Improving

Carole may be released from ICU tomorrow but they are close to 100% capacity and a room may not be available in step-down.  If it isn't, I will need to call other hotels for a place to stay since I planned on staying in her room.  This hospital is wonderful in allowing family to stay with the patient in all private rooms.
I hate working from a tablet!  Never be able to view and post from a phone but that's OK - I don't have one.

I finished the Nash heart
I was generously gifted with.  Belfast 32 count unbleached/natural with one strand of 3781.
Can't wait to sew it into shape.
Enjoy your weekend.  I just realized tomorrow is Sunday!  Is it?  Wow.

Of heart and mind

Carole is still in ICU, a few days longer than expected because her pumping strength is weak, but now she has post surgical psychosis.  I walked into the ICU to see her tied down, rolling tongue, legs flailing, and I couldn't wake her.  I loudly asked for her nurse and she was too busy, so eventually the doc came.  They are trying to sedate her but it's not working.  This could last a day or several.  My friend went into this after his bypass and injured a nurse, destroyed his room, and never came out of it.  Five days later he had a heart attack and died.
 I changed hotels - moved to the one attached to the clinic with a skywalk.  Good thing I did.  It's a long walk but I no longer have to wait in frigid weather for a shuttle or be restricted in time.
This tablet deletes all email from blogger (comments) and is giving me fits by shutting off for no reason.  I did learn that you can click the upper right flag (lines) for drop down and check the "desktop view" box.  Better.

Take care everyone - not sure when I will be home.

Carole update

Hello from frigid snowy Cleveland. The surgery went well, off the ventilator same day. They are keeping her an extra day in ICU, she is very shaky, in much pain (they did crack the chest open instead of the original plan).  Most of her ill feelings are probably from the anesthesia and the pain meds, which she doesn't think are working, and the Swan catheter tube in her neck.  I saw her for only a few minutes and will go this afternoon for a few.  Luckily the hotel can accommodate me for another night.  I can't take the chance of her being moved to step-down tomorrow, where I can stay in her room.  So glad that it's over and hope she can start feeling better today.  As long as the heart is doing as expected, the rest will subside eventually.

Thank you again for your prayers!

p.s.  I hate using a tablet.  

Phebe, where are you?

Greetings!  Before I forget, can anyone identify the designer that reproduced this Phebe Watkins 1783 sampler?  This photo from Ebay is a completed piece done on Aida, but after searching I can't find any info.  Another reader is interested and now, so am I!  Any help?

 

We got around 6" of more snow yesterday, and although we are not in the snow emergency areas of the upper northeast, I still reserve the right to bitch.  Always will.  I don't have a Medicare card yet but my Menocare card has been active for years.  It says right on the back....

 "This cardholder reserves the right to bitch regardless of situation.  There will be no debate, no rebuttal, no questions. To anyone finding female with this card in an emergency, take extreme caution with subject.  Do not offend, contradict, patronize, look at, or touch.  Stand at arm's length, if body contact is needed, guard your privates.  If emotions take over and subject starts to slump into a puddle, lift quickly, secure, and get the hell away.  For more information, take a hike to the library.  If there was more room on this card I would really tell you where to go."

 

My sister was worried that I will be curt with the man that is driving us tomorrow.  I am white knuckle on drive pavement at 40 mph so this trip, with this weather, going 75 on an interstate, I'm lucky if my jaw doesn't lock from clenching and my bones don't pop through my knuckles.  I don't think I will be saying much.  Maybe a scream, just for release.

 

I'm packed and ready except for stitchery.  Have two smalls but haven't chosen a linen and may take a few colors just in case.  You know I always veer from my original choice.  Also trying to find projects with single or few colors.  So many tests and appointments before surgery day and I don't think there will be much time for fiddling with floss bags.  One color is easier. 

 

I'm not taking chocolate.  When trying on a few tops to take, NOTHING fit.  My largest blouses don't button, my sweaters are like skin on bologna, and my jeans make me talk in a very high breathless pitch.  I bought two men's sweatshirts to cover it all and I'll add a scarf and bracelets.  So disgusted with myself to let it go this far.  I know stress eating is bad but everyone has stress!  After a week or two, you realize what you're doing and stop it.  Not me.  I'm another 5# more than I was at the doc recently.  Why are women's clothes (except for Land's End), so skimpy?  I got two fleece jackets from Eddie Bauer (tall size - yay!) and the arms are so tight I can only get a tshirt beneath.  Same with Old Navy.  Do they not realize it's a jacket and clothing will be worn under?  Even women's sweatshirts around here are cut close.  No.  I want comfort and hideability.  So I went to the men's department again for length and room to move.  Croft&Barrow at Kohl's didn't have the huge arms typical for men's tops so I got the last two.  Unfortunately, the brats thought they were comfortable too.  Their barrier was broken through and I found them in the morning, upstairs, on the bed, curled up in the open suitcase on my new black sweatpants and shirts.

 

 My husband is concerned that I will get lost in the hotel and clinic.  I truly am directionally challenged.  Rooms are by building number, floor number, section number, room number.  When I got off the elevator last time, I was looking at the doors for four sections.  I opened one door and recognized the floor layout and room numbers.  Hey - picked the right door!  So I walked down and went into room 21, scared the hell out of some old guy.  Me too.  Where did she go?  I only went downstairs for a coffee!  This old guy took over her body ... wait...  the bed is facing the other way.... I never saw these nurses before.  In the words of Roseanne Roseannadanna  ...  never mind.   I did not know that each section is exactly the same layout and room numbers.  What's behind door #1 is also behind 2, 3, and 4, except for different patients!  Twilight zone.  

 

Not sure if I'm taking my large heavy laptop, probably just my tablet.  That thing drives me nuts.  Some pages show as they would on a mobile, which I don't have, and they look weird.  If I barely touch the screen it becomes 10 times larger and startles me.  I bought a stylus and maybe that will help keep my fat fingers at bay.  So off we go, I hope to be able to post Wednesday or Thursday that all is well, and be back next weekend.

 

Have a safe week!

 

Thanks for your prayers and good wishes,

marly

 

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Things I learned today

Don't even attempt shopping without a list.

Always write your list on colored paper.

There are no shoes in size 9 1/4.

Keep your coupons in one place.

Burger King's chocolate chip cookies are fabulous.

McDonald's chocolate chip cookies are good, BK's are better.

Make your list on 8 1/2" x 11" green paper.

Never trust the road to be free of thin invisible ice.

Never attempt shopping without a list.

If you gain weight, you can fill out your bra.

Your bra gain is never noticeable because of your body gain.

Make your list on 8 1/2" x 14" sparkly hot pink paper.

Know where your coupons are.

Jeans do not come in 1/2 sizes, you must move up two points.

Body spillage pushed up by small jeans inhibits breathing.

Never attempt shopping without a list.

Know where your fricking coupons are.

After a haircut, do not lift scissors to hair.

Expect to pay more for an emergency cut.

Accept the holes, dips, and shortness of a repair cut.

Make your lists on 11" x 17" yellow reflective paper.

Buy clothes big enough to hide your body.

Vow to lose weight.

Tantrums and arm flailing are not exercise.

Below zero temperatures take your breath away.

Snow squeaks during extreme cold.

Pack your new big fat clothes that allow breathing.

Fill your Magma with small projects.

Don't forget your scissors.

Do NOT lift scissors to hair.

Pack chocolate.

Don't waste time looking for the fricking list.

Take an Ativan.

Let stitchers know that Nash's heart is on EBay here.




Say goodnight.

A close call and a long post

Thanks for your compliments on Lori's heart.  I really like it and found the perfect fabric for the bag's back.  Once in a while I buy the discontinued decorator fabric swatches at JoAnn's and this one is a heavy cotton blend of a red with the leaves' 734 in the weave.  I added a strip of it to the top of the lining so the red would show as an accent instead of the muslin. 

There was a close call with the fabric.  I needed to mist the top edge to press the hem over, and it bled onto the ironing board cover.  If I would have misted the back and pressed with the stitching beneath, it would be ruined.  I usually dampen fabric and never imagined that upholstery or decorator fabric would bleed so easily.  Lesson learned.  The medium weight interfacing along with the heavier fabric holds it nicely.  Mylar would have been used beneath the lining if it needed more body.  For the strap  (stained with walnut to darken), I used a soft flat woven braid that is folded. 

And here's my group of bags, pouches, and sacks.  I think I have a few more, but I'm lucky I know where these are so I'm not going to push it.

 

This is the result of the dark brown hair coloring.  If  I lift the mess, that gray goes all the way to the top.  I'm thinking I could start a new trend of a back bottom band of color, or BBBC.  It's not as bright silver as it was, has a little bit of a taupe cast, but still stands out since the front is very dark.  Is this what's called defiant resistant gray?  My hair is thick and thin, curly and straight, soft and wiry.... a little bit of everything depending on the area.  Very weird.  My hairdresser started using women's Rogaine foam on her top front and she can't believe how thick it's become.  It took two months to see a difference and she's very pleased and surprised at the results.

 Nitzy is driving us nuts with his nuts.  It sounds like a bowling alley in there.  I moved my cloved pears from the hutch to a pan resting in a bucket since the littlest brat was swatting them, and look where she is now.  She must like the smell.  They are really getting wild and although they don't want to go outside, they are tired of being cooped up and starting to get destructive, even fighting with one another.  Constantly jumping over the barrier and then running - upstairs, into the basement, under the furniture.  My Squeak has not been here for weeks.  Oh no.  I just heard wild boy Nit slide into the litter box.  I think I have a mess to clean up.  Again.  Spring will be more welcome this year for a multitude of reasons!

Can anyone tell me why many of the comments are not coming through to my email?  I have it set for all comments to be transferred to my inbox, but I just checked again and many are not.  Not in spam, not in junk folders, not anywhere.  And they are from readers that have commented and were transferred before.  I think most of them are from aol.com, not sure if this is a coincidence.  I wonder how many I've missed in prior posts.  Been having trouble with creating posts too.  Whenever I hit enter to start a new line, it goes into the Link mode.  Weird.

I planned on getting out today to do a little shopping and hopefully find comfortable shoes for the Clinic walking.  Yesterday my cartilage moved again and I couldn't put weight on that leg so I stayed in, it's much better today, but it's snowing again.  Because of my neck I won't drive in the snow or ice, and because of my knee I am afraid of walking on it too.  Good grief I'm an old lady.  Forty years ago I would walk across an icy parking lot with 4" mules after a few drinks.  Now I can't even walk in 2" closed pumps on dry pavement.  I drove a metallic sports car that was close to the ground, now I have a much higher car in bright yellow so I can find it in the parking lot.  I even forgot my blogging anniversary.  Four years on Valentine's Day.  My mind is over occupied these days, may have to have a giveaway when I return.  Do you know how many I've had over the years?  I'll have to go back and check.  I noticed that the older posts done with Windows Vista are wonky, misaligned, goofy.   Long post, huh?  Time to go put on my I'm crabby sweatshirt and live up to it, which won't be hard.  It's snowing.
 

Have a good day and stay safe.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

Done

Wanted to show you my bag - more photos later.  I love it!!

 

 

Not enough to go round!

Greetings to all.  For those of you caught in another blizzard, I hope you are safe and warm.  We are freezing and will be all week.  How does the wildlife manage in snow that is burying them?

 

So the heart - I was going to go round after reading your comments, but there isn't enough linen left on the one side to sew and I can't make the circle smaller or the design would be in the seam.

 

 I'm trying this shape as a hanging bag.  I'm making my template by folding the paper in half and cutting so both sides are the same, and then tape and adjust to the project until it looks centered. 

I turned the piece over and outlined the template with chalk pencils or quilting markers that are removable.  It's a little close so instead of stitching on the line, I will use my fat presser foot along the outside edge which will move the seam over at least 1/4".  I could cut the template a little larger couldn't I?  The fusible interfacing can be done after sewing since I couldn't see the template if I added it first, or I could fuse it to the lining instead.  You can see that I ran one long thread around the back to do the single 822 stitch on the berries.  Pat (my extraordinary by-the-book SIL stitcher whom I miss) would scold me.  And I would say "get over it or don't look".  Hey.  Berries.  I think I didn't finish this design.  There are little single stitches that go along the vine and I forgot about them!  I doubt if I will be sewing this today anyway but I do have the fabric choice in mind.  I'm not good at bag making/lining so I need to make sure I am in the right frame of mind before sitting at the machine.  I like this one too much to throw out the window.  Heck, it's probably frozen shut anyway.

I have to color my hair today.  Usually I do the front and side areas where the gray is heavy, really don't see it elsewhere.  Got a short haircut a few days ago.  The back is very short and tapered, no longer covered by the longer hair above.  She asked if I ever look at the back and I said no, why should I?  It's always been a wild mess so why bother?  Well, because the back is solid gray.  WHAT???  Yep, there it is.  I look like I fell backwards into a can of silver paint.  Picking up Chris from the hospital after his tests soon, and then taking Carole for more bloodwork.  I'll wheel them to the car backwards.

 

Have a good one.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 

 

The shape of things to come

What to do, what to do.

 

 

First choice

 

Second choice

 

 

A distant third

 

 

 

My scientific method of copy paper cutouts.

I changed the berries from 926 to 3740 with 822 centers for my dark linen.

 

This is Lori's free chart found here on her blog.  Make sure you check out the stumpwork photos of her latest post too!

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Finished is not forever

Hey.  What's happening?  We're getting closer to spring, that's what. 

Hope the weekend is going great.

 

I had a pillow of this design from Homespun Elegance displayed for many many years.  Loved it.  Then as my tastes started to change, the buttons bugged me.  So did the Amber linen background.  Once one of my favorite linen colors, now I hate it.  It looks great in certain designs, but not with my other drab linen pieces.  When I was on my dyeing binge, nothing worked to rid the red cast of the linen I had left, for some reason the dye rinsed out completely.  Maybe because this piece was exposed to light and air for so long, it reacted differently, or maybe the Dawn dish soap helped a little.  Anyway, I cut off the buttons and realized there needs to be something stitched in their place, and it was a little larger than I wanted.

 

 So I decided to remove the stitched line from the button areas, put a dab of fabric glue over the cut floss ends on the back, and sew it smaller.  Now it is more my style, the green/black dye worked perfectly, and here it is on the original's backing.  Big difference in size.  Notice that the DMC floss did not darken much at all with the green/black dye, and it was dipped for a while. Some colors grab and some don't.  So if you have pieces from many years ago that don't fit with your current style, don't be afraid to cut, shorten, darken.  If you don't care for it any longer, no great loss if you ruin it!
 

 

 

Changed this heart's shape which was like its companion beneath it, annoying me, so I narrowed it even though I lost some of the stitching.










 This design is showing on Pinterest and although I have searched extensively, I cannot find the chart.  Love love it.  Want it.  I'm sure someone knows where to direct me...oh no...was this a club design?   Is that why I can't find it?   I've never joined one and miss out on some great pieces, but there are several projects I would not want, plus I'd probably change linen and thread so it's not worth it for me.  I hope this wasn't a club design.  I'm crabby enough.

 I received an email from a reader who is generous enough to offer the Love chart I recently showed by Emie Bishop for a giveaway.  Would any of you be interested in it?  Please let me know and if there are enough of you, we'll do that.

I started taking meds because my food has been sticking in my esophagus for a few months, trouble swallowing, major heartburn that I never had before, couldn't bend over without a food issue. Instead of having a scope now, she wants me to take a small dose of Ativan with the acid meds because at the end of the exam, she asked if there was any stress in my life.  Bingo.  Didn't realize it could all be caused by recent events and the esophagus can constrict from anxiety.  If all goes well, these issues could resolve on their own. 

 

Have a great Sunday.

 

Thanks for visiting.

Let me know if you would be interested in a Love chart giveaway.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

So far....

I've only changed three of the four colors.  I'm a creature of habit and my habit happens to be changing colors.  I used the 645!  But changed 3033 to 644,

920 to 3858, 

921 to 3857. 

Vines are next as soon as I decide if I want to leave the 645 picot edge or make it the lighter 644.  Hmmm.  Both are nice.  Maybe stitch the rest of the design and leave that decision for last.

Thanks again for the chart Lori!

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

A little neater than normal

Hiya.  How's everyone?  We're getting a little more snow, very cold temps, and anxiety attacks.  Two more weeks.

I saw Lori's new free chart (here) and started on it right away.  Browsed my charts and just couldn't get interested in a sampler.  What?  It's true.  Is a slump approaching?  So when I saw her offer, I thought it would be a good idea to pick up the needle.

 

I noticed that my stitches are more even than ever before.  Why?  Possibly because of the direction?  I am following my usual sewing method of doing half a cross first, but this time I am going vertical with the first half and completing the second half horizontally.  I know I know.  Not the way you are supposed to stitch.

 But unless it's my imagination (and I have a vivid one because I called myself a girl in the prior post), my stitches look better.  The linen seems more stable too. See the difference between the stitches within the letters and the very bottom row?   Maybe it isn't noticeable in the photo but trust me, it's not as neat.

 

 

 

Here's a look at the back.

 

It's hard to see with this floss color but that looks like a good base for wimpy linen doesn't it?  Am I doing something that all of you know about and I've been in the dark once again?  Or am I wrong in thinking this incorrect method of crossing could result in better stitches? 

 

 

 

 

For those of you with brats cats - ours have been going nuts with ... nuts.  Is it because the Brazil nut looks like a mouse?  They were batting one around found under a hutch so I picked more from the mixed nut bin at the market.   Cheap fun since they destroyed every toy I bought at the pet store.  So far, Bud is OK, and Yellow Man is still here every night.  I'm ready for bed, and I can hear the nuts rolling, smacking the furniture, followed by a wall/cat collision thud.

 

Have a good Thursday!

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cutwork and a mermaid

 

 Greetings.  Got quite a few emails about the design in the header photo, many are no-reply, so I'm posting the answer.  Sorry!  I stitched it in 1992 and don't know the designer.  Why didn't I stitch 1970 (my year of marriage)?  Here is the entire piece, on unbleached linen with light threads.  I enjoyed the cutwork and it really is not difficult at all.
Edit - Sandra from Sampler Lover's blog was kind enough to identify it as the Love sampler from Emie Bishop.  Thank you Sandra!

 

In my search for the designer, I came across Victoria Sampler and for those of you that love mermaid designs, take a look at this beauty - Mermaid Song Stitcher's Pocket

The leaflet is offered on their site here along with the necessary supplies.  It looks like it was at one time a Cyber class.  Several online shops also carry the chart including 123.  To see all that is included and required, the listing of stitches involved and supplies is here.  You've probably all seen this but keep in mind, I'm a girl without a shop and I don't get out and about much!

Mary, you're no-reply but asked about the interfacing hiding the carry over threads.  I did a post on this but can't find it.  The only sample is on this post.  I use either a tiny piece of muslin or fusible interfacing beneath the carry overs when they are showing.  The fusible is easier and can be held with a quick touch of the iron.  Needles and tweezers get it in place.

  

That's it! 

Enjoy your day.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bold in Heart

 Hi all.  Too many things happening right now to try for another heart so for now, this is it.  Corny as it is!  I used a short and rounded center furrow instead of a deep point.

 

Here's the difference with a muslin or white interfacing, and the woven black fusible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used the black under my carry over threads too since some were noticeable from the front.

 

 

 

 The top line had to be moved and I also changed the bottom do-hickey before sewing. 

I like the back almost better than the front.  The other smaller hearts were to be on the gold Havana and a dark grey/green linen that I had previously dyed, and this fabric looked fabulous with each.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The chart will be under the Free tab when I get around to it but for now, it's here.  I almost decided not to offer it since it is so ... corny.  But I've seen so many designs that are sappy to me yet well liked by others. 

 

Bud hasn't been growling through the glass door at Yellow Cat and I thought they may be tolerating each other.  This warm evening when I let them out for a while, all hell broke loose.  The boxes, the plywood shelter, food, fur and blood went flying.  I ran outside and Yellow Cat was tearing into Missy who is half his size.  Bud came running and attacked him so Missy ran into the house and I couldn't stop them even with a broom.  Bud has many bites and we are trying to get to them all with a dropper of peroxide but he is not wanting to be touched.  I know the stray Yellow must be hurt too.  Missy will tear me up so I can't check her.   I hope no infections develop, especially with the upcoming trip to Cleveland.

 

I got my second order of wool the other day.  I checked tracking so I knew it was out for delivery, and I waited for her to come.  She came with no box.  I asked where my box was and she said "oh!  Was that yours?".  It had my name and address on it so YES IT'S MINE!!  "I left it at 26."  ???  I'm 51.  I told her to go back and get MY package from 26.  Don't mess with my wool baby or there will be hell to pay.  No sense inquiring why she never looked at the name, the address, and decided to gift a stranger with my wool.

 

Taking Carole to the lab again tomorrow, then the doc, groceries, and I need to clean her house again.  Busy week coming up.

 

Have a great...good... decent...tolerable week.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Heart one

Heart two's fabric and thread are chosen but nothing else yet! 

 Maybe there will never be a two.   I can't sew this into a heart until I purchase black interfacing.  The white through the 28 count dark Ruby linen is horrible. 

 

Have a great weekend!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Heart shapes

Hello people.  Got snow?  I heard we will be getting hammered again this weekend.  Lovely. 

Haven't started another project yet but wanted to show you what I decided on the hearts.  I take that back - I haven't decided anything.  I did find the two I already stitched but I can't remember where I found them.  This is really getting scary.


Edited-
The photos have been distorted so you can't see the chart. 

 

I like this shape and may follow the chart for the other design, but I prefer longer narrower hearts.  I could open the seams on this one and sew again, but I think the top may be too wide. To modify a shape I use the standard method of copy, crop, and add.   It doesn't work on all designs but most can be maneuvered and spaced with this method to extend length. 

 

Once I have the length, I use a template or just fold a paper in half and start cutting hearts.  Lay the paper cut out over to center the design and see how I like the shape.

 

 

I fold the inside center point under to make sure there is enough stitching in case I don't sew it quite so deep when finishing.  Glue the papers, copy again and I have the modified shape.

 

 

 

 

 

I did this for both patterns so I have a choice when ready.  If I remember, the repetitive design becomes so monotonous that I will probably just quit at some point which will determine the shape!

 

Have great week's end.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

p.s. To Kathy R - I haven't received your address for the Shaker Cat chart yet.  Maybe my reply went into your spam? 

Anna Eliza Abe

Hope everyone is fine and dandy.  Which rhymes with candy.  Chocolate.  Damn.

After aging the piece with the Ranger Archival ink pad and brush, I moved on to the backing.  The fabric was fine but I wanted a darker look (too lazy to get the walnut stain), so I turned the pad over and lightly moved it over the fabric. 

 

 

 

 

  

You can see the difference after inking.  Make sure it is dry before ironing.

I had extra fabric at the top of the sampler and decided to make a flap because the linen excess wasn't enough to save. 

  Using one piece of very thick quilt batting for the fill, I folded the backing fabric over the bat, folded the linen, and stitched it by hand on the edges.  In case I want to hang it, a piece of jute was laid in the top fold before turning down.  The corners are not stitched, just left a little opening for the jute to slide around and either be removed or added back later. 

So here she hangs after all the inking and with the sliding jute, front and back.

 

 

Wouldn't this finish be a nice idea if you wanted to personalize?  That flap can have the date, initials, sentiment, and not be a part of the design.  I personally don't like to date and initial but this way would be acceptable and I think a great idea.

 

The original sampler is wider and more rectangular, probably because of the linen weave.  I added the dividing band under the first line which isn't in the chart but in the photo, and made a few other changes by looking at them both.  I am considering this on Havana linen with 822 substituted for the pinks.  I can visualize it - I like it - but will I do it?

 

Got a room for the week in Cleveland with shuttle service to the Clinic, microwave and mini fridge in the room which will help with snacks and meals. 

 

That's all I got!  Taking Carole to the lab soon and her driveway can double as a luge training track so wish us luck.  If you don't make the curve coming down the ridiculously steep hill, you go head first over the eight foot straight down bank.  Freezing rain between the snowfalls has made such a thick layer of ice and it can't be scraped off.

 

Thanks for visiting!!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 

Warm and fuzzy

Yes I am warm from hot flashes and fuzzy in my brain but I'm talking about wool!  Bought more.   Several minutes before midnight Sunday night, I decided to browse The Old Tattered Flag for more wool colors.  My goodness the wools were 20% off and I got in right under the wire, midnight to be exact.  If I had more time I would have ordered a bunch more but wanted to get the order in for the one day only sale.  When searching for something - can't remember what it was - I found my brother's Navy blankets.  I have one dark gray, one white, one green/brown, and another brown wool from the flea market.  Plus three plaid wool lap throws.  All are heavy and thick.  Originally I planned on donating them to the local men's shelter, but they wouldn't take them.  Now I'm glad they didn't.  A little Googling will produce the types of dyes suitable for wools and I can make a mess, something I have honed to an art form.

The visit with my cardiologist today was informative.  He not only noticed the weight gain, but when I mentioned the more frequent bursts of tachycardia and arrhythmias, he wanted to have the monitor on again.  After listening to me babble about the last few months (he's also Carole's doc) including what I've been eating, he looked at me in astonishment.  "You consume how many Dove a day?"  "Half a bag doc".   I felt the words leaving my scrawny lips and wanted to pull them back but it was too late.  It was like seeing slow moving words floating in mid-air but my arms weren't quick enough to grab them.  "Well, now wait a minute Doc - some days it's not exactly half a bag, it could be less."  A stern talk ensued, monitor was cancelled, and I left with my head hung in shame.  Who would have thought there is that much caffeine in those little squares?  "There isn't", he said, "but you don't consume squares you consume bags".  Instructions are to go to Aldi's, get the 70% dark cocoa bar and have ONE 200 calorie portion once a day.  Is there a Chocoholics Anonymous because I will need help with withdrawal.

 

I saw something on Pinterest from Bertie of Samplers&Buttons blog (now closed), and a pinner found the source.  I love the shape and idea and will chart one of my liking.  I'm not a buttons and bows type, more like rust and jute.  This design is from The Purple Thread and is available as a kit, called Sylvie's Penny Bag.  Since my Sampler Bag #1 was such a huge success (gag) would I even bother with #2?  Maybe.  I still have those charts printed and may offer #1 again to get rid of them.

 

Anyway, the snow has stopped, the cold temps are here, the cats are still in.  When I crush the catnip over them, they just roll and roll, gentle and happy.  But this morning I crushed to a powder and rubbed into the wool yarn balls and toys - Nitzy has been bouncing off the walls ever since.  Mr. Yellow is still hanging around, interested in my spayed female, keeping Squeak away, and attacking the boys.  I guess February is mating season around here and hormones are high.  Neutered Bud and Nit don't roam, but they defend their territory with a vengeance and will get into a battle.  My sister has a little furbaby trying to stay warm in the window well but as soon as it sees her, gone.  When we pick her up for labwork today I will take some food and a weatherproof box, hopefully the little one will use both.

 

Be safe and well.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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It's starting

 

The snowstorm has begun. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When will it be finished?

 

 

 

  Not until sometime Monday, long after this finish which will be today.

Several emails about the cabbage and sausage soup so I posted it to the recipe blog here.

 

I can't get reservations at the ridiculously expensive (to me) hotel attached to Cleveland Clinic by a walkway for the end of February-they're booked.  I won't have a car.  Not only am I a wimp in traffic, if I got lost here looking for the Ford dealer can you imagine where I will end up if driving in downtown Cleveland!   Buffalo?  Chicago?

 

Stay safe. 

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