Sparkle

Hello all.  I'm sorry.  I didn't intend to boo-hoo or appear to be exploited.  It was just an example of a typical gifting session in this family.  I am 13 and 10 years younger than siblings, and the only one with technology skills although limited.  When asked if I have children, I answer yes, a 79 and 76 year old.  Many of you wonder why I put up with being the go-to efficient one in the family.  Because I am.  Rather than deal with endless phone calls of inquiries about stores, online offers, reviews, payments, and the constant issues with using technology, it's much quicker to do it myself.  But I am also Type A (well.. used to be but fading fast) and get a kick out of finding fabulous bargains with precision, exactly what is needed.  The frustration is because their requests are incorrect.  Carole is a Food Network junkie and her prior years gifts were for items she saw being used and just had to have, but when received, not at all what she expected.   This year, she was happy.
My brother the perfectionist doesn't even have internet service.  He prefers basics and donates a little too much to organizations every month.  The problem with him is, he obsesses.  I am on the phone for close to an hour at least once a day listening to the same thing over and over and over.  He has enough in his house for several antique stores (which he and my SIL planned to open before her second cancer diagnosis).  He's at the point of wanting to keep and display it all, which is creating quite a space problem.  Unfortunately, I cannot reason with him to get rid of the many items that are prefect for flea markets and vintage shops, and just keep his (too) many favorite collections.  If he passes before me, it would take me years to go through it all, literally.  And every item is spotless, clean, not a defect in sight.  Being the only family left, I do what I can and accept their faults, all the while reminding them that I have none.
 That information is always well received.

 

I received a sparkling gift from Catherine (I Love to Stitch).  She makes these light catching ornaments with tiny beads, mine is red, and I love it.  Thank you Catherine!

 

 We took a ride around the area called teacher's woods (most residents retired teachers), a development with huge beautiful homes.  The theme this year was outlining the dramatic roof lines with what appeared to be large white bulbs in a clear tube.  Absolutely perfect alignment so I doubt the bulbs were wire strung.   We may go riding in another exclusive area tomorrow before the displays are taken down.  But it is SO cold!!

 

We did have an icy dusting of snow Christmas Eve and temperatures are predicted to stay very low for a while. 

 

Since our mall lost its stores, a trip to Macy's and others is planned today since we have to drive into Ohio to exchange the tool chest anyway.  I can't believe Sears shipped this chest with obviously missing parts and a total mess inside. I still have difficulty dressing with my shoulder problem so trying on a few items may not be feasible.  I missed out on all the bra sales because of it.  You know I've had mishaps in dressing rooms before.  But this is minor and not even a blip on a screen compared to others so I'll accept the limitation and smile in pain.

 

I am having more difficult a time than I expected with the 40 count linen and had to remove many stitches to reach errors.  I was coming up one linen thread over instead of two, noticeable when looking over the work but not while that row was being stitched.  I need to go much slower than usual and that's OK because it is a small project, but I would never attempt a complicated or large design on 40.  Who am I kidding?  I wouldn't attempt them on 30 count either.

 

Hope the week goes well and you stay warm and safe. 

Please pick up any strays that you may see in cold temps and take them to shelter.

Thanks for visiting.

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