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.