bits and bobs

Hello!
 We finally have a contractor coming at the end of this week or the beginning of next week to start working on the tree falling repairs. There are 4 puncture wounds and some cosmetic stuff so it shouldn't take long. There were things around the house we were going to change eventually so we just left them half done - and now we have to finish that stuff. First thing was our fridge didn't fit in the fridge hole.We had a fridge when we lived in Colorado. It broke - we had someone come fix it and it broke again. After several service calls the company we bought the fridge from claimed the fridge was not fixable and we should stop trying - apparently a wire inside broke. We were a month or so outside of the warranty and they said they would do nothing to help except give us 10% off a new fridge. My husband was mad. So every ten days we had to empty the fridge - putting all the stuff in the garage fridge and turn off the fridge for a day then turn it on and move everything back. I put up with this for quite a few months and one day there was water on the floor from the fridge and I said that's it!!! We went and bought a new fridge (not the same brand - we wont buy Frigidaire for our home again)  - a few months later we moved (damn it) the people who bought the house didn't want to pay for the fridge and since we were still paying on it - we brought it to Indiana. Well it's a big one - French doors and bottom freezer. We thought one day we would remodel the kitchen and then our big fridge would fit - so it sat in an awkward spot in the kitchen.

it used to sit there on the right were the cabinet is now. It was awkward because there is a counter between it and the stove - silly.Well, that is what it looks like now - we moved the big fridge to the garage and bought a little fridge for the fridge hole (hee hee)

I also painted all the wood in the stairway - we were going to refinish the wood and put little braided rugs on the steps but it is easier to paint it.

before

after

before

after

 

We have taken several loads to the salvation army. We have made some other repairs - but nothing exciting to look at. Ok, enough about the house. On to stitching...
I got a new pattern - of course I needed it!

Glendon Place - Red Velvet Cake.It will go into the rotation when Glendon Place Tiramisu is done.  I even ordered the called for fabric - yikes it was expensive. I thought I needed a half a yard but I probably could have gotten away with a quarter. It would have been tight to frame but it would have saved me 26 bucks. Oh well. I stalled on my rotation for awhile so I could finish all those pillows. I am back on track. Here is where I am on the Teresa Wentzler fruit bell pull as of Sunday night

sorry about the lighting

I removed the Heaven and Earth Design from my rotation. My WIP box had four things in it. One of those Brooks books angels - which I sent to a friend. She can finish it and will enjoy it more than I would because I just don't know what to do with those angels. Two more Teresa Wentzlers - when the bell pull is done one of those will take it's place. The last WIP is an Amish thing called Pleasant Unity from Stoney Creek I started in 2003. It's cute but I am sure I only started it because of the buttons. There weren't that many patterns with embellishments at the time and I was excited to order them from the back of the magazine and get to do something different. Well, I didn't get very far

So, I added it to the rotation but I don't like the fabric I picked 13 years ago (yikes) so I picked out a new fabric. Look how cute those buttons are!!

It made me think of the first time I ever ordered embellishments from the back of a magazine - before the internet. I was sure it wouldn't work. Now I get stuff in the mail regularly! My first embellishment project was Pageant Kings by Sandy Orton

kreinik braid - I was thrilled! The picture doesn't do it justice - the detail is wonderful! In 2015 I finished Orchard Valley Quilting Bee by Little House Needleworks and Scott made me a beautiful frame. He painted it white and didn't like it - he painted it red and didn't like it - third time is a charm!!

for some weird reason the picture doesn't show the crackle except in two spots - but the whole thing has the crackle and I love it!!

Shepherd's Bush Over the River

 I have a finish!!! It got wrinkled on it's trip to the shop to pick up buttons and  haven't ironed it again.

 I bought these on Amazon - erasable highlighter pens mostly for stitching but also for school. I love the pastels.
Well, I have to go paint another thing in the kitchen - I will show you next time. Hope you are having lovely Spring weather!! Thanks for stopping by!

April update!

Hello! I am here for my monthly post - but I may be able to start posting more. I'm taking the summer off from school to sell my house. Scott and I decided the house is too big for two people. I shouldn't have ever bought it, but I was excited that this 4000 square foot house cost the same as my 2000 square foot Colorado home. Plus, I thought we would have more company. Then two family members became ill and left this world, our daughter decided to drop us like a hot potato and my son is always busy with school. I am tired of cleaning rooms that never see people and if we didn't have so much upkeep to do here we could actually travel more. So Scott and I were running errands and we decided that we were ready - I called and made an appointment with a realtor and when we got home we found a tree had hit the house - really?

It could have been worse - and I kind of wish it had been. Why? Well, there were lots of trees down that terribly windy day and since we aren't put out they are taking their time. Plus, we need to replace that window - why couldn't that have been knocked out? So now we have to pay our deductible for three or four puncture wounds, spouting, a small amount of roofing and siding and tree removal THEN replace the window out of pocket - grrrr. It just figures - so the house can't go up until it is repaired and that is taking weeks. The poor cat will never be the same either - he gets pretty jumpy when the wind blows - stares at the windows and slinks off to hide.  We had some guys come take that tree out and take down some dead trees - pretty impressive how they can make a tree fall uphill with just the right cuts. They will be taking a huge one - tomorrow I think - they will lay tires across my driveway to keep from damaging it - pretty scary and crazy cool at the same time.
Happy Anniversary to the love of my life. Scott and I celebrated our 25th anniversary on the 12th. Scott told me we had errands to run Sunday and took me to The Shane Company and let me pick a ring.

Oh I love it - what a sweet man.  It is so pretty and sparkly!! I'm a lucky girl!! We went out for two meals that day. The first one a crazy weird place called milktooth Scott had winter citrus dutch baby pancake and I had toasted house bialy with confit albacore tuna salad. It was really good!! We also tried the potato and celeriac latke. All the food was strange but it was really good. I think the word is quirky.

that is bacon on the side there

sunflower sprouts - I will be growing those - fabulous!!

We went to the City Center and climbed 330 stairs to the top of the tower - had to work off breakfast!!

Yep - the top of that tower!! 330!!

 We walked along the canal that runs through Indy and stopped in the Indiana State Museum

Anila Quayyum Agha - laser cut patterned wood makes this fantastic pattern!!

this statue rains off the umbrella - very cool

We had our anniversary dinner at Morton's steak house - delicious end to a lovely day with my sweetie.

The menu even said Happy Anniversary!!

 I have some finishes to show - a bunch of small ones!

Santa's are all Prairie Schooler

my bowl is full!

all three are from Goodness and Plenty by Plum Street Sampler

Shepherd's Bush Joy to Ewe

The last one is a little washed out. Right now I am working on another Shepherd's Bush "Over The River"So I was able to get these patterns cheap off someone reselling the pattern. I did find a person to supply me with the buttons they use - yay! Speaking of selling patterns - I have quite a few on eBay -  stb90125 I have to downsize because I may not have a craft room any longer. We may have to sell finished pictures if my new place is too small for all these pictures I've stitched!!
I'm off - thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful day - I will try to post a little more often.