I was never a hippy

but I do love fringe.  Nice heavy, thick, neat fringe.  Not the wimpy pieces that I carry on my clothing in various places.  Why after all these years do I have no idea how to keep the floss lengths from adorning my arms?  Many of you use bobbins.  Some use thread cards, hornbook styles, decorative woods, cut shapes, hand painted, corner squares with holes, a nice selection for those that know what they want.   You lucky people.

I remove the skein from its bag, pull a length and cut, and it's that piece I am using that has never had a rightful place during a stitching session.  I find more pieces on my clothes, the floor, the washing machine, than I do when needed!  No matter where I put it, it ends up on my sleeves or side.  If using a bobbin, I guess you wind it back on and secure in the slot, but I've never liked them.  Using these cards would require the skein to be cut, does a strand pull out nicely or tangle?  The cut piece would be looped back on?  But then I have to sort through the ring again to find the color or remove/return that thread card, opening and closing the large ring clip ... a lot.  Too many times for my aging crooked hand.  But so is opening and closing the zip lock bags.

Strawberry Lane on Etsy

Snuggly Monkey on Etsy.

What do you do when using cards such as these?  I would think having many threads on one and close together would be a hassle trying to add it back.

From Tristan Brooks

Although I don't want to change from using skeins in a floss bag, I can certainly see the advantage of switching to these.  This hole seems large enough for ease of use and there is a second tiny hole for the 6 strand that is now a four strand waiting to be used.  Those are the pieces that hang from me, become play things for Missy when they hit the floor, and send me into a search every time I need another thread.  I think I will order a set or buy the pretty ones and punch another hole.  They will fit into my floss bags, I can quickly see if a thread has already been divided, and the zip bags will only be opened to remove the cards and then returned when the project is complete.  At my speed, maybe twice a year.  But will I be able to grab the thread and pull it out of the loop with these fingers?  Testing will begin soon, there will be quite a bit of color changes in the next pages of Ann.

What do you do with that piece once you pull a thread or two out when stitching in hand?  What should I have been doing with it for the last 40 years?  What simple solution has eluded me?  Should I just throw it over my shoulder?  Well, yes, you twit.  That would work.  Why did it take all these years and this post for it to come to me at the very end?  What a putz.

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Ann progress and Amazon

Hi folks!  I got my dust wand order and I must say I'm pretty pleased.  The OXO has the nicer fibers and will certainly clean my black chairs with ease.  It's flat and bendable which allows it to slip through closely spaced back spindles and stair railings nicely.   I plan to order a replacement head for it and think it is the best of bunch.  

The other has very fine fibers and the long head bends to any angle for the flat top of bookcases or cabinets.  

There are two heads so I bent one completely in half to make a short and wide duster.  The wand extends a long way and is very sturdy, no bending!!   I do like the OXO better but for the price, will keep the long one with the wand for dusting along the walls and cobweb corners, and out of reach spots.

 I know the Oxo will wash well and I imagine the other will also, but of course, no dryer since that removes the static charge the holds the dust.  I still mist the dusters lightly with water which is probably not recommended?????  Will test with and without on the black chairs.

The shaver I received did a fantastic job.  I purchased the electric because battery units I've had slowed down quickly, and for the price (including two replacement blades) it's a steal.  I'm ordering another.  I much prefer shopping locally, but when there are no locals, I plan to use Amazon which I've mostly avoided until recently.  But I need to be more careful and check merchants.  The foot deodorant for Matt (a common brand) is coming from across the pond.  The delivery date showed a week to three weeks, that should have tipped me off.  I also won't order anything that is not free returns, but I do have a local Kohl's that will return and pack for free.  Catherine mentioned that she was refused a return by Kohl's, now I want to check with mine.  Maybe only items shipped from Amazon are allowed?  The suppliers (like the overseas deodorant) that ship from their stores may not be included?  Anyone know?

After almost two days of not being able to focus near or far, I did some stitching on Ann.  I plan to do the over one as eyesight allows.  Making an appointment with the specialist today.  My eyes are getting bad too quickly and I highly doubt it is from the medication that can cause damage since I am on a low dose.  But I need to check.

 There is one motif left on the far right and I would like to add the other sampler before I start it to make sure it is properly placed.  I don't trust my counting.  Lots of purple in this one which is not evident in the color photos.   I'm glad I started at the top and counted off of that area rather than the tree.  Since I had problems with it, it is not as charted and some motifs do not line up.  I don't suspect there will be a problem since most of the elements can be moved a few threads.

We're very cold but there is a warm up coming.  We're both dragging our butts because the virus is lingering, not enough to be sick, but enough to be crabby.

Hope your week has been good!

Thanks for visiting.

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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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