Thanks to all for the great ideas and well wishes. Best wishes and fast recoveries to those of you also having surgery.
I am going to do some hand piecing because I don't want to wait to get started on my new project. I have always been a machine piecer but I am making a sampler quilt with each block representing a quilting novel that I have read. I participate in a book club on the forum. It's called creativesheila:quiltnovelmusings. There are 7 of us (I think) and we have a great itme. Join us if you are interested.