What I'm working on this Wednesday

Its another scorcher here today, but at least my AC works, which it didn't yesterday. I noticed on Monday evening it was 81 degrees in the house, a substantial amount higher than the thermostat was set at. Engineer husband "checked" it out and found ice on the lines inside and outside the house and declared that it could be fixed by turning off the AC and letting the ice melt and then restarting it. No..no that doesn't work. A call to several repair places revealed that we were one of many with AC issues. Several would be happy to add us to their schedule.... on Friday. No... no that doesn't work. Luckily Sears was able to work us in. The AC dude showed up around 3pm (much earlier than I expected) and spent 2 hours working on the units both inside and out and got it up and cooling. Thank you AC guy! He was a really nice guy -even complimented the quilts I have displayed in the basement - and stoically put up with Engineer husband looking over his shoulder the entire time he was here. What a trouper!

I LOVE AC!!! I really do. Engineer husband did not think that it would be a big deal to wait for repairs till Friday, but then he went off to work in his air-conditioned office and I didn't. Big Dude was also very grateful for some cool air. When you tip the scales at more than 25 lbs and wear a very dense fur coat you do not like temps in the 80s.

I hunkered down in the basement where I normally hang out, and it was okay as long as I sat in front of the fan which I did. I got some sewing done and some stitching. Here is my Willie's Quaker Sampler.



And you have perceptively seen that it is not finished. I know I said I wanted it stitched up by last Saturday (June 16) so I could use that marvelous Michaels coupon at Joanns - 60% off plus an additional 10% off. I don't think I've ever seen one that good before. Well, it was painfully obvious on Friday evening that there was no way I could complete this piece. I went up to see my framer, Bev, at Joanns and brought a smaller piece that I was going to use the coupon on. I couldn't let it totally go to waste. I brought along Willie for Bev to see and she said "you can use that coupon on the big piece." I can???? Yep, all I had to do was pick out the frame, she could figure out how much was needed because I had the alphabet all stitched (wasn't that a brilliant move on my part? oh you know it was!)

So I perused all my choices and picked out a lovely piece of molding that turned out to be solid cherry.... and pricey too. But utilizing the wonderful Michaels coupon, I saved..... wait for it.... drumroll please.... $140!!! That's correct, I saved one hundred and forty dollars!!! The total cost for this frame which will be about 30 inches in length came to $84. I am soooooo happy! My hope was that it would cost no more than $100 but I also thought I was probably deluding myself. I had no idea I could frame this for less than $85.

Now it still isn't finished, but I'm in the home stretch and the molding won't arrive till the end of the week, so I have time. Bev told me to bring it back when its complete. There is no rush on her part since the framing is already paid for and I signed that I retained the "art work" until the time it can be completed. I just finished up this motif...



I love the pumpkin-y floss color and that the little motifs around the star look like flying geese - another cross over of hobbies and you know that makes me happy. So tonight I will plop my butt in my chair and watch the Reds play baseball (and they better play better than the last 2 games) and stitch the evening away in cool air-conditioned comfort. Life is good!

Happy stitching-
carol fun