Got milk?

I came across this photo again, have always loved this room and the paint color.  Every time I see a colonial color on the paneling and trim I change my mind.  Dan's Saltbox Bliss featured darker red and green and I had to turn away!!  Will I ever stop questioning paint decisions?  Too many great colors in too many colonial settings on too many Pinterest visits. 

 

 

I tried the galvanized dining chairs that I was considering, found a set with thick wooden seats.  Unfortunately, those seats were no where near the size needed for my "seat".  The wood is very flat and not very comfortable at all.  And they are not galvanized, just painted metal.  I still think they would look great with a primitive wood table.

 

 

 

More bad news for the area. 

Our local milk processor that has been in business for decades is ending all milk contracts with area farmers, many of them fifth generation.  Sixteen dairy farms in western PA will have no where to sell their raw milk for processing and may be foreclosed or sold to developers.  They had little notice for this news.  In total, the plant is dropping more than 100 dairy farmers in eight states.  Contributing to this situation is the fact that Walmart is opening a 25,000 square foot milk processing center that will use dairy farms located within 200 miles of the Indiana plant.  Another location is pending in Ohio.  Our dairy plant sold to Walmart and many other grocers, some with store labels.  The article mentioned that farmers were paid $25 per 100# in 2015 and today that price has dropped to $13.80.  I hope there is something that can be worked out for these farms.  Some people want to rid the world of animal products. There will always be dairy and meat in stores so the only and crucial option is demanding humane treatment regulations and inspections.  Many people cannot afford the nut milks for their kids and except for sweetener and flavoring, don't like the taste.

 

Tomorrow is final day of installing a tiny vanity/sink and the washable cut-to-fit full bath carpet.  You have no idea how my brother drives us crazy with phone calls about the tiniest details over and over.  Thank goodness it will end tomorrow and he has no plans to start another project.  I'm taking my camera for a few shots of his arrowheads and oil lamps to share with you.  I know nothing about early glass and can't tell one from another, but a few are very interesting.

 

Carole is sick again, not real bad, but the codeine for the horrible cough gives her very strange dreams.  Mark and I found a new Chiropractor finally (ours retired) and I will see her Wednesday.

 

Hope all is well with everyone.  No more sad and bad posts, I'm done.   

 

Hope your days are swell. Thanks for visiting.

 

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Does blood really boil?

Some days are sad, some are maddening.  I did not Google about boiling blood and have no intention to do so, but can say that mine feels that way.

The sad is the anniversary of my Dad's unnecessary suffering and death.  We also learned that another female cousin of mine, also in her 60's, has been diagnosed with Alzheimers.  To talk to her you would not truly notice anything, just as the dementia of my 92 year old aunt is hidden.  Why?  Because unless you know their lives intimately, you do not realize what they are saying is not correct.  If I did not know that the housekeeper I sent to her to help with spring cleaning was there two weeks ago and won't return until month's end, I would think nothing of her telling me that she just left her house and is coming back tomorrow.  It's sometimes difficult to notice when a friend or relative is out of touch with reality, unless as I said, you know the facts.  To that point, I am getting concerned for myself.  Really.

As for the boiling blood, another infant was allowed to be beaten by a father/boyfriend, 22 rib fractures, broken femur, collarbone, at 4 months of age.  It seems every story I read involves an idiot mother who allows a man to beat and abuse their infants and children because having a man is more important.  This happened last September and she is finally charged.  She failed to get medical attention for the baby's pain and suffering and allowed the abuse to continue. I've had a few broken ribs and can't imagine the pain this child endured. I know it's considered barbaric, but I would like every abusive non-nurturing unsafe selfish irresponsible idiotic excuse for a mother sterilized.  Really. The numbers are staggering as is the abuse and death by the boyfriend while mom sits by.  The punishment for the mother's apathy in most of these cases is lenient.

The other boil is an 81 year old veteran that allowed a caregiver to move into his home with her family.  The place is now "every inch of cabinet cupboard floor wall window is covered with filth and is sticky" with garbage piled high, now condemned, unable to sell.  She somehow gained power of attorney, dropped him off at an assisted living facility, never paid his bill there, he gets evicted.  She takes him to an apartment with only his recliner and small tv, leaves a jar of peanut butter, bread, milk and cereal.  She has control of $5000 a month in pensions and spends it all.  He loses both cars, house, all possessions, lived in the same socks for three weeks since he had no others.  He and his little dogs had no food for a week before the manager happened to realize what was going on and brought food for him, called the police.  He also had open heart surgery and diabetes but she never took him for any appointments including surgical follow-up since leaving the hospital and his health has deteriorated drastically.  He has one stepdaughter but was not allowed to use the phone in his house, and never had another.  He had no money at all, no checking, no cards, no cash, and no medication.  Here's the boiling part.  No charges will be filed.  He is allowed to sue her in civil court for the thousands she stole and all the thousands he owes to the places she dumped him.  She stole from him.  She did not provide the care she was paid for, failed the responsibility of her deceitful power of attorney to handle his bills, left him to starve, failed to provide medical care.  But after all, this piece of garbage may have done a bad thing but hey, it's a gray area.  Since when is stealing and elder abuse not a crime?  Spitting nails right now.  Good thing the cats and husband aren't in range.

Sorry for the rant.  Just tired of the vulnerable and weak being used and abused while our system is more concerned for others.  Quit making excuses for these people.  We're all supposed to have rights but I guess that depends on who gets the most sympathy from our perverted system.   I think I need to look more closely at the judges on the ballot.

 

Again, sorry.  And if anyone is interested I'm using an 8d finishing nail.  The head on the common nail can chip a tooth.

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For Karin

Karin - you're no-reply with no email in your profile so I can't contact you.  I left a message for you in a prior post that the top photo is from Yellow House Sampler (Sheepish Designs).  I'm assuming that's the cover photo you're referring to, if not, please use the link at the top right to contact me so I can reply. 

 

There is also another Yellow House Sampler from Praiseworthy Stitches.  Didn't know this! Oh the trouble I would get into with this border.  I love elaborate outlines but detest stitching them.

 

 

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Got my 40's in a row

Hi everyone.  How's your week going?  Already a week gone in March!  Time sure flies when we have deadlines doesn't it?

 

I finished the last three projects, not as I had planned, but nevertheless, finished.  All were done on 40 count which I never ever expected to work on.

 

 

The largest is Merry Wind Farms' Ellen Ford, the next is The Next Step sampler from Needle's Prayse, and of course, my fourth Chums (Tokens of Affection) from Pineberry Lane.

 

Finishing went well, no sewing machine out the window or bobbins thrown, but no pouch.  The small pillow with dark green print backing really pops wherever I set it.

Chums will be sent to a friend and the tiny sampler will rest in the lamp.

 

 

 

 If you throw a party, invite all your friends,

 and dance like no one is watching.

 

 

Enjoy what's left of the week.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Could not wait

until I search forever to find an online shop that would have the new sampler labels.  Nicola was so sweet to post videos of Nashville giving us a glimpse of the goodies.  Well, there they were from Needle Work Press.  Tiny 2" sticky labels of samplers.  Where will I find them?  And do you think if I would that they would have any left?  Raise your hand if you think I have the patience to wait.  I have no idea what I would use them on since my friends have no interest in stitchery.  But I wanted a few.  I'm not doing boxes but I have a LOT of journals that were to be labeled so I did not remove my printing files.  Several were already sized for squares from the 3 set measures I was selling so what the heck? 

 

So now I have a few and that's probably all I would need.  If and until I locate them, these will suffice.  NWP sweet spiral notebooks were not offered by any online shop I checked the past years, so I made those for myself too.  Now I have too many!  I see from the video that they are still available for shops.  NWP has really nice offerings don't they?

 

 

My old printer only jammed once which was a good thing because I only had two sheets to use.

 

 

 

Mark made a face I had not seen in quite some time after I announced that the new windows will be painted.  The dark bronze is a reddish brown and that never sits well with me.  I want it all one color, flat, no shine, and there is no way I will try to match the vast siding to a small outline of glass.  They will be painted to match the siding.  We are using solid stain on the weathered cedar and the color sample books have 1/2" x 1/2" swatches.  Are you kidding me?  You get a 4" swatch for an interior wall and a 1/2" piece for something as large as a house.  Any color can be mixed (which never comes out as expected) but I wanted to use their formulated colors. 

 

We finished the legs on the dishwasher and the siding contractor said he will help with the crown moulding.  I don't want the typical (of course) so that needs to be drawn up soon.  In case you aren't tired of the damn dishwasher, here it is completed with the leg skirt.

 

 Now I'm done.

 

Hope your weekend went well.

Thanks for visiting.

 

Before touching her...... and after.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Dry your berries and beans

First off, my tiny modified finish on 40 count.   The chart was kindly sent to me and I in turn have sent it to another stitcher.

And since there is not another project in my immediate future, posts will be about brats, birds, house projects, and today .... berries and beans.

 

It started with my bean salad (recipe here) getting watered down from wet beans.  So I tried drying them (and the other ingredients) on a towel to absorb any water before assembling and it helped to remove the excess moisture.  Since then I went a bit further which dried beans and berries quickly and easily.

 

After washing, lay the items on an absorbent towel.  I know some people use fruit as it comes, but I always use a tiny drop of Dawn in a bowl of water and swish all fruits and veggies well before a good rinsing.  It removes the waxy coating that keeps them fresher so I wait until it's time for use.  I rinse canned beans with plain water to remove the salted brine and preservatives.  Not necessary but I like a clean shiny bean!

 

Fold each side in, overlapping into thirds so no one can escape, and then fold the ends.

 

 Holding the end folds, slide the towel left to right several times so the items roll as they dry off, flip the towel over and do the same.

Now pick up the towel and release the fold on one end as they roll out into a container or bowl.

 

Unharmed and dry, they stay nice for a long period, and don't water down recipes.  I prefer washing a pint at a time so they're ready to grab for a snack. 

 

 

I make a garbanzo bean salad with diced red onion and red pepper very often and use this method on all ingredients to prevent diluting the dressing.  Works like a charm and also gets rid of the loose skins on those wonderful little banzo balls. 
Perfect method to dry the washed grapes for this salad.   For small servings I don't bother with the recipe.  Oikos Triple Zero Vanilla yogurt with a heaping scoop of brown sugar and chopped nuts works just fine.  You only need a few spoons to make this yummy treat and it's just as good as the original.  I've tried other yogurts including the regular Greek vanilla but they don't work as well.

 

And that's the information I'm sharing today, stuff you already know, have already made, already tasted.  But it's all good. 

 

(Karin, if you are referring to the top photo, it's from Yellow House Sampler by Sheepish Designs.)

 

I hope your weekend goes well.  We were planning on replacing a vanity at my brother's this weekend but with all the heavy rain, his basement is flooding so that takes priority.  I'm trying to choose a solid stain color for our siding, must be very dark brown if I want to keep the monotone scheme, but I sure do hate to see that weathered look covered. 

 

Thanks for visiting!  Stay safe.

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