How did this happen?

 A few years ago, sanding and priming fifty six 10" wide boards would not have taken the toll that it did yesterday.  Wow.  They were laid flat on a long table!  How will we roll the walls and ceiling with paint?  How did aging smack us down so quickly?  The excellent painters we've had for decades in this area retired during covid and no one has filled their shoes, so we'll manage.

Except for that, no other work was done. Scott said he would be here at 10am with the patio door and wood delivery, but that was to help unload.  One person, the driver, required a second helper.  I didn't realize that and he plans to start Friday or next week.  Missy was ready and had no problem with her food and water being moved, but she wailed at the door (within sight of her litter) until we moved it back.  Brat.

I am still waiting for the two charts from market that I ordered, another with the black perforated paper coming later. But last night I watched floss tube and fell in love with this chart.  It is over one thread for a tiny finish but still very small on 40 over two.

Immediately went to 123 and placed an order for it and another chart that she featured, very late at night.  This morning, the entire order was shipped!!  Wow.  I think the Fraktur Friends design that I do not want to stitch on silk would be wonderful on a very dark (like WDW Chestnut but darker) 40 count and made into a pouch/bag.  But with linen prices, taking a chance on color is not an option.  Some browns look purplish, greenish, too gray, and most likely, none would be dark/rich enough.  So I'll attempt dyeing at some point.

My arthritic hand is swollen and stiff from usage, and I cannot take Advil with the other drug I am taking for my knee.  Arnica offers no help, neither do the other creams or Tylenol.  So after another stop at my cardio office's complaint department, I plan to purchase a compression half glove which my neighbor uses regularly.  Knuckles, thumb, and wrist, oh my!!

Carole's visit was late and brief, we just dropped off her items and food (stuffed cabbage casserole).  

 I hope your day is going well!

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Found!

Fabric and notions, framed finishes and those waiting, smalls piled up for the sewing machine, all on the second floor in a mishmash mess which I avoided because of my knee.  Truth be told, I excel in procrastinating.  Let me get to the point.

Since last summer, hubs was doing what he could to rid my mess in those two rooms since stairs were not manageable for me.  To my surprise, he had covered several mounted samplers, the tiny red, and Lizzie (second one) beneath a piece of wool on a small table. Wondering what else I will find while shoveling through the room!  So happy!

Quite a few finishes topped with several inches of smalls rest on a rod in the room.

I also found the tiny cardinal chart I was missing, had planned to stitch again since my finish was offered in a giftaway.

   The tall candle jar I knew was somewhere, and as expected, NWP 1836 1837 is a perfect wrap.  A thin lining of cotton Warm & Natural and a padded lid is an option.

It's snowing.  Freezing temps are expected, delivery and installation of patio door is tomorrow morning.  Missy will not accept her litter box relocation and I will need to lock her in a bedroom with it for the week.  How can I do that when she will not permit me to lift her?  She welcomes and asks to be brushed while on her perch, but that is the only time we can get within a few feet of her.  An attempt to slowly slip my hand around resulted in blood and painful scratches, and she is gone before a towel is even unfolded.  Over ten years, and no spray or scent or catnip will calm her fear. Hopefully she will nap upstairs after breakfast and we can close the door.

Visiting Carole Monday after Scott leaves, we have food and goodies to take.  She is doing well, but needs blood work done and I called several places, no options for having it drawn in home as they did for my mom when she was bedridden.

I have not been viewing, reading, or participating for a week or so, need to catch up.  If I missed an email or message, so sorry, it was not intentional.

I hope everyone had a nice weekend.  Spring is getting very close!

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Really?

 Without posting for over a week and over 4000 views per day?  Clueless as to where the bots are from.

So how is everyone?  Well I hope.

Aside from BP meds wreaking havoc with my Sjogren's, making me miserable enough to not stitch, I've been busy.  And if one more medical person tells me to " just drink more water",  they better have a good dental plan.  If you need to loosen or free a stuck object do you spray water on it or WD40?  Saliva is a lubricant, water IS NOT!!   Don't tell me your morning dry mouth is the same.  I could suck in my cheeks until they are blue and not produce one drop.  Yes, water feels good for a few seconds, and that's all. 

End of rant.

Scott is coming Monday to replace the warped patio door and install 8" and 10" shiplap to cover the bad walls.

A few days ago after removing trim, beams, and failing drywall tape, paint, and caulk.

And this morning after days of work, patched, painted, ready to roll.

We used bottle jacks to raise the two kitchen cabinets so crown moulding will be level with the other side.  These two cabinets were made by Dominic several years ago to replace the original smaller units, and installed an inch lower than the carpenter's other side.  Scott will install crown around them all, and I plan to paint cabinets white. 

This is the other side that the carpenter never finished.  Bare 2x4 pieces at the top for the crown that never came.  I am so glad this will be done and we found a reputable pro to work.  

And these turkeys!!  I look for Mr. Hitchcock every time we go outside.  They flock is now over 80 and they run to us.  Will be nesting soon and the visits will slow as always.  We hope!

I ran into Hobby Lobby last week for dmc and saw this hanging above.  The colors in this pack sang to me.  Quality is probably lacking, haven't tried them yet.  Only 2.99 for 36 skeins of 8.75 six strand cotton floss.

I am anxious to choose a small project now, thought this break/slump would be much longer but thankfully not.

Enjoy the weekend, stay safe.

Thanks for visiting!

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"If it's not one thing,

it's another" ......

Roseanne Roseannadanna

The Chloe project

Searched linen stash for a piece similar in size to the new project.  Cutting a large piece is very difficult for me, wastage of wide margins is avoided, and having a usable leftover for even a small project is included in the decision.  It does take time, maybe too much, but the Stella in me refuses to waste expensive linen.  

Search completed, does it need dyed, darkened, or brightened?  Yep.  Done.

Start stitching, but fail to give the chart instructions full attention and confuse color symbols.

Count incorrectly for two script letter placements, and one border section.  So the crabass frogs.

The frog corrected blue border is not agreeing with me, remove it.  Replace with a perfect muted brown.

Now we're ready to roll baby!

Ahh, hold your hotcakes.  Something seems off.......

Chloe is not my usual more length than width sampler, long and lanky.  She is short and stocky.  And ninety degrees away from fitting her wide hips on my linen.

You can size, adjust, primp, know the direction to take, and be confident you will fit in.

But one wrong turn and you're screwed.

Yoi.

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Mystery solved

Now I know where linen pieces that I occasionally search for have gone.    

The linen pieces I recently planned to sell are still hiding (as is Lizzie).  Tabbycat Lallybroch will be added, and I snapped a few pics to show the mottling patterns.  When I reinstalled the Linen for Sale page here to post them, I was shocked at what the page revealed I had sold!  And why?  

So I added the other For Sale page back, saw those boxes, and wish I would have kept a few favorites.  Love that hexagon, never found another box, and my source closed its doors.  Wow.  Good prices!

Anyway, here's what I hope to offer.

One fat eighth 40 Lallybroch

One fat eighth 40 Creme Brulee

One fat eighth 36 Lallybroch

One fat quarter 36 Lallybroch

Haven't priced yet.

What's the FB selling group name?

I  removed Chole's dark blue border and choose a muted brown replacement.  She will be wonderful.  I wasn't as upset about color as I was about continuing my bad habit, a guaranteed source for errors.  This sampler has no over one, a short row of eyelet, another short row of four sided, and a dividing band with satin stitch.

Another warm day, all coming to an end.

Hope your March has been pleasant so far.

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When will I learn

to PAY ATTENTION and fully read a chart?  How many times have I failed to do this?

I wanted to mimic the original but couldn't understand how the teal faded to tan (cover photos).  The small colored diagram of the sampler inside the booklet matched that same color layout.  The thread legend lists the large alphabet symbol X as tan, not teal!  I glanced instead of reading fully and assumed the X was teal because of the photo. 

Studying/reviewing the symbols and their placement on the chart would have prevented this error.  My habit of referring to and too often following chart photos rather than the graph, has not been corrected.  Will it ever be?

I stitched the large alpha in teal, completely my fault.  Do I start over to satisfy my preference of the softer tan?  Put it aside because my patience and temper has been getting the best of me lately?  Accept the teal and continue with softer colors elsewhere?  

My big girl panties are stretched from being pulled up too often, and maybe it's time to get a larger size.  Teal it is.

Enjoy your day, be safe.

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