Come on down!

You may be the next winner on The Chart is Right!

Birthday giveaway this year will be your choice of one of these charts.  To enter, leave your initials or email in the comments of this post only.  If you can't, email me.
samplersandsantas@gmail.com
No need to list your preference, you can choose when you win.

Here are your choices.

#1 - Threadwork Primitives Ohio Sampler 

This is my finish on dark brown linen with thread changes.



#2 - Homespun Samplar's Marking Sampler

I don't know where mine is.


#3 - Notforgotten Farm's Pennsylvania Pillowe 

This is mine that was highly distressed and sewn into a bag.

Not my birthday yet, but considering how my mind has been working lately, it's best to act on current thoughts for they may be gone tomorrow.  

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The width of things to come

For some reason, I am not fond of samplers with more width than length.  I can see the actual size of Hickling now that I stitched to the full width.  Long and skinny, what I was 40 years ago.

 A wide short piece can pull together a wall grouping and create interest.  There really aren't many reproductions of that shape, but plenty of designs.  I haven't decided how many of my finishes will be hung with pins as before, or framed.    Several are quite narrow and long (Pumroy is really long) and currently they are all rolled and stored in a spare bedroom (that is really a total mess of odds and ends and fabrics).

I found a few pieces of scrap in the shed and had Mark create more protection for mama bird.  She is feeding now, and the cats have spotted her flying in and out.  I also have a jar of Vicks out which has helped me many times to protect baby bunnies from coons and cats.  It is so strong that it either irritates their nose or masks the scent of prey.  I use a plastic storage container that is taller, from soup or salad, turn it upside down, cut out a section, and add a weight on top.  It keeps the jar dry from rain and still allows the scent to disperse.  You can also smear the Vicks onto items and create a perimeter, but this one is in a corner so that wasn't necessary.

Hot hot hot!!  Possible storms this afternoon.

Garden is not looking good, par for the course.

Carole is doing OK.  I'm going for a review Friday and this may be the final showdown.  I am so tired of her pushing plant based diets and I have to deal with this every single appointment.  Because of the Sjogren's, I can't eat a variety of veggies that contain acid, no oranges, grapefruit, kiwi, peaches, and a lot of other foods.  Absolutely no vinegar base recipes or salad dressings which makes salads pretty bland.  And I don't even like veggies or most of the recipes she gave me to try.  Enough.  Doesn't she understand that a diet not enjoyed is a diet not kept?

Gotta get moving, blood work this morning.

Have a great day!!

Thanks for visiting.

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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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