfy.

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  19. love the pillowcase, love the dogwood pattern on Ann's dish towel and those compressed pillows and mattresses are a marvel. I wouldn't be able to sleep on that pillow though, I too prefer flat ones. my sister bought one of those compressed mattresses on-line, money back guarantee if you don't like it. ha! sounds like a good gambit to me because who the hell could ever get them back in the plastic sleeve it came it? re your bones...how are the healing? seems like 6 weeks would be plenty of time for you to be able to sleep on your side with no pain. and how's the shoulder?

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    1. When I broke the shoulder three years ago that I just had repaired, it was at least a year, maybe more, before I could sleep on it. I suspect old bones and poor bone density is the culprit. When I see the leg doctor next week, it's my first question. I broke this in July. When can I sleep on it?

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  20. With my faded eyes, I cannot see the pattern. I can see the giant pillow on your bed, and the beautiful quilt. I may use that pattern for the next quilt I make. :)

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  21. Wow, amazing how that towel looks after 25 years and those many washings! Great workmanship on your part! That pillow does look a little puffy, but I hope it does the job it is intended to do! I hope 2019 is a kind one for you and yours Joanne!

    betty

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  22. When I had my knee replacement I had all kinds of pressure problems with knees and heels. I washed up some raw fleece and made little pillows for feet and knees. Wouldn't live without them now!

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    1. My mind can feel them, and I still can get my hands on fleece!

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  23. Beautiful work.
    Hope the pillow does the trick

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  24. Perhaps you could just remove some of the new pillow's stuffing? Or would more than half of it make a dash for freedom and fill the house in minutes?

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