The light

 Hi folks.  No rain yesterday!  The garden is gone, the nights have been very cool for some time, the days are shorter, one week until September.  I haven't slept well in months, thoughts of waking up without legs, waiting for the phone to ring mid-night, wondering why this has been going on for six months  Only a fraction of what she is feeling daily, not wanting to accept how compromised her health is. I'm now sitting alone on my swing (with a jacket) which never happened without Bud next to me.  Daily thoughts of a fellow blogger and stitcher, far too young for hospice, also a part of my restless days.  Some days, I just don't know how to release it.

So I destroyed another petunia.

As I saw Brenda's IG post from The Attic, I decided I need to treat myself and placed three orders for seven linen colors that I will bitch about.  I will just sell if not to my liking.  Or how about accept?  I have one wall sampler whose linen color I detest but thought at the time it was perfect.  Some colors that alone are objectionable, can become the perfect background for that sampler.  I must try to envision completion when deciding on a fabric.  OK.  Sure.

The first lamp came, not going to work.  Only $40 on Amazon but I didn't realize that the bright light is visible around the entire piece and my eyes can't take it.  I can't have a chandelier on in a room because the bulb level is not far enough above eye level.   Another reason I am so ticked to be this tall. This lamp is of course even lower, couldn't walk into the room with it on.

The other issue is the height.  I can flex it to be low and in front of my work, but that's quite a stretch.  Very good looking and 1.50x magnification with a glass lens, or adjustable lighting for any task.  But not for my eyes. 

Brightech Lightview with remote

The second one which I believe is shorter will be here next week.  It can be shortened even further as a floor lamp or removed to a table base.  We'll see.  

I think it's time to send something from me to you.  If my thoughts settle, maybe tomorrow.

Mark is driving Carole's friend and myself for a visit this afternoon,  He will sit on the porch with Sudoku and I will take in the view to give her lifelong friend some privacy to yak.  Monday is the virtual with the third surgeon for an answer to the right leg, but after four weeks, his office said they haven't received the requested angiogram CDs for review.  More wait time.  Pacemaker replacement is here on Sept 1.

Enjoy your day.  Cherish the bad with the good.

It's all we've got!  And most times, much more than others.

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Trees!

 

One of the elements that I love about this sampler.  Not as confusing to follow as I thought once I studied the chart.  Every other vertical row is solid flanked by the same color on every other vertical stitch.  I started horizontal and had a hard time as usual so decided to use a marker, which showed the easier vertical pattern to follow.

The right side is much easier with more contrast in colors, but still the same vertical method is less counting.

The pacemaker surgeon and also the vascular surgeon offices were to call Wednesday with appointments, but did not.  So today, Friday, I will call again.  The Medicaid office called early and another extremely pleasant worker explained the process and said there should not be a problem, and it may be resolved before the hearing.  She is the only one working today, the woman I spoke with a few days ago was off, I am glad they have the integrity to do their job and that of their entitled co-workers.  

I ordered linen including some 40 count, trying PTP Ale and hope I like it.  I also have two Brightech smaller floor mag lights coming.   Because of my sensitivity to light, I think a flexible gooseneck can be positioned lower than my Dazor and LED is not as irritating as fluorescent.  If I pull the Dazor lower than eye level, I can't seem to twist the lighted end into a comfortable viewing position.

Have a good day!  

I plan to hopefully enjoy warm sun today while sitting on my butt outside.

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Green

 Two of them are completed from page one, moving on to the trees.  I will decide on the colors in the floral border later.  

Not much green here.  Days and days of sudden rains and now all day rains.  Very cool nights, we had no summer.  And it's over.  No landscaping, no workers.  Dollar General is closing at 5pm because ... no workers.  I waited forever in line for a store pickup at JCP, no workers.  

I finally spoke with a very pleasant employee about the Medicaid denial.  She said it's routine.  To discourage application?  She said it will be a long time before approval because there should be the standard four workers in this department, and there was one for a long time, and now only she and one other.  Why?  Because just as with federal jobs, you can't be fired and really don't need to show up.  She has 42 cases, ordinarily 12 - 15.  So I have to file an appeal and have a hearing, they have 93 days to respond.  My question .... why deny applicants that are obvious approvals which creates a backlog and double work?  Oh wait, it's government.  I plan to express my gratitude that this employee is doing a great job.

Trying to create solutions for the difficulties of being bedridden has become a satisfying task.  I have a pink cushioned pouch (for laptop) and after purchasing a few adult coloring books and new pen set, thought this would be a perfect size to store it all for Carole.  It's a challenge to get containers and baskets sized to hold her essentials that are easily accessible.  As I picked up my stitching, there it was.  A large ring fit nicely on the zipper clasp and the grabber can pull the pouch from the bookcase. We're tried so many grabber tools, and this one by Jellas (got the two pack on Amazon) is great.  Non slip grip, and a rounded center for bottles.  But Covid lockdown will prevent us from getting it there.  She is negative but not right, seeing spots, and mixing words again.  They are so busy with testing all residents (the case is in a different building but they take no chances), am sure they will keep an eye on her this evening.

Hope you have sun.

Wish we did.

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Sunday

Two new linens, Seraphim Antique Lace and Stephanie's Toasted Almond.  I switched Rachel to Winter Brew and back.  If I need to use white in place of the lightest thread, fine.  But I don't want her on a linen with much color so she's staying where she is.

Here's that petunia that was the victim of my wrath.  This is a large laundry tub and it's overflowing.

And another that I destroyed 9 days ago.

And a few other flowers .

Why is Facebook now "suggesting for me" entertainment site posts for every two stitching posts?  Do they think I give a bird's beak about what these people think?  With all the 10 bedroom homes and several vacation compounds, why not open your doors and shelter these homeless instead of preaching?  You have the resources, the space, the money, everything they need.  So open your homes.  Or shut your mouth.  Done.

Here is the winner of Fancy, back in 2014!  I have not recovered the chart but being such a simple design, I just recreated onto graph paper following my largest finish on Davos.

https://samplers-and-santas.blogspot.com/2014/06/winner_27.html

Going back to the nursing home this afternoon, told her I am not going to be visiting several times a week any longer.  I have two weeks left to summer and I need a break before the surgeries and recovery.  Between phone calls, and paperwork, and getting things for her whether at her home or requiring purchase, and the hour long trips every other day, no longer renewing my ticket for the guilt trip.  I know how it would be if our positions were reversed.  You don't base your actions on what others would do, you do what you feel is right.  I have and will continue, do not need someone to make me feel it should be even more.

August 15th.

Son on a bitch.

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That disappearing act

 Again.  I've always loved this cat pillow and have stitched quite a few in various cat colors.  Stitches from the Heartland chart from 1984.  This smaller one was made for a giveaway and I was surprised at the low number of entries since I love this. The last cat was on a higher count and really small, I must have given it away also.  This large original and another in gray are on 18 -20 count.  I think it was called Basic Cloth by Back Street from decades ago, beautiful texture, but I do like the reduced size of higher counts.

Another frustrating day dealing with a doctor's office staff, for an expensive, uncomfortable, unnecessary transport.  You wouldn't believe it if I told you, and I won't.  I wanted a familiar, easy, mindless stitch that evening but instead had a tantrum about not finding the chart so I picked up Rachel as she tried to ignore the obscenities.  

My Rachel border has had two florals removed because of the color not showing, so I'm moving on to the greenery while I decide on a change.  Now starting over again because the 934 and 520 are similar, and I used the wrong one for the stems and leaves.  The charted 3047 doesn't work, and this Ecru isn't either (as you can't see). I'll probably continue with the correct green and work on the trees and alpha for now.   Maybe start fresh on a darker linen?  

There is a tiny one room schoolhouse turned shop that is closing across from the facility, so we stopped in.  Bought a newer crock in a small size, glass ornament, antique cobbler shoe form, and this tiny hinged box with glass, all for less than $10 (50% off until closed). I can stitch something for this, would make a nice gift.  She has loads of doilies and linens, various cups and dishes of china patterns, most vintage.  Not my thing, but a sweet little shop.

Happy Saturday half way through August.

Source of increased crabassiness.

And a hidden Cat chart.

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Iron spittle

 For the first time, my iron spit up.  On my new Winter Brew!  The fold crease does not want to go away, and I guess the hot plate didn't like sitting in the same spot for that long and spit at me.  R&R is not washable, and I've never had a problem before, but that one fat drop landed and it was too late.  The dye ran to edge and left a ring, the other drop removed the color without leaving a ring.

I used a damp terry cloth and gently tied to blend it but once that dye ring is there, any additional moisture could create a larger ring.  I wasn't too concerned about the lighter spot but wanted to break the outline of the ring, and it seemed to do that.

Being in the middle of the fabric, it would most likely be covered by enough stitching and not be noticed at all.  I wondered if the eraser on a Frixion pen would work, or any eraser.  Gently, I followed the weave just enough to soften and blend.  That seemed to help.  Some fuzzies were pilling slightly but really not hurting the linen at all.  So I also tried this on the crease which is lighter and a straight line.  Usually I will pat a tiny bit of Ranger ink from a pad to break up that line but I don't have a color this light.  The eraser trick worked just enough to break that line in a few spots.

Several online sites instruct to never store hand dyed linens in plastic bags because of possible chemical reactions.  Mine are but are not sealed and have a sachet inside.  I'm still airing this piece and used the lavender freshener again. 

If you are interested in the excellent facility I talk about, click on any of their listed communities/services and see a short video.  The skilled is The Villas with several sections, and where she is.  In the Colony video, you can see the wood working shop, the sewing room, and craft room in the activity building offered to those that want to continue their hobbies after downsizing. The memory unit is separate, secure, and all private rooms. Plus they offer guest accommodations for family visiting from out of town and would like to stay.  As we were leaving today, pork with a special sauce, sweet potatoes, and apple strudel were on her tray.  Carole is an excellent cook and has raved about their food from day one, even though sodium restricted. 

https://www.stpauls1867.org/services

I'm going to be making zucchini breads for freezing, not many, garden was a disaster this year.  A few basic and a few lemon, no Death by Chocolate this year.

Have a good day tomorrow.

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