Long, Tough Week at Work...

Good morning from the rancho.  The next paragraph may be unsettling for some. 

It was a long, tough week at work.  My prison had a riot last Sunday and spent the week on lock down.  An inmate was murdered.  I feel so incredibly sad for his family.  Yes, he was being held accountable for a crime, but as he was serving 15 years, there was still a chance that he could have turned his life around.  I am well aware that I work in a dangerous place, but sometimes, it slaps you in the face with a wake-up call.  Our prison was lucky, it was not about staff.  Not a single staff was injured.  Considering that we sent nine inmates to the hospital, we were very, very lucky.  I was at home when it happened, but was on the phone for hours, coordinating meals.  We are working on getting back to normal program, but it will be a while...

To keep my thoughts off the bad, I worked on crafting.  Practiced mounting paper inside boxes.  Went pretty well, though I need to improve my corners.  I like to use clips as I measure and get the paper straight.

Once I finished gluing and putting on the Mod Podge, time to wax.  I used a cream wax, but added a little antique wax to make it look older.  Next time, I will cut the amount of antique.  I have a few too many streaks on the paper.  Overall, not bad for my first try at home.  I finished the bottom with a hand dyed velveteen from Lady Dots Creates. 

Stitched the pompoms onto my scissor fob. Very pleased with this look.

Took Moses to the vet on Friday to have him neutered.  Very sad face that night.  The hardest part is keeping him and Daisy separated.  Sigh.  I feel like a doorman at the Waldorf Astoria...dog in, dog out, cat in, cat out, dog in, dog out...

He hates the cone, but the cat hates it more.  Every time Moses walks by the cat, Moto hunches up and hisses. Usually they just ignore each other, so it's got to be the cone. 

So, off to start my day.  I didn't do chores yesterday, so I will be pretty busy this morning.

I wish each of you a day filled with friends, family and love.  Be kind to one another.

A Little Finishing...At A Class That Is...

Oh, where to start...

First, happy Friday.  I was pretty much ready for Friday on Monday.  I am not sure who planned a five day work week, but sometimes they just plain hurt.  LOL

Last weekend was my finishing class for the Hands to Work project.  Really, too much fun for one person to have.  LOL  I visited with friends, laughed, and ate my way around Modesto.  Lois Bear is an amazing teacher. She is so fun and filled with great ideas, they just fall out!  I learned how to use bookbinding glue, Mod Podge, scrap booking paper, and how to make cording like a pro!!

Here is the wax bag and pincushion.  I love how the pincushion looks. I can definitely see doing another one like this...not the same pattern...but the same shape.  LOL  See that cord?  I made that cord!  I usually just use the door knob and a pencil, but oh my goodness, used a corder and WOW! Went and bought one that afternoon.  LOL

In the right picture, you can see the wall paper that was added to the inside of the box.  So cute! That's where I learned how to use bookbinding glue (less water) and then cover the paper with Mod Podge to seal.  I've already picked up both products for practicing at home.  LOL

We painted the box and then rubbed on a brown tint wax to dull the color.  One person in the class did a green box, but I like the coral.  If you look closely at the picture above, you can see the color right above the paper. My box top fit just right.  And any areas that were a little wonky...covered that up with pompoms.  LOL  You can see the scissor fob at the bottom corner, but still need to get it stitched close and add the pompoms and cord. More cuteness!

In between class, I hung out with the ladies from my table.  They are very adept at knitting, crocheting, needlepoint.  I perked up when a couple of them said they knitted.  With circular needles? I asked.  Why, of course, they answered.  Hmmmm...I have problems with circular.  How would they feel about a mini-lesson?  An hour later, I FINALLY GOT IT!!  Here is the finished project:

Yes, it's a washcloth, but it's a knitted-on-circular-needles washcloth.  LOL  Now that I am one with the needles, I can seriously look at knitting some socks.  Maybe...LOL

I managed to get a couple of walks in while in Modesto.  Sunday morning sunrise was absolutely fantastic and the weather was perfect.  This picture is the sun coming up over one of the canals that run through the city.

So, I am off to plop my behind on the couch and get in some stitching time.  I wish each of you a wonderful weekend.  Be kind to one another.

Quiet...

Quiet weekend here at the rancho.  We had normal weather last week, then up into the 100's again. Sigh.  We are expecting rain and thunderstorms later today and tomorrow.  With all the fires, now there is the threat of mud slides.  We love the rain in the Spring, but not so much at the end of Summer.  I managed to close up the house early and get my chores done before the worst of the heat. 

I worked on my stitching this past week and made progress.  Lots of tiny, four stitch squares. Tedious, but at least you don't have to keep checking the pattern.  LOL

One of my friends sent a washcloth pattern.  Has a very cute pumpkin outline.  You know how I feel about anything pumpkin.  LOL  I didn't have dark orange cotton yarn, but did find this variegated with Fall colors in my stash.  

Can you see the pumpkin?  I have another skein of this yarn, so will be doing one more in the next few weeks.

Just had to show my little cow vase.  I found it at an estate sale and fell in love with its little face. And how about that flower on the tail?  Never had any of our cows with one of those!  LOL  I went out and grabbed one of my Christmas Aloe babies and moved it into its new home.  Very sweet.

Dad is the same.  I sat and watched him for a while yesterday.  Just sat quietly and cried.  I don't know why yesterday was any different than any other day, I just felt sad.  So, then I got up, pulled up my big girl bloomers and got on with my day.  We all do what we need to do.

I hope that all of you are safe and sound.  As much as I dislike the heat, it's not a hurricane or a tornado.  Be kind to one another. 

A Very Long Week...Time to Regroup

Good morning from the rancho.

It is early, early, early Saturday morning.  Quiet and cool.  Okay, it's 70 degrees, but that's not bad. Our forecast is in the 100's, again.  Here is what I found last Saturday when I got in my car...

It dropped to 113 degrees as I went down the highway.  I guess that was a bit better.  We have at least another week of this weather.

Since it has been so hot in the afternoons, no yard work for me.  Here is my stitching update.

So...we have failed at hospice.  Medicare filed a request for review.  Since my dad has been on hospice for four years, Medicare felt that we were abusing the program. Based on the review, we have been taken off of the program.  I am not angry at hospice.  They have done everything to keep us, but Dad is dying too slowly for Medicare's liking.  That is the nature of his disease. There was not enough monthly change to justify their participation.  To be honest, the only parts of hospice that we used were the weekly baths, the nurse visits, the music volunteer, and the social worker.  I use a caretaker service while I am at work, and the ladies have offered to do Dad's baths.  My husband's doctor is also a friend, so he will take Dad as a patient and do house calls.  But the moral support? The music?  Those I will miss.  Our music volunteer had made a point to learn the old western songs for my dad.  Sigh.  I don't know who cried more, me or my worker...

I am torn.  I want my Dad, but the man in the hospital bed is not really my dad anymore.  He hasn't spoken in over a year and his body is very contracted due to the Parkinson's.  I miss his smile so very much. All I can keep thinking is that my dad would be angry to know that this is what he has become. Hospice has recorded in our file that my dad is alive because of the excellent care that he receives. But, I won't ignore him. I will take care of him until the end.

So, after a pretty trying week, I am looking forward to a three day weekend.  I have a few chores to do, but plan on spending some quiet time with myself, trying to regroup.

Be kind to one another.

 

A Very Warm Welcome To...

Happy Tuesday from the rancho!!

Everyone, put your hands together and give a warm welcome to the COMPLETED Cherry Hollow Farm Sampler by Stacy Nash.  Two and a half long years.  I tried to stay focused (cough), I tried not to work on any other projects (cough, cough), I was comitted (cough, choke, cough)...oh, never mind. LOL I am like a squirrel with a tree full of nuts.  They all seem like the perfect nut for ME! I just hop from one nut to the next.  LOL

This is the first one over two that I stitched and I am very pleased with the result.  So much, I'm doing the same thing with my new project.

This is a Blackbird Designs Loose Feathers design from 2006, Moonlite Garden.  I'm using Weeks 35 count linen, called for threads, but one over two.  So far, I'm liking it.

Moses is in love with my hubby.  LOL  I can be giving him all kinds of belly rubs and ear rubs, but as soon as DH walks in the room, I'm dropped like a flattened squeak toy.  He really has a thing for laps...Moses, not DH. If you look closely, you can see that there is not much difference in size.

And if Moses isn't hanging on DH, he's hanging on Daisy.  They remind me of Pinky and the Brain. She is the brain, always up to something...Moses is the brawn...LOL  Definitely out to take over the world.

I leave you with my Christmas Carol Aloe. I've had it three or four years, but this is the first time that it's bloomed.  I love the red edges.  And if you look carefully, it's having babies!  LOL

Wishing each of you a wonderful week...be kind to each other.

Heading Towards the Finish Line...Kinda

Good morning and happy Saturday!!

I have been working on this stitching project for two and half years, yes folks, two and half years!! Granted, I've worked and finished on other projects, but I originally chose this pattern because I fell in love with it.  I should respect it enough to get it stitched.  LOL

Still working on pottie training.  I am ever hopeful that I will win.  LOL  Here's the doggies waiting for snacks. Daisy takes her snacks VERY seriously.

Big smile for the camera.

My stepson's birthday gift was a new phone.  Here is our last picture of the summer:

I didn't realize that the camera came with it's own effects.  But boy, once I did, I had FUN!! This is my favorite picture.  I never knew that I would look so good with a clown nose.  The glasses are my regular reading glasses, but they definitely add to the look.  LOL

Took my stepson to the airport last Sunday to fly home.  Can I just say that LA traffic is enough to make me scream?  And once again, California chooses the worst time of the travel season to shut down and start working on the freeways.  I suppose I should just count my blessings that I only head down south a few times a year...

I am off to start my chores.  I was up early this morning to walk before we hit triple digits, but I haven't done much else.  Got to get moving.  LOL  Have a wonderful weekend!

Be kind to one another.

Ready, Set, Finished!!

Happy Saturday from the humid and miserable rancho.  I just want one day that is below 90 degrees and 80% humidity.  I don't think that's too much.  Sad Face.  My hair frizzed out about two weeks ago and no matter how much "de-frizzer" I use...let's just say I've got some halo effect going on...  Thank goodness for ponytails...LOL

I AM FINISHED!!  Yep, finished the last piece for my September class.  I was a little annoyed with myself when I realized that stitching by memory instead of looking at the pattern was not a good idea. One row, just one row. That's how far I was off on the last two strawberries at the bottom.  And how did I happen to notice? That would be when I was adding the backstitch.  Hmmm, how odd that the last bump on the backstitching isn't as large as the first.  Why that would be because I stitched by looking at the other four strawberries, not at the written pattern!!!  After an hour of un-stitching, and 15 minutes re-stitching, done!  I guess I'm a really good stitcher....my tension was nice and tight. Looks great, but hard to frog. LOL

Moses and Daisy are settling in very well.  It is a little weird to seeing a 20 pound dog run and jump on a 100 pound dog, but Moses is so excited to have a friend, I don't think that Daisy scares him that much.  LOL  They play and play and play until they both flop on the ground to take a break.  Ten minutes later, it's back on again. I was sad at the quiet around the house, guess they've taken care of that!

Tomorrow we will be taking my stepson to the airport.  It's about a four hour drive, but at least his plane is leaving at 4 pm and not 4 am.  LOL   It's been a nice visit, but I think he's ready to see his mom.  He'll have a couple of weeks to hang out before school starts.    

I'm trying to decide what to start next.  Do I work with yarn or floss?  Hmmm, I'm thinking floss. I can't imagine having a blanket on my lap right now.  I think I'm more of a winter knitter. LOL I need to finish my Cherry Hill Sampler...but then I've got a quilt to work on, and some sorting to do, and more, and more, and more.  The list is really long.  LOL  

I wish each of you a wonderful Sunday.  Be kind to one another.