Pears to poke

Hey.  Thanks for the permission to use the stall.  I was scolded several years ago by a department store employee and also read in a local newspaper how rude it is to take advantage of aids for others.  I asked the employee if she noticed the SUV loaded with young girls that used the parking space so they wouldn't have to walk in the rain.  No answer.  I should have told her that she could come into the stall with me and lift me off next time.  I totally agree that if it is not being used, why waste a good set of bars?

 

Look what I found in a set of boxes collecting dust.  Pears are on sale at the market, why waste a good amount of cloves?  It takes at least one bottle of cloves per pear because I only use those with buds and half the jars are usually just stems.  A warm day today and outside is a perfect place to make the juicy mess.  I have bags of grapefruits and oranges that I can no longer eat because citrus burns my dry tongue, so more drying will happen either intentionally and accidentally.

 

 

Hoping to re-pot the ferns today too.

 

If you've noticed the header photo, you know what my special gift was.  And there would be no doubt who the needleworker and artist that created it is.  A few more pics.

 

 

Wool thread is just amazing in the texture and look of a project.  I remember the Paternayan yarn that lined the wall of my old needlepoint shop and I wonder where it all went after the doors closed. 

 

If you want to revisit the posts of Ann's work, each link will open in a new window so you can return to choose another.

https://samplers-and-santas.blogspot.com/2014/01/anns-wallets.html

 

https://samplers-and-santas.blogspot.com/2017/08/wallet-basics-101.html

 

https://samplers-and-santas.blogspot.com/2017/08/wallets.html

 

https://samplers-and-santas.blogspot.com/2017/08/wallets-part-2.html

 

Have a great day!!

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Question of the day

When you can't get up from the low commodes in public restrooms, and the round tissue holder offers nothing to grab, is it OK to use the handicap stall?  

 

I've knocked over a tall rack of shoes while trying to fit into a pair and hopping on one foot.  I've caused a commotion in Kohls dressing room, choked by my scarf caught on my half removed jacket that restrained my arms during a hot flash.  I've exposed my big girl white panties in Macy's after a fall in a dressing room with a short door next to the Karen Scott racks.  I walked into a mannequin that JCP perched in the middle of a wide aisle.  She lost an arm.  In every case, the racket from my falls drew attention.  Well, the hundreds of flying shoes and arm did too.

Not sure I want to take the chance of a 4 roll dispenser that can't hold my weight being ripped off the stall divider sending me crashing into (or through) the stall's door with my pants down.  I think that may be what happened to the poor soul that was in this one.  So can I please use the handicap stall?

 

 

Tests are back.  The last one to come in was really bad, the others were OK.  Two were bad, one very bad, eight normal.  I guess that's better than bad news on all!!  But am I mopey?  You bet.

 

If you're looking for ferns, Home Depot has a sale for $10, and our Lowe's has them for $8 this week.  A little smashed, to be expected, but good sized and healthy.

 

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Well,

that didn't work.  I decided to abbreviate the design as I so often do to suit my ability or taste, which would make this easier to do over one.  Finished size on 28 would be 3.25" x 4.75". But I wasn't able to get a rhythm going and couldn't keep the blurriness from causing error after error.  The magnifiers work very well but the dryness causes the blur.  Over two would be much easier for me but I am still imagining this over one and very small.  I adore the bright blue dresses and vibrant red of this sweet design and if over one never comes, I will try over two on forty.  Until that time, I need to choose another project.  The gang of four I chose are all big girls.  BIG girls.  We'll see!   

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Another Tweet

Greetings to all this last weekend of April.  Everyone seems anxious to chose their flowers and I can't believe our greenhouses are already loaded and have been for over a week.  But I guess there are always large baskets offered for Mother's Day which is coming up soon.

 

I had a little setback with the progress of my eye condition.  The Xiidra is not covered so I had to switch to Restasis.  The pharmacist looked it up and saw the same thing that I did, "temporary" burning which I assume is when applied, not for five hours after.  I made another appointment and discontinued the drops before I burn the color off my eyeballs.  So I used 3.5 mags and moved my light lower, it worked for short periods at a time.  What did I stitch?  Another little bird because I just love these Tweets.  Never did care for mauvey colors so I changed to blue.

 

But I kept going over the video and felt I was missing something and I was.  A sampler chart.  Starting such a small was a good test so I feel I can proceed now. 

 

Another project I was considering is Merry Wind's Girls in Blue Dresses.  Buckeye Scarlet thread so I know those reds will be divine.

 

I actually measured and considered over one on 30 count.  Again, that video.  Her over one samplers were just stunning and I thought this design would not be as tedious as the constant letters of a sampler.  I was helped with tips from many of you and think I can handle it.  I won't know for sure until I start. 

 

Hope to choose a project within a few days but that depends on a few factors.  My first three test results from the specialist last week were not good.  The medication he has suggested causes dizziness and headaches, but we have to wait for the other reports next week.  I'm hoping they will be better than the first or I will be a mopey crabass again.  I have no patience when seeing clearly and in a good mood, let alone upset and blurry.  Best to hide the matches.

 

So that's it.  Sun is out today after almost 24 hours of downpours.  More days of rain in the forecast.  Spring and fall are always the seasons of mud.

 

Have a good weekend folks.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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The stitch itch

Haven't had it for quite some time.  I came close.  Handled the linen.  Played with thread.  Rearranged my needles.  Organized charts.  Aaaaaaalmost there.  Then I couldn't see clearly.  Light sources would make me squint or close completely.  And then ….. medication set my eyeballs on fire.  But after it stopped, they stayed open most of the day.  Similasan and Refresh Repair drops were the ones out of fifteen that soothed.  As long as the lamp is over the work and not over my shoulder, I don't squint as much.

 

And then there was a visit with Valerie and Kay in the barn.  https://youtu.be/Iq_fsQ6wUSc or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq_fsQ6wUSc

I am still amazed at the large projects she has stitched over one thread.  They are remarkable.  And almost all on lighter linen which I never used.  Her colonial decorating makes them all the more appealing.  And my itch became more intense.  She mentioned her Dazor lamp, the circline model that I have.  I did not know you can add another lens for additional magnification, and the arm is positioned above your work which I can handle.  I have the huge heavy base but the arm can be removed and attached to a table.  Time to get it out of the closet.

 

And then, yesterday, I received a package from a friend I've never met in person.  As I opened the box and saw the size of the item, it appeared to be a Cadbury or Moser Ross chocolate.  I unrolled the tissue, my jaw dropped.  I can't tell you how much gel I needed to rehydrate my mouth because it just would not shut.  I have never received a gift that was so much a part of the person that bestowed it.  The expertise, the time, the materials, the finishing, I just can't explain how it has touched me.  And of course I can't cry, I have no tears!  But I have my drops that will soothe the pain so I allowed myself the emotion, while hosing the eyeballs down with the dropper.  After the shock wore off, I washed my hands and carefully held it, felt it, and studied it.  I did that again this morning and will do it several more times today.  The stitches, the history, the maker, the gesture …..  the itch was in need of hydrocortisone. 

 

So today, I am yanking linen.  I don't know what it will be.  I don't care if I want to keep it for display.  I don't care if it's large or small.  I just need to do it.  In between squirting my drops and gels while dodging the light.

 

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Donuts

Hope your Easter was a wonderful day.

I received a few emails claiming the donut hole has closed and my insurance can not continue to penalize me.  Unfortunately, the donut hole is not gone.  By "closing" they mean it's getting smaller, not eliminated. 

The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 also made some changes.  This graph shows the current donut hole and the final phase in 2020.  And it was not started with the ACA.  Can't believe everything you read online!  Hope this explains it better than I did.

I found I can go through GoodRx and get my $795 (270 pills for 90 days) generic Cevilemine not covered in my plan for less than $300.  This works for generic but brand name drugs are not discounted as deeply.  This is not a manufacturer discount and there is no denial for Medicare members, local participating pharmacies are listed.  It's worth entering your higher priced generics into their website to see if you can save. 

 

That's it.  I'm done.

 

Dinner went well.  Mark's garlic breaded chicken is everyone's favorite and he used the Chick-Fil-A secret of marinating the breasts in pickle juice making them very tender and juicy.  Some recipes don't rinse off the marinade but we do.  After pie, I had to take Carole to Urgent Care since she injured her rib area from an extended reach the day before.  She tore cartilage or pulled a muscle and after seeing the doctor, we spent an hour in the parking lot of Rite Aid waiting for the script to be filled.  It's always something.

 

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