A little Aida

UPDATE - fabric has been claimed.

Greetings folks.  Houston, we have ignition.  It's in a white gold 2018 Escape that has more dingers and buzzers and chimes to tell me I am doing something wrong than Microsoft's annoying Windows 10.

 

I am going through unwanted fabrics again and if anyone would like these pieces of 18 count Aida, do not know the color name, I will be happy to mail them (in US). 

 

All the same and a really nice dark shade, the closest being DMC 640.  Sizes are 17 x 18 ... 8 x 10 1/2 .... 10 1/2 x 12 1/2.   If you would like them, click the email link at top right or this - samplersandsantas@gmail.com to let me know along with your address for mailing.

My sister is pretty anxious today.  The house next door to her has sold, for $200,000 cash, without the buyer even viewing it.  There are very few homes on this long road, secluded, within a half mile of the Ohio border.  Quick escape from PA police and with our local drug problem, naturally this transaction seems unnerving.  Who buys a home for that amount without seeing it? 

 

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How do I like the new car?

I don't know.  Why you ask?  Because I sat across the desk from the young frazzled Ford-Man, and with check in hand, frown on face, said ....  can I change my mind?  At this point, my husband's ball cap brim was covering most of his face, and he was so slumped in the chair one would have thought he was sleeping.  He was fully awake, just looking for a hole in the floor to crawl in to.  My newest new car will be in tomorrow.  I had already served them a coconut cherry zucchini bread and the chocolate zucchini bundt cake the day before, hoping it would compensate for the time and ream of paper expended on me.  What could possibly soothe the mood of having your employee drive 4 hours to get a vehicle, wash and detail, remove stickers and protective covers, only to have some wacky woman say ..... nah, changed my mind?  A Kobe steak and Jack Daniels?  Poor man.  He kept saying it was OK but I knew that as soon as I walked out, there would be some fighting words behind that door.  Was it all my fault?  Of course not.  Weeks earlier I had asked another dealer if the forward collision protection/blind spot and cross traffic warnings were to be offered in 2018 models.  He checked and said only the Titanium package (too rich for my plasma).  I also kept complaining that I was buying last years model because the 2018s would be out soon.  Nothing said.  The morning I was getting the car, the Ford website showed the 2018, with the safe and smart package, ON THE LOTS.  My new car will be the latest model and have the safety features and warnings that I wanted.  Same color, same car, just newer and smarter.  This cost me $5000 more but I didn't care at this point. With those features I won't worry about trading it in a few years to upgrade.  So as long as it's not a lemon, I will keep it for 10 years.  And frazzled Anthony will have a nice meal.

I needed a vehicle today so took my sister's (my old yellow Escape) and I did not want to give it back.  Can't tell you how I love that old car and the different feel driving it.  Such zippity-do, full length windows for excellent vision, more space without all the technology features, and my yellow and black queen bee hanging from the mirror. 

I stopped to get a pumpkin, holding off as long as I could to acknowledge the fall season.

But I am still clinging to summer also.

Won't be long until Christmas!  I happened to see this darling offer on Etsy (already sold) and searched until I found the designer.

Primitive Stitchin by Shelly Auen on her Etsy page, here.  Offered as an e-chart, instant gratification!  Why did I not see this before?

 

 Two of the brats, Bud and Missy, were de-flea'd yesterday along with yours truly.  Nitzy is just too wild and I lost hold of him just as I squeezed that fricking tube. 

 

We're all feeling the sadness this week.  I hope something has given you a reason to smile and brought some joy.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Thanks!

When I read "two birds", I agreed.  Then I would read "one bird", and that was the plan.  Until another comment changed my mind.  This went on and on until I started the second bird, and thought it was too much.  So I tried a vine.  For now, it will stay.  I appreciated your help!

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Opinions?

I removed the stems, leaves, and flowers, just weren't right.  I will probably stitch a simple branch with just a few twigs instead, but wondered if a mirrored bird would be too much for this very narrow piece.

To test this I entered Paint and pasted it.  Even though the linen shading doesn't match, it certainly shows me what I needed to see.

 

What do you think?  One bird with simple branch or two birds?  With the 3" width, I'm leaning toward option one.

 

My car is being located and I will have it Tuesday.  Here's the result from weeks of investigating.

 

The Rogue - nice vehicle, alloy wheels in top package only, but the seat height adjustment didn't raise enough for me.  I need to see the hood and couldn't.  Otherwise, it would have been my choice.

 

The Forester - you end up paying more after taxes than the sticker price, no real discounts, alloy wheels in Premium only. But the interior is very light and looks greenish, we do NOT like light cloth interiors. 

 

The Hyundai Tucson - great vehicle, alloy wheels, the best dashboard layout, more front seat room, only one light color (silver).  Two other colors were not available for us to see in person. The dark wine I chose came with light interior, and two colors on dashboard and doors.  I love spectator style shoes, but not two tone interiors. 

 

The Escape - bingo.  I bitched about this car for two years and then .... bought it again.  Alloy wheels, black interior, the quietest and smoothest ride of them all, 4 wheel (all wheel) drive, and a color I like with black pinstripe.

As with every purchase whether thousands or a few bucks, I always question my decision.  And I have.  But I'm fine with it.  The redesigned interior now offers several bins for storage which was my main complaint previously.  I so hate big purchase decisions and am very glad it's over.  I spent a month on this and can't believe September is gone! 

 

So what do you think?  One bird or two?

 

Oh - I am able to send mail through gmail now (today anyway), but not roadrunner.  Spectrum (Time Warner) has no solution or reason.

 

Hope your weekend is going well.

 

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Car-less in PA

Hello people!  Been a rough week.  Something I ate declared war on my body which made me Governor of Grouch which outranks Commander of Crab.  Carole finally asked if something was wrong and became the Target of Temper.  Did she deserve it?  Yep. 

 

Going to buy a car this morning and I am at the point that I don't care what it is.  They all have a feature I like, and some that I don't, so what does it matter?  I just wish I didn't eat that entire watermelon half yesterday, because my healing body is making freight train sounds.

 

My emails can be received, but I cannot send or reply.  No way, even with the techs taking over my laptop and working on it.  My server is the problem and there is nothing I can do.  Even if I use a tablet or new laptop, my email addresses cannot be used for sending.  Great.  To those I emailed about purchasing the stitchery, sorry.  They have been sitting in the Outbox and I didn't know it.  Elizabeth, I would be happy for you to have the clothespin bag, but I can't contact you and even if it was working, you're no-reply.  I will keep trying to resolve this. 

 

This is as far as I got on the sampler.  Because I'm working without a chart, I ran a thread down the exact center and am working the bands out from that point so they will be centered.

 

Our leaves are browning and falling without changing to the brilliant golds and reds.  Long time without rain, none on the horizon, so blowing leaves is like working in a dust storm.  Terrible.  And dirty!

 

Have a great weekend folks.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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The skinny mini

It's a start!  But how far will I go?

 

The bird was adapted from a Valentine free from Niky's Creations.  Link below.

http://niky-nikyscreations.blogspot.com/2013/01/valentine-free.html

Thanks for the mascara suggestion for emergency root touch up.  I've tried.  But my industrial strength sweat during a hot flash can disintegrate the waterproof barrier in a second.  I use a tissue to wipe my forehead while pushing my hair back.  The marker holds, mascara smears.  After menopause stole my eyebrows, the waterproof pencils did the same which is why they are now tattooed.  I don't make a habit of this and the marker doesn't touch my scalp.  The only way to grow out the gray is to heavily "frost" my hair and even then it would be very noticeable.  Except for one spot, the back is not gray but the front/top is almost solid.  If I looked good in very short hair, a cut would be best, but I don't, and am very uncomfortable being this tall without some volume on the noggin.

 

Have a good week!!

 

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