Torque

 A twisting force that tends to cause rotation.

Not to be confused with twerk.

And some of our newer drills have enough to send that long deck screw into the wood so quickly that you don't realize how deep it's going.  Until of course, it stops but the drill keeps going and torques your wrist.  Not conducive to stitching.  We decided to reinstall the old boards, too much expense right now, and the excavator changed bucket size to keep the work area to a minimum.  Good thing husband started this himself because there is no guarantee that hired help will show, they just don't have enough workers.

With the recent rains, we have a real disaster and the clay soil is like walking on quicksand.  As you start sinking, your shoe disappears and it's hard to get out.  Extensive, and it will be quite some time before the dirt settles and they can come out to level and seed. The brats are NOT happy with this situation and leaving muddy prints everywhere.

My return visit to the new doc early Wednesday after the previous long wait and walk out, did not materialize.  This is the third time in six months that they called early and said the doctor would not be in.  I have no idea if there is a family health problem, but I need a doctor, trying another as new patient in August.  I asked both offices and neither will drop a patient because they visited other doctors to find the right one, as my PCP of 30 years did.  So I'm not concerned about being blindsided and refused to be seen.

I've stopped all meds months ago, I know it's foolish.  But waking up with hard palps and shaky hands distracts you.  I can take Advil again, and my daily monitor of blood pressure had been on the button.  Have no idea why with all the stress, wondering if the Plaquenil raised it?  It lowered when I stopped.  Whatever.  Advil has helped my wrist and we are finished with the drivers.  Hoping to do some swing sitting and stitching between phone calls tomorrow.  The nursing home has not been able to contact anyone from the assistance office about her application, they are still not open.

Happy Friday folks.

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Thank goodness

 I never washed my windows.  Our cement like clay soil is creating more dust than we expected.  They are getting close to the deck and should finish it all today.  The septic pump company owner has been helped by husband (he's a hydraulic whiz) over the years so when we called, he came right out to empty the holding tank and the lines could be connected today.  We've seen the neighbors on the highway progress and I guess the state (they mandated this) doesn't check because the required 8" of gravel below the pipe is not being installed.  Same company doing all of those installations, six houses, on a state highway.  And we begged to allow a variance so we don't have to destroy property, told absolutely not, regulations must be followed.  Sure.  The less responsible you are these days, the more you benefit. 

Right now the machine is pounding the 4" thick cement patio to break it up and I feel the vibration on the floor.  I've always wanted to operate a bobcat but don't want to interrupt their work by destroying the gears.

Oh no.  Mark just came in and said the pipe from mom's section is broken.  That's it.  Next time, government can kiss my ass, I'm doing what we want like everyone else.    

Filling the eight foot deep trench and lawn repair is not important right now. 

Doc visit yesterday did not happen.  I waited 85 minutes for her to come into the exam room, and decided to leave.  My eyes have been horrible, fluorescent lights and air conditioning make them worse, and I was not sitting there any longer.  I am returning at 8am tomorrow. still not sure if I will stay with this office since I am not comfortable with any of the medical staff after that fiasco.

And this is what the equipment did on this extremely hot day.  Asphalt from the melting road on the new concrete drive that was installed after they tore out the original.  A forever reminder since the concrete had not been sealed yet.  But the installers had the concrete on their boots and walked over the old drive so it's white footprints on the dark aged section, a real mess anyway.  The kids from this company left the 2" gravel in place and threw some dirt and seed over it.  When we told them the gravel had to be removed, grass needs a layer of dirt, they smirked and continued.  All that work was from the company that installed the main lines along the road, and they can't get anyone to work, so it is what it is. 

Have a good ending to my favorite month.  It's gone, passed before I realized. 

Now that this nightmare is coming to a close, I hope to stitch tonight.

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Am I going to jail

 if I snatch an IG photo to share with you?   Probably.  But if people can go into stores and steal whatever they want without consequence, I should be able to steal a photo with credit to owner.  Ya think?  Stonestreet Stitchworks posted this of Mary Taylor Stackney 1828 by Lila’s Studio.  Another one of those Holy Crap look at this moments that make you add a project to the growing list of Holy Crap I will never stitch all these.  Not only did I not pay attention to this repro before, the appeal wasn't great to this simple marking sampler lady.  What a difference it makes once again to see thread on linen compared to a chart photo. 

I continued on without changes to the green in my current work, it's fine for now.  Honestly having problems with concentrating, attention, and symbols so I may just use whatever floss color happens to slide onto the floor.

And so it begins.  Tomorrow morning on the day I am finally getting in to my doctor.  Mark will need to stay here, they are crossing all utility lines, so I hope it won't be sunny since I will have to drive myself.

The right side is coming from mom's addition (former garage), circle is the tank which will be destroyed, and the line beneath the deck comes from the house extending to meet the other.  Petey is in the middle right now but will bolt tomorrow I'm sure.

We rode out to see Carole today with more stuff that she wants and doesn't need.  I ordered three bed jackets to cover those nasty hospital gowns, along with a lightweight pink comforter and blanket, all coming Tuesday.  Never ordered so much in my life and should have kept track for returns and credits.  Her Stitchin' by the Bay bag is still terribly wrinkled, even after stretching, blocking, steaming, and cussing. 

I hope your week starts swell and doesn't finish with too many bangs.  Except for sparklers, I am not one to enjoy neighborhood fireworks.  And neither are the animals, tame or wild.  We saw a dead mama doe on the highway to the nursing home, breaks your heart knowing babies are desperately needing her and won't survive.

Be safe, be well, be bitchy when needed.

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Stitchin' by the Bay

 was close to causing Fire by the Stairs.  Damn.  This extremely heavy canvas bag that can stand by itself even when filled with heavy items, was splattered with blood during a hospital visit.  A port entry decided to play fire hose and sprayed everywhere.  I used liquid Biz and peroxide, and the bag actually held water, but a thorough rinse was needed.  A brief run through the washer and it's completely clean, but what a wrinkled mess. My steamer in the unused tiny bathroom did nothing, so I moved to the next room where my ironing board is set up.  Nothing helped, tried everything.  I want it to stand again!  How about inserting a box to shape it?   No way I would have one that was a perfect fit. ....  I'll be damned, I do!  Inside is the motion light Mark will install on Carole's back porch tomorrow.  Still can't shape/stretch the bottom back to flat but we'll cut a board tomorrow.

I am on the phone with her and a strange beeping starts.  Outside?  Where is it coming from?  A search for a brat that may be up to no good takes me up the steps where I realize it's the fire alarm.  Not the usual alarm pattern, more of a random disco beat.  The steamer was still plugged in with an extension cord that was too hot to touch.  No smoke, so maybe that pattern is for heat?  Getting a new one just to be sure, it is older.  Like me.  Could have been a disaster if I had gone to bed early as I have been since we use mom's bedroom, furthest from the stairs and would not have heard it.  We also sleep with the door closed because brats roam.  That was close!

This bag was my SIL's, an extraordinary needlewoman, and 2007 is the year she passed.  I wish I hadn't had to wash it but there was no other option.  We've lost so many small and large businesses here, I don't even know if we have a dry cleaner left.  

Restrictions for SNF visiting were lifted and we are now offered morning until 7:30 pm and three people at a time.  I took my salon equipment and cut her hair (five months of growth), in the bed, and all hairs were contained in the cape.  She's happy.  My mom was bedridden her last year here and I had a cape with a raised edge for her cuts and shampoos.  So where is it?

Have a great weekend folks.  Last one of June.

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All set

 The beautiful green wasn't working for me with the 500's.  After removing half of the floss bags from their box, I think that series will be good even though I'm tired of it.  So I chose new greens that go very nicely with the teals, less yellow and very complimentary.  You can see the difference compared to the green stitching in the border.  Should not matter at all in a sampler but you know I have a phobia regarding color.

Changed a few others for this linen background, and we're good to go.

Wait a minute.  That doesn't look so bad with the 3346 does it?

Good grief I have a problem don't I?

Thanks for the birthday wishes!

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Starting a new decade

  Seventy.  Holy crap.  

How old do you have to be before you stop making the same mistakes over and over?

I'm considering a new start to the sampler.  Even though I love the green, the following row's chosen colors aren't great with it. That 501 series has been in several of the last projects, I'm tired of it.  And the conversion charts for GAST to DMC can sometimes be way off so before I get too far along, I'd like to look up the skeins online and try to find my own DMC match.  And it would help if I did not put 6 strand cuts in the wrong bags.  I wondered why the reds were so different, I had several pieces of 22 in the 3721 bag.  Happened before and will again.

If you're wondering how the sewer project developed into such a large price tag, the tap in fee is $3000.  The excavating down seven feet, a twelve inch layer of gravel, the plastic pipe, and pushing the dirt back in is $7200.  Breaking up and removing the stamped concrete patio, removing deck boards and joists, and running a second line from mom's added bath, $3400.  To have the 1000 gallon tank emptied and filled with dirt from a sanitary company, $500. To replace the deck joists and top boards, smooth the former patio area so we can walk on it, and hiring a landscaper to remove the three foot pile of removed soil along one hundred feet and rake and seed the lawn, we don't even have a price yet.  Mark started on the deck to save some bucks but the screws break when removing and a pry bar is needed to pop them off.  Not good for anyone's back when one lets loose.

Yesterday my eyes were so bad I could not look up at the shelves in Lowes, nor peruse the plants at the garden center.  I could only look down and when the sun reflected on concrete, Mark had to steer me because I could not see.  He took me back this morning during rain and clouds to get a yellow petunia to add to the barrels.  They usually die but this is a new variety that promises to be outstanding.

 Carole was told by the SNF doctor this morning that both legs will need to be removed.  It was mentioned in CC, not certain, and I wish he would not have said that.

I'm making myself one of my favorite cakes today, the chocolate zucchini bundt.  It's in the oven now, did not have time today.  I never really celebrated birthdays.  Good thing!!  With only a few family members, most of whom forget, that would be pretty upsetting.  
https://marlanco.blogspot.com/2014/09/chocolate-zucchini-bundt-cake.html

After waiting for Amazon deliveries and another storm to dissipate, we drove out to give Carole the items she requested.  Really nice cosmetic bags with handles for the new hooks to hold, a larger mirror and folds flat into a vinyl case perfect for the tray table, and a few other dookies.  The magnetic hooks we found that hold 28# work really well on the inside of the tray's support leg, out of the way but easily reached, and is holding a large hardcover with ease.  All of her toiletries, necessities, notebooks glasses and pens, all have their own bag on a hook.  Perfect for those that are confined yet have everything within reach.

Hope you had a nice day.

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