With two cats in the box

See the nicely padded large cuddly empty soft hut?   See the brats trying to squeeze into one box?  Looks like Missy is left out.

She eventually got in and a quick smackdown took place.  They all got a little catnip and as I was crushing it in my fingers to sprinkle, they almost took my hand off.  After some tail chasing and carpet rolling and water spillage, Nit proceeded to harass Missy.  He gets aggressive when the buzz wears off. 

 

Don't we all.

 

*******************

Is it Friday yet?

No you dipstick, it's Sunday!  And I apologize for forgetting to post the Christmas Giftaway.  So here's the offer.  $30 gift card at 123Stitch, open to all.  You can get the 2019 Book of Days or anything you want.  I hope it's something you love!  Please leave your entry in the comments with initials since there are several Debs and Marys, your email if you want, or make sure to check the post on Wednesday the 19th at 8pm EST to see if you won.  If you're no-reply and didn't offer your email, you have until Friday the 21st at 8pm to contact me, otherwise, another name will be drawn.  And of course you may email me directly with your entry.

Just click samplersandsantas@gmail.com

 

 

 

Carole received her wallet in the mail, no money of course.  But she doesn't have to go through getting her driver license and store cards replaced.  We know it was his girlfriend, found out other things are missing, but trying to get someone that deeply cares about her to believe it is difficult.  We can offer her help, but if she is in denial we are wasting our time.

 

If you are looking for another organization to donate to this season, check this site.  Found them a week ago, new to me.

https://www.lukeswings.org/about/

 

******************

Liquid?

 

I  think not.  After not being used for several months, this is what happened to the tightly closed bottle of Liquid Stitch.

 

I will be using Aleene's Tacky from now on.

 

And this is what Woody Woodf***er is doing to my house.  Again.  We filled and sealed all the other holes before staining and thought we were in the clear.  This time, it's the little Downy.  Regardless of Flicker or any type of pecker, they are classed as migratory and are protected.  I've called the PA Game Commission about poachers, hunters too close, bait piles under tree stands, hunters on posted property, hunting after dark, and I was totally ignored.  But if we harmed a feather on this little guy, I'm sure they would show up. 

 

Maybe I can grab him with a net from the second story window and buy a bird cage.

 

And yes, that is blue sky!  Can't believe it, but it's a beautiful day of sun and a little warmth, unfortunately, Jason is not here again.

 

Even more frustrating, my nephew's girlfriend was the only one in my sister's house yesterday, and her wallet is gone.  I gave Carole several hundred for food and gifts and she had planned to go out today since she is starting to feel better.  Gone now.  After months of seeing things that raised my suspicion, I am now convinced she is on drugs.  She stopped her one and only credit card, the cash is gone, so no shopping now for anything and the new card will be here in 6 days.  License and all other store cards need to be replaced and she is furious, although my too trusting nephew is finding it hard to believe.  She of course is denying it. 

 

**********************

Outside

Still simple.  Still fresh.  Instead of my usual bough, I wanted to use my HUGE basket.  I sprayed it a few years ago with a protective finish when I copied a Pinterest photo .  Still one of my favorite Christmas doors.

With the newly stained house, everything is very dark and the dark blue basket is hardly noticeable so I opted for the bough.  Until …. I thought of a way to add a bit of red for attention.

 I purchased red burlap ribbon and tied it around the basket.  Also used a very cheap craft store basket (I sprayed dark blue) and did the same to our main entry. 

Since I paid a fortune for the new door and it is not glossy paint, I did not want to add a hole for hanging and have the greens scratch the flat paint.  So I used one of Mark's two way hooks to hang it from the light.  I'm more than satisfied.  Who would have thought?  Your eye is drawn to the two spots of red in all the darkness.

I will offer the Christmas giftaway Friday, probably a gift certificate as before so anyone can enter without me worrying about shipping international.

Split pea soup with smoked ham hock in the instant pot tonight.

Later, stitching buds!

****************

Just a little more

After going through a large bin filled with stitched Santas, I chose a few of my favorites to hang.  I forgot all about these Koguts.  First year the Schoolers are benched, but I didn't bring all of my trees down from the attic so there really isn't anywhere to hang them all.

Wonder how long they will stay there.  Maybe they will move to the iron hooks on the doors and Postman will grace this wall.  That's a good idea.  Hanging on doorknobs are the stitched gifts I've received from generous readers.  So what will I offer this year?  I'm thinking of the 2019 Book of Days from NeedleworkPress.  I've never seen one and haven't found much online other than it being a datebook sort of calendar.  Are there little articles, stories, sampler photos?  I guess I need to order one to find out.

 

Have a good Monday.

 

******************

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.

 

***************************