What's up!

I have been busy, just not on here!

Ben has been through another IVIG treatment, plus a evaluation at Stanford of how he is doing.  He is doing much better though still has a long way to go.  He has a couple more IVIGs to go then the treatment will change.

I have been taking an online course with Sheffield University on Literature in the English Country Houses.  Very interesting.

I have been doing TONS of weeding in the back yard.  It had been neglected for so long because with the drought it is rather depressing.  We have lost quite a few plants and it had slowed the weeds down too.  But we had just enough rain to get weeds start growing again.  So I have 21 garbage cans filled waiting for their turn to get picked up on Thursdays.  I can get rid of 4 cans a week but I have still been filling them as fast as they are emptied.

On the sewing scene I have been mending and I shortened my 1905 Wool skirt.  It was way too long, so I finally shortened it and wore it Thursday.

This week I will be starting a new online class:  Regency Corset and Chemise class.  The corset looks very interesting to make since it has boning with cotton string.  I haven't done and cording before so it should be fun.

There will be a Christmas Tea at Ardenwood this winter.  Sunday, December 13th in the afternoon.  Just a heads up!

And, take a breath! . . . The girls and I have been planning our trip to France in 2016!  We have been having lots of fun and have all the travel plans and hotels taken care of except one, we can't book it until October.   All the friends are getting sick of hearing about it!  I won't drive you away with talking about it, we have our own private blog to wallow about in the fun of it all!

Wall Street Article on PANS (PANDAS)

From an article in the Wall Street Journal re: a study my grandson and his parents participated in.

 5 Things to Know About PANS 

12 JUL 2015 4:55PM BY AMY DOCKSER MARCUS

 The idea that there might be a link between infections and certain psychiatric disorders has gained credence among scientists over the past few years. Resources have followed, including the creation in 2012 of a Stanford University clinic dedicated to studying and treating the condition, known most commonly as PANS, for pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome.  



 1. The name for the condition was coined in 2012. Researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health led by Susan Swedo focused their work on youth who had a sudden and dramatic onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder following a Group A streptococcal infection. They called that condition Pandas, or pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal infections. Over the years, researchers recognized that many patients had symptoms of Pandas but no documented evidence of a preceding strep infection. Researchers met and established criteria that would include both infectious and noninfectious triggers for the condition and published a paper in 2012 describing PANS. Pandas is now considered a subset of PANS.

 2.  A PANS diagnosis requires more than just a sudden, dramatic onset of OCD and/or severe eating restriction. Patients must also have two or more neuropsychiatric symptoms from seven categories, including anxiety, cognitive deterioration, and sensory or motor abnormalities.

 3.  Researchers believe there might be a genetic component. The latest studies indicate that youth who get PANS might have a genetic predisposition for the syndrome, which is then likely triggered by something such as an infection or environmental factors. In a published paper describing the first 47 cases in the PANS clinic at Stanford University, researchers found that patients with PANS frequently reported psychiatric disorders and autoimmune disease in family members.

 4.  To be diagnosed with PANS, other conditions need to be ruled out. Researchers at the First PANS Consensus Conference called PANS “a diagnosis of exclusion,” meaning that doctors first must rule out other known medical conditions that may have similar or overlapping symptoms.

 5.  Parents have played a crucial role in driving awareness and research. Even while the doctors debate the condition, parents have helped drive attention to the disorder. They run chat groups and Facebook pages. They have helped get PANS and Pandas Awareness Days passed in a number of states. Beth Alison Maloney, an attorney and advocate, wrote a resource guide about the disorder and a memoir about her experience helping her son overcome Pandas called “Saving Sammy: A Mother’s Fight to Cure Her Son’s OCD.” Earlier this year, parent advocates spoke at hearings that led the Illinois Legislature to pass a bill to create an advisory committee. The committee will raise awareness and disseminate information to doctors and the public about PANS and Pandas.

4th of July, 2015

This year I was at Ardenwood for 4th of July.  It is my favorite event at Ardenwood, but it seems that quite a few years there are other activities I attend.  Last year it was the Alaska Cruise!

But this year was for Ardenwood!  And most special was that my friends. Simone and Spencer, brought a traditional 4th of July picnic lunch for me to enjoy with them.  We had a wonderful spot on the lawn in front of the gazebo and were serenaded by the Fife and Drum Corps while we ate

!

1900 walking suit

This is the latest project: 1900 walking suit

I used the Truly Victorian Trumpet Skirt and Truly Victorian 1896 Ripple Jacket

The fabric is linen/wool and requires dry cleaning.  I found this fabric in a costume post that it was on sale (reg $14, on sale at $7 a yard and just had to get it.  I knew it was going to be a challenge.  Lucky for me I ordered 7 yds, thinking of just making a skirt and adding for matching.  It turned out since it was 60" wide and the way the skirt was cut, there was enough to make the jacket also.

The challenge:  The border was more than 2 ft wide along one edge.  There is a scallop on the bottom edge.  The skirt pieces are curved and the border is straight.  Then the floral embroidery is spaced with about a foot between each one.  That meant they had to be spaced on the separate skirt pieces so they weren't chopped off where the seams go.

After much adjusting, it all turned out pretty well, pattern-wise.  Though on each side there is a seam where the scallops don't meet.

If you look where the seam is you can see part of the embroidery just floating up there.  I was able to fix this picking out the stitches of that embroidery.  This happened in several places

When it came to the jacket, there was just enough fabric left.  There was a piece of embroidery that was just large enough for each sleeve.

Now I have to make a blouse to go under the jacket to complete the outfit.
And, I'm going to have to try another method to show this dress.  Black on Black doesn't show much.