Social distancing

I think it's only four feet for cats.

The eyelet alphabet has been completed.  Sort of.  I did not change the 712 of the F to the lighter thread I switched to but it's fine.  It shows well in the photo but not as much in person.  I much prefer the darker 922 of the XY that I subbed for the lighter 407, and planned to change them, but they look fine also and will stay.   I should have worked that out after one letter if I wanted more contrast, not at the end!!

I always stitch left to right and top down but since this chart is many pages, I am trying one side first, then moving right.  Again, sort of.

As you can see, I couldn't help myself and already worked some of the right side chart pages.  The very thin alphabet composed of satin stitches is the top portion and I may do a little at a time, removed most of what I had stitched because I did not like the look.  Moving on to the right border rather than completing the bottom left is my thinking, simply because the motifs and polka dot critter will be fun.  If I do that now and leave what I consider to be more tedious for last, it will drag me down and pull the crabass up.

Hope your weekend is going swell.

I may work outside today until the old lady within calls it quits.

Be safe!!

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And after all that....

we just arrived home from Cleveland, sister in seat.  "I won't live through a surgery", "you won't live without it".  Sure.  Dammit.  After the anxiety, dead of night patient transfer that could not wait, the dire consequences of her condition, and another trip to Cleveland, they send her home.  Yes she has a  60% blockage in the carotid at the base of the brain.  No it does not require surgery or treatment at this point. We are all relieved, but also ticked off.   Certainly grateful that it was discovered and they sent her to a place that could handle such a delicate surgery, but the drama and scare was not necessary.  

With all the dye injected the last two days from repeat testing, she should be glowing and not need a night light for a while.  Even though she is having occasional garbled speech and visual disturbance symptoms, we will side with Cleveland's findings.  Angiogram once a year to keep an eye on it, any symptoms lasting longer than a few minutes and she will report to the hospital.  They added a statin and a baby aspirin (which I thought was proven to be useless) to her drug list.  So the ending is good, a diagnosis that could be life threatening is now in the books, doctors are aware, and the condition will be monitored.  Mark and I are pretty worn out from the Cleveland trips this week and lack of sleep.  Carole will sleep soundly tonight!  The changes at the Clinic because of Covid were so obvious.  Only one entrance now, a sign in desk, and very few nonprofessionals walking about.   I asked to be admitted for restroom use, was not allowed elsewhere.

I worked a little on the Hickling, completed the left side border after removing the light threads THREE times.  That's right ... THREE!   The final change of blue in A&B is good, but I don't want that same blue throughout the alphabet so more changes are coming, I'm sure of it.  I don't mind because I love this sampler and the extra work will be worth it.  Otherwise, I will grumpout every time I pass it.

If you're wondering how the hair treatment went, it didn't,  Had to cancel but I will reschedule when they can fit me in.

Plain old tuna casserole tonight.  Comfort food for a comfortable evening.  Hope yours is too.

Thanks so much for your concern and well wishes and prayers!

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Diagnosis - edit

Edited - Just got a call at 9:45.  They are rushing her to Cleveland Clinic.  Won't know more until morning but they feel surgery is necessary now.  She told the doctor she would not live through a surgery, and he said you won't live much longer without it.  I will keep you posted but won't have my laptop with me, and will probably be outside in the car anyway.   One visitor is allowed briefly after surgery.

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I appreciate your prayers and best wishes.  We have an answer.  She did not have a stroke.  Her carotid artery has a blockage that is very high and too close to the brain for treatment here.  That is what's causing the visual and speech disturbances.  The doctor recommended seeing a vascular surgeon at Cleveland Clinic, but she is not a candidate for any type of surgery because of her heart failure.  She already takes the drugs recommended for this condition so tomorrow morning she will discuss options with her long time family doctor.  It is very serious as blood flow becomes more restricted to the brain.  Maybe her heart doctor in Cleveland can relay the tests to the vascular department and see if any treatment would be feasible.

As I sat outside waiting for a call, I admired the flowers and thought I would show you how well the bargains are doing.  This three Vista petunia has already been trimmed back in the center, it's very large, $18!  

This Vista Silverberry has also been trimmed, almost doubled from two weeks ago, $13!  The nurse with my doctor went there after I gave her directions and bought 18 baskets.  

My peonies are starting, and the hydrangeas aren't quite ripe enough for the deer.  But soon, they will be chomped down to fence height.

As I sat on the swing, I of course had to take the M&M challenge and yes, they do melt in your hand.  But didn't on the back of the latest issue of Primitive Place.  Please don't think this is all I had.  I just set them down to run into the house after downing an iced coffee.  And run I did.  Stitches removed, toes are still bandaged for two more weeks, but less bulk than before so I can run when necessary (always after coffee - hot or cold!)

Guess what color the light threads ended up being on Hickling.  3865.  Even the 3866 which is quite light was not enough for me.  Except for pure white, there is nothing lighter.  Thank you Mary for your floss gift!  

I'm still not completely sold but it's better.  You can see how nondescript the lighter thread is in the last floral of the border which hasn't been changed yet.  The first bird at the top is the light blue that was A & B, which are now changed to a darker shade.

And if you want to see my hair before treatment, here it is.  I will let you know if it's helping in a month, before the second treatment.  Nice huh?

Have a good day folks.

Stay safe.
And thank you again.

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In the position

that so many others have been and continue to be.  Just came back from Carole's and watched the ambulance leave.  She had a mini stroke affecting only her speech last night, another this morning.  They don't last long but against her pleading, they took her for testing and observation.  But I can't go.  Can't visit.  Can't be there to hear test results.  So like the majority of citizens with in-hospital family members, here I sit.  And wait.  

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Thank you

for the well wishes regarding the Cleveland trip.  The place was practically empty.  The nurses told Carole and Mark to leave as early as they can and what areas to avoid.  They said downtown was destroyed and the people excited to return to jobs after Covid, have nothing to go back to.  Many workers had apartments downtown, afraid to return, and one was burned down. 
Unfortunately the staff was not as efficient as usual and they waited an hour for the echo.  A few workers came out and asked what they were waiting for and when told,  "I'll be right back" was said.  Three times, and no one ever came back so Mark had to roam the hallways to find someone, most everyone had already left for the day.  Finally found a technician who apologized that they were told to go to the wrong waiting room, had the test an hour late.  Ran into several groups congregating but drove through, the "little Italy" section was gaining a crowd also.  Everything was closed, they made it home without incident.  Carole will get results tomorrow.

For those asking about the bottom of the last post's sampler, it's Ann Smith's work 1833.

Hopefully the doctor will remove all the bandages on my foot tomorrow and set that little piggy free.  Friday I am having the PRP injections on my scalp (for hair loss) and I am becoming very anxious.  The top scalp is numbed with a block before the injections, but any time I have lidocaine it lasts five times longer than it should.  Some patients experience excellent results, some do not, and some shed twice as much hair after.  I will call and talk to the nurse for reassurance tomorrow.  

Have a good day folks.  June!!  Holy crap.

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A gem I missed

A Miniature Quaker Sampler by Kathy Barrick from 2017.  Love this tiny gem (69 x 113).

I will follow personal protocol and change a few colors.  The bird and buds in the border will be a bright something or other, and I may shorten the design ending with the border beneath the house.  Maybe not.  But I do love this little piece, am so glad I spotted it when browsing.

What's going on with Hickling?  I'm embarrassed to tell you.  Should I?  HA!  After years of exposing my reckless and sometimes senseless stitching escapades, why not!  I removed some of the eyelet alphabet to use a darker shade.  Aaaaaand to take it even further, I removed the yellow in the border which originally was 3024 and did not show, to 822 which did not show enough, to 3866 which is a little lighter.  Not done with that yet so the jury is still out.  After studying the chart photo, I wanted more definition of my border and needed much lighter threads.  So there has been stitching, but it's been repetitive.  I would like to see the details without having to be up close.  Does that make sense?

Tomorrow (Tuesday) Mark is taking Carole to Cleveland.  They only allow one person in with the patient and I had no intention to sit outside in a hot car with no restroom for 6 hours.  I am so concerned about their trip.  All the large shopping centers that we pass on the way are closed because of rioting.  Did you see the older woman beaten in the street to unconsciousness?  The couple that were leaving a restaurant?   The woman dragged out of her car and kicked to the ground as her car was destroyed?  We don't know our way around, just the route we always take to Euclid Ave.  I doubt we will be sleeping much tonight.  

Stay safe everyone.

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