Nice to meet you

 Wow.  The cartouche border met on 40 count!  Surprised and relieved, all the leaves and flowers up next.  Not my thing as you know, but neither is all the over one to be stitched inside this.

The 758 sub for 353 did not show as well, brighter is better once again.  I switched the wreath flowers to dmc 20.  Not sure if I will move up to the darker 21 or 352 in this cartouche border, but doubtful.  There are two yellows with the flowers, barely visible, a darker flower would look odd.

A peony that I've had for years finally offered a few flowers.  Lovely darker pink and to my surprise, the petals tightened after cutting to vase.  The light pink always open and drop petals quickly, not so with this color!

Doctor late today, I plan to request an mri, this has been going on for over a year.  Tolerable until last week and now debilitating.  I am not a runner (walking is an effort!), cyclist (lol!), do not understand the cause.  Sjogren's affects joints and that started last year, but this isn't a joint.

Have a good day folks!

Thanks for visiting.

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The chosen

729.  

The majority of the sampler uses 680 (border, lawn, motifs) but it was too dark.  One up is 729, on the left, and is what I plan to use.  The original is not faded/ghosted at all, so it looks to be a good substitute for the 676.

I love the floral wreaths and want them to show as well on my chosen linen.  And now they will!

The pink is washed out on the original as is mine (353 in center), and I hope the 758 will show a little better.  Anything else is too bright but I do have some lovely pastels in a few overdyed, will check those also.  Later.  After 6 steroid pills and 4 Advil, I still can barely walk.  Why this IT band inflammation has suddenly become severe is a mystery. 

 

Hubs is feeding Tootsie several times a day, I can't lift my leg or bend it for even one step to get outside.

Hope your weekend is good.

And the stitching world wants to know ....

where is Brenda and Laura?

Hope they are OK!!

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Yellow

Hi folks.  Been busy with outdoor work while waiting for landscape help.  So disgusted.  The sewer project was 2021! 

I'm undecided about the yellow in the main areas of this sampler.  On this round floral motif, the left is color called for, a brighter from the legend is on the right. Darker does not show better on this linen, brighter does.  There is a another yellow in the design that I haven't tried, but it may be too much with the pastel flowers. When I tape to the wall and stand back, I want to notice it even if faint, so the right side will work better.  

No question whether these yellows are noticed!

 I do not want to take Advil 24/7 for extended periods but I have no choice now.  Been waiting over two months for my follow up to get a knee injection, wearing a brace, getting worse.  The IT band started it all and now pain has wrapped around to the back.  That is not related to my back and right hand arthritis, which limits my movements for several hours in the mornings.  Still a problem throughout the day but at least I can move with corresponding grunts.  Rheumatologist follow up is July.  Waiting so long to see physicians or NPs is ridiculous.  My friend was in the ER with heart issues and patients were lined up in the hallway, no rooms available.  

My neighbor sold his house for such a ridiculous price, still shocked.  Amy's small two bedroom brick was appraised at 130K two years ago when she thought about selling, it is now 225K.  And the houses are selling like nuts in a ballpark.  We are not ready to sell, and certainly would not be buying anything at these inflated prices.  Will they hold 5 years from now or go back down to earth?

Missy is driving me nuts with constant crying, wanting to go outside.  She enjoyed running and hunting and relaxing in the sun for her 12 years, and has not been out since fall.  Next door sent me a pic of the black bear breaking her birdfeeder last night, I have seen him before, concerned about the fawns.  Nothing I can do about that, but am torn about giving Missy some freedom.  She's a pistol, and would fight in a split second if she could.  But that was when the guys were with her, and she is very lonely without them.  Still can't hold her, pick her up, approach her.  But she will lie on top of the grain bin for brushing.  And sit in my line of sight crying for a half hour, take a half hour break, and start again.

Hot today.  Hubs is golfing.  Hope your day is a good one!

Thanks for visiting.

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Progressing

 Hope everyone had an enjoyable long weekend.

Finally finished the lawn.  Wow.  The shrub to the right of the house was charted for four branches and I did six as in the left. 

 Have a sweet day folks.

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Lawn care

 Almost done!  Will finish the small background section of the bottom right, the rest will be one color fill.  

My pink calibrachoa that I showed has an section that is withered and needs removed, about 1/4 of the plant.  Looking at the center, the fullness comes from hundreds of mini shoots off of several very thick main stems.  That makes them susceptible to being crimped at pot's edge from weight.  I decided to make one more trip to the Amish greenhouses and very few pinks remained.  This came home with me, the old guaranteed trooper.  Vista.  Silverberry, Bubblegum, and Fuchsia, half the cost of locals.

The plastic pot is a real bargain too.  Not intended for my flowers, but with a 15"opening, perfect place for this monster now.  Slightly less than $16 at Lowe's, not near the investment of nicer urns, and offers us time to play with this size before deciding on a pair.  Two piece and we need to drill a few drainage holes.

That's it.  More adjustments to Carole's house, this time for outdoor access, and finishing flowers.  I spoke with someone that has an answer regarding those downtown floral displays.  He believes they start with the 4"pots, and a deep basket.  By using those pots, each plant is already well on its way to full size.  Five pots in a 16"basket.  Boom.  Makes sense to me!  

I will show the steps for the keeps/ tags/ fobs soon!

Memorial Day.  Hard to believe I'm still waiting for the landscaper to finish the mess from the sewer project of 2021!  If I find someone to deliver the truckload of dirt, a good pair of gloves and a bottle of Advil will be lined up.

 Have a great day!!

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Can't let go

 Of what?

My removable center tube pans for mom's chiffon cake recipes and poppy seed!  I received mom's and Aunt Nancy's so I own three and just can't part with them.  Very heavy and well loved!  But how many chiffon cakes can I bake at the same time for a family of five?  One!

I made two ring pendants/keeps/tags.  What the heck is the correct term?  Easy to make, hard to snap a pic without glare.

Waiting for the poppy seed cake to cool, and I need to add the white vinegar to my towel rinse cycle.  Softens by removing soap buildup.  

Have a great day!

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