Grin and bear it

When my intention of ravioli dinner with ribs, balls, and sausage was discovered, one local cousin is coming into town and his wife is cutting girl's weekend short, and their adult son would like to see the cousins.  I have a set of 12 dishes, there will be a few luncheon sizes used.  Chairs?  Hmm.  I can't back out, this was planned.  Others invited previously, that's a lot of guests.

Today I am prepping the bean salad, kugel, Hawaiian sliders, and hot beef for shredding in the old crock pot.  Any new one I've tried, does not match up.

My thinning hair can be tied up but stragglers can't be trusted.  These neck gaiters sold for masks during covid are ideal!  Pulled up over my head, all hair beneath, comfortable, reliable.  Finding a hair in my guest's dinner is a real fear!

I had visitors this morning. 

 They came with him.

Salonpas is wonderful.

Adios!

*********

I don't stitch with silk

But am hitting the silk floral department often.

Never cared for exterior decor that wasn't natural, but these branches (three different) caught my eye.  I'll add a few bare craggy branches to this.  Mums are fading, pumpkin rotted, the old lady's back is hindering her every move.  The walk-behind blower is quite heavy to handle on sloped ground, I'll switch to the tractor next time.  If hubs allows me. 

Finding a large enough flat basket has been a chore and this one has seen better days.  But I found a used one online and am so pleased, anxious to receive.  Plans to make this simple style with grapevines never seem to take place.  Call me crazy, but constructing this with leather has crossed my mind.  Sun, rain, snow, but if properly oiled, will it hold up for a few years?  I think so, and I want it.

Anyway, I haven't been stitching.  Cousins arriving with spouses in two days, my other two living local are spending days at their lake camp three hours away.  Up to me to have the dinners and visits for the week, adding brother, Chris, and GF for gatherings.  Lots of prep, expense (they all drink different liquors, none cheap!) and food.  Stitching on hold for the week.

Nice weather, but it ain't summer.

Have a good week!

************

Took a while

But I finally came up with a solution for those pots that

I like.

Not sure where these will go, if anywhere.

And the lantern will be an option for a change, holding a battery candle and a few greens for holidays.  He made this exactly the width of the copper sheet, no cutting needed, just wrap and secure. Deciding on paint or stain.

My tri-color mums are starting to open as the yellow ones fade.  Perfect timing, five for $47 at my Amish greenhouses.  Massive!

Here's Rachel progress.

Rainy day, rushed leaf pick up early this morning before it came.  We did them yesterday but there were so many this morning the grass was not visible.  My flaming red maples are again this year, barely colored and rapidly shedding.

Good day to make soup.  Which one?

Have a good day.

************

Back to green

Yep.

The 936 was too strong for me on the Mink, didn't attempt on Sand.  But the dividing band of green and pink is better than using browns, quite a bit of that throughout.  All I had to do was substitute 3051 and it's fine.  

So I changed the three letters back to green (3051).  3052 may have been a better, lighter option, but I couldn't find it.  No energy to search for it.  Or patience.  It's a snark day.

Done.

We're attempting to copy this lantern for between the copper pots.  This is very dark and a little too wide.  

Wood is cut, ordering a piece of copper for top and will look up aging methods.  I could also use aluminum and mimic a copper tone.  Wish me luck !

I so miss the colonial shops we used to have here.  And the antique malls.  And the flea markets.  And department stores. 

Be safe.

*********

2026 Finish #25

 I didn't share this as a 2026 finish before, waited for the final.

BBD Moonlight Visitor on 40 count something, changed the left side, stitched my sister's initials and year of passing.

As for the blue trim on the other, LOVE it.  Not my style at all but it needed something.  Decided to keep it.  I wasn't crazy about this tiny project, but that changed.

Matilda flirting with the guys.

Changed the suede tie on Jack to a wider mini fringe, much better outline.

Switched the lantern to a faded copper plate, still deciding.

My ovals nest.

Landscaper came to add stones, I'm done with mulch everywhere.  Too messy when blowing leaves, too much work and expense adding more.   The leaves are blowing off great.  It's #2 stone?  Some pea gravel is in it, but alone that stuff goes all over the yard with our blowers.  I may dig deep holes to embed my large pots in the spring. I can fill with potting mix and still plant annuals, pot edges will hold gravel back.  Or just set pots on the gravel.  

This is the new start on Rachel Seller.

40 count PTP Sand (old, my new pieces are very pink)

Changed the dark green to 433 and the 152 to 407.

Much better on this linen.

Could tell from the start I wasn't going to be happy on Mink.

I'm having those meh days.  

Hope yours are better!

************

2026 Finish #24

And another today!

 The Primitive Hare

Midnight

36 count Marbled Hazelnut

WDW onyx and dmc

This is how I hide carry over thread before fusing interfacing.

***********