Rice a Ruining

 I know it's bad for you, but I do like Rice a Roni even though I've never been to San Francisco.

But this is rice that's 'a ruining!  I do believe the worst is over and I am continuing with less trouble.  

I outlined 4 squares on the chart to represent each rice stitch because I had a very difficult time discerning where one ended.  Messy, but I also colored the adjacent symbols and it did help.  The DMC 422 is quite pale and hard for me to see on the linen.  I ended up first doing the full cross over 4 threads to make sure I had correct placement.  Once the base was in place for that row, I did the additional corner crosses, confident that the frogs were napping.

This area was removed twice previously, and the rice frogs made the linen limp and stretched for holding a stitch.  So I used the Best Press twice to size and give body to the linen.  It helped, but I feel a little stickiness and its scent is noticeable.

Everyone loved the flannel pillows, but the wheelchair's extension has changed from the wooden board to the chair's attachment which is much lower.  They weren't enough.  The bag her rolled twin comforter came in was perfect.  I used a bag of fiberfill, drew it closed, and it's a fat bolster shape that raises her stump high enough so the knee isn't bent.  The small flannels are perfect for reading in bed.

Have a great weekend folks.

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The tube

 It's only been a few weeks since I handled them yet I was baffled as to why these tubes were in the Christmas totes.  Takes a while, but eventually, it will come to me.  Bingo.  The wrapping paper rolls have a wider opening for the denser trees, but these feather style can use the kitchen wrap rolls.  Wrapped in muslin or protective paper, I have several large samplers rolled on the wrapping paper size and smaller projects on the others.

Got several loads of clothes dropped off last night, she "needs" them today, so I've been busy.  I managed to sew the 12 inch pillow cover and the flannel choice was a good one.  

It doesn't move.  I really like this pillow form because the cover has a small zipper allowing fill to be removed if too much loft, or more added.  Great feature.  I removed about 1/4, gentle padding is all that's needed.  

I used the same envelope method as I do on smaller stitchery finishes.  This has a longer overlap since it will get a bit of use.  If I have time before we take the ride to her facility, I will get the 12 x 16 done and can adjust the fill while she is in the wheelchair.

Breaded pork chops with worcestershire and leftover kugel for dinner.

Have a good one!

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Today's project

 Greetings!  Carole got the brace (prevents contracture after amputation) off her right leg during daytime, but still needs some soft support on wheelchair and also for the left which ends at the edge of the seat and is still sore.  I've been using a 12 x 16 pillow as lumbar support in my chair and thought it may be a solution to the cumbersome large bed pillows she is using.  

Mark drove me to JoAnn's this morning and in addition to the 12 x 16, they had a sweet little 12 inch.  All on sale, grabbed both.  These sizes should be perfect!  I also saw 40 off on flannel material so I got a yard of a gray with pastel hearts and I think this fabric will stay in place better, no slipping.  I dyed the vintage crocheted/embroidered pillow cases pink and pale blue so this pattern is perfect.

After seeing glimpses of samplers that will be released soon, I decided one will be my gift from anonymous.  Fell in love with the antiques shown, and can't wait for the chart.  Been waiting for something special, did purchase the WTNT Santa I wanted so I'll have a Sampler and Santa as a memento of her thoughtfulness.

Hope your day is going swell. 

 We've got cold temps blowing in with high winds.  Big change from having hair so thick they were barely felt, to so thin it feels like being slapped in the head.

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The beast, the bird, the berries

are all over one.  Oh goodie.  Can't wait.  The large center rice stitch may be next.  I removed and enlarged the leaves that touch the outline border so they match the left side, still befuddled.  The main dark branch down the center of each side is properly positioned, so how could I continue off so many times by two, and only on the right side of it?  Whatever, the leaves that touch are all corrected, any other misaligned elements stayed in place since they are not noticeable.  The single outline to the right of the tree was also off by two and needs removed.  

Carole's doc appointment needs repeating in three weeks.  He did not remove stitches, still some bleeding and non-closure, a wide band of scabbing that is deep all the way around.  He is not too concerned, said it's not perfect, but will check again in a few weeks.  

This is a wood box that carries wine bottles, free at our liquor store.  Mark sanded, stained, and varnished, added a knob, and his golf buddy is anxious to get it for his bar.  My Santa are starting to gather on tables for hibernation.

Hope your year is starting slow and uneventful!

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Looking back

 Have you looked back to see all the projects you've completed in 2021?  Of course I can't recall, my mind has been mush for some time now.  My only dated records are my blog posts, but reviewing the last twelve months brought back more than I expected.  The crisis of Carole's near death and CICU weeks in Cleveland, without visitation and the hospital not communicating her condition (they had the wrong phone number), was pushed further back with every appointment, various hospitals, nursing home, procedures, surgeries, amputations over ten months.  And at the beginning of this, completely buried, was my new doctor's office telling me I had five years to live and fighting to see a specialist.  Taking charge for myself, finding out from a different medical group that their improper diagnosis was unethical to say the least.  Good grief.  No wonder I've had a stressful year.  

I found the misalignment in Rachel's right border which threw the bottom portion off by two stitches.  I was desperate, and wondered if comparing the two sides visually rather than counting the twisting vines would help.  Bingo!  Aligned right side to left side and pinned, I focused on one of the leaves that did not reach the outline to one that did, and it became obvious.  I studied the stitches and found it which caused all beneath to be off also. That large and showy part of the sampler would be obvious if not the same because of the outline. The only way to align is to remove and stitch the offending leaves after extending the stem or vine.

I can't get rid of this heartburn.  Wedge pillow for a few nights!  Surprisingly, my lower back which is miserable during the night and early morning, is much better when sleeping on it.  Chiropractor said it makes sense, and sleeping with a pillow under thighs to raise your knees helps also.

Surgeon visit tomorrow.  He sees patients two days a month at a closer UPMC hospital so that cut our travel time by 45 minutes.  

First Monday of the year tomorrow, creeping closer to summer.  We need to get rid of the $5 phones because 3G cutoff is rapidly approaching.  And it's snowing so I guess hub is not golfing today.

Have a safe one!

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It's not midnight

 It's not Sunday.  But sure does feel like it.  I'm tired!  Carole enjoyed the visit but was anxious to return and rest.  Very uncomfortable in that wheelchair for hours, missed the pain pill dose, and exhausted.  The shells were very good, but not like the creamy filling of Polly-O.  It's hard to explain, but anything with the slightest texture feels like sand on my destroyed tongue.  Painful, and more so when trying to remove the tiny particles from crevices and fissures.  Who would think that a soft cheese like ricotta can feel like sand?  I made the almond cake that Vera led us to, it was wonderful and simple.  She's back now and resting, we're meeting her at the surgeon's office Monday to remove stitches (maybe) and check her progress.

I decided to continue on with Rachel and sorry I opened my mouth about the border lining up.  It did, but bottom only.  We know how frustrating it is to count numerous times and not find a solution.  Well, this is not critical, and I can remove outlines and move them, but it bugs me when I don't have an answer.  I already removed the top to bottom outline twice and will now remove for the last time.  My choice is to reduce the floral border width by two and have the flowers touch it as they should, or keep width the correct number of stitches and add two stitches to the motifs (the entire length is not in position).  Clueless as to why when numbers are correct, but it may be simple and I'm just too ishkabobled to see it.

Happy new year everyone.

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