HEY SPINSTER STITCHER...WHAT'S A THREAD BOARD AND OTHER AND SUNDRY THINGS...

Sorry, Dearies.

I make up terms and throw them around and forget that anybody actually reads my drivel. A thread board is a thingie that holds your working threads. I wish I could take credit for this, but a stitchy sister posted hers on the Instagrams and was kind enough to point me in the direction of The Fat Quarter Shop. Quilters use these to lay out blocks and keep them from sliding all over the place during their planning.

My board is basically a piece of 11x14 foam core from the amazons covered in a piece of felt (also from the amazons), edged in grosgrain ribbon (yup...from the amazons). Lori Holt has EXCELLENT videos on the YouTube that walks you through making these professionally. (Mine are very slapdash, to be sure).

As I'm stitching, I pull a long length of thread from my skein, strip the number of ply that I need (in this case, one, since I am doubling over and using the loop start method), then I wrap the leftover around my fingers to make a circle and then pat it onto the board.

Since I'm using DMC here, I have a pack of the numbered stickers nearby that I use to identify the threads. You could probably use any little piece if paper to do this, and could write the symbol from the chart to make it even easier, but this works for me.

I also purchased 12x16 mesh zipper bags from the amazon to store a working board, since stuffing it into a project bag doesn't work. Here is my board for Eliana:

The second thing I wanted to tell you about is my new tracking gizmo:

The most delightful thing about him is that when I wake up in the middle of the night (which I do frequently), I now know what time it is. I normally have to guess or fetch my glasses and put my face an inch and a half from the clock radio.

Later tonight I'll sit down with the booklet and my phone and learn more about it, but for now it is a really good reminder to get up and move my heiney.

OK. Last thing. I made my vegetable soup and think I just might be a genius based on how good it looks and smells:

Here's how I made it:

Sautee celery, carrots, onion, garlic, cabbage, and mushrooms (all chopped) in olive oil until tender. Add a dash of Lawry's seasoned salt, parsley, and....here's the genius part...three packets of no sodium chicken bouillon. Then, a can of seasoned diced tomatoes, frozen corn, frozen peas, and enough water to make soup consistency and you're good to go!

I bought the bouillon packets to use with ramen noodles/cup o soup. I love those for convenience and a quick cheap meal, but the sodium in them is a little nuts. I think they make other flavors....the brand I had was Wylers.

So that's my Tuesday thus far! My new underpants and toothbrushes arrived, so now all I'm waiting for is some pajamas and a new pair of slippers and some socks, and I can start to physically pack. I've got it down cold: LARGE = clothes and shoes; MED = stitching, books, coloring supplies, and coffee; SMALL = hospital (pjs, sm toiletries, meds); CARRYON = toiletries and nail stuff; TOTE = Stewey, wallet, book, stitching, iPad, phone, chargers, lip balm. The large, medium, and carryon will all go in the car now and when I get the call I will grab the hospital bag and the tote and I should be all set.

Yes.

I have spent ALOT of time thinking about this. If you are a mom, I might refer you to the fact that you probably did the same thing when you were expecting. 

And also yes...I am definitely thinking about writing a book called "What To Expect When You're Expecting A Kidney" because nobody should have to try to figure this out for themselves with menopause brain and a tendency to fret.