An easy decision

Hello people.  Welcome to the last Sunday of summer.  September may have warm temps but I don't consider it summer, do you?  I'm taking your advice and looking forward to a new season with less stress instead of whining about what is gone.  No I'm not.   Not yet!  But I plan to.  I think what bothers me most is the uncertainty of next summer.  Will I still be here?  Will my health be in crisis?  Will I be missing another family member?  Am I the only menomorbid that has these thoughts as I pack away summer clothes that I never wore? 

 

After wasting way too much time searching online and elsewhere for boxes to fit 24"-31" long gourds, tall angels with wide twig wingspans, and bean garlands, I've decided to just take them somewhere.  This decision was easy and quick, not something I can usually manage.  The box cost is more than I would get and I have too many other chores right now that need my time.  Bins are filled with wood bowls and stompers of a manageable box size and at a later date I may offer them.   A few stitched pieces and linen are easy to stick in padded envelopes, hopefully very soon. 

 

Upon opening one of the linen drawers I found Ann Greanawalt.  Forgot that I even started her and especially that I'd chosen to stitch only the bottom section with the top border.  All those years of using unbleached linen became a habit, and I do love my older samplers on it, but I am not loving it any more.   Most all of my linen is dark, but I have no intention to purchase what may never be used so a little bleach may be in order.

I love these clear zip envelopes that leave no question as to content, and also found a few smalls in the Magma.  But I still have no desire and must force myself to continue, maybe once that happens it will become enjoyable.  I purchased a lot of these at Staples sale for $2 and use them for storing interfacing and fabrics too.  The small ones hold my little card sized projects and floss threads.

 

Mark is making a few more benches from the old cedar wood and I'm off to wrap Carole's legs since the stockings are causing too much pain.  Doctor visit tomorrow and we will find out if the stomach pain is from the ERCP or another issue.

 

Still baking zucchini breads and this time will try adding apples, raisins, and walnuts with cinnamon.  I've made so many of the chocolate and lemon, passed them out to the nurses and doctors so I need to bake a few for our freezer.

 

Enjoy the last week of August!

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Big boxes and little pies

Greetings to all.  Was your week uneventful?  The older I get, that's what I hope for.  I hope yours could be described as good, at the very least.

 

Where the heck do you find long skinny shipping boxes?  If they are long enough, they are way too large everywhere else.  I made one for the sampler on board I am selling, it wasn't easy, and I don't want to do it again.  But what if I want to mail a few of these?  I am tired of having to explain the gonad gourds to visitors who look at them cautiously as if they are dried bull parts.  Hanging them on my exterior door was causing traffic to slow.

 I think I may ask a few shops if they want to buy the gourds.  I gave the others away last time but paid a decent price for these.  Too bad I don't have any shops close by!

When I pulled out a pie plate to stuff our excess tomatoes (garlic, basil, seasoned bread crumbs, Parmesan, Italian pepper, olive oil),

 

 

 

I found these sweet little Pyrex with the ruffled rim.  They are vintage and perfect for little pies, as long as I don't have to share.  This little 6" plate is one piece for me.  The 7" with handles I may be willing to share.  I missed out on elderberry season this year, my favorite pie.

 

Going out in a little while to ride a cart around 18 holes, searching for husband's flip phone.  Yes, flip phone.  He refuses technology.  On the way home we'll stop for a DQ blizzard for Carole.  Her stomach is so very sore so maybe a frozen treat will help temporarily.

 

Have a great weekend everyone.

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Quick update

After another 10 hour day in a hospital as cold as a meat locker, Mark and I brought Carole home after a successful stent and stone removal.  One.  Where did the second stone go?  Two more days on Augmentin and hopefully by the weekend, she can start getting back on track.  The inflammation and sepsis may be the reason the pancreas is not responding well to meds, but they kept her under 400 for the surgery with insulin.   She is 16# lighter than a week ago so the fluid is leaving and her breathing is improved.  I still need to go over every morning to put her compression stockings on, one more trip to the lab, and one more trip to the doctor.  Lifting that transport chair in and out of the car has not made my shoulder worse at all.  So it seems that all will go well as we head into Fall.  Except for an old gal with a bad haircut and bad attitude that missed August.  She is grateful that the crisis is over, but really ticked off that summer is also.

 

Thanks for all your prayers, well wishes, and support.

 

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Beans

Five years ago I posted my progress on stringing beans to dry for a garland, also called leather britches.  Don't know why.  But they do feel a little like leather, and I am ready to part with them.  One curly string of yellow, one straight yellow, one wonky green.  I can stick them in a large box for postage + $5 if someone wants the primitive strings.  A few may break in the process but they should travel without issue.  But right now, I've only been home from Carole's an hour, and I got a call that the doctor needs to see her NOW because she cannot get her glucose below 400 and finally called to let him know that.  So this afternoon will also be busy, tomorrow again with tests and taking her for a hair washing and cut, Wednesday and after will be more full days.  I may not be back because this is getting to be too much for me, but will answer any emails about the large angel (found another one) and the beans at the end of the week.  Something tells me the doc will be admitting her to the hospital today, which she will resist, but I could be wrong.  Because you have been so caring and concerned, I will update with any news or changes.  Thanks.

 

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The many shades of white

are driving me nuts.  Even though we are putting off the actual painting, I am still contemplating colors.  I'm cautious because the photographs all look wonderful, but they are just that, photographs.  And none of the depicted colors actually look like that in your own home.  I don't want the stark pure white, the bright white, nor do I want the creamy white.  I want dirty dull soft white. After reading several sites about the pitfalls of all white, I learned that using one shade for walls and another for trim is recommended, even if both are too close to tell apart.  The difference by eye is not noticeable, but the effect is.  Moulding and trim work do not disappear into a sea of sameness, even though it is still as white as the walls.  Weird huh?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was surprised that some Farrow & Ball color formulas can be mixed by Behr.  Most of the older colors and my choice of Shaded White were available, a more gray less beige with plenty of contrast for woodwork/trim paired with a soft white.  I haven't seen this shade anywhere, and I've been everywhere!!  One thing for sure, it is not the pinkish cast I see in almost every light beige and tan.  I am still not popping the cork for the look, and will probably use a darker shade of white/beige for the trim.  If our home was full of windows and bright light, yes, but it is not.  My attempt at this look will only be in one small room, the lightest in the house.

 

JL chose the yellow journal set so the stitcheries will be added to the others for sale.  It doesn't bother me at all to let them go.  Even losing some of the larger samplers would not be upsetting.  What's happening?  Of course there are some that I want to keep, and my favorites are still the simple, like Safrona Ager, Lydia Bond, Hannah Breed.  But seeing them grouped on the wall every day is too much.  It's strange.  Have you sold a portion of your needlework?  Did you regret it later?  I really don't feel I would.  More and more is being packed away, a fresh start later sounds like a good idea. 

Carole's fluid is not going down as quickly as we had hoped the new meds would cause, but any tiny reduction is welcome.  She was not gasping for air yesterday, still breathless, but not as severe.   Hopefully a few more days will have her more comfortable for Wednesday's surgery.

Enjoy the new week.  My leaves are already falling.
 

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Saturday draw

Sorry I'm late but you probably didn't even remember the draw was at noon.  At Carole's all morning, slight improvement.  I put her compression stockings on and thank goodness for the latex gloves.  HUGE difference in being able to grab and pull them without pinching.

Anyway, can someone give me a hint about using Random.  After scrambling the names with the List Randomizer, I can't get to the number generator without printing the newly scrambled list.  Is there an easier way?  Email entries brought the total to 52, and this was the number chosen.

 

It belongs to Anonymous JL.  Please email me with your gift choice and address.

Thanks for playing along!!

 

 

 

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