Except for over one

I am close to finishing another page.  The angel, a few small birds, another crown.  There will be an empty area beneath the large heart where another tiny sampler will be added, still not sure if I want the same color linen.  But should I work the over one line now, save it for the end, or do a word at a time?  

The full line is placed between the second and third row in a dark brown.  My reasoning is to start it, see how it goes, and set it aside for later if I have problems with vision or frustration.

Cleveland trip was without incident and I changed her next appointment to just before noon.  We left at 7:30 and there was a lot of traffic which makes me nuts (even though I am in the back seat with dark glasses on).  Next visit will be virtual for only $35 with the pharmacist.  That's less than the gas and parking plus no driving!!  

Happy gal!!

So is this one.  The slightest chill, rain, or wind, and she becomes a house cat that won't pee for 18 hours.  The tiny little spitfire.

Happy first Monday of the year.  We're getting closer to summer!!

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Return shipping info

For those of you with Paypal accounts and not familiar with their return shipping refunds, here's how it works.  You first have to activate that service.  If you made a purchase with Paypal before activation, I don't think the offer will apply.  But once activated, if you need to return an item with a flat fee label or costs you paid yourself, click on Activity.  Locate the purchase you are returning and click to open, scroll down and then click Request a Refund on Return Shipping.  Follow the instructions and upload the applicable receipts and invoices.  They will let you know in a few days if you are being reimbursed.  This procedure is the one I follow, and it works.

To activate the free service, click this link.  

https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/returns

Log in and activate!  You can use this up to 12 times a year.  I only did once because most of my items have free return shipping.  Surprised to see Kohl's taking any return to Amazon and packing, boxing, and mailing for free.  I can't believe the number of people using this!!  Both stores I frequent had to set up a separate counter because of the number of returns.  I saw large upright vacuums, furniture, piles of clothing, and other large items brought in to the store without so much as a bag.

I ventured out today, first time since being ill, and purchased a new laptop for a good price.  Then to Walmart for a few essentials in one trip.  As usual, a loud and foul mouthed slob was berating her little girl, another was screaming at a crying baby to shut up, another was dragging a crying two year old by her arm while threatening a beating.  I. just. can't. stand. it.  And if you want one of these disgusting females to attack you, try to nicely ask if you can help.  The only thing they know is violence and screaming, just like the majority of young reality shows with their physical fights.  Can you get arrested for accidentally bumping into someone and it sets off your taser?

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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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