A new needle

 The brand?  I don't know.  But ouch.  It's even piercing the bandaid!  The eye is also an issue, snagging the thread and preventing a smooth pull.   

Putting all the needles in my case was not a good idea and I don't want to test each one so all will be removed.  I made this years ago, several wool pages, always planned to stitch a few more.  The basket holds the new packets.

 Tried many brands but failed to note differences, will do so now.  I do have new packs and will add a strip of tape to the backs for comments.  A new case will be sewn with pocket pages to hold them, only preferred used will be on the wool pages singly.

Hope your weekend was pleasant.

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Lizzie on the weekend

Hello people.

I plan to work on Lizzie quite a bit this weekend.  Did what I could outside in the warm weather but without the landscaper and load of dirt, can't go any further.

 Lizzie has a row of herringbone, an easy stitch, but I managed to do it differently.  No clue as to why.  The next dividing band was to be running stitch, three rows.  I chose only two, three looked crowded.   The instructions show Lizzie stitched with two threads on 36 count, which would create an even chubbier texture, but I am using two on 32 count.

Love love my new table.

Request for the ham and scalloped potato recipe.  I use Taste of Home's Never-fail-Scalloped Potatoes.  My mandoline slices them very thin and I use low sodium uncured ham slice diced.  Sometimes I will increase the butter and flour and milk, and also omit cheese.   Oven at 335 because I use glass.

Hope you all have a nice weekend!

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Boom

 Busy afternoon!

More aged and beat up than appears in the photos.  Old screw holes, discoloration, worn out wood, exactly the look I wanted.  Fifty four inches wide, thirty one high without backsplash.

Not sure if or when I will add a spatter of chipping paint, maybe a few spots on the legs.  

This was to be set on the front deck for summer with flowers, but I love it enough to want it in the back where I see it out my window.

Old decking recycled into more projects!  Do we have enough for another?

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All systems go

 Removed the 730, replaced with 3011, changed the 3862 (top row E)  to 612 (X second row), and it's full speed ahead.

What else?

Drew plans for a modified potting bench to preferred dimensions and he is using the old decking to construct.  We have enough for another similar for the back and a four foot bench.

Leaving the darkened wood, no sanding, and hope to splash a few spots with deep turquoise paint topped with chipped white.  

Found healthy ferns at Lowe's, 2 for $24 which may be the lowest price this year so I purchased.  I was surprised at the price of spray paint!  Used to pay 3.98, now 8.98.  A few were a dollar less but crap colors.  The can of inverted marking paint for the landscaper that never shows was 9.98, in pink.  

Warm and sunny, Carole has a friend visiting, she was wowed by the changes in her room.

Enjoy your day!

Thanks for visiting.

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A good option

 Lizzie was started on 32 count PTP Legacy with two dmc threads.  All colors except two.  The 3782 is too light and will change to slightly darker.

The 730, one of the colors that I dislike in any project, is very close to 3011.  Difference is in the yellow hue and after stitching and trying to accept the 730, will remove and replace with either 3011 or 3012.  Both suitable.  

The detached end of the band is the 3011, not a noticeable change, but not as harsh.  Softer green.  This will be a nice project, free of my usual nitpicking now that this easy option is settled.  One error so far and there it will stay.

Warm weather, meeting Carole at cardiologist this afternoon.  Routine appointment but she is uncomfortable in any office/waiting room alone, feels vulnerable.  I'm assuming her massive chair will maneuver the turns and doorways.  She should use the manual wheelchair during visits but can't push easily on carpeting.  We have limited workers everywhere and they don't accompany patients as before, just drop them off at the door and pick up when they can.

Scalloped potatoes and ham last night.  Using a measured recipe now, so easy.  

Have a sweet day folks.

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Hello Lizzie

 Charts printed without issue!  So I tried two others and they did not.  Someday, at some place, they will.  Mary Gibson from Haslemere Museum prints all text but no chart. 

Lizzie will definitely be started soon, and I really think the flower thread will create the look I desire.  But color matching is impossible with its limited selection.  So I pulled the DMC and plan to work on 32 count with two threads.  I may try a 40 count with one thread but don't believe it would result in the primitive texture of the original.  We'll see.  I need two colors and will get them at HL on Tuesday when I meet Carole at her doctor visit.

Since I kitted several large projects, I am constantly looking through their threads for colors needed for other projects.  I do not buy new DMC for every project unless it's needed for several kits at one time.  So I finally wised up and added a note listing the floss in each kit, no more searching the pouches or opening the charts for the legend.   If any skeins are removed, I can note the number and add back when I work on that project..

I cut a plastic bag and attach with clear packing tape making a pocket on the outside of the pouch for chart name and linen size, now I have the floss listed.  Why didn't I do this before?

No one asked me to prepare anything for Easter.  The plan was in place but Matt's out of town mother requested their presence Saturday.  Without going into detail of that story and relationship, and what is happening with his kids' mom and her new live-in drug dealer, there was too much going on.  No time to prepare a dinner, so I offered to make the Isaly's ham and sauce sandwiches and buy the sides.  Carole made one crock pot side and the grape dessert, it was such an easy and no-stress meal.  Will this be her last Easter?  Mark's?  Mine?  Anyone else?  We never know.  I learned something too late after my aunts passed.  Regardless of the work, inconvenience, it's only a few hours or an afternoon, minimal sacrifice of time.  I won't have the regrets I now have about other family that I could have, should have, why didn't I.

It's April.  And already almost two weeks in!!  Holy hot cakes.

Hope your weekend was special.

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