Some crows are cranky.

 Some are a nervous wreck.

Not worth telling of the lack of communication, respect for patient concerns, response regarding scheduling, I will leave if doctor refuses to speak with me before surgery.

Some are mad enough to squawk out loud.

I received a call from a nurse who spoke with Carole's previous aides and learned of the six weeks without care at home.  She said they offer in home services, the waiver program, and have three caregivers locally.  WHAT?  They knew she had no help, have been calling her for updates, and the skilled staff didn't know this branch of the facility is available?  AUGH!!!  Too late now, she signed to have grandson's girlfriend who left her old job to do so.  Furious.  

And some are friends.

Charted light, this crow appeared wimpy, ghosted, insignificant, unlike a crow I admire.  Through hell and heartache, feeling broken and alone, she prevailed.  In honor of her, this bird is not fading into the background.  From 644 to 310, she stands proud as she should.

This is the full width of the design.

Have a good Sunday folks.  This is Sunday isn't it ?

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

What's her name?

 Since my crossed legs are swinging like a eight year old's at a dress up dance, methinks I'm more nerved than I care to admit.  Stitching more than usual during those swing sessions, also related.  Strange because I've felt an oncoming slump for some time.

This chart is on my tablet, still can't get my purchased pdfs to print at Staples.  Much easier to see and enlarge, the way of the future I guess.

I'm having a surgery (minor, nothing serious) Monday and that just added to the heap.

Enjoy .... ????  Whatever the hell day it is. 

***********

Up next

Seen on flosstube, the Serial Starter showed this gem. 

Susanna Hartley 1824

https://www.etsy.com/shop/GirlWithAGavel

Not sure if this sweet treat will be on 30 count or 36.  My lower counts are more coarse, more primitive looking, and this sampler is definitely that.  Not much difference in size between the two, but my head is as squishy as a watermelon right now so decisions are not reliable.  

Grateful for the low price!  My garbage collection is doubling, they pay $24/hr with full benefits, no workers, one company is left which means no bids.  Matching that cost is the sewer that was over 10 grand, now $75/month, no water service.  The real estate taxes are being reassessed, always a large increase.  Electric is 50% higher, school taxes are killing us.  We will be selling the house in a year or so.  Once Carole is settled with help, I plan to look for part time work.

Remember the fern that I failed to discard?  It will be covered with four to six inches soon.

I am crabass, hear me whine.

Have a good one!

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

Gigi R Little Dutch Sampler

 I was wrong, two colors were left.  Very similar symbols in the border.  Good thing I glanced at the chart photo to see the top right was red.  

The original sampler has green striping at the top and I'm not sure if it is in the material.  I liked the look so added a single backstitched row.  More would have been better, but sometimes a project comes to an abrupt end.  I'm done.  

Good night!!

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

Down to one color

 Continuing the green border is all that remains of this project.  Clothing colors were changed, a few letters also.  Many greens listed, very similar, I decided to use only two.  The strong purple was subbed with 3740.  The man is shorter and higher off the bottom border.  Being on separate pages this wasn't noticed until now.  I may add a few stitches to align him with the tall gal (I detest the word tall), because I have a problem with balance.  Yes I do.  Once the border is completed I'll decide.

What's next?

***********

Why?

 What is it about this sampler that has set my stitching mojo into high gear?  I came home from carole's after a long afternoon. We had sandwiches from a new to us restaurant, highly recommended from friends who obviously never had a good sandwich.  Take out of course.   If it wasn't for four calls afterward that kept snapping me out of a stupor, I would have been sleeping by 8.   I slid my stitching station to the sofa and planned to just check the chart's middle pages before bed.  Next thing I knew, four rows were stitched.

This morning, I went to the sofa to retrieve the station, and saw this.   Oh no.  Missy, who has not been outside in months, has tapeworm!!  Once back to my chair, she left them there too!  That much?  One night?  And good grief how did they get into the microwave!  Oh.  It seems my home made heat wrap is leaking rice.  Made years ago, time to replace.

 Hope your day is fine and dandy.

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

Progress

 In stitching.  Nothing else.

Changed the pole color from pink to rust, head from lavender to tan, boots to brown.

The green border on left will cross beneath as the bottom edge.  Starting on middle section this evening.

Have a good day.

***********

Poor Ann

 Not very popular!!  

I know hand drawn charts are not desirable, but I do what I want most times anyway.  Authentic but odd stitches in a reproduction are ignored, I change colors to my preference, and I'm pleased with those changes in Ann.  The called for pink would be nice also.  Anyway .... here ya go.

Sharlene, I don't have your email, please send your address and I'll get Ann to you.

Thought I would show my progress on Little Dutch.  

Have a good hump day.

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

Displaying the past

 Good morning.

Working daily at Carole's, I have no choice.  The stress is again affecting my sleep, her despair is causing me to feel ill.  The agencies and my state are useless in fulfilling the program responsibilities.  

Yesterday, I removed her shoes from her closet, which she had to turn away from.  I think coming home to where she lived for 50 years has hit her with the reality of losing her legs.  What she expected, remembered, is no longer possible.  The hospital and facility were both unfamiliar accommodations, and she never walked in either.  It was the norm.  The norm at her home is lost, and it's a shock she didn't anticipate.

As I try to rid her bedroom and decorate with her favorite treasures (clutter to me), we will move some pieces and purchase a few bookcases for display.  I have a plan for these two very old and useless purses that she could not part with.  Lining with waterproof material and propping them open will make great succulent planters as a shelf backdrop.  

This wood purse is very unusual and will be fabulous with plantings don't you think?  Mark is as we speak making an interior frame to allow standing.

These shoes were also a favorite and we'll cut it half, glue sole to sole, stand on toe, and make a pincushion for mom's hat pins, or another planter.  Check out the gold monkeys at the tree base.  Do you think this would be a bitter reminder and not a good idea?  

One last ativan and my pepto tablets, and it's back to work there shortly.  

Have a good day,

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

Misunderstanding

 Hi folks.

Received several emails and entries that led me to believe I have erred in the listing.

The Dutch Sampler by Gigi R is what I am currently working on.

The giveaway is at the bottom of the page showing Ann Stone.  Ann is the offer, not the Little Dutch I am working on.  Sorry for any misunderstanding.

There's not many entries at all but I want to clarify what you would receive, so let's start over.  

This is the chart, please email again or comment.  Thanks.

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

The Ann offer

 Greetings!

I've been working on A Little Dutch, certainly not my preferred style, but I was drawn to her from the start.  True, this piece is not a wise choice given my distractions and frustrations right now.  And I'm not in love with this sampler as I am with all of Gigi R works, yet here it is.  No answers.

  The method I chose to sub smyrna for eyelet is working great.  Not tedious, the sewing method can be used, quick, and not one misplaced poke!

A wonderful chart helps tremendously.  I can clearly see the print and the symbol as it sits on my stand and the enlarged legend I made easily shows the color at a glance.  What a difference.

On to Ann Stone.  Keep in mind this is very old, hand drawn, and not the colors of my finish.  If you would like Ann, leave your initials or email in comments or email me directly.  Still haven't found a decent program so I will log into google and get mail there so none are spammed out.  I can do that, right?

samplersandsantas@gmail.com

Will draw a name Tuesday 1/17 at 8pm.

Have a good day!

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

Smyrna. The city?

 No.  The stitch.  The one I chose in place of eyelet.  Much quicker, same appearance, but not easier for me.  I never got past the A on Mary Ann after four attempts.  Continually went off one linen thread, very difficult for me to go over four in one leap.  If the first poke was bottom left over two to center, then top right over two to center, I would have the four thread boundary and the rest would cross over that center, hiding it.  Sounds like a plan.  Some other time Mary Ann.  Don't even want to elaborate on the latest blow to the sister situation.  No patience.

On top of that, I started the Pilocarpine and my drug sensitive old body is palping fast, hot as hell, and head is pounding.  Lowest dose but cutting in half now until my body adjusts.  More frustration is not welcome.  Smyrna the city is more enticing by the hour.

So what will I work on?  This.  Seriously?

Why the hell?  I do not like frequent color changes (27 of them),  do not like script lettering (there it is), do not like light linen (required to show thread), and there is eyelet.  Am I deliberately torturing myself?  Or pretending I'm someone else to escape?  Bizarro world of stitching?  Makes no sense, but I plan to choose between Vellum and Latte and give it a go.

I enlarged the legend to see the 27 symbols better, cut/glued/highlighted to a smaller and easy to display reference.

Sunday will post the Ann Stone chart giveaway.

Enjoy your weekend folks!

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

Next

 I've read that a sampler should be started and finished in the month of January.  But my mushy mind can't remember what this superstition claims or its catchy term.   With my current stress level,  not taking any chances so I'm on board.

Mary Ann Bradbury is another old hand printed chart from R&R.  Small and very easy, few colors, a little gem.  Charted for flower thread, I pulled DMC of my choice.

Elizabeth Moor is a chart I've shown before, still love, still hesitating to attempt.  Does that make me a "sluggard"?  I love her message!

The first letter of each word is over two, the rest over one.  If I plan to stitch only two words every few days, maybe I could tolerate.  Also hand printed which makes it more difficult.

 Another day at Carole's today, called UPMC health choice provider and was told if we don't receive a return call by Friday afternoon, try again next week.  I would like to file a formal complaint, but where?  With who?  Spoke with their main office in Pittsburgh three times.  She went from a lively, upbeat, healthy (for her condition) woman, now despondent, greatly stressed, lacking care she needs and was promised by this provider.  Another 60 day process to once again apply for assistance requiring 5 years of paperwork, would offer no immediate help or guarantee return to the same facility.  I needed half of an ativan to sleep last night, only two left! 

I never explained the "background" issue which adds another dimension to the story, and won't.  I complain and vent too much as it is.

 I plan to offer Ann's chart as a giftaway this weekend.

Stay safe and well!

Thanks for the visit.

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

Boom

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

Beam me up Scotty

What the heck?  Am I in outer space?

Thank goodness this is 30 count which is not very difficult when removing over one.  I have never had so many removals and errors in such a small area.

I adjusted the first major error by adding the date that was to be stitched at the end, to the beginning.  Counted incorrectly, removed and stitched twice.  The original had just 96 on the second line, you can see the extra wording I added. 

Then it was time to stitch inside the box.  Distraction is my only excuse for failure to differentiate over one from my usual two threads.  The bottom date was too high and September ran into it, out damned date.  Then I didn't account for changing the weird s to S in Stone after I had already centered it.  Out damned name.  On the plus side, September didn't need removed.  I will use it as a guide for above and below.  Sure I will.

Spending more time today searching online and phone calls.  We need to purchase a full size hospital bed and mattress, the 36" wide they sent does not allow her to roll to each side when dressing.  She spent an hour on call (she initiated) with UPMC for answers.  Looking into changing to another home health provider.  I need to speak with them again today.  Care.com (private pay) takes your credit card and charges it monthly (for using their service) whether you receive/pay for care or not. Visiting Angels does no light housekeeping, toileting, incontinence care. These services are to be provided for her in exchange for saving gov't over 12 grand a month in nursing home costs.  No.  She has no intention to return even after saying she misses the best hotel she's ever stayed at.  

I am trying to focus on finishing Ann and will do that in a day or two.  Asked my PCP again for an rx of pilocarpine for worsening sjogren's.  She finally agreed on two month supply until I see the new doctor.  I hope it helps and my drug sensitive body doesn't have a reaction.

 

No snow! Thankful for that.

Have a good day folks.

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

Hearts lined up

 Finally.

I sat down this morning and finished the hearts.  The last few days have been horrible and I see no end in sight, Ann was not picked up for a few days.  I need to finish her, accomplish something.

The over one in the center box will be closely counted and aligned so as not to have another fiasco.  This sampler for some reason whether with tablet or camera, is very hard to portray in a photo.  That blue section fades and clarity is a problem.  The thread was to be 3023 but I chose the blue because of the chart's photo.  The dividing band above it was charted for blue, and I chose another which I now regret.  The bottom section in the photo looks much darker than the called for threads. 

These old R&R Reproduction charts are hand drawn, none have a good or clear photo, but they are really nice offerings of more primitive/simple/marking samplers.  Should I pick up one of the big girls waiting in the basket?  Will I have trouble adjusting to 36 again after this 30 count?  Would a beautiful floral border that can test my resolve be a good idea?  Maybe.  I will need to shut down and focus solely on those stitches, a good thing, but it could go the other way too!!  Finish Ann first and do a load of laundry.  I'll need more big girl panties in my drawer.

Have a great Sunday.

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

Heartless

 Ta-da!!

I finished the double stack of hearts and was ready to finish Ann with the over one.  That was last night.

...........

And here are those hearts this evening.

............

I've said it many times, I need to learn from my mistakes.  The first few stitches that appear to be placed correctly ..... lie.

Never trust them.  Always count and repeatedly check position during progression!  Dammit.

I spent hours this morning with medical equipment companies and found what the nurses recommended is not covered.  I was questioned if she was on a government retiree plan ... no.  Medicare.  Too bad.  Frustrated, everything that came close to my hand experienced my wrath.  Good thing I adore Ann and calmed down!  Aren't you proud of me?  A few years ago, error frustration alone  caused some projects to meet a nasty fate and a beautiful flame.  Add the anger and Ann should have been a victim.

Holy floss bags.  I'm growing up.

Hope everyone is well.

**********

Busy week

 How was everyone's first days of 2023?  Ours were busy and will continue to be.  

I'm close to finishing the stacked hearts leaving only over one for completion. I'll chart before stitching to see which placement would be pleasing.  So far, just May 17 on that line with the year beneath.  Other option is Age 14 preceding Ann and full month, day, year beneath.  I'm liking that option more.

My initial visit with the new rheumatologist made end of summer, was again canceled.  This time the scheduler failed to give the longer intake appointment and my begging to keep the half hour visit didn't work.  Now I wait until mid March.  I just want an rx for Pilocarpine to help my dryness!  You know the problems I've had looking for a new PCP and the current won't order them.  So tired of waiting so long.

I made calls for suffering sis and found out why the hospital bed Dr. ordered on 12/22 is still not delivered.  Seems it was overlooked by the medical equipment outfit.  No action taken at all, blamed it on fax transmission static.  What?  So if I hadn't called ......nothing would have happened.  It's being delivered Thursday afternoon giving us time to dismantle the maple frame and king mattress.  No idea where to put it.

Her section of the facility she left is case after case of covid for weeks.  

Enough crabbing!  Coming to an end in a few days hopefully.

Stay well, be safe!

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

Not a good start to 2023!

 2023.  That sounds absurd.  

Where did my life go?

Well as the clock struck midnight, and I was finishing the row of over one, it happened.  Here is my work.

Here is the chart.

Once I aligned 96 to the block's corner, I continued studying/counting the hand printed tiny x's and didn't realize it was the wrong block.  

Pay attention!!!  I need to work out a plan and as of now, it is to remove May 17 17 and the 96, stitch that full date as a second line.  Add a motif to the left of ANN to balance or maybe AGE 14?  Your thoughts on my major blunder?  And notice the style S used in sampler and September, but not in her name (Stone).  Common or curious?

Carole update - a nurse finally visited yesterday, is coming back Tuesday to check the wound.  He is concerned, said it must have been brewing beneath for some time because it is too far along to be two days old.  It's above her waist.  The nurse was appalled that she has had no help for over two weeks, is speaking with her doctor Monday morning.  Nope.  No intention of going back to facility.  First, the hospital bed that raises and has an overhead grab bar will make a huge difference in her struggles.  I argued with her for two months about getting one to replace her king bed and she was adamant.  Don't touch my bed!  Second, third, fourth, fifth .... no sense complaining and you don't need details.  

Happy new year folks!  Blunders and all.

***********