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 Hi stitchin' buds.  Carole came through the surgery without much trouble.  We waited for hours until a room was available and got her settled right at the end of day.  By that time, she appeared to enter delirium with some wild stories, and the look I've seen before.  A desperate and pathetic wide eyed terror with mouth hanging open.  We had to leave.  I couldn't sleep, this morning I needed Imodium, Tums, and a full dose Ativan.  Still couldn't settle.  But to my surprise, she was not bad.  Mixing and searching for words, but with a nerve block and five pain killers, it's amazing she still knows her name.  Doctor is happy with result and will check on her Sunday to see if the brace can come off, or go back with her on Monday.  Thank you so much for your best wishes and prayers.  I hope this is the beginning of the end to these horrible ten months.  She was thrilled but hesitant to believe that if she can put the leg down and sit in a wheelchair, she can go to her home for Christmas.  I'm checking transports now.  We had planned to stay tonight also, but she is OK and I was so ishkabobbled that I needed to get to my own bed and rest.  The cats managed just fine with my brother's care.  Petey is so content in that heated house that he didn't even run away when Ron showed up. The others were hiding, he never saw them.

I took several charts, Mary Bell... A Sprig of Holly .... Christmas Folk .... Scottish Initial Sampler.  Pieces of linen and charted threads, locked and loaded.  Could not decide since I love them all and the Scottish was stitched before.  So there we are, moved to the surgical waiting room.  I pull out my mini Magma, secure the chart, pull the thread ..... no needle.  Hence, no stitching! 

 

But I did manage to repeat the tiny favorite at the hotel, not the top row of over one yet, but that's all to finish.  This is the first one and I adore this tiny treasure.

And while looking for that photo, I found one of our much missed Budman with son Nit.

It will be warmer here tomorrow and we WILL get the filthy windows washed, pick up the rest of the massive leaves that blew back, consider buying a tree sight unseen.  Since I don't want to take the chance of the warm white "fairy" or mini lights not being what I expect, purchasing unlit may be the best option.  As much of a PITA as it would be, at least the strings would be the brightness I want.  Or not.  I've said it before, I'm spent!  I think the wire trees mixed with a small pine or grapevine is a good look.  Less work too.

Off to bed!  Again, thank you so much.

Have a great weekend.

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Leaving tomorrow

 What a nutzy day.  Tomorrow morning it will continue, but my insurance agent is awaiting my call before 9pm about changing to an advantage plan.  Having to pay the $233 Medicare deductible and $480 prescription deductible frosts my wide rear. It just does.  And I might add, my weight loss during covid has returned and brought at least another eight friends along.  All of our friends are on the advantage plans and have no complaints.  Half hour countdown, like I need more stress.

Carole is not herself, slurring a little, confused, I'm hoping anxiety is the cause and will subside after the surgery.  If the pain doesn't allow her leg to hang even after the below knee amputation, she will be livid and I don't blame her.  Think positive.  But I need to calm down first.

I haven't chosen a chart to pack yet, the day was wasted on things needing done for my helpless family members, all online issues and searches.  And then there's the brats.  They must be locked in the house, I have my brother coming ONCE a day which is fine except for Petey.  He sits at the door looking in at the others and it breaks my heart he can't come in, but it's impossible.  We're buying a heated water dish tomorrow for him, it's very cold and icing solid.  I hope the racoons don't take all the food.

Rachel is looking good and I will continue the bottom and the other trees before moving on to the over one beast and way too many letters.  Half cross (tent) and I need to get my instructions from readers out to make sure those threads don't disappear.

Those LED mini lights are on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OJE17D2?ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details&th=1  

You choose the bulb, cool white or warm white, they are brown wire but I'm sure they are offered elsewhere in green.  The faceted glass are from GE long ago, the newer ones are acrylic and LED but I can't say the old style is not available.  I just haven't found them which is why I am hoarding.

Thank you for the suggestion Cherie.  Absolutely!  Our services are very short staffed but will definitely check.

I will update after surgery.

Be well, be safe, thank you all.

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Lights!

 Hi to all.  Just wanted to show my (as I have before) light sets I found in the attic.  My friend Patti and I went to our favorite Christmas show at a primitive house and barn every year and drooled until a bib was needed.  The owner had a sweet four foot tall sparse tree (we both purchased) and on it were these lights.  Big ass bulbs on a little ass tree.  Made no sense until we saw it and promptly found the store and purchased all they had left.  At that time, stores were our source, not internet.  

I have three boxes never used and one extra.  Faceted glass iridescent bulbs that sparkle beautifully.  I don't have a tree except for my short and sparse few, not sure what to do.  I don't need additional frustration right now and stringing lights has never been pleasant.  Aren't they beautiful?

The LED string from Amazon just arrived and I could not be more pleased.  Who knew?  Put it on the calendar!  My goodness they are very bright, not too yellow, perfect.  It took a while to arrive, ordered weeks ago.  Brown cord for the grapevine tree, the lights put on fifteen years ago gave out.  LOVE!

Rachel's house is the 420 which had the most votes, although I would have liked a color.  But after manipulating in Paint, I saw what the problem with that would be.  Most all of the samplers with a house had the house color repeated elsewhere, border, motif.  This would be all alone, a house that doesn't fit into the neighborhood.  I am pleased with your choice of 420 but I plan to use something else for the door rather than the dull brown.

Packing today after bill pay and trying to console Carole with thoughts of being able to ride in a car, return to her home, and I am hoping .... we can bring her home for Christmas day.  Getting her in and out of the car will be difficult, but we'll manage.  

Have a good day folks.

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Calling all stitch elves

Hi folks.  I call on you for your help again with Rachel.  The called for house color is 420.   Nice.

For some additional pop as all houses offer in samplers, I am trying two very muted choices.  One of my favorites, 632.

Another goody, 3858, a little more mauve.  The other reds and rusts were too bright.

It's odd how the 3860 of the grapes in the DMC color book look so brown and yet a very soft magenta when stitched.  Never would have thought it could take on that hue, but glad you chose it for me.

The 632 is not as rusty and more subdued in person, but I think 3858 is out, and the 420 would be the best choice.  Your thoughts?  I may stitch the colors on the excess linen margin and compare first.  This gal has had a good share of frogging already.

 I am not taking this project to Pittsburgh.  I could work on it at the hotel in the evening but I doubt I will be able to focus so a small and easy project will go with me.  For the next few days I will be still searching and undecided about health care.  I would gladly keep my supplement if drugs were affordable.  Correction - if seniors were given the benefits of others.  I checked Biden's plan for negotiating senior drugs, but it is for no more than ten the first year and will not be in effect until several years from now.  The courts allowed Eliquis to hold off the approved generic until 2026, about the same time this plan would go into effect.  No way to know out of tens of thousands if my drugs would be the ones negotiated, or how much lower the price would be.  Decision time once again.

I am embarrassed by my mention of finances and deeply touched by a reader that sent me a generous gift to purchase stitching supplies.  Stunned.  This gifter is anonymous so the only way to offer my thanks is here.  You have uplifted me with your kindness and generosity, sorely needed as I try to console my sister and accept this before her surgery.  Thank you so very much.

Enjoy the weekend.

I will be dealing with old light strings that croaked, and new LED "warm white" in various lengths that are as color reliable as linens.  One is pure white, one is slightly green, one is pinkish, one is apricot.  Vastly different.  Returning all and ordering one brand only.  Or throwing it all out the window.

Yesterday it was heavily overcast allowing me to drive!!!  YAY!  

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Late as usual

 Sorry, too many phone calls.  

Not many entries, so I just added names to paper and drew from a bowl.  

Teresa L at tll6601@gmail.com will be getting the sampler charts.

Thanks everyone.

Getting close to starting on Rachel's house.  I'll show progress next time.

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Christmas giveaway

 This year's gift is a chart from 1988 that has several samplers of various sizes.  

"The Sister Samplers - 1839 booklet features antique sampler designs that were completed in 1839 by Sarah and Melvina Holland and have been adapted by Margaret Jeffries McKee.  The booklet has 16 models which have been inspired by the two original samplers."  

Photos from the chart are not very clear.

As for my sister, I have spent the afternoon leaving messages and waiting for return calls, she is crying all day from what seems to be nerve pain at the amputation site of five weeks ago.  Started after last weeks suture removal and trimming.  Nothing is helping.  Nine months of this and other causes of excruciating pain, should not be.

I'm not drawing a name until later in the week, too many things going on, so let's say Thursday at 8 pm.  Please make sure to include your initials or email address so I can contact the winner.  If you can't leave a comment, email your entry.

 samplersandsantas@gmail.com

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