A test

 After looking through charts this morning, Kezia is calling to me.  She is not as large as the others shouting, around eleven inches on 36 count.  Except for the border, the stitching is not complicated or crowded.  But that border.  Oh that border.  Stunning isn't it?  You know I hate borders.  Not as much as winter, but close.  So why did I choose Kezia?  Good question since my sampler choices for decades have been marking style.  I still like them, they conceal errors very well, offer many options to change letter colors, and perfect stitching for less stress.  So I am surprised at my preferences the last few years.  Houses, motifs, pastures and freaking borders.

You remember Kezia Turnock from Sassafras Samplers.   Very high quality chart that includes the thread card (another photo of sampler on back side), and a second full size chart with over two if preferred.  Am I losing my mind?  Why would I consider that massive border over one?  Because I am losing my mind.

And here's why.  An element of the border that I really like is the two color outline.  In order to achieve this, tent stitch over one.  The over two option's only noticeable difference, is the solid color outline.

So here's my attempt at an easier solution.  I'll test a larger section of border with backstitch, three rows, light center and dark outline.

My tent is on the left, and backstitch on the right.  The backstitch would be neater on the angles, and may be more defined outline throughout, but what is your opinion?   I think it would be fine.  If I would lose all sensibility and attempt the three rows of tent, the rest of the border and its flowers would need to follow the over one chart.  Correct?  Backstitch would require the same number of linen threads as over two and allow the rest to be also.  The tent is three linen threads and I'm assuming would cause over two flowers to be off a thread.  Can anyone tell me why the hell I am considering this at this time?

 If all this becomes too much for my brain, the center area can be stitched and a different border chosen.  I've already decided to create full skirts for the girls, this area is still so wonderful that a simple border will do, and the birds at the bottom would make a nice drum or folded needlebook.

I should be looking at small projects.  It's already too much and I haven't even attempted choosing a linen color!  Whether she becomes my next project or not, at least I have a plan for that time.  The other plan is to decide to keep or sell three 40 counts that are too green for me.

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Prompt action

 I misunderstood and no vice will be used on any man parts.  He was kind, courteous, professional, and not the person my neighbor thought handled their complaint.  It was sent to animal control, not him.  We have the right to press charges, but dogs killing cats is not uncommon, and this would probably end in the owner's favor.  It doesn't sound like killing a few cats makes them dangerous and the dog they attacked didn't require surgery.  As it stands now, he is rehoming in Ohio to family.  I can't take much more stress.  I've decided to not press charges which would take months, only to be dismissed, and during that time the dogs would be required to stay with the owner on my street.  Compromise is to fine for leash law violation and remove from premises.

I can't imagine sitting on my deck without the vision of horror that occurred there.  In time I guess.  The worst was here on the floor with him for his final hour of suffering and that we must deal with daily.  Very warm weather for this weekend, but I certainly won't be on my swing.

I finished Jeny and will always relate grief to the sampler, like a song that was playing when you experienced a tragedy and sends you back. The plan was for a pouch with brown leather strap, but I will put her away and get rid of the chart.  No stitching plans, no charts chosen, maybe in a few days.  

I hope we will feel like partaking in a dinner soon.  We're hungry, but appetite and stomachs aren't cooperating.  

Doctors next week, sister wants a haircut (from me of course), we'll find projects to keep us busy.   Mark is having such a difficult time and tomorrow will place the third cross he's made for our boys, all resting together.  I still can't believe this happened.

Take care everyone.

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Fuming

 Another post, another Ativan.  First of all, Amanda, thank you for that info.  I am passing it along to the officer that told us we cannot shoot.  And here's the real flame singeing my ass.  Another officer and his family at the other end of the road are friends and neighbors of the dogs' owners and have played with them from puppydom to now, as year olds.  The father was walking their Labrador on a leash along with his wife, their 3 year old, and 5 year old daughter. The dogs attacked the Labrador, each on one end. They could not get the dogs to stop even after being kicked and hit.  The officer left the dog and got his traumatized kids into the house, then went back out.  The dogs released and their Lab was treated and survived.  The little girl is terrified to go outside, even if she sees the dogs behind the fence (which they dig beneath to escape).  Their cat was also found mauled to death under the playset.  This happened a month ago and their mom sat here shaking as she relayed her story to us, the children can't forget their dog's screams or what they witnessed. No law or common sense to notify neighbors with pets or small children. Dog warden said it was only one time, no bites to humans, and the dogs eventually released.  Mr. Warden, when we meet in person, it will only be one time that I vise your balls and I promise to eventually release. 

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Thank you

 for your condolences.  It is heartbreaking when you lose a pet, but I cannot get the images of his broken body and his screams out of my head.  Or the massive heads over him as he lay helpless and unable to get away with all the broken bones.  The dogs are Cane Corso, owned by a neighbor, a state officer that was arrested last year for fraud and I don't believe is currently on the force.  Another neighbor stopped to tell us that they are kept in the back, unnoticed from the road.  Pool fencing and shrubs hide the beasts.  Nothing is being done.  Not that anything can help us, and since the attack was to another animal, not a crime.  There are no medical bills to be reimbursed and Nit's terror and suffering is over.  Not ours though.  Not enough Ativan and stomach meds to help, and we relive it every time we look out the window.  I do need to try to slow the palps and may call my cardio about that. 

 If we would have shot them, we would have been charged.

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Nitzy

 Taking some time off.   My Nitzy was torn apart and suffered terribly after two massive dogs attacked him on the deck.  We got them off of him and brought him inside.  Held him while he screamed until he passed.  The vet didn't get here in time.

The police know who owns them, never saw them before.

 

Missy lost her mate Bud, and now her son.

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The land of forgotten tips

 Why don't I know these tips after decades of stitching?  Have I forgotten, or been clueless?  Jeny's lower case letters are stitched over one on this 40 count linen, and since I have such difficulty removing over one on lower counts, assumed it would be near impossible.  Surprise!  Not when they are removed from the back of the fabric!  Several times without issue, and I stitched the letter shapes to my preference.  I followed Brenda's tip to use tent stitch on 40 when stitching over one.  Maybe that's why it was easy to remove from the back!

The other tip I did know but it fell out of my brain, is Thread Heaven.  I've always noticed how neat and slick the thread looks when first stitched, followed by a matte and fuzzy appearance after being handled during the continuing work.  Several swipes through Thread Heaven calms the fuzzies, clarifies the thread's color, helps the thread lay neatly throughout.

Would this prevent the light to dark fuzz transfer in areas like the solid block?  Another tip that fell out of my head is that the single stitch recedes if in place first.  In other words, the lighter thread  will get lost as it is pulled down when the surrounding stitches are worked.  I yanked the leg's stitches up since they were quite puny looking.  The two top critters will be stitched after the dark block is complete, opposite of what I did on the bottom, all with threads swiped with the Heaven.  I have beeswax but since Heaven is colorless, will continue with it.  Anxious to see if that results in a noticeable difference.

Phoebe is back.  She makes such a horrible mess, difficult area to scrub and also because the wood stain, not paint, changes with cleaners and elbow grease.  We have seen two Indigo Buntings so far and they nest low off the ground in bushes.  Hopefully we will find the nest and create protection with a chicken wire circle or offensive smell.

Too many raccoons and cats roaming and I try to protect nest and bunnies whenever possible.

Take a look at the new size of PF garlic bread.  Will be making our own now.

Eye doctor tomorrow, dilation does not leave me for many hours so no stitching for sure.

Had the phone ring early morning with the caller ID of Carole's facility.  Yep.  These palps won't be leaving for hours!  Ordinarily starting on their own, a scare can send them into orbit.  Thankfully, it was only an appointment question.

Enjoy your day!

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