Hiya.

How's it going?  Are you freezing with a white dusting daily?  I am.  And I've become more sullen, nasty, impatient, intolerant, crusty, morose, and all those other adjectives you can find in the online Thesaurus.  Never had this feeling at the holidays before.  On top of that, sadness that our friend Jamie Burch from Cricket Bug Corner blog (and Scott) lost their son last week.

 

A brief recap of recent events.  Carole is sick, being treated, cannot stop coughing.  My brother had the same and is recovering.  My nephew had the same and it's lingering.  He is depressed, has been, and has me worried. 

 

The shelves for the cabinets did not fit and we had to trim each and every board's corner, center front, and center back to fit around the standards (the long metal pieces that hold the brackets).  Took forever.  I will never do custom again.  Why didn't we just complain and demand corrections on everything?  Because Dominic has had a difficult year with his wife's diagnosis and just as important, it is not worth the delays and pickups and chance of it not be corrected.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because of other large excavating jobs and the weather, Jason has not shown.  I had to pay to have the pallet of stones returned because I knew they would be in the way until ?????  So as soon as Mark left for an appointment, I started moving the old flagstones stored beneath a large pine tree.  They are around 40# each.  I balanced myself on slimy mud, bent sideways to get beneath the tree, and tried to yank a stone I did not know was embedded.  It did not move, but my body did in two directions at once with a snapping noise.  Seems the cartilage that attaches your ribs to the sternum can tear.  I am better, but it will take some time to heal.  The damn midriff brace is pushing the fat below my waist instead of up to my chest.  But I'm sure that is not the reason I needed to visit Kohl's with my coupons to purchase a size up again, in jeans. The sixteen foot area will not be filled in anytime soon, or maybe Jason will eventually show and fill it all with pea gravel so we (and guests) have a safe and level step down.

 

A new solid white stray will not leave and really tore up Nit today.  I hope the mobile vet can come next week to check him.  He will not use a litter box and is just as nasty as Missy.  Some ferals just refuse to adjust.

 

Haven't felt like decorating much and with the cold weather, decided to hang a bough on the door and call it a day.  Not even hanging the PS Santas this year, but it wouldn't be Christmas without the boys.

Hope all is well with everyone.

 

Thanks for the visit!

Annual Christmas giftaway coming soon.

 

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Bristle feather style tree

Hi folks. Visited Meander Hill in Austintown Ohio yesterday and as usual, a lovely colonial shop.  In case you are looking for a feather style tree, they do have these and are willing to ship.  A large version is available I believe.  The branches are fairly stiff and can hold your stitched ornaments and glass, not sure about really heavy ones.  This is their Facebook page where you can contact Evan.

 

https://www.facebook.com/meanderhill/

 

 

 

They had another short one that had more stems off the branches rather than singles, really really nice, more expensive.  The photos of that one did not come out!  Stringing lights on this style isn't easy but they are a perfect way to display stitched pieces, plenty of space to hang free.  Same goes for vintage or family glass balls.  They also have the German twig trees in two sizes.

 

Just thought I would mention for those of you that have no access to these sweet primitive trees.

 

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Almost!

The door and windows need painted but without cooperation from the weather, they may have to wait until spring.   I do like the contrast of dark and light which is one reason I wanted the beams for this room.  This light gray which I thought would never work, has turned out to be the perfect color.  Yes, I am amazed.
















Not sure I am loving the black hinges but they will stay.  I've decided against farmhouse style decorations, will stick with primitive/colonial but on a much lighter and more sparse note.

And someone is getting comfortable on these cold and snowy days.

Hope you are!!

I'm still a crabass.

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Another add

to stash I will never stitch.  But maybe, just maybe, I will have enough confidence and patience to pick up Sharon Cohen's designs one day.  I've managed to snag the pockets on Ebay, last month the Tree of Life, and yesterday this beauty.  Tent stitches on 32 count and I may be able to handle that.

 

 

Even if I never stitch them, having them is a good thing.  I'm sure many of you understand wanting to possess special designs that make us smile, even if we only look at the photo!

 

Have a great day.

 

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Interior white is OK

but exterior white makes me snarl.  And it's been off and on along with rain for weeks.  This is the most cold, wet, gloomy, and miserable fall in memory.  Which is short but that's beside the point.  And I am certain that you are bored and annoyed with paint posts, but I search and read blogs about color choices, many have helped me.  So just in case some of you have an undertone phobia as I do, here 'ya go.  Can't believe I found what I feel is exactly what I wanted. 

 

So if you're wondering how I'm liking the white room, here's the scoop.  I had to change the color, just a bit.  The walls of BM White Dove with a reduction in the yellow tint is perfect.  The same color on all trim (which experts advise against) was nice, but looked like the room was primed, not painted.  Maybe it was the soft look (I chose eggshell), or maybe the experts know more than I do, but Mark did not care for it either.  So before the final coat, I got a few samples, one of which looked to have a pink undertone but I was out of options.  Bingo.  Even in this room that always shows a pinkish cast, this color did not. 

 

Classic Gray from BM (mixed by Behr). 

I've seen it on blogs paired with Simply White which is lighter and more yellow than White Dove, and did not want the modern vibe of gray.  But here it is.  It doesn't look gray, it doesn't look beige, it looks like a darker version of the wall.  Very neutral.  Do I see the pink that I saw in the swatch?  No.  Is it a noticeable difference from the wall?  Yes, but not much.  No color really, just a slight difference from the walls, as if a dirty white.  If I didn't remove some of the yellow in the wall paint, I don't think it would have worked.

 

The sash isn't painted yet but as you can see outside, it's snowing.  If it's not snowing, it's raining.  If it's not raining, it's blowing frigid air.  Maybe one day before June I will be able to open and paint it!

 

I'm really glad I used my trick on the hinges.  Just in case they would have to be removed, I did not want them to lift the paint from the cupboard which has happened on other pieces.  I back the hinges with 3M scotch tape and trim excess.  They won't stick into the paint and we had no trouble when removing them, even with fresh paint.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for your help about the DNA kits.  I ordered them for the two people that really want this.  And because of the sale price, ordered an extra that I may take.  Why?  Well, to see why my mother's wedding photos that only my immediate family have, are there and by whom.  Also, there is a village in Switzerland by Italy's border with my father's family name.  I do not plan to be public, nor do I have intentions to contact anyone, and I understand that I can delete my results with this company as long as they were not shared by another member.  If I'm not public, there is no way to be shared.  We'll see.  I've done some research after your emails and comments and found that as time goes on, the location of your heritage can change as more people submit their ... well .. spit.  So it's certainly not written in stone, and although for some it may be very accurate, for others, it's a guess.  Would I have ordered for myself if it wasn't half price?  No.  I only buy on sale or with coupons (thank you Kohl's!).   I have a year to take it, and if I change my mind, I can gift to another.

 

No stitching, no decorating, but heading in the right direction.  This evening I plan to bleach the osnaburg curtains I made since they are so very dark, and then take some time to fringe the edges and hang this week.  Not sure if I will like the look but until I decide on a style to purchase, they're a cheap and easy alternative.

 

Hope your week goes well.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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A question

Hi folks.  Have any of you taken the DNA ancestry test kit?  Two family members want this for Christmas and we were wondering how invasive they are.  To my absolute surprise and dismay, my mother's photos and wedding pictures are on a site that a cousin tried.  No one else in the family has these photos, nor did she, and I am really upset that privacy does not seem to be a concern with these companies.  How the hell did they get photos from over 70 years ago?  They are not on Facebook, Instagram, or any other social media in fact, the cousin did not ever see these photos and wasn't sure who they were.  What the hell?  I need to investigate further through phone calls and whatever I need to do to find out where they get permission to use, and sources to find, such personal items.  I am really ticked. 

My nephew is adopted and has never desired a search for biologic parents.  When his son does this test, they will obviously be listed.  You don't have to contact others, but we understand that once you submit your sample you will become part of the database and your information will be out there for contact from others (that you may not want to hear from).

 

If you submitted your DNA, would you mind sharing the experience and what was available to you from which company?  I would appreciate any input.  Thanks.

 

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