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Hi folks.  One week gone in August already.  Hard to believe, tough to swallow. 

 

This Ann Hicks sampler is the first in memory, maybe the first ever, that I have stitched from a magazine.  The closest I've been is the very large fold out page from Scarlet Letter's big girls.  Stitching fully across starting at top left is my way, right wrong or indifferent.  Sometimes the border would be completed across top and left side as a way to keep an eye on errant stitches.  How many times I have changed the body to align with the border, only to realize later that the border had the error.  Obviously, not a good method.  This project is eight pages and I will complete one before moving on.  My habit is hard to break and I did extend the top area into the next page, and may do that again just to complete a motif or color.  Maybe it won't be as daunting as seeing the entire project at one time.  Another first, the majority of Ann is motif, not my usual alphabet or verse.  I'm sure the majority of you work page by page, but I'm wondering if there are any rebels out there that can't break their routine pattern of stitching?

 

Back on my feet, I worked a little last night and am starting the house.  Yay!  Why do we all love those houses?  Am I tempted to change its color?  You bet, but I won't.  Damn.  I'm growing up!   I found a few minor errors in the chart so far.  The large star in the top center looks light in the magazine photo but the chart says dark plum.  I like the plum! 

 

 

This is for Vickie's Emerson, a finish carpenter who knows why levels are important, unlike the carpenter who turned a very short staircase into a fun house.  I guess if you have continual vertigo, you're not sure if it's your eyes or the walls that are leaning!  Any carpenter knows, starting with a unlevel surface makes everything done after, crooked as well.  This beam is close to 2" wider at the bottom.  Mark wants to tear it off and start over and I told him it's not that important.  Once it's painted, it may not be noticeable.  If it is, I'll hang a candle sconce or slim basket on it!

 

It's been a long long while since I've felt like stitching a large sampler.  Hope it continues.  This may end up being in my top ten list of favorites.

Have a great day!!

 

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Morning spin

Yep.  Vertigo again, not too bad though.  Preventing me from stitching, very little progress the other day.  I really want to get back to this sampler.  Just love it!

 

 

 

After heavy downpours last night, this morning is again cool, I love the sun on greens.  Ferns are doing very well.

 

The garden is not.  A few tomatoes but most have the fungal wilt.  Slugs took down the brussel sprouts, the zucchini rot as they develop, the sugar snaps are yellow, very few peppers.  After the June flooding and rains, not enough time for recovery.  Just like dealing with tint in paint, you can always add, but can't take it away.  That's the story of the garden's water. 

 

Speaking of paint, it would be best for me to stay off Pinterest.  Rooms and sites that changed to a white scheme and inspired me to switch to a clean look, are adding color.  Silly people.  Don't they know how vulnerable I am?

 

Enjoy your day.  I'll be sleeping off the Meclizine.

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Things

Just a few.  Not really.  the I was browsing Pinterest and happened to see my old photo of the tub I hung from a hook years ago.  Must have been a good idea since LTD Commodities and several others are now selling a hook with a galvanized tub!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were several others that have a stronger and nicer hook, but you get the idea.

 

That may have been a good idea but what I did before leaving for Cleveland, was not!  I wanted to update my Garmin GPS, not for directions, just to tick off that evil witch inside when I refuse to turn left.  What else would you call someone who tells you to turn when doing so would require crashing through concrete barriers into oncoming traffic? 

 

Garmin's website looked exactly the same as it always does.  So I clicked on the update option and your name, email, phone number, and GPS model were to be entered.  I did.  The phone rings and it's Garmin from India.  (A sure sign that it's customer service.)  In order to download the 40 minutes of new maps, remote access is required.  I didn't think twice since my laptop manufacturer has done that several times for repairs.  I followed the instructions but my GPS would not connect to the laptop, he showed me thousands of entries from trojans and malware and said they were the cause.  So he downloaded a program and removed them, my GPS connected, and the maps were downloading.  If I wanted to keep my computer free of trojans I could purchase a security program from him.  Hmmm.  That's odd.  It wasn't until two days later that I called Garmin and found that their website is regularly copied by scammers.  I gave them the phone numbers I was given to purchase and other info, removed anything new in my program listing, and changed my password.  Too late though.  I don't keep any important info, no phone link, and I don't see any problems.  Usually they infect you and then charge a huge amount for removal but I think this guy just wanted to sell a fake program or get my card number.  Lesson learned. 

 

When I took the flowers and medications to Carole's yesterday, the rep from LifeVest was there.  The large wound she has under her breast, (there was blood on the vest), was because of what we suspected.  The first rep knew nothing.  The fit was FOUR inches too large and those metal packs and electrodes were moving constantly, wearing off her skin and setting off the alarms.  Carole told her it felt too loose but it made no matter.  She also never showed her the proper way to wear the control unit so it doesn't injure your skin, another wound on her shoulder.  Yet this incompetent employee suffers no consequences and keeps her job which seems to be the norm these days.

 

And speaking of incompetence, check out the work by the new carpenter we hired.  The drywall I tore off a few weeks ago was the short wall that confined the stairs.  We hired him to install hew railing and trim.  The long board against the wall is cut 2.75" at the top, and tapers to 2" in the center, goes back to 2.75" at the bottom.   WTH??  The wall is perfectly level and we will have to remove the board and replace it with one that is cut properly.  How hard is it to keep 2.75 the entire way when using a fence on the table saw?  He used our equipment, we know the fence is spot on.  I did not ask to see his level or his square because he was recommended, but I don't believe he owns either.

 

 

 

Not only could he not calculate the correct distance between balusters, the wide board trim beneath is not cut straight at the top edge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He obviously cut short and then pieced.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And did not know how to fit with a mitered edge, so he stuck a piece on.

 

Mike (my other guy that couldn't work because of PTSD) called me for work and stopped at the house.  He is a different man.  Never mentioned the PTSD which he did every 15 minutes before, laughing, joking, bought a new $75000 truck, all after receiving his full disability approval for over $3000 a month (we did not need to hear his finances).  Remarkable recovery.  Jason knows Mike and was here at the same time, said his dad was asked to join this group of five men but refused to go along.  Ah yes, Jason the gorgeous was here too and is coming back.  Mike and Jason are two that actually know their craft, and Mike will re-do the stair railing for me.

 

Well that was long wasn't it??? 

 

Beautiful day once again, cool mornings and nights, it's coming.  NOOOO!!!!

 

Have a great start to your week.

 

Thanks again for your prayers!!  And for the visit.

 

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What a difference

a doc makes.  Cleveland Clinic is incomparable when it comes to heart treatments and I'm sure many other ailments and diseases.  We are home.  Our visit was not what was expected after the local doctor visit recommended immediate surgery.  We were packed for a stay, prepared for such.  Dr. Estep, head of the Heart Failure Center, was wonderful.  His approach is medication first to treat symptoms and strengthen the heart, then defibrillator, then mitral clip through a catherization, not open heart.  We will return in 5 weeks for more testing and reevaluation and if her condition at that time is what he expects, will proceed to the clip from there.  The visit's added bonus was meeting an elderly man doing extremely well after a heart transplant. 

 

The LifeVest is cumbersome, the monitor to wear is heavy, and she was not fitted properly.  Cleveland called to check on her today and after hearing of the problems (it rubbed her skin off, alarms are constant, she cannot get any rest) advised her to remove it.  Developing an infection from the wound in her heart's weakened state is more serious and he does not want her under the stress it is causing.  She is not permitted to use any antibiotic cream or powder, it would interfere with the electrodes.   A tech from the company is coming out to check the fit and that may help, but not until the wound heals.

 

Picking up her new meds this evening along with a pink hanging basket (she killed the other two) and a DD iced coffee for us both.  Sunday will be a day of rest and gratitude.  And STITCHING!!!  I really feel the need to work on Ann, and I've also got it in my head (after a reader's email) to stitch Anna Eliza Abe again (Threads of Gold).  This time, higher count linen, lighter shade, and a different color for the house.   Anna was my choice to accompany me to Cleveland for the stay, and maybe I should save her until then.

 

Thank you so much for the prayers and well wishes.  It means so much to me.

 

Have a wonderful weekend. 

It's fricking August.

 

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Hiya

I'll be gone for a while.  We start in Cleveland August 1.  They wanted her tomorrow but for several reasons, she requested a few more days.  Her doc told me to kiss my summer goodbye.  Last year it was the month of August with her sepsis and gall bladder surgery.  I have no idea when the surgery will be, they are trying to work out a plan since she is high risk, but her heart is critical right now and they need to work fast.  The doctor in charge is the head of the Heart Failure Center.  It's still shocking that you can be in such a dire situation when your cardio exam went so well, and you had all testing done last year at this time.  Whatever.  I just hope they can correct or at least help her, and quickly.

 

I will let you know the outcome once it's over and we are back home.  I am not driving, nor could I.  Mark got lost twice on the way home and we never know if a test result will require an admittance or return the next day so we have a driver lined up also.  He can't stay in Cleveland with me because no one can take care of the wild brats.  I don't want them left outside day and night and they won't allow anyone near enough to coax them in at night or to feed them.  The raccoons will take their food if left outside.  They refuse to use the litter box, locking them inside is impossible, and the garage is terribly hot.  Chris saw the new doctor (who is only staying three months) to find out his new pump is not working properly, hence the continual emergencies, so Mark needs to be close and get to him if he fails to answer the phone.  There is never an easy solution is there?

 

Say a prayer if you are so inclined that this will end in a good result for her.

 

Thank you.  Take care.

 

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One more and the last one

with binder holes.  Stoney Creek's The Lord's Prayer.

 

This is mine, lovely border and dove, the prayer is backstitched.  Some metallic thread is used but you can change that.  My dove is white metallic and the crowns, wheat, lions and a few letters are gold.   I recently saw this completed on FB, beautiful piece.

 

Here are the holes and there are also markings, and I colored in some of the symbols.  If interested, email me.  It looks like I changed the top butterflies beneath the sheep to hearts. 

 

samplersandsantas@gmail.com

 

 

I will be working on Ann tonight, but I've chosen two small projects to work on when I'm staying at Cleveland Clinic with Carole.  After a great exam and good numbers, her echo showed otherwise.  I always go to her appointments but the last one was excellent and this was just a follow up for results with the nurse that I did not attend.  Needless to say, she is in shock.  They are fitting her with a life vest Monday and rather than screw around with the yokals, she is going right back to Cleveland for another valve surgery and pacemaker change.  We will know when next week.  I wish there was a way to get to the clinic without that multi lane drag race route that I cannot handle.

 

 

 

 

The heat is returning for a few days and the brats are already enjoying it.  And a little tip if you plan to paint outdoor furniture.... black heats up like a toaster and will fry your butt in seconds.

 

Have a good weekend.

 

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