Eureka!

 My border met!  So many one stitch errors I've made so far and yet the area of greatest risk for stitching screams is perfect.  I'm surprised and delighted.  

The tree is not centered yet, and I did find another error.  The 8 should be five stitches wide, mine is four, add the one linen thread over to the right and that's 1.5 spaces off.  No need to change that bottom area as I said, since those errors aren't causing other problems.   The tree will be centered and the house needs to be thinner by one or two rows, reason not found.  We're good!  I love this little design and now I can move forward.

More good news - I finally found a site that offered the Paint program I know and love.  It's back baby!!  But I can't get Windows to accept the app and list it in programs.  It's a little work to get in, but it's there.  

My Varithena treatment went as expected.  Hurt like hell.  That's unusual for this procedure, area is numbed first, but inserting the cannula and especially the foam when entering the vein is scream worthy.  This upsets the techs and docs when it's not expected, but not so much as the poor gastro surgeon listening to me yell during a colonoscopy without anesthesia.  

This was the brighter pink of the peony that took years to bloom.  My others are pastel.  I had a ruffled bicolor but it croaked.  Not easy to kill a peony, but I have talent.

Have a great day, be safe.

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And so it continues

Correction made. Technically it was two stitches short but really only one and I don't even remember why.  But it's wrong.  In that process of mind blowing counting, I found that the bottom date and name is one thread off, not lined up with the border stitches.  That doesn't interfere with any other elements so it's fine.  It's frustrating for sure, obviously there is a counting error somewhere.  Over and over the result is the same and for such a small area, I'm really at a loss for an explanation.  How could the width count of the house be correct, yet the foundation is not, and does not align with the bottom area.  Each stitch carries two linen threads so that's not the issue.  My only option is to continue with the border on the right side to see where the house will end.  Do I believe it will meet since I've had nothing but errors so far?  Nope. The concern is that the house would be only one stitch away from the border but three away on the other side.  Once I can see where it would end, adjustments to the house will be easy.  Some stitchers complete the border first and use it as a guide, some use the completed body as a guide for the border.  Like a putz, I'm halfway on both.

We had a storm, heavy rain, and these Annabelles just starting to bloom, are no longer upright.  They are really taking over and my Limelight is hidden within those stems.  First year that the deer haven't dramatically trimmed them for me.  The peony to the left has been planted for years, bloomed for the first time, a much brighter and deeper pink than the others.

The wrinkle should hit the fan today and then .... it starts.  I don't know of a way to explain without an enormous rambling post for background so ..  I will avoid the story.  Not related to health.

First treatment of five today.  It's concerning why some surgeons follow completely different protocols for the same procedure.  Inquiring about their method to understand it better as a patient (play dumb) can yield answers without questioning expertise.

Someone asked about the Ranger ink pad color I use for aging, it's Coffee.  Sepia is lighter and reddish.  

And the boxes I wanted to label and sell, will take some time.  For some reason, Windows removed my Paint program and that's where my files were created and manipulated.  I downloaded Paint again, but it is the original and older program, not what I had.  Whether Windows no longer supported it or not as other programs, there was no reason to remove it without a trace. I searched everywhere, no Paint, Paint 3D is horrible.

Have a good day folks.  

Can you believe this is the end of June already?

AUGH!!!!!!!!

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Oh Mary

You may be small, but still a stinker.  How could I have so many misplacements when not even half done?

Working the rest of the foundation and steps, I was two stitches short.  But the house has the correct number of stitches in width so how could that be?  The house foundation was stitched first and steps were aligned with the tree beneath.  Ah.  There ya go.  That's how I realized the tree was one over to left causing the foundation to be also, add the house one to right, and there's my two.  Ah.... no.   If the foundation was stitched one off to the left, and I worked the house stitches off that foundation, it can't be off to the right it would be left.  How the hell is that possible?  Is it me?  Would Focus Factor help? 

Start over.  Count again.  Foundation one to the left, but two stitches short.  Why?  So one to the left but two short would result in one off to the right.  Right?  Which explains why the house is correct width count but over one  -----> right.  So simple.  Ain't it?  Then why the hell did it take all morning to understand and why can't I just add or subtract one stitch and move on?  Because changing one of those errors without seeing the others could cause other areas to be off which has happened so many times.  This is a tiny and compact design, not much space to adapt to errors.

The tree will be frogged because I want that centered as it should be, the birds on either side will be balanced. The steps will be adjusted, not a big deal.  The chart has two spaces to the left of the house and three to the right, mine will be reversed and not interfere with any other motifs.  If that extra space was not there, I would have had to frog the house.  I was careful to position that centered tree, easy enough with the Y beneath, yet failed.  I counted the foundation several times and thought it was correct, it wasn't.  Maybe 40 count is too difficult for me? 

I thought once I corrected my error on the border that no other issues would arise on little Mary.  Please don't tell my husband I was wrong.  I don't want to break my streak.

Enjoy the day.  

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Keep needle in hand

or face a slump.  I was close, need to do better. 

Not making much progress on Mary Bell.  Lots of crap happening and being the only one in my family that knows everything, it falls in my widening lap.  Being right all the time, is a curse.

Mary will be 5.5" square on this 40 count.  Sweet. 

Huge sale at the local nursery since they had a boatload of flowers left.  They are all loaded with aphids (another reason for cheap) but after spraying and dipping in a mild solution of Murphy's oil soap, it's doing well.  New for this year is this SuperCol, a hybrid of petunia and calibrachoa.

As for Carole's return, we all have doubts.  In PA, and I assume other states, there is an option when you qualify for Medicaid and skilled care.  The program is called Waiver and she can transition to home care, back to skilled facility if needed.  She will have help at home, not 24/7, but they will determine which Waiver program is required.  From limited care to enable the person to stay at home, to extended care for disabled, brain injury, developmental, aging, if qualified.  Cheaper than nursing home, most times better for the patient.  The caregiver can be from an agency or even a friend or family member (including parent or child), they will be paid by the state.  A great deal of fraud happens as with all aid programs here that our agencies do not check.  I will not be that caregiver.  Twenty years of it, time for me to have a little freedom (I'm 71 + 3 days and can't believe it).  But now there is a new wrinkle.  Huge wrinkle.  A crevice.  More like a crevasse.  Pretty fricking deep.  

I hope you all have a good weekend.  I'm starting Varithena treatments again on Monday.  Yippee.

Be safe!!

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Garage - done!

  They could not believe how bad our door was.  Bottom was split a foot high across the entire bottom and flipped up like Mary Tyler Moore's hairstyle in the 60's.

We have iron strap hinges on painted shed doors and they eventually caused streaking on the paint from the elements and rain.  But I also did not want to attach the straps with screws into metal which creates a good chance for rust.  So we opted for the MUCH less expensive and not too bad looking magnetic vinyl ones from Cre8tive (menard's and lowe's).  Easy to remove if I change my mind which could be weekly, no damage to the door's surface.  I chose plain straps, no spade or spear end since we have colonial bean on the others.  

Even though my paint sample on a 3' x 5' plywood scrap was a perfect match, it's a little different on the steel.    Still good, not a problem at all, but I can't understand why.  Two coats over primer and that top coat should be the same as on wood.

The ramp at Carole's house will be built soon, her power chair is ordered, and we all have doubts about this move back home.  She became friends with a woman who has lived her adult life alone (except for fur-pal Barney) in a power chair.  She spent two months there in rehab after surgery and is now back home.  Very independent and always was, had a terrible childhood with numerous foster homes.  But Carole doesn't realize or admit how much she expects and relies on others and has for years.  The staff is so wonderful, the facility and grounds are beautiful, the rooms are private, outdoor areas at every turn, large spas for showers .... she admits it will be hard to leave.  But home is home!

I have been so exhausted, I fell asleep on my swing and almost toppled over like Arte Johnson after a Ruth Buzzi hit. 

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Mary Mary

 Hi folks.  After stitching myself the 1776 freebie, I started Mary Bell.  The linen is 40 count unbleached that I bleached and then subtly mottled.  Already had to realign the border (you know I love the look but hate the process), but I hope Mary will not be contrary.

I'll show you the 1776 before I sew it so you can see how I darkened the fabric for the 822 to show.  First considered the date in blue, but decided to try this instead.  I used a very light touch and my Ranger archival ink pad and soft brush, you can see the difference.  Much more control with the brush compared to dye when altering color once stitching begins.  But really, how many people would do this other than a reckless crabass?  I used it in the stripes also and since I sew into the stitching (no margin) the inked area edge will be hidden in the seam.  I also stitched over every other completed stitch in the date, one half cross, with 3866 for a little more contrast.  Happy with the result.  I have a small piece of Murky and pictured this on it with a bright red like 347, lighter blue, and the 822.  Oooooh baby I think it would be great.  When I'm in a peaceful mood and there is no temptation to throw my machine out the window, I will construct this and the berry finishes.

I so enjoy viewing needlework on IG, but the mention of the Cane Corso attack on my personal blog was hijacked by Google and I am getting a load of Cane Corso reels and ads, very upsetting.  If I view on my laptop without going through the app on my tablet, the only photos I get are from those that I follow, no ads.  

Commotion here today with the new garage door installation.  Oh how I dislike steel and the lack of deep grain and texture.  It is what it is.  Insurance covered a basic door since Mark backed into it.

We have a stitching friend that saw Jackie of Needleworker's Samplings work on Long Dog's Do Different magnificent sampler and would like to know about the skeins needed for this project.  No where offered with the chart or sellers, and if you've stitched this especially with the three colors and can offer some info, please let us know!  Thank you.

Hope your day is sweet.  I'm hoping for a piece of cake from the bakery!

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