What day is it?

It feels like Sunday.

When a large meal or gathering feast happens on a weekday it really screws with my head.

There is no way I will finish Ann this weekend.  Over one is easier on 30 count, but still tedious.  Quite a few stitchers are loving 46 count and I can't imagine!  My Dazor allows me to stitch 40 but not easily.  I want to be comfortable, not cautious and concerned.

I don't care for Ann's S's and have to check wording twice when stitching.  Not sure if my change to 924 instead of the 926 in the body was the right choice for all the over one (center box included) but I was concerned the lighter shade may not show as well.

Here she is full length and wrinkled.  Like me.

Almost finished with the second barn door.  This one had measurements and placements that collided with each other and caused much difficulty and revisions.  Second coat of paint today and then it's up to her to remove that flea market in her bedroom so we can install.

I have been on the phone quite a bit regarding failure of the home health services and to make a long snarky story short, that idiot is no longer a case worker.  I don't know what she would have done and continue to do without Matt's girlfriend.  Previous and continued experience in helping elderly, disabled, others in need, she has been a Godsend.  She and Matt are two peas in a pod.  I have given up trying to convince him to find employment elsewhere since he makes less than retail workers, but he explained once again.  At Christmas, he will receive cards from former residents of his charter school for troubled youth, thanking him for making a difference.  So many are discarded by family and although a few will continue on with bad choices, most are just needing to feel accepted and loved, to understand their actions and the resulting consequences, to talk to someone who only interrupts when asked a question.  And no, Matt had no training for this.

Thanks for the decorations response.  Seems the consensus is at least until the new year, and more even later.  I think I'm just burned out this year.  So many calls to make and issues to handle, just anxious to move into peace.  No ornaments on fewer trees, no santa stitchery throughout the house.  As if I'm rebelling against tradition, what is expected, obligation, this year felt different and I want to move on.  I would love to remove it all now while hubs is golfing in 55 degrees, but I would rather sit quietly while releasing the snark.

Enjoy your day!

Thanks for visiting.

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Getting close!

 Those stacked hearts take a while to stitch, in addition to the over one, not sure I will finish before the weekend.  I have quite a few very old R&R charts, hand written, not as easy to read as printed of course.  I think I may offer Ann's chart when finished.

 I am feeling better, stomach not completely settled, and have certainly had enough sleep in four days.  The aides at Carole's facility are keeping in touch with her and reported that covid hit her section hard after she left.  Two visitors had intestinal symptoms, not respiratory/flu, no fever, and did not realize that was covid. 

Ravioli Tuesday moved to Wednesday moved to Thursday.  Chris's pump doctor rescheduled to this afternoon and I have no problem moving dinner a day for him. He has a few days off which have been busy as always with Carole's needs.  Matt's girlfriend has been taking care of her, I have not.  I don't know what she would have done these past weeks without her.  No reply yet from the state or other agencies I reported.

Venturing out this afternoon for fresh bread and a few other items.  No longer purchasing frozen garlic bread since our favorite greatly reduced the size, we'll make our own.  Salad will be leaf lettuce topped with sliced pear, pickled beets, crumbled blue cheese. sweet balsamic syrup.

Warming up a little, fifty on Friday.  I saw quite a few online friends remove Christmas decorations a day after, my husband wants them to stay.  What do you do?

Enjoy your day!

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Ravioli day

 had to be moved to tomorrow.  Started with vertigo and continued with stomach issues, fatigue, headache.  Slept all day yesterday, better today, but not right.  Carole refuses to come here to make it easier (we have a ramp and she claims she can go to lunch with friends) so we're once again carting a dinner for nine to her house.  Last time.

I emailed UPMC who is the service provider and also the agency in charge of providers regarding their failure of almost two weeks.  A nurse came last week to take her vitals, nothing else, without a stethoscope.  Claims it's broken.  Carole has the case worker's name/number and the caregiver provider's also.  She can call, but she doesn't, no excuse, so I refuse.  We've all been running around for her meds, food, supplies, and have decided enough is enough.  I have emailed UPMC and the state agency.   Even if they call today, no excuse whatsoever for the almost two weeks of failure.  

Between the naps, I've worked on Ann.  These motifs are the bottom and repeated on the opposite side with some over one between.  Anxious to complete.

The colors are what I wanted, not all as charted.  Depending on mood, I hope to finish soon.

New Year is next, my least favorite holiday.

Have a nice end to the year folks.

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Merry Christmas

 Is anyone having a quiet day?  Relaxing?  I am. Whether alone or in a packed house, I hope you're having a very nice Christmas.

We transported the hot food from the oven in the single digits and all was fine since she lives so close. The roasts used were a bottom round and a sirloin tip.   I always found the crock pot to be better for tenderizing tough cuts and that's what I used for eight hours.  The tough bottom round came out perfect, tender, and shredded so easily.  Never again the sirloin tip since its texture, no matter which direction cut, will not shred.  At all.  The food was great, I couldn't eat much because of my mouth, and we did not stay very long.  Screaming kids and nipping pup was too much for these old farts.  I could not handle the noise level or commotion.  

Friday was not peaceful, won't even mention why, my appointment changed to virtual was cancelled completely. Saturday offered no time for stitching.  But today....wowza!  Peaceful, quiet, batch of spaghetti sauce with sausage and balls scenting the house.  And I finished the blue verse with a few placement changes, the diamond band, and I'm ready to start the bottom motifs.  Thank goodness this is 30 count because my flare up has been so bad that my eyes are in a constant burn and I've used an entire bottle of drops today. 

 Look at Ann!!  She will be a very nice size and fit in perfectly with my decades old 25 and 28 count repros.  This style of sampler looks so great on the lower count coarse natural linen.  

Thanks for visiting.

Peace!

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Ann

From the unbelievable lines in stores today, you would think a winter storm is coming.  Or Christmas.  Or both at the same time.

I'm done.  I'm home.  I'm exhausted.

The Italian beef, pasta salad, calico beans, funeral potatoes, and fruit salad dessert will be distributed.  You want it?  Come and get it but take it with you.  Ann and I will be spending quiet time together.

My mind will also be on a sweet person who is still mourning the loss of a beloved companion, and now dealing with her mother's passing.

I think I shared this recipe recently, too tired to check.

Italian beef

Make a paste -

1 tbsp pepper (use a little less if you don't want too much heat)

1 tbsp salt

1 tbsp garlic powder (not garlic salt)

1 tbsp Colman's dry mustard

1 tbsp worcestershire sauce

Spread over 3# or smaller rump or similar roast.  Add to crock pot with an inch or more of water, slow cook for 6 hours, let cool slightly, slice into thick pieces and then shred.  Return to pot and toss with liquid, another hour on low.  Can be roasted in heavy dutch oven with tight lid or pressure cooker.  So tasty I don't add cheese, pepper rings, or other condiments, just a crusty bun.  But does well with anything you would like to add.

I lay a towel over crock beneath lid to absorb excess moisture the last few hours before shredding.

We got in touch with someone in charge of this home based program and he was appalled that the provider contracted dropped the ball on every issue.  Does she have help yet?  No.  And will not until sometime next week.  He even offered to personally get her anything she needs in food or meds or supplies during this weekend.  We will continue and not take his generous offer.  One excellent employee who takes his responsibility to those in need seriously.

Be safe everyone.  

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Monster bags

 from the Dollar Tree.

Love 'em.  

And because of those kids' clothing filled bags, my Kohl's cash offered a great deal on MY gift.  I didn't get the cordless which is so much nicer to use, but plugging it in to charge for hours, limited run time, and chances of the battery expiring in the future, led me to rely on the cord that is continually cursed.

Made a number of calls today, no help.  No one working in the office after over two years.  And except for two responsible women, they won't return until time to sign for their pension.  With the holiday weekend, I doubt we will find out what the problem is until next week sometime.

We finished cutting the desk, counter, and drawer and reinstalled, looks so cute!  Now she needs a second sliding barn door to make passage easier to the bedroom and it is a perfect size, no wall or frame cutting involved.  Coming in next week, then assembly, priming, painting, installing.  She was in tears with frustration of not having help, and also because of misjudging the very large motorized chair.  The back extends much further than her previous.

My three month wait for initial visit with the new rheumatologist has been changed to virtual because of severe weather Friday, and that's OK.  I think.  Been having a flare up and am miserable.  The replaced front crowns aren't helping and after biting my painful tongue enough to bleed four times, I went for the sandpaper.  Dentist is closed until 2023 and I can't deal with this until then.

Ann is fixed and stitching continues as time allows.  But that's getting less and less.

As is my patience and temper.  Crabs can sometimes morph into sharks.  Big fricking hungry sharks.

Be safe everyone.  

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