December. Getting closer to summer!

 Good day to you all.

First, Unknown left a message asking about the Christmas Joy drum chart.  That is offered by Samplers and Stitches.  And it's a gem!! I wish it was by me, but it's not.  It's been a very long time since I tried charting something new.  

Paisley will hopefully have a backside today and I've chosen dark brown wool.  Anything with gold in it does not play well with the linen.  Reds are too much and greens are too Christmasy.   I do want to order Whittaker soon and have enough of the dark brown for his construction also.  Cutting way back on stitching purchases, but I wanted to get a small piece of the Confederate gray for a Santa and found Gray.  I emailed to check, and it is the same color linen, Weeks just dropped Confederate from the name.

I'm not decorating much at all this year, not sure why.  But the multitude of small trees in the attic will stay put, most of the stitchery won't be out either.  The "boys" will for sure along with the Postman Santa, but for some reason I am not into the full display.  

My CT scan on Tuesday will determine whether I stay on a supplement or switch to an advantage plan.  There is no going back if I do.  The visit with a periodontist and my dentist resulted in a plan that will cost as much as the mandated sewer system did and the advantage plan will offer very little but at least some help.  When you have dry mouth to my degree, and without a treatment for Sjogren's, wearing an appliance whether partial or full is not recommended.  So a bridge held by implants is their plan. Three month wait after the posts are in until the bridge is installed, that's a long time being unable to chew.  Lots of soups!

Today will be high 40's and I plan to remove the mums which we've babied and protected for weeks.  Still colorful, but are failing fast.  Husband will golf (thank you!!) and I will finally have an afternoon of complete quiet and solitude.  American goulash for dinner, a simple favorite.  I found walnuts for 1.99 per pound and we will probably make nut rolls.  We purchased several bags out of town a few weeks ago on sale and they taste somewhat rancid. 

I hope to show Paisley finished tomorrow!  Been so busy getting adjustments made to Carole's house and spending hours online searching for home care appliances/aides, toy availability, clothes for the kids, yoi.  Not much stitching was done except for Paisley and a row on Ann.  

Enjoy your day!  Stay safe.

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Christmas sampler

 Carole was sweet to send this Christmas sampler photo,

found on Etsy under auntieb56 or Simple Stitches. 

 Maybe you've seen it, I had not and thought it share-worthy!  

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Peanut butter pie

Cream together - 

1 8oz brick of cream cheese, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

1/3 cup peanut butter (heaping OK but not more)

Blend in 8 oz Cool Whip

Spread into prepared graham cracker crust, 

chocolate cookie crust, or dessert dishes.

Topping can be peanuts (not walnuts), drizzled or shaved chocolate,

crushed graham crumbs.

Original recipe is no topping but since I spoon into dessert dishes, I add a

little crushed grahams topping.  Not necessary though.

Refrigerate!

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Tension blocks

 Greetings folks.

I've mentioned several times about my tension issues.  Paisley offers an example of how my tension creates horizontal "ridges" when using the sewing method (my preferred).  See her feet?

Now for the face, a large block of stitches, I stitched the entire block with the first leg of the cross in one direction.  This time, horizontal.  The second leg of the cross is done the opposite, vertical, since the first was horizontal.  If the first leg was done vertical, completing the stitch block would be horizontal.  And the result is an even fill, no ridges!  It makes a huge difference when I stitch a large block such as a house.  Or a big head.  If using overdyed threads, the first half cross would be stitched vertically and finished horizontally which would allow the variegation to be as it should.

Hope your weekend was swell!

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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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