Slouching and slumping

 I have always slouched.  Very poor posture.  That's one of the most important aspects of your appearance, and mine resembles cave dwellers.  First and foremost to appear shorter but adding arthritis takes slouching to a new level.  On the bright side, this position makes it much easier to spot the m&m I dropped.

Slump .... well... no reason or excuse.  But I feel it in my aching bones.  I love Ann Stone even though I have never found a photo online, but I am not feeling it.  Some of the lighter colors are difficult for me but being 30 count makes it easier.  The low count coarse linen was always my favorite in the beginning but I don't like the feel at all now, and the eyelet stitches are tedious.  I've gone through the kits, I see over one.  Not just words, but critters and faces.  I could leave those areas for the end but may be frustrated with the project and that would really close it down.

So how can I avert a slump?  What do you do and does it work?  My plan is to browse this bench for something small and simple.  I really don't have a lot of charts, mainly because I will not purchase unless I believe they will be stitched.  That wasn't always the case!!  There are a few special samplers and smalls that will not be, but I had to have the chart.

 Nash. Cohen, Merry Wind, previously stitched favorites have their own folders in the hutch. Christmas and freebies, some samplers, are in notebooks.  But I will go through the bench for now looking for what I don't believe is there.  I want a little square, solid color, simple outline, and I don't remember anything like that.  But there are a lot of things I don't remember so maybe I'll get lucky.

The background issue is not resolved and has been pushed into mid November.

Our friends have covid, again, five pharmacies were out of Paxlovid.  I made an appt with a new rheumatologist (out of town of course but not far) and will see his PA on December 23.  For the doc, I wait until March.  I wanted a fourth and final opinion on getting the vaccine and would like an antibody test done.  Been a year, some are gone in weeks, some last a very long time.  

Mark is golfing this afternoon, hoping for a few more perfect putts!

Have a great weekend.

Thanks for visiting.

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The little things

 that make me smile.  Well.... close anyway.  

I bought these little tins and the battery tea lights from the dollar store.  That little flame light looks like this ...

So I cut waxed paper and lined the tin with a double layer.  

Now the entire cutout glows.

That's better.

Waxed paper.  Who knew?

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Ann Stone

 is back on the stitching station.

For how long?

Since my flashes are back, aggravating, irritating, and contributing to my crabass mood, your guess is as good as mine.  Will they ever end?

I do plan to pull out the big girls sitting in my basket, kitted and ready, and chose one to alternate with Ann.

Tomorrow is the day that will determine the background issue, and the daunting tasks resulting.

We have been working on the deck during the past three days of beautiful warmth, and now the damp cold has returned.  

Hope all is well with you!!!

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Final

 The last of my hydrangeas in a half gallon jar.

Yep.  They're big.

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AAAAAND.......

 DONE.  

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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.

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