Annie's Keepers

Totally new to me.  Not many shops carry this system, very few online also.  It looks like a marvelous idea, especially when paired with the needle keeper.  But where do you keep it while stitching?  No hoop to hang on a hook or stand, and with all those threaded needles, an easy way to lose a few when picking up and putting down.  Am I missing something?  But I do like the snap in keeper for storage, easily pulled to add to a ring.  Do any of you have this system?  Mark made the wonderful floss ring stands for me but I also have high strength magnets on the lamp's metal stand/pole which the ring attaches to.

I went to Michael's today for more silk flowers for the gravesite.  I tried to stay in the store and look around, there are so few customers since it changed from Pat Catan's, but I cannot handle the hot mask for any length of time.  Signs on entrances to grocery and other stores state that a face covering is required for entry but only half of the people are wearing them.  Who isn't?  Young people.  My nephew's grandson is autistic and trying to get a mask on him causes a melt down.  The walk-in hair cutting salon told them to leave if this 5 year old with a problem would not wear one.  He has slipped into such a bad place since the schools closed and there was no contact with the teachers except for a weekly email.

I really hate to mention this, but the nest I was protecting is no more.  I am used to wren distress and warning calls, but this momma was chirping something I had never heard before.  She went daily for food, but I never heard the babies chattering for food.  I decided to use a flashlight and peek inside.  This poor creature was not normal.  Needless to say, a few days later the odor hit me as I left the garage.  Our single baby bird was dead.  We don't know why there was only one, why she called continuously for two days, but there was something wrong with her baby.  The other houses are full of chatter and hungry nestlings but I am still upset about our baby in the bucket.

I'm making pistachio cake and icing this evening to take to Carole's tomorrow.  Chris's grandkids both have birthdays in June (and mine) so I am taking cake over.  Matt usually hides from us so I am assuming his setback will be worse, we probably won't be able to stay.  Carole hasn't seen her great grands for 3 months and is ready to have them over.  No kisses or hugs, but I have my doubts.

We got my parents' spring chairs from the attic and gave one to Carole, sanded and painted ours.  The comfort and gentle motion is just so relaxing.  They have high shaped backs and it feels sooooo good!  I get carried away on the single swing until I am flying high as if on a playground set.  I wonder how far I can go with the spring chair before it launches me out.

Enjoy your weekend.

Thanks for visiting.

******************

Well that hurt

I TOUCHED PETEY!!!

I stretched my arm out through the door which pulled a muscle in my back at the same time the rag rug my knees were on started slipping on the wood floor and once in motion, nothing I could do to stop it until my chin hit the door's threshold.  But before the slow motion mishap, I was able to reach him as he laid on the bench.  Once I smacked down he ran but I stroked his back three times!!  Now mine has a hot pack on it.

Thanks for the suggestions on the Hickling vase caper.  I plan to take a better photo, upload to Paint, and manipulate to find the best of these options.
1.  Extend the top border to the right over the flowers.
2.  Remove the flowers and space them further apart.
3.  Remove and stitch the flower section as they are but higher and add to the top of the vase.
4.  Remove it all and stitch again 3 rows up and extend the diagonal stitches of the border beneath.
5.  Have an iced coffee and do something with the uneven piles in the sewing room.

*******************

It's curious

that a person whose sewing room is always a complete disaster would be bothered by a design being a few stitches out of balance.  Symmetry is pleasing and important to me, yet my fabric and scrap piles are varying heights.  I did not realize the top vases on each side were not level.  I do now.  Should I have checked this before?  Not if I planned to follow the chart of a reproduction, but yes if I need balance.  Will I remove and re-stitch to align those vases or let this irk me every time I see it?  You tell me. 

Not every day produces progress. Poor Petey.

Have a good day folks.

*******************

Winner #2

Yeah I know.  I did this last time too.  Why not spin that wheel for another name.  So I did.

Anonymous (Cherie in WI), you can choose between Ohio Treasure or the Marking Sampler.  Maryann took the Pennsylvania Pillowe.  Please email me!

If Cherie has or does not want either, I will spin for another name.

Cherie mentioned in her comment about a neighbor's cat using her flower beds as litter boxes.  Seems that is a common problem!  There is a product by Simple Green (Outdoor Odor Eliminator) that comes in a spray or a refill that removes the odor/ammonia with microorganisms.  It won't prevent them from using the area, but it claims to remove the odor left behind.  I wonder if it's offered by the case.

*************************

Winner

In case this is too hard to read, after randomizing Maryann Olsaver became #6 and that's the number generated.  Thanks everyone!

My hanging galvanized tub planter was everywhere and even offered for sale with it's own shepherd's hook.  But I can't take credit for the tire planter.  There are so many images and ideas for using tires, plain or painted, on ground or hanging.  Even painted and stacked and filled with a cushion as a seat or footrest.  Lots of great ideas.

Tons of other ideas and images, even for raised gardening as high as you'd like.

I am in sweat clothes and have been for several nights.  By morning we will be in the mid 40's.  It's mid June!!  WTH?  June will be over before we know it and this summer will be the shortest ever.   How crabby can a crabass get?  Stay tuned.

***************************

Time to come on down

Geez.  When will a name be drawn?  I never thought about it.  How about Saturday evening at 8.  Sounds reasonable.  And so it will be!

About the Vicks.  When I was using it to protect the bunny nest, I had plastic containers upside down with a large area cut out, cotton balls or a piece of rag inside with the Vicks.  I added more every 4 or 5 days because the strong scent seemed to dissipate in open air.  Petey is not bothered by it one bit and has already tried to scale the barrier.  The other cats are avoiding that area.  The landscaping we had installed last fall has dead foliage on the bottom foot or so from them spraying.  Never had trouble until Petey showed up and now all three males spray everything.  What I found online and tried in one area seemed to work.  The plastic runners that are laid over carpet have little grips on the back side to keep it in place.  I cut the width in half and laid it grip side up around the shrubs and that worked.  The grips are not pleasant on their pads and has kept them out.  It's too late for the other side of the house but I will certainly follow that idea throughout.  I use a large rock or drive spikes to hold them in place.

We had to replace the pull down stairs over the garage and I saved two sections to use for plants.  There isn't much room so a large pot or planter would not fit on this narrow unit. I would like to paint this in blotches to mimic an old worn out ladder, but may just leave it as is.  The other piece will go to Carole and I need to grab another $5 plant from Home Depot for her.  There either wasn't the same amount of flowers offered this year, or everyone bought a lot early, not much left at all.  They had 8 packs of impatiens for $2 at Lowe's so we drilled large holes in the bottom of an unusable tire and I filled it with them.  They're very close so when mature, they should be a great display.  Decided against hanging it with heavy rope from the tree, but that may change.

My latest 123 order with linen is coming today, more of the same, PTP Legacy and more Heartland.  I recently visited a site new to me with lovely hand dyed linens, can't remember their name or the site.  I'm sure I will when there isn't a piece of paper or pen in sight.

Happy Friday!!

****************************