Error #1

 A big one.  READ THE ENTIRE CHART.  PAY ATTENTION.  When will I learn?  How many recent errors were caused by failure to refer to the chart?  Many.  And this time, right off the bat.  It clearly states to leave two inches at the top when finishing as a pouch.  Well I did not.  I don't want to add a piece of the PTP Sand linen or fabric I will use for construction.  My only option is to turn upside down switching the top and bottom border patterns.

Switching this with the vertical right side border will also work.  But the more I look at the chart photo, I think these leaves need to be at top.  Whether I start over and follow the chart, switch top and bottom borders, or use the same for both, needs to be decided before I go any further.

Afternoon appt with Carole's surgeon followed by Mark's appt for his knee, which will probably result in some sort of surgery required.  We have one hour and thirty minutes between the two and an hour road time.

First time, had an iced Taco Bell Cinnabon Delight coffee, was very good.  I wonder if Torani brown sugar cinnamon or vanilla cinnamon syrup (both come in sugar free) will mimic that goodness.  Methinks it will.

As for the neighbor, she did report it, was told first offense without person injury would not be a case, as Lauren experienced.  They did not witness their cat's killing on their patio, not admissible.  Both of us could have filed charges after reading the PA laws.  We were misinformed I believe, or we misunderstood.  The officials handling this took it seriously and were in touch regularly, I'm thinking they are familiar with these types of issues and have seen outcomes. Has nothing to do with police protecting one another.  The owner was fired and arrested previously.

Have a good day.

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A start

 as soon as I choose a freaking linen.  BBD's book Ooh la la offers a sweet pouch with a simple design.  

Kezia requires too much thought right now and as happened before, this book slid off the pile and was on the floor.  Best way to choose the next project, let the stitching spirits do it.  This book was not even in the running!  But I realize now, the perfect choice.

I went through the linens and plan to use 36 count.  Recommended 32 count would be a little larger pouch but I prefer the mottled fabrics and have none in the lower counts.  I have one piece of PTP Legacy barely enough for a larger sampler and do not want to cut it. 

 Many models in this book were done on Oaken and they look exactly as I would prefer, but several floss tube videos claim it to be very green as is Veldt.  Is it?  We've all been through it except the lucky ducks that can see fabric before purchasing.  I just don't understand the green in everything.  Hazelwood sounded brownish and lo and behold, it's exactly like the Affogato, pinkish ground with olive green, not brown, mottling.

Or is it the other way around because my other Affogato is much lighter (yes, both are the same color).   So which one is the real Affogato?   I'm seeing a trend here and future purchases will be with other dyers.

And I showed these before, Caramel Macchiato, Buttermilk, and Oatmeal, no difference.  Much darker and much greener than shown here, not a good fit for the project.  Colour & Cotton and PTP have been the most consistent and reliable color wise.  

There is another chart in this book, also red, very similar in size that could be a second pouch, and even a third red sampler that is slightly larger.  Three red samplers, simple and similar, hanging together on a peg sounds good to me.  Linen?  Who knows.  But if I plan to stitch all three, should they be the same linen?  Probably not.  Similar?  Yes.  

I want to thank everyone for the sweet cards we received.  This one is handmade by Brenda and so special. The dogs are gone.  We don't believe anything he reported to police and if they are in fact in Louisiana now, I'm sure they will be fighting, or killing, probably both.  My neighbor that had her cat killed and dog attacked has stopped speaking to me because I didn't pursue a lawsuit.  She had vet bills, emotional trauma to her kids, her husband is an officer, but it was all put on me.  She wanted the dogs removed so her children can once again go outside.  Accomplished.  But she is still ticked, and that's her problem.  After speaking with others, I do not believe we would prevail.  Missy is beside herself and constantly searching for her son even though she was sniffing him and knew he had passed.  I'm still not sleeping well, to be expected, some visions are hard to forget.

Good news - Carole is being fitted for the prosthesis.  Finally healed and her new neighbor is a gem.  They are at the end of the hall with a glass door that leads to the largest porch, very private area.  Staffing is suffering, I don't understand why people are not working now but did at the worst time.  Signs for help everywhere and the facilities are no different.

Hope May brings peace, comfort, warmth to all.

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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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