Eureka!

 My border met!  So many one stitch errors I've made so far and yet the area of greatest risk for stitching screams is perfect.  I'm surprised and delighted.  

The tree is not centered yet, and I did find another error.  The 8 should be five stitches wide, mine is four, add the one linen thread over to the right and that's 1.5 spaces off.  No need to change that bottom area as I said, since those errors aren't causing other problems.   The tree will be centered and the house needs to be thinner by one or two rows, reason not found.  We're good!  I love this little design and now I can move forward.

More good news - I finally found a site that offered the Paint program I know and love.  It's back baby!!  But I can't get Windows to accept the app and list it in programs.  It's a little work to get in, but it's there.  

My Varithena treatment went as expected.  Hurt like hell.  That's unusual for this procedure, area is numbed first, but inserting the cannula and especially the foam when entering the vein is scream worthy.  This upsets the techs and docs when it's not expected, but not so much as the poor gastro surgeon listening to me yell during a colonoscopy without anesthesia.  

This was the brighter pink of the peony that took years to bloom.  My others are pastel.  I had a ruffled bicolor but it croaked.  Not easy to kill a peony, but I have talent.

Have a great day, be safe.

**************

And so it continues

Correction made. Technically it was two stitches short but really only one and I don't even remember why.  But it's wrong.  In that process of mind blowing counting, I found that the bottom date and name is one thread off, not lined up with the border stitches.  That doesn't interfere with any other elements so it's fine.  It's frustrating for sure, obviously there is a counting error somewhere.  Over and over the result is the same and for such a small area, I'm really at a loss for an explanation.  How could the width count of the house be correct, yet the foundation is not, and does not align with the bottom area.  Each stitch carries two linen threads so that's not the issue.  My only option is to continue with the border on the right side to see where the house will end.  Do I believe it will meet since I've had nothing but errors so far?  Nope. The concern is that the house would be only one stitch away from the border but three away on the other side.  Once I can see where it would end, adjustments to the house will be easy.  Some stitchers complete the border first and use it as a guide, some use the completed body as a guide for the border.  Like a putz, I'm halfway on both.

We had a storm, heavy rain, and these Annabelles just starting to bloom, are no longer upright.  They are really taking over and my Limelight is hidden within those stems.  First year that the deer haven't dramatically trimmed them for me.  The peony to the left has been planted for years, bloomed for the first time, a much brighter and deeper pink than the others.

The wrinkle should hit the fan today and then .... it starts.  I don't know of a way to explain without an enormous rambling post for background so ..  I will avoid the story.  Not related to health.

First treatment of five today.  It's concerning why some surgeons follow completely different protocols for the same procedure.  Inquiring about their method to understand it better as a patient (play dumb) can yield answers without questioning expertise.

Someone asked about the Ranger ink pad color I use for aging, it's Coffee.  Sepia is lighter and reddish.  

And the boxes I wanted to label and sell, will take some time.  For some reason, Windows removed my Paint program and that's where my files were created and manipulated.  I downloaded Paint again, but it is the original and older program, not what I had.  Whether Windows no longer supported it or not as other programs, there was no reason to remove it without a trace. I searched everywhere, no Paint, Paint 3D is horrible.

Have a good day folks.  

Can you believe this is the end of June already?

AUGH!!!!!!!!

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Oh Mary

You may be small, but still a stinker.  How could I have so many misplacements when not even half done?

Working the rest of the foundation and steps, I was two stitches short.  But the house has the correct number of stitches in width so how could that be?  The house foundation was stitched first and steps were aligned with the tree beneath.  Ah.  There ya go.  That's how I realized the tree was one over to left causing the foundation to be also, add the house one to right, and there's my two.  Ah.... no.   If the foundation was stitched one off to the left, and I worked the house stitches off that foundation, it can't be off to the right it would be left.  How the hell is that possible?  Is it me?  Would Focus Factor help? 

Start over.  Count again.  Foundation one to the left, but two stitches short.  Why?  So one to the left but two short would result in one off to the right.  Right?  Which explains why the house is correct width count but over one  -----> right.  So simple.  Ain't it?  Then why the hell did it take all morning to understand and why can't I just add or subtract one stitch and move on?  Because changing one of those errors without seeing the others could cause other areas to be off which has happened so many times.  This is a tiny and compact design, not much space to adapt to errors.

The tree will be frogged because I want that centered as it should be, the birds on either side will be balanced. The steps will be adjusted, not a big deal.  The chart has two spaces to the left of the house and three to the right, mine will be reversed and not interfere with any other motifs.  If that extra space was not there, I would have had to frog the house.  I was careful to position that centered tree, easy enough with the Y beneath, yet failed.  I counted the foundation several times and thought it was correct, it wasn't.  Maybe 40 count is too difficult for me? 

I thought once I corrected my error on the border that no other issues would arise on little Mary.  Please don't tell my husband I was wrong.  I don't want to break my streak.

Enjoy the day.  

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Keep needle in hand

or face a slump.  I was close, need to do better. 

Not making much progress on Mary Bell.  Lots of crap happening and being the only one in my family that knows everything, it falls in my widening lap.  Being right all the time, is a curse.

Mary will be 5.5" square on this 40 count.  Sweet. 

Huge sale at the local nursery since they had a boatload of flowers left.  They are all loaded with aphids (another reason for cheap) but after spraying and dipping in a mild solution of Murphy's oil soap, it's doing well.  New for this year is this SuperCol, a hybrid of petunia and calibrachoa.

As for Carole's return, we all have doubts.  In PA, and I assume other states, there is an option when you qualify for Medicaid and skilled care.  The program is called Waiver and she can transition to home care, back to skilled facility if needed.  She will have help at home, not 24/7, but they will determine which Waiver program is required.  From limited care to enable the person to stay at home, to extended care for disabled, brain injury, developmental, aging, if qualified.  Cheaper than nursing home, most times better for the patient.  The caregiver can be from an agency or even a friend or family member (including parent or child), they will be paid by the state.  A great deal of fraud happens as with all aid programs here that our agencies do not check.  I will not be that caregiver.  Twenty years of it, time for me to have a little freedom (I'm 71 + 3 days and can't believe it).  But now there is a new wrinkle.  Huge wrinkle.  A crevice.  More like a crevasse.  Pretty fricking deep.  

I hope you all have a good weekend.  I'm starting Varithena treatments again on Monday.  Yippee.

Be safe!!

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Garage - done!

  They could not believe how bad our door was.  Bottom was split a foot high across the entire bottom and flipped up like Mary Tyler Moore's hairstyle in the 60's.

We have iron strap hinges on painted shed doors and they eventually caused streaking on the paint from the elements and rain.  But I also did not want to attach the straps with screws into metal which creates a good chance for rust.  So we opted for the MUCH less expensive and not too bad looking magnetic vinyl ones from Cre8tive (menard's and lowe's).  Easy to remove if I change my mind which could be weekly, no damage to the door's surface.  I chose plain straps, no spade or spear end since we have colonial bean on the others.  

Even though my paint sample on a 3' x 5' plywood scrap was a perfect match, it's a little different on the steel.    Still good, not a problem at all, but I can't understand why.  Two coats over primer and that top coat should be the same as on wood.

The ramp at Carole's house will be built soon, her power chair is ordered, and we all have doubts about this move back home.  She became friends with a woman who has lived her adult life alone (except for fur-pal Barney) in a power chair.  She spent two months there in rehab after surgery and is now back home.  Very independent and always was, had a terrible childhood with numerous foster homes.  But Carole doesn't realize or admit how much she expects and relies on others and has for years.  The staff is so wonderful, the facility and grounds are beautiful, the rooms are private, outdoor areas at every turn, large spas for showers .... she admits it will be hard to leave.  But home is home!

I have been so exhausted, I fell asleep on my swing and almost toppled over like Arte Johnson after a Ruth Buzzi hit. 

********************

Mary Mary

 Hi folks.  After stitching myself the 1776 freebie, I started Mary Bell.  The linen is 40 count unbleached that I bleached and then subtly mottled.  Already had to realign the border (you know I love the look but hate the process), but I hope Mary will not be contrary.

I'll show you the 1776 before I sew it so you can see how I darkened the fabric for the 822 to show.  First considered the date in blue, but decided to try this instead.  I used a very light touch and my Ranger archival ink pad and soft brush, you can see the difference.  Much more control with the brush compared to dye when altering color once stitching begins.  But really, how many people would do this other than a reckless crabass?  I used it in the stripes also and since I sew into the stitching (no margin) the inked area edge will be hidden in the seam.  I also stitched over every other completed stitch in the date, one half cross, with 3866 for a little more contrast.  Happy with the result.  I have a small piece of Murky and pictured this on it with a bright red like 347, lighter blue, and the 822.  Oooooh baby I think it would be great.  When I'm in a peaceful mood and there is no temptation to throw my machine out the window, I will construct this and the berry finishes.

I so enjoy viewing needlework on IG, but the mention of the Cane Corso attack on my personal blog was hijacked by Google and I am getting a load of Cane Corso reels and ads, very upsetting.  If I view on my laptop without going through the app on my tablet, the only photos I get are from those that I follow, no ads.  

Commotion here today with the new garage door installation.  Oh how I dislike steel and the lack of deep grain and texture.  It is what it is.  Insurance covered a basic door since Mark backed into it.

We have a stitching friend that saw Jackie of Needleworker's Samplings work on Long Dog's Do Different magnificent sampler and would like to know about the skeins needed for this project.  No where offered with the chart or sellers, and if you've stitched this especially with the three colors and can offer some info, please let us know!  Thank you.

Hope your day is sweet.  I'm hoping for a piece of cake from the bakery!

**************************

Flag day

I had a welcome surprise yesterday at the dentist.  The decay beneath two crowns did not require a root canal so it was $1600 less!!    My bill was more than half the original for two new crowns but that's a whopping amount saved so I was very pleased.  My bigger dental bill for this morning's appointment was cancelled, he is ill.  I am holding my breath.

Carole is coming home for a few hours Thursday, mostly to check what needs to be moved or modified for her return in a few months.  Also I'm sure, to prove me wrong that her king size bed will interfere with mobility space and her standard bathtub needs replaced with a shower.  She likes the fricking pale yellow tile and doesn't want it removed.  As Stella (my mom) would say... what a bowida.   I have searched and never found a Polish word as this, but that side of my family used it often.   We always thought it meant stubborn or foolish or dummy because it was said playfully when we were stubborn or foolish or dummies.

Decided to work on my 1776 free chart that I've wanted to stitch for a long time.  Small, quick, easy, and I have unbleached 28 and 30 count, even a small piece of 36.  So no linen problems with this one!  Mary Bell will be next on the small sheer piece that I gently overdyed yesterday.

Have a great day folks.  June is half over and I'm not a happy crab.

********************

Fabulous floral frippery

 Hello people.  This morning we revisited a greenhouse where I purchased a hanging basket for the wife of husband's friend, a caregiver to her mom who was not doing well.  It had three petunias in variegated colors I had not seen before. Very soft apricots, purples, and deep pink.  It was a small hanging basket and I really loved it.  My birthday is close and I thought I could get one for myself, but of course, none left.  A mass of very large and expensive baskets, already leggy, not what I wanted.

This is a small place, with some of the best displays I've seen.   These are just a few I thought I would share with you.  A large old pedestal sink was loaded with color and I guess that photo failed.  Their succulent displays are very unusual and special also.

I had a rusted bike like this, Carole wanted it, I will attempt to locate it since she never added a planter to it.

The white mini tunias at the right are part of a huge pedestal birdbath completely filled with white, red, and greens.

I have a large house with a rotted floor, could easily remove the roof and recreate this one. 

The two tone mini tunia at far left was one of those in her basket.

I finished another berry using the chart I posted (on right).  When no errors are involved, only one evening is needed, not four days.  Lower linen count for a size change and I added two rows of three plus a single at top.  Not sure if turning this small area will work to attach a ribbon but thought I'd try.  If you omit the two single stitches of the red's top row, you have a nice heart, so berry or heart, an easy little ditty.

I plan to start Mary Bell after coloring the linen to what I wanted.  I do not want to cut the 13 x 18 piece, but look at the difference in the weight of these two pieces.  With my stitch tension, the sheer piece even though 40 count, will certainly have pulled stitches.

But using this 8" x 12" will prevent cutting a piece that could be used for a larger project.

Always a linen skimper, and seeing the latest price hike, will continue to be!

Have a good weekend.

**********************

Berry confusing

 Hi folks.  Is anyone else having issues with gmail and other programs?  I am finding a great deal that were never sent and are still in the Outbox, yet when I send again, they stay put.  So if anyone is receiving several of the same, sorry, but I have no idea (three different programs) if they are actually leaving.  Same with my inbox, they are not showing in any program including gmail.  WTH?  Quite confusing and embarrassing so I apologize if they aren't getting through, or are multiples.

Been busy, Chris is very sick (not covid related) and I got him in to a specialist quickly, but I don't agree with the diagnosis.  Come back in five weeks?  He has either IBS or Crohn's, I would bet money on it if I had any.  A bacterial infection does not make you very ill, allow a week with greatly reduced symptoms, and then start all over again.  For months.  He is better the last two days but it will start again in less than a week.

I've been berry busy, several sizes, some for me and some for others.  If you are interested in a tiny berry to hang or have a cat bat around, here's the ditty I came up with, full cap.  I've used 347, 3777, 221, and currently 22, most with 937 for the green.  You can place those $%#* knots with 822 wherever you would like or use a tiny bead.  Two pieces of 8x12 forty count linen are hanging outside to dry after I bleached and beat them, hoping I like one for the Mary Bell sampler.

The little furball is now a permanent member of my neighborhood.  They have decided to keep her.  The vet checked her, she is now seven weeks old and in good health, will stay indoors with three dogs.  I don't know if the other person backed out or they couldn't give her up.  Regardless, she has a home.  I sat outside for a bit and some days like today, are very emotional.  Chewy mailed a birthday card to Nitzy and I found another small clump of his fur in the mulch.  Missy is not feeling well today.

I hope your weekend is special, or just peaceful, with good thoughts and memories that make you smile.

************************

The berry that was close to being buried

 Came close to taking it out back and digging a hole for it.  The Enforcer motion detectors are at the garden and every time I try to get to the burning pit, I get the begeezers scared out of me and a soaking from the spray.  Until I remember that they are up and running, no stitchery will be burned. Buried.... possibly.

Maybe Mary and Meg causing a linen choosing fiasco made me decide on a VERY small project, but as small as it is, a whopper of a PITA.  Little scraps are stored in an envelope, even a few inches, and I chose 32 count Copper Penny for this.  Previously done on a higher count, very tiny precious little berry,  I wanted a little larger. If I had not rid my stash of Klostern, I would have tried this freebie on it.  And still want to.  

In a nutshell (it's a big nut)...  this new needle claims a very smooth eye but it was horrible and not smooth in the least.  I counted wrong. The Pineberry Lane chart shows the berry upside down on my print, and rather than flip it, I thought it would not be a problem.  Such a simple and quick two color shape, how could I screw it up?  Let me count the ways.  Over and over yet I still kept it the same position on my board.  The real head smacker is when I forgot to change the pattern to include a calyx in the center (don't be impressed, I thought it was called a leaf and looked it up).  So I remove all the red at the top which was a real mess since I fill vertical and then cross horizontal for blocks of color.  You can't remove one row at a time, each cross is going in two directions.  But I proceeded, had a ton of tails to weave in the back.  Didn't think it would take long but IT DID.  So let's move on and get this berry done.  Wait a minute.  I just filled it back in with the red, just as it was before I frogged it. Where is my head?  Was I bone headed enough to remove it again?  Yes I was.  Now, the mass of tails on the back have made it thick enough to not need fill when finishing.  But wait, that top is a little too high after adding that center leaf (that's what it is) so I removed a few rows and each vertical row added its own tail to the ever thickening back.  Better.  Now I can fill in the red and get to the seeds.  Hmm.  That red looks brighter.  IT IS.  I picked up 347 instead of 3777 because I left it out from trying colors for this linen.  Now about the seeds.  How many times can they disappear?  Let  me count the ways once again.  Where the hell are they going?  I make the knot, come up in a different area, and when I look to see how far from the previous knot I am, it's GONE!!!  I am coming up and going down in different holes!  They prefer to stay on the back and leave a little white thread buried in the red.  So after two attempts, I used a slip knot in the mess on the back after each knot.  Finding a stitch to attach it to on the backside was not easy since it's a road map of carryovers, woven tails, shredded fringe throughout.  But.  It's done.  And I'll stitch another without errors just for spite.  I can't believe how many days this has taken and how bone headed I am to not START OVER rather than continually frog and croak.

Sixteen foot doors are sanded, cleaned, primed, painted.  We couldn't get an overlay design of any kind because of the dark color which would warp them.  So flush it is, and I ordered bean straps for them.  Rather than drill into the steel (I hate steel doors) we will use strong magnets to hold the decorative straps.  Our old door had very pronounced wood grain texture, this does not.  If we would have chosen windows or patterned styles I can't imagine the headache with priming and painting.  So I'm glad it's simple.

Large orange male is hanging around and the black/white is here every day also.  They must be strays, Missy is having none of it.

I'm tired, going to bed.  Hope your weekend was peaceful, joyful, or both.

*************************

OMG!

 Good news!  GREAT news!!

My neighbor put a note in my mailbox asking if a tiny black kitten was mine.  I was so glad to hear that they found it and tiny was safe.  After a few texts explaining that we had planned to call an agency since it was so young, she said she has a friend who wants it!!  YAY!!!  So I took two cartons of soft pate envelopes to her since "she" liked them and the tiny girl is fed and no longer homeless.  Was not expecting that at all.

And couldn't wait to tell you.

*******************

June

 I don't know if the month will get better, but it's off to a rotten start.

I was getting within five feet of the little one, talking to him, feeding him (he ate SO much), sat on the deck until he wiggled into the shelter every night.  Tuesday morning at 6 am, he didn't come out.  We waited.  He was gone.  He cried every four hours for food, never went into the lawn, stayed within sight for days.  Missy was inside that evening and until long after we searched for him.  She was curious, not aggressive, but attacked another cat that came through we assumed was female last evening.   Maybe the mother?  Plans were not to adopt, instead hoping to find it a home, but it is still upsetting.

Bubblegum tunias, today they are getting their haircuts.  For $11, a real bargain because they have grown so much in two weeks.  You can see the cuttings on the bench from just one plant.  And what a mess this is from the sewer project.  No workers to help, at a point where I don't give a damn anymore.  I've been in a crabby funk and hope to have a peaceful hour on my swing remedy that.  Just like with babies, it also calms dementia patients. And crabasses.

I waited patiently for the garage door delivery, was to be at 1 pm.  And the paint to match the stained siding?  Was there ever any doubt.  I am sure they dread seeing me walk into their stores.  It's a curse.  A charcoal brown without green or red cast, is close to impossible.  The trick .... never put in the full amount of maroon and green tint. Start with 75%.  Add each tint in slowly, separately, getting close to 100% of formula.  Stop when the cast is acceptable and add no more.

Have not checked into a phone/plan yet, do not like the changes to Tracfone at all.  I only text and rarely use the phone for calling, no data needed.  I found that walmart (and others) offer a tracfone card adding 1000 texts for only $5.  Since I have service for several more months, a real deal for me.

No covid test, out of stock at local pharmacies, feeling better except for a 40# cold sore.  I ordered them online and by the time I get them, won't need them. 

No stitching.  I wanted to start Mary Bell on a light 40 count which I do not have.  I've grown tired of looking at Meg, and attempted to stitch her muted colors on a mottled darker linen, cannot see well enough.

  It's only Wednesday.  I have to wait until Sunday for Saltbox Stitcher?  I could go back and watch previous videos I guess.  Brenda directed us to Prims on Greenway which I had viewed a while back, and the latest #32 is chock full of goodies.   Mark won some $$ at golf so I ordered the applique book she mentioned. 

Well, my cold sore is now 43# so I'm calling it a night. Can't wait to look in the mirror tomorrow.

Stay safe, be well, find a swing.

*****************