Preferences

Some like the simple things,

some prefer more posh settings.

Some are lucky to have lots of food and shelter, but it's not enough.

The surroundings don't feed the soul, soothe the loneliness, comfort rejection.

I ordered Feliway spray for the brats and hope to receive it this weekend.  My brother has been taking care of ferals for many years, currently three in house.  Now a very young, very thin, black and white long hair with the sweetest little face has shown up.  Our shelter hasn't had room for a year and strays have no where to go.  He does not want to start with another young cat at his age and a likely move to an apartment in the next few years.  Did you see the story of the door that was blown open by wind and the 9 year old sweet dog that entered?  In need of medical, on three legs, emaciated, infected, wandering the streets, the home owners decided to keep her.  I wish they all would have happy endings.

Been ridiculously involved with finding a comforter without a microfiber cover and lots of loft.  Number four is being returned this weekend and number five is ordered.  Most cotton covers are white, not the best color for Carole.  This last one appears to be overfilled, cotton, but white.  Now a duvet cover is needed.  I've ordered firefighter hoodies, back scratchers, books, blankets, boots, jeans, and other last minute items for my technology deficient family.  Finally over and done with, now to plan meals. 

I ordered a pair of Crocs from their site (they had a huge sale), they came today and I haven't taken them off yet.  I love Crocs but am in between sizes and prefer a secure shoe.  Found it.  Elastic top to hug and this one runs small so the 1/2 size up fits perfectly.  Comes in heather gray with a white sole which I may also order.  Still on sale!!  If my eyes improve we will make a trip to the Ohio mall Saturday to look around a little, I will be wearing these for sure.

I haven't been sleeping so I may take a few sips of Black Velvet Caramel.  Do not like the taste of wines or alcoholic anything, and it doesn't take much at all to make me sleepy.

Hope your week has gone well.  The last weekend before Christmas!  

Where did the year go?

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A day to snooze

And that's what the brats are doing.  Cold with snow on the ground, so Crabass Stitcher meets Crabass Santa this afternoon.

Petey is becoming a problem.  He is now hanging around the back door, pitifully crying.  I won't let him inside because of conflicts and I can't get near, so how would I get him out?  Plus the fleas he is probably carrying.  But.  He is attacking Missy.  She is half his size and he waits in hiding for her to go out (they won't use a litter box) and the chase follows.  Old man Bud goes to help but he is missing several front teeth and aged.  He would not stand a chance.  So now what?  I saw an article online that a pheromone hog spray applied to a female's back will deter males.  The spray tricks them into thinking the female is a male through scent.  So will she make the house smell like a sex crazed hog?  Thankfully I was able to trap them early and have all three neutered, but it has not stopped the fighting with others.

One article describes its use for bad behavior in dogs.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140824213155.htm

Another was similar but related to cats fighting and ravaging the females, neutered or not, and good results using the same boar/pig androstenone pheromone.  Or something like that.  Missy has been here for almost 10 years and still runs from us, a hunter, and not a house cat unless it's raining or very cold.  Hiding her will not help, and I can't leave her/them in the house while in Cleveland or gone for the day.  Doesn't matter the color, scent, no scent, texture, box size, they will not use the litter.  Petey has been a good boy until he started coming close to the house, and he is even hovering over Bud now, showing his dominance.  Not good.

I wish Petey's family was responsible and did not allow this to happen, but many cat owners are not able to domesticate strays and do the best they can.  I don't have the answer.  I'm one of them.

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Crabass Santa

After browsing the PS charts, and realizing the two designs I chose are finished and sitting on the mantel, this guy seemed fitting.  Doesn't he look a little crabby?  I think I will add a messy light string hanging from the tree using back stitches and colored french knots.  Trying to reduce the amount of red coat Santas, I chose 3802.  Gold is too cheerful for a crab, I have several blues and greens, purple was too strong.

This tree was to have dried cloved oranges, but I like the simplicity of nothing at all. It's a perfect tree for dried fruits and I have enough lemons, limes, and pomegranates, but I like it this way.  Still not adjusted to the almost white room, and may go over it with the cream that is in the little powder room.

It's raining and turning to snow.  We were to make a quick trip to a mall in Ohio for a new golf bag, but he decided to stay home. 

 I am trying a new recipe tomorrow that the pierogi makers were served recently.  The recipe is from Zgoda, the Polish magazine published by the PNA.  Honestly, it does not sound good at all!!  But it received rave reviews, so I will try it.  Bought a fresh batch of allspice berries and always have bay leaves handy, and I am anxious to give this a try.  I assume it's OK to post it here since the publication can be viewed online.  You can view this 2019 Fall issue and back issues.

http://www.pna-znp.org/zgoda-magazine.html

Have a great weekend!!

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The tag tree

Hello people!  Surgery cancelled for today.  Since I would not be asleep and having a bit of a cold, I could sneeze.  When I do, people duck thinking a lung will be flying by, not delicate by any standard.  Not even normal.  He did not want to be working on me when my body is rocked by the quake and he has scalpel in hand.  So instead, my sister comes over with her tablet that she just can't figure out, even with page after page of my handwritten instructions.  Rather than stay and pay attention, she leaves, I waste over an hour deleting the Google garbage and notifications, and she doesn't return to pick it up.   Last night was another episode of irresponsibility on my nephew's part regarding his pump and I wasted a lot of time trying to locate his missing reservoirs from other suppliers.  She tells me to order it because he can't (he has a phone with data) and even if he could, does not have a credit card.  So I have to take over once again, all for naught, when his friend lends him a few after work.

  Needless to say, no stitching yet!!  But I did get the little tag tree decorated.  I filled in with the tin ornaments that I love from Pat Catans.  Do you think my vintage tiny glass ornaments would be better?  As I look at these photos, the tin being the shape and size of the tags looks monotonous.

I think it tuned out very nice, but I still plan to see if the tiny colored glass would look better.  If I had taken the time to learn Instagram without a phone, I would post it.  But I didn't.  

Maybe I should purchase more tags to do a folk art tree next year. Better yet, print them now before the old printer croaks again.  I doubt we will repair it next time since I no longer make the box labels.  

I feel a sneeze coming.  Best move away from the tree.

Have a great weekend!!

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When I find the hemp roll

that suddenly disappeared, I will attach and hang these little tags on the small bare tree.

Houses

Samplers

Motifs

Minis

I could do a few more but don't want to.  Tomorrow is another appt for Carole right in the middle of the day, and she wants to go to TJMaxx after.  She finally learned how to get on to Walmart.com and can order anything she wants and drive herself to pick it up!  YAY!!!

Mark saw the doctor today and is on meds now, recovery will be quicker.  I am gathering supplies for a Friday afternoon stitch while elevating and icing my foot.  I do use 4.0 mags and I can't stitch without them, but a dry eye surface is like looking through waxed paper.  When drops are applied, clarity and color return as the surface is replenished.  But it only lasts about 10 minutes.  I don't blink as often when stitching because I'm trying to focus on the chart and placement which makes it worse.  Blinking and dropping often doesn't make for a relaxing stitch!  Friday will tell.

Hope to have something to show Saturday!!

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A holiday stitch

Since I am having a really difficult time following the chart on the large sampler, I thought a small holiday project may be possible, easier to follow than a motif, and can be easily enlarged for visibility.   I just can't see.

So looking through the Christmas binder yielded a few options.  I so love this mouse and have held on to him for many years, completely unreadable (for me) small symbols and I don't think they would be clear enough when greatly enlarged.  The tiny PS nutcracker, maybe.  I took photos of the boys and after reducing them equivalent to 35 count, prefer the look of their current size so no plans to restitch now.  But Connie Francis's Where the Boys Are has been playing in my head!

The easiest for me to stitch would probably be one of the Santas in the two larger charts, but certainly on a lighter linen.  I've only stitched three from these charts.  Well, that's all I can find.  Really thought I stitched more!

I cut Carole's hair this afternoon and had difficulty holding the hair shears.  Off the Eliquis for a week because of Friday's surgery so I am taking advantage of that and chomping on Advil.  It isn't helping my hand, hip, or back which is disheartening.   Always found relief before.  So I'm not even sure I will be able to hold the needle, haven't practiced enough with the left hand.  A small project with larger blocks of color should be an ideal way to start.

Mid week already.  I'm still shopping and ordering online for Carole and myself, still picking up in-store orders.  I went overboard this year, but no one knows who will be here next year.  A friend recently diagnosed will not make it to Christmas, and four months ago was vibrant and active, totally unaware of what the next day would bring.  

Celebrate.  Live for today.  Splurge.  Make someone happy.

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