I'm so HIP!

Many thanks to the kind bloggers who wished me a happy time away from home during the past week..... yes, I did have a good time, but not quite what you might expect!

OlderSon delivered me to the local hospital at 6:30am last Monday morning. At 8:00am I walked into the operating room, met my surgeon and his team, hopped up onto the operating table and was given a shiny new right hip joint using a new procedure for this surgeon, Direct Anterior Approach Hip Replacement, or DAA. By 12 noon I had recovered and was moved to the 3rd floor to join OlderSon.

The surgeon came to see me a couple of hours later, and encouraged me out of bed, and I walked a few steps up and down the room, the surgeon on one arm and a nurse on the other.

The next day, Tuesday, was busy with visits from the hospital physiotherapist, the pain doctor, the cardiac doctor, the pharmacist, numerous blood pressure checks, the surgeon wanting to check on his work, as well as lessons how to walk up and down stairs safely. YoungerSon came to get me in the afternoon, and I went to a local Senior Retirement Residence for 7 days respite and recovery.

Direct Anterior Approach Hip Replacement, or DAA, has only been performed at this hospital since November. Instead of a 10 inch incision at the side or back of the leg, DAA has a small 4 inch incision at the front of the leg. Recovery is much faster and there are no restrictions on movement of the new joint. I was able to walk with a walker immediately, and although the incision area is still a little tender, I'm starting to walk with a cane.

Staples come out next week, and then I'll start physiotherapy. And I'll soon be as good as new! I'm thinking positive thoughts. And it gives me the perfect excuse to stay in the warm during this cold snowy weather.

Blue Jeans and Buttons

Torn and faded blue jeans have been given a new lease on life by Judith Tinkl. To me these are no longer just slices of ripped denim, destined for the used clothing recycling bin, but have been turned in to lovely landscapes and architectural drawings, even maps.

Judith Tinkl's quilts and textile creations are not meant to keep you warm at night, although they could. They are meant to be displayed on the wall, and I think they are beautiful.

This one is called Oma, Opa, Obi and was stitched in 2011.

Post scheduled while I'm away this week.

Peculiar? Possibly

Not only is the outside of Viktor Tinkl's property fascinating... inside his "showroom" is just as quirky and different and rather morbid too. Lots of words can be used to describe his art.... peculiar, eccentric, unconventional, strange, bizarre.... they all fit.

Turn the wheel on the left on this device and the playing card skeletons come to life. Wish I had made a video of this.

Judith Tinkl is an accomplished quilt maker and textile artist and many of her works are on display along with her husband's weird and wonderful creations. Look closely at these pieces... what are they made of?

 A new use for surplus office supplies?

More photos to come. Post scheduled while I'm away this week.

Recyling Done Here

It's a wonderland of concrete, cement, recycling, metal, glass, whatever! Each outbuilding or shed is decorated with found objects, recycled objects, pieces of the artist's mind. A feast for the eyes.

The artist even keeps his own private army to guard all his creations. Each face is different. They march through the fields carrying their wooden rifles ready all day, all night, whatever the weather throws at them, but never getting anywhere.

More pictures to come! Post scheduled while I'm away this week.

Concrete Art

Just a few miles to the north of here is a little one room school house that provided education for lots of country students many years ago.
The school house eventually became redundant and artist Viktor Tinkl purchased it in 1965. And then the concrete moved in.
These photos were taken in better weather, all would be covered in snow right now.

 

I visit this place every time there's an Open House, it's fascinating to see what new creations have appeared in the grounds, or on the walls and roof of the old school house.
More pictures to come.

Where's Waldo.... 550 pieces.

It took hours and hours, but we found Waldo. A great way to keep three adults and three children busy throughout a freezing cold New Year's Eve afternoon.

There was fierce competition for who would put in the final piece. 

Isaac won the privilege by keeping one piece in his pocket and producing it at the last minute, when everyone else was about to panic.

Sunshiney

It's been really cold recently, -25C and lower at night, then it poured with rain and the temperature rose to +10C and lots of the snow melted, then wild winds and ice pellets, and now we're back in the deep freeze, -17C. Crazy weather.
The only remedy for too much annoying winter is to buy fresh flowers... especially my favourite sunshiney yellow tulips.

I love the way they open and stand upright, like soldiers on parade, then gradually droop and curl and form those lovely elegant organic curves. Welcome sunshine.

Window Works

I've been a very lazy blogger recently.... my excuses are totally pathetic. Christmas, New Year, and the horrible COLD weather intervened with my creative thought processes, such as they are. I've been attending ice hockey games and practices, some medical appointments, and just generally being a lazy good-for-nothing so-and-so, as my mother would say.
So now, back to blogging, fire up the synapses, it's Twentyeighteen!

When OlderSon and The Equestrienne bought their house a few years ago, her dad built some cupboards either side of the fireplace. And I decided to make some stained glass windows.

Can you guess, she's a horse person?

Twentyeighteen

Did you stay up until midnight with a glass of champagne to welcome the New Year? Or perhaps you were freezing your toes (and pretty well everything else) at one of the outdoor celebrations around the country? It was certainly a bit chilly here.... around -24C (-12F) last night. That's too darn COLD!
Or did you do what I did, stay in the warm, and collapse into bed at around 11:00pm, and wake up ready to face a new day and a new year?

I spent New Year's Eve doing what I love to do best, relaxing with my family. We enlisted the help of grandchildren to complete a really complicated 550 piece "Where's Waldo" jigsaw puzzle, then we played a few hands of Isaac's new Skip-Bo card game, trying to learn the rules.
A movie from 2003, "Daddy Daycare", kept the kids laughing at the antics of Eddie Murphy and Jeff Garlin running a disastrous daycare, while YoungerSon skipped out into the freezing cold weather to bring home a tray of assorted sushi from the local Maki Sushi restaurant.
Sushi in front of the fireplace, then an early Netflix New Year's countdown for the kids at around 8:30pm. After standing on the bed and watching the New Year fireworks from the bedroom window (too damn cold to watch in the park), the kids were tucked into bed and sleeping by 9:00pm, and I was at home getting into in my jammies by 9:45! A successful New Year's Eve!

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! New Year Resolutions? Well, I'm not telling much but I know there are a few things planned on my list:

1. Robbie Burns night in January.... I'll be peeling spuds, mashing neeps, and heating up the haggis as usual. DONE! and it was a great evening.
2. Hip replacement surgery later in January. Now I'll have a matching set. And this time it will be a new procedure, DAA, Direct Anterior Approach, which will allow faster recovery than the previous method. Or so I've been told. DONE!
3. Broadway show "Come From Away" in Toronto in April.... I already have my precious ticket pinned to the fridge so I don't misplace it. DONE! It was a terrific show.
4. Concert trip to Scotland in July with the local men's chorus "Men of Note". And a possible week or two in England too, if I can arrange it. DONE! A week in England then 2 weeks in Scotlad, and then a week in Newfoundland!
5. Four dates for local art exhibitions... not sure if I'll have enough pieces for display but I'll try. Better start painting. And I actually sold a painting! I was dead chuffed.