The only pole I will dance with

And the valley breathes a sigh of relief.  Greetings folks.  Several of you asked about the duster and after browsing Amazon, I chose this option to order (they all look to be the same actually).  My current is shorter with a heavier strand which is fine, but I think the small strands would actually catch more dust.  So for the large one with extensions, this bendable is my choice, but I plan to order smaller/shorter ones also for more delicate dusting and easier handling for smaller items.  This unit comes with two heads.  Even if every speck of dust is not picked up, the result is still less time, less pain, and better result than using my crooked hand.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082D9P2Z1/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A28A4CVNUTIZG0&psc=1

 The smaller OXO brand with replaceable head are probably at Target and other places, also getting this one.

https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Good-Grips-Microfiber-Duster/dp/B00940DV6W/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=oxo+microfiber+duster&qid=1577991832&s=hpc&sr=1-4

I have to mention that I am becoming more aware that so many products offered online and especially the clothing sites, may list their address in the US but the product is actually shipped from China.  For a return, it would cost more than the item.  Two firefighter hoodies that were ordered before Christmas have still not arrived, and although "returnable" is listed, I would have to ship to China.  The US address is only an office where the orders are routed through a computer.  It isn't easy to find that info either.  Several FB ads for really nice sweaters do not have an physical address when visiting their webpage. 

I listed my Dad's harvest soup recipe on the recipe blog, click here if you'd like to try it.  My potatoes were Yukon so they are yellow in the photo.

Once again, Petey, at midnight.  Will not allow me to get near him yet.

I am considering a PRP injection into my lips.  The tight binding dryness is driving me nuts and with no other options, I may spend a ton of money to try this.  They are shriveled to the point of nonexistence. Topical products provide some relief but this is not chapped lips.  The dryness is inside, the cells, the tissue.  Anyone ever try PRP for any reason?

We're going back to Cleveland Monday, praying for no snow.  Routine talk with a pharmacist, that's all, no doctor or testing.  She could do that here but still has not chosen a cardiologist since ours has passed away and his replacement left.  I can only try my best to reason with her, can't force her to be more responsible.  She had a brief TIA when here for dinner, right side of her mouth dropped and she could not pronounce words for about 15 seconds.  It's why when asked if I have children I answer YES, an 81 year old.

Have a good day.

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Starting 2020

Hope you celebrated the beginning of 2020 in whatever way you desired.  Personally, the last day of the year has never been a big deal and is my least favorite holiday.  

Mark is making soup, I packed away all the Christmas stitcheries for another year, and I discovered a slight problem with Ann Hicks' fabric. 

Since the linen is large to handle I decided to finish the width before moving down the piece so I could trim the right side excess.  It was badly crumpled from the spool huggers so I pressed the sampler for a fresh start.  Oh boy.  This was a very large piece of linen the exact color I had planned to use for Ann, inspection was not considered.  

Now that  it's pressed and trimmed, I see the fold line and two marks that line up.  I thought they may be from my hand but the larger one is too low, the distance between too great. The spool huggers were there but I can't imagine why they would blemish the linen.  Oil leaching from the plastic for a long period?  I have no idea where the linen came from or if I dyed it myself, so spot cleaning is not a safe option.  

As for the fold line, I will touch it ever so lightly with the fine chisel edge of a brush lightly dusted from a Ranger archival ink pad.  I tried it on the backside (the left side of the box) and it looks pretty good.  Touching the entire line isn't necessary, only to interrupt it.  That section will be motifs, not a row of alpha, and I will wait to see where the line is visible for touch up. 

Because I am known as a reckless stitcher, have washed completed pieces, thrown them in the dryer, deliberately stained and aged, this will not upset me much at all.  Somehow it will work out.  If the soiled (?) areas show, I will add a few lighter ones throughout, and the ink should take care of the fold line.  Hoping to kick this into high gear without any eye or hand issues to slow me down. 

Time for Harvest soup and ciabatta!!  I signed up for Curiosity Stream for only $12 a year (sale ends soon) and found the app on my Samsung TV so we can view it on a large screen.  I think!  I can't believe the apps available and don't even know the whys and hows of using them.  I do need to learn and plan to this year.  Ear buds, phones, apps, Alexa, videos, I want it all!!

Have a nice evening.

Petey is watching.  This bad boy knows what room you're in and will make sure he's visible.

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My new wand

What planet have I been living on?  Or am I under the same rock as Lauren?  Geez.  With the loss of so many stores locally, I don't browse like I used to and frankly have lost interest in doing so.  Recently I started visiting Amazon and seeing so many things new to me.  With all my brother's antiques and treasured items, dusting is a real chore for him.  So I found a microfiber duster that is specifically for delicate items, but at the same time, learned about the larger dusters.  Holy sugar cookie.  What a Godsend to arthritic hands!!  I sprayed lightly with water, and felt like I was in a commercial.   Lightweight enough to balance on my toes and skip around the room in a pale blue chiffon dress complete with matching apron while twirling my dusting wand.  I am thrilled.  This baby goes between each spindle at the seat, across the back, up and down caressing each rail while removing those dust puddles.  The extension allowed the legs and stretchers to be cleaned without much bending.  My black chairs looked black in very short order and my hand was not tortured.  The tops of my cabinets did not require stretching, and the hand shaved wood of my antique spinning wheel did not for once embed a splinter.  I don't like one time use products, this can be washed (but no dryer use) over and over and a light spray of water is all that's required to hold the dust and not release it .

  I am buying one in every color of the best quality.  Thin nubby, thick nubby, short nubby, long nubby.  Sometimes, living on another planet can bring excitement for the most mundane gadget.  Especially when it creates an easy solution for a painful chore.  Now if you'll excuse me, I need to slip out of this chiffon dress.

Mr. Pete is keeping me hopping.  After all the work I put into his shelter, he is staying by the door or looking at the kitchen window.   Had no choice but to create shelter closer.  So yesterday I did a quick second house with two plywood overhangs for protection.  I hope husband was not saving them for a project.  

We have another shelter, a wood table, that Mark enclosed on three sides and added a higher shelf inside.  A thick piece of plywood is covered in plastic and angled to shed water.  The boys like it on that shelf but Petey has made it his.  So they've decided to take up residence in his two houses.  I am constantly outside trying to diffuse a home turf war.  I need to replace ink in the printer and get his photo out to vets.  I seriously doubt anyone will claim him.  But when the ink is in, I plan to work on a small project for a giveaway.  

  Carole and Chris came for dinner this evening.  It was the postponed Christmas Eve dinner traditionally with smelts, pierogis and slaw but I made cheese pierogi filling in nalesniki instead.  The smelts were excellent and I found my aunt's marinated recipe to try along with our regular fried.  It's sort of weird.  You boil water, vinegar, and some oil the smelt were fried in with a ton of rosemary until reduced.  Strained, and then fried smelts are marinated in it with some of the rosemary.  I forgot to save 1/4 cup of the oil so we had only the floured and fried.  Maybe next time.  

We never know what tomorrow will bring.  We read about living each day as if it is our last, and we agree and nod, but do we follow that advice?  It is not easy, human nature gets in the way and we fall back on everyday life and routines without thinking how precious each day is.  I hope to remind myself daily.  Happy new year to all.  Wishing you a healthy happy 2020.

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Turning a page

Finally completed page one of Ann Hicks.  I'm hoping the following pages will be easier for me.  I am used to large blocks of red Santa suits or alphabets.  This wonky tree took forever, and these little birds were not fun.  Yes they are very small and easy to stitch, but changing colors for a few stitches that don't make sense in the design is something I need to learn to tolerate.  Seriously considered doing them in two colors only but stuck it out.  Five little messy fricking birds.  Done.

I saw this sampler that Merry Wind Farm stitched into a project bag and I loved it.  She was very helpful in directing me to the designer because I had no clue.  Nada.  Zip.  Did I see it on someone's blog and forgot about it?  Possibly.  The book is Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day from BBD.

For every two steps to recovery, I go one step back.  Mark took me out for a little ride today and we stopped at Carole's.  Chris had truffles and melt-aways with a DD gift card there for me.  That made me smile, and also made my stomach ache because as you know, I am a pig.  I could use a nicer word but pig is appropriate.

Have a great last few days of another year gone by.

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For a very short time

these guys get to live outside of a box.  Isn't that a shame?  I mentioned before that my friend's mom was an avid stitcher of Santas (and so much more).  She moved to a small home in the city and converted the smallest bedroom into her stitching studio.  The tiny room had a large comfy chair, a maple desk covered with project filled baskets, wallpaper featured a miniature red design, the corner hutch was filled with stitched Santas.  Red accents and upholstery against cream and tan, you couldn't help but feel good when entering.  Even though the Santas were plentiful, the room didn't look seasonal because they blended so well with the color and needlework theme of the room.  Thirty some years ago and I still remember it.

 

So here's a look at some of my favorites, you've seen them before, that will be going back into their box soon.

I would love to take the trees down as some do the next day, but Mark does not agree.  Carole calls every day to see if I'm feeling better, if plans for our family Christmas dinner are made .  I would prefer Monday but with a mid afternoon doc appointment, that won't work.  So I guess it will be new year's eve and day.  

Petey boy is sitting right at the corner of my door and stretching his neck to look inside.  He stretched his massive gut across a thin fence rail in the nice weather yesterday. The orange cat we saw him roaming with months ago, is now his enemy.  He goes after him every time and we have no idea who he belongs to.

Holidays during the week really mess up our day clocks don't they?  I just saw the mail delivery truck, so I guess it's not Sunday.   Yay!  My back scratcher should be in my mail box.  I couldn't believe how difficult it was to find a decent one.  Added to an order from Kohl's, I got two, anxious to see the quality.

Hope your weekend is relaxing and wonderful.

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A quiet Christmas

In more ways than one. 

Mark's gift - his wife's throat and breathless cough took her voice away.  A little huff of air is all that's heard, music to his ears.

Carole's gift - her sister was not present to witness the overload of unnecessary gifts to the great grands and throw eye daggers followed by a speech in the kitchen.

Ron's gift - his sister was unable to have the Eve and Day dinners so his generous neighbor brought pasta, ham, stuffed cabbage, roast beef, salads, potatoes, cookies, and pie to his door.

Chris's gift - no consequence to his aunt not being able to visit, he previously tried on his new Sketchers for fit and received his gift early.

Petey has been a good boy, except for today.  For some reason, he went after Nitzy from behind.  This poor boy is now staying by the back door and this is the view from our kitchen window.  I still can't approach any closer than about six feet, but he is hanging close and looking for us most of the day.  He came here well fed, does not hunt, couldn't have been on his own for long.  Big boy isn't he?

I won't be hitting any sales or enjoying this warm weather for the next few days.  I need a new laptop and I will probably spend some time shopping online again, and some stitching too between naps.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, great cookies, and lots of hugs.  But keep those hand sanitizers handy!!  This is a virus, it's spreads, and it's not fun.

Thanks for visiting!

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