Coming to a close

 Hallelujah!

Saturday will be a work day, and all that remains to be added is a stand for the mini fridge.  We spent the morning at a clinic where Chris was knocked out for tests.  On the way home we stopped at the recycled medical equipment store and they had the exact tub transfer bench that her facility had.  Perfect.  And free.  Now if she will empty that closet holding nothing she could use, and full length wool coats not worn in 40 years, there will be a place to store it.  But she won't. That store is a blessing to many.

Have not stitched a minute, hands are stiff from wood finishing.  Maybe Sunday will be better.  

Have a peaceful, safe weekend.

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A plan

Finally closing in on finishing her bedroom.  Many weeks arguing about ridding the clutter and allowing us to arrange and plan a layout, and it should be over in a few days.  If there wasn't a hassle from the beginning, this finalized layout would not have been the result.  And it's the best, checks all the boxes.

This 18" base cabinet with three deep drawers will be at one end to hold bills, stamps, plates, utensils, napkins, coffee, snacks, etc.  A black patterned 6' formica counter top will be added with 4x4 wood legs at the other end.  Counter height at 36" will allow her huge chair beneath (it does not fit under standard table height) and be raised to a comfortable position.  The access will be almost 4' wide, a rollout narrow shelf stand can slide beneath.  Mini fridge in black will set upon a stand for easier access with two open shelves below for puzzles.  She will finally eat without having to hold her plate, have a work space for puzzles and correspondence, a counter to hold the coffee maker, photos, and a small but roomy fridge.  Eureka!!  I thought about painting the cabinet black as the fridge with a butcher block top, but pictured the drawer unit stained with black handles and the black counter (less $$$ too).  Yes!  Not what the original plan was and happy it took this long.  What a difference this will make.  

As for stitching, covid leftovers have me up and down but I tested two fabrics for Southward and Needham. I think Southward needs a darker ground and chose a little too green Tobias.

Needham is on a softer Prairie Grass.  It's 40 count.  Not happy, many errors in its future.  But the other Prairie Grass piece was so very different, I have no idea what a newly ordered 36 count would be.  So will I stick with these?  Damn I hope so.  

It's close to 70 degrees.  

Hope your week is going swell!

Stitching this evening .... on which?  The little rolls, the small sampler, the big gals?  Or sit with a bowl of vanilla ice cream topped with walnuts and real maple syrup while watching the tube?

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Ween Beans

 As my sinus continues to pound, I thought the head banging task of choosing a linen color would be a good idea.  These larger samplers were kitted and I expected not to change anything.  I was wrong.  As I looked through them, contemplating a start to rotate with the smalls, my selections needed a second look.  Trying to work more than one project at a time didn't last long and I need to try again.  The floss tube channel, Recovering Monogamous Stitcher, caught my eye since I am monogamous and what a great stitcher.  Her projects are gorgeous, mostly samplers, her personality and voice is as pleasant as can be.  I still have a problem understanding how 56 count is stitchable!

I have a piece of Oatmeal linen that I will sell soon, too greenish for me, and Ween Beans was also in the folder to sell.  Hmmm.  It's dark, strong, but when I put the floss colors on it, ooooh baby.  I can't picture this beautiful sampler on such a dark ground and wonder if it would be too much contrast and detract from the design.  Bright colors on colorful dark (not a neutral dark) are not my preference for beautiful floral borders.  Soft and elegant is nicer but I need your thoughts please!!

This is quite a bit stronger in color/depth than the chart's cover photo.  The colors really pop on this, but I am concerned maybe too much, and a marking style sampler would be a better choice for the Ween.

We spoke with Carole last night about returning to the facility, even for a month to regain herself and get more therapy for independence, it is out of the question even after admitting she made a mistake by leaving.  So we will continue with the next project to make her bedroom more accommodating.  Mark wants to pay for this also, I said no.  What would Stella do?  LOL!!

Dentist today for more consults on how I can be fixed without mortgaging our house.  Most options are not feasible because of not having saliva.  

Have a good days folks!  Stay safe.

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The Stella in me

 These past few days have been.... stressful.  The headboard made it, it looks wonderful.  I cut down and edged her massive puffy king comforter to a double size.  The bathroom cabinet is hung.  The broken leg bench is fixed.  I made her favorite kugle, Hawaiian sliders, goulash, crostini.  That's all that went well, and only because they were jobs planned, made, and completed by us.  She is having more issues, looks terrible, is miserable, and needs to return to SNF.  

My 20 year old cheap wifi router croaked.  Went to Walmart (it's our only place to go) and found a basic router for $63.  I know it's necessary, but I thought about the linen that could have purchased.  After checking online (no manuals are ever included) I see that Walmart's price is $41.50.  Did they not increase the website price?  Who cares?  I added to the cart for pickup and a few hours later, it was in my car and the same for $63 was returned.  I saved $20.  Mom Stella would insist on that being put away as a saving, and I used to agree, but no more.  I've decided to buy what I want as long as it doesn't add to debt.  I will soon be 72 and see no reason to continue "only what is necessary" fiscal thinking.  Bull cookies.  Stella's lessons will never be completely ignored, but a little change is in order. 

Over a month ago I purchased these from The Wishing Thorn.

The Tindale Sisters two charts (in one offer) are very similar, not sure about doing both.  But framed and displayed together, maybe a few colors changes in the body, would be nice.  Either bottom would be great as a drum also.

I found two charts from the upcoming show that I plan to purchase, both small, and need to decide about that honker piece of linen I need for the two big girls.  I also decided to order several small pieces of 32 count and use two strands of floss.  I don't know why the 36 counts are looking so sparse but I want more coverage.  I do have a few pieces of 40 for a tighter stitch, but I'm not as comfortable straining to see it.  I don't know if it's only me, but if a selvage edge is right or left, I can see the weave much easier than if that edge is top or bottom,  On the small pieces without a selvage, I can tell where they would be when starting to stitch.  That's really weird isn't it?  I see an almost v shape to the weave like a knitted pearl stitch, and it's not on every piece but certainly too many!

That's all I got.  Still taking cold meds, plan to do a little cleaning today.  Stella would say there is no such thing as a little cleaning.  If it's halfway, it's not clean.  

Yes, Stella.  I hear you.

Be safe!

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Now ....

 How do we get it in the car??

Five foot wide and over four high!

Headboards made from old paneled doors are nicer, this was a flush pocket door.

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Sidetracked

 That's what happens when you can't focus on your plans and covid is rebounding.  If throat, sinus, and cough are the worst of it, I can handle that and be grateful it's not more severe.  Day by day!

Here's the headboard work.  Keep in mind, we didn't expect or intend for this to be "showroom" quality.  More functional than decorative.

The hollow core door is 28"wide, he cut length down to the 54" width of the double bed and inserted a scrap piece into that edge (not necessary).  Oak cost would be close to the full yard of linen I need for Mary Carr and Mary Barres and if I can't get that, no one gets oak. Pine it is.

We constructed the end posts with 1x4s and ripped the filler strips to the 1.375 door thickness, recessed in post for a 1/4" reveal.  Left a 28" opening for the cut door to slide in, nailed and glued.  Simple, does the job.  I do not like the post caps one bit but I was again napping and missed barking the order.

There is no linen in my mailbox, but oak boards would have too much grain compared to the oak plywood anyway.  Considered painting blue to match the barn doors if the stain was off.

The End.

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