The birds

The flock of about fifty is starting to disband and create harems for the strutting males.  We had four trying to gather their females for this years mating season.

For such a drab looking bird, when the sun shines and shows their feathers' iridescence, they become a rainbow.  Doesn't help their heads though.

Maud Fuzzard had a new start, new colors, we'll see how long that lasts before I throw in the towel.  Working from a pdf on a tablet is great for clarity/enlarging chart symbols, but scrolling back and forth to see the legend is a PITA.  I much prefer paper, but Staples machines will only print the type, not the copyrighted chart.  I have quite a few to print, one is fifteen pages.

Seventy mph winds are expected tomorrow, worse than the previous Saturday.  As much as I refrain from using credit cards, today will be the exception for a portable generator.  Then we'll work at Carole's and install shelves in the broom closet and the new display unit in her room.

Have a sweet day.

*********************  

Last one!

Again?

Only three feet wide, double shelf.

Next one will be mine, already have a design.  But since I have great difficulty with wall decor, it will be sent to the mess room with the others waiting to escape.  A woman had a fabulous shop near my area, she closed many years ago to care for family.  I asked if she would consider helping homeowners with colonial/ primitive decor since she excelled at display.  She thought it would offer hours scheduled at her convenience and allow her to continue doing what she loved, but that didn't materialize.  The Stella in me would think paying someone to be frivolous, but the Marly in me would think the help to be vital.

But we will finally get the patched walls and trim painted.  The same color used in the dining room will be the trim throughout.  Benjamin Moore's Natural Cream.  Not too gray, pink, yellow, or green.  Who would have ever thought this color phobic putz could find a neutral she liked.  Recently, a colored wall with cream trim has caught my eye.  Good grits girl, stop looking on the web monster.

 Cottage cheese for nalesniki filling is draining and crepe making will commence shortly. 

 I'll be reviewing project options this evening.  Small?  Drum?  Bag?  Big girl?

Still thinking.

Be safe!

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

Thinking

Guess who has power as of 10 pm?  Thank goodness.  The exhausted workers had bloodshot eyes and four day stubble, still much work to be done.  Those 60 mph winds were gusts mixed in with 35-40 mph sustained for those nine hours.  It was a little noisy!  We lost some trees in the woods but not in the yard.  Years ago we had a micro burst that took our large fir, a large birch, and two large maples.

No decisions on the next stitch yet.  I was studying the new charts and think I may decrease the width on the Sewing Bag which is 10.25" wide on 36 count, 5" tall when closed.  I want it narrower but even if I punished myself with a piece of 46 count, it would still be 8" x 4".  So I decided to stay with 40 and abbreviate the design which would result in 7"  x 4.5".

Playing with Paint, I came up with two options, leaning toward the first one. 

 

Thinking.

Chris has been having issues the last six months and I went to the doc with him for biopsy results.  A result of 15 eosinophils in the esophagus tissue indicates an inflammation caused by an immune response to food allergies.  Chris had 280, the highest that office has seen.  No way to test for the culprits, they would be too numerous and most likely not definitive since the response could be days later.  Rarely is testing recommended.  The condition is called eosinophilic esophagitis.

That's it.  I'm ready for a good sleep.

Hope you're all well and having a good week.

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

Elizabeth Roberts

 From Threads of Gold

Changes too numerous to mention, and most I've forgotten already.

Yes Robin, there is an unknown letter between r and s.

Sixty mph winds Saturday for over nine hours, trees and downed power lines started at 3pm.  There are so many without power.  Carole is one.  It should be restored Thursday.  The entire freezer and the fridge freezer are lost.  They have a well so no water to bathe or flush, no heat, no appliances for meals, and her electric wheelchair batteries depleted.  Very bad for them, they may need replaced which is hundreds of $$$.  Stores are out of generators since so many are affected and are quite expensive anyway.  My cousin bought one for $600 only to find it's too small to handle what they needed.  They went by wattage instead of amps.

Rain for the next ten days contributing to our lawn swamp.

Hope all is well.  Be safe.

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

It's not over till the bluebird sings

 I thought Elizabeth was done!  While pressing, the unfinished top motifs were a surprise.  But they certainly won't take much time.  Slightly different than charted because .... well ... you know I can't leave well enough alone.

Started at the beginning of Carole's crisis two years ago, I wasn't loving this sampler and rather than discard, kept it.  So basically, a WIP which is very rare for me.  The only reason I decided to continue after finding it in my mess, was to prevent a slump while other options were in limbo.  Wow.  I love her!  Shocked!  How could she go from pfft to wowza?

Also during the pressing I noticed the top area extends further than the body.  Yep.  Changing that.  I will squeeze the s onto the row beneath and shorten the two bands.  Really?  And what about the yet to finish mirrored motifs above?  Thinking .....

The verse (thank you again) was chosen because the words fit nicely, nothing could be extended to that area beneath But.  Happy with it.  Added a full n rather than the over one charted in month.  Some color manipulation (of course) throughout.

It's an Advil day, hope you're all doing well.

Prayers and thoughts for the tornado victims.

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

And this

 

plus these ...

 

creates a sturdy place for my messy sister to keep catalogs, magazines, articles, books.  Two holes in the wall instead of six, secured into a stud.  Boom.

Thanks for the suggestions to complete Elizabeth's thought.  The sampler was completed and stitched after that row, and since there are thirty stitches following virtu, seems like she deliberately wanted the rest left off.  We'll never know.  Haven't decided whether to stitch as charted or add one of your suggestions.  I'll keep going and decide later.  

My low back is killing me, now there is ?? a blister ?? or something there too.  I called my dermatologist, can see the NP at the end of May, no sooner.

Hope your day goes well and you get a piece of pie.

**********

But Virtu.....

 That's how the second row ends.

Should I leave it as charted or add to complete?

Any ideas?

I came up with several thoughts, none sounded appropriate for an early sampler.  I wonder if the person buying this at Goodwill after I'm gone would question but virtual reality is cool on a 1775 repro.

The dropped band below But makes me think she had wording end there, but for some reason removed the line almost entirely.  There is a row of single stitches following Virtu, why would she not at least have finished that word?  Curious.  

But I'm not far from finishing!  Sarah's Sewing Bag and the Blue House pinkeep drum weren't studied last night.  Maybe this evening.

Enjoy your day!

But Virtu **********

Can you guess?

 Any idea what this is for?  I would be surprised and impressed if you did!

Mark is assembling the shelf as I finish painting this ????? Going to work there soon, then bloodwork, then a Whopper.  Love BK Whoppers!

Delivery for the rest of this piece is delayed, but I will show the finished project and all others soon.

My new Nash charts came today.  Can't wait to study them both.

Have a good day!

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

Sidetracked

 Not much left to complete Elizabeth, as soon as I decide on a band color that I've changed several times.

But then this happens.

Once again, hope this weekend finds all projects are completed!

Have a good day.

*********

Memories...

.....of the samplers left behind.

If we had the chance to do it all again,

 tell me,would we?  Could we?

Sure.  Why not.  What's too troubling to remember

we simply choose to forget.

Yes, The Way we Were was on the radio during a drive to the doc today.

I found this start from the beginning of Carole's health crises, and since it's not very large, decided to pick it up to finish.  Positional color changes.  

My Nash market charts are coming.  YAY!  Big Blue House drum, Sarah's Sewing Bag, and Bird's of a Feather needle book. 

Until another project is chosen, I can stitch Elizabeth.  

I didn't realize how popular Melisa's blog is.  I don't have time or patience to browse new sites.  So many floss tubers that are new to me!  One day soon I should be able to check them out.  Most times, I click the gear icon of the video and change speed until I see something I like.  Which is often.

Tootsie came to eat this afternoon but never finished as before.  One of the males is much smaller than she is,  another is huge.  All the females at this time of year are in this situation.

Not even 6pm and ready to retire for the night!

Be safe.

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

If you love a little house...

this site is for you.

I was watching Daisy Kays Primitives and she shared sweet smalls of various saltbox designs from Pinker n Punkin's blog.  And they are free.  New to me, this blogger offers a load of free designs and all are listed in the Labels column by subject.  This link is to her saltbox/house series and they are wonderful!!

Pinker n Punkin

Photo from her blog, a sample of her work.

It will take some time to read her posts and get to know her and I hope to do that in the coming days.

Just wanted to share this with you, so generous of her, and her designs are wonderful.

We're having a problem with the cat I showed recently.  Quite large so I assumed a male ... not so.  There are nightly fights, daily chases, this poor girl is constantly attacked to the point of not being able to finish a meal.  She eats here several times a day, gets within ten feet of us, then leaves in the same direction.  We assume she lives elsewhere since the shelter here is not used, but that may be under someone's deck for all we know.  We need to trap her which will be difficult, and take her to a clinic for spaying.  I don't care who she belongs to, she roams freely and should not have litters.  If we succeed, her new name will be Tootsie.  Or Flossy, my mother's name for me.  My sister called me Morticia because I was very thin and tall with long dark hair, my brother called me Weed because I grew so quickly.  My grandfather ... Malinka.  

Enjoy your Sunday.  Husband thinks he's golfing tomorrow but the wind now (midnight) is howling and frigid.  But this is PA, so anything is possible.

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

Cosmo

Not Kramer, the thread.

 Hiya.  My order came today that included a few skeins of Cosmo.  ????  New to me, mentioned on a floss tube, thought I would try it.  If I remember correctly, DMC 310 was causing some stitchers problems because it frayed easily, and this was mentioned as an alternative.  Anyone familiar with this thread? 

My Ale linen in 32 count is wonderful, very pleased with its color, and doesn't look all that different from 36 count.  It about flipped me but I ordered overdyed skeins for the new Nash chart I am waiting for.  SO anxious to receive.  Anyone else waiting for market shipments?  I just ordered a few of the colors, I know they are great in projects, but 2.40 for less thread than a 60 cent DMC skein riled the Stella in me.  Weeks is so much nicer than GAST if ordered online.  Very disappointed in its strong variance, not only within a skein but between multiples of the same.  Much safer ordering Weeks.

We've been working at Carole's and finally hit on a plan that works well.  Tomorrow the bookcase will be deluvered and if not damaged, will be assembled and in place.  The appointments are done for week, only to have more scheduled.  And tests.  

I hope to stay awake and choose a fabric for ..... Tindale?  My mind is just bogged down again, restless.  Charts, linen, tbreads, all over the damn house!  Takes as long to organize and rid than to stitch, but even longer to locate supplies that are scattered.

Hope our weekend will be calm.  Yours too!

Be safe.

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

Louisa

 Was browsing for no reason and happened upon this ...

Louisa Mollett 1875 from Samplers Forever.

Wow.  Look at that border.  The flowers.  The tree.  The birds.

And another one that I do not care for on a light linen.  Many originals are shown on dark linens (from aging?) and when stitched today on a lighter ground, I don't care for them.  Why?  Does that make them look like a recent design, too modern, too clean?  Maybe.

I think Louisa was released years ago, not sure, but thought I would share in case you missed her too.

 My mojo was in high gear on those smaller projects and these larger picks are causing the slowdown.  I always remember Glenna's words ... indecision=paralysis.   Sarah is quite a bit of stitching and the uncertainty of my fabric choice is causing reluctance to stitch.  So I will set aside these two gals and go back to a small.   If I stall too long, my battery dies.

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

One down

 three sides to go. 

I decided to stitch the chart pages vertically instead of my usual horizontal.  I would like to get a start on the large lawn and house of the lower half which will be tedious for me.  I am not a border, motif, fill, or detail stitcher.  Started with alpha marking samplers and they are so simple, although boring, for me.

The photo doesn't show the colors in the border very well.  

I still believe these threads on a darker linen would be stunning but the 869 and 680 of the border would not show well at all.  It's not like I have a problem changing thread colors!!

I don't like having a lot of appointments in a week so I will be a cranky crab until Saturday.

And .... I feel the slump creeping in.

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

Floss tube's fault

Hello stitching buds.  Hope everyone is doing well.

During a photo search for the two bigger samplers I'm working on, a floss tube with a cameo of Jane was listed.  Threads were silks, Attic conversion, and the lighter flower was a beautiful pastel peachy pink.  The stronger pink was very nice so I assumed my screen was showing colors fairly true.  It was gorgeous.  Silks and other threads can be converted to dmc but even a slight variation from the original can impact the work.  Seeing that made me consider a similar shade in place of the 3827 which I plan to do tomorrow.

Sarah was still on the station, and I decided to continue with the 40 count.  I don't want to purchase more linen for her, prefer to use what I have.  My big girl panties are larger since the banana cake with coffee frosting (thank you Carol!) but I can still pull them up.  I hope.

There is quite a bit of over one so I tested a few stitches before proceeding, and I managed.  How I hate choosing fabric!  I still question if the Ween Beans should be Sarah's ground, but the vine's thread is very close to the linen color.  I still may test a piece.  Maybe it wouldn't be what I envision.

Not even 8pm and I am already fighting sleep. Happens quite often and since I only stitch in the evening, really cuts my stitching time.

Hope your weekend is going well.

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

Throwing in the towel

 It's time to move on.

You know I have to have symmetry or I get cranky.  Gave it my best, it isn't possible with this border.  The pink flowers are all facing inward, the tan are facing outward.  So alternating the two colors isn't possible without changing the direction of each.  Using the Paint program thankfully prevented a major disaster which I did not see until then.  I have flipped, rotated, mirrored, nothing works.  So ...

Paint also showed how all pink would be overwhelming, even if changed to a pastel.  So now, I will move on, follow the chart, stop trying to modify.  

I didn't realize how large Jane is until I saw the portion I'm working on as a tiny section in the photo!  Hoping I can try the WIP plan again and not fail as I did previously.  Also, my mojo is waning.  I went through the pile of finishes that are not framed (probably won't be) plus the others hanging on my ladder display.  I guess having samplers on wall isn't as meaningful as in hand, and I started questioning the large projects.  Doubtful that any more will be purchased.  The two market pieces I chose are not samplers.

 32 count was ordered yesterday.  Not only do I prefer the two thread coverage, it is a comfortable stitch for me.  Giving up the ease of one thread is not a bad compromise, especially when I can use the loop start.  Tails drive me nuts.  I can't get the needle beneath most times and I have no patience.  The last large sampler done on 32 (Ann Stone), is in that pile of finishes and looks great.  Not a huge difference from those done on 36.

Meeting with a roofer/sider today at Carole's.  Mark is very worried about her.  I told her if things don't change she will end up in the hospital and her doctor, who has authority to determine discharge, will surely not send her home.  She will have to take whatever facility has an opening at the time.  Many folks don't know that they have the right to request a transfer to another facility (waiting list most times) whether on Medicaid or self pay.  Facilities will try to deny that.  We also found out that some of the Advantage plans are not accepted at some of the better places.  Carole's does not accept Mark's plan and has that right, which we were unaware of.  Best to check with any Advantage plan if your preferred rehab/long term facility is included.

Gloomy and spitting snow, not expecting sun this weekend.  Hopefully the snow won't be sticking around, we have to drive to Pittsburgh Tuesday.  Covid caused a cancellation and after six weeks, my stitches are still in.  All were dissolving, but of course they have not.  I can see and feel the "strings" beneath my skin.  This won't be a pleasant visit I am sure.

Have a great weekend folks!

Thanks for visiting.

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

Can you see me now?

 

 Can you see me now?

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

In the pink

 While deciding on the linen for Sarah, I moved to ...

to check colors on this 36 Tobias.  Sort of greenish and the cool pinks of 3721, 223, and others recommended do not make me happy.  Well .... what does?  

After quite a few (more like 14) stitch-and-remove tests of various pinks, I think the bright but not gaudy 3712 is the winner.  The others leaned to a peachy pink, not good with the darker reds in the body, or too light as the last test of 3778.  As of today, this color is perfect.  The other flower is light, changed from 437 to 3827.  I may do all in pink, depends on my mood.

Another change may be the border, as is.  I stitched the second color and didn't like it as well as this more open vine.  Plus it's less work and I'm lazy.  And tired.  Very tired for numerous reasons.  If the border needs frogged, I will have one color of spaced stitches to remove.  Always an option to fill with the second color later.

This is what hubby made to hold my $2 iced coffees from mcD's instead of the carriers they offer.  I don't follow current music and had to look up Cardi B (her name is on their cups).  Checked the lyrics for two hits, WAP and Up.  Wow.  

Not finished at Carole's, shooting for this weekend.  The kids will be there and I'm hoping their dad will take them out for the day.  I don't want them to hear me rip into him, the pressure beneath my cork is ready to blow.

Have a good hump day!

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

Chances

 That's what I take when ordering linen.  This 40 count Prairie Grass works well with the floss colors except for a few.  I do not have a linen stash that offers many options, most are PTP light neutrals.  The stitching is quite slow and deliberate, but I seriously doubt ordering a piece in 36 count would be similar.  Do I chance it?  Sun is out, slight breeze, maybe a dye job is in order. But that's a chance too.  

With a good amount of over one, the Dazor would be necessary.  The light it provides is essential, but I don't care to use the magnifier.  Clarity is excellent, the high stand and arm bug me.  Silly, I know.  My brother's is a pinkish, copperish finish, really attractive, but the same exact model as mine.  The arm is detachable and has a table clamp, but not usable near my chair.  I'll stick with my 4.0 glasses and the good light, but still uncomfortable having to be cautious on this 40.  Good news is that errors could be easily hidden in this border.

I had to start over because I stitched the top left flower, never checking to see if it was the edge.  Nope.  The vine continued down, ten stitches further to the left so my margin was a little short.

 I am miserably dried out today so stitching may not happen.  When I am ill, Sjogren's calms down.  I guess my immune system fights the illness and lessens its attack on me.  But when it's over and no more virus to fight, that high gear activity reverts back to me with intensity.  

I have until 2:00 to make a decision about the linen, whether to chance dyeing or ordering.  If I don't give myself a deadline, there will be no decision for days!

Be safe, be well.

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

Coming to a close

 Hallelujah!

Saturday will be a work day, and all that remains to be added is a stand for the mini fridge.  We spent the morning at a clinic where Chris was knocked out for tests.  On the way home we stopped at the recycled medical equipment store and they had the exact tub transfer bench that her facility had.  Perfect.  And free.  Now if she will empty that closet holding nothing she could use, and full length wool coats not worn in 40 years, there will be a place to store it.  But she won't. That store is a blessing to many.

Have not stitched a minute, hands are stiff from wood finishing.  Maybe Sunday will be better.  

Have a peaceful, safe weekend.

**********

A plan

Finally closing in on finishing her bedroom.  Many weeks arguing about ridding the clutter and allowing us to arrange and plan a layout, and it should be over in a few days.  If there wasn't a hassle from the beginning, this finalized layout would not have been the result.  And it's the best, checks all the boxes.

This 18" base cabinet with three deep drawers will be at one end to hold bills, stamps, plates, utensils, napkins, coffee, snacks, etc.  A black patterned 6' formica counter top will be added with 4x4 wood legs at the other end.  Counter height at 36" will allow her huge chair beneath (it does not fit under standard table height) and be raised to a comfortable position.  The access will be almost 4' wide, a rollout narrow shelf stand can slide beneath.  Mini fridge in black will set upon a stand for easier access with two open shelves below for puzzles.  She will finally eat without having to hold her plate, have a work space for puzzles and correspondence, a counter to hold the coffee maker, photos, and a small but roomy fridge.  Eureka!!  I thought about painting the cabinet black as the fridge with a butcher block top, but pictured the drawer unit stained with black handles and the black counter (less $$$ too).  Yes!  Not what the original plan was and happy it took this long.  What a difference this will make.  

As for stitching, covid leftovers have me up and down but I tested two fabrics for Southward and Needham. I think Southward needs a darker ground and chose a little too green Tobias.

Needham is on a softer Prairie Grass.  It's 40 count.  Not happy, many errors in its future.  But the other Prairie Grass piece was so very different, I have no idea what a newly ordered 36 count would be.  So will I stick with these?  Damn I hope so.  

It's close to 70 degrees.  

Hope your week is going swell!

Stitching this evening .... on which?  The little rolls, the small sampler, the big gals?  Or sit with a bowl of vanilla ice cream topped with walnuts and real maple syrup while watching the tube?

***********