Coming soon to a finish pile

 All I have left is the lighter floral on three sides.  Oh how I hate borders.  And the kitted samplers waiting in my basket have beauties.  I will return to the two thread 30 count of Ann for a while as I decide which.  Kezia needs new linen, thread color, and attitude adjustment.  Melanie's work on Kezia is stunning but I know I cannot do that border over one as she has masterfully done.  Seeing that may be one of the reasons I am not happy with mine.  We can certainly take inspiration from others, but should not expect the same result, especially when materials (and ability) are different.

One of the employees at Carole's facility gave her this beautiful card (Hallmark).  When opened, this sparkling bouquet appears.  Love it!  And she used post it notes with her personal message over the card's verse allowing Carole to send the card to someone else.

Truus, this is a dutch oven, any large high sided pot with lid.  I have stainless steel pots that came with a set and use them often for soups and roasts, but this cast aluminum was my dad's.  Very heavy and the absolute best material for even heat and perfect browning.  So old the handle broke.  Matching frying pan created the best home fries, fried potato slices with peppers, and caramelized onions for pierogis.  

The Rachel Hyde sampler found in my Magma was to be finished with a few animals in the grass after I added the fence and increased the pasture.  The large charted beast was over one and not working out, hence the change.  Not being able to come up with sheep small enough or any brilliant visions, I set it aside.  I need to think about removing the fence and just completing Rachel with a cow or two.

The sun is out, husband is golfing to pay for the Tabbycat Lallybroch linen that I ordered from Hobby House.  Has anyone seen the Ragamuffin color?   I can't wait to see our favorite enablers huge hauls on floss tube from recent retreats.  

Carole's visit home was uneventful except for all the commotion.  That's part of the background crap and I may explain it one day.  Needless to say, this entire situation is going to be a daily battle and I will not get involved.  I certainly will if problems related to her disability or health arise, but the other I can't deal with.

Have a great weekend stitchin' buds.

Thanks for visiting.

*********************

Is this Thursday?

 Feels like the weekend.  I'm loading boxes of eats to take to Carole's and will be there all day.  Italian beef, home made mac&cheese, pistachio cake and frosting, good cheese, fresh buns. 

I was ridding my charts and found this from Kathy Barrick and thought as I always do .... pear.  With slight modification I think it will be fabulous.

And look what I found folded in a Magma!!  I need to add a few critters to complete this.

Woke to this yesterday and it stayed for most of the day.  Warming a little this weekend which is build-a-deck day here.  I wish they made Advil in gummies.

Italian beef recipe for sandwiches

3# rump or chuck roast (or smaller)

Make a paste to spread on the roast with

1 TBSP black pepper 

1 TBSP salt 

1 TBSP Colman's mustard powder

1 TBSP garlic powder

1 TBSP Worcestershire 

After covering the roast with the paste, put into a crock

pot and add about an inch of water, low for 6 hours or high for less

Slice in sections across the grain, shred the beef and return 

to the juices, blend well, keep on low until served.  Can be made

ahead and reheated covered.  It's a little peppery hot, I use 3/4 of a TBSP.

More water can be added if you want it juicier, but too much will

lessen the flavor.

 

If it's getting too much water from cooking, secure a towel beneath the 

crock's lid the last hour or two.  If you use a dutch oven to roast in oven,

make sure lid is tight and check for water level, it may dry out and need

more. 

Add your favorite cheese to the bun, pepper rings, mustard, or nothing! 

Have a great day folks!!
****************************

A few things

 as I work on the Hunter's border.  Yes, I am.  I know if I set it aside for a day or two to work on Ann, I won't go back.

We purchased a sliding barn door kit for Carole's bath, a full 42" wide and a monster.  After assembly, I chose a colonial blue for paint since her pale yellow bath has a lot of that blue in the stencil.  

Two coats done, waiting two days before working on the other side which can be done with a roller.  I always put paint cans in a plastic tub when working so I don't have to touch the can itself to move and also catch drips.

If you like peppers for frying/roasting, grow Marconi.  Sturdy, heavy, huge.

These containers from the $1 ($1.25) store are always on hand to take meals to my brother and Carole since I rarely get my dishes back.  Same item, last year was 4 in a pack, last week .... 2.  

Dentist this afternoon to tell him I want these horse teeth crowns done over, no charge. 

Have a sunny warm day.  Gotta be one somewhere.

**********************

Dog gone

 Finally.  I have to admit I almost don't want to complete the border, just put it away.  Do you ever feel that way when closing in on a finish?  Changes in color and placement are too numerous to mention, and I failed to note them anyway.   I just couldn't go back to Ann Stone as planned, this was too confusing to remember after a break.  I may do a small border section and rotate with Ann now that it is all that's remaining.

The dog looked like a boar so I changed snout and added ears.  You can see a slight difference in the blue of coat's bottom, new skein was started. 

It's very cold.  I remember Septembers and Octobers that were an extension of summer, but our summer was chilly too.  Lots of outside work to do, the help promised months ago won't reply.   Full Advil but I have been careful and only taken one a day at times.  I need a doctor that looks for answers.  Sjogren progression affects joints, fatique, lungs, may be what's happening.  Quite concerned about the increase in that nodule, and been waiting four weeks to be scheduled for heart tests.

Hope your day is warmer than mine!

Thanks for visiting.

*********************

Timing was perfect

 I did not know my crabbing day (10/15) was actually National Grouch Day!!  Who knew?

The reason I have not pushed my "disappointment" issues is because these designers are all reputable, well liked, honest, and busy.  I received the corrected chart and legend, just not in the format of the purchase and preference.  The linen still baffles me.  I loved the color, but that big of a discrepancy should have been offered a partial refund.  It's not the money, but the courtesy.  And that's something you can't demand.

My friend decorated cakes and knows that quite a few are baked and then frozen for customers that call with same day orders.  Possible that this flavor was in the freezer for a while, and I plan to ask if it was baked that day, for future reference.  From the looks of the entire cake, this was a new employee.  

The leather form did not work out as well as expected, but I have measurements now and plan to fill the leather sheath with tight batting.  These are trouser socks and a wide calf size of different material would not be as constricting.  She loved the idea of wearing a knee sock and also the wild stump socks.  A trip home for the afternoon is coming this Thursday, by transit, in the motorized chair belonging to the facility.  Hers was ordered six months ago, no sight of it.

Continuing to crab.... I am tired of seeing the massive lights outside shops and stores that are on in full sunlight. Put the light sensors lower on the pole so they can be changed when needed, and cleaned.  All that dirt and dust on them creates a false sense of darkness.  And Instagram .... what the hell did you do?  I see a few new posts and then nothing but "suggested" that I cannot turn off (laptop), and you moved my toolbar to the side.  Stop it.  There's something else, but I can't remember, so I'll crab about failing memory.

Be safe!  Enjoy the day.  Even if it is cold and messy with wet leaves everywhere.

***************************

What a crab

Yes I am.  So I'm venting a little.  I am disappointed that I bought a $20 printed chart with incorrect symbols and had that page replaced in an email.  I didn't buy a pdf and this has been a royal pain.  I am disappointed the fifteen page pdf I did purchase will not print anywhere and Staples can't explain why.  I am disappointed that I paid $16 for a 9x11 piece of linen that was listed and on my order as a 19x11 piece, only to be told the bag was marked wrong.  I am disappointed that consumers are cautious to complain because they take the chance of being considered a troublesome customer.  I am disappointed that a $60 cake was dry as sand and the piped letter C looked like a U.  I am disappointed that the words I would really like to use are impolite, crass, rude.

Minor inconveniences to crab about compared to real problems.  But crabs can't help themselves, and crab they must.

Hope your weekend is going well.

************************