Is it May?

Really?  Visited Amish greenhouses today because Carole needed her Vista Bubblegum petunias and they go really fast.  Froze my rear gear off.  Four left at three nurseries so I'm glad we didn't put it off.  Mixing other flowers or other colors with the Bubblegum is plentiful but she prefers single color baskets.  I found only one greenhouse with the Vista Silverberry and it outperforms the pink.  Really.  

Massive amount of blooms and very dense growth, flowers are slightly smaller and more sturdy.  So instead of the yearly red geranium parade in the front, these beauties will stand out against the dark siding.  We will go back next week when I decide what I would like for the deck.  Hopefully, I won't need a winter coat and gloves.  I was so very cold.

We have seen five male Orioles at one time on this hook.  Usually just a few glimpses a year, but we caught sight early and put out oranges.  I had no idea we would get this many!  My bag of oranges is so sweet but I can't eat them.  No kiwi, oranges, grapefruit, nothing that I used to devour when in season.  So my new friends will.  I had no idea they also love suet .

The Grosbeaks are here too and they also love the orange, several fights throughout the day.

Petey has been eating better, maybe because I am sprinkling catnip on the dry food.  Nit and Bud both loved to eat the crushed leaves and the vet claims it does help with appetite.  Worked like a charm.  When I crush into powder, some of the hard stems will pierce my skin so I try to remove them, worried he may get one stuck in his mouth.  I used a colander and the heavier catnip was sewn into a little sack.

I've made quite a few more masks and also ordered these very comfortable lightweight black neoprene.  Found on Etsy, very reasonable.  The blue one is from a shopping bag.

The doctor visit today was good.  A vascular surgeon, he will perform another ultrasound on my legs to see why I am "needing" so many Varithena treatments, and his fee for sclerotherapy is 1/3 of my doctor.  So I am switching and anxious to see the test result.  As for the hair, I have lost around 60% and am a candidate for the transplant.  Two surgical methods and I chose the less expensive.  He recommended I try the PRP injections first to help stop the loss because if it continues, it won't be long before I am in the same position with only the grafts left.  Again, his costs is 1/3 of my other doctor!!  I really really like him as I did 35 years ago when he worked on my veins.  So the transplant will be mid to late fall and because of the number of people getting them, must schedule now.  I am relieved, but also afraid of progression.  One day at a time.  This may be related to the auto immune bullshit from that fricking flu shot.  And what will happen if the Covid vaccine is mandatory?   After these last several weeks of misery following a week long illness, I can only imagine how my immune system will react.

I hope everyone had a nice Mother's Day.  Soon you'll all be able to hug your grandkids.  Or at least see them in person.  Some local stores have opened and I have to get Carole some books.  She is a voracious reader but can't afford the prices of paperbacks, we have no used book stores, the library is closed.  She doesn't have a computer or a smart phone for downloads, but would prefer book in hand anyway.  A locally owned shop offers discounted books I never heard of but they're better than nothing.  She absolutely loved the Jan Karon series and read them all.

Haven't stitched.  Not sure what to do.  I do not like the light colors and was hoping to work one thread on the 36 count but it needs two for the satin.  Maybe.  Haven't decided!  Got my Fragments and LOVE them.  Ordering some linen and threads from 123, a few small charts, and am happy to wait for the delayed shipment.  The pants I ordered from Macy's weren't even shipped yet, online sales are really brisk.  

It's time to get a Jamoca from the freezer and stare at the chart and linen again.  My nightly routine.

Hope the week starts well for everyone, can't believe we're approaching MID MAY!!

Stay well.

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Too thin or too thick

One of these, I am not.

As I continue with stitching, I'm questioning whether I should use two strands for the satin stitch on this 36 count.  Definitely will be changing the other very light 3024 to something darker.  First alphabet is satin stitch and very nicely charted making placement easy to follow.

The back is more prominent so I'm thinking two threads would be better but I need to test that.  Never tried it on this high of a count.  I have quite a few reproductions with very light threads, not really visible, but these days I prefer all the stitching to be easily seen.  It does not bother me at all (as you've known) to alter a repro in balance, size, or color.

I previously asked if anyone had information on American Country magazine.  Emails and texts went unanswered for months, and although the publication was supposedly sent to print in February after waiting a year, it wasn't.  I was concerned about her health but then saw she is selling online and still keeping up with Ye Country Mercantile.  Now the magazine's website is closed and anyone waiting for the $45 subscription refund will be out $45.  Very unprofessional and inconsiderate to leave everyone hanging without answers and ignore inquiries.  I wouldn't trust a merchandise purchase either. The BBB has a pattern of complaints concerning delivery of merchandise and customer service, they have not received a reply from the merchant.

How many calories do you think throwing clothes in a washer and dryer burn?  I store my chocolate in a microwave in the basement kitchen, within twenty feet of the washer.  The treadmill is about thirty feet.  That's a long way.

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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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