Calling all stitch elves

Hi folks.  I call on you for your help again with Rachel.  The called for house color is 420.   Nice.

For some additional pop as all houses offer in samplers, I am trying two very muted choices.  One of my favorites, 632.

Another goody, 3858, a little more mauve.  The other reds and rusts were too bright.

It's odd how the 3860 of the grapes in the DMC color book look so brown and yet a very soft magenta when stitched.  Never would have thought it could take on that hue, but glad you chose it for me.

The 632 is not as rusty and more subdued in person, but I think 3858 is out, and the 420 would be the best choice.  Your thoughts?  I may stitch the colors on the excess linen margin and compare first.  This gal has had a good share of frogging already.

 I am not taking this project to Pittsburgh.  I could work on it at the hotel in the evening but I doubt I will be able to focus so a small and easy project will go with me.  For the next few days I will be still searching and undecided about health care.  I would gladly keep my supplement if drugs were affordable.  Correction - if seniors were given the benefits of others.  I checked Biden's plan for negotiating senior drugs, but it is for no more than ten the first year and will not be in effect until several years from now.  The courts allowed Eliquis to hold off the approved generic until 2026, about the same time this plan would go into effect.  No way to know out of tens of thousands if my drugs would be the ones negotiated, or how much lower the price would be.  Decision time once again.

I am embarrassed by my mention of finances and deeply touched by a reader that sent me a generous gift to purchase stitching supplies.  Stunned.  This gifter is anonymous so the only way to offer my thanks is here.  You have uplifted me with your kindness and generosity, sorely needed as I try to console my sister and accept this before her surgery.  Thank you so very much.

Enjoy the weekend.

I will be dealing with old light strings that croaked, and new LED "warm white" in various lengths that are as color reliable as linens.  One is pure white, one is slightly green, one is pinkish, one is apricot.  Vastly different.  Returning all and ordering one brand only.  Or throwing it all out the window.

Yesterday it was heavily overcast allowing me to drive!!!  YAY!  

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Late as usual

 Sorry, too many phone calls.  

Not many entries, so I just added names to paper and drew from a bowl.  

Teresa L at tll6601@gmail.com will be getting the sampler charts.

Thanks everyone.

Getting close to starting on Rachel's house.  I'll show progress next time.

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Christmas giveaway

 This year's gift is a chart from 1988 that has several samplers of various sizes.  

"The Sister Samplers - 1839 booklet features antique sampler designs that were completed in 1839 by Sarah and Melvina Holland and have been adapted by Margaret Jeffries McKee.  The booklet has 16 models which have been inspired by the two original samplers."  

Photos from the chart are not very clear.

As for my sister, I have spent the afternoon leaving messages and waiting for return calls, she is crying all day from what seems to be nerve pain at the amputation site of five weeks ago.  Started after last weeks suture removal and trimming.  Nothing is helping.  Nine months of this and other causes of excruciating pain, should not be.

I'm not drawing a name until later in the week, too many things going on, so let's say Thursday at 8 pm.  Please make sure to include your initials or email address so I can contact the winner.  If you can't leave a comment, email your entry.

 samplersandsantas@gmail.com

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Straight and steady

 can still be crooked and frustrating.  Now, if I didn't follow the irregular pattern of these straight rows, would it be noticeable?  Absolutely not.  So why did I waste so much time counting and moving?  Regardless, I did, and when it finished as charted I felt pretty darn good.  But tonight I can get closer to the house since I haven't stabilized the center for the rice stitch motif yet.  The large outside borders were to be rice also, but they weren't boxed as four stitches and I rarely read instructions.  No matter, because I would have used basic cross as I did.  I also filled the borders and center with the 3013 that I held off on because of the difficulty with seeing such a light thread.  My eyes were slightly better last night so I got those threads filled, and was surprised at the amount of stitches and time that it took.

Still decided whether to start a small seasonal project, and now I understand why Merry Old Soul is sold out.  I caught up with floss tube and saw that two favorites featured him two weeks ago!   Procrastinating always bites me and I had several sites with him in my cart before that.  I also noticed that quite a few cart items on Amazon and other sites are several dollars higher on this Cyber Monday sale.  

Repair is here right now and the fridge can be fixed!  Ice buildup from defrosting blocked some hickeyamabob and the thingamajig burned up.  Lots of other calls and such today, can't do much else with snow and ice covering leaves, too cold to finally get windows washed.  Probably continue cleaning and bring a few small trees down.  I've been looking at the battery candles and wonder how long they actually last before needing replaced.  Some have rounded and stationary flames, some have flat flames that move.  Not sure which would be best.

I found this old box at the only local vintage shop, and I really want to visit the large antique shop in Ohio.  Just never works out.  I think the price was a little high for this but I do like wood boxes and especially this size with its iron handles.  Scrubbing the grime is disgusting but needs done and if not filled with greenery, a small tree may call it home.  Lestoil is the absolute best but I'm trying citrus cleaners first.  It's sitting in mom's shower, best place to catch the filth splatters from scrubbing.

Hope your last days of November are good!

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The Putz is puttering

 Between Carole's calls, I started getting the rooms cleared of clutter, dust, cat hair, and a few things that I don't recognize.  I'm sure I will remember what they are for as soon as I need them and can't recall where I stashed them.  Mark was so busy taking care of me and I had let things go in the household department for quite a while before that, so it's nice to finally feel strong enough to make a dent in the mess.

I had two trees picked out (pre-lit) but fairy lights don't sound bright enough, and micro (?) I am not familiar with either.  Cannot believe prices of smaller artificial trees and I will pass on that purchase this year.  We did find two fridge models that are close to counter depth but the cabinet would have to go.  We also learned that no one locally knows how to replace a compressor, and no one is learning appliance repairs.  The salesman told us a compressor would cost around $600, we should just purchase new.  The new is $1000 more than the repair, but that is the thinking in today's disposable times.  I don't like either fridge, fingers crossed ours can be repaired.  No return calls about the garage door, maybe Monday.

Carole's, mine, Mark's phones are all 3G and need to be replaced by year end.  I really have no idea what to get, where to go, and I am not looking forward to more time being spent on choices and decisions.  I like my little $5 phone but it has to go.

Have a pleasant Sunday!  

Tomorrow is Sunday, right?

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A little Snippy

 Hello shoppers and stitchers.  I didn't do much of either today.  We went out to get those unattractive but very useful TriBurst lights for the garage.  Thought it might prevent another door from being destroyed.  That was it!  Kraynak's is still so packed with people I am uncomfortable browsing.  Maybe Monday at store opening.  The older I am, the more I avoid gatherings, crowded stores, even celebrations like weddings.  Complete opposite of younger days, and I don't like it one bit.

I removed all the stitches and need to stabilize the linen in that area for the rice stitch.  I've mentioned before about using Lift 'n Snip clippers for better control when cutting.  Several inquired about those snips and I don't believe this particular brand is still sold.  There is a folding version I believe, mine are decades old.  

These are the blades.  

The bottom hook is quite sharp and easy to slip under the top threads.

I ordered Notforgotten Farm's charts, Christmas Folk and Spools of my Thread.  I'm 70, and limiting spending on inexpensive items that bring joy will have greater impact on mood than on budget. 

Merry Christmas to me.

She featured it in her Christmas show announcement and I searched her Etsy page after page several times and did not see it.  But I ordered today along with that sweet sweet little bag that I have loved for a long time.  Then I found a file that was downloaded months ago from Pineberry Lane, A Sprig of Holly.  Add those to the latest from Lori Rippey and I have several smaller Christmas projects to think about.  It better be soon because I have less than a month!  I may switch to one or two with a promise to myself that I WILL return to Rachel.

Surgery is scheduled for December 9.

Snowing here, black ice, lots of accidents.  Be careful!!

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