Christmas giveaway

 This year's gift is a chart from 1988 that has several samplers of various sizes.  

"The Sister Samplers - 1839 booklet features antique sampler designs that were completed in 1839 by Sarah and Melvina Holland and have been adapted by Margaret Jeffries McKee.  The booklet has 16 models which have been inspired by the two original samplers."  

Photos from the chart are not very clear.

As for my sister, I have spent the afternoon leaving messages and waiting for return calls, she is crying all day from what seems to be nerve pain at the amputation site of five weeks ago.  Started after last weeks suture removal and trimming.  Nothing is helping.  Nine months of this and other causes of excruciating pain, should not be.

I'm not drawing a name until later in the week, too many things going on, so let's say Thursday at 8 pm.  Please make sure to include your initials or email address so I can contact the winner.  If you can't leave a comment, email your entry.

 samplersandsantas@gmail.com

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Straight and steady

 can still be crooked and frustrating.  Now, if I didn't follow the irregular pattern of these straight rows, would it be noticeable?  Absolutely not.  So why did I waste so much time counting and moving?  Regardless, I did, and when it finished as charted I felt pretty darn good.  But tonight I can get closer to the house since I haven't stabilized the center for the rice stitch motif yet.  The large outside borders were to be rice also, but they weren't boxed as four stitches and I rarely read instructions.  No matter, because I would have used basic cross as I did.  I also filled the borders and center with the 3013 that I held off on because of the difficulty with seeing such a light thread.  My eyes were slightly better last night so I got those threads filled, and was surprised at the amount of stitches and time that it took.

Still decided whether to start a small seasonal project, and now I understand why Merry Old Soul is sold out.  I caught up with floss tube and saw that two favorites featured him two weeks ago!   Procrastinating always bites me and I had several sites with him in my cart before that.  I also noticed that quite a few cart items on Amazon and other sites are several dollars higher on this Cyber Monday sale.  

Repair is here right now and the fridge can be fixed!  Ice buildup from defrosting blocked some hickeyamabob and the thingamajig burned up.  Lots of other calls and such today, can't do much else with snow and ice covering leaves, too cold to finally get windows washed.  Probably continue cleaning and bring a few small trees down.  I've been looking at the battery candles and wonder how long they actually last before needing replaced.  Some have rounded and stationary flames, some have flat flames that move.  Not sure which would be best.

I found this old box at the only local vintage shop, and I really want to visit the large antique shop in Ohio.  Just never works out.  I think the price was a little high for this but I do like wood boxes and especially this size with its iron handles.  Scrubbing the grime is disgusting but needs done and if not filled with greenery, a small tree may call it home.  Lestoil is the absolute best but I'm trying citrus cleaners first.  It's sitting in mom's shower, best place to catch the filth splatters from scrubbing.

Hope your last days of November are good!

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The Putz is puttering

 Between Carole's calls, I started getting the rooms cleared of clutter, dust, cat hair, and a few things that I don't recognize.  I'm sure I will remember what they are for as soon as I need them and can't recall where I stashed them.  Mark was so busy taking care of me and I had let things go in the household department for quite a while before that, so it's nice to finally feel strong enough to make a dent in the mess.

I had two trees picked out (pre-lit) but fairy lights don't sound bright enough, and micro (?) I am not familiar with either.  Cannot believe prices of smaller artificial trees and I will pass on that purchase this year.  We did find two fridge models that are close to counter depth but the cabinet would have to go.  We also learned that no one locally knows how to replace a compressor, and no one is learning appliance repairs.  The salesman told us a compressor would cost around $600, we should just purchase new.  The new is $1000 more than the repair, but that is the thinking in today's disposable times.  I don't like either fridge, fingers crossed ours can be repaired.  No return calls about the garage door, maybe Monday.

Carole's, mine, Mark's phones are all 3G and need to be replaced by year end.  I really have no idea what to get, where to go, and I am not looking forward to more time being spent on choices and decisions.  I like my little $5 phone but it has to go.

Have a pleasant Sunday!  

Tomorrow is Sunday, right?

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A little Snippy

 Hello shoppers and stitchers.  I didn't do much of either today.  We went out to get those unattractive but very useful TriBurst lights for the garage.  Thought it might prevent another door from being destroyed.  That was it!  Kraynak's is still so packed with people I am uncomfortable browsing.  Maybe Monday at store opening.  The older I am, the more I avoid gatherings, crowded stores, even celebrations like weddings.  Complete opposite of younger days, and I don't like it one bit.

I removed all the stitches and need to stabilize the linen in that area for the rice stitch.  I've mentioned before about using Lift 'n Snip clippers for better control when cutting.  Several inquired about those snips and I don't believe this particular brand is still sold.  There is a folding version I believe, mine are decades old.  

These are the blades.  

The bottom hook is quite sharp and easy to slip under the top threads.

I ordered Notforgotten Farm's charts, Christmas Folk and Spools of my Thread.  I'm 70, and limiting spending on inexpensive items that bring joy will have greater impact on mood than on budget. 

Merry Christmas to me.

She featured it in her Christmas show announcement and I searched her Etsy page after page several times and did not see it.  But I ordered today along with that sweet sweet little bag that I have loved for a long time.  Then I found a file that was downloaded months ago from Pineberry Lane, A Sprig of Holly.  Add those to the latest from Lori Rippey and I have several smaller Christmas projects to think about.  It better be soon because I have less than a month!  I may switch to one or two with a promise to myself that I WILL return to Rachel.

Surgery is scheduled for December 9.

Snowing here, black ice, lots of accidents.  Be careful!!

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and ... end of that day

 Hello thankful people.  Am I an egghead or what?  Things happen, debt is incurred, frustration with objects and possessions is constant, overdyed linen will never be what it should, and none of it matters.  It's life baby.  Put your big girl white Fruit of the Loom full (and I mean full) size briefs on and continue with your boring life.

We're home, Carole enjoyed the goat cheese, Dalmatia fig spread, cherry tomatoes with fresh mozzarella pearls drizzled with honey and balsamic, kiwi, mango, smoked swiss, and iced coffee.  It was a nice visit.  The people at this facility are top notch, so caring, always upbeat, and extremely kind.  I hope I did not offend any when they came into her room to say hello (yes these workers just stop to talk with residents) and each hugged her and exclaimed how sorry they were to hear the news.  My mouth opened, fig seeds filling teeth gaps, and I announced this surgery is a shame, yes, but they aren't thinking about the extreme pain for months that will end, the ability to sit, mobility with a wheelchair, go outside, in the kitchen, at home, in a restaurant.  Yes yes yes it is horrible and sad, but don't make her feel worse.  Tell her although devastating, it will free her from that bed, from the pain, from the isolation.  And then I finished the goat cheese.  Boom.

Mark went out to get a bag of ice for two small coolers and we will keep coffee cream and juices, daily use items near the kitchen.  Boom!

So dear friends, I am sorry I spouted off like a whiny weenie.  I'm so tired, and like all babies, expressed my crankiness.

Hope your day was good.

I'm using Paypal to pay some things and decided to spend my $10 on a WTNT Santa chart.  Either Merry Old Soul or Peppermint Pals.  I'm sure I can move a few bucks into the stash fund for postage.

I just realized the Steelers aren't playing tomorrow, it's Thursday not Saturday!

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One day

 Wishing you all a thoughtful Thanksgiving.

Yesterday was quite frustrating and I'm trying to let it all go today.

The awning window in mom's bathroom is crammed with dried grass every year by a nutcase bug.  I saw a little blade sticking out and oblivious to common sense, cranked it open.  The wind blew all that crap into the bathroom.  What a mess.  New vacuum, outstanding pickup, but I can't adjust.  It fell over three times in a little bath when using a crevice tool, and I struck my head on the iron TP holder when getting up from the floor.  Massive headache.

So I sat for a while and decided to place orders for an extra pair of boots for the kids at the hugely reduced sale price.  All were sold out, every store I browsed, my fault.  Too many other issues and time slipped away.  Seems like yesterday I was bitching about November and it's ending.

 When your house is stained very dark and it's dark outside, even lights are sometimes not enough.  Distracted while we were discussing sister's situation, the garage door did not open on the first press and .... yep.   Boom.  This door is no longer made and the panel can't be replaced.  Impossible to find colors to match very dark monotone houses. Too cold to paint but the time of delivery cannot be offered, may not be until ?????  So I'm ticked after a morning of phone calls to companies that not only have no workers, have nothing to offer for months.  

And then, my fridge died.  It's a bottom freezer model that fits like a glove in a custom cabinet, counter depth.  My small kitchen demands it because any of the current models extend quite a bit and my butt would hit it when bending to open the oven door.  No appliances available here anyway, another item that would take six months.  High end models of built-ins cost more than my car.  We need more coolers but stores to purchase are not open today.  

We are often dropping what we are doing to drive over to check on Chris when he doesn't answer (type 1 diabetic with pump) and in the middle of dinner yesterday got calls from my brother's neighbor that he is not answering the door.  If they would have tried again, it would have saved us the trip.  He's fine.  We greatly appreciate people checking on others but bathrooms, basements, showers, sometime prevent hearing a visitor.

Taking low sodium treats, fruits, and such to Carole today, she is expecting everyone to go there.  The are four of us, two are going after lunch, and honestly, as much as this is breaking my heart, I can't deal with it.  I have matching wreaths and a tiny sweet tree for her but I'm sure as with everything else, it won't be right.  I don't know what I can do to help her deal with it all.  There is a difference between being compassionate and accommodating.  And either can weigh heavily.

The surgery will be soon and I need to increase my credit limit that started with installation of the mandated sewer project and additional monthly fee.  I have $10 left in my stash fund, and am so grateful the shop I purchased from allows returns so not much wasted on linen I didn't care for.  I hope the hotel will have openings that soon, others further into Pittsburgh are even higher in price.

I have much to be thankful for,

I have much to be sad about,

 I have much to be enraged about.

Don't we all?

Today we should focus on thankful.

We can bitch tomorrow.

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Balls of a different use

 Hi everyone.  First, the wool balls I was referring to are not the dryer balls.   Online sales for decorative snowballs of various size (some quite small) made from wool, are used in bowls and Christmas decor.  Personally, I hate the white crap regardless of the size of your balls.

I wanted to mention a problem with Rachel that I forgot needed adjusting.  I did not like the right side being two additional stitches from the outline than the left, so I reversed the left side chart and followed it on the right.  But once that page was over, I continued using the right side page, not the reversed left.  Uh-oh.  That threw vinegar in my oil.  The repeated main vine was moved which would of course throw off all other elements by two on successive pages.  So I removed the offenders and counted in from the outline to position the motifs the same as the other side, and all is well in my bitchdom.  

We had rain over the weekend and my Amazon order was handed to a neighbor by mistake, but I had no idea which.  Two days later, Chris came over and said there is a package on our grass alongside the road.  Yep.  It was too much trouble to pull in the drive and throw it on the porch, they threw it out the window.  No mail to retrieve, no newspaper delivery in the box, and no view from the house, so how could we see it?  Soaked.

Nothing to do with anything else but .....

very thin fried salami pieces for salad.

No good news from Pittsburgh today except for a few celebrating the loss of my voice.  She was in tears at the news that the pain and destruction will continue, requiring more trips to the hospital, and eventually another amputation.   Even if your remaining leg is tremendously painful, you are unable to hang it down to sit, can't use a wheelchair, will remain bedfast, it's hard to agree to the loss of both legs.  A prosthetic on one leg used to support/stabilize would assist transfer to wheelchair.  Her age and fact that she hasn't walked in eight months prohibits being fitted for two.  Extremely upsetting to her, I can't imagine.  I don't know when, that is her decision, but we need to make reservations again.  

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Wooly balls

 If you have pets, be very careful with the wool snowballs that are a big seller this year.  I read that several pups thought the little balls were for play or food and the wool felt stuck in their throats.  Please pass on to friends!

I have one more color to fill in the right border (still not stitching the white until the end), and will go back to removing the entire center motif including the wonky gold rice.  One of the reasons they aren't even or "firm", this area was frogged once before (thread was too light) and the same linen threads have been poked one time too many.  Another reason they lost their body is from dyeing and washing, which could have been a number of times.  I'll use Best Press to size and stabilize the linen threads, should help the stitches be more uniform.  Then, on to the house and beast.

We're going to Pittsburgh Monday for Carole's appointment.  

Very soon ..... December.  Closer to summer.

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Masking the truth

 Just a little tidbit, hope it offers a giggle.

I went to the store!  Got a haircut!  Visited Carole!  Then collapsed but I made it.

While walking to the check out, a man wearing a face mask said "hey, how's it going?".  Mark proceeded to tell him how sick I was, and I've seen how involved he gets in expressing this so continued down another aisle.  I didn't recognize the man nor want him to know about my body and its malfunctions, but knew Mark had shared the situation with friends.  Rounding another aisle to make my way back to the checkout, I see Mark still in conversation.  As I approached, the man said "I just heard your life story".  We wished him a good day and parted.  Mark asked "who was that?" 

Whoever he is, he knows me well and every detail of my miserable month.  I doubt he will ever casually ask how it's going to another shopper.  Damn masks.

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Hiding in plain sight

 Still working on Rachel and anxious to get to the bottom area, but there is a little sneak that keeps showing up.  See her peeking out?  Some times exposing just a corner, other times quite brazen, a few times in your face.  I don't want to conceal her.  She is studied at times as I do all charts (not instructions, just the chart) and I am afraid that she will disappear as most others do in the unorganized mess.

She's really pushing the button, I'm not mad, but getting anxious.  Next thing I'll be doing is pulling red threads.  I must resist!  Rachel will never be finished if I set her aside.  

I investigated the link for Optilight Martha was sweet to send about the latest treatment for dry eyes and it looks promising.  I even called my specialist for more information.  Not available here, but he checked more details and found that glands dead from Sjogrens don't revive (his opinion).  If I had a choice between treatment for eyes and mouth, I would definitely choose mouth.  Eyes can be soothed, even if needed every 15 minutes, but there is no product that can make eating enjoyable again or heal my tongue.  I appreciate the referral to this site, thank you Martha!  I'll continue to ask and investigate, never accept one opinion.  Unless it's mine because according to all that know me (and still speak to me) I know everything, and I'm always right.

Have a nice day folks.

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Rice

 One of the food items that is almost impossible for me to eat.  Even water with each mouthful, it sticks and will not go down.  Why isn't a liquid aid similar to saliva available?   Geez.

The rice stitch isn't much easier for me.  Please don't think that Krista was being critical, absolutely not the case, it was a comment about her Rachel finish.  I'm grateful that she did because I decided to change the large center flower since the white thread fill was not done yet.  The alphabet and band would not be noticed and will stay basic.  

I started on the center and proved once again that I have issue with tension and uniformity which is important for speciality stitches.  To me anyway.  After removing the flower, I will move to the right border for a bit.  Lots of appointments and I have to get to the facility for several things, Monday to Pittsburgh.  Then I will take my time and attempt neat rice stiches.  

I love these on sandwich, salad, anything.

Have a good day!

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Lazy know-it-all

 Holy crap.  Krista commented on my Rachel photo on Instagram and mentioned the rice stitch.  ???  Did she decide to do rice on her own or am I that arrogant and oblivious to instructions?  The latter of course.  Not only is the very large central flower rice stitch, the dividing band above it is also.  Why would that band be in rice you would wonder.  Because the three rows of large alpha above it should be dipstick!!  Part eyelet, part rice, and nary one in sight.  Dammit.  

Each graph square has a symbol, and usually a large specialty stitch symbol covers all four squares or has a different symbol.  But that's my fault entirely for not reading the chart.  I could excuse my lack of attention to a covid fog but I did the alpha before that happened.  And we're past the menomania.  Well, not completely.  I still use that defense for acquittal and sympathy while wiping my forehead from a not as hot as they used to be flash.   And thanks to masking, my face is always a little damp so it's still believable.  

But not with this flub.  Does it matter?  Unless very close to the stitching to study, rice is not as obvious in alphabets.... to me.  Eyelet?  More obvious.  Basic cross stitch?  Good enough.  But that central flower is already completed with three colors, and I believe it would be a nice feature in rice stitch.   Do I want to remove and do over?  

Give me a minute to wipe my forehead.

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Love this product

But before that .... Rachel progress.

I used to sew my own clothing back in high school, even my prom gowns, there was no option for tall skinny girls over fifty years ago.   And I hated it.  Still have the same machine.

When caring for mom, I started altering her clothing to cover coffee and food stains.  This led to other family and friends bringing tops for me to play with and do the same.  It was fun!  Also hides holes from cat claws.  The easiest was a wide print center band from top to bottom with buttons.  Recently purchased tall tops from Old Navy that are LONG to wear with leggings and I'm considering adding decoration.

Using a fusible for applique, these were so easy, I just outline the edges with a machine zig zag after fusing.  But learned that the cotton fabric MUST be washed and dried first!  On some, the edges were left to fray with just a straight stitch outline.  The top center back always had a smaller coordinating element.

I've tried sewing stretchy jersey before and it was a mess, never flat and neat.  Adding hem or other lightweight fusible offered flat hems that were stiff and obvious.  This product is not fused.  A thin strip of tacky hold that will be removed when washed, no residual stiffness.  No hot iron, no heat at all required.  You just press it on the edge (hem, zipper, applique), remove paper strip, fold over or secure the second fabric, finger press.  It held the jersey secure enough to stitch without stretching and IF my machine was working, it would be even better.  It won't pick up bobbin thread for any stitch other than straight.  

But it's a nightshirt that went from floor length to knee length and was so much easier, and the hem is neat!

About the kids' gifts.  I used to love spending hours in stores looking for top and bottoms that coordinated, but Miss Sophia has become so fussy that is a waste of time and money.  Autistic Matt rarely will accept all items so their mom is better at knowing what they will wear.  Last year we went with new blankets, comforters, pillows, underwear.  So more underwear this year and I'm thinking sleeping bags.  They use them for watching TV and unzip to add to their bed when really cold.  Been a few years, I'll bet they are tattered by now.  Cash?  Visa cards one year were not spent on them, another story, absolutely not an option for such young kids.

Monday monday melting snow.  

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Mid November

 Why?  And why are black Friday sales so early?  We no longer receive ads for major retailers in our useless local paper, and even if I had a phone I would not allow push notifications or be linked.  Guess that's why I will never get the journals or bags or anything else that stitchers are promptly made aware of.

Mary, my sister's adjacent 105 year old resident passed away last night.  To be of sound mind at that age, what a blessing.  They moved a once lovely woman who now screams nastiness all day across the hall, and when she would barge into Carole's room, Mary would enter and in no uncertain terms set her straight!  Since Carole can't walk, Mary watched over her.  I only hope the new neighbor will be kind.  It would help if she could talk to other residents that dealt with limb loss, but privacy laws prohibit sharing such info.  Mid thigh amputation is harder to adjust to than below knee and along with the pain of the remaining leg, she is having a difficult time.

All those gowns I purchased that she insisted be ankle length despite my arguments, I have to cut and hem.  Watching a video about working with knits/jersey will have Mark taking me to JoAnn's for Wash-Away Wonder Tape.  Only a few are jersey and I will try to do that this evening.  Ordered several but nothing in stock locally, arrival time is end of November.  

I'll tell you what I got for myself this morning!  From Lori Rippey......

Mary Bell.  Wowza!

My new linens were to be sorted and listed by count, but I got sidetracked.  When putting the 36 and 40 in pouches is when I realized how similar some colors were to each other.  My foggy mind could not produce a way to list color shades within counts, so that ended and I got the lemon zucchini bread out of the freezer.  Technically husband did.  Some days the weakness is profound and others better, so he is still on stair duty.  But I did offer a slice for his trouble.

Wow, this has been a ramble hasn't it?  Wish me luck on the hemming.  If it fails, it will become a raw zig zagged edge.  As I keep telling her majesty, she is not attending a prom so get over it.  

Roethlisberger is out with Covid, it will be a grumpy afternoon for my stair master. 

Thanks for visiting!

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Close enough

If you are unable to locate a particular color of linen for a project, you should be able to find a substitute that is so close you won't notice a difference.  The Affogato I received is very nice and I can't tell the difference from the Antique Lace.

This background is Oatmeal (Kitten Stitcher) as is the totally different Oatmeal (Hobby House) in the right corner.  So if a chart calls for it, which one would work with the threads?  The other two, Caramel Macchiato and Buttermilk, are no different at all from the Oatmeal.  But not the corner Oatmeal which matches my Prairie Grass.  There's no way to know which variation of a color was used for the model so close enough has to be good enough!  And it appears a completely different linen may be closer to what the model is stitched on.

I received two counts of Sand Dunes, expecting it to be tan, and I soaked both yellow pieces in bleach to remove color.  I'll play with them at some point and get the color I want.

Stayed in the car yesterday while Mark did the errands but did go into Kraynak's to see new offers.  I featured this store before, the largest Christmas shop ever.  So many string light options, theme bulbs, tabletop items, collectibles, artificial greens, ribbons, tiny to massive trees, yoi!   They opened the back area this year for more toys, which also fill the actual store.  The Christmas items are in the numerous greenhouses.  My knees were giving out so I got a few larger bells for the skimpy tree and left.   Between that and a shower, I was so exhausted.  Hard to understand when all else is so much better.  

 

This advent item was new.  I also saw cut glass trees lighted inside by battery which would be a nice sparkling decoration for Carole's tray table if she doesn't make it home in time for Christmas.

I very much like the shape and size of the shorter tree between the snowmen.  I don't know if it was my wobbly knees or not, but I swear a few of the gnomes and snow people tried to trip me.

I found two charts recently purchased that I didn't remember and they are NICE!  Hurry up Rachel Hyde!  Let's get your clusters hanging!

 High winds and rain, cold weekend.  Crapola.

Hope everyone took some time yesterday to honor our veterans.

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Another page down

Not looking forward to the right side border, or the over one, but hoping to continue without throwing in the towel.

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My greenie

 Better than orange or yellow, without this highlighter marking the completed stitches, a disaster would ensue.  I have trouble with motifs and especially meandering borders, even when one color.  The grapevine and curly cues of several color changes would have caused so much frustration that I may have stopped work on Rachel.  Why the other colors are not as helpful, don't know.  But I (and all other stitchers) are grateful for highlighters in any color!   Much less counting which usually ends in misplacement.  And surprisingly, just following the completed stitches has resulted in not one error of this PITA border.

I have used several colors to mark the chart and distinguish the color changes, and it helps also, but I found that just greening what I completed every time I need a new thread is (for me) a greater help.

We needed to get Carole a new TV for her room and I told husband that after a month, I wanted to check my stamina outside of home.  Don't have an answer as to why since home isn't that great, but ..... 'ya know.  He dropped me at the door, I grabbed a buggy as an aid and walked very slowly.  By the time he parked and came in my knees were rubber.  But we got the TV, she wants a haircut and wash, a shopping list filled, so I guess we will be making the drive Thursday and take care of this.  

Today we went to the Italian store in Youngstown, it's a very small shop, and I did OK.  Except for the pounds that will result from our purchases.  The frozen wrapped manicotti were gone, the only ravioli left were lobster and veal (I don't eat babies), as were the prepared cavatelli and other dishes I usually get.  The only place to get large frozen bags of washed and cut mixed greens for wedding soup, and their various size meatballs are fabulous.  When Carole made the soup she pressed the meat mixture into a cookie sheet and then cut into mini squares after roasting.  And oh my their home made sausage, mild, hot, briar hill.  Stop it.

It's sunny and a little warmer, but I can't push it so won't be removing summer items from the deck to be stored.  Maybe tomorrow, a little at a time.

Hope your day is swell!

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Your choice

 of 3860 looks pretty darn nice.  I really thought 451 was better but I trust you, and wasn't able to envision the entire piece with multiple clusters in either color.  So although I liked the softness of the lighter shade in one cluster, I just wasn't sure it would be enough throughout.  

I'm thinking about the larger charts I have with the "fancy" borders, and hoping they will not be as trying as this one.  The highlighter pen covering completed areas on the chart is very helpful, but still, a PITA for me.

Adding to the difficulty is the extreme dryness that has not lessened at all.  

Have a sunny Sunday!

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Cluster color

 Hi folks.  Another afternoon of a promise to sit and do nothing, but this time I am stitching.  Errors galore, but when expected, not as maddening as ones found later.  Three bottles of Similasan in three days, need to order more.

Rachel's clusters were to be 3022, I knew from the start that would be the one color definitely changed.  Trying to find a subdued grape color wasn't easy and after first thinking DMC 28 or 30 would be perfect, neither were.  Too much color which baffled me since others in the piece were somewhat bright.  Moved to 3041 and 3042, still not happy.

Then I remembered a pear design that was a sweet soft amethyst/lavender and tried it.  I think we have a winner.  Sampler Pear #10 was stitched with 451, an odd and blah color in skein that I never used before this.  But gorgeous when stitched.

In the same family is 3860, deeper and another beauty but may be too much.  3861 is a little lighter than 451 and also a contender but again, for some reason, I was still crabby.  All of them are beautiful, not too blue, not too red, not too stark.  

The 451 is on the right and the 3860 on left.

And in the big picture...

Hmmm.  The 3860 does look good, doesn't it?   This photo is of course different than in person, but I'm looking at both and making my still woozy head spin.  Damn.

Oh well.  I'll continue with surrounding stitches until I decide.

I didn't fill the white areas of the vine on the right to prevent soiling, but will soon and then roll the top down and baste it.  I'm anxious to try the frozen linen but there are too many orange sherberts and ice creams in the fridge freeze.  And some protective guy won't allow me to use the basement stairs to the big one.

Have a good day folks.

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A pressing matter

 Regarding pressing Rachel, I'm not careful.  Sometimes I would use a lightweight terry washcloth but most times do not.  Why?  My old linens pressed easily, today's do not.  At all.  The overall crinkle just doesn't change, with Best Press, diluted vinegar, and other tips you've offered me.  Pressing on a cloth does little to smooth them, and I don't mind them since I like a more aged primitive look.  But it annoys me when I can't get a crisp finish on anything.  To me, a light dampening or spritzing is important but I found for the first time, a few hand dyed linens can be ruined.  Rachel's linen I dyed myself after several attempts to remove an unwanted undertone.  Obviously PTP or ??? because I had no issue at all.  But the new colors (like the green Buttermilk) can't even take a spritz without bleeding let alone a full dip to tone the green.  So how do we press if there are fold or obvious creases?  Steam is not enough.  Dare I try a dampened pressing cloth?   Maybe that would work since the moisture is evening distributed.  Any suggestions?

Husband is exhausted. Every day, this is what he cleans up.  One of us would use the hand blower while the other had the push behind, the tractor if the yard wasn't wet, and a lot of hand raking.  Still a ridiculous amount of work but manageable when there are two old farts working together, but I am no help this year.  Chris has even more, all oak, on a very steep hill.  We have a few, but the back is mostly maples, red sunset maples on sides.

I did receive a notice about the book cancellation in my junk folder late yesterday, along with a ton of emails that should not be there.  FB claims I have messages to read, but there isn't anything showing.  I've switched from Google to Bing, many times testing a search showed more reliable and broader results.  But I'll also check into a few others to compare.  

Carole is having some concerning issues today, I'm waiting for the nurse to call.

Hope your day goes well.

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Not what I expected

Whoa.  I found my Magma.  Stitching in hand can be a little messy sometimes but I always fold my project neatly before closing the folder.  I was surprised to find this but Mark said my actions were sometimes not reasonable.  The fever didn't come until after the treatment and from that day on, my days were spent in bed which means I was this reckless before then.  Crazy baby!  So I will need to press poor Rachel before finding my place on the chart and proceeding.  Do I want to?  I don't have an answer, to anything really.  I'm sure the fog will lift when my strength returns, but even with good mojo my eyes have been unbearably dry and scratchy.  I want to be ready when they improve so I'll look for Rachel's floss ring, smooth out her creases, and also choose another smaller project in case she is put aside.

And I guess I won't be struggling to read the Book of Days I ordered.  After not receiving a shipping or even order notice, I went back to the online shop to check for myself.  It was cancelled.  But no one notified me that the listing for one remaining in stock was incorrect.  Searching on Bing offered various sites with instructions and other ideas, good enough.  In fact, maybe even better for the project I am interested in.

Mark is very tired from doing leaves and he also went golfing today for the first time in a month.  The guys were glad to see him, not sure he will be up to the Friday group round.  I had to prove that I can be trusted to not use the stairs or walk around too much.  I passed.

It's late and I need to get back to bed but I slept too much this afternoon and won't fall asleep for a while.  The Advil has not kicked in to help my pounding head and stuffed sinuses yet, not a relapse I'm sure, just an oncoming case of sniffles.

Have a great day.

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A few treats

 Hiya.  How's everyone?  I'm sure all of you realize it's November, but that fact came as a real shock to me this afternoon.  When did it happen?  The last I remember it was the teens of October.  But there is a block of time that has escaped me I guess.

Mark went for groceries, the bank, drove to see Carole, and I stayed on the sofa all afternoon and browsed a little online.  I found a note about searching for an old Bonanomi book (Book of Days).  Available from an online quilt shop, but $14.50 shipping on a $14.95 book turned me away so I am glad I found it elsewhere.  I will have it to read soon along with her other that I received before covid, the firsts for me from this talented artist.  

 I've wanted a stitching journal from Primitive Stitcher for a long time, but will never nab one.  I'm hoping this booklet may help me create my own.  And with Hobby Lobby moving into the old Pat Catan store where Michael's failed, it will be nice to actually see and feel products.  Catan's was so highly rated, great prices and outstanding supplies, greatly missed.

I also ordered more linen colors from Hobby House hoping I like them, but if not, that's OK too.  I don't remember much about Rachel (is that the chart?) and where I am on her progress, really strange.  Tomorrow I hope to look through the stitching drawer and see what's there.  I know I received several new charts (and they are ....?), but I really feel as if I just landed and haven't been here for weeks!  

I hope you have a great day.

Stay safe, be well, treat yourself.

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More light than darkness

 Still shadows and moments of dark, but glimpses of light are increasing.  I'm fortunate.  Too many we know of vaxed and not, hospitalized for weeks.

All I did was change pillowcases and barely made it to the chair before my knees buckled.  Wow.  But my voice is now strong enough for a short conversation and that prompted (so far today), eight calls from a certain sister about issues she needs taken care of.  Not now girl.  Not now.

Thank you everyone for your concern.  We'll never know how much worse it may have been without receiving the monoclonal antibodies.

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