JtC, I don’t generally use jewelry findings when making cards or scrapbooking because of attachment issues and trying to keep cards mailable. I use them occasionally when I make something else though. I use seed beads for shaker cards (ones that have a dimensional window that allows you to shake them to shower confetti, snow or pretties over your snowman, birthday cake or whatever.). I, too, have some metallic embroidery floss that I use on occasion. I think I bought it about the same time as you when I did more needlework.
Up, caffeinating, breakfasted, dog parked (is too a phrase!), have a load of towels ready for the dryer and a load of clothes on deck. I’ll do KP shortly and clean house before going to the grocery store. Such an exciting day!
I’ve been following along with this week’s MMP; just haven’t much felt like chiming in.
Sari, I am so very sorry for your loss. Even when you know it’s coming, losing a parent is an excruciating experience. Big hugs and good thoughts to you.
In the upcoming days, weeks, and months, take care of yourself first. Everything else is secondary. All the things you need to do now will seem extremely urgent. When you start to feel overwhelmed, stop. Take a step back and a deep breath. Watch a dumb TV show or read a book or take a walk outside, or whatever it takes to clear your head. Whatever it is can wait.
Yesterday’s drive started off fine — I only left the house 30 min late (at 8:30am), which I figured I’d make up on the road — but then there was an accident in part of northern Maryland where there is no escape from I-95. A big accident. Like, an “I didn’t get out of first gear for over an hour” accident. When I left the house I’d texted my best friend to let her know that if she was up for a chat I’d be driving for quite a while, and luckily she called ~20 minutes into the backup. We talked until I was finally able to use second gear again (plus the others) and got to the travel plaza I should have gotten to 70 minutes earlier. After a quick bathroom break I called my aunt to let her know I wasn’t going to get to her place in time for lunch, then I got back on the road. There was moderate traffic the rest of the trip, but luckily no significant delays. I had a nice visit with my aunt and uncle, and made it to the B&B right around 6pm.
The B&B has events from time to time, and a few days ago I’d seen that they were hosting a “sip and stitch” thing last night where people sew their own leather wallets (after picking out the leather, deciding whether to emboss/personalize them, etc.). I bought a ticket, figuring I’d be looking for something to do while I was here. I am NOT crafty by any means, and it’s not something I normally would have signed up for, but it was something different and I’m glad I did it. There were only three of us in the workshop, plus the woman who led it, and that was kind of perfect for me. After the workshop I called one of my mom’s-side cousins, to see about possible weekend plans, and we wound up talking for three hours — until midnight! It was really good to catch up with her. I’m going to see her and her family tomorrow: she’ll let her brothers know when I’m going to be there, and if they’re available and interested they can join us. It will be very casual.
That means I’ve been on my own all day, which has actually been perfectly fine with me. I didn’t sleep very well but woke up at around 8:30am, and came out to the common room for some breakfast (they put a very nice fruit bowl together for me). I took my time eating and chatting with one of the other guests — the woman who had led the wallet workshop — and at around 10:30 I grabbed my Kindle and went to sit on the second-floor balcony and read for a while. It was already in the 80s, but I found an Adirondak rocker in the shade and there was just enough of a breeze to stay comfortable. I spent two hours out there and finished my book, then came in to find some food. There’s a little coffee shop attached to the B&B, and they make the best chicken salad I’ve ever had! I got some on a plate and a bottle of unsweet tea, and am quite the content Misnomer. I’m still sitting in the common room right now, because it’s cooler and quieter than the coffee shop (this room is guests-only), and figured I’d pop in to the thread. I might go do something this evening, but the B&B is going to have live music outside tonight so I might just stay here.
In the near term, I’d about to head back to my room and will likely watch some TV for a while. There may even be a nap in the offing. At some point I’ll start the next book in the series I’m reading. Being on vacation is nice.
My brain has come to a screeching halt for the day. I was trying to work on something for the sales group and I just can’t.
Anyway, 'tis hot and gross today. The girl is already picked up from camp, the husband is picking up lunch (I nearly screamed when he asked me what was for lunch) and the boy is due in the next couple of hours.
I’m having the neighbors over tomorrow night so I’ve got to make a Costco run. I’ve never seen two individuals consume as much wine as these two can - when they visit we wind up going through a minimum of three bottles in a dinner. Still…it’s a relatively small price to pay for plumbing advice. And they live just round the corner and a few houses down so I never worry about their ability to get home safely.
Just got a call from the carpet place, guys will be out between 3-5pm to put the carpet back down where it had been taken up by the plumbers. It’s 1:10 now, so not enough time for doing much of anything before that, so will just hang about the house for now (which I have been doing anyway). It’s 92F outside, so not like I want to be outdoors…
talkie, had those brain locks before, just take it easy and away from the problem for a bit and it’ll usually work itself out. And glad your neighbors can hold their liquor.
Oopsie, sounds like the trip started bad, but got a lot better after you arrived. Hope the trip home is less eventful.
shoe, fingers crossed for the job interview (whatever it is for).
We bailed early. FCD forgot to take his pain meds before we left home, so he was hurting without the addition of oppressive heat. But he removed the galley blower and its old switch. The blower was full of mud dauber mud, which explains why it wouldn’t run. But it runs now. We brought it home to be cleaned (I’ll do that as soon as I post.)
We also brought home a control panel and the wires and terminals to get it all ready to be powered up - he’s doing that. I’m just back from a run to Food Lion (no buttermilk there, so I got whole milk and I’ll curdle it myself.) I also set the kitteh trap with gushy food - we’ll see how quickly I catch them.
We’ve decided we’re leaving next Sat, stopping in Lumberton NC for the night since it’s about halfway, and continuing to Ocala on Sunday. Now I need to find a pet-friendly hotel that isn’t the one where we stayed last time - that place was marginal at best.
And I’m waiting to hear back from Daughter to see if she wants a celebratory dinner tonight. She’s officially left her car dealership job and literally moved her chair to her new office at the school. Hope she’s ready for what she’s getting in to…
Same no show, non running SSLAWs(who does maintenance in the middle of a sort?) and same late start to clean up. But if y’all want to pay me 20 hours of OT instead of 6, be my guest.
: crosses appropriate and inappropriate apendages for shoe :
And we’re back to driving straight thru. Apparently Saturday night is the most expensive night to get a hotel. So we’ll leave early on Sunday morning and spend all freekin’ day on the road.
FCM When I lived in Wilmington NC, my co-workers always said Lumberton was a scary place, but you’ve mentioned staying there a few times, I think. I guess they were being good-ol-boys…racist. As I understand there’s a large native american population there.
I’ve got some more pieces to drop off at the new store, I think that’ll wait til tomorrow. And I need to crawl under my truck to figure out where the new noise is coming from. I just had the muffler and exhaust replaced, but it still sounds like there’s a leak. Huzzah
We’ve stopped in Lumberton many times over the last 40 years - never had any issues other than the last place that was pet-friendly and not the cleanest place. Holiday Inn was always good, but they don’t like dogs.
Turns out I should have started accruing 4 weeks vacation on my 15th anniversary back in April. Our payroll guy says he’ll prorate it, so I guess I’ll have more vacation to burn before the end of the year.
I just got back from ‘lunch’ – a walk down the beach. 2.54 miles, averaging 2.89 mph. The 1/10-mile hill slows me down both ways, as do the gravel parts of the berm (a little bit). When I can average 3.01 mph including the hill and gravel, I’ll be happy.
Wifey, RN just walked in the door from her patient visit.
The hippies are gonna get wet. There’s a big music festival about 2 miles from my house this weekend. It’s a whole annoying 4 day long thing, makes it difficult to go to the grocery store, traffic is a mess. I don’t like it one bit.
Yay for FCDaughter’s new gig! Have a safe trip to Ocala Mooooooom.
Good luck shoe.
I thought of you when I got supper tonight swampy. I got a stoner supper that featured a burger with chili, slaw and onions like your slaw dawgs.
I feel your pain VanGo. While I can get the grocery store, during the overlap of CMA Fest and Bonnaroo, doing anything that involves going in either direction from my town on I24 is a no-go. I live about 20 minutes from Nashville and 40 from Manchester via that route and going anywhere requires sitting in traffic and cursing tourists.
Home is clean, laundry done, groceries bought and supper ingested. I need to set a reminder to water the outside plants before bed since they’re a little droopy (only 102F here today). Now to play in the studio.
Howdy Y’all! We got shorn, did all the things, N.O.Led at the good Mexican place, achieved nappage and then day drank out on the back porch while watchin’ a big rain. All in all not a bad day at all.
MetalMouse is this an Eggs Up Grill? If so, they do a pretty good breakfast and N.O.L. I recommend checkin’ it out.
MOOOOOOM yay for FairyChatDaughter! May she find much happiness in her new gig. Also, like I said on the book of faces, CB thinks we should drink out of jars, so don’t judge too harshly.
We took Daughter and her fambly out to dinner to celebrate her new job - she wanted to go to the Japanese Steak House near their neighborhood. Roxy will forever after refer to it as the fire restaurant - she got so excited when the chef did the flaming stuff they do!. It was yum and I’s stuffded! Glad to be home.
BUT when we pulled into the driveway, we saw the neighbor’s lab leaving our yard, and all the kitteh kibbles were gone. I’m wondering now if the cats may have relocated also. The trap is still out there and set, so we’ll see in the morning. I hate to think of the kittens being in the wild, reproducing and such, but it would be a relief not to have to deal with this. So tomorrow will tell.
I watered the planters on my front porch and I’ve got the sprinkler watering my veggie patch. The rest of the night is for chillage. I need chillage.
