June

Already!  Soon I'll be complaining that summer is over.

 

Sally will be larger than Lucy.  And Marlene is as large as she has ever been.

 

 

Wanted to stitch this for Patti but she deteriorated much sooner than I expected and it was not recommended by family to visit.  Still plan on stitching with our initials, softer dress colors.  I was going to do them in pink for breast cancer but decided not to define her by that reference.

 

 

Tonight will be a bloody battle of flea control application.  I almost never get it anywhere but on their hair.  Found three ticks, one alive on my floor.  That's quite enough.

 

 

After storms and torrential rains, we are freezing today.  Working on the leg aprons for the cabinets.

 

 

Thanks for identifying the Trolley Needle.  I looked up the item and am glad I did.  First of all, I was wearing it upside down (with needle on top of the finger) but I also saw other uses.  One is for feeding material through the sewing machine, another is opening seams when pressing with a hot iron.   I have the silicone finger guards (but where?), this skinny helper will be much better.  Thanks!!!

 

Have a wonderful day!!

 

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Repurposed linen

Hiya.  Started cleaning the mess again.  Still have mystery linens I don't care for and no desire to stitch a row to determine the count.  I got rid of so much Klostern and cork linen, but found more burlap feeling low count pieces.  One seems to be 14 count and the larger piece is 20.  Some sites list cork linen as 18 and others 20 so does this mean there are two counts?  At the same time, I was looking for a mat to rest my coffee cup on and thought - why not cut this up for mats? 

So I did.  Moisture may still go through so I may pad and line the back of a few, but the majority of them will be for preventing scratches on the soapstone and other surfaces.  (I knew soapstone would scratch and chip if hit but this is ridiculous.) I think the long thin piece would be nice as a table runner under a wooden bowl. 

This square piece (18 count) will be stained/dyed and used as a cloth over ????.  I don't use tablecloths or fine linens or doilies, but I have to say that I don't object to this very rough looking linen under a display or hanging on a bench.  In fact, after some real aging, I think I will like it a lot.  Possibly a hanging sack for the turkey feathers my cousin gave to me.

 

I just cut and fringed, then folded and cut into the fringe so it's not perfectly even and nice looking. 

 

 

Still have several pieces and you can only use so many mats and runners.  The sack is sounding like a good idea.  How about sachets?  Soap bags?  I'll find other ways to use it up since I will never stitch on it.

 

 

 

Then I found this wicked looking thing. Obviously something to put on your finger tip but it looked so disturbing I didn't want to take a picture wearing it.  What is it?
Edited - M left a comment informing me that this is a laying tool.  Something tells me I would poke my eye out with it.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As for the turtle, he was a painted turtle, not unlike many that Mark has found while fishing.  They burrow into the mud at water's edge and hibernate over winter. 
The hostas - no fertilizer.  The Blue Angel is one of the largest of the hostas and needs no help. If you'd like to see the varieties of giant hostas, go to this site, or another nursery here.

Thirty years ago today, the F5 tornado took Mark's best friend along with others within a mile of our house.  We were on the back side and never had the hail, the wind, nothing.  But we heard the terrifying roar.

More Arby's orange cream shakes this weekend.  Can't get enough.
Have a great week - stay safe.

Thanks for visiting.

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A turtle tail

Hello people.  Just want to share what put a smile on my face today.  On our way back home after grabbing a pizza, I was doing my usual sucking air white knuckle dashboard grab.  A car at the corner was sliding through the stop sign as we were approaching.  But all of a sudden my husband yells OH NO and turns our car into a little parking lot in the residential area of very close houses.  I thought - did we hit the other car and I didn't feel it?  Nope.  He spotted a turtle.  He jumps out and runs down the middle of the road, scoops up a turtle almost the size of my hand.  He asked the people sitting on their porch if they knew of any kids having turtles - nope.  So he brings him to me.  I put the pizza boxes on the floor and held on to the turtle.  I had no idea how long and sharp their claws were.  Yikes.  He was fighting me all the way and I thought his head was going to twist off.  Strong legs and sharp claws, but Mark didn't want him to get run over.  Besides, there was nothing but house after house and paved streets.  Not a happy place for a turtle.  Probably a pet someone tired of and discarded.  He continued fighting me, scratching with his legs outstretched and whipping that scrawny neck around.  Then I see his tail.  How cute!  Skinny, long, pointed, outlined in yellow.  As I'm studying it, I see things falling from beneath it.  

Yep.  He pooped yellow on me and my car's seat, along with a good amount of pee.  As I held him away, some landed on the pizza box on the floor.  That one was my sister's.  I wiped and cleaned the best I could while holding on to a squiggling creature with nails as long and sharp as Lady Gaga's.  Finally we get to a small pond not far from our house and he is set free to swim out his days.  You could tell he was happy as he slid into the water and we watched his bubbles go farther out.  We've seen a number of large turtles smashed into the road near a bridge we pass daily.  It's not like they surprise you and run out in front of the car.  Why can't idiots slow down or go around them?  Remember the swans from our local park that were victims of a hit and run driver?   My final pear (Swan Song) was in memory of them.  Well another idiot ran over the new pair and killed them.  They're quite large, they're bright white, how could you not see them?  I hate people.  So we saved a turtle from a cruel existence or death.  I hope he has a long happy life in the isolated pond.  And I hope the stain comes out of my seat.

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And so it goes

Brain freezes are not always caused by cold drinks and ice cream.  And as much as I would like to blame menopause, men are affected too.  My husband went golfing with his shirt inside out the other day.  I always hang his golf shirts inside out to avoid the pointed shoulders, he knows this, but I can't say too much. 

I took my sister to the doctor like this.  Not too noticeable, but still obvious to patients in waiting rooms that stare down at the floor.  I was trying to determine which felt better on my still swollen foot and just forgot to change the other (I've had enough of the big shoe). 

 

 

And get this - the Latitude device that sends her pacemaker signals for monitoring since she is totally dependent on it, was the wrong one.  No info, no help if something was malfunctioning.  They finally realized it after months and we picked up the compatible unit today.

 

Since I was driving, she didn't notice the shiny metal in my hair until we got in the exam room and I was on her right.  This is how a selfie reenactment looks when you don't have a smart phone.  Didn't want to leave out the crooked fingers.  I had a few 4" curved wave clips to hold my hair back until it dried that kind of got lost in the mess.  Would have much preferred a brain freeze from ice cream.  Or Arby's orange cream shake - out of this world good.

 

I started working on Sally again.  When I mentioned to Patti that I was losing interest and maybe would stop stitching for a while, she said NOOOO!  Don't stop!  So I will continue this big girl. 

Bonnie Olson sent photos of her over one 32 count Memory Keeper and said it was OK to share with you.  If it would actually help me keep my memory, I would stitch it over one on 40 count!  But of course it won't.

 

The design is by Workbasket and her finish is 6 1/2" square instead of 12" or 13" over two.  Very nice either way but I am liking the smaller finishes more and more. 

 

Fully lined and ready to hold treasures.  Gorgeousness!!

 

For the Love chart offer, I just printed names on paper and drew one since I didn't need Random to help.   Dede's name was drawn and I will notify her shortly.  Thanks to everyone for participating.




And now for more boring crap.  The Blue Angels are still growing...

This one is unknown but it gets tall with a nice top spread, allowing lots of room beneath for annuals.  Or bazillions of maple whirlygighickeys.

 
 I am so glad I bought the Supertunia Vista Bubble Gum.  What a pink.  I never had a plant with so many continuous flowers.  Anxious to see them a month from now.

Patti's visitation and service is tomorrow.  I am so immature and many times have just lost control so with no disrespect intended, I usually have to get in and out quickly.

I think that's it for now. 
Enjoy your weekend and stay safe.


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The Love Sampler

Hello readers and friends.  As I wrote in prior Memorial Day posts, I become a weepy gal on this day, thinking of the young men lost in the world wars and those that followed.  This year, much worse.  Sweet, gentle, Patti passed this morning.  We were friends in grime, always searching for the early grungy treenware and primitives and rust.  I can't tell you how much I will miss her.  Please revisit Memorial Day 2012's post, or the one from 2013, my sentiments are the same.  Just not up to searching for photos and such this year.

I am offering the Love Sampler chart that Rosanne was kind enough to give to me after spotting it at a unique craft shop in her town.  The craft and hobby items are all donated and the proceeds go to local seniors.  Isn't that a great idea?  This is my version after leaving a section out.

 

This is the chart cover.  I did mine on dark linen to show the details more and chose what I wanted to stitch (as usual).  Please don't be intimidated by the open work, it was my first time doing it and really easy.  Honest.  There are many options for removing sections and even just stitching the LOVE part into a little pillow. 

 

So if you would like this chart, leave a comment on this post expressing that desire.  Open to all as always, but please leave your initials.  More and more comments have become no-reply and Google continues the practice of making that change automatically.  Still not receiving emails from aol users either. 


Will draw a name on Wednesday 5/27 at 8pm. 

That's it for now.  Hope everyone has an enjoyable holiday honoring our heroes.

 

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The blues

Greetings all.  I just love these Blue Angels so much that I will continue to bore you with them.  I showed them on Saturday, this is Tuesday morning - they really sprout quickly.

 

Anxious to see how large they get this year.  I purchased them all at either Home Depot or Lowe's a few years ago, and the ones on the end that aren't pictured were from a garden center.  They have the same leaf, but are half the size.  Same card, same plant, different size.  My sister had that happen to her when purchased one year apart from our local hosta grower.  I just love the color and the thick wrinkled leaves.  Got most of the pinks planted yesterday, just a few left.  I may buy a shower chair to go with my bench.  Rustfree, comfortable, adjustable, and I can get up! Thought I could get away with a sandal after stitch removal but my toes look like our local meat market's garlic sausage.  Can't even get the swollen foot in the first strap.  It will go down and be fine, I just hoped to kick off the shoe earlier.

 

These leaves aren't the only thing blue around here.  I saw Ellen's post on Stitchville USA and got my email update from Country Sampler.  Both places were to be visited with my cousin (home-ec teacher and sewing fanatic) when I visited her in MN.  That was put off until we recouped from caregiving and all the losses.  Unfortunately, her early dementia came before I did and she continues to progress in the facility.  So when I saw the post, the special trip we would have had was another reminder of how she has lost herself.  She traveled the world and experienced so much before this and we're so glad she didn't wait until retirement for those joys.  And my friend Patti is slipping away.  How helpless family and friends feel.  She's always been private and not wanting Facebook pals and such to know so I don't mention her.  But she has been consuming my thoughts for weeks.  I finally went to the local antique mall that we both frequented, had not wanted to visit for a while.  The sadness overwhelmed me.  As soon as I walked in I felt it, and had no desire to shop.  She and I both love early pieces and her talent for decorating with them is evident in her home. 

 

Haven't picked up a needle either.  I keep looking through charts, reading their instructions, browsing for more online, but the needle has stayed ..... I don't know where it is.  Usually I keep it in the linen but because I started a second project and went back and forth, it's somewhere else.  I'll find it.  Maybe it's the excuse I'm using instead of getting a new needle - I do know where those are!  Tonight I will force myself to get a row in. 

Been visiting a doctor for a few months about the stomach and esophagus issues, was told last week - no more chocolate.  Already had to give up iced tea which I drank throughout the day even though it was decaf.  Good thing I hate the taste of booze.

 

Have a wonderful day stitching pals.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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