Did they have spotted Llamas in 1809?

Bud doesn't know either.  

He's just ticked because Petey always gets to eat on the big bench.

I got Carole's tablet today.  Oh my word.  How the hell do you people know what to do with those smart ass phones?  Are they more confusing than tablets?  I touch the wrong spot or swipe a gnat off the screen and all hell breaks loose. I end up in places I've never heard of and a woman starts asking me questions.  Startled, I looked around to see if someone was watching me.  I think she's related to the one in my GPS and we do NOT get along.  The only way Carole will be able to use this without calling me every 5 minutes is if I hide all the apps and she keeps the Walmart grocery site open forever.  And allows gnats.

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Mottled crew

Not Motley Crue!  Two posts in one day but I received more linen and tomorrow will get the highly anticipated Wren.  Just can't get enough of this PTP.  Literally!  Out of stock everywhere!  I can do without the very dark and very contrasted, but these have become my linen crew.  Love love 'em.  For those of you feeling as confused and hesitant as most stitchers without a shop, I hope this helps a little about color choice.  

When I saw The Attic's flosstube sharing linen inventory, the Vellum looked so silvery and drab on that table.  Too late, I had already ordered.  And good thing I did because it's beautiful, not as it appeared on my laptop screen.  Beautiful!!  Light, very.  Neutral, very, Soft, absolutely.  No yellow no pink no green on this piece.  After these came in, I decided the gorgeous Dusty Road from Seraphim is not me, so I will either sell or dye (would rather sell).  Here's a peek.

Flax has no mottling, hardly any on Winter Brew.  Flax would be a great base to dab on some shading.  Remember the "old" days when you used a crumpled rag to get that effect on walls?  That's the method I will use in my attempts.  No immersing, no wetting, just dabbing with a light tan dye on a crumpled rag after a corner test.

 Legacy is my absolute favorite (so far!) but for very light projects Vellum is great.

Legacy, Vellum, and Heartland.

 I'm not crazy about the large piece of Heartland and may sell that one too.  Very anxious to see Wren and will compare that next time.

Blog and IG photos of various finishes listing linen color confuse me.  I've seen Oaken look very dark and dramatic, and other finishes much lighter and softer, which seems to be the case most often.  It depends on the photo's settings so it's very hard to know what to expect.  Can't wait for Wren!  Something tells me I will be thrilled.  I've been wrong before, and Mark notched that date into a 4x4 on the deck.  Which has long been removed.

I hope this helps a little.  I have an old tablet and comparing the photos between these two devices, not even close.  The tablet is more saturated and darker, so I have no idea how you will see these.  But I tried!!

Sitting on the swing with my pal.

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They prefer the heat

to an air conditioned room.  Hardly eating which is routine for them when it's this hot, but when they do it's a quick bite and back to the outdoors.  Why?  The rest of the day is spent lounging in the shade, or grabbing an occasional chipmunk.  Petey is a real hunter and rather than torture the helpless little creatures, he starts eating them immediately.  I like chipmunks and all other little PITA creatures, but when my cousin saw one steal a cardinal baby right out of its nest, they moved down a few notches.  The nest was in a burning bush outside her office and she was horrified as the munk came back until they were all killed.  I couldn't believe they would eat a baby bird so I researched and found they are nest raiders, eggs or chicks.  Nature is so cruel on many levels, but my hope is for deaths to be quick and free of suffering.  You can't fool Mother Nature nor can you control her.

Another thing about critters, the really big ones are fussy about hydrangeas.  They devour Annabelles and don't touch Limelight.  Right next to each other, but never any damage.  Annabelle has some foliage left on the house side, but the back side is bare.

 These are next in line but usually manage to avoid destruction.  The Vista variety is not at the top of their petunia list.  Of maybe they don't like Fuschia.

And for some good news, Petey is now allowing me to scratch his neck and head when he's on the bench getting food.  And I didn't fall out of the door.  Once off the bench I can't get near him.  He did not try to bite or scratch, just recoiled from fear, but after several times he is now enjoying it.  I know he was someone's cat.

We got Carole's umbrella for her wrought iron set (I gave her a choice of two, she kept both) and Mark drilled the pole for a bolt to keep it secure.  Matt Jr. has been staying there for a few days and you don't know how bad autism can be until you deal with 24/7.  He has meltdowns and has not been bathed, won't put shoes on, and a multitude of other issues that can't be forced on him.  I bought him bright green water shoes and attached a tag that states "can only be worn by kids that like dinosaurs, will not fit anyone else".  We'll see if that helps.  He hides from us now.  Last fall he made great progress and played basketball, had friends, and was fine on the bus.  The break from school has set him back two years.  He still thinks he did something wrong because none of his teachers had visual contact, just the weekly email.  This fall will be traumatic because he panics if you try to put a mask on him and it's mandatory, let alone leaving home on a bus full of kids.

Steak splurge and grilled veggies tonight.  Hope your day is a good one.

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Decorative aids

Arthritis is really taking a toll on my right hand.  Heberden's nodes are getting huge and starting on the left also.  Trying to alleviate frustration and pain on simple things with decorative alterations has become a hobby of sorts.  I have several of these Basketville lunch bucket baskets and although easy to lift, the lids are getting difficult to grab.  So I decided to add leather flaps.  Two baskets are still unfinished and need stained or painted but I'll come up with something for them too.

And remember this typcial bench that I had Mark cut open and convert to a shelf?  Those storage baskets that fit perfectly are now sporting jute loops.  So much easier to pull out.  One of my better ideas because so much coffee table stuff is hidden in these baskets.  Pens, papers, magazines, missing floss skeins, stitching aids, extra glasses, and of course, Dove.

My $274 sealed tooth caused me to hit the ceiling when I chomped a piece of cold watermelon.  I called, they said it doesn't always work.  No, I can't have a refund.  I never asked prices because I was just there in February so assumed the costs would be the same.  Costco still has a good dental plan but I never got around to making the almost 4 hour round trip to sign and pick up my card.  They wouldn't mail it.  This dentist would not accept it anyway, he only participates in union plans.

It's hot baby!!  So are the prices of beef.  I thought the processing plants were only down a week or two over a month ago.  So why haven't the prices returned to prior costs?  Really taking advantage of us aren't they?  My local meat market has a huge farm in PA, all meat comes from their animals and processing is done in house, yet they increased prices dramatically.

Have a good day folks.

Iced coffee and chocolate for me.  Thanks for the visit!

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Shock!

I am in shock.  It's been several hours and I'm still in shock!  I visited my dentist to take care of the broken tooth and all he needed to do was a little drilling and fill it.  No problem.  A molar toward the back was sensitive so he asked if I would like a sealer brushed on, I agreed.  I was done from start to finish (including talking about his dog and mom) in 24 minutes.  I went to the front desk, and my bill was a whopping $654.  WHAT?  He's young and starting out, prices were reasonable.  Now that he's established patients over this last year, I cannot believe what he is charging.  Is this out of line?  This dental practice he's purchased has been the only I've used since my teens. The breakdown - filling was $308, sealer was $274, walking in the door (limited visit charge) was $72.  Are you kidding me?  And you don't leave the office without full payment!  I am really in shock for less than 30 minutes and one small filling.  I just purchased Carole a Lenovo 10" FHD tablet to replace the small, old, and useless one offered through her phone plan (it's a flip phone).  She needs it to order grocery pickup and has no internet service.  If I had not done that this morning, I may not have after the dentist trip!  Geez.  So tell me, since I've never gone elsewhere, are these routine prices?

And I found out why the PA unclaimed office made the confusing request.  They are all working from home and have no files at hand.  So all the attorney's paperwork is at a closed office.  It may be another year before they get to it.

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You just have to laugh

I mentioned about waiting for a small insurance policy from PA unclaimed property, and the fact that we had to hire an attorney because of the requirements, and also that Mark was named in the will provided to them.  Along with court and notarized documents.  We got a letter today requesting he file a notarized claim electronically.  It states "If you are unable to electronically send the documentation required, you may mail your documentation to the address listed below".  Do you see it?  I don't either.  And they have all the official documents necessary!  Typical for any dealings we have with government employees of my state.  And as with all state and federal employees, job security whether they work or not.

Some progress on Mary Ann but I've been sitting outside until dark enjoying the weather instead of being in the house.  I should have finished it by now, but summer breezes are more important.

I'm getting a shipment with several pieces of Flax, very neutral (I hope) and I can hand dye and spritz away to make it my own, the Winter Brew that I jumped on when notified a few weeks ago is not coming,  32 and 40 Wren to see color, and Vellum.  I never liked the mottled linen before and can't get enough of it now.  Typical menobrain.  I tried a piece of Dusty Road from Seraphim and it is also very neutral and soft but as happens with hand dyeing, smaller pieces may only have a few areas of shading.  This one is only in the center so I will gently play with it, and order a larger piece also.  I sure hope I don't have another long slump because I have been building my linen inventory, all 36 count which is also relatively new to me.

There has been a lot of back and forth criticism about wearing a mask and I can honestly say that if Joe wants to mandate this for the entire country, he will be in for a surprise.  We have store entry doors stating in large letters NO admission without mask as per the state regulation and mandate.  Guess what?  The only people inside wearing them are elderly.  A young woman in front of me at Kohl's without a mask was stopped and given one, she said no one could force her and they let her enter.  Same with every store we have visited. They aren't refusing anyone entry even though a mask is required by the state and people will do what they please.

Hope you all had a great 4th and are safe and well.

Sue, if you want the two Sudberry, please email me.  I can't contact you.

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