Certainly different

Hard to believe it's only been two weeks since I posted last - everything has changed so drastically. 

I have been on full-time telework since the 17th.  Fortunately, in the past my department had a fairly robust telework program so the switch to full-time wasn't difficult.  April 3rd is the end date.  I suspect it may go longer as the surrounding states have imposed fairly strict requirements.  Virginia is, except for essential businesses, closed for 30 days.  Non-essential businesses can be open but they can't open their stores to the public so lots of mail order business is happening.  Schools are closed for the rest of the school year.  As I seldom did more than go to the grocery store, the direct impact to my life has been minimal, but I know my experience is an anomaly.

|soapbox moment here.  If you just want to see stitching scroll down a bit|

Hopefully it's not needed, but this picture:

is your reminder to stay home.  This is Jack "with" his dad.  Jack's dad (my nephew) is a firefighter for the city of Detroit and out of an abundance of caution Jack and mom went to stay with her parents.  This is how Jack has seen his dad for the last week.  They got news yesterday that one of dad's co-workers has tested positive so dad's now in isolation for at least 14 days.  That's at least 21 days that Jack has to interact with his dad through a window.

This

is my son.  If you see someone that looks like him (minus the tiara and mud) in your local grocery store please understand that he's doing the best he can right now.  It's not his fault that there isn't any meat or toilet paper.  It wasn't his decision to limit you to two gallons of milk.  Management is trying their best to make sure that there is enough to go around.  The supply lines are backed up right now and yelling at him is not going to unblock them.  He's not holding back product so you can't have it or for his friends.  He's going into work every day and working very long hours.  He interacts with the public with no protective gear.  My son is a butcher so he at least has a white coat and a hair net (neither of which is proven as personal protective equipment but he can take the coat off and leave those germs at the store).  The cashiers, stockers and folks in other parts of the store?  They have a name tag between them and you and it really doesn't provide that much protection.  And finally, because the cashiers can't say this to you - Those new fangled sneeze guards some of the stores are putting at the cash registers?  Please don't stand to either side of them, it sort of defeats the purpose. 

For all the people that have to get up every day and go to work, please stay home unless absolutely necessary and if you're not feeling well, please just stay home. The sooner we can break the infection cycle, the sooner Jack's dad can get a hug. 

|stepping off soapbox|

Well, that was a little heavier than I thought it would be, but that picture of Jack hurts my heart and this same picture is being taken around the world every day.  Please remember, it's not necessarily about you getting it, it's who you might give it to.  Our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents fought wars to keep us safe, we're being asked to stay home to keep them safe.

So stitching anyone?  I have had a lot of time for stitching and I've been focusing on Candy Nutcracker by Barbara Baatz Hillman through Kooler Design Studio.  Last time I posted, I was here:

and as of tonight it's here:

It's stitched on a 28-count black Jobelan with DMC. Very few colors but LOTS of color changes.  It's also stitched with three strands of floss so it's taking more time to make sure the threads are smooth, but I'm very happy with my progress.

I also added some more leaves to my Temperature Tree:

and added a bit to the scene in Time for Seasons:

Those are missed stitches in the lawn - it's a sheep!

I FOUND MY UNICORN CHART!!!!  Yes, I did.  I had pretty much given up on it, but I set an alert on Ebay and it popped up.  I was actually shaking when I placed the order but it's here and my set is complete.  It's all kitted and now I just need to stitch them all.

La Époque Nouveau by Dimple Designs with all the called for threads and fabric.  Look at all those Kreiniks!!!  It is going to sparkle.  The pattern came with the bead pack and there are lots of those too.  It's going to be so amazing when done.

Another pieces that is going to be amazing when done is Virginia - a Cumberland County Inspiration by Heart's Ease Examplar Workes.  I showed a picture a few posts back and mentioned that the designer was going to release it as a class.  Apparently the good folks at In Stitches Needlework in Alexandria convinced her otherwise as they posted on their Instagram last week that they had them.  I was on the phone the next day placing my order (they ordered 25 and had 3 left but have an order in for additional copies) and it's now in my hot little hands:

Horrible cover picture as usual, but it is a beautiful sampler.  There are specialty stitches but nothing too unusual.  For the ones that are new or different the directions are very good.  If you're interested, right now I think In Stitches is the only store that has them so give them a call (be warned it's not a cheap pattern).  I was thinking of starting it as I have the DMCs and a piece of fabric that is big enough, but I don't think the fabric is going to work.  The called for is Vintage Strawflower by Lakeside Linens which is warm fabric.  The fabric I have is more of a grey/brown and on the cool side.  It's a very good neutral but I don't think it's right for this piece, so the search begins.

I'm off to stitch for a bit tonight and have plans for more stitching this weekend - actually, that's all I have planned for this weekend.  I hope you are all well and are able to find some peace and happiness right now.  

o' mice an' men

Mr. Burns (Robert not the Simpson version) had it right on best laid schemes and all.  Miss one weekend of blogging and suddenly it's a month later.

On the non-stitching front, my trip to Michigan was wonderful.  Grady is as cute and amazing as I thought he would be.  There is something so soothing about holding a baby (as long as you can hand them off to someone else when they need changing or get fussy).  Here's a picture of him from this morning:

Doesn't that smile just melt you?  You can't tell from the picture but he's got the deepest blue eyes.  Everyone is hoping that he keeps them.

After visiting Grady, my sister and I headed up to my mom's house.  Had a fun weekend there as not only was mom there but Jack and his dad were too.  Jack is doing (and into) so much.  So much fun to watch him discover and learn. Many opportunities to try really hard not to laugh or smile when he did something he wasn't supposed to do because he's just so darn cute while doing it.  He got to try out his new sled (Dad was a great draft horse):

and make a snowman with Dad and Oma:

All in all it was a very enjoyable trip.

It's all a blur of work and weekends since I got home. :-)  On the stitching front:

Yes, I have another finish!

Magic Dream by Cute Patterns by Maria is done.  It is stitched on a 32-count Midnight Tryst from Fabrics by Stephanie with the called for DMC.  I did substitute white Etoile for some of the white in the stars and moon.  It was sent off to Rensel Studios this morning and I can't wait to see what they come up with for it.

I then started Candy Nutcracker Stocking by Barbara Baatz Hillman for Kooler Design Studios.

The contrast of the very bright, primary colors on the black makes it very hard to get a decent picture.  The fabric is a 28-count black (very much darker than in the picture) Jobelan and I'm using the called for DMCs.  I'm stitching with the called for 3 strands of floss.  If I were stitching on white I think 2 strands would work, but trying to get good coverage on black is tough.  Once I get that row of berries(?) done, I'll go back and put Grady's name in.

I just looked at the date - besides being Pi day, it's the day before .  Gifted Gorgeousness is hosted by Jo at Serendipitous Stitching and is a way to thank people for stitching gifts (and what better way then using them) or to show stitching that are gifts (see the two above) or anything else you can shoehorn into the theme.

I also did a bit of stitching on Temperature Tree from Stitchin' Mommy on Etsy.

Finished all the February leaves and have May's branch almost done. 

I swear I stitched on more, but guess I didn't take any pictures. 

With all the coronavirus prep that's going on - I'm not panicked but I'd rather we look back on it and say we were over-prepared - I did some stocking up:

Priorities right?

I plan to stitch once the housework is done.  I'm making tentative stitching plans in the event we go to full-time telework - I'll have hours in the evening so need to figure how best to use them!  Schools in Virginia, Maryland and DC are closed for at least the next two weeks (three if you add in spring breaks) so I suspect it's just a matter of time before we get the go for full-time telework, at least I hope so - I'm not so much concerned about catching anything in the building but the train is a whole 'nother story.  Despite all the warnings about staying home if you don't feel well, there will be a group of "dedicated" folks that will battle their way to work when obviously sick - we have a quiet car on the train, maybe we could have a sick car too - and I'd just as soon avoid them.  Hope everyone is well and stays that way.