And so it begins

So far, one color change and three errors.  Another wonderful reproduction capable of hiding a multitude of sins.  The bird is 928 and not showing well for my taste, so it may be upgraded a shade or two.  Having much difficulty with vision, but I think this Gigi R will be a fun stitch.

 Mary Ann Hickling.

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Soup's on

Hello people.  Good thing winter clothes weren't put away because it's damn cold here.  I do need to shop online for spring clothes since not a thing fits me.  My super long tunics that normally hide the bulge and saddlebags are no longer swinging freely.   They now accentuate the hysterectobelly and hip rings and could pass for colorful duct tape.  I can't blame this on the hysterectomy though.  This time of year should be spent buying plants, not pants.  It's too cold for one and too upsetting for the other!  I'm assuming Amish greenhouses will be open. Carole wants 4 ferns and 4 Bubblegum petunias which fills the entire cargo area and seat so a second trip will be needed for mine.  Traffic here has increased dramatically yet nothing has opened so I am wondering where everyone is going.  Dunkin Donuts like me???

Carole called Cleveland and rather than her scheduled virtual visit, she wants to go.  Instead of having her testing done here ahead of time, they scheduled echo and ekg for the same day so we will be there early morning until late afternoon.  Her doctor told me she can certainly have any testing done here but for some reason her usual lion's roar turns into a timid mouse squeak when dealing with anything medical.  She won't ask them to send testing orders here which would be limited contact, not an entire day in a crowded lobby as large as the Clinic's.  

I got an appt with the hair doctor for this Monday, so glad they called with an earlier opening and am anxious to hear his recommendation.  Hoping I am a candidate and he can help.  Rather than touching up my roots, I have been using Loreal Magic root touch up.  It works.  I don't care for how strong the blast is and it takes some time to gain control of the spray (you have to move it along quickly).  I'm wondering if it would blend well enough while growing out the gray.  I can't cut it short because there is nothing on top and I am needing the "comb over".  Brenda (Sampler Stitcher) looks great with really short hair.  I DO NOT!

I thought I read quite some time ago that Em-li's owns Sheepish Designs and was to re-release many of their charts.  Do they have them all including Sheepish Antique charts?  I always get requests for info on the header photo (manipulated) which is from their Yellow House Sampler.  I offered the chart in a giveaway along with the McCarthy Sampler last year.  

Here is a little tip if you don't have a nose piece in your mask and would like one.  The plastic closure tab on the pound coffee bags and some cracker products are perfect.  I cut it in half , trimmed sharp edges, and it can easily be sewn down the center.  Works perfectly.

Making cauliflower soup today in sweat clothes with the furnace running.

Hope your day is safe and warm, but not too tight!

Be careful!

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Not much happening

Pottery Barn had BOGO on faux greenery and stems.  I love the green shade of sweet potato vines as in these berry clusters.

Finally worked out a mask for claustrophobics (and heavy beards) in the family.  Rather than follow the fitting curve beneath the chin, cut straight down.  Still close, but not feeling smothered.  Yes I know the print direction is different but that gave me more masks to the bandana.

And something I do not need.  I can't believe how big I am.  It's not all from the last two months because I was making an attempt to lose before that.  I have never been this heavy.

I believe Petey has a condition after online research and a call to our vet.  His paws will swell terribly overnight causing him to limp for a few days, and then we notice blood between the pads and some hair loss.  He had one paw after another until all were affected within a short time.  This just started recently along with weight loss.  Paws are fine now and if what the vet suspects is true, he would need daily antibiotics for a long period.  How would that be possible?  We're trying a new box for him that I can easily access with the trap.  That's the way we caught the other three.  When they were asleep in the box, we put a piece of plywood over the opening and lined up the trap.  As soon as the plywood lifted they bolted from the box directly into the trap.  Not pleasant at all for them but necessary.  Even after trapping and a vet visit, I doubt I will be able to hold him and shove meds in his mouth.

That's it for me.  I still can't see anything clearly no matter what drops I try, hoping this will settle down soon.  I did another search on Ebay and found the other Fragments chart I wanted.  Anxious to get them.  I was playing with the linen for the new project and changed the Lambswool to Winter Brew.  The lighter floss will show better.  That doesn't count as indecisiveness!  Just better judgement.

Have a safe day folks!

Thanks for visiting.

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No Sulky but not sulking

Hiya friends.  Guess how many walnut sundaes (vanilla ice cream, walnuts, reduced maple syrup) I had today.  Guess how many pounds continue to add up as I fail to control myself.  Guess who can't fit into any pants!  Stores will be opening soon and I don't have pants!

I've been wanting five of the Fragments in Time 2017 for some time.  My cart held them at 123 for various times as one became unavailable, then another.  Trying to save on postage, I decided to place the order when all were in stock.  They would send me an in stock notice, I would go to the site and before I clicked to place the order, another would become unavailable.  Today was the last time and I can't take the chance any longer that I would get all five.  An online scramble ensued and I found one on sale for half price, shipping was $7.50 for a $2.50 chart.  No thanks.  Etsy failed, other shops failed, so it was on to the Bay of Evil where I found four.  They will be here in a week.  But no Sulky until the next online shop order.  

One day I will learn to stop procrastinating or taking chances to save a few bucks on shipping.  Not the first time it's happened, hope I've learned my lesson.  

Hoping to sleep well tonight.

Stay safe!!

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12 wt. EDIT

WRONG!!  It was brought to my attention that this is false information.  I was going by my SIL's Guild notes on threads and pulled a spool from the bag marked #5.  Her notes are #5 is 12 wt. but with all the specialty work they did, maybe this was not referring to DMC.  I can't wear my contacts because my eyes are so bad (nope, no stitching yet) and never checked the spool.  12 is printed on it, not 5 and I have no idea what the weight is nor does DMC list it.  So ignore the following which was the original post.  But I still have to wonder how close this spool of 12 is to the Sulky! 

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Would Sulky Petites be the same as DMC #5?  Both are 12 wt. and as my cart on Sulky's site filled with colors, I wondered if the twisted thread would lie the same.  Searched videos and only found a few regarding Sulky and none really answered my question.  I have several balls of #5 so stitched a little on a 32 count which is the top row and bottom row is two threads of basic DMC.  I don't think Sulky would be much different, both are tight twists, but I wonder if it would lie flatter.  To me, this 12 wt. is sort of rope-ish.  Sulky.com's sale ends tonight, the Petite is on sale for $1.18 a spool from $1.69.  Maybe it would be prudent to add a few spools to my 123 order rather than two dozen from Sulky just because they are on sale.  But I can't pass up a sale.  What to do, what to do.  Life is full of nonessential decisions isn't it?

And I have to mention once again to stop posting the heart wrenching photos of bloody and beaten animals. No warning as you scroll through stitching posts that the photo is next.  Don't you realize that the "story" beneath the photo to appeal to your compassion is from the same barbarian that beat that dog and took the photos?  That fabricated "story" is to get you to share their brutal bloody photos and have as many people as possible see their work.  Rescue sites tell you where the animal is being cared for and have a legitimate site.  No one rescued that dog, just left her to be beaten again on the end of her chain, if she survives.  Stop it stop it stop it STOP IT.  I won't go back to FB for quite some time.

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Happy crabass

Well, not happy.  Just pleased.  For a while.  A short while.  Then I went back to being upset with myself for a number of reasons.  So here is the change and what a difference.  

The yellow cast is gone.  The trim is now a soft not-quite-white and much easier to live with.  But will I be happy since I really like the colonial colors on woodwork?  Not for the narrow hall of doors.  It needed to be lightened and uniform to appear larger. 

The framed piece on the wall is my parent's original wedding photo behind curved glass.

You can't see my grandparents' photos which are on the wall to my right.

I haven't started another sampler because I am wavering on linen color.   It's Gigi R's design on 36 count something.  Leaning toward the Lambswool.  Bingo.  That's it.  I'm crabby as hell and tired of indecision whether intentional or justified.  Do I do this because I am a procrastinator or because I am delaying picking up the needle again?  Does it matter?  Not really.  Putting on my big (and I mean big) girl panties, it's Lambswool.  You know you're a big girl when your thong looks like a hammock.

Stay safe!

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