Thursday, July 27, 2006

Finn's tryings....

I can't meander...

but I can wander...*VBS* Little practice projects. Orphan blocks turned potholder or such. The one snailtrail is quilted in the ditch. The other and the mile a minute block are my attempts at curves and going cross country. I'm not sure I could do those shapes on a big quilt...maybe. It does seem like it would be alot of turning.
I like the way the curves look, thats a start!
Thanks for all the good wishes about going to the dentist. Apparently NONE of us find that an enjoyable thing to do. The news is NOT good. The young dentist with the lastest equipment found problems where my old dentist had told me "everything is fine"...ya...right! The national debt would have nothing on what it will/would cost to correct what is wrong, including two teeth that are dead. One sits there dormant causing no problem right now. The other...well....bad,bad,bad news. I go back next Wednesday for the consultation and a Master Plan of action. And to see just what I can manage to do about the situation. Mostly today, I am just "stunned" and in shock. To be told in Oct. that everything was "fixed and fine...no problem areas". Then see what a better exam shows, certainly hits you right in the stomach. But I've risen to the challenge of 3 retina detachments in my left eye in three months, and 3 surgeries to correct it....all with no health insurance. I'm sure I can rise to meet this challenge too...*VBS* Accept of course, I don't have the house to borrow against this time...but I'm a clever gal...and it will work out.

24 comments:

Unknown said...

Of Finn - I do feel for you on he dental issue - over here in the UK most of our dentists only do private work and it seems the more treatment you have previously had the higher the insurance premiums - odd that you'd think if you'd had just about everything done it would be cheaper as there's little left to do - Could you lose the troublesome tooth perhaps - I suppose it depends where in your mouth it is - aren't teeth a real pain in the wallet :o) Your quilting curves look great - the secret with a big quilt is to arrange the area of it you're quilting into a little nest and concentrate on that area forgetting the rest save to make sure it won't drag on the needle. Someone put a comment on my blog about spending 80% of the time arranbging the quilt and 20% stitching - I guess that just about sums it up

Silverthimble said...

My heart goes out to you regarding your dental problems. I was also at the dentist yesterday - only one more visit to go! I also have huge issues with my teeth.

Judy said...

Now let me say that *I* can actually tell you an internet answer. Yea me! The permenent link to any particular post is the time stamp that's higlighted at the bottom of that post!! So you would go find my post about the quilt, click the date link and that particular post would open up...then you do the copy ,paste thingy.

Now, a word to the wise about NEW young dentist. They need MONEY for their new offices and practices. Don't believe eveything they say, please. My guy wants to do all sorts of things and when I had that last tooth fixed the OLD guy didn't even take an xray! The money gal said what? no xray? See $$$$. He just fixed it and it's fine. Not badmouthing the new guys but remember, they want money so they go all out with the latest bells and whistles. Weigh the costs and don't be afraid to demand he listens to you.

Eileen said...

Finn,
Been there, done that. Had all the periodontal stuff done years ago, just to have most recent dentist ask me if I want to keep my teeth, and then tell me what I'd have to do to keep them. I'm probably going to be doing this for life.
Do you have access to a dental college where you live? Sometimes you can take the x-rays, etc to them and get the work done at a reduced rate. We also have several dental clinics locally that don't cost as much as the private dentists.
Your curves look good, and the secret behind the meandering is to breathe and flow with some music that allows you to relax. Works on domestic machines and longarms.

Patti said...

I'm so very sorry to hear about your tooth problem! Reminds me of my husband when we got married. His mother had taken him to the "family dentist" - and old guy who never took xrays. He made an app't with a different dentist a month after we got married - and we had no dental insurance. Well, after x-rays we learned he had over 20 cavities, a tooth that needed pulling and a bridge built for the resulting "empty space". Luckily for us the dentist was willing to take payments until it was all paid for. I don't know whether dentists will do that any more. Sending positive thoughts your way for a good solution.

Your quilting looks good. Keep practicing. Remember, you won't be turning a big quilt when you do that. You'll drop your feed dogs, use your darning foot, and move the quilt around from front to back and side to side without turning it. I was never able to do a quilt larger than lap size - it hurt my shoulders too much.

Joyce said...

I had a broken tooth. $800 to fix it. I said no dice, my teeth are too old for that. I'll just yank it when it starts to hurt. That was about 10 years ago and it is doing fine and still not hurting. Judy has a point.

Libby said...

I agree with all on getting another opinion. My own dentist has given me a plan on what he would like to do $$$ in one area of my mouth. I have stated more than one an acceptable alternative $$, but he won't listen. With small children, a mortgage and a new practice to get going, he is looking out for Numero Uno. We are at an impass.

Your machine quilting looks great. Practice and relax are the two words that come to mind. I love the look of meandering and do it on most every quilt. You can sure tell my early quilts from my current. Yet there are cross-overs and pointy stops here and there still.

Don't give up on either point.

McIrish Annie said...

Finn, love your curves..

i too am cursed with lousy teeth. usually spend about $1500 a year on a cap crown or bridge replacement or repair. I am blessed with dental insurance, thanks to dh's job...
sending good vibes for solutions to the tooth dilemma

Linda C said...

ACK!! and then ACK again---no wonder we all want to stay away with news like that. DJ would say--tell him to pull em all and give you a set of Roebuckers.

The quilting looks pretty good, Finn!

Laurie said...

Finn,
The dentist is definitey my LEAST favorite thing to do! ICK...OUCH...WAAAAH! Good luck with it!

I love your quilting! It's neat!! Keep practicing!

Your tribute to your mother was beautiful as well. Thanks for sharing a part of your heart with us.

HUGS
Laurie

Melanie said...

Finn, I hate the dentist as much as you do. Is it a front tooth? Sometimes, it may be better to cut your losses and get rid of it. I'm concerned about you. Could maybe antibiotics fix it for a little while and you nurse it a long until finances get better...

On the quilting seen - I like your machine quilting.. it's artistic. It's something different from the every day meandering.. and who wants to be like everyone else.

Hang in there, It's always darkest right before the sun peaks out.

Melanie

P.S. I'm glad the tornado weather missed you, It happened about 35 miles from us

Hanne said...

Dear Finn. What a let down with the dentist. I can relate to the expences as well as I have experienced some of the same some years back when changing dentist. One said all was fine, the other found major trouble - infection, root canal + + . We do not have dental insurance here .....
I paid it off during the months it took to fix.
The first dentist was a young guy - the next a bit older and more experienced.

On a happier topic - have you tried the darning foot when machine quilting ?
Then you do not have to turn the quilt when machine quilting. It takes some practise, but potholders and smaller children's quilts are perfect for practising :-)
I often quilt in sections anyway. It is not so heavy to work in sections.

dot said...

Your quilting looks great. Just keep practicing. Like everything, things do get better with practice. Sorry about the dental problem. I know things are expensive, I work in the field and cringe at some of the prices. Good luck.

Lily Mulholland said...

Oh Finn - it's hard enough going to the dentist without then being told bad news. Yeeouch. And teeth aren't really the kind of thing you can put off forever.

I like the idea of negotiating a payment plan.

Good work on making orphan blocks into potholders! What a great idea. And nice curves!!

quiltpixie said...

love your quiting! my machine quilting is still slow going... when I use my darning foot I have serious tension problems, so I myuch prefer the in the ditch with an even feed foot.

Quilts And Pieces said...

Oh your quilting curves are wonderful! They are very fun! You did a great job! And I feel for you on the dentist. I"ve had so much dental work in the last 2 years, and my teeth have felt fine! But I guess that is because he is catching them before I'm in pain. Here's wishing you success in fixing them!

Darlene said...

Finn, sorry to hear about your dental challenge. OUCH! I visit your blog regularly but I don't believe I've ever left a comment. HMMM - anyway yours is a fun one to read so know that I do visit regularly!

Sandy Hatcher-Wallace said...

Finn...dentists Ouch!
I had a small fortune invested in my teeth...no insurance like you. My last straw was when the dentist did a root canal for $$$ and said to come back in 5 or 6 months (to see how it was doing). I went back and he said now lets do the FINAL root canal for $$$ and I said what do you mean final? I thought you already did it and he said that he just had done a temporary root canal. The cost for both was the same price, so one tooth cost me $$$$.
That was my last straw so the next time something came up I said lets go for dentures.

My teeth were weak and always a problem so having them pulled and having dentures made cost me less than the last root canal, which cost me double.

So sorry about your teeth problems and I know that you want to save your teeth if they are mostly good. Your blogpals have given you some good suggestions and especially about going to a dentistry school for the work if at all possible.

Tonya Ricucci said...

Oh ouch, that doubly hurts. Sorry about the dental woes.

Katie said...

Well, I've got dental insurance. $1,000 a year. That's enough for one problem around here. What got me was one year I'd only have two cleanings and not use much of the insurance money and then the next year I'd have huge bill. Should be able to average it out. I've done part of it at end of one year and more as soon as the next year began and then hope the rest of the year was good. My childhood dentist told me I had my dad's little mouth and my mother's big teeth. And like you, I'm before fluoride. My dentist says dentures will be obsolute in future generations. It's great fluoride is available for everyone but with so many people in poverty and without preventive care, I wonder about that prediction. Currently I have a two tooth hole. I can't face the cost and problems with bridge. The procedures to make the stems to put on caps caused problem so I had to have root canals which cracked root of teeth and extractions resulted. Can't win for loosing. Now I will have only fillings done. They want to cap these old teeth that are so full of silver and gold but I say fill it or leave it. sorry for the long trirade. guess I should hae used my own blog. Anyway, finn, along with everyone else, I feel for you. Ouch!

ForestJane said...

I have a dentist appt. in early August too, uggh. We can moan together!

I wonder if your new young dentist would need a quilted tooth to decorate his office wall with?

Katie said...

Going to the Dentist. I haven't seen a subject produce so much comment. We all relate. Say Ahhhhhh.

Maggie Ann said...

Dear Finn, I am praying God will make a way for all to work out. We have had bad news in that department here recently too. What to do with teeth that look ok but don't feel ok anymore.~~~ I LOVE your potholder blocks or whatever they will be used for. I can see those 1st two framed as art. Yes, really!

Tazzie said...

I'm sending you huge hugs Finn, I'm so sorry about your dental issues. I hope everything works out well for you.
*huge hugs*
Tazzie
:-)