Black flies and Snow flies: July 2020

Sunday, July 26, 2020

July 2020 weekly update for week ending on July 26th

Hi everyone,

A few hours after my post last week., we lost power again. So that's two weeks in a row now during our hot weather stretch.

Time for my weekly update.. here's what I've gotten done.

Stitching:

Started & Finished!

Fabric: 32ct Wichelt Chalk Board Black

Threads: Classic Colorworks /DMC ( Iused 320 for the chopped chives and 844 for the black coffee)

Stitch Count: 56 x 30, 2 over 2

Cross Stitch:

Some more stitches added to this one...

Fabric: Aida

Threads: included in kit

Stitch Count: 110 x 78

Cross Stitch, half cross, back stitch, french knots

I've also been slowly frogging the Imaginating Welcome Lighthouse so it can be re-started.

Stash:

Happy mail day..

punchneedle kit - All Labs Matter pattern, fabric & threads - Black Lab , weavers cloth & my 5" morgan hoop (mailed on Monday the 13th...due on Friday the 17th ..arrived on Tuesday the 21st ) from the ETSY shop the cooper's cottage

Found so many lovely patterns at this site and a few others... But I wanted to see something finished first.

123 stitch Priority envelope...(Mailed on Monday the 13th...Due on Thursday the 16th.arrived on Wednesday the 22nd) My floss for the birthday girls, a few other threads, a pkg of floss away bags, three 13 x 17 fabrics (Wichelt orange jobelan, PTP flash & pewter) and 3 charts (Heart in Hand Holiday Hound,the workbasket Mini Samplers, and Hands on Design the good ship sampler) - and.... the JCS 2020 Halloween issue.

Trying to not fall down another rabbit hole... I discovered some diamond paintings of artwork by some of my favorite HEAD artists.

Other:

DH Dr. visit changed to a phone call visit - first one of that kind of appointment.. Saved DH 90 miles of traveling.

Macey saw her first squirrel on the property.. she tugged at her leash and tried to jump in the air to go after it.. good thing it climbed the crabapple tree.. now to train her not to chase...Also saw some turkey tail feathers on the ground during her walk.Not sure what got it...no carcass..bur feathers were strewn all over the property...some distance apart.

Macey went to vet on Wednesday. Had her teeth cleaned & 3 broken teeth pulled. We also noticed early last week while trimming her nails, that she had a cut on the bottom of her front right foot - Dr. looked and said she's okay....

Saw this moth on the outside of our screen - it isn't a Luna Moth..but it was large (more than 4").. stayed there for several hours.

Until next time,

Have a wonderful day!
Lisa M.

Sunday, July 19, 2020

July 2020 weekly update for week ending on July 19th

Hi everyone,

Time for my weekly update.. here's what I've gotten done.

Stitching:

Added 200 stitches...The first block only had 2 shades of blue, the 2nd block had 4 colors

HAED Mini Quiet Reflection © 2015 Design by Michele Sayetta Artwork by Lisa Parker
Fabric: 25ct Zweigart Stormy Night
Threads: DMC (89 colors)
Stitch Count: 262 x 308, 2 over 1, full cross
Now 900 stitches completed of the 80696 complete

Some more stitches added to this one...

Fabric: Aida

Threads: included in kit

Stitch Count: 110 x 78

Cross Stitch, half cross, back stitch, french knots

I've also been slowly frogging the 40ct Imaginating Welcome Lighthouse so it can be re-started.

Have you seen this new freebie from Stitching with the housewives? Planning to start this one soon. Was going to be today but it's very warm upstairs and Macey is settled in our basement and I hate to make her leave her comfortable spot.

Stash:

Still waiting for a few packages to arrive. USPS tracking shows that one of them traveled 34 miles in 6 days. Ugh....waiting for it to arrive so I can send out my birthday monthly packages.

Reading:

Finished the next David Rosenfelt Book, New Tricks.

Other:

Took Dad to eye appointment earlier this week. It was difficult getting to him as the County showed up and closed access to his road on both ends... Then there was no workers to be found.. had to drive around looking for them - found them at our town garage. They finally paved his road which has been waiting since last fall. Luckily we arrived just on time to his appointment.

Dad's diabetes is not affecting his eyes but he needs cataract surgery for both eyes. Final testing at the end of this month and surgeries scheduled to start in mid - August and 2 weeks later. Hoping it will improve his quality of life.

Until next time,

Have a wonderful day!
Lisa M.

Thursday, July 16, 2020

July 2020 weekly update for week ending on July 12th

Hi everyone,

This is a bit late.. Sunday I was cleaning up a box of crafting stuff... came across a couple of punchneedle kits... found out they were shoved away as I didn't have the right size Morgan hoop.. Ordered one.. it was supposed to be here tomorrow.. but all of our mail has been significantly delayed...Since it shouldn't travel alone, I also ordered a cute kit.

Was planning to write my blog on Monday.. but we lost power. It was out for a few hours.. came inside to a darkened house, no fans and it was hot & humid.

Tuesday & Wednesdays I was busy helping my parents.. errands and medical appointments.

Went to our bank- found a sign posted on the door that the branch was temporarily closed (again) in accordance with CDC.. so the virus is creeping closer to us. Next branch is 90 miles away.

Time for my weekly update.. here's what I've gotten done.

Stitching:

Some more stitches added to this one...

Fabric: Aida

Threads: included in kit

Stitch Count: 110 x 78

Cross Stitch, half cross, back stitch, french knots

And a little backstitching on this (top 2 sections) as well as starting the black border along the left side....

Cross My Heart Inc.CSB-73 © 1992 Between the Pages Designs by Nancy Klipfel
Stained Glass Window
Fabric: 18ct cream aida
Threads: DMC
Stitch Count: 28 x 98, 2 over 1
Cross stitch, back stitch, Fractional Stitches

Stash:

My Etsy order from handdyedhappiness arrived. 3 pieces 13 x 17 of

Beach Bound 40ct - will have to order another piece of this lovely color as I found another pattern I want to do on it in my stash.

Dark Vanilla 28ct Lugana

Greycious 28 ct Lugana

Other:

Took Dad to cardiologist appointment early in the week ... Got him checked in and then had to leave and wait in car. Temp outside was in the mid-90's. Even with the windows open, the car was hot... the appointment was more than 1 hour.. Dad's heart is only at 40%..but Dr. said that this visit was the best he's ever seen Dad. and diet changes have improved his function.

Until next time,

Have a wonderful day!
Lisa M.

Sunday, July 5, 2020

July 2020 update for week ending on July 5th

Hi everyone,

It's been a mixed week. Lots of storms...bur the ground is still dry. Temps have risen as has the humidity.

Our 4th of July was quiet.. just a lovely picnic.

Stitching:

My focus has been on this kit...Some nice progress on

Fabric: 16ct dove grey Aida

Threads: included in kit

Stitch Count: 110 x 78

Cross Stitch, half cross, back stitch, french knots

Stash:

It's cooler in our basement (where our computer is) so Macey and I were cooling off and I hopped onto ETSY and found a few pdf charts from stitchesloversshop.

They were having a sale so I purchased this set of bookmarks.

And this national park chart (Death Valley- day time) that will be a gift for my brother. I'm thinking of using a higher count fabric instead of the called for 16ct.. it looks like it is all full stitches.. so if it is, then I will stitch it up to be finished as an ornament - and perhaps do all of the other national parks that he has visited the same way. Stitch count is 121x119..

Other:

I have also had a chance to pick up a book - I finished another David Rosenfelt book..this time Andy Carpenter # 6, Play Dead

Until next time,

Have a wonderful day!
Lisa M.