Jul 20, 2015

Shopping with men

Why?  Why would we do it?  Because they retire and want to tag along. 
 
I grabbed a pack of the dishcloths I always use, put them in my cart.  After spending 15 minutes looking at the towels and finding none that match, taking a stroll around the next aisle, I return and place the cloths back on the shelf.  Yes, I knew they no longer carry the towels that match, and wasted time looking for them anyway.  So what?  Yes, I knew I wouldn't purchase the cloths if the towels weren't there, and they wouldn't be, but you never know. Grab them and hold on to them until all resources and hope are gone.  Then put them back.  The look on his face with his hands in the air told me he just doesn't understand the concept of shopping.
 
There is always a huge mess in Wal-Mart when it comes to ladies underwear.  Sizes are all over the aisle, styles aren't together, and it takes quite a while to search for the aqua labeled hipsters with the wide band.  Michael Jordan and I both prefer Hanes.   Especially when you have to keep buying a larger size, it gets expensive if they are $4 a piece. I choose hipsters because the band digs in creating that final 6th roll for my personal 6-pack.  Not quite the abs 6-pack that is preferred in today's society, but my own nonetheless.  Looking for size *, size *, size *.... "here they are" he shouts.  So proud of himself for helping and expecting to move out of the long stint in the ladies' gotchies aisle.  Not so fast old man.  That pack has a pair of black in it and that funky bright green.  I want the pinks, blues, and grays.  "What?  Why?  You aren't going to walk down State Street with them so what does it matter?"  Little does he know.  Because if I ever have a desire to do just that, I want those colors.  I wouldn't, but just in case.  Again, does not understand.
 
We left after 60 minutes with no cloths and no underwear, less time than trying to hit a little ball into a hole 9 times.  At least I walked away with my money, more than I can say for him.  We're both looking, estimating, roaming around with a cart searching, changing stance, strategizing.  You pull a club, stand there with it for a while, study it, put it back and take another, focused on achieving your goal.  I don't see much difference.
 
Enjoy your day.
 
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Jul 18, 2015

Drum roll

 
Hi all.  Guess what?  One of the does that waits for food, decided to walk over to the back garage door where I exit with her goodies.  While she was waiting there, next to the garden, she became impatient and jumped the fence to eat the lettuce, swiss chard, tomatoes, peppers, and peas.  I looked out the window around 8am and saw her within the fence, ran out, she casually jumped out and stood there.  She wouldn't leave until I fed her.  My neighbor has three huge unfenced gardens and they don't touch his, never did.  He uses several motion activated water bursts, not a gentle sprinkler, that he purchased at our local garden center years ago.  Works for him except for the occasional groundhog that's beneath the leaves.  We've had our garden chewed to the ground with the exception of tomatoes, usually by the fawns every year.  This year, tomatoes too.
  
Anyway, I don't like this tall drum.  I don't know why but it bugs me.  Maybe it's the bird.  Something.  Now that I see the photos I think it may be.  The second photo isn't bugging me as much. So I think EBay will be getting it soon.  Why EBay?  Because I have no clue pertaining to price.  The framing shop I used to mount needlework for is now also selling small furniture and decorative pieces.  She asked me to start painting Santas again for her shop or to bring anything I'm currently doing, and she is very fair with seller fees.  Patti's husband is starting to downsize her antique collections and found a shop that is thrilled with what he has.  Lots of smalls, choppers, bowls, crocks, and treen, perfect for fill-ins with the shop's large pieces.  I am going over this week to see if there is any I would like to purchase before it's gone.  Right up to the end, Patti was joking about her collections...."don't use my mashers for kindling!".
 
Answering a few emails - the compression slip-on is an elastic tube that comes on a roll.  They measure to your knee and cut it off, comes in S, M, and L with even compression.  I wear it half way up my leg and fold it back doubled on the foot, thinking it makes it tighter but I'm probably wrong.   Yes the ice cream was good but the bowl was too small.
 



The wing nut tightener is slotted to slip over the wings, giving you a larger surface to grab for adjustments.  Sondra suggested plastic knobs with interior threads as replacements and my scroll frame sets have lots of them, including this stand from K's. Never used the frames or even noticed the knobs. They will certainly make it easier.  Thanks Sondra, I will keep them and send the frames to Goodwill with the metal wing nuts.
 
My sister kept telling me about a crock pot corn that she takes to parties and everyone loves it.  So I tried it.  It's good but not as fabulous as she claimed.  Well....the 2# bag disappeared at one two person meal, so maybe I should rethink this.
Very simple...
1 two pound bag of frozen kernel corn, thawed
1 8 oz. brick of cream cheese
1/3 cup sugar.

Low temp for 4 hours.  If you leave it longer, slide the lid open a little so it doesn't get soupy.  Picture the corn in a white cream sauce when it's done.  That's what it looked like before we ate it all.

  Still stitching Ruth's sampler and enjoying the easy project.
 
Have a beautiful weekend!
 
Thanks for visiting.
 
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Jul 17, 2015

A bad video

Hello!  I've been feeding the does for a while now and they allow me to get pretty close to them.  One I can almost hand feed.  I tried to do a video of them and the fawns, but it wasn't a good idea to balance the tablet, a jug full of corn, and a bag of bread, while swatting mosquitoes.   So here's a not so great video of part of the crew that I feed.   They didn't stick around long because I was doing things out of the ordinary.


Jul 15, 2015

A wing and a nut

Hiya.  Middle of July.  Seems like only yesterday I was complaining of it being July 1. 
 
Well, I ordered my hoop stand.  Decided on the Lacis since it has a larger base to sit on and that's the direction my thighs are going.  Also because of the flip.  I never thought about the ease of flipping the hoop over to run the end of threads through or start a new one.  Holding the extra fabric in hand may be difficult but turning those wingnuts isn't fun either.  Painful!  I don't want to loosen them to enable the hoop to flip to the back side and then tighten again for every thread, so I think this is the best fit for me.  I'll wait until it comes in to try out before ordering the larger hoop.  Small projects will still be hand held and the hoop will only be for larger projects or any with too much fabric. 
 
While looking for that old thick wooden hoop, I came across the number of scroll frames that I inherited.  This one from K's creations is great but I doubt I will ever use it. 
 
 
What I will use, is what I found in the accessory bag.  This patented simple and ingenious wingnut tightener.  What a blessing to use - so much easier.  I tried it on large and small nuts and it fits all sizes. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Until the hoop comes to help with Sally Fiske, I started this little primitive piece.  Ruth's Sampler from Goode Huswife.  Because of its early look, I chose a burlap looking 28 count and will age it when I'm done.  Should be a quick and easy project, no border, large spaces, easy error hiding if need be.
 
 
My foot is still swelling bad enough that I still can't get a shoe on, only adjustable strap sandals.  The compression slip on that the doc gave me is gone.  How is that possible?  I only took it off to wash it, sleep, or shower.  It was clean and the last I remember was two days ago removing it in the bathroom before the shower.  It's gone.  We tore the house apart, even looked in the attic stairs, it's gone.  This happens way too often and it ticks me off.  I will stop tomorrow and see if I can bribe them for another one.  Until then, I need the waist high which is really hot.
 
I hope your week is going well and it continues through the weekend.
 
Take care and stay safe!!
 
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Jul 13, 2015

Hoopla!


Boy when I get something in my head it just rolls and rolls and bugs the crap out of me until I settle it.  I have so many things to do this morning and I'm searching for hoops.  First off, my trip to the attic was a safe success.  This is it - the standard quilting/embroidery stand.

 
And this is what we plan on doing to it.  I can't get it close enough to me on the sofa so we'll try what I have typed in the photo's bottom.  It may make it tipsy but I don't think so.  We'll leave a space to allow the top to move freely without binding on the bottom.
 
 
While searching online I found lots of options for the type I want - sit on it.  I saw some really nice ones but can't see how they would be secure just resting on my lap and I don't use a table.  Do not like this one because the clamp is over the hoop, and to tighten it enough to hold it from moving, the linen would be pressed.  But you have the option of using any hoop.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
So here are the two I found (other than some international beauties), both with 10" hoops.
Lacis is online with JoAnn (coupon applies) and Nordic Needle also.  Another brand name is also used but it appears to be the same piece.  I like the way the hoop is attached but I would probably sit on it between my legs instead of the side.  Depending on how big my thighs get, the hoop may not reach my lap.  The dowel goes into the stand and can be turned to the angle you prefer before tightening.  There should be other hoop sizes available to slide into the base but I haven't found them yet.  Edit - just found them here in 12" and 14".
 



The second is handmade on Etsy from Kenhoops.  Both can be adjusted for height but Ken's gives you more stability and angles. The base is heavier and wider, works with table or sitting.  With the wing nut on the hoop, I think other sizes could be adapted and countersunk to accept the bolt.  But will the wood on the arm right beneath the hoop edge be in the way?  Nah.  Pull the stitching down toward the center.



 

MISSY!!!!
 
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Jul 12, 2015

I need a small!

Certainly not in clothing size, but in stitching size.  I've made enough errors in the border while continuing Ann to realize I need to calmly set her aside for a bit.  Sally Fiske was back at home plate and while working on her once again, I started wondering what I could do to help with the arthritic hands.  That's a huge piece of fabric to be rolling and holding.  I've seen a few videos and comments on blogs about using a hoop while still utilizing the sewing method of stitching.  My desire to stab and jab only surfaces for rotten people.  I have two frames...wait...did I give the big one away?  I have a very heavy wooden hoop....wait...did I give it away?  I have a very large oval hoop on a floor stand for quilting, in the attic, unless I gave it away.  Am I the only one losing her mind?  Do you doubt yourself more and more?  Can you still get up from a chair without looking for something to push off of or grab on to?  Why is everything on my body getting bigger and looser except my esophagus which is shrinking?  I'm sorry.  Got off course.
 
On Patricia's Stitching Samplers blog, her July 9 post featured a video of a stitcher using the sewing method while hooping it.  Methinks it's possible!  There's hoop for me yet.  So now I will tear the house apart looking for the fricking frames and hoops that may be long gone.  I do believe the quilt stand hoop is still in the attic because I surely would have remembered the fall when trying to bring it down.  Since Sally is such a large piece of linen, it may fit in that monster.  If I could still do my stitching method, what a blessing this would be to not have hand cramps.  And with both hands free, I could help direct the needle to the right spot from beneath.  Does blood wash out of linen?  If this doesn't work, I need a small.  Quick.  I don't even know if I have any that weren't previously stitched OR that I gave away.  I'm going up to the attic now.  Hope to be back soon and not on the injured list.
 
Have a good Monday!!
 
Thanks for visiting.
 
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