I just said that

 Didn't I post recently to measure your fabric, not to assume the dimensions?   I guess I wasn't paying attention.  It's a good thing I happened to check because I need 17" minimum and the piece I chose ......

I am pretty pleased with myself today.  Being disgusted with this mess and no sign of help coming, I waited until husband left for golf and I started removing the 7" of gravel they dumped where the concrete patio used to be. 

Raked and then shoveled twenty wheelbarrows to another spot, moved some smaller barn stones as edging to hold it in, and after a short rest, I'm good!  Only 1/8 of the pile, have no idea where the rest will go.  What a mess and expense this mandated project has been.  Not even a year later and they raised the monthly fee.

This back corner is a perfect spot for seasonal decorating in the tub and wheelbarrow.  This is behind the deck and swing and used mainly to get to the bird feeders.  No need to install labor intensive pavers here, we'll add crushed base or sand along the stones and get the rubber ones. 

They are flexible so no cracks, no need to be perfectly leveled, not slippery, no sealer needed.  Great alternative for a outdoor spot without a lot of fuss, 16" x 16".  Meant to go over old patios or decks, I'm sure I can lay them over sand or crushed stone that I can get in bags.  Less work!  Less maintenance!!  Very neat looking for this small area.  

Be safe!

Thanks for visiting.

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p.s.  Also want to mention that I'm not saying you shouldn't indulge in stitching pretties!  I'm saying don't think you need to, especially if just starting out.  Nicola and others love the accessories and accoutrements and that's great.  If something increases your pleasure of stitching, go for it.  I love seeing the items and stitchers' delight in having them, but don't feel you're an outsider or odd duck if you can't afford them or prefer the basics.  That's all folks!

As Jackie Gleason would say ...

 AND AWAY WE GO!!!!!

If I find a thread color isn't working for me I will change it then, not before.

There are a few linens that I still don't care for, one is a piece of Paperbark, another is Hemingway.  My limited stash of fat quarters yielded colors (all neutral) that l am pleased with for these projects.

So far!

I just shortened and taped a 5x8 plastic bag to my project pouches and inserted yellow paper for easy identification.  Yes the beautiful fabric ones would be nice, but after decades of stitching, I don't even have a needle minder.  It's how I started long before there were pretties and would rather the money go to fabrics and charts.  Nothing wrong with expensive scissors and hundreds of $$ in bags and dookies if you can afford them, not in the least!  But if some of us are more comfortable with just the basics, nothing wrong with that either.  A completed beautiful sampler does not offer a hint whether the stitcher stored supplies in plastic or glorious fabric, cut with $100 scissors or $5, used a finely crafted wood frame or held the linen in hand, whether bauble fobs dangled from tools.  Personal preference determines what you feel would make your needleworking more pleasurable or offer a better result.  It's our choice, and whether we have it all, or very little, we can create a beautiful result as did the young girls whose work we reproduce.  

Have a good day!!

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Getting closer

 to starting several projects at once.  And the Little Dutch will be put aside for now, too many color changes.  Many of them are needed for the other kits, and I think they may be tedious while trying to work other projects also.  

Ann Stone is mostly letters with a good portion in one color, an easy project amongst the others with more detail so she will be one for sure.  Kezia's border vine is black, not sure about that, but maybe it will be stunning.  Probably the best solution is to start all of them.  Even if just a few inches of border, a hint of what's to come. Tomorrow, linen picks.  Do I have pieces large enough?  Only one fat half in the stash, fingers crossed.

Next year, color.  Maybe a Bubblegum on one side of the post, but these brights are really appealing and will dominate next year.  

Floss tube tonight! I have a mocha iced coffee waiting for me to enjoy while watching.  The brown sugar cold brew with foam from Dunkin was introduced at $3.  I. loved. it.  The introductory period ended and I was charged $4.08 (tax included).  I had another vascular procedure this morning and my reward was to be another, even though I didn't want to dish out $4 for a medium.  I know.  I don't spend like most.  The line at Starbucks with young girls every single day baffles me.  Two drinks could be a new chart!  Well, two weeks after the last one and the price is now $5.09.  Adios.  I got an iced coffee with caramel swirl for $3 and it was damn good.

Enjoy the second week of August, I'll be crying in my caramel swirl.  That's a good name for a linen color!!  My caramel macchiato is diaper load green so maybe the swirl will be a beautiful brown.

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While I'm waiting

 for bigger projects to be kitted, the new Gigi R I showed with a boatload of colors is on deck.  I didn't even know I had Two by Julia since my memory is terrible, and after studying the charts, both will be worked on with the Little Dutch.  Three.  THREE.  I'm becoming fearless at 71.  Nah.  I just want to see how I handle several ongoing projects before I attempt this with the larger samplers.  All small, none complicated, and I have a feeling that Julia's will be fabulous in person.  I don't care for the photos and will probably jazz the colors a bit.

We'll see how this goes!  I've been a mono stitcher since I started.

My peeps and I enjoyed a snack this morning.  That silver tube on the bird feeder shepherd's hook is very effective in preventing climbers.  It is that cheap vent pipe that comes apart, put the two sides over the pole and bend the seam over to close.  Not a problem since.  We have dozens of squirrels this year.

When the poults run it reminds me of that scene in Jurassic Park.

Tomorrow is flosstube day and I can't believe two weeks have already passed since watching my favorites.

Still feeling weak and weird, can't get in for another two weeks, heart angio scheduled for September.  Would be nice to test my reaction to the dye beforehand so I know if I will again have a problem, but they never do that.  

No landscaper, still no ramp.  Husband could do it if he has guidelines and specs, but we've done enough and his shoulders, knees, and back are not for lease.  I understand how backed up projects are for these contractors, but I hired the landscape company last fall after the sewer project tore up my yard.  He was to come out early spring, but small jobs aren't top priority I guess.

Enjoy your weekend.

p.s. Gail - not sure but Spools linen may be leftover Oatmeal (Colour and Cotton) from Petite.

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The pouch

 SWEET!

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Out damned spot

 While listing my linen colors/sizes for the kitting adventure, I found this.  I never purchase, nor have, blue ink pens.  I also never open and examine my fabric purchases other than to see the color and mottling.  Since 18 x 27 is no longer the norm, I wanted to measure each piece to make sure I can squeak by on width for a project.  One was only 16", and if I started two inches in assuming it was 18", I may stitch half the sampler before finding out it will not fit.  That's when I saw these spots.  The double dots are in three places, another single elsewhere.  Some are visible on the opposite side, not all.  I know 70% rubbing alcohol dissolves ink and marker but I have never used it on overdyed and I'm sure the blotting would remove some dye.

My options would be to remove the offending threads and weave in new ones from the edge, or wait until I start stitching and see if the pattern would cover a few.  It's not a disaster, not irreparable, not intentional.  Don't sweat the small stuff.  Flashes are soaking enough.

We had rain yesterday, my tunias were thrilled to not be drinking softened well water.  Today heavy rain is expected but that changes constantly.  Mark rototilled the area of weeds while ripping out the dead shrubs, we threw the leftover wood into a pile, stacked the rocks, sprayed the weeds.  It's full dosing of Advil today! 

I plan to add a birdbath, maybe a few lime coral bells and small hostas, but not now.  When they come to clean up the gravel and move the barn stones they will dig out the clay and add sand or something.  The rototiller went down three inches and then hit that horrible hardpan, not advisable to have that equipment bouncing your arms and shoulders around while trying to penetrate the ground.  I am done with the bug infested whiskey barrels, already burned two.

I like the clean bare look after all was removed.  I did have hubby put a leftover 4x6 in the ground and I ordered two matching large hangers for the sides. Adds some interest, also another place for my larger windchimes, and a bucket of greens at Christmas.  Maybe pea gravel, the bath, some ground cover at its base, and two large hanging plants may be enough.  Less is more, and work is less!  Mom's planter is where the birdbath would go, the tunia in it is one I mowed down earllier.

Lots of small chores today, trying Arby's new hush puppy coated fish tonight.

Be safe!

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