Part two of- what day is it

 It IS Wednesday.  Veteran's Day.

A grateful thank you to all who have served and are serving today.

This is one of my favorite photos.  My mom's dad staring with pride at his son.   This man could not have been prouder to have a son so committed to this country, and it shows in this photo.  Dziadzia was always looking at him with a sweet smile, almost fixated on his son's handsome face.  That pride is felt by families today, and gratitude from America's citizens, as we honor those serving this country.

This is my grandfather that I wrote about previously, who visited Poland after he lost my grandmother.  My mom and aunt went to the airport to pick him up, he literally fell to the ground and laid there, without shirt, no wallet, no watch, no belt, no socks, no wedding band.  Luggage and contents left behind. A tattered undershirt, torn pants that did not fit, shoes with holes and no socks.  No jacket, no hat, no gloves.  They thought he had a heart attack and ran to help him.  He was sobbing uncontrollably.  Kissing the ground of America.  His village was so poor he left everything he could with them.  Being a man with a simple job and no money of his own, it was a great sacrifice to send money every month, even if all he had were a few coins.

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Elizabeth's house

 It will be the charted color.  I can't waste any more time trying to find a suitable overdyed and ordering is a crap shoot anyway.  The light yellowish shade goes with the other colors and I think looks the best so I'm not changing it.  I could dye the DMC myself and used the Paint program to preview, not impressed.  Brick would be much better and depending on the day, mood, weather, and food, will be determined at that time.

I plan to move back to the top section now and complete to the right of the house, but not the house just yet.  Except for a few eyelets in the dividing bands, those stitches are over.

A chilly rainy day makes for cuddling.

Enjoy your day, whatever it is.  

I thought Tuesday, but Wednesday is an option too.

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Moving along

 Hi everyone.  Happy sunny Sunday.  (Edit-Mary just informed me that it is indeed SATURDAY!)  I got the outside of windows done yesterday, one broke.  Older Andersen double hung and that's the second one that had the exterior pane crack and break.  Hoping an Andersen service person can come out to replace but they haven't answered my calls.  This afternoon I would like to sit on my swing and enjoy the two magazines I received.

Carole saw the local cardiologist office doctor that caused her Torsades in 2014.  He left the room, the ICU, showed up to get paid for the pacemaker implant (the only course to stop it after EIGHT code blue revivals), then never came into her hospital room for the rest of her stay.  Not a word.  Another doctor had to take over.  I was and am furious over this.  But she needed to see him since the other doctors have left town.  He was wonderful.  Never apologized, but made her feel safe and cared for, offered to speak directly with Dr. Estep in Cleveland, and she is very pleased with him.  Did fear cause his lack of action?  Embarrassment?   Was he unable to face the patient?  Now Carole believes that was the case.  If so, he is a heart specialist and should be able to face his failure and not abandon his patient.  She requested I sit this one out and not attend the appointment with her, you have a hint why.  I saw the young doctor that killed my father in a Macy's parking lot and started toward him.  He turned and saw me, decided to run back to his car rather than enter the store.  The only smart thing he ever did.

Mark golfed yesterday and one of the regulars, so well liked and kept them in stitches with his humor, did not show.  They got word two hours later that he had a massive heart attack and passed at 62.  One neighbor lost a sister, another a father, Carole lost several friends in the last few months.  All unexpected.

Almost done with the 4-sided stitch.  Just a few more eyelet letters.  Completed the first two rows and can now work the right border.  After the eyelet row and dividing band, it's several rows of one color and should be an easy work.

Enjoy your day folks.

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In case you missed this

 post on Instagram, take a look at the mum that keeps giving.  First the deep burgundy, then glints of deep orange, opening to red centers, and now sparkling orange in its mature flower.  Why oh why didn't I note the variety?  He had three orange options, and I'll have to show him this photo next year.

My laptop doesn't show the sparkle and depth of color like my tablet does.  But in person the color is brilliant!

I should probably give the copper kettle a good cleaning. 'Ya think?  LOL!

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Should we bypass Thanksgiving?

 I follow very few decorators on Instagram.  Using my laptop, not the app, I only see those that I follow.  Using my tablet with the app, I am bombarded with ads and photos from people that don't interest me.  One thing I noticed is the multitude of "white farmhouse" sites, all white, all the same, shiplaps, thick pillows, rugs, candles, and foliage.  I am about to stop following, tired of hearing "buy my book", "swipe up", "go to my blog".  I know the sites are businesses and doing very well, but I am getting too old to enjoy them.  Daily videos, everything seems rushed and hyper, room decor changes daily, and it's an overload rather than an enjoyable visit.  Well now, it's Christmas decorating which has already changed several times since Halloween.  Slow down people!  Are you trying to outdo and get the jump on each other while we try to maneuver through the ads to find the info you promised?  Today is warm and beautiful, but like Maxine, I'm still a crabass and can't seem to keep opinions to myself.

I wanted to show you the tree I purchased.  The one I really wanted is 58" wide and that's just too much for my small rooms.  I have had the same skinny trees for many years, have quite a few sparse shorts, but would like to move to a more traditional tree.  The pencils are good, but look solid and unnatural.   This isn't really a pencil, wider than I would like, but manageable.  Thinning (cutting) out inner branches to get a more sparse form works for some, but many have wire branches and pipe trunk which look better covered.  The prices vary (MUCH more at Macy's) but Target and Walmart are the cheapest and also can be returned easily if not happy.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/seort/206567886

This one from Puleo is not available, I've tried everywhere.  It was my first choice and I requested info from the company if it has been discontinued but no reply.  This model also comes in a fuller version and is in stock (Amazon) but I prefer the slim.  If it becomes available, I will order it for the other room.

I like them because they are "natural cut".   I do like the sparse one from Balsam Hill but don't care for the fairy lights, and the other similar Red Spruce model is $500.  Not willing to pay that when I change Christmas trees as often as underwear.

So.  Is anyone already decorating?

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Well that's not good

 My overdyed came in today and it won't work.  It could, but not if I want to be happy.  The 738 is more apricot-ty but the conversion to Weeks recommended this Gold.  Nope.  A nice gold, sort of greenish, not a good fit with the other colors.  I could follow the chart but I still think the large house in a solid will be a little flat.  But flat it may be.

I'll continue with the body until I decide on another order for an overdyed or the time consuming brick pattern.

I bought a bag of Reese's cups Saturday afternoon, ate them until the bag was empty on Monday evening.  What is wrong with me?  Good thing I don't care for alcohol.  That started a viscious carb cycle ending tonight with the chocolate zucchini bundt cake.  Complete lack of self control when it comes to sweets.  I can tell myself not to take another, know that it's ridiculous, have a talk with myself about it.  But you know, she's a crabass and a little pushy which triggers a spiteful response.  So I ate them.

My oh my.  What a piggy. 

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