Sit. Stitch.

That's my plan this evening. 

 One sister, one brother, one nephew.  Every one of them kept me busy all week.  Daytime to bedtime.  Online shopping, checking, tracking, what's my balance, is this covered by my plan, my grocery pickup didn't have several items I need ...............  The tech at Walmart called ME five times to help with setting up his phone upgrade.  Password?  Pin?  Plan?  I know Chris has a real problem with focus but sometimes I just get so flustered.  And regardless of all the aggravation and time, I wouldn't have it any other way.  One day, the phone may not ring with another task for me, medical question to research, item to order online, hair cut request.  But if I leave first, they are up a creek without a paddle.

Saw a new doctor today, very pleasant, did not ask as many questions as my previous.  But also did not scold or criticize or preach.  I asked her opinion whether I should take the Covid vaccine and she basically said the same as the others.  Probably not a good idea.  Patients with autoimmune diseases are not affected by vaccines, but the small number of patients whose autoimmune was caused/triggered by a vaccine, extremely risky.  You know I'm not good at making decisions!!

This little tree is like my jeans, and this big star is like my ass trying to fit into them. 

Carole is happy as can be after the haircut. I cut it a little short but it looks really good.  Mark isn't as happy with his but I don't see any difference.  As I was snipping the last wisps from her forehead, my shears broke in two.  And then, shaving her neck, the trimmer broke.  Odd for both to croak during the same cut and as I finished.

So tomorrow, Mark is taking Chris to the clinic in the morning, I'm staying home and will much enjoy the quiet.  He has a few things to check at Carole's house and will do that following, and also hang this for her.  Using scraps in the basement Mark put together this cabinet by modifying a bowl rack I made years ago and never finished.  Peg beneath, storage inside, and display on top, Carole spotted it when I was cutting.  She loved it.  I don't.  So Mark told her to find a spot and he'll hang it tomorrow.

All items for Chris's son and family have arrived except for a few, and the only one damaged in transit came today so back out we went, exchanged for the only color they had in store, grabbed a pizza, and I am finally sitting.  Carole always used Superior brand Vanilla Butter Nut flavoring https://superiorflavors.com /in her pizzelles and finding it locally is impossible.  Their website came to the rescue and we ordered several to have on hand.  LorAnn is a favorite also but our old family recipes and friend's bakery have relied on this for years and we do like it.

The brats new heated houses, beds, and warming pads are coming tomorrow and this weekend.  We're getting more white stuff with some ice Christmas Eve but have 4 wheel drive so we can still deliver the food.  I love those Hawaiian ham/swiss sliders but some recipes use more butter and allow it to soak before baking.  I use a little less, pour it over, and go right to the oven, don't cover.  Carole's cookies are long gone and if anyone is trying that recipe, the dough is sticky, roll your balls in powdered sugar, and greasing the pan is not necessary but I like to use parchment paper for all my baking.  They are almost cake like.

STITCHING countdown!!  I have another BK mocha, mouth slimed with a new product to calm the burn, and five tubes of various products coming this weekend.

Stay safe.

Enjoy the holiday hassles so many are unable and would give anything to do.

Thanks for visiting.

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Did I stitch last night?

 

Hell no.  Totally consumed by favors for one sister and one brother, and many hours wasted trying to reason and explain.  Carole baked and sent Chris here with my favorite soft as a pillow sour cream jumbles.  Also Chex party mix but I cannot partake because of the salt since I am already in flames like a stitching project that ticked me off.

Tomorrow is pick up day for Carole's groceries after making an inside store trip for our needs and hers at a local grocery today.  Fill the propane tank for winter grilling, check the phone Chris is getting because the techie contradicted too many important facts, return a few items to Kohls, call the vet again for Bud, Carole is coming to get her groceries and I'll cut her hair.  But not until I have a BK mocha iced coffee and sit for while. Wednesday is a new doctor for me mid day but I may need to take Chris to the clinic for his diabetic retinopathy.  If they treat to stop the bleeding that day he'll need a driver and I'll probably reschedule mine.  Find out tomorrow.

We aren't getting together for Christmas because of the virus but of course, Carole will not stay away from Chris's grandchildren so she is having them over next week.  We've had a craving for the ham & swiss Hawaiian bread sliders with the poppy seed dressing so we got everything today.  Easy, everyone loves them, funeral potatoes on the side, cream corn casserole in crock pot.  Delivery on Friday!

We have not seen the kitten again and I don't know if it ran away because of seeing me or Petey.  He wasn 't around at the time so the little one may be very skittish and seeing me in the door caused it to bolt.

Days begin to lengthen, closer to summer we creep.  I am hearing some choice words coming from another room, Steelers must not be doing well.

Hope your week is pleasant!!

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Even things we dislike

 can at times be enjoyed.  It lasted one day.  My limit for the white crap.

Posted this on Instagram (have a lot to learn, posted twice, no idea how) and for those of you that didn't see it, isn't this puzzling and wonderful?

The snow slid from the boards and formed a soft round ribbon that draped beautifully yet did not break!  Snow.  Draped!  Then the sun came out and it glistened.  Amazing!

I believe the kitten may have been the critter I saw briefly two days prior running from beneath a neighbor's deck.  I looked for prints in the snow but icy rain last night made it impossible.  I still intend to make inquiries tomorrow and continue searching.  Houses on either side and two other hate felines, but between them is an animal lover.  Unfortunately, their dogs bark at anything that approaches.  I'll keep you posted.

Hope to stitch tonight without interruptions.  

WILL stitch tonight without interruptions.

 Stay safe!

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No no no no no no

 I just can't deal with this.  Over and over, tied down, the fights, the resistance, no neighbors willing to help, agencies filled and no where to go.  

I heard an odd noise, sort of a cat cry, but not really.  Really.  A baby.  A darling gray tabby with large ears hiding under the wash tub while Missy sat close.  It was the baby's cry, not Missy.  Petey is not in his box ten feet away or Missy would have been hiding.  He will destroy this homeless kitten.  Nit heard the cry, was at the glass door growling.  I just can't keep doing this.  So upset.  After telling Mark, who knows I have been in tears for two weeks with my lip and mouth constant burning and pain, he shook his head.  He said I can't save them all and can't take any more stress right now.  We talked back and forth and I keep glancing out the window into the dark.  Since the others are in house, in garage, in outdoor shelters, there is no where to keep him safe tonight and what happens after that?  It's been two years and I can see that Petey will never be the fourth in the family of three which makes it difficult and sad as he sits and looks in.

Last glance, he/she is gone.  Did Petey show up and chase him?  Is the kitten in the shelter further from the house or is that where Petey is?  It's very cold and the baby needs protection, but with one entrance, he could be trapped with no way out. What about the straw bales fifty feet away?  I will not sleep tonight.  My brother still has two from the dozens of homeless he has helped, homed, and rescued over the years and Ohio's wonderful organization took his last found litter.  He will not take another.  No one to call until Monday but I will then, and if there is an opening, I will try my best to find him/her.

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Any progress is progress

 It's not as much as I hoped, but considering

-Carole regressing, 

-Bud failing, 

-being totally miserable from my Sjogrens worsening,

-being unable to consume chocolate, fruit, or pasta sauce because of the burning,

-getting a handful of hair every time I push it back, 

-my painful toe after two botched surgeries is needing a third, 

-and still living in menohell, 

I'm surprised Elizabeth hasn't been tossed out the window.  

This will hopefully be my only crabass pity party of the season.

I only take a match to projects that are causing me great aggravation, and Elizabeth has been very polite.  Two more rows and I'll be into the A&E bottom.  The vine border isn't a great deal of work and won't require much time.

I hope you're all able to release the snark and enjoy what's left of a very difficult year.  But we've made it through.  It may seem as if we're isolated, but it's the first time we are connected by the same catastrophe with every home across the world.  Physically alone.  Mentally and emotionally linked, united.

Thanks for the visit folks. 

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Checking the boxes

 Raised off the deck?  ✅

Bottom layer of thick foam? ✅

Waterproof pad over foam? ✅

Shelf above house for lounging? ✅

Patio area for food? ✅

Corrugated plastic roofing covering all? ✅

Roofing end raised for easy drainage? ✅

Still waiting for delivery of heated pad? ✅

Hunkering down for the big snow storm? ✅

Totally ticked off about it?  ✅✅

Planning to do nothing but stitch? ✅✅✅

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