From Craftyideas by Kincavel Krosses (with permission to copy and share)
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Hope all had a wonderful Christmas and holiday!
Saturday - long choir practice ...
Well, I'll be ... Oscar, the stray Russian blue but with orange eyes, or perhaps a French Chartreux? Big solid (color and build) blue grey tomcat with a tiny mew. He just walked over the dresser and on to my desk! That's a surprise! He's now laying atop by dresser! He comes and goes at will, but only once before has he ever stuck his head into my office! Nice, calm cat who hisses at the strangest times - more like he's announcing himself rather or making sure I'm following than as a warning. Suspect he wants me to feed him canned food. I'm hoping he'll dispatch a couple of mice or rats that I haven't been able to trap. I set them. They manage to set them off without succumbing. With the possibility of unintended exposure I don't want to set out poison and risk making him sick!
Ok, back to Saturday. 3-hour choir practice. Received some goodies - I couldn't eat but that's okay. I left them at my DD's on Christmas. It was my birthday, so I stopped by Kroger and got Banquet Fried Chicken dinner (I rarely eat fried chicken, but I'd forgotten to thaw the chicken thighs in my freezer), but more importantly - coffee ice cream - my nemesis. The phone was ringing when I walked in the door, followed by a series of Happy Birthday phone calls one right after the other, including one from my Dad. First time I've talked with him since September. My cell phone, having taken a fatal swim in Henna's water bowl, meant I haven't had long distance for several weeks. The ice cream was only partially melted by the time I finally found where I'd set it when I walked inside then talked on the phone. Sunday the Cantata at church. We have an 8-member choir, if everyone is there - and they were for a change. Went very well. One of the tenors set an old cassette recorder behind the guys and recorded it then handed us each a CD on Christmas Eve. Sunday the cantata. Christmas Eve: scripture/hymns/and communion Service at 5. We have 2 other congregations currently "nesting" in our facilities, and we took the earliest of the services. Was home by 6:20.
As her gift to the family, my daughter made an absolutely delicious gourmet Christmas dinner (she loves to cook) with standing rib roast cut in almost 1" slices! Roasted potatoes with herbs, roasted brussels sprouts via Ina Garten. Haricot vert. Wilted spinach with some sort of funky Italian cheese melted in them. Pear slices covered with another cheese with "provence herbe" wrapped in thick bacon. For desert a 3-1/2" tall, thick slice of NY cheesecake. And this was served AFTER all those appetizers. My sister gave me a Kroger gift card (VERY MUCH appreciated). I gave DD her annual art or destination calendar - something I've been doing since she was in elementary school. This theme was photos from Italy.
Last Christmas all I got was a small Kroger's gift card. This year: my BFF decided to send $$ to pay for the 32" TV I'd bought but was going to have to return since other unexpected expenses hit. Whoa! She sent cash inserted in a card rather than a check I probably would not have cashed. I decided wiser to keep the cash than return it via regular US mail. Besides, she was so excited because the idea came to do that rather than send me something tangible. (TV is still in the box following delivery after Cyber Monday - still need to figure out a place to put it - living room or bedroom. It's replacing either the 13" or 24" TV, both of which are at least 15 years old.) Received a check from Dad. AND my daughter added me to their Sprint Family Plan and gave me a Samsung Galaxy S3, which had replaced with an S5. The drawback is that I don't have wi-fi at home and would need to get some sort of bundle which includes it. I was sort of hoping the neighbor's wi-fi might bleed over, but no. At home I'm limited to talk/text. Which is just fine. I'm REALLY liking a device with a keyboard!
No plans for New Year's. Traditionally I sleep through it. :D
Can't believe Oscar has lain on the dresser the time it took to write this, but is now on the move. Guess I'd better feed him.
Saturday - long choir practice ...
Well, I'll be ... Oscar, the stray Russian blue but with orange eyes, or perhaps a French Chartreux? Big solid (color and build) blue grey tomcat with a tiny mew. He just walked over the dresser and on to my desk! That's a surprise! He's now laying atop by dresser! He comes and goes at will, but only once before has he ever stuck his head into my office! Nice, calm cat who hisses at the strangest times - more like he's announcing himself rather or making sure I'm following than as a warning. Suspect he wants me to feed him canned food. I'm hoping he'll dispatch a couple of mice or rats that I haven't been able to trap. I set them. They manage to set them off without succumbing. With the possibility of unintended exposure I don't want to set out poison and risk making him sick!
Ok, back to Saturday. 3-hour choir practice. Received some goodies - I couldn't eat but that's okay. I left them at my DD's on Christmas. It was my birthday, so I stopped by Kroger and got Banquet Fried Chicken dinner (I rarely eat fried chicken, but I'd forgotten to thaw the chicken thighs in my freezer), but more importantly - coffee ice cream - my nemesis. The phone was ringing when I walked in the door, followed by a series of Happy Birthday phone calls one right after the other, including one from my Dad. First time I've talked with him since September. My cell phone, having taken a fatal swim in Henna's water bowl, meant I haven't had long distance for several weeks. The ice cream was only partially melted by the time I finally found where I'd set it when I walked inside then talked on the phone. Sunday the Cantata at church. We have an 8-member choir, if everyone is there - and they were for a change. Went very well. One of the tenors set an old cassette recorder behind the guys and recorded it then handed us each a CD on Christmas Eve. Sunday the cantata. Christmas Eve: scripture/hymns/and communion Service at 5. We have 2 other congregations currently "nesting" in our facilities, and we took the earliest of the services. Was home by 6:20.
As her gift to the family, my daughter made an absolutely delicious gourmet Christmas dinner (she loves to cook) with standing rib roast cut in almost 1" slices! Roasted potatoes with herbs, roasted brussels sprouts via Ina Garten. Haricot vert. Wilted spinach with some sort of funky Italian cheese melted in them. Pear slices covered with another cheese with "provence herbe" wrapped in thick bacon. For desert a 3-1/2" tall, thick slice of NY cheesecake. And this was served AFTER all those appetizers. My sister gave me a Kroger gift card (VERY MUCH appreciated). I gave DD her annual art or destination calendar - something I've been doing since she was in elementary school. This theme was photos from Italy.
Last Christmas all I got was a small Kroger's gift card. This year: my BFF decided to send $$ to pay for the 32" TV I'd bought but was going to have to return since other unexpected expenses hit. Whoa! She sent cash inserted in a card rather than a check I probably would not have cashed. I decided wiser to keep the cash than return it via regular US mail. Besides, she was so excited because the idea came to do that rather than send me something tangible. (TV is still in the box following delivery after Cyber Monday - still need to figure out a place to put it - living room or bedroom. It's replacing either the 13" or 24" TV, both of which are at least 15 years old.) Received a check from Dad. AND my daughter added me to their Sprint Family Plan and gave me a Samsung Galaxy S3, which had replaced with an S5. The drawback is that I don't have wi-fi at home and would need to get some sort of bundle which includes it. I was sort of hoping the neighbor's wi-fi might bleed over, but no. At home I'm limited to talk/text. Which is just fine. I'm REALLY liking a device with a keyboard!
No plans for New Year's. Traditionally I sleep through it. :D
Can't believe Oscar has lain on the dresser the time it took to write this, but is now on the move. Guess I'd better feed him.
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Christmas Hoop Freebie
From Coats and Cross Stitcher Magazine And check out the other Weekend Freebies and links listed!
Friday, December 12, 2014
12 Days of Christmas and Other Freebies
Twelve Days of Christmas: Hope you've enjoyed these freebies and drawings from these companies!
From Cross Stitch Collection and Cross Stitcher Magazine. In conjunction with each other, a New surprise every day and only available for 24 hours - until 2pm the next day. You'll want to visit every day between now and Christmas! [Except for Day 1the freebies and give-aways have been the same.]
Be sure to visit the "Free" sections of the above for other Christmas and a variety of freebies and links. Example:
From Cross Stitch Collection and Cross Stitcher Magazine. In conjunction with each other, a New surprise every day and only available for 24 hours - until 2pm the next day. You'll want to visit every day between now and Christmas! [Except for Day 1the freebies and give-aways have been the same.]
- Day 1 (December 12th) : From Cross Stitch collection: Christmas Carol - a Victorian Village with carolers! 104H x 192w - must d/l by 2 P.M. December 15th (not sure which time zone so don't wait!) From Cross Stitcher Magazine: Reindeer Cushion - all of Santa's reindeer including Rudolf by Kate Mawdsley; individual designs suitable for smaller projects - d/l by the 15th
- Day 2 (December 13th) - sign up today to win an Embeliss bracelet kit. Second place is button covers. Sign ups end 1pm December 14th
- Day 3 (December 14th) - enter contest for Ultimate Christmas Cross Stitch Collection
- Day 4 (December 15th) - Seasons Tweetings - 4 card/ornie designs and 3 gift tags
- Day 5 (December 16th) - enter 24-hour contest for a fabric voucher from Willow Fabrics
- Day 6 (December 17th) - sign up for chance at one of 20 copies of Storyland Cross Stitch from What Delilah Did
- Day 7 (December 18th) - Enter for Mr. & Mrs. Tooting Skating kits to give away
- Day 8 (December 19th) - register for Joan Elliot book book and fabric giveaway
- Day 9 (December 20th) - lovely dove ornament charts to download
- Day 10 (December 21st) - register for one of 10 give-away copies of The Ultimate Alphabets Cross Stitch Collection
- Day 11 (December 22nd) - sign up to win a colorful cross stitch shoulder bag
- Day 12 (December 23rd) - download two floral Thank You cards to stitch
Be sure to visit the "Free" sections of the above for other Christmas and a variety of freebies and links. Example:
- DMC Freebie: Christmas Robin - you may have to sign up to get access, but they have some really nice freebies
- Cute, Kitchy Christmas Animal smalls with cardmounts to print out (to be honest - that takes a lot of expensive colored printer ink - I'd more likely use a small print Christmas paper design, cut it to wrap around or paste on to a suitable sized backing of 64 pound printer paper and/or or stick one in one of those blank folding cards - but each stitcher her own); Small, quick to stitch.
Monday, November 17, 2014
Long Time - No Post
First:
Freebie: http://www.brigittedadaux.com/article-grilles-gratuites-du-vendredi-les-10-grilles-les-plus-telechargees-119560984.html
Stoney Creek has a free Christmas banner leaflet, but the shipping is almost $4. http://store.stoneycreek.com/leaflet-292-christmas-banners-iii-p21114.aspx
Don't forget all those links on my Freebies page. It hasn't been updated in quite a while, but many of those individuals and companies offer new freebies on a regular basis.
*********
As for me, continued utter to extreme frustration with many issues in my life, most of which I can do nothing about, explains the absence. Family and health issues primarily. You definitely do NOT want to read a continuing barrage of the whys and wherefores. Just to say my errant belief in a "close family ties myth bubble" has totally burst. I'm past ready to call it quits and move to parts unknown.
I've done very little stitching. Constant tingling carpel tunnel (or something else) and my eyes have gotten so bad it's just something I find more frustrating than ever as well. I have glaucoma, cataracts and mild diabetic retinopathy. I've put off cataract surgery for years because of even other eye issues. Most recently is that even WITH my glasses at times I flat can't focus, and my ability to focus between not-at-all and amazingly well even using only the far vision portion of my trifocals .... the result of one of the eye drops I use for glaucoma. I'm going to get a second opinion before I do anything. At my latest specialist visit I took some exception when I expressed concern about the focus of any lens they might PERMANENTLY insert being the wrong one when my long-time glaucoma specialist actually chuckled and said "that's why they make glasses." Wait a minute!! I was under the impression that with the right lens I would only have to use reading glasses, but that's NOT what he meant, because I asked. Further, because the drops I use cause my focus to change (get MUCH better for a short period of time) at least I can take my glasses off during that time and still see better than when I need to wear them. With permanent lens, I couldn't even do that and my vision would be completely kaput until the effect wore off a few hours later, during which all I could do would be sleep or sit doing pretty much nothing. That's not IMPROVING my vision and absolutely something I intend to put up with! And because I have glaucoma, the surgery is going to be more complex and the risks higher. Great, I have a good chance of going blind as it is from one or more of the other issues, and cataract surgery might just hasten that reality?
But to end on a positive note, I've just sung another duet with our church choir director (OUR own SA arrangement of Dotti Rambo's "Behold the Lamb"), and will sing a special version of Silent Night on Christmas Eve as well. I'll get to see it for the first time Wednesday evening and look forward to it. I find that despite the nerves, since I've never sung duets before I'm actually enjoying it. I've ALWAYS enjoyed singing. She keeps saying how well my voice blends with hers. It's just been that have been several very long intervals between the opportunities to do so. Now if I could only remember the words and notes without having to glance down at the music. :D Funny, in my youth I could sing something with the sheet music thru just a couple of times and have it memorized. Definitely NOT in my dotage.
BTW, here in the DFW area we got a dusting of snow Sunday evening.
Freebie: http://www.brigittedadaux.com/article-grilles-gratuites-du-vendredi-les-10-grilles-les-plus-telechargees-119560984.html
Stoney Creek has a free Christmas banner leaflet, but the shipping is almost $4. http://store.stoneycreek.com/leaflet-292-christmas-banners-iii-p21114.aspx
Don't forget all those links on my Freebies page. It hasn't been updated in quite a while, but many of those individuals and companies offer new freebies on a regular basis.
*********
As for me, continued utter to extreme frustration with many issues in my life, most of which I can do nothing about, explains the absence. Family and health issues primarily. You definitely do NOT want to read a continuing barrage of the whys and wherefores. Just to say my errant belief in a "close family ties myth bubble" has totally burst. I'm past ready to call it quits and move to parts unknown.
I've done very little stitching. Constant tingling carpel tunnel (or something else) and my eyes have gotten so bad it's just something I find more frustrating than ever as well. I have glaucoma, cataracts and mild diabetic retinopathy. I've put off cataract surgery for years because of even other eye issues. Most recently is that even WITH my glasses at times I flat can't focus, and my ability to focus between not-at-all and amazingly well even using only the far vision portion of my trifocals .... the result of one of the eye drops I use for glaucoma. I'm going to get a second opinion before I do anything. At my latest specialist visit I took some exception when I expressed concern about the focus of any lens they might PERMANENTLY insert being the wrong one when my long-time glaucoma specialist actually chuckled and said "that's why they make glasses." Wait a minute!! I was under the impression that with the right lens I would only have to use reading glasses, but that's NOT what he meant, because I asked. Further, because the drops I use cause my focus to change (get MUCH better for a short period of time) at least I can take my glasses off during that time and still see better than when I need to wear them. With permanent lens, I couldn't even do that and my vision would be completely kaput until the effect wore off a few hours later, during which all I could do would be sleep or sit doing pretty much nothing. That's not IMPROVING my vision and absolutely something I intend to put up with! And because I have glaucoma, the surgery is going to be more complex and the risks higher. Great, I have a good chance of going blind as it is from one or more of the other issues, and cataract surgery might just hasten that reality?
But to end on a positive note, I've just sung another duet with our church choir director (OUR own SA arrangement of Dotti Rambo's "Behold the Lamb"), and will sing a special version of Silent Night on Christmas Eve as well. I'll get to see it for the first time Wednesday evening and look forward to it. I find that despite the nerves, since I've never sung duets before I'm actually enjoying it. I've ALWAYS enjoyed singing. She keeps saying how well my voice blends with hers. It's just been that have been several very long intervals between the opportunities to do so. Now if I could only remember the words and notes without having to glance down at the music. :D Funny, in my youth I could sing something with the sheet music thru just a couple of times and have it memorized. Definitely NOT in my dotage.
BTW, here in the DFW area we got a dusting of snow Sunday evening.
Friday, August 22, 2014
New from Frimousse, Update on Dad
Beaded biscornu
More Elves
After recuperating at my sister's house for a week, he's now recovered sufficiently to move back into his independent living center apartment tomorrow. Because my sister persuaded him to move several times closer to her and 10 times further from me, I doubt I'll see him that often. As it is, my very presence irritates him after a few minutes. It always has.
More Elves
After recuperating at my sister's house for a week, he's now recovered sufficiently to move back into his independent living center apartment tomorrow. Because my sister persuaded him to move several times closer to her and 10 times further from me, I doubt I'll see him that often. As it is, my very presence irritates him after a few minutes. It always has.
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Dad had a Major heart attack Monday!
He waited EIGHT hours to call my sister, by which time he was in severe pain. Because of other medical issues they found in the ER, the angioplasty/catheterization had to waint until Wednesday. 2 fully blocked arteries (one however had happened so long ago that it had healed itself by growing it's own by-pass - the other required a stint. The not-quite-as-badly blocked artery will be treated with medications for several months. He was released this afternoon and is styaing with my sister - probably only 3 or 4 days. He's ready to get back to the retirement center he moved into a month ago - but says now he hates. We're having to get blunt about him just having to get used to it. "NO, DAD, they will not change their behavior or routines, even if those conflict the published Rules, to accomodate you. AND understand if you decide to move, those people won't either." He didn't take that kindly, but it's the reality. He's never had many friends, he's not particularly social, and he's almost always gotten his way. It's going to be a tough adjustment. Maybe some of his fellow "inmates" will feel some sympathy but I suspect he's just as much or more likely to instead hear, in detail, all their own medical maladies. We understand he was included in several prayer chains at several church as a result of my Son-In-Law giving people he know a call.
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