A Cross Stitch FFO and Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Today was a very rainy, gloomy, grizzly day. (Grizzly??? Why, yes, grey + drizzly = grizzly :-) Anyway, I had plans to accomplish a lot today but  . . . it was so grizzly,  I wasn't very successful; I did, however, FFO (fully finish) this cross stitch piece. Isn't Santa cute in his nightshirt? Besides holding a lantern in one hand, he has a chocolate chip cookie in his other hand and a mug with his initials. This little pillow is about seven inches square. The chart is "A Good Night - Santa '04" by Lizzy Kate.

Speaking of Santa, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, has confirmed that it will indeed be safe for Santa to visit the homes of all good little boys and girls this Christmas. Dr. Fauci has stated that Santa has an “innate immunity” and will not be spreading the virus. A reporter on CBS This Morning today spoke directly with a representative at the North Pole who confirmed that Santa and all his elves are wearing masks and taking all health and safety precautions. This will indeed be good news for concerned children everywhere. 

So, why have I fallen head first down the cross stitch rabbit hole? It's because there are so many fun, wonderful, irresistible charts available. (Not only that . . . the members of the cross stitch community are tremendous enablers; I'll write about that in a future post. :-)

 

Also, there are special Christmas issues of cross stitch magazines which are chock full of delightful ornament charts.

So, what am I planning to stitch next? Decisions, decisions, decisions . . . none of the above  .  . . I'm stitching an adorable chart featuring Mrs. Claus which I will then finish as an ornament. By the way, I have convinced myself not to order any more charts as with respect to Christmas items I am approaching SABLE = Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy!!! Well, not really, but at this point I have enough cross stitch charts, fabric, and floss to last two or three years.

Yesterday afternoon, my favorite cub scout and his mom, dad, and brother came to drop off the Christmas wreath that I purchased from his troop. It was a joy to see these guys running around and getting buried in a pile of leaves.The visit was short, cold,  and outside and everyone wore masks. I see them on a family zoom meeting each Sunday, but it was beyond wonderful to actually see them in person. I have warned them that when this pandemic is over, I intend to smother them all in hugs. 

Look at this kitchen towel that I received at last Monday's birthday get together, and it wasn't even my birthday! Linda, "Coach," had seen it in a shop and thought of me. (I call my friend Linda "Coach" since she has been an ongoing source of information, guidance, and inspiration for living with diabetes. She was one of the first people I called after receiving that diagnosis a number of years ago.)

"All you need is Love and a Schnauzer"  . . . truer words were never spoken. :-) I don't know what I would do without my Emma during these dark days. 

 And finally, here is a 2020 ornament that I received yesterday. In case you are unable to make out the details, the masked elves are labeled Janice and Emma, there is a bottle of hand sanitizer, and the "Merry Christmas" greeting is written on a roll of toilet paper. That just about sums up our year. You have to laugh  and smile to get through all this. :-)

 If I complete what I had intended to do today, I might pop back in before Thanksgiving. If I do not, may I wish you and yours a happy, healthy, safe Thanksgiving Day.______________               ___________________                  __________________

In my last post I noted that in the United States alone, we have have lost 250,000 men, women, and children to this pandemic. Now just five days later, the death toll stands at 257,577.

Stay safe my friends and please make wise decisions.