Any progress is good

Between headaches which are rare for me, and trying to adjust to the sun's brightness for the last few days, progress has been minimal.  But on 36 count and more over one, I didn't expect this to be a quick finish.  I should be able to complete the two sections leading to the vase at the bottom tomorrow.

 

The over one words down each side of the sampler's border did not show well on the chart's photo, the apricot color is not easily seen.  I miss out on a lot of nice samplers because so many have more than a little of over one.  I will consider the project if it's limited but on higher counts, no no.  I am liking those words stitched in the dark green rather than the apricot, more noticeable and adds some interest.  Looking at this, I think the blues should be darker, maybe 930 instead of 931 and 924/3768 instead of 928 (which I already switched to 927).  They look so much darker on the original, even for being on a darker linen.  Hmmm.

 

The gray 3024 of the original shows nicely on that color linen, but would not show at all on mine.  I have no intention to change the yellow I subbed for it, but look how much nicer the florals stand out on the original.  Need to think about this before I stitch the opposite side even though I just said I wouldn't change.  Don't ever trust me.

I have two small pieces of 40 count in Heartland and Legacy coming from another shop, anxious to see how close the colors are to the 36 count I just received.

Saw the podiatrist and he is pleased with progress but wrapped it tight again.  Maybe next week we can set that little piggy free.  Having the surgery postponed until now worked out well since I can wear sandals during healing.  Can't get them on yet, but soon enough.  Years ago the surgical shoe was a thick sole with two soft cloth flaps and velcro.  This one is a like a gravity sandal for the space station.

Flashing like a maniac.  They're baaaaack.

Enjoy your Friday folks.  

Thanks for visiting.

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Well that was fast

I just ordered this linen and it was in my box today.  My first Picture This Plus and I must say, it's gorgeous.  I was never thrilled with variegated or mottled linen but this is just so wonderful that I have changed my mind.  My only issue is the color.  I thought PTP Legacy was greenish and Heartland was pretty neutral.  Nope.  The Legacy looks more of a brown and the Heartland is quite green. 

 I do not imagine that any linen dyed like this should be dampened or wet, so dipping the green in a smidge of red to tone it down would be wasting/ruining the entire piece.  It's still a beautiful fabric and I have to learn to deal with my color phobia about undertones.  I'm happy to have a piece of each!  I've had major differences in R&R 18th Century line, hoping PTP runs fairly true to prior dye lots. 

No projects chosen for either, I just wanted to own a little bit of these popular colors.  Will definitely check into another order for additional colors.

Have a good day.

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Three flat cats

Petey practices social distancing ... lest he wants a smackdown.

And a bird in a can.

I saw five tiny eggs in there earlier and decided to take a photo.  Mom was not around, or so I thought.  I had the camera resting on the edge of the metal and flashed that bulb about six times, couldn't figure out why the eggs weren't showing.  After I almost lost an eye to a tiny wren in panic mode, I realized she was sitting on them.  This is right at the back door of the garage where the cats come and go without being seen.  I can't move the can, the stool is on cement making a shepherd's hook impossible for hanging.  Cats and coons can easily climb that stool.  If we get a downpour, she will be flooded.  I need to think of something rather quickly, storms are forecast.

Carole's friend's husband has been transferred to Cleveland Clinic after numerous errors and false information.  How frustrating when you can't see them or speak face to face with their doctors.  The friend who lost a husband after bringing him home was mine, not Carole's.  

Bad news Mrs. O'Neil, we think your husband may have had a stroke.  

We need to do an MRI.

Next day

Good news Mrs. O'Neil, the MRI shows he did not have a stroke.

Next day

Bad news Mrs. O'Neil, the MRI shows he had a stroke.

How many MRIs did he have?  One.

She has been very pleased with the communication and information from the Clinic, very glad he was moved there.

We need to take Carole next week but only one person is allowed to accompany a patient, so since I can't drive, Mark will take her for the day and I will stay home.  Carole is ticked and plans to call them and ask for a variance.  I told her to let it go, I don't think all three of us need to be exposed to three different departments of testing and such.  They are diligent in disinfecting, but three old farts at one time from a family of only five is not a good idea anyway.

Hope your Memorial Day was good. 

 Various neighbors had large parties this weekend.

Stay safe.

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Memorial Day

Every year on this day I am reminded of the thousands of young men who lay with their fellow soldiers so far away from home.  Far enough that family did not get to visit their grave, honor them with a funeral, quietly tell them they are loved.  The solitude, the silence, many buried where they died in fields.  What would the world be today without their sacrifice so very long ago?

Lorraine in France

And continuing today.

Arlington

Memorial Day.

Hope you all take the day to remember and honor.

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The good the bad and the nasty

Hey buds!  Memorial Day weekend.  Wow.  That's all.  Just wow.

First the good.  I missed out on 123 and other sites shipment of 36 count Heartland PTP because I was waiting for a money transfer.  It came, but the fabric went.  After searching for two days, I found a piece!!  And a piece of Legacy (whatever the hell that is)!!  In stock, happy dance.  Hope I like them.  She has a half yard of 40 Legacy in stock but I got the last of the Heartland in higher count.  If you email her, she will let you know what is in stock for shipping or needs ordered.  Free shipping over $35 for the weekend.  https://stringtheoryneedlearts.com/


The bad.  More cats.  A sweet faced smaller fluffy apricot has been hanging around and crying at the windows.  Mine want to kill her/him and I can't stop Petey either.  They do not want to be in the house once warm weather arrives and they will howl like a banshee.  This beautiful visitor is truly in trouble, but I'm sure other males will be coming around and the fighting will continue, neutered or not.

More bad.  My wonderful state of PA has allowed my Medicare supplement to raise my monthly fee.  I sign a contract for A YEAR in which time I am not allowed (by law) to change providers, drop the plan, or switch to another.  Yet they were given permission by the PA Dept of Insurance to raise the amount I agreed to for the year.  Seven months of increase and I will bet another in the future.  That my friends, is horseshit. Good for gardens, bad for finances.  And allowing generic drugs that were Tier 1 last year to be moved into Tier 3 that carries a $435 deductible is also that horse thing.  Good Rx is free and cheaper, yet we are forced to pay for a Medicare Plan D contract.

Still on bad.  Carole's dear friend has been dealing with the local hospital after her 77 year old husband took a bad fall and broke his hip in three areas.  She can't see him, the staff is limited, he is not getting proper care, help with eating, no one comes when he calls for bathroom assistance, he fell out of bed (no rails were up) on to the broken hip, has had a stroke and bladder infection while there, and she gets no answers.  How many people are dealing with these emergencies and elderly in nursing homes that are on their own.  Terrible.  My friend's husband recently died and she was not allowed in for his final days so she hired a service to remove him from the hospital and once home, he died within hours.  She is thankful she defied the hospital and was able to be with him.

On to nasty.  Our irresponsible residents in an adjoining city decided to party and raised our Covid cases by 18 in one week.  Asymptomatic, only two with slight illness, but because of that increase we are not going to green as all the other counties around us.  So ticked off as the entire county is toward this individual.  How many people did the positive 18 come in contact with before it was known?  No masks, no distancing, just party time.  And he had symptoms at the time!!   Not a source of fertilizer but certainly a horse's ass.

And here's my progress albeit slow.  I found more errors and am ignoring them.  I also changed the 928 to 927 for contrast and used the wrong blue for the G.  Don't care.  I plan to continue with the border next, a break from the eyelet stitches.

Thank you Marlene for the ripper with the rubber suggestion, getting one this afternoon.  Yes ladies, it's a stitch ripper with a rubber tip.  If I could find my silicone finger I'll bet that would work very well also.  I bought them for protection from the iron when pressing small items and for some reason, they disappeared.  How could that be?

Hope you all have decent weather this weekend and enjoy sitting outside.

Stay well, be safe!
Thanks for visiting.

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I was wrong

assuming the over one would continue to go well.  Who is the trickster of needlework?  The one that hears your confidence and sets you straight.  That makes you miss that one thread of linen.  That tricks your eyes into counting one more or less on paper and fabric.  Hides your needle.  Moves your floss out of order.  Does she have a name?  My mom called me Flossy long before I ever had an interest.  Is that too kind?  How about Needler?  Shall we name a stitching trickster?

I have never had this issue with DMC before but it is shredding like hash browns.  Ending with a feathery piece of floss and a ball on the backside is very frustrating.  There is no way to frog on this count without it happening and the green monster appeared for every word since the last post.  Not only did some of the linen color lighten in those spots, I can't get the dark floss color out.  Tried tape, tweezers, and removed the majority, what's left isn't that noticeable (in sh).  Very difficult in the tiny spaces between over one stitches.

I made some progress and I do like the over one being prominent with the change to dark floss.  The chart color is the apricot of C and D.  The light 712 for the eyelet isn't showing well but I don't plan to change that.  I need to make a decision on the wonky upper alphabet before too long.

I thought I would be moving my baskets into larger pots and tubs today.  But I did not expect this much pain.  It will be much better in a year or so, I'm sure.

Have a good day folks!

Thanks for visiting.

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