Thank you

 for  your condolences on our Petey.  My husband was never able to touch him, but he is having a hard time with losing him.  Petey would come out of his condo to greet him, accept food and treats, and being as vociferous as he was, always had something to say.  The beginning of every yowl sounded like a tractor trying to start, and ended with a high pitch meow.  On some, the tractor took quite a while to start. There was no mistaking his sound, and it was certainly not infrequent.  That big boy was a talker.  

Another row of Jean completed with spacing and peacock changes.  They were not aligned, my error, so left had lower buttock enhancement which lowered his legs, and the right side had a non surgical breast lift which raised his head.  No need to remove all the stitches, just very top and bottom, so an easy fix.

I may purchase one chart from the Nashville show, lots of wonderful projects.  We're waiting to see the coverage of the weekly stretcher transports Carole has required to the surgeon, another tomorrow.  We were told they may not be covered since they are to a doctor office, but he is debriding each time and they do not lift and carry a patient to a table, therefore, stretcher.  

Very windy and warm here. I need to bring Petey's house and heated bowl in since the raccoons will take over if it's empty.  I have a large multiple cat heated A-frame that I haven't decided to sell or donate yet.  Bud was the only one willing to curl up with someone inside.

We knew 3G was ending but never had a date from Tracfone.  We are using Verizon towers so followed their dates.  Without notice, we lost our service the other day.  Free phones were offered so we accepted them and will continue with the $20 for three month plan.  

Be safe.

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Petey

 You sat in the woods where you knew I could see you from a window.

A beaten mess, I could not offer a gentle hand, only food and shelter.

Half of Nit's ear was removed by you, until you decided to try being a friend.

You loved your condo and its patio, as the boys watched you.

You tried hard to be in the group, but kept your distance.

After some time I was able to pet you and oh how you loved it, until the next day.

We built you a nice house into which a heated house could be added in winter.

Every day, all day, sleeping, lounging, eating ..... here.

One morning your house was empty, and we called and waited.

Today, we found you.

The last few years you were protected, well fed, comfortable, and happy.

We will miss you terribly sweet Pete.

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Hooks, Dammit

 I have a thing for wrought iron hooks.  Little hooks, tiny hooks, curly hooks, fat, twisted, flat, huge.  I purchased these sweet & small at James Creek years ago.  I so miss having a shop like that.  They are just too cute with their curled tip.

 

Yesterday I decided to move the napkin basket from the counter and the hook size was perfect.  Before these supports were added for the soapstone, the basket hung from a cup hook that was in the bottom of the formica counter, no supports in the way. 

 If this becomes a nuisance, the hook can be for something smaller.  Or I could try ripping it out by hand when anger needs to be released which would be a ridiculously stupid move.  But the invasion is getting me to that point.  

Do you have a Dammit Doll?  So many styles out there but my favorite is true to the original.  I don't care for the ones with legs, much easier to hold and whack a larger single body like this on Etsy.  And I don't need instructions.  Believe me.

Soon it will be warm enough to dip all baskets in soapy water, brush lightly, and hang outside to dry.  I didn't do this for a few years and other than a paint brush with Endust, the best way to clean between the weave.

Spring will be here before we know it. 

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Bird bath

 Hi everyone.  My bird got a bath.  Some of the original stitches remain, removed all pink, and I think he cleaned up nicely.  I used 3768 that is throughout the piece but the bronze center is barely noticeable.

This was a manipulation in the Paint program that I showed yesterday, and I thought the bright blue in the tail was a little much.  But I'm sure my brain will switch back at some point and may use it anyway.

And as a test, I just paused to manipulate again and added the bright blue to what I stitched. 

(sigh)  Looks like another change coming.  But I will use the bronze for the eyespot instead of the lighter blue if it shows.  Or not.  It's a few stitches in a freaking tail!  Snap out of it!!

Had to cancel my eye appointment because of lingering vertigo.  Dilating and spotlighting is painful enough because of extreme sensitivity to light, she said it may make it much worse.  Now I have to wait another eight weeks unless I see a change in vision.

 I'll be taking flat bread onion pizza (Nona's recipe), a pastry, and the makings for Gwen's lenten sandwich to Carole tomorrow.  I said before that my aunt had a lunch wagon and her biggest seller during lent was this weird sandwich.  It's one you don't want every day, but I've already had two.  White bread (a must), white American cheese (must be white), finely shredded cole slaw, and sliced hard boiled egg.  Can you imagine?  They loved it, and so do we. Until we tire of it.  It's not the cause, but the flowers on my print leggings have again stretched to become, shrubs.  

Have an enjoyable and safe day.

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Messy birds

  Aside from Miss Vickie, would you follow the chart with pinks or change to blue?  Two peacocks, differing in colors and although a reproduction, I rarely follow all aspects of the original unless it pleases me.  The only blue charted in this left side peacock is a few stitches in the tail.  I changed the body's pink to blue but it's such a messy looking bird.  The right side is charted with more blue and dark brown, less pink, still messy.  

This is close to the changes I am considering.

I mentioned previously about the feeling to get up and run that comes on and leaves quickly.  Truth be told, I can't get up from a seated position fast enough for the action to materialize.  By the time my large arthritic body is upright, I forgot why, assume it's to refill my iced coffee or pee.  I don't understand after almost a year of anxiety and high stress ending, why I would be experiencing this.  These last days it feels like the meno years have returned in all their gory (certainly not glory), like a roller coaster car that was struggling to reach the top, lost power and is racing backward.  I am having trouble controlling emotions.  Young courageous men crossing the border to join a fight that they may not survive, children crying, people losing everything.  I am trying to stay away from the news and scenes of desperation, but I can't.  Unfortunately his circle of people do not have the gonads to take him out, even though they would be respected and honored, hailed as heroes.  Maybe dead.  But a few lives to save an entire country isn't a bad deal.  

If something would happen here, how would we deal with it?  With so many preaching America is a terrible country, would they be willing to defend or inclined to destroy?   My thought .... they would be hiding with their tail between their legs.

I feel the only thing I can control today is to keep the messy birds or clean them up.  

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Spinning

 Vertigo again. Hoping to be able to recline and nap this afternoon without the walls spinning but still cautious to attempt that position.  

I have one more flower to complete this row, the same design as the far left only done in tent stitch. The interior outline is 3768, also all tent which looks unfinished to me, so I may cross it yet. 

I received my Ultimate Sampler Motif book and am disappointed.  Wonderful resource and so many options, but it is printed on tan paper.  I need stark contrast, especially when recognizing symbols, and a bright white paper would have been a great deal better.

As for the mag lights, I bought a five inch round gooseneck LED floor lamp (no magnifier) for Carole's room which gives a great deal of light directly on her book.  Tons of them online and elsewhere for low dollars.  I want and may order in the future the Brightech floor model which has great reviews from stitchers and hobbyists.  The unit I received a while ago was too stiff to bend and rusty so returned.  I sometimes wear my 3.5 mags and use the Dazor light only, higher count I pull it down and use the mag too.  I plan to move into the tiny parlor to stitch and would need a light in there, not sure if I want an LED floor lamp and separate clip on magnifier that can be used elsewhere, or a magnifier/light combo as the Brightech and others.

My cheek swelling is reducing, the root canal and crown are doing well, but not the others.  Good news to report, Carole has a small section of the incision that is finally closed.  Next week is mammogram, taxes (we owe every year), her echo, my eyes.  Every day a new adventure.  And we finally found a dealer that will deliver a new garage door so we can paint it before installation.  We are south facing, very dark color, and any overlay designs will warp and lift from that heat on a steel door.  Wood costs more than my car.

Sloppy joes with bread and butter chips on it, bakery buns, and avocado salad for dinner.  All soft, all good.

Stay well, thanks for visiting.

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