One is the loneliest number

 And the slowest stitching.  

Switched back to Julia's Hunter for a while.  Loving these colors on this linen.  Being my first attempt at working on more than one project, I didn't realize that notes are crucial to stitch sanity.  Not necessary if you follow the chart and colors, but my book's symbols are incorrect and I did not note which colors I subbed for those that didn't show on the dark linen.  Or the corresponding symbol.  Theresa emailed the correct chart for Hunter but it's on my tablet which is usually out of battery by evening.  I'm surprised that no one else has contacted her about their booklet, and wonder why this beautifully printed one of mine is different. 

Which leads me to one.  Over one.  Not only the verse, but the hunter himself, his dog, and a bush.  I'm doing tent and think a full cross may be too crowded.  The bush, shoes and one leg is all I've completed.  I might outline his large coat in tent and try to work a wonky stitch easier than over one as fill-in.  It's quite difficult for me to count these rows and tiny stitches so the outline (if done correctly!) would really help. 

The flowers in the vase are off one in both directions which threw off the placement of the bush, but there is plenty of room for error acceptance in this repro.

And what else has been happening.  The end of zucchini bounty.  So I made lemon zucchini breads for the freezer,

and the zucchini chocolate bundt.  And what could be better with chocolate than pepper crusted bacon?  This is the first time we're having BLTs this summer and we finally got local corn.  At end of September!!   Watermelon is my favorite summer treat and I ate two a week, until this year.  I can't tell you how much money we have spent on bad melons.  Terrible.  Today, from another Amish stand, I took the last chance of the season and spent another $7.  Looked good, cut into it, and it was mush.  When you lose a few bucks on something, do you think .... I could have bought a chart?  Thread?  Packs of fresh shiny needles?  

I hope everyone is well and not as crabby as I am.

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Mums the word

 Went to the Amish farm we visited last week, and I purchased two of the small three color combos.  None of the larger combos were my preferred colors and I don't plan on returning when the others are ready.  Their succulents were only $2.  I'm replacing the ones that died in a stone planter Mark bought sis a few years ago.  

We decided to add four feet to the deck and toss the plans for concrete or pavers.  If they show up, it will be long past summer and I am tired of hearing every year that we will be first on the list for next spring.  We will move the step and create planters to fill the rest of the space.  If we knew this weeks ago, the gravel would not have needed removed.  

The wonky body stuff is continuing.  Nothing is helping the hives itch and Benadryl knocks me out.  I have a cold sore on my bottom lip that decided it needs a friend so the upper lip now has one directly above.  Same side, a sore swollen lymph lump on the jaw.  This is so weird.  What's next?  The seated cha-cha (yeast infection)?  The pulmonologist personally called yesterday and set up follow up testing.  

 Not until the very end of the puzzle row did I finally memorize the pattern.  I'm sure there are errors, I just couldn't get the hang of it!!  I continued with the first half of the cross and after an error check, I will complete the stitch.  It wasn't until yesterday that I realized the color was not consistent.

  I have two skeins of 3022 in the same bag and unless purchased at the same time, never a good idea. I had to remove the grayer color which was the least used and replace with the other.  Once this row is finished I will discard the greenish one.

Be safe and well.

Thanks for visiting.

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Monday Monday

 A day of appointments.  First was cardio, they want to schedule a nuclear stress now before the Heartflow.  Next was the CT scan on lungs, my nodule is growing.  Three months of anxiety until another to note if that continues.  Finished it off with a Varithena treatment.  And right breast is loaded with hives that started yesterday.  What the hell is that!!

 So how much radiation from testing am I willing to endure?  The tests are all necessary of course, but I'll have three within weeks, another in three months, and possibly more if the blockage requires the Heartflow test.  I thought the nuclear was less, but it's equivalent to 400 chest x-rays, the others are worse.  That's what I read, and I need to let that go and just focus on the results of the testing.  Benefits will outweigh the damage.

Tomorrow is the final day of warmth before much lower temps, we will take a ride and splurge on mums.  I am tired of skimping.  If I can help the background issue, buy all the clothes and goodies and necessities and room adornments for Carole, I can do it for me.  Can't rely on putts.  I've limited her room items because although appreciated, someone else's room always has much more, so I am told.

We worked on placing the stones, two areas, and used polymeric sand.  The front were still wet in the photo and the stone steps will be cleaned next.

Haven't decided whether ground cover or single shrub will be planted in those corners.  Ajuga died here.  May try again, found my favorite Black Scallop ajuga at a greenhouse near my out of town doctor.

I hope your weekend went well.  I can't believe September is closing soon.  

Did you see Stacy Nash's Big Blue design in the CS Girl's Club?  AUGH!!!  I have never joined a club, this one makes me sorry about that.  It is what it is!!

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Ann progress

 Started on the right side, and thank you - am using one thread on the eyelet.

I found 926 and 927 in the same floss bag.  So which have I pulled from?  I think the lighter 927.  Eye doctor yesterday, he is surprised at the severity of the dryness.  Tried a new high water content lens that you do not feel at all in your eye.  I wore them twice with hours between, I am bloodshot and very irritated today.  My theory which doctors find absurd, is the higher the water content, the less oxygen transmission.  My drops do not get beneath or permeate the lens.  Proof is in the bloodshot!  I need gel in them right now so stitching is on hold.  

Can't express how much I am enjoying this stitch station especially the DMC sample book being always at hand.

Enjoy your Friday.  Got fish?

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Emotions

 My goodness.  When I watched Diana's procession, I had tears.  The emotions for the Queen are greater, but this time, Sjogren's is making it quite painful.  I don't know why the lack of tears burns.  But it is certainly an emotional week.  I heard this statement .... Diana was a great tragedy, the Queen is a great loss.  May she rest in loving peace.

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I think we have another cat.  I feed deer, turkeys, raccoons, whatever comes to visit.  This cat has been in the area for a while and leaves in the same direction daily.  I assumed toward its home.  I don't know if this is the culprit that caused Missy's bite, she runs to windows to howl at it but not that vicious cry.  This is what Petey did, position himself to be seen from windows.  I don't want to go through another feral unless Missy will be accepting.  She smacked Petey at every opportunity.

We went to the Amish greenhouse for mums, their price is several dollars higher than last year but they offered a smaller size for less. The small combo mix is red, yellow, and orange and those are the colors I chose in the larger plants to match.  I'm disappointed that this happens so very early and more so every year.  Mid August is not the time to offer mums!!  I want them flowering in mid-late October into November.   We will have warm temps in coming days and it is hard to remove tunias but when you're wearing a sweats, it's time.

This is one of the Amish homes on that beautiful hillside, the photo doesn't do justice to the masses of various pinks covering the grounds.  Looks like mid-summer blooming, not fall.

Have a good day.

Thanks for visiting.

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The fat eye

 Hi folks.  I switched to Ann for a little while and although I've wanted to stitch this for years, I'm not enjoying it.  This raw 30 count with two threads was my mainstay for decades.  The Blackbird book's recent project stitched with two on low count was fun, but very small.  I have a long way to go on Ann.  Maybe coming off 36 over one requires time to adjust.  

My question for you, do you think the two thread eyelets are fat?  The second set is with one thread. 

The next section is all eyelet alpha, quite large, and I think may look as stuffed as my rear in jeans.  A little uncomfortable.  But all of my first samplers were two threads, loads of eyelets, they look fine.  

Have you ever used two threads in an area and one thread in another?

EDIT -  Mystery solved.  Marked 30 count, it is not.  Counting my stitches it is a tight 32.  That one extra stitch makes a difference, and explains why my threads look crowded. 

I have no idea, nor do employees, why this chart will not print.  I will need to transfer to my tablet and a data stick in case of a crash.  I plan to check with a fed-ex office that is about 40 minutes from here near my vascular doc.  

I needed butter and mayo for my tomato sandwiches, butter here is $7.79 and Hellman's is $7.19.  

Have a great day.

Please give your thoughts on the fat eyes.

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