Three things

1.  I am sick to my stomach and pained in my heart about the Amazon.

2.  I do not want or need another stray to care for, but this pitiful big boy will not leave.

3.  There is great improvement to my eyes.  The extreme dryness seems to be breaking blood vessels?  I get a bloody bump that feels like a thumb in my eye and then it breaks and there is relief.  Stitching tonight!

And of no importance but I prefer even numbers...
4.  I have been eating way too much chocolate.

 

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A new sampler?

Greetings.  Did you have a great weekend?  Did you have to wear a sweatshirt?  Are you as upset as I am that summer is over?  The shortest one ever!!

 

I had no intention to browse for a new chart, and honestly, don't know where online to view new samplers without spending a great deal of time going through all new releases.  There are many I have missed over the years, and I guess this is one.

Jannet Spiers by NeedleWorkPress.  I happened to peruse Facebook's stitching sites and spotted what I believe is the original piece.  Looking at this photo of the chart is not appealing to my taste.  Seeing that aged original on a beautiful tan linen was a different reaction.  I love it.  I have many R&R charts that are not that eye catching on the chart, but with a different fabric and color scheme, they are.  Weird isn't it?  The design should be what attracts us to a project but sometimes seeing the original or a different linen changes it completely.  For me, anyway.  I may actually order this one. 

Would love to show you the photo I saw but I don't know if we can share posted FB photos.  But after playing with the colors in the photo program, this is similar.

 

This little girl is munching on mushrooms she is harvesting from the yard.  Full of various types and lots of fallen leaves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is what Mark did with the leftover pieces of wood from the cabinet.  Years ago he made a short height footstool for Carole, a boxed style that is more stable than legs. 

Standing too close to the edge will not tip it.  She keeps it by her bed which helps her get in and out much easier, and she also moves it to the tub.  Its 4 1/2" height is just enough for an assist.  She requested this one at 5 1/2" and we added a sturdy handle on the side for easier handling.

 

All that's left is adding the no-slip strips to the top since the wood is smooth and slippery.  It was sealed with a spray of clear enamel. 

 

For Anonymous -the built in cabinet, we sanded lightly (steel wool) after staining and then used Collinite solid paste wax (a car wax found in auto stores) which gives a soft sheen and waterproofing.  It can also be used over acrylic varnish, I'm not a fan of polyurethane which can't be painted over or refinished easily.

 

Painting the powder room tomorrow and waiting for the hinges to arrive.  Tried a new eye drop, I think I've tried every single brand, and it's no different than the others.  Similasan seems to be the easiest to apply and the most soothing.

 

Have a good day to start the last week of summer!

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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A cabinet is born

All that's left is the trim and door.  I can only imagine what this would have looked like if we allowed the stairway carpenter to have at it!!  I decided to use the same iron H hinges that I have on the other cupboards instead of the costly rat tails.  Rather than prime and apply two coats of paint on the interior, staining and waxing was much quicker and will be easier to care for.  For projects that have cut edges of drywall, I always wrap those crumbling edges with masking tape to prevent further dust.   Mark did not agree with the height of the top shelf but I am glad to have the tall space for cleaning supplies.  The narrow shelf for nail polish and smaller items will have a basket to hold them all.

 

The air conditioner has not been on for quite a while and it was so chilly, we had to close the windows.  Damn.  Not happy!!

 

Hope your weekend goes well!!

 

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DIY

So here we go.  We knew there was a double wall with a vent stack, but did not know there were pipes limiting the usable depth.  The cabinet will still be over 6" deep and that's a good size for tissue and cleaning supplies, and 28 bottles of hardened nail polish.

 

Oh how I hate cutting drywall.  That dust goes everywhere!  When I took down the stair wall I made a hole with a hammer and pulled it off in pieces, still a mess, but not as bad as using a saw.  This was necessary in order to have a straight edge and is his preferred method.  Mine is to wait until he's golfing and then go nuts. 

 

 

Since Mark is doing the work (not something he likes) I am not changing the wainscot.  This one has what is called chatter marks where the saw making the grooves creates a rippled cut, not straight and smooth.  Wasn't noticeable until paint was applied and it has always bugged me.  But since this job is now ours, I don't want to push my luck by asking for more changes.  I appreciate that he is willing to do this and will just whine about the chatter until he can't take it any more.  Nah.  Just kidding.

 

 

 

We'll trim it out with a simple flush door and black butterfly or rattail hinges, painted the same Shaded White.  Much lighter than what we have now, but still a good contrast with white walls.

 

Have a great day!!

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Johnny Marzetti

Hi folks.  No stitching to show.  My eyes have been really bad lately and the drops only last for about 10 minutes before more are needed. 

I am viewing Instagram more and more, and enjoy seeing the photos of those participating in #commonthreadedstitcher.  When I saw the ones for chart, thread, and fabric stash, I was floored!  I thought I had quite a few charts and linen yardage but I was WAY wrong.  Way way way.  I've been to stitching shops with less inventory than a few of the stitchers!  Holy cabolie.  Sampler Queen Carol had the most impressive stash, not only for organization but for quantity.  As with FB, I am naïve to the tips and tools, so the more people I choose to follow the more confused I get.  But one day, when the fog lifts and the eyes are clear, when jowls recede and hormones return, when summer is six months and winter is a week, I'll have an epiphany about such sites and may even purchase a phone to participate. 

I wanted to share my sister's most requested meal from the kids and friends.  Many versions of Johnny Marzetti out there, this is hers.

I large onion, chopped fine
2# lean ground  beef
12 oz package of very wide noodles, cooked
3 tsp salt (less if watching)
1/2 tsp ground pepper
1 28 oz. can tomato puree
1 can tomato soup (like Campbell's)
1 16 oz. can tomato sauce
3 Tbs sugar
1/2 cup (more) shredded sharp cheddar

Saute onions, add meat and brown.  Drain if needed.  Add sauce, puree, soup, and seasonings.  Bring to a boil, add cooked noodles, pour into greased casserole dish.  Sprinkle top with the cheese and bake for 35 to 45 minutes at 350.  Can be made a day ahead, just bake a little longer if cold.

Many versions but with some not liking green peppers, or mushrooms, or sausage, or anything else you could add, she keeps it simple and everyone can partake.

A few days of nice weather, still not the heat that some are having, and my crabass claws are starting to emerge.  In a few months, I will be snow crabass.

 

Hope the week is going well!!

 

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One more Sunday to September

Unbelievable.  I can't wait until summer.

 

Been painting and trying to imagine a plan to correct the wonky work, but unless it's all removed, there really isn't anything we can do.

 I wanted to show you the Limelight hydrangea bush, flower heads just as large as last year.  Yep, that's my arm holding it up.  We have the tree version and neither it nor others that I've seen generate the flower size of the bush variety.

The Annabelles are starting to bloom again, mixed in with the large dried blooms in that lovely green.

The trim paint continues to be Dove Wing from BMoore (on left), and rather than put myself through more sample jars and wasted time, decided to use the Shaded White in the powder room.  You can see the difference in the two colors on the strip of the frame where the hinge is attached.  Shaded White is a dirty white, warm grayish Farrow & Ball color mixed by Behr.  I use matte for the walls and Eggshell for the trim.  After two coats the sheen becomes close to satin but not quite as shiny.

 

I'll find something to paint yellow, maybe the wall cabinet in the foyer.  Always loved DT Smith's yellow kitchens and I am set on something in this color with black hinges.

This is such a drastic change after living with the very dark taupe for 25 years, and of course I am having second thoughts, but when the walls are painted with the White Dove, there may be enough contrast.  And if not, too bad.

 

Hope your weekend went well.  Mine was uneventful.  Except for the heartburn after the fried green tomatoes.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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