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 That's how old Carole will be tomorrow.  Cake is ordered, although I wish I could have made it myself.  Most of the bakery departments in grocery stores here are only open a few days a week, no workers.  One store offers full sheet cakes and has a dedicated and long time employee still there.  The quarter sheets in the case were not even two inches high with the icing but it will be what it will be.  My hand is terrible and there is no way I could decorate, nor do I want to, nor do I remember where my tools are.   

Rather than wear the white/gray shrinker socks on both her stumps, I searched for a fashion/fun sock.  They are $25 for one, she needs two, so I need to make sure the fusspot will approve before ordering.  When she wears the below knee prosthetic (she does not have one for the other leg which is above knee), I thought it may be nice to have some classic but also wild socks to wear over the metal.   A filler would  transition from the metal post to the wide top of the socket creating a smooth and neat fit.  

Here's what I've worked on and hoping it will have a good result.  Quilted or padded wrap doesn't hold the shape so ...... my leather stash will hopefully be perfect.  I can adjust the fit and it will of course stay that way, she can keep, remove, or change the sock before attaching the prosthetic to her remaining limb.  We'll see!!  Lots of options and patterns for wide knee socks, but still plan to get the fancy stump socks also.

My hand is better today and I am ready to go out to blow leaves, and stitching will hopefully resume this evening.  No dog yet, but closing in on the main portion and hope to wrap this up soon.

And I decided to roast a large batch of sausage and peppers in sauce, with double the pepper/onion/sauce.  Rather than go through that long process when craving a sausage pepper sub, I only have to cook the sausage and add it to the freezer saves.  

Have a super day!

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His dog

 is the only over one left.  He's a little hound, shouldn't take too long. 

The Hunter is done!  I added hands, looked like they were there in the photo.  

Stuffing the rest of the garden peppers for the freezer.  The filling is cooked (some sausage, some ground beef with rice, celery, onion, garlic) and the meat is pulsed in the food processor for a fine texture before mixing.  The narrow peppers can take more filling when it's pulsed.  Peppers are stuffed raw, then frozen on a tray and vacuum packed.  They go in the oven frozen or partially thawed with sauce added.  Those large green are Marconi and the yellow hots are Inferno, both nicely walled and large.

We went to Joann's after my treatment and holy hot cakes!  It was twenty times the size of mine!  Huge.  So much to see and I plan to go back after my next appointment in two weeks.  I'll pack Mark a lunch and bring his sudoku book.  The bags didn't work out, too narrow of an edge to grab when opening.  My fingers are fat, crooked, and far from dexterous.

Here's something you don't want to do.  Stand in line at the big store's checkout, patiently waiting to move up, finally get closer, look down at your cart, and realize it's not yours.

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Shut the front door!

 All the over one lettering is done!  Even Julia's name and date at bottom.  Yeah baby!

I used one strand of dmc 310 throughout, all tent stitch.

Thanks for help with the floss bags.  Those Floss-a-way I see are with one hole at the ziplock opening.  

I'm trying to find two holes on the sealed end like this from Hobby Lobby for 2 ring floss books.  These do not close easily, if at all.  Joann's offers this style at a store in Ohio and I will be at a doctor office near there tomorrow.  I'll purchase one and open the package, if quality, buy a few more.

I hope your Sunday is peaceful.

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One is the loneliest number again

 and biggest PITA for me.

But I completed two rows, half way there.

Have a nice weekend!

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What a monster

My fern and stitching over one.

I thought I should be able to handle straight rows of over one so I removed the over two I tried to sub for his jacket.  Well I was wrong.  I have big girl panties on every day.  I don't have a choice.  They don't always help.   I moved on to the verse, worse than the jacket.  Using tent instead of full cross certainly helps but I'm not sure I like the look of some letters. 

The LE in the last row was done with sewing thread and full cross.  Better fit than the floss, not as crowded.  Four lines.  Doesn't sound like a lot does it?  I'll keep alternating, but I need to reconsider any samplers with over one verse.  

About the eyes.  Since the patient (moi) is the one choosing 1 or 2, A or B, 3 or 4.... I don't believe the RX was an error by the doctor.  The new can't explain with certainty, but it could be my cataracts are the reason (rarely improve vision but possible).  Contacts are now -.75 for distance in right eye (dominant) and +1.50 in left for near.  He does not recommend glasses because they don't darken quick enough for my light sensitivity. 

Went to a fantastic personable (and cute as hell) electrophysiologist with Carole today to schedule her defibrillator surgery.   He did both of her pacemaker installs and we adore him.  So a little chit chat about the amputations and how she was feeling, and then he asked "so why are you here?".  Like the pulmonologist that asked me the same question as I sat there in tears after being told I had fibrosis.  So long story short, one specialist claims necessary, this one asks why.  Another echo is scheduled before he finalizes his decision but at this point, he does not see the benefit for her case. 

I have a question for you.  I need more floss bags that have the two holes on the sealed edge, not the opening edge.  Floss-a-way does not make them now?  I can't find this style except for Hobby Lobby and JoAnn's.  HL's are miserable to close and most times I can't.  My JoAnn's does not carry them in my store but I'm assuming they are the same manufacturer as HL's.  I may end up adding holes to my existing bags.  So are Floss-a-way brand bags available with the double holes and I just haven't located them?

Hope you all are having a decent week.

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No!!!!!

Good grief.

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The result of my latest eye exam from a new doctor is simple.   Aside from the dryness haze and discomfort, the cause of blurred vision both near and far is ..... the wrong prescription lenses.  He cut distance in half and increased near by twice.  Well.  That's better.  Good thing I changed docs.  

Stitchers rave about Lakeside linen and since nearly impossible to find these days, I ordered small pieces of the famed colors from an online shop.  I could finally see what the fuss is about, one piece was perfect for two berries and the other for a small sampler.  Love the colors.  But one was listed as 11 x 19 and that was incorrect.  It is actually 11 x 9.  The price for that tiny piece .... not something I would have paid had I known.  Yes, I contacted and explained, politely .... no offer to correct.

The End.

Today is the last day before temps in the 50's for the next ten days.  Absolutely no warmth this fall, it's been more like end of October since the end of August.  So I chewed my Advil and will do some shrub planting, Mark is ordering the wood for a small deck to cover the sewer project mess, and if they ever show up I will show them the door.  I understand, everyone is busy, but have the courtesy for a repeat client to be honest that you will not get to their job.

Chicken breast, garden peppers, onion, marinara sauce in crock today.  Browned the peppers and onions first for more flavor and a good start to soften.  Over polenta?  Rice?  I think I'll try a new brand, an instant polenta.  My dad used to spread it flat on his dish and top with tomato sauce, shredded Romano.  I seem to be revisiting those days of long ago more often.  Remember?  When there was civility and mutual respect regardless of who you were, and you didn't continually hear the f-word from young moms and their kids in every store.  Ah.  Those f-ing good old days.

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