Now that my cold is finally over, I have been throwing myself into a lot of projects, both cross stitch and cleaning. My back was still killing from all the yard work, so I spent a couple of afternoons in my recliner knocking this beaded ornament kit out.
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Quarter to show scale. There is a whole series of these beaded ornament kits by Mill Hill and I want them ALL!!!!!!!!
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Cleaned up the metal futon frame and got some cushions for it, but I think we are going to get thicker ones for the seat and Russell wants to elevate it somehow because it is way too low, even for me. I'm still in the market for a couple of chairs too.
A few weeks ago, Jaime and I were PMing on Facebook about music and I mentioned that I saved a ton of You Tube links to newer songs that I really loved, but I hated the thought of having to buy entire CDs just for one song. I'm not savvy enough to do iTunes or anything like that. I joked that I missed the days of 45 records. She told me to send her all the links to the videos and she could easily download and burn them to discs for me, from which I could make my beloved mix tapes. She sent me 5 discs a few days later!! I spent a few hours listening to them and writing down what's on each disc. Then I got some blank tapes off Amazon.com. I'm going to be a busy girl!!! I'm so excited!!!
Spring cleaning is in full swing in the house. We got new a/c units because the others are almost 4 years old and run 24/7 from April to November. It was time for new ones. On Sunday, I did the laundry room, bathroom and craft room. Plus did what I could to tidy the storage room. I was some exhausted and went to bed at 8:30. Got up at the crack of dawn on Monday, thanks to the noisy birds, and got going by 7 to the laundromat to wash the comforters, do the grocery shopping and errands. Then it was time to clean the bedroom which took 2 hours. I did the livingroom yesterday and all I have left is the kitchen, which takes the longest. And we also finally found a futon couch, right in Wareham too. I wish we'd found it 2 weeks ago instead of making that wretched trip to Stoughton.
We were in Mashpee last week and I treated myself to a couple of Cupcake Charlie's cupcakes: Funfetti and carrot cake. They were sooooooooo GOOD! My cupcake MO is to eat the bottom cake, then dig into the top with the icing. It's probably a good thing that CC is in Mashpee or else I'd be there every day!!
While organizing my stitching kits, I found this one that I started last November and put away because of the holidays. I totally forgot about it. It's a pretty quick workup. I had to change the round red & green mint candy design because the ones in the pattern look like swastikas. I just have the top and bottom to do. These kits are easy to work on while I'm in my recliner on a heating pad after marathon cleaning!
My new futon couch came yesterday! They dragged the old one outside which is being picked up for a dump run. Pepper is having a lot of trouble getting up on this one and she's not at all happy. I have to help her up sometimes but she is making progress on jumping up on her own. Not sure what to do about this issue...I could try getting her a step or box or something but I'm not sure if she'd grasp the concept. She really wants to be on the couch as it's more comfortable for her and I can't be here to help her all the time.
"Ai not like, mama".
It's a lot bigger than the old one was....I barely have enough room to recline....but it should be fine. The mattress is thick so it'll work for sleeping a couple nights a week, although now that we are using the a/c again, that helps to drown out the snoring. Still though, it's nice to have a better looking couch in the house; the other one was so shabby. Now if I could just find 18" blinds to replace those shredded ones, I'd be set.
I am really eager to get back to my day trips and photography. It's been a long winter and it's going to feel great to get back to it.
Glad you're feeling better, and looks like you're pretty busy with all your projects going on!
ReplyDeleteThanks. Yeah...I just have the kitchen left to do and I'm running out of steam....
DeleteI've seen those step-ups for pups and cats and I think the dog would catch on to the idea. I'll be looking forward to more photos and hearing about your adventures! And good for you, recycling! (the old couch or futon frame) As for the beaded work, it looks great. I like clothes with beading, but haven't felt inspired to do it myself.
ReplyDeleteSo far Pepper is managing to get up and down OK...she's done it quite a few times w/o my even noticing....one minute the couch is empty, the next she's fast asleep on it. But I may get the steps anyway. I, too, love clothes with beading and I have done it a few times but boy is it labour intensive. So much easier to just buy it already beaded!!!
DeleteSorry - had to delete my first comment as I had tried to highlight and more a few words around and ended up making a complete and illogical mess of my comment. Unfortunately, once you hit post or publish, you can't go back and edit. :(
ReplyDeleteNice to hear you're over that nasty cold, and boy have you got your energy back ! You have been one very busy bee. :)
Love the beaded ornament - beautiful, rich, jewel tones.
I think if you got a step or a platform of some kind for Pepper and led her up it onto the couch a few times, she would soon get the hang of it. She looks like a pretty smart puppy.
Thanks! Yeah I do feel better for the most part but I'm still congested, but that might be allergies now that the pollen is coming back. I would love to get more of those beaded ornament kits but I don't even have room on our trees for the ornaments we already have! One of my friends knows someone that makes dog steps so I will probably look into it.
DeleteI'm sorry, but did you buy the new couch for Pepper or for yourselves? If she needs something soft to lie on why not buy her a doggy bed of some kind? I love those beaded ornaments, very colourful. I am very impressed with all the work and projects you have been doing since you recovered. Don't push yourself too hard if you are still congested.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo! She HAS a doggie bed which they both use too. They trade off on the couch and bed all day. And really the couch is just a futon for me to escape to when Russell's snoring wakes me up. I couldn't break my back on that shabby broken down 30 year couch anymore. I hated it. I knew the dogs would take over during the week. I prefer my recliner for every day seating.
DeleteThat's one lucky doggie. If I got a new couch/futon I'd say "down", no matter how sad she looked. How great to have a clean house! I need some of your motivation.
ReplyDeleteI just can't make my dogs get off the couch.....they are so cute and sweet and they know how to work the big puppy dog eyes, "pwease mama? PWEEEEEEASE?" And then I cave and give them hugs and cuddles and they get their way as usual. lol And like I said, I prefer my recliner for every day sitting anyway so someone might as well get use out of it!
DeleteI'm so glad you're back in action and creating more treasures, JoJo. Stay well!
ReplyDeleteThanks Robyn! I feel like I'm a month behind on everything.
DeleteIt has been a long winter, but not as long or snowy as yours. Ooooh, your puppies make me want to snatch them out of the pictures and smooch. They are precious. You might try the stool. I've found with stubborn Millie--eventually things become her idea and she's okay with it.
ReplyDeleteI love to spring and fall clean, but I just don't have the energy I used to have. And the mowing and yard work wear me to a frazzle. I like it, too. Riding the mower causes my back to hurt for a couple of days, but by the next week, I'm raring to mow again. I'll get over that feeling come mid summer. :)
I've always loved to mow the lawn....it's very zen to listen to the white noise of the engine. But my landlords pay for someone to cut at our place. I'm just trying to get up the energy to do the kitchen which I just haaaaaaaate.
DeleteMy puppies would love for you to cuddle and smooch them, esp. the German shepherd. He's a total love bug and makes a pest of himself with company. "pet me, kiss me, cuddle me". Pepper can be more standoffish with guests. I tried to get her to use the ottoman to climb on the couch but she didn't get it. Poor thing.
Glad to see you back in the swing of things. That beaded ornament has such beautiful colors and is so intricate. I don't know what is involved in creating something like that but you must have a mighty steady hand and good eyesight to make something like that.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Wrote By Rote
Thank you! It's pretty easy to do but I definitely need my reading glasses to do any kind of crafting. I can't see w/o them, and even worse w/ the distance glasses.
DeleteWow! I love the beaded ornament! I can't wait to have time to do some of these things some day.
ReplyDeleteIs that just a regular metal futon you painted and put outside to be lawn furniture? That's a really slick idea!
Thank you Dawn! Yes, that's a metal futon that's been sitting outside since the spring of 2012 when we emptied out my husband's storage unit. There was no room inside so it got left in the front yard next to the fence, making us look very white trash. I hosed it off and added the cushions; didn't even paint it. We will have to get better cushions though because it's pretty uncomfortable. lol
DeleteI think some kind of step may be your only option - I have similar problems with my cats. You can actually buy steps for cats! Make sure it's non-slip, though for doggy paws, and big enough for her to get all her paws on at once. Arthritis in pets is the sad result of our managing to keep them alive and relatively healthy for such long and happy lives.
ReplyDeleteI agree Val. Right now when she stands in front of the couch and looks at me, I will pick her up and put her on it, but she really hates that and will run away from me. On the other hand if she tries to get up there on her own she can't get her back legs up and falls which is really hard to see, that's why I try to anticipate when she wants up. However, I truly believe that she won't catch on to using steps to get onto the couch. Poor old girl. At least I have a couple of beds on the floor that she curls up on.
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