Some are happy

(Petey won't enter his outdoor heated house yet.)

Some are crabby.

This is generic Mucinex Max and after using it through several colds and flu, highly recommend it.  One product for all and you really feel better.  Until it wears off and you need another dose.  My question is, if you take it every four hours but not more than five doses a day, did someone change the day to 20 hours or is my head foggy enough to fail a simple math test?

And since I am not leaving until better, Mark will pick up three gifts from two siblings and return them for me.  Chris took my gifts to his son and partner last week since I am staying home but their little ones will open gifts at Carole's Wednesday.  No idea if six pair of boots, 4 trousers, 2 jeans, 6 leggings, 2 fleece tops, or the bootie slippers fit.  

And some crabs become badgers.

Took the little decorations I had, threw them all in a box, Santas are lined up and ready for hibernation.  Their jingle balls are shaking in fear and anxious to get back into that box.  Their creator has been so angry that things actually did fly out the window.  It's a quick way to downsize.  

Enjoy your week.

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From the past 2

I came across this while searching my old posts, trying to locate a missing finish.  I need to use labels!!  Not one giveaway is marked and this drives me nuts.  Thought it might bring a chuckle.  

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 I must tell you about how distracted my mind has been.  I keep in touch with Patti's husband and he emailed to tell me he visited a friend for a couple of days at his beautiful home.  He wrote "on a hill with 16 acres, got to drive his '41 Ford.  Wow, 450 horses".  So I replied that I'm glad he had a nice visit and where is this home with 450 horses?  Was I embarrassed when he said the 450 horses were in the Ford's engine?  No.  It wasn't as bad as 40 years ago when my husband was out of work.  We took a long drive out of town into the country and I saw a sign at a large farm and recognized the company name.  The sign stated  - 23,000 happy employees.  "WOW!!! They probably hire often with that many workers - maybe you should apply here!"  Husband said he wasn't qualified.  "You're the smartest person I know and can do anything.  Why wouldn't you be qualified?"  He looked at me and said "because I can't lay eggs like the other 23,000 employees".  Sometimes you feel so silly you laugh hard enough to wet your pants.  And the older you get, it happens if you just smile too hard.

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And I found a photo of the tiny tree before I trimmed it as you requested.

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Swans

A quiet relaxing weekend for me, I hope for you also.

 Except for the Christmas and Memorial pears, all others were offered in my giveaway.  If I remember correctly (why can't I remember to label posts) Charlotte won the final pear, Swan Song.  It was sort of honoring the resident pair of swans that lived in Buhl Park, tragically, recklessly, and suspected to be intentionally hit and killed by a vehicle.  I've always considered stitching it again, I do love it.  I follow sampler stitcher Brenda (who doesn't?) and recently saw her finish of WYNT Manor at Quaker Hill ... OMG stunning.  It reminded me of my final pear so I pulled the chart and it's in my Magma.  It's doesn't come close to the sampler of course, but since I am reckless, lazy, and impatient, the pear has a better chance of being stitched.  The colors in this sampler are just amazing, maybe I could use some of those pinks in the vine, probably change my blue birds to a lighter shade.

With Eliquis, I was told that one Advil a few times a week is acceptable.  Oh baby.  Let's see if that allows my hand to hold that needle!!

Have a good day folks. Stay safe.

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One FFO

 Hi friends.  Greetings from PA snowmageddon.

Hope your Christmas, although restricted, was still wonderful.  Planning, decorating, buying, anticipating, baking .... sort of like a wedding.  The long preparation is over in a day.  And the cookie table is bare.  Well .... mine is.

Have I stitched?  No.  The joint pain in my hands, ankles, and hips is worsening and it may be the Sjogrens.  Joints, kidney, lungs, fatigue, can all be involved in progression.  I'm hoping this is a flare and will eventually calm and revert back to normal miserable.  I've been dropping so many things and controlling that needle was not working.  So instead, I decided to work on final finishes.  Rather than construct a drum as planned, the box was an easier option.

I have various sizes and shapes of shaker boxes left and recessed a few lids for needlework.  When I would paint lids of shakers, lining up the fingers and standing on its side to balance was important.  A box doesn't have to always be set on a table and I like the standing option.

Once the design is centered I tape or mark the lid.  Then glue in place while double checking alignment.  This is a sweet little box not easily seen on the higher table, so the side position is my choice. 

But I can set it on a lower table too.  Not sure if I will add a cording or not.

Hoping for a weekend of rest and comfort for everyone.  And that blogger fixes the photo issues in 2021.  And the cookie elf restocks my cookie table.

Stay safe!

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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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