Golden

 OK.  OK.  You're going to think my rocker lost a rail.  I hate to be selfish, but I've spent so much on the mandated sewer system and yard repair, Carole's transports, all her necessities, over 200 books in ten months, personal items, her upcoming dental extractions and bridgework, and I want a few things for myself.  I am so grateful for the anonymous gift, and I've sold a few pieces of non-favorite linen to purchase a few favorites.  Well, it was like having only one piece of chocolate.  I need more. I spotted this magnificent sampler and had to have it, and the linen for it.  So ..... I went through the few old 14K jewelry pieces, broken or missing a piece, and SOLD them at a gold exchange.  Yeehaw! 

Can you blame me?  The lions, the ladies, the birds, the checkered ?gate?.  Amazing chart, over 20 heavy glossy paper pages with very large colored chart, a photo of Kezia's dwelling and story.  The border is done over one so to accommodate crabs like me, they also converted that border to over two.  Turn the book upside down for that graph.  It's from Sassy Jack's, Sassafras Samplers.  I got Paperbark linen but the Hemingway may work better.

Now here's the kicker.  Yes I suffer from color phobia, but also asymmetrical affliction.  I didn't even pull threads yet and I already changed the chart in Paint.

I prefer a full skirt.

Tuesday Tuesday.

Can trust it either.

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That's better

 Switched to 503, may keep the 501 in a few spots of these first rows, but haven't decided.

The bottom area has a good deal of the 500, and I tried subbing 3051 and 3011 as a muted green and didn't believe it would do as well in that section.  I'm pleased with this change.  

I follow Wyndham needlework on Ebay (here), all of their proceeds go to help felines.  I placed orders with them when they were a retail business, they retired and have been selling their inventory and such on EBay since.  Lots of Mary Beale including her Pocketbook Needlework, stockings, and a very nice variety here.  Older magazines, embroidery publications, lots of charts always being updated.  I had not seen these before .... sampler glasses!  Twelve ounces.

 Monday Monday.

Can't trust that day.

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DMC 500

 And 501.  That beautiful jade-ish teal series that is commonly used. Well I'm tired of them.  Seems they are pulled for at least every other project.  One of my favorite first samplers is Safrona Ager (The Examplarery) and if I remember correctly, the lighter 503 was the main thread and I love it.  Such a simple marking sampler on natural linen, and the thread color makes it special.

But although very nice as charted, and used throughout Jeny, I'm pausing with iced coffee in hand and heat pack on neck to ponder a change.  Whether it's up a shade, a dusty muted green, or a neutral mixed in with the golds, I need to decide before going further.  

I folded linen in half and started at center to make sure that skimpy inch margin was the same on each side.  I sort of panicked when I measured seven inches to see if a linen flaw would be in the stitching and it showed less than one inch on the right.  This Heartland was too yellow and I had previously dipped to tone that down, and as always, linen shrinks. So this measures 42 - 43 stitches per inch, and no problem.

It snowed and snowed and snowed and then it snowed today.  Stop it.

Miss my boys.

Have a decent Monday.

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Ready to start

 Those of us without shops are at a loss when it comes to choosing linens for a new project.  I've read so many times that the stitcher was upset about the ordered linen looking nothing like the chart photo.   Agreed, understandable, frustrating, and I don't care.  I have to choose what I have on hand or prefer, never order the recommended since it may look different.  I saw the BBD new design on called for Veldt and I love it, but it appears more brown, Veldt description claims green.  Jeny's called for linen is Vintage Examplar which many have praised as a wonderful color and fabric, I don't care for it in the photo, never saw it in person.  Best for me is to find something similar to a chart's photo if I like that shade, hopefully in my stash.   My stash has very limited 40 count pieces (five!), and since I am leaning toward a pouch finish or something similar, 40 it will be to keep it small.  My Dazor lens is ready to go and I cleaned my readers.  

I may be able to change threads easily, but stumble when imagining those colors on the fabric. Since I don't think any of my choices will be right, it doesn't matter which.  Except for the Seaweed.  Good grief it is fabulous.  Beautiful rich green, bluish in places, toned toward wine in others, and these lighter muted threads would be outstanding.  Only two colors would need revamped.  I hate to use it!  I have a tiny (6 x 8) piece of Dames of the Needle's Redwood and I can't use it either, just too beautiful.   Most of my 40 are 8 x 12, what I usually order to see a color or use for ornaments/tucks since I have an aversion to cutting into a large piece of linen.

I will save the Seaweed, start on the 8 x 12 piece of Heartland I dyed over, will only have 1" margin, but that's all I need for a sewn piece.  If I decide it needs a frame (rarely), I can sew a muslin strip to extend the linen for wrapping around a mounting board.  Boom.

I went to the cardiologist, they refused to believe my claims of my sweater weighing seven pounds.  You just can't fool those folks.  They scheduled echo and stress (terrified of the dye since I have reactions to so much), next Tuesday but I had to change because of her appointments.  The doctor was called away so I had my favorite NP whom I adore.  Follow up with her also.

I bag cereal for Carole to have as evening treat or when menu isn't great.  Tried a new one, anxious to hear her reaction.  She loves flavored coffee and drinks, this is Post's Dunkin Donut Caramel Macchiato made with real coffee.  As a dry snack it is very tasty. 

Have a safe weekend.

Thanks for the visit.

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Meet me in the middle

I'm just not feeling up to par and weighing pros and cons for a decision is hard enough even when I'm at par.  So I set aside the smaller project and will continue thinking about the BAP (yes, BigAssProject), and work on a midsize.  Last year I posted about Jeny Brimer From Milady's Needle.  She is the chosen one.

The four rows of initials?  Jeny was popular!  But not many ending in B.

Another project that is a mix of elements that can easily be handled.  Not monotonous, not tedious, not so large to have me begging for its end.  The only change may will be the queen stitch buds on the center tree.

Her finished size on 40 count is roughly 7" x 7.5", a good size for a pouch.

Be grateful for today.

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The lineup

 A started project by Lucy Beam was picked up again but when unfolded, what the heck?  How did I cut this and not realize it was needed?  

Sometimes it is easy to choose a project, most times not.  This time ..... NOT.  I want a smaller piece and have five chosen but would love to have a BAP also.  Two projects at once has never been the case, but the only hope of completing the larger samplers may be to offer a break while not having to set aside the needle.  I know that the longer the needle is idle, the less willing I am to pick it up again.  If there another less daunting project to switch to and keep the needle active, well, we'll see how it goes.  

But which?  Several are included each time I am searching, a few are new and irresistable.  Sarah Pope has far too much over one but what about stitching this center area for a drum?  Their clothing is tent stitch, better than lettering.  What to do what to do!!!  I started with marking samplers, still my go-to choice, but so was 30 count back then.  I've since changed to single thread 36 and worked on several with scenes and motifs.  I would have never considered some of the following years ago, but are more enticing these days.

At the top of the list....

Very large but not not a difficult stitch.....

Close to the top.....

All lettering, so easy!  Free hand border.

HELP ME!!

I cannot continue living in procrasti-nation, the nation of which I reign.  I  must get moving on so many things that I failed to initiate plus additionals that were put on hold this last year.  Did that planner help?  Never wrote a day in it because I kept procrastinating to start entries!!  See?  I need help.  The young reliable and experienced man that we finally found for all house projects, sadly has cancer that he kept to himself, but is now affecting his abilities.  I used to rip down walls and help with construction and such, but have been dragging butt for some time.  Could it be my Sjogren's which can affect joints and also cause fatigue?  Or  maybe I am just worn out and old!

Cranky made me complete that border and she was right.  Maybe a strong recommendation of project would help me get moving.

Have you seen the news report video of the older Ukrainian woman crying, sobbing?  Breaks your heart.  I've seen the younger mothers sobbing, the children, all unbearable.  But this woman's despair has not left me for a minute. 

Stay safe.

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Changes. Of course.

 This Saturday ...

A ride to visit Carole.  Lots of things to take in as always.  One of them will be another vintage pillowcase that I dyed yellow.  Her bedding is a soft pink and the other cases I dyed were pink and look sweet.  But she loves yellow and with the pink embroidery, will still be fine with her bedding.  I love this, and the embroidered colors really pop on the light yellow ground.  The few I have left are big enough for a king pillow, even longer.  Very surprised at the size unless my grandmother stuffed them herself to fit across the full width of a twin bed.  

I have several small projects and a few very large to choose from for next project.  This WTNT chart was on my hope-to-purchase list but a sweet and generous stitcher gifted me with it.  It's one of the options, but (and you will not be happy with this) I may change it.  Her designs are perfect as offered, but you know me, I have no bias toward designer, reproduction, free, or costly when it comes to changes.  Another two projects are red, I just stitched with red, and I want this to be a companion to my other gifted Bluebird.  Here's what Paint and I came up with in short order, just to see.  Something to ponder but I may stitch as charted.  If there is any inkling or doubt, I know I must get a glimpse of those options before starting.  

Original.

Red bird with smaller blue birds, no red in pots.  

Blue bird with smaller red birds, no red in pots.

The problem is, I may choose an option but change my mind by the time it is worked on.

Have a safe and grateful weekend.

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Bingo

Done.  

Jean Donaldson 1826 from Cross Stitch Antiques.

Mark took me for a haircut, she cuts a V at the nape for longer sides (for my female comb over) and when I got home I thought the V could be a smidge higher.   Was unknowingly holding that clump at an angle, tried to blend it, V became a W, then an inverted U, and now a disaster.  Will I ever learn?  There is no such thing as a smidge when correcting hair cuts at home.

She has a new puppy, in constant motion, constant grabbing, everything in the mouth, and she hops like a baby goat.  Terribly sharp teeth and the little tap on the nose bridge doesn't deter her biting one bit.  The coins in the empty soda can, scared the hell out of me, she didn't flinch. Once she found a clip on the floor to bat around, it was like watching a hockey game at high speed.  So stinkin' cute.  And her haircut is nicer than mine.

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Continuing

 with our daily chores and life seems so selfish doesn't it?  But what can we do?   I made the mistake of watching the video presented to congress.  Bodies of infants killed, injured and crying children, a woman being dumped onto others in a mass grave, the helpless frail elders .... I am glad I was home alone.  Just too emotional.  

--------------------------------

Settled down, I focused on a month worth of bills, and Carole's, my new checks finally came in.  We weren't notified that free checks at our bank were no longer offered so I was caught off guard.  My power bill is $40 higher than when lit for Christmas so I added that utility to my bitching list.  And the new phones for Tracfone do not show remaining service time or minutes which the 3G did.  Verizon purchased Tracfone so I'm expecting pay-as-you-go to end in the future.  Minutes balance is found by logging into the account online, we don't do that from our basic phones and a PITA regardless. Need to find another provider.  

We went to the grocery store's pharmacy for refills, and while waiting, took out a loan for a corned beef brisket.  It's why they have bank branches in stores now.  I will use this recipe which is a favorite.  Sweet & sour but more sweet than tang.  The cabbage will be for soup or fried with bacon and onion.

Jean's border is going well, and my stem count error nullified another.  The stems in the bottom row are four stitches, I used five as elsewhere, but the bottom flowers are charted three spaces from the inner border while the others are two.  (insert spinning head here)  Again, not paying attention.  My error in adding a stitch actually made the placement proper.  I do plan to leave the inside border tent stitch as charted and not change to a full cross.  Very few of the flowers have a "tip" to them in blue, a few have red.  Not adding either, simply because I am not strict in following reproductions, and a here and there element doesn't appeal to me.

Thanks for visiting.

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A better pear

 OMGoodness.  Katherine from @trinkity mentioned me in a post which led me to her.  I adore how she has stitched and constructed my pear!  AUGH!!!  I gave all of mine away except for the July and December pears and don't want to deconstruct and reconstruct those two.  They certainly don't require a lot of time to stitch and I plan to choose a few favorites for a second time.  Definitely Swan Song and Katherine's choice also.  

They are constructed of three panels (two fabric panels and the stitchery), similar to Nan's (which I also adore but haven't ordered yet).  I don't believe I am ready to sit at the sewing machine, still have patience and short fuse issues left over from the last year.  Unless it's a straight seam or hem or repair, my old metal Kenmore should keep its distance.  But the stitchery can be finished and in the pile.

She also has a floss tube that features some lovely sampler projects, and I still don't understand why that bell has to be clicked in addition to subscribe to follow anyone.  But that's me.  

I want to post these on my IG page, maybe tomorrow.  Was hoping to do a different St. Pat's day pear, I dislike that design.  A lot.  But Carole's ordeal started last year at this time, March 1 to be exact, and I was dealing with my misdiagnosis prior to that.  And this year?  Lazy.

The sawtooth border is coming along slower than I expected, and it looks fabulous.

Have a pleasant day.

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Blurred or clear, still green

 Selling a few linen pieces (named differently but the same in color) in order to buy others, hopefully greenless.  If not, I'll have something new to complain about.  I know minutia is selfish and totally irrelevant in the world today.  A fresh bitching invigorates a crabass and is a way of venting of sorts, another outlet when feeling helpless.  And I am willing to bet a pack of Bohin the linen will be accommodating, and green.

When a chart is first received, I study, look it over carefully both graph and written.  But when stitching .... reckless.  So as I started the sawtooth side, following the chart, it bumped into the flower's stem.  How's come?  Because I mistakenly assumed that the stems were the same length throughout.  They are not.  Top is five, sides are four.  Fortunately, moving that border over a full stitch allows the stems to be free and doesn't affect the look at all.

Several readers mentioned how much I can accomplish with my eye issues.  I am adept at administering drops in each eye with one hand every 15 minutes.  People freak out in stores when I do that while walking.  One woman said she can't with two hands and a mirror.   As soon as the drops enter and I blink, clarity returns.  My sis thought her eyes were getting bad, trouble reading, she was surprised that blurriness was caused by dryness and now uses drops regularly.  Similason is my favorite and using with contacts is not a problem at all.  Much easier to use than squeezing a bottle, very easy to use dropper.  As for direct light (which I can't handle), my lamp focuses down with top and sides shielded, and adjusted below eye level.  The wrinkled macula is in one eye, not affecting my vision as yet, will have surgery before that happens (hopefully).

I'm done. Trying not to mention the w**.  

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Ta-Da

 Flowers done.  A little peacock grooming.  And we're done with cross stitches.

The sawtooth border will be stitched and positioned as is charted.  The top and bottom flowers were also, but the irregular spaced sides were changed. The only option for equal spacing was four stitches apart, one wider than the charted top and bottom of three, but more pleasing to me than the original's randomness.

It's hard to photograph how wonderful this sampler is. 

Sawtooth once around and we'll call it a finish.

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This ain't no bluebird

 out my window.

Damn Skippy.

Cheryl mentioned the upside is a great reflection of light from the snow which most enjoy.  But unbearable for me.  I need to wear dark glasses inside my own house, even if the sun is not out.  But my condition is not life threatening and that is the upside I focus on.

We brought Petey's house inside to touch up paint and store, just couldn't bear to see it at the back door.  And the brat that would not accept him, obviously misses him.

Here 'ya go Cranky.  I'm doing it, and it's not as bad as I expected. The borders that really gnaw at me contain too many color changes for just a few stitches.  Only two here, repetitive, and I can handle this so I'm glad you shamed me into it.  I actually enjoy sawtooth so that part won't be bad either. 

Stay safe.

p.s. I made my slaw, egg, cheese sandwich with Walmart's slaw.  Horrible!  Giant Eagle's is the best, maybe Grandma's, but if you try it make sure it's a good slaw.

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Shaming me

 Yep.  I felt the scolding through my screen from that Cranky Crow to put my big girl full coverage cotton panties on and stitch the flower border.  Well OK.  But I did alter it in Paint and space them evenly because I do have issues with symmetry.  

I copied and pasted, ended with four spaces between each and although a little messy print copy, will be used to buckle down and finish this.  I'm running out of ink and blocked the sampler area except for the edges so I can monitor my position.  With the same spacing throughout the sides, that makes it easier for lazy crabs.  I failed at recording daily progress and changes in my notebook, did not even think about it.  Distractions I guess.

Mark is making Petey's cross this morning, same as Bud's, and they are next to each other.  For a cat that we conversed with and cared for without ever being able to handle, we are having a more difficult time than we expected.  Nitzy, who Petey followed everywhere but kept distance, has been searching for hours every day.  My sister is reading a book that we were surprised to hear, involves a cat named .... Petey!

Be well.

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Bad George

Altered the birds, kept three colors but a little neater and pinkless.  A very small part of Jean and not what the eye is drawn to.  I think this is the first project that had "smocking", different and fun.  I had to also alter two panels, just couldn't focus last night so improvised.

It's nice to get back to words and letter stitching, even if only one line and the final.  I have a few smaller projects lined up, all motifs, and after that I will look for the ease of letters.  I will use my new book of motifs to finish ...... oh my.  Who is she?  Rachel!  Yes, Rachel.

I saw interest in a new reproduction release by a young boy.  In my stack of old R&R charts there is George Eisenbrey.  Part of the biography...

George was nine years old when he was required to stitch his sampler.  According to a note written by his sister, George was sent to a girls school as punishment for an unpardonable sin.  One can only imagine what George must have done to offend his parents to such a degree that they would have sent him to a girls school.

So what did he do?  Do I want to honor this little snot if he hurt someone or an animal?  Maybe he was just obstinate and needed to learn manners, probably more like it.  What did you do George???

Be safe.

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The big question

 Since I am close to a finish, will I feel like stitching the border?  Or just the sawtooth?  Or if I decide to tolerate the flowers will I rearrange and space evenly?  These and other questions will be answered in the next episode of  .... As the Crab Decides.

I do not like that pinky bird and may change.  That will be another episode of the never ending saga ...... As the Crab Alters.

The disturbing and sad situations, grief, and the return of the menocrap, are causing distractions and some episodes may be rescheduled for a later date.

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Thank you

 for  your condolences on our Petey.  My husband was never able to touch him, but he is having a hard time with losing him.  Petey would come out of his condo to greet him, accept food and treats, and being as vociferous as he was, always had something to say.  The beginning of every yowl sounded like a tractor trying to start, and ended with a high pitch meow.  On some, the tractor took quite a while to start. There was no mistaking his sound, and it was certainly not infrequent.  That big boy was a talker.  

Another row of Jean completed with spacing and peacock changes.  They were not aligned, my error, so left had lower buttock enhancement which lowered his legs, and the right side had a non surgical breast lift which raised his head.  No need to remove all the stitches, just very top and bottom, so an easy fix.

I may purchase one chart from the Nashville show, lots of wonderful projects.  We're waiting to see the coverage of the weekly stretcher transports Carole has required to the surgeon, another tomorrow.  We were told they may not be covered since they are to a doctor office, but he is debriding each time and they do not lift and carry a patient to a table, therefore, stretcher.  

Very windy and warm here. I need to bring Petey's house and heated bowl in since the raccoons will take over if it's empty.  I have a large multiple cat heated A-frame that I haven't decided to sell or donate yet.  Bud was the only one willing to curl up with someone inside.

We knew 3G was ending but never had a date from Tracfone.  We are using Verizon towers so followed their dates.  Without notice, we lost our service the other day.  Free phones were offered so we accepted them and will continue with the $20 for three month plan.  

Be safe.

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