Crab Friday

 For a number of reasons that won't be resolved by bitching.  

My small shelter put in cameras because people are leaving dogs on the grounds after hours.  Seems those pets adopted during covid when landlords were prevented from evicting tenants and the government paid the rents, now have to follow the no pet rules that they broke.  So these poor pets are abandoned and not understanding why.  With the cameras in place, the dogs will probably be left out in the country, alone, scared, no food, no shelter, winter coming and I am sick about this.  I often wonder where the pets owned by the millions that crossed our border this year are now.

We had no one here for Thanksgiving, which was fine with me.  Ravioli and meatballs were better than a bird.  I love peanut butter but cannot indulge, not even a teaspoon.  But mixed with cream cheese and powdered sugar and cool whip, I have no problem getting that dessert down.  Yes the graham cracker crust makes it better but that's more fat and carbs.  Spooned into dessert dishes and drizzled with chocolate, peanuts, crushed grahams (or not) is always the easiest way to serve.

My hubby spent part of the day using the old deck boards to make boxes that will secure my outdoor wire twig trees.  I love them!  The wood is sopping wet even after three days.  The idiot that installed the sewer system and destroyed the septic tank (state mandated) broke it into large pieces without filling voids so we now have a cave-in beneath the deck that holds rain and snow.  Landscaper has not shown or delivered the fill so we built over it and that's it.  We're so disgusted with it all that we don't even care anymore.

There's so much more to be riled about but I have another two weeks before it actually happens.  And my lung scan is in 10 days.  Fingers crossed.

Paisley is very close to finished.  The ecru was a little too stark so I found an unmarked skein (per Missy) that is perfect, it may be 712.  

Sorry for the crabbing.  It's leaking out because the ocean crabs live in will develop into a tsunami soon.  And I can't swim.  But there is always something to be thankful for, and whether boat or raft or inner tube, I will find something to keep me afloat.  

Hope your turkey was tender!!

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To all

Whether alone or with loved ones,

enjoy your day of thanks.

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Hanging around

 The drying rack I kept samplers on has been at the nursing home and used by sis for a long time.  I decided to use the smaller ladder that held towels in the bath and get some of the stored pieces back out.

So I started with these.

Not pressed and pinned yet, they may stay or be changed.  I'm concerned about Miss Monkey taking a few swipes even though I have the grippers on the bottom to prevent sliding.  I always use felt pads to protect the wall paint from the old wood on anything I hang.   May need to put something on the little milking stool beneath this that she avoids.

The much longer handmade ladder from Zedo (Mark's grandfather) is so wonky it is hard to display.  I did at one time but this smaller one will work nicely.  Carole told me she wants to keep that drying rack, very handy for wheelchair patients, so I told her that was fine.  I'll take mom's boiled wool jacket.  She made a face but little does she know I was keeping it regardless.  

Have a nice day folks.

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Poor Gary

He's a diehard summer punk as I am.  Gary should be hunkered down in his hole by now, but he won't give in.  You go Gary!!

I was so wrong when I thought Paisley would be a walk in the park.  

All errors in the dress have been resolved and I started the second leg of the cross.  Got bored, decided to get the first cross completed on her face.  That outline was also off.  One thread only as were the dress errors, but since it was only the outline I removed and corrected.  The cheek is off.  And her right eye.  And nose.  Again, only a few stitches in each so not a big deal.  But I don't like her coloring.

Using the fluorescent light on the Dazor fooled me into believing the 3033 showed as a warm contrast.  In natural light on this linen, it is not.  Nope.  Nada.  Nee.  Non.  No.  I just saw this as I moved her beneath the LED lighting.  Will I remove and replace?  Or keep it and complain every time I see her?  A nice contrast in this photo, but that's deceiving.  The 3033 is very dull and lifeless, barely noticeable unless close.

You can see how different the light floss looks when checking a single strand to the linen compared to checking with a full skein.

The single strand is quite accurate when tossing floss, and I shouldn't have trusted the skein itself.  I will try 822 and when I find Ecru, that one also.  But only one strand!

We ventured out to a mall in Ohio, very nice selection of stores.  Only visited a few, just to browse and get fresh ideas of how to wear my sweats and jeans.  There were very few people which surprised me with the "sales" going on. The only place packed with people and long lines was Chick Fil A.  We are both impatient and left rather than be #10 car.  Same with every one we've ever passed from Cleveland to Pittsburgh.

The wind was brutal and very cold, teens tonight.  Forties next week and we plan to rip out the old damaged deck and replace those boards.   Probably making the trip to Carole tomorrow.  With the new chair elevating I can cut her hair without leaning forward which is terrible for my back.  Then her daily griping will end.  She always had a cut every 4-6 weeks, wears it very short, and refuses to use their salon.  It's been a few months since the last cut, and this will be so much easier than previous times when she was in the bed.

Arby's has the caramel cinnamon shakes again.  Surprised they weren't out sooner but regardless, making room in the freezer for those snack size yummies.

Hope your weekend is a good one.

Thanks for visiting.

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Continued good news

Results of Carole's echocardiogram showed her efficiency rate which was 25 during the cardiogenic shock and second TAVR, increased to 30 after the surgery, increased to 35 after two amputations, and today is 40.  Wow.  They told her that her body's tremendous stress of trying to heal and fight the damage was bringing her entire system to a breaking point.  With her legs gone, the fight for now is over and her body can return to functioning, not fighting.  Healing, not hurting.  We learned a lot from her nurses and always trust their input.

I took the final batch of elderberries out of the freezer, I doubt we will pick them again.  Do you think the size of that missing piece is a little piggish?  I thought it was good, husband tasted and said it is not, thought it had an odd taste.  Without saliva, my sense of taste is extremely sensitive.  Maybe not the best elderberry pie I've had, but not objectionable as he claims.  I have appointments tomorrow but I also have Immodium!!  I'm eating pie.

Elderberries are a beautiful color, not purple, not blue, not wine. 

Thank goodness for large handled pie plates,  Gave a load of standard rims to the woman's shelter.  Whenever you need to discard cookware, flatware, dinnerware, any kitchen or bath items, call the closest domestic violence center and donate to those starting over with nothing.

Still working on Paisley and decided to add one of these to the sampler rotation.  Winter Brew, Confederate Gray, or something with a greenish cast for the linen.  I got a piece of Marbled Pointer, very green, and dyed it shortly after receiving.  Too bad, would have been nice for these two.

Quite a few errors on Paisley's dress pattern which was difficult for me to see.  All corrected now.  I do love the Santa suits, houses, dresses, pastures, but I tire of the fill-in quickly.  It's that impatience thing.

It's dark and crappy, but another day closer to summer.

Have a good one!

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Good news for a change

 Hello hello!  I got the call from cardiology and I do not need any procedures.  What is causing abnormal results in testing is damage from a prior "event".  An old event.  I'm 71, how far back are we going?  Regardless, good news.  My lung scan is not until before Christmas, hoping that last scan was incorrect and there will not be bad news.

I haven't done much on Paisley but since I am using an overdyed thread, the first leg of the cross will be done first.  When it's filled in, the second leg being continuous will allow the variation to show.  I know a full cross should be completed before moving to the next stitch when using overdyed, but I rarely follow rules.  I do the sewing method whenever possible.  Ordinarily I would fill horizontal and follow with vertical rows on larger blocks of color, especially houses, which creates a perfectly neat finish for me.  My color blocks appear almost ribbed because of the tension in my stitches and going in two opposite directions locks the linen from distorting and also creates a solid block, no ribs. 

This gorgeous shade of red boiled wool was one of mom's favorite jackets.  Lightweight but very warm, large pockets, and although Carole claimed it, it is now mine.  The way the seams are finished I was able to sew another one half inch into the garment including the sleeves, all the way around.  It's still a little large and I don't care for dropped shoulders but it is MINE!!!  Long enough to cover tunics and those pockets are perfect for my eye drops and mouth gel.  It's annoying to keep going into my purse for these items when shopping so this is huge for me.  Carole will be upset, but she has mom's other jacket and this is too long for her now anyway.  I will cave in and cut her hair for her this week.  She refuses to use the salon there.  It will be much easier on my back now because her new chair raises, and I mean raises!!  To eye level with others standing and she can reach into top cabinets easily.  If I don't have to be bent over to cut, this won't be bad at all.

So fricking cold.  But feeling good and relieved!  Except when I see vavavoom.  There are a few well known people that I used to really like.  Why she nauseates me now, I don't know.  I feel the same about three others.

Have a great day folks.

Thanks for visiting.

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