That memory thing

Greetings!  How is everyone?  Enjoying what's left of Fall before the white crap starts flying?  We will have a very cold weekend and I'm already bitching before it's even here.

 

I remember telling you a few years ago how I received a package and was excited to view the contents even before I got back into the house.  Distraction (probably something inane as usual) caused me to set it down and move on.  A few weeks later, I found the completely forgotten package in the garage and was able to get excited all over again.  Certainly got my money's worth with that one.  Now I'm doing it with stitchery.  I decided to do a little more thorough cleaning and happened to notice two items that made me go "wow!  I like that!".  One of them was very recent and I am thrilled with it.  Again.  Am I the only one doing this?  This is scary!  Maybe because of my display methods I don't notice them and they just sort of blend into the background.  Not a good thing.  In case you forgot, here they are.  Robina and the double pouch of Harriet Hazlin. 

I just love that Robina and she reminds me of R&R's Dorothy Allen that is very similar in colors.  I would show you, but I have no idea where she is. 

 

Carol (StitchingDream) asked readers to help out a friend who lost all her supplies which gave me a perfect opportunity to thin out the linen.  I really prefer the dark, stiff, and coarse, have plenty, and hope she can find use for these colors and textures.  If you would like to help Carol's friend, visit her blog for more information.

Final sanding will be done today on the cupboard seams and I have a little trick that I do when sanding in the house.  Old washcloths are folded and sewn into a small pouch leaving an opening just large enough to fit on the dust collector tube, held on with a tight twist tie.  I never seem to have luck with those collector bags so I decided to try this heavy terry cloth - the trick is to wet the pouch.  Seems to work much better.  I turn it inside out and get rid of the dust, rinse it and store it for next time.  I also use a spray bottle to wet towels or cloths that protect items so they hold the fine dust.

Worked on Sally last night.  I think one of the reasons I fell into this slump is constantly having to check the chart.  Stems and flowers and vines don't allow the mindless alphabet work that I am used to.  But I am determined to finish her before I move on.  Poor girl has been stuck in this bag for too long.

Time to get back to cleaning.  Still haven't found a solution to the computer issues and can't click on text boxes to type, whether commenting on your blogs or to post on mine.  If a new window pops up I can most times, but if the comments are embedded I can't. This old laptop's touchpad doesn't work and the mouse is past its prime too.  Hit and miss.  It's not the computer itself but the operating system and browser settings that aren't cooperating.

 

Hope your week finishes with smiles and sweets.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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What I've been up to

Hello people.  Last night was the first time in weeks that I picked up the needle.  If I start a little Christmas project I will never finish Sally so I will try my best to continue.  Then have a little party when it's done.

 

I've had quite a few appointments lately and we've been working on the kitchen cupboards that Dominic will never get to.

 

This is the time of year that Mark ventures into the woods to pick mushrooms, as his grandfather and father taught him.  His grandfather was from Czechoslovakia and his grandmother would string the mushrooms to dry for soups and dishes throughout winter.  He has his favorite types but enjoys the tradition of that walk in the woods to find the reward.  Coming across a hunter is always a concern.  He went on Sunday to avoid that encounter and brought back some bags for me.  Black walnuts for making another batch of dye.  I have since moved them to a large box since they are starting to rot, ready for the pot.

 

I've had this chair in my garage for a few years and love the colors of paint showing.  It makes a mess with flaking off, even after wire brushing, so I sprayed with a matte acrylic sealer.  Never did this before and I'd like to bring it in the house so I'm hoping the sealer stops the flaking.

 

My sister is finally getting rid of some things and she came across a set of pillowcases that she received as a wedding gift 45 years ago.  Beautifully hand embroidered, still in the original box with label from Madeira.  I need to check EBay and see if anything like this is being purchased. 

 

As for the cupboards, I painted and we used the originals, adding the bottom area for microwave and open storage.  This is similar to what we drew for Dominic and it would have been one large unit instead of pieces.  A strip of moulding was to cover the seam between the top cabinets and the bottom area we added but I didn't like it so I'm using one-part Bondo (for cars) to fill and level the joints.  Hopefully, you won't be able to tell at all that they were joined.  If not, the moulding will go back on.  You notice the right side is not the same backing as the left.  That's because we cut into the wall and boxed it to add a few inches of depth for the microwave.  This allows it to be flush with the top cabinets.

 

Mammogram at 7:30 am tomorrow so I'll miss the Golden Girl reruns tonight and am already dreading Hallmark's program change to 24/7 movies for two months.  Still having major problems with the computer(s) browser and now Firefox won't open items when I click them either.  Disgusted enough to be missing a lot of posts and updates.  That's not helping my disconnect to stitching at all.

 

It's late and I have to color my very noticeable 2" gray at the roots.  I hope all is well with everyone.  I feel like I'm slipping further away since the tech troubles, kind of like a kid who is changing schools.  I'll do my best to get back to stitching and call the computer guru back to help me again.

 

Take care!  Thanks for visiting.

 

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What's this here chop?

Worcestershire pork chops

My husband's favorite.
 

Dip chops in beaten egg.

Coat with Gia Russo Italian seasoned bread crumbs.

I always use waxed paper to bread meats.  Spread the crumbs, add the meat, top with crumbs, folding the paper over and pressing the crumbs in, turn over and do again.

Saute in a little oil over medium high until browned.

(Love electric fry pans)

Put 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce (Lea&Perrins!) in a measuring cup. Then add water and fill to 3/4 cup.

Pour over chops, reduce heat to low (250-275 on my pan), cover and barely simmer about 40 minutes for thick chops, turning once.

If making four chops, use 3 Tbsp and water to make 1 cup.

 

 

 

My repaired computer is fine EXCEPT I cannot post!  The cursor will not show up in the post box to type and I haven't found a cure yet.

 Wrangler Kate you are no-reply. The heart pouch in previous post is Lori Brechlin's free chart. 

 

Chop chop.

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Who do we

 

 

 

 Miss Lori of course.

 

vote

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Stinky

Greetings folks.  A little excitement yesterday created a real stink in the house.  Our new smooth top stove has burner knobs in the front which can be easily moved by Keebler hips.  The first time, it was Mark, while he was installing the backsplash in the corner near the range.  We caught it early enough to not set the pot holder on fire, only take the color off and make it very flat. 

The second time was when I was priming the backsplash after moving items from that area onto the stovetop.  If I hadn't smelled the stench, I may not have turned around and things would have been worse.  The apples' plastic bag with the cardboard inside melted to the smooth surface and ignited the cardboard.  The apples cooked on one side too.  We immediately starting scraping the melted plastic with a razor blade before it could harden.  Many applications and scrubs with Affresh finally removed it all but the top isn't as black as before.  Usually, a melt such as this permanently damages the top.  We have now taken the knobs off and will only use them when we are cooking.  I also need to have someone come out and check the temps because I can't even saute onions on Low without burning.

 

Now, the new dishwasher is a different odor, more like Rodent Rendezvous.  Bosch, smelled terrible when we received it with inside paperwork damp (they physically test each one which is why it was wet).  After using it the odor disappeared but with only two of us, it's not run every day and that stench is back.  I have to air it by keeping a paint stick in the door so it won't close.  What I'm trying to tell you is - my house reeks right now.  Good thing I have Misi Axel's scents in my linen drawers.

 

And here's a tip for you.  So you're not happy with your new car's center console.  You want to see the interior of a different car that's parked in the same lot.   You can't see inside very well so you need to lean in with your hands shading your eyes and resting on the window.  Don't do it.  Just sayin'.

 

 

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Crabass

Hey.  What's happening?  Nothing interesting happening here which I guess is good.  Interesting can sometimes require deep thought and crabs just wanna crab, not contemplate.

 

 I installed the hard drive and downloaded all the drivers to get the Dell up and running but now I have to get all the programs and set up mail and such.  What a pain in my Pecan Sandies butt.  This old laptop's touchpad button needs to be pounded in order to work and I haven't been reading and visiting much at all.  Seems the stitching slump is leaching into blogging and computer time.  Big confession is, I have not picked up a needle since.... I don't know.  But with my memory problems, who knows?  Maybe it's only been a couple of days, maybe a week.  For the first time since I quit stitching all those years ago, I am not purchasing any new charts.  I have enough samplers to last quite a while but that never stopped me before.  I love what I see but don't feel that I will be stitching much longer.  That's scary.

 

 

We're getting the brats set up in the garage for cold weather and Yellow Cat is still terrorizing.  Bud has been oozing from a huge bite infection and has wounds all over.  He's on an antibiotic but the buildup continues faster than the draining.  I've used all the good flea products faithfully and have food grade diatomaceous earth on their carpets and bedding, but they still have fleas.  All it takes is one bite and I break out with 50.  I don't know how that's possible but I attract those little bastards and must have an allergic reaction to their bites. Comparing their itch to a mosquito bite is like Moby Dick to a minnow.  Mark has NONE and Bud lays on him every day.  I walked through the garage and came in with one in my sock.  My mom loved polka dots and that's what I look like from the knees to toes.

 

We're finishing the stove area and microwave cabinet after giving up on Dominic, should be done in a few days.  The duct work and vent for the fan is the final problem and because I chose a model from a manufacturer that no one local deals with, no one will do the installation.  Bite me. 

 

Maybe we will have sunshine and warmer temps this week. 

Hope your week will have some bright spots too.

 

Later pals.

 

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