Finally finished a needlework project

It's been in the works since fall of 2011 when I took this class in Naples, Florida at the Embroiderer's Guild of American National Seminar. The design and class were by Marsha Papay-Gomola.



Technically, this is called "stumpwork" and involves padding some parts and making detached elements, some with wire inside so they can be adjusted and shaped. All the macaws and some of the leaves are padded, some leaves and the butterfly are soft detached elements, most leaves are wired.

The bright birds make me happy!

Cat on a fast train roof holds up London to Manchester service

My husband and I got our first Covid vaccinations today!

My doctor's practice is a large one and they have their own immunization clinic normally. So in addition to giving shots at the individual doctor's offices, they are doing it at the clinic.

We got there, filled out the paperwork, got called in along with six other people. They had chairs lined up in the hallway and the nurse worked his way down along the line, giving each person their shots. Then he went through other instructions, handed out cards with our vaccination info and the date to come back for the second shot - that part was easy, three weeks from the first one, at the same time.

By the time he'd covered all of this, 15 minutes had passed and we all left. I really like that there is no uncertainty about when to come back - except the nurse had made a mistake and put down March 13, though he'd told us March 16! I suspect with the hundreds of shots he's given, he's probably getting a bit punch drunk.

Now not quite twelve hours later, my arm is a little sore, about the same as when I got my flu shot. I'm going to bed soon, so I hope I will sleep off any other symptoms.

My husband and I have appointments for our Covid vaccines!

I'd signed both of us up with my doctor's office about a week ago and today they called to offer me an appointment. I told them my husband needed his and she made an appointment just a couple of hours later for both of us.

So next week on the 23, we go in for our vaccinations!

Who Is Tucker Carlson? The Daily Social Distancing Show

I need to find a particlur type of connector

I've got some vintage cast iron horse and wagon pieces. Various wagons - grocery, Coca Cola, ladder wagon, fire tank wago, and a beer wagon.

Most are in good to very good condition but I just bought two that while in good condition, need some work. There is a piece, maybe a screw that holds a pair of horses to the double yoke that helps them pull the wagon. Since on the horses that are already attached you only see the brass ends, I am not sure if they are similar to Chicago screw or a rivet. The brass ends are flat on both ends, with no place to use a screw.

I only have two pairs of horses without this attachment, the beer wagon horses need a piece about 3 1/2" and the ladder wagon horses need one only about 2 1/4"

If I knew what this was called, I might could find what I need

By the way, these pieces are vintage, not true antique. They are probably between 40 and 60 years old. They are fairly crudely made, but overall they make a nice collection so I'd love to have the whole set ready to display.

What we have to look forward to

Well, this may be why some are not getting their vaccination appointments!

I need recommendations for a tasty dry cat food

Problem is, I have three cats with different needs. Sabra, our black kitty, needs to be on a diet and she will eat anything put in front of her. Lucas is about the perfect weight, the most dominant cat, and is only slightly picky. Maya, the smallest, is very picky about her food and last time she was at the vet she'd lost weight.

Sabra weighed 12.5 pounds last time at the vet - she has very small feet, tail, and head and should probably weigh less than ten pounds. The vet talked to me about Sabra's weight so we've been cutting back on her food.

Lucas weighed 12 pound when we got him, 9.5 when he return after getting loose, and is now about eleven pounds. He's a long, lean cat and looks about the right weight to me.

Maya weighed 7.5 pounds when we adopted her, but last vet visit she only weighed 7.2 pounds. She is very picky about her food.

We've been feeding IAMs indoor adult dry food, but none of the cats particularly like it. Once a week we split a can of food among them and they all go nuts over it. They are the little Fancy Feast cans, since none of the cats will eat much canned food at one meal. Maya has been getting Temptations treats since she won't eat much of the IAMs and Lucas has been picking on her so she won't eat in the kitchen when he is there.

I can keep feeding Maya separately but I'm not that sure about the Temptations, though they do say it is a complete cat food.

Any suggestions for a tasty dry cat food that will also be good for a cat on a restricted diet?

Perfect Pitch (Valentine's Special) - Simon's Cat