Summer. Finally!

Hello people!  It's hot here - summer has finally arrived.  You would think that the brats would prefer to be in air conditioning, but I can't get them to come in.

You know it's humid when the camera from the cool house hits the outside air and fogs.

I went with all white supertunias (not million bells) this year and love the way they sparkle in the sun.  They don't look it in the photo but trust me, they sparkle.

 

 Million bells (calibrachoa) never last the summer for me.  Fertilized or not, they get spindly and brown out.  The supertunias are my choice for hanging baskets and the bubble gum color is always gone early.   A little larger flower than the bells, smaller than petunias, dense and never needing trimmed.

Squeak is eating $9 worth of baby food a day.  He won't eat anything else!  After one, he's crying at the door.  After two, he's crying at the door.  After three, he leaves without so much as a goodbye.  Morning, afternoon, and night.  He comes very late and I have to stand outside with a broom to keep the coons away while he's eating.  Baby coons are out now too.  Mark said we will have to factor $270 a month for his food into our retirement plan.  My chiropractor brings his Jack Russell to work and the mobile vet was there the other day.  He is a great doc and went out on his own, and has a fully equipped truck to handle all situations.  Good to know.  Our last dog was seen by this vet at another office years ago and I asked him about Squeak.  Of course he can't make a diagnosis, but from the fact that he ate way too much (prior to this) and stayed extremely thin, he feels it is hyperthyroidism.  Treatment is daily medication.  He will come out and test him if I can confine Squeak.  That may happen since I can touch him for 1/2 second now.

 

I have made the mistake of getting rid of charts I would never stitch and then wishing I had not.  I will be doing it again.  Lots of Prairie Schoolers that I don't want.  Ever.  I think I will do an EBay listing for all in about a month, after I go through them several times to make sure.

 

That's all I got!  I'm polyurethaning (water base) my cupboards with a few coats and up they go.  The first coats of satin finish actually made them look  more yellow, not because it is tinted, but any sheen changes the look.  I mixed the satin 2 to 1 with matte, and it's good.  You would think after all this that the kitchen would be done. Believe it or not, only the two new ones are.  Now that the paint is decided, the clear finish chosen, no more samples, no more testing, no more changes, I can start on my old ones.   The Dekton for the counter top is still a possibility, but at only 3/4", I have no idea if it would look good.  The soapstone is 1 1/4" and I can have a farmhouse sink made.  Twice the cost, but because I saved by not replacing the majority of my cabinets, I can splurge.  My sister's car is finished so that will be done today and we got the repairs done on ours, all that's left is part replacement on our dryer.  And a new push lawn mower.  And Squeak's food.

 

Have a fun and safe 4th!

Thanks for visiting.

 

 

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Magma review

Hiya.  Just got my Magma today. 

 

Large enough for the entire chart with very small but powerful magnets, and one full width for keeping your place.  Pocket with velcro for fabric and supplies.

With everything in, it can still close but if you had a lot of floss bags, maybe not.

It took me a while but I finally realized the additional snap is for securing in an open position for standing.  It can be upright or angled on its side. 

I think it's a great piece for take a longs, and even the smaller version would be nice to have.  I like it!! 

Squeak seems to continue improving slowly.  Keeping my fingers crossed. 

My girlfriend in NJ just called and is so excited to early retire.  She found that she could get healthcare for $120 a month, $0 deductible, and max $500 OOP, considered low income.  Even though she has over a million dollars in IRAs and annuities.  I guess you only have to claim the interest or gains, most of which stay in the fund so her "income" is low. I thought open enrollment was closed but she said since there is a large discrepancy in taxable income (since she retired) she can sign up.  Lots of things I didn't know.  Our far from wealthy friends have high monthly rates and very high deductibles, so I was surprised.

It's hot here. Chance for storms off and on with high humidity.  I have gained a few more pounds but it could be my hair expanding.  Well, truth be told, that's not the only thing expanding.  I had to give in, again, and get my new big girl panties.  I tried the slimming stretchy jeans and they only move it all up to the diaphragm area and then I can't bend over.  I dropped my keys this morning and had to tilt sideways to pick them up.  Couldn't breathe.

Enjoy your week.

Thanks for visiting!

 

 

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Wee Santa 2005

Good day all.  Just finished the Wee Santa and it was a really fun stitch. 

 

I changed his belt and hat, left off the border.  I usually don't stitch outlines on ornaments and don't know if it's laziness or aesthetics.  Here's lazy for you - I decided the belt needed holes and I had already stitched it solid.  I just went over the existing green stitch with brown thread.  It's fine.  Can't tell at all.  Well..... I just did.

 

  

Not sure of his finish - kind of liking the idea of fringed edges on the wool bag to fill with greens.  Or just backed with fabric.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

When I lost my computer, I also lost the link to these knobs.  I found the source in only one place and new searches have failed.  Anyone know where to purchase? 

  

I tried the suggestion of turkey or chicken baby food for Squeak and he is eating it.  Still can only eat so much and then stops.  The other three were sleeping and as soon as I put the dish down, the aroma made them all converge on Squeak's dish.  Didn't expect that!  I picked up Bud to put him in the house and he tore up my right hand, one is between the fingers.  Still haven't patched the hole Missy put in my other shirt, and now I have one more to do.

 

 

Have a wonderful week that is ending a summer month.  If only winter went as fast.

Thanks for visiting!

 

 

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Winner!

Hiya.  Here's how I finished Fancy.

Press the piece including the bottom hem to be turned in.  Cut Mylar to the shape 1/2" smaller.

Insert Mylar and add quilt batting on each side.

Fold the pressed hem over the filling.

Glue shut.

Done - and ready to be packed for shipping to Anonymous Darlene.  Please email me with your address Darlene.  Thanks to all that participated and to everyone that opened heart and home to rescues.  For those of you that donate and volunteer, may your generosity come back to you. 

Squeak will not eat again tonight but wants to.  I actually scratched his head before he bolted.  I was told to try pure pumpkin as a food and unfortunately he turned away. But I'll be eating pumpkin pie for a while!

Have a great weekend!

Thanks for visiting.

 

 

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Summer Santa

Greetings!  A beautiful day here.  Lots of outside work to catch up on after days of rain, but I received more sclerotherapy and have the 40 compression stocking from toe to my hip.  Hard to crouch for weeds and keep it clean in this mud.  This is the first time ever that my leg is burning at every one of the twenty injections.  It will come off Tuesday. 

 Squeak news - he seems to be better.  Still not eating as much as before, but more than the last few days, and he's back to roaming.  There is improvement!

I purchased the large size Magma chart holder last night from EBay.  I was debating and then it hit me.  The fabric and thread go into the pocket, the chart is held securely, just open and stitch, fold when I'm done and snap shut!  I'll be spending another day at the hospital for the second cardioversion and this is perfect for take along projects.  Usually I carry a bag and it's hard to have the chart handy, all else in my lap, and the bag in the way.  So glad I saw this and still don't know why cross stitch shops (online) don't have it.

I got an email from a new follower mentioning her love of Santas.  Got me thinking about the fellow.  I happened to find this chart last week and decided he would make a quick project while deciding on another sampler.  Thanks Jackie!  The 937 green is much darker than the photo so I changed it to 3052 and the 520 to 3051.  I doubt if I will stitch the border. 

 

And I have to show this kitchen from Pinterest. I am so glad I chose the lighter color for the cabinets after seeing this. I wish there were more photos to show the entire room. And yes I want to know this paint color!  Just for future reference of course.

 

I'll be back tonight with Fancy's new owner.

Have a great day!

Thanks for visiting.

Getting a new board

Hi everyone.  Squeak update - no change.  He came to us very thin and never really gained, even after worm pills.  Over these last two years, we have tried the very large dog cage, carriers, and a few homemade traps, but he has never ventured into one, even for the 3 cans a day plus dry food he used to eat.

 We would have to literally grab him and try to get him into a carrier.  The only vet willing to take an unhandled feral is the 88 year old that saw Bud.  We waited an hour in the waiting room with Bud crying, and that is typical for his practice.  For the very first time in two years, he stayed all day.  Budman kept him company.  I got within 5 feet and he would try to get up so I left him alone and just offered food and drink, which was not taken.  Today, he ate a few mouthfuls and left, hasn't returned yet.

I would like your suggestions for a magnetic board to hold charts.  I use LoRan but it's not large enough at 8 x10 to hold the complete page.  I have to readjust if I need to make a note in the margin which I do often.  I have the LoRan stand and like it, but before I order the 12x18 size, I checked online for options.  I'm fairly sure Mark can cut the board in half and sand the edge which would give me two 9 x 12.  Perfect.  Is there a product you like better?  I found several nice options but all were on international Ebay.  I wonder why DMC's magnet board is only sold overseas? 

Anyway, I really like the Magma from Knitter's Pride (comes in two sizes). It folds and snaps shut and there is a pocket and pen loop on the backside. Very nice looking. The only places that featured it were yarn shops and I don't know why.

 

 They have two models, the Simplex doesn't fold and has an easel back.

This other (Prop-it) looks nice too but I don't think you can adjust the angle for viewing.  I'll probably get the LoRan large size and the large folding Magma.  Haven't found much else but I remember seeing other options on your blogs.  Of course I made note of the product, but notes vanish.  Always.

Please let me know of anything else you feel is a handy dandy upright chart holder, large enough for a full page.  Remember when charts used to be on heavy stock full size leaflets instead of regular paper?  Ah.  Days of old. 

Have a great day!!

 

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