36 over one

And I did it.  I didn't like it.  But I did it.  How many times have we said that during our lifetime?

There isn't a lot, just a few words down each side and I thought it best to stitch them as I continue the border rather than all at once.  It is pretty tedious for me but I think I finally have it right.  I didn't lose the floss behind the linen even once.  But frogging over one on 36 is the beans.  Called for color is a beautiful apricot but I had such a hard time because there wasn't enough contrast to see the linen threads well.  I tried a little darker, but ended up with the darkest color in the sampler in order to make it doable.

I'm having my postponed toe surgery early tomorrow morning and will be with ice and raised foot the majority of the day, hope to make some progress now that colors are set.

I got my Bubble Gums and sweet potato vines, flowers completed.  The Amish greenhouses are plentiful and beautiful, better than my local nursery.  My large baskets were $13 and 4" pots $2.50.  The great majority are mixed flowers or colors which are beautiful but I'm leery of trying anything new.  The one time I did, they were spindly and half dead in July, too late to get replacements.  It was a real crabby summer.

Part of the book order came in today, the rest is vacationing in Pittsburgh for the last three days.  First time I was disappointed in the condition and threw out a few.  I am still waiting for a medical shipment that has been stuck in Orlando since May 7.   DHL, not the post office fault.

I have two pulleys found many years ago and thought I would use them as hangers this year.  Not sure what will hang from which, could be wind chimes, flowers, birdhouses.  The large rusty green one is hard to see with the greenery background so I plan to spatter some red paint in with the rust.

I wanted to place an order with 123 for a few linen colors but I didn't have enough in my Paypal so I have to wait a few days for a transfer.  I prefer to pay from a balance instead of linked bank or card.  Hopefully it won't sell out before the order goes in.

Going to bed early tonight since my surgery is scheduled for 7:30.  I am so grateful that this doctor does minor surgeries in the office, no outpatient stuff to go through.  After you pass out from the pain of the deep injections between the toes, it's not too bad.

Be well and stay safe everyone.

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Today, it's yellow

After many color tries to replace the 3024 that doesn't show very well, yellow may be the one.  The last option was a light teal and I liked it, so why did I move on to yellow?  Because color choice creates a brain blockage.  A hindrance to progress.  Usually changes are implemented rather quickly but several options worked so well here that I am in a pickle.  I may go back to the light teal which looked really nice with the 975.  Damn.

I've been seeing old sampler charts that I really like and may find one day, or not.  Doesn't matter really.  I remember thinking I had so much stash ...  until .... Flosstube happened.  I'm not even in the Junior League.  But still enough to keep me busy.  Now about the linen.

I watched the Attic's video and was really surprised, and confused, at the difference in color between thread counts.  I need to educate myself and take a few reference notes for future orders.  This screen shot from the video shows the vast difference of the same color in different counts.  Parchment (front) and Old Gold (back) in 40 and 46.  Newcastle is the name of 40 count like Cashel is 28 and Belfast 32?  Why would Newcastle and Bristol dye so differently if the linen is the same except for count?   I thought Newcastle was a type of linen, but it refers to the count?  Can't we just say the brand, like Wichelt or Zweigart, and a color name and count?  Are they named because they are woven with different threads, thickness, or texture?  Am I the only one clueless?

I'm so glad they showed this, not that I would be adding 46 count to my linen drawer, but it sort of explains why my 28 and 35 count of the same color, aren't.  Or does it?  I just don't understand why.   And as I said, I need to familiarize myself more with terminology and names.  I heard "Legacy linen" so often in videos and I don't know if that is a color, a type, or a count!  And what is Silkweaver?  Another company that dyes their own like PTP and WDW?  Where the hell is my notebook.

Today was a beautiful warm May day but wearing a mask in a greenhouse was like a humid August day.  I couldn't stay very long and kept going outside for air.  Three Amish places and all said this past Saturday was the most crowded they have EVER been since starting their business.  I buckled and got my usual Bubble Gum tunias, simply because other varieties do not grow as well for me, and I want instant gratification.  Planting a variety of smaller plants in the barrels test my patience.  Neighbors probably wonder why they hear a crazed woman screaming grow you little bastards.  One place had a few left, everyone else was sold out, so I got two and a larger one with the three Vista colors.  And guess what?  I'm going back tomorrow for the last two baskets.  I love the Silverberry but I need color. 

My sister lost 14#!!  That's exactly what I found.  I was hoping to have the books for her by now, but I don't.  I ordered from a store in Toledo Ohio, about 3 hours away thinking they would get here quicker.  Tracking shows - from Toledo, to Glendale Height IL, to York PA (they just passed Pittsburgh), to Harrisburg PA, to Warrendale PA, to Pittsburgh PA.  I'm east of Toledo.  The books went west to IL, then shot east past Warrendale and Pittsburgh to York and Harrisburg in central PA, then back west to Warrendale and Pittsburgh.  Both orders from two stores followed the same path.  I expect delays since the PO is overloaded and busier than ever, but five distribution centers seem like a huge waste of man hours.  And gas.

Oh that hurts my brain.

Have a good week!

Stay safe.

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Wake up and drink the coffee

Hiya.  Can't believe we are mid May already, and as offices start to reopen, I've got a slew of appointments in the next several weeks.  These last days have been puzzling.  Maybe it's the autoimmune, but I am feeling exhausted.  Completely spent.  So barely a task was attempted.  

I did pick up the needle and decide to continue the left border rather than waste my time deciding on the alphabet.  I need a few changes and nothing has worked to my liking.  Once the border is finished I can count down to work on the second alphabet while delaying the first.  Trying to order some linen colors I saw on Flosstube but everyone is out right now along with an old sampler design I am interested in.  This morning I viewed more videos and saw A Most Noble Pursuit collaboration from years ago.  Mistakenly thought they would be small enough for individual tree ornaments, they are not.  Thank goodness for the description alerting me to the size or I would have spent $40 and been very disappointed.  If you are looking for this old chart, I found one here.  Haven't found it anywhere else, maybe there is only one, or maybe it's been re-released??

https://www.ceciliassamplers.com/whatsnew/whatsnew.asp

I did  manage to slide a few cupboards into different rooms and need your opinion.  I can't stand open clutter, I don't care how organized or attractive, so I will make doors for the top and close them.  This corner is not used, the room is tiny and more of a walk through than usable space.  It fits here, although I do think it's too much (I'm being a minimalist), (except for my body).  It needs to be painted over the dull taupe.  So what color?  A very light sage seems to be the hot color and I like that, or maybe grayish.  So what say you?  How do you pull together a small room with two different painted cupboards?  My only thought is to use a neutral, several shades lighter on one and darker on the second.  Yes, one thought is my limit.  If the room was larger and had additional furnishings it wouldn't be an issue.

 

Thanks for the Kindle idea of downloading from my laptop for Carole.  I don't have a Kindle, but could probably download to her slow as heck tablet. It is on her (flip) cell phone contract, but she can't do anything right and I spend many hours on the phone trying to help her.  I ordered a dozen used from Abe Books and they will be delivered Monday but I know they will not be right.  Nothing ever is!!  Like mother, like daughter.  But I do plan to try the downloads for her, even though she wants a book in hand.  

Stitching tonight, flower shopping tomorrow.  Then a ride and DD stop for cappuccino.  

I hope your week is swell.

Thanks for visiting.

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Out my window

I can't believe how many we have.  Six males at one time on several feeders.

  We had to go to Lowe's, Carole wanted a new hand held shower with a magnetic dock.  I hate to order all these items she wants online because they're never what she expects, so I would rather shop local.  During that outing I went to Kraynak's outdoor center and found just want I wanted.  Well, I wanted the larger one with a jelly bowl in the center but Mark thought this was enough.

 Checking it out....

We're pretty excited to have seen them in time to offer food and they accepted our invitation to stay.  One pair would have been great, had no idea there would be so many.

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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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