I hate to ask

..... but I will.  The chart I just purchased on Ebay, does anyone have it?  Could you tell me how many pages are in the packet and if an actual photo is on the cover?  All of my other Sharon Cohen chart cover pages feature a color photo and maybe this one never did, but I thought I would ask.

Tree of Life with Dragon

Nostalgic Needle

 

I've had issues with the internet and phone and TV because someone too good looking to get mad at hit the cable wire.  We just got it fixed and now it won't be hit and miss.  He's coming back tomorrow and Friday and then unless the new shrubs die, probably won't ever see him again.  May have to resort to Roundup in a year or two.  Those damn shrubs just may not make it.  Bad soil 'ya know.

 

The cable repairman was barely able to walk across the lawn, it is like a skating rink!  Water doesn't drain in clay soil and it's terrible with all the rain (and continuing). 

 

Hope all is well with everyone!

 

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It's been a long time

since I purchased a chart.  A long time since I won an auction, remembered to bid, set the timer to warn me of the ending time, was on the laptop at the proper moment, was logged in to Ebay to allow a bid, and remembered my password.

 

Nostalgic Needle

Sharon Cohen

Tree of Life with Dragon

 

I saw it on another site and it claimed to be 3 1/2" x 4 1/2" on 32 count, never read the Ebay description which says 7" x 9" on the same linen.  That makes more sense, I wondered how this could be so small.  I've always wanted the Tree of Life book cover design but never made a bid in time.  This is much more stitching and I'm not crazy about the size but glad it will be in my stash.

 

Jason was here all day.  He'll be coming back soon.  He asked me for coffee on a previous job so I had it ready for him and he asked twice if he could hug me.  I said no.  Was I stunned into stupidity or afraid I wouldn't let go?

 

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Crisp corners and recipes

Several of you were wondering what the heck is all the fuss about touching up drywall.  Well, it's not just nail holes from wall display.  Our corners in mom's addition cracked open enough to lift the drywall tape and they were a mess.  They laid the 4'x8' drywall sheets on their sides creating a seam 4' up the wall, which of course cracked and also needed dug out and redone. So in addition to the holes from crown moulding and displays, I had to cut and remove the corner tapes and compound, replace them, and cover with several coats of "mud" to even the surface, sanding/scraping between.  It's a little more involved, but seams and corners are done!  Ready for primer and paint.  Cutting in around the beams won't be fun.

Take a look at my crisp and sharp corner!!  I've patched ceilings and walls and corners and have done a pretty good job.  Matching a texture on the ceiling can be difficult or easy, no in between.

Here's the stuffed cabbage Halupki  Golapki Golumki recipe that mom used for years, as did our church.  We've tried other mixtures for the juice/sauce but much prefer this one.  You can find it on the recipe blog link in the right hand column, or click here http://marlanco.blogspot.com/.

The recipes for the chiffon cakes are in this post and can be clicked on to enlarge/print.  https://samplers-and-santas.blogspot.com/2013/10/christmas-tree-and-cake.html 

The mahogany is not a sweet chocolate and none of these cakes are very moist, more of a dry texture but definitely textured!  This is the chocolate chip and I want to try a lemon chiffon, think it will be divine.

I have three of these aluminum chiffon cake pans (tube pan) with removable centers and am lucky to have them.  But do I really need three?  The pan is not greased for chiffons but I did use parchment paper cut to fit the bottom.  When inverted on the ears to cool it still stayed put.

My cut is burning like a project gone bad so I glued it shut.

 

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Tractor Supply

Who knew?  They have some really nice Christmas decorations!  Love these large bells ($15), they have smaller ones too.   I don't think there is a striker but I remember something hanging so you could add one.  Maybe.  Maybe not.  I may get one to hang outside the kitchen window.  Maybe.  Maybe not.  They gave me regular coffee instead of decaf (which my irregular rhythm requires) in my large DD iced coffee and I accepted the error. Won't do that again.  Maybe.  Maybe not.  I sure did order a lot of stuff online when I got home.  And I started several different tasks, none of which have been completed.  Not sure if my heart rate has anything to do with that.  Maybe.  Maybe not.  If I knew how to dance, I would be jitterbugging right now.  Maybe.  For sure.  But I only have one shoe on.  Where the hell is the other one?

 

 

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The finger

Heberden nodes are caused from arthritis and affect the first finger joint with gnarly growth.  Since I started taking Eliquis and had to give up Advil, they are really getting bad along with my ankles.  Damn they hurt.  I planned on trying to stitch with the new needle this weekend and during the drywall touchup, the blade sliced through the index finger.  It still bleeds with bending some times so I am not taking a chance with linen.  A bandaid makes it clumsy to stitch. The bend you see here is not of my doing, it's the arthritis.

 

Look what else I found with the embroidered pillow cases.  I forgot about this yardage of vintage toweling.  Not sure if it is linen or cotton, but there is quite a bit.  Perfect for a vintage or farmhouse kitchen.

 

I made the chocolate chip chiffon cake for Carole and took it over Saturday, her great grands were there and they are a wild bunch.  I think it may be the last time for that traditional birthday cake of mom's.  I plan to make the mahogany (chocolate) chiffon one more time and still have the whipped icing left so it may be soon.  When am I going to start watching what I eat?  Anybody?

 

October is half gone, my only consolation is we are getting closer to summer.

 

 I can't reply to comments so to Pamela, I will post the stuffed cabbage recipe soon!

 

Have a good start to your week! 

 

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Cornstalks and cardboard,

drywall and dust.  My days.  So much touch up work to be done after removing the crown moulding and wainscot before painting.  Sanding this new spackle with primer is not as easy as the regular. 

 

You can see the cardboard on the ground in front of the deck, preventing the mud from splashing on the fresh stain.  We have no step, we have no walk, we have fine gravel from beneath the stone area that was removed.  And no prospective concrete workers.

Hopefully Jason will be here next week to help, and if he is, I will reschedule the three doc appts I have.  After all, shouldn't I be here watching him?  You know, in case he has a question.  You remember him don't you?

 

I keep finding these small linen hand worked .... whats.  What are they called?  Tea towels?  They are so small and not anything like a "towel".  Hopefully this will be the end of them.  It's a shame no one appreciates the work involved but who wants them?  Maybe I can work them into a heart or sachet.  That sounds like a good idea.

 

The brats were not happy with the company for Carole's birthday.  The look on Missy's face says it all!  They are so comical.

 

Hope your week is going well.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Leaves

Falling in the yard, and simmering on the stove.  Monday is Carole's 80th birthday and I'm having her over for stuffed cabbage. 

One of her favorites, but her son doesn't like it at all.  There's not much that he does like which makes our family dinners monotonous.  He'll be out of town so halupki it will be.  We'll have her favorite cake at the family celebration next weekend so maybe elderberry pie will be dessert.

 

Preparing the leaves tonight so I can just fill and roll, bake for hours tomorrow.  I turn bowls over and layer the leaves on to hold their shape.  This was a very large locally grown head.  Our church (which is now closed) made halupki for the picnics and sold them at holidays, their method was to freeze the heads.  Freezing made them soft and when thawed, ready to roll, no steaming required.  I did try it but was tearing the leaves while removing.   Maybe a light steaming in the micro first would have helped.  I wanted to try the Instant Pot pressure cooker but couldn't find info about time and result for a solid head.  Not a good idea to experiment when company is coming.

 

I'll need to burn candles in several rooms for days!

Half of October is over.  Can you believe it?  Christmas shows are starting!!  Since I have nowhere to browse in person, and my online browsing time is devoted to finding jeans in long length and big ass, are there any new Santa charts that are small and primitive?  Any suggestions?

 

Since there is a day devoted to almost everything including the inane, I am officially naming October 15 as Halupki day.  Have a good one.

 

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The golden eye

Greetings folks.  Yesterday I met with a new friend and was gifted white pumpkins.  We talked about stitching and she added to the spark I've been feeling, and told me she was sorry that she got rid of her stitching supplies when she thought she would never go back to it.  Making me reconsider that also.  She mentioned a needle (Pat's favorite needle) with a gold eye and she loves it.  I do have some that I like better than others but thought I should look them up and order a few.  Checking online was confusing since there are several gold plated needles, but few with only the eye plated.  Clover is one, but not in size 26.  I did find "Pat's favorite needle" on Etsy but I wonder who manufactures it.

 

 I bought a green, yellow, and apricot pumpkin from the "odd" group and do like the colors.  So along with the two whites, I'm pleased with the grouping.  I put the cedar bench Mark constructed on the newly stained front deck.  You don't realize how old your muscles and bones are until you kneel and stretch while applying with a brush.  The roller would have deposited too much of the very dark stain.

 

We've had wooden pieces leave marks on the wood decks and no matter how I seal the open end grain, the leg always draw in the rain and wetness and start rotting.  So I purchased several packs of these plastic chair glides, nail attached, and added them to all the deck sitting pieces to keep them up and dry.  The white can be seen at certain angles but that's OK.

 

 

Another gifted pumpkin from yesterday.  Its form and large size is striking and simple.

 

I have a Dairy Queen coupon so guess where I'm going for a peanut buster parfait or walnut sundae?  Decisions decisions. 

 

Have a good day!

Thanks for visiting.

 

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The beginning of less

Now where the hell do I put the rest?  So far, two rooms are packed with wall items, samplers, wood pieces, tables.  I would like to do some consignment at the only shop near here but she doesn't want primitive pieces.  It will be a long process to determine what stays and what goes.  I wonder how much will be stored in the attic or actually let go.

 

My view from the kitchen.  I am still surprised at the change in the room and don't even want to add wainscot now.  The trim will all be painted very light as the sample areas show.  Maybe that will be too boring.  Maybe some color is needed when the room has less, but I'm trying it anyway.  To me, this same room setting would look bare or unfinished without the beams.  Crown moulding would help a sparse room too but I didn't want that look for this room.  Not sure what will end up in the room, but right now it's half of what it was.  Our kitchen is open to the family room on the left, and this room is on the right.  They could easily be switched and I may do that for seasons.

Mike said he will come back to do other simple finishing work for us so I was relieved to hear that.  Dominic should have the cabinets next week and we'll take it from there.

 

I got my XL tops, a long way from the small I used to wear.  The downside to having the looser fit, is losing the incentive to diet.  I fight it, but when I am forced to move up a size and I have things to wear, the urgency is lessened.  But just because it fits, doesn't mean I'm any smaller.

 

Thanks for visiting!

 

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The last zucchini

Tried another bread, this time banana zucchini bread and it is very good.  I followed this recipe except for using only 2 tsp cinnamon instead of 1 Tbsp, left out cranberries, and changed nuts to 1 cup of pecans.  I love walnuts but like pecans with banana breads.  My husband's step-monster (mother) made the best I've ever had and she always used pecans.  Toward the end of her years, we decided to not indulge in her foods.  Just in case.

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/141933/banana-zucchini-bread/

I have a question for you.  Since my body is expanding like a rehydrating sponge, I ordered a few new tunics in XL.  Nothing that I have fits me.  The large fits, but the outline during a walk away is very noticeable.  The extra large is bigger everywhere and may look a little sloppy, but the walk away is just a lot of fabric without an outline.  Which would you choose?

 

Mike is here installing the last three beams with Mark's help.  He may consider the wainscot after I make up my mind, we won't know for a while but it would be an easy job for him.  I think doing the smaller jobs and work he enjoys now and then would be good for him. 

 

Thanks for the pumpkin suggestions!  I never thought of buying the fake ones nor did I think of spray painting them white.  My nephew's girlfriend lives in Ohio and has seen them at a market so she will check for me.  First on her list is getting the traps for Carole's feral family.  A long haired calico mom and two long haired yellow kittens with white paws.  She works with a group in Ohio that handles feral neutering and we're hoping to get them trapped.  Our locals never followed through, never sent the paperwork, never called with the info. 

 

Have a good day folks!

 

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Another example

of what schools are teaching today's youth.  There was a halftime show from Forest Hill high school that featured students with toy guns (which you get kicked out of school for) pretending to shoot cops.  They were the visiting team at Brookhaven, where two officers were shot and killed a week before.  A Facebook post asking parents/others to send an email to the superintendent of this school, was of course removed, according to Newsweek's site.

Claiming that this was based on the movie "John Q." is ludicrous.  There is no reason to act out an old movie on the field, and it's never OK for a school to put guns in kid's hands TOY OR NOT.  And then to pretend to use them!!  I thought schools and teachers rally for gun control, or maybe it's OK if used against someone you disagree with. 

 

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Minimal

I used to have corn stalks and pumpkins and gourds and mums and Indian corn.  Used to.  There is a fine line between having just enough, and looking like you started something and didn't finish.  It's not easy!  Too little is sometimes as bad as too much.  The white mum is loaded with buds and should be really nice when it fully opens.  I love the yellow, but couldn't pass these by for $4.

 

I do think corn stalks would be a nice addition in the corners.  Always afraid they are hiding a monster spider, waiting to get loose in my car.  I have huge bags so maybe I'll stick a few stalks in them tomorrow.  May take a ride to Amish country and see if I find any white pumpkins there.  The local farmers' market had none.

 

Jason is coming in a few weeks to work on the landscaping and we still have not found a concrete company willing to do a small job.  Sure, we could get an individual to lay some down but without proper foundation it is a waste of money.  We've had more than our share of shoddy work. 

 

Mark installed the strongbacks in the attic and when we removed the jacks, all held.  Not perfectly level but the beams will be able to meet the ceiling across the span now.  Mike decided to go on disability for his PTSD so he won't be doing the rest of the work.  I didn't know you could go on it at 72 after being on social security.  Regardless, we need to find someone else.  Again.
EDIT - has nothing to do with SS.  He will be getting a large check monthly from the VA and income or SS or age has nothing to do with it.  Did not know that.

 

I hope your weekend is going pretty damn good.

 

Thanks for visiting this boring site.

 

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If something can go wrong,

it will.  Our ceiling is so uneven, that after two beams, the others had a 1 1/2" gap where they met the walls.  The outside edges of the ceiling were much higher than the rest and that gap is huge.  Mike was not able to handle this and became very flustered so we told him we will decide on a solution and he can come back Monday.  So what can you do with such a space?  Too large for caulking (which I hate), way too large for joint compound, perfectly cut wedges to insert in the space?  We did, but it was so obvious that the beam was much lower and bigger on the ends.  What's a girl to do? 

Jack it baby. Bottle jacks to the rescue.  The 4x4 at the top easily corrected and leveled the defects and the gap closed to 1/8".  YAY!!!  We even took out the wedges and now the wonky one is good.  Whew.  Mike is relieved and should not have any difficulty finishing this job.  Let's just hope that the supports Mark will make Saturday to hold this correction, stay!  Surprisingly, there are no cracks in the drywall other than the ones that showed up right after the drywall installer left years ago.  I hate drywall. 

 

With only half the room installed, I am surprised at the difference.  We had cedar beams years ago but these are running across instead of lengthwise.  Huge difference in the feel of the room.

 

Thank you for the prayers, Sandy passed away Monday afternoon, years after being diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia.  Until then, we never heard of the condition.  She taught in New Prague MN and traveled throughout the world every summer.

 

I'm not sure what I did but currently have either a broken rib, torn cartilage, or a cross over.  Started with soreness but now it is very painful.  I know the doctors do not recommend wearing compression or support, but it makes such a difference.  I bought the Mueller low back support neoprene band.  Had broken ribs before and lying down is misery because my body seems to spread out (it expands monthly) and that causes my ribs to feel ....  pressure or something.  Without the support band to hold them from moving, I could not sleep.  There's swelling down from it (unless it's a new fat roll) and I may go to the doc next week if there is no improvement. 

 

First weekend in October!  I bought white mums for the front and looked for white pumpkins.  Must have been a bad year for them because there are very few and most already sold.  No big deal.  I won't get to selling anything else until Mike is done, then we can paint that room and Dominic should have the cupboards in two weeks.  Still not sure about the dining room.

 

Hope your weekend starts swell.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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And so it begins

I compromised on the beam construction, not that important.  So he came back, we ordered new wood, he started over.  We banged and cut and slit and sanded and stained after he left.  The first two beams have nice markings, the subsequent had fewer and more shallow distressing.  Didn't take long to wear us out. 

 

 

The walls and ceilings are so off kilter that it is a real puzzle to fit them.  Mark is helping him and the first one hits at the corners and the center ceiling is much higher so the supports are showing.  Here we go!

 

This is the cabinet that holds the peanut butter and peanut M&Ms and I can't keep dodging the tools and ladders to get to them.  As a result, I must make my way down to the cellar and open the microwave door in order to gain access to the Dove dark bags.  Construction can be so disruptive. 

 

At this point, after several years of waiting, I'm just glad for progress.  Any kind.  They did such a poor job on these rooms for Mom initially, it's impossible to expect any more than we will get now without tearing it down and starting from scratch.

 

Nit was not happy with the beams taking floor space in his pad where he crashes at night.

 

Have a good one!

 

If you are so inclined, I would appreciate a prayer for my cousin in MN with FTD who has started her passage to the every after.

 

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