The middle of September

And Carole was released from ICU on Friday the 13th, with no empty beds in the medical units.  So they had to send her home Saturday.  Covid is once again, filling the hospitals.  She couldn't even hold a pen to sign her name, so weak.  We did not expect her to survive.  

Her doctor whom Mark spoke with this morning, also did not anticipate survival.  And his orders at discharge to stop all meds will be ignored tomorrow.  He refused to rescind stating he will discuss that with her when she comes in, no explanation offered to us, or her.  Home health is monitoring, she's been home four days!  And how long does he think she will last with no glucose control, heart failure drugs, diuretic, along with nine others?  Tomorrow home health will be asked to call her doctor for verification of this and entered in their records.  And then, family and nurse will discuss return to her usual routine and dosage, none changed or added from what she took before covid or during hospitalization.  I am attempting to remain calm.  It ain't fricking happening.   

I stitched a little sampler.  Adorable little sampler.  Will show you tomorrow after health report.  We are cautiously optimistic for her recovery to continue. 

Thanks for the prayers and well wishes.  She needed them badly, still does.

Her doctor may need a good athletic cup. 

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Another break

 I hope all the R&R charts I offered have been received, and Barbara's Nash chart was also mailed.

Covid has caused Carole's kidneys to fail, she is in ICU.  Just like FOUR YEARS ago when she was near death and f-ing covid kept loved ones away from those in desperate need of their family. This morning a call came at 5am. We needed n95 masks, gowns, gloves, and were ready to suit when they halted the intended visit in order to transfer her to ICU.  She was sleeping, did not know we were there, and I was told to not come back since this strain of covid could be severe with my autoimmune disease.  When she is awake, as happened before with all the machines and strange room, she is experiencing that psychosis patients can develop in hospitals, on top of the recurring hallucinations (covid caused).

The next few days are critical, I don't know if another hospital will be an option.

I'll be back to stitching when she is out of the woods as they say.  

Praying that will be an option.  They can't say that it is.

Stay safe, be well.

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A twig

 Could not leave well enough alone.

It's not perfect symmetry but I prefer a more balanced design.  I wanted to do a peacock with the tail "eyes" matching the right side motif's round buds.  But the bird would have been too large for such a tail, so I chose one the same stitch width and height as the right motif.  Still bugged  me.

So I added a little twig with a leaf and bud to his beak, what a difference.  I'm as close to satisfied as a crabass can be.

Carole is quite ill with covid and making it worse is tremendous phantom pain in both legs.  That emanates from the brain since her legs are gone.  Running her hand up and down her stumps to establish physicality is what is recommended along with sitting in front of a full length mirror for visual recognition.  Even then, your brain may not oblige and revert to the pain experienced before loss.  Pain medication does not really help, the nerve endings are not there to treat.  This coincided with covid, because of the immune system on full alert?  I know (as just happened) my Sjogren's becomes extreme when I am ill.  I got Paxlovid for her, for Chris (hasn't been out of bed for days), and Matt (starting to recover).  Tracy is negative and took two more cats today, holding our breaths she stays that way. 

I have news regarding the felines, will share this weekend.

As for the flowers, I use basic Miracle Grow and also their Bloom Booster every week, water the tunias every day, once quite large it's twice a day.  Jack's 20-20-20 is also a great basic but I don't care for their Bloom Booster.

So who is getting the Nash chart?

Barbara from Kansas.  Several emails were received and included, Random scrambled and chose.  Thanks everyone and especially for including contact info!

Be well, be safe.

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Finish

 Loving these small projects.  Not fully finished yet.

On 46 count I dyed, dmc 221.

The bird was changed to a larger motif for balance.

Any problems during this stitch? Big time.  Alignment and border were continually one thread off yet the error locations could not be found.  A few projects prior, I mentioned the 46 I was working was woven with threads that easily broke.  Finally found that breaks were causing the problem.  May have been two threads to most stitches but a few inches over, it had dropped and no longer visible so I was actually over three.  Re-weaving 46, not fun.

Sick for a few days, got really bad news from my dentist because of the Sjogren's dryness, and came home to find out Carole has covid.  I called her doc and will pick up Paxlovid in a few hours.

Two more female surgeries Friday, another two next week, another two the following week.  All pregnant, not sure if they will proceed with surgery by then.

Now.  Because I was gifted this chart, I will pay it forward and send to someone else.  If you get it and already have the chart, please pass it on!   Wait.  My stored info was deleted with contacts when I tried to fix my email problems.  Comments are no-reply except for a handful if that, so I can't even contact you for an address.  .......

Interested in this chart?

Leave your email in a comment until Friday noon, or directly by clicking my email link at top right column.

From 93 to 65 in less than a week.  My buds are shriveled.

Be safe!

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Tara made me do it

Do you often purchase items after watching a flosstube?

Many are projects I'm not willing to stitch, too involved or large for my consideration.  But I enjoy seeing them very much, like Comfort Stitching's stunning Bridget Power.  Last night, I watched Sully Stitches.  Even though I rarely engage in Halloween stitchery, she got me.  So I rushed to search for the charts, all Halloween smalls, and I found two of them.  The fabric she showed for finishing was perfect for the backs, and I found it also along with a gingham I think will do well.  Old favorites, here they are....

Boo to You, Prairie Schooler

Pumpkin Patch, Prairie Schooler

Tara stitched and framed the small foursome, I plan to stitch four ornaments.

And this adorable guy...

Jolly Jack by Woolly Ewe

The fabric I ordered for the backs are these two, stars from Halloween Whimsy line and the gingham from Bad to the Bone.

I have the cool guy from Ghosts and Goblins stitched, I think these will be enough.  

The party today.  Oh.my.goodness.  There were over a hundred cars, nowhere to park, a long walk to a lovely park. Swings of all sorts, kids recreation, three shelters, and the best Mariachi band I ever heard.  Not that blaring head vibrating sound that so many bands think is good.  It's not.  They were perfect.  People able to speak without screaming, yet the music surrounded us.  We had no idea it would be this large!  And everyone received a t-shirt with his logo and company name.  I was going to do a brief video of the festivities but several Amish were there (no frontal photos permitted).

Thanks for the product suggestions, tried all of them.  They found a home for one enormous neutered and lovable male, one mother and newborns were accepted by an agency.  I don't know how many males are in this large group, and with all the storage in the basement, trying to find all the offending areas is almost impossible.

Labor Day. Good grief.

It will take a lot more than a few new charts and fabric to get this crab to mellow.

Have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day.

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Framed!

Hi folks.  First off, charts are gone.  I'm sorry Unknown, you didn't leave an email for me to contact you so it went to the next request.

Since I adore this finish (quite different from the chart), I decided to frame. A 4x6 was perfect, I painted to match the roof.  Displays that change locations without effort, perfect.

A second project was started, this time dmc 221 on 46 count I dyed, hopefully finished the same and kept with Robards.  Chart was a gift, Stacy Nash Little Redwork Pinkeep, and once again stitching only the back/bottom portion.

A special day tomorrow.  My hard working, started own business from nothing neighbor, is throwing a huge party at our township park to celebrate ....

he is now an American citizen!  

He is so proud and excited and we are thrilled for him.

Lots of good food planned (except for the baby lamb), and I planned to bring sweet lemon breads but .... how to serve?  Sliced is difficult to take without touching other pieces, paddle tongs are too large, small would break it apart, not wrapping individually.  Maybe attempting a cake pan instead of loaf, with spatula?  Will it be fully baked in the center, or dried out edges? Hopefully it will distract me from Carole's house issues.  

Three females gave birth yesterday, thirteen kittens added.  No shelter room, they doubled the spay cost, and the most upsetting part is not being able to be in her house.  Males must have sprayed their new territory (basement) and it is choking us, but not them. I told them the ammonia has destroyed their sense of smell, we can't spend more than a few minutes inside. I spent a small fortune for products, uv lights, nothing worked.  Nothing.  I make calls as does Tracy, no place to go.  Even if they leave, how do they kill that stench?  Ollie has sprayed a few shrubs here and it hits me from 20 feet away but I have an outdoor product that kills the scent.  We've waited over a month for appointments at the clinic which stretch into November, 60 day gestation means more kittens by then.  Going to a vet, not the clinic, would be close to four times the cost EACH.  Mark is so disgusted he would like to have them put down (several have died), which sent Tracy into tears and a big NO, but she does not have the money for all these surgeries and we can't and won't spend thousands.  We've spent a ridiculous amount already to help with litter and food, surgeries, cages, products, only because of the stress on Carole.  I don't care how much you love animals, it is irresponsible, which is the norm for them.  I will one day explain the household dynamics.  

Enjoy the weekend.

Summer is over.

I am crabass, hear me roar. 

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