Smoking

I used to!  A lot.  Being the only female in the all male accounting department back in the early 70's, I decided to start swearing like a fiend and smoking like a chimney to fit in.  That continued until 20 or so years ago.  Well, not the swearing.  As long as I stay calm and dry, we're OK.  Unless I am bewildered, astonished, surprised, shocked, inept, run into a mannequin, bang into a pole that should not be there, tip over a display, or any number of things.  Then all bets are off.  Hypnosis liberated me from cigarettes, not sure it would help with the mouth problem.  It's not difficult to restrict my vocabulary in front of family because most visits are pleasant and do not trigger the tongue.  I never used profanity around my parents and was uncomfortable if a movie we were watching contained that fricking word.  In private, at home, let it fly.  But restaurants and stores are not the place.  Unless you run into a mannequin, bang into a pole that shouldn't be there, tip over a display.

The smoking today is widespread.  Every room on the first floor.  I always start the turkey at 450 degrees for 15 minutes and then turn it down.  This time, I did not heat the pan before adding the bird and we are smoking.  Big time.  Nothing like having ear piercing alarms go off (that falls under "surprised") and cats scatter while you try to turn the damn things off and can't (that falls under "inept").  Needless to say, that spew made the dead bird roll over in his pan.

The boys were peaceful until then.  I've been close enough to old man Bud to know that Nitzy's position is not a good one.

So before I start the pies, I thought it best to relax a little with two of my favorites.  Vanilla Birch candle and Nutella, and what Coni calls a cup of "damn good".  What could possibly go wrong?  Probably a bird flying in the open windows to get rid of the smoke, the brats chasing it throughout the house, creating another spew.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

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

Did you see this?

Of course you have.  I haven't until today while watching floss tube.  Isn't this different and a really nice addition to Christmas stitchery?  I may order.  I would do it on a darker gingham which of course, I sold.

Nothing much going on.  For some reason, I can't stay awake, even in the afternoon.  Staying up until midnight was my normal routine, now I struggle to make it to ten.  I look forward to a day without an appointment of some sort but that won't be until the second week of December.  Well, not really.  I need to see the rheumatologist and get injections from my orthopedic.  I can't believe how painful my joints are becoming and really limiting what I can do in such short time.  Between that, my thinning hair allowing my scalp to show, and the vicious return of hot flashes, I'm not in a very festive holiday mood.

Petey is loving his home and is getting closer to the house when sunning himself.  It's so cute, as soon as I open the back door he runs to his shelter and waits for a treat or food.  Problem is developing with Nitzy.  He just won't leave him alone and is starting to fight. 

Petey went after a cat I have seen here before and I heard the fight in the woods.  But he won't attack the brats, just an outsider.  Bud is doing his yoga while they both enjoyed the warmth of the sun yesterday.  This is about as close as they get, Nit gets right in Petey's face.  I think he was someone's indoor cat, but it will be a long time before he comes in here.  He is probably loaded with fleas, needs to see a vet, and until they all get along, I don't want to create a situation.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I can't wait for Saturday when all the Black Friday ads that have been running for a month are OVER!!!

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

Family tags

Hi folks.  I am not a frequent Facebook visitor, but yesterday showed me that I should not be at all.  Once again, someone that I follow from a stitching group posted a horrific photo from an animal torture site of a bound and defenseless puppy, not going into details.  It seems they all come from a country know for being disgusting human beings when it comes to dogs and cats.  May they all receive the same acts to them as they burn in hell.  Don't you realize you are fueling their audience which in turn creates more videos?  And shows repulsive people new ways to torture?  Stop it.  

I sealed and completed a few tags and tried them on the 3' tree.  I do think mixing the tags with other ornaments would be best.  But a light bulb went off.  Wouldn't it be sweet to have a family tree?  Between old photos and the thousands on phones, they could be edited for size, scanned for printing, or copies made from actual photos and reduced in size if necessary.  I taped a bunch to a sheet of paper and made a copy at Staples so I could make notes, an easy way to keep the originals safe.  I think my mom would have loved to have a little tree like that, she enjoyed going through old photos.  What a special gift for those with only memories of the past.  Just a thought!

If you want to try this, make sure you spray the printed papers with Krylon 1311 matte sealer before gluing or applying a permanent finish.  I don't use Modge Podge, not sure if that would work as well as the Krylon to prevent ink from smearing.

Have a great weekend!

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

Playing tag

Carole moved her appt. up so Chris could take her before work.  Both hips are bone on bone, her bottom vertebrae are tilted and fused, nothing can be done about either.  The only options are injections to ease the pain, and steroids.  She is not a candidate for any type of surgery.

I decided to try a few tags before the printer runs out of ink or dies again.  They may create a sweet little tree mixed with other ornaments.  Not sure exclusively would be as nice, but since the tree is very small, who knows?  I have other designs to print, but I am liking the simple samplers and bugle boy.  We can't cut the angled top off since this thin plywood splinters easily.  Maybe try a few with a stained wood top exposed.  Probably not.

I had to clean Petey's box today and now he is afraid to go back in!!  I think all cats are mental.

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

A good day to drive

Gloomy, deary, no sun.  We took Carole two days ago for xrays of the knee, took all afternoon.  Yesterday to the doctor, found out the mechanical knee is OK, may be the hip.  Went directly back to the center for additional xrays, took all afternoon.  Today she is to return to the doc for results and I can drive her myself (Mark is golfing and there is no sun), should be home by 3!!  Between her appointments and mine, it seems I've become one of those people that complain about their weeks being dominated by doctors.  What a difference one injection has made.

So along with the dreary day and light rain, comes three brats.

One atop the grain bin.

One on the ruined chair.

And the little ruinator herself on the sofa.

Petey is enjoying his shelter and spends most of his day snoozing.  We can't seem to keep an opossum from invading his space though and I need to remove his food by 4 pm.  I tried leaving edibles for the unwelcome visitor but he/she still checks out Petey's place too.

These little tags are the beginning of a new ornament project.  I've had it in my mind (along with little else of importance) to use my sampler label snippets on the small unlit trees.  We'll see how that goes as soon as I get a free afternoon.  Hopefully, pretty damn good.

Have a great day!!

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

Wow

Look what came up on Ebay.  

The most gorgeous project, complete unopened kit, $390.00

And I finally finished that damn tree!!  What a hassle it has been, and after many stitches were moved to avoid collisions with branches, it looks just as wonky as the original.  Done!!  Moving on.

You know the cold weather is upon us when these brats decide to come inside for the day.  So far, no blood has been drawn, and I will keep my distance.

Have a great day!!

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