Rocket Attack Kills 1 at NATO Base in Afghanistan - ABC News

Rocket Attack Kills 1 at NATO Base in Afghanistan - ABC News

Serious Retail Therapy

I did some long, hard thinking about this purchase today--like a year.

It's serious retail therapy all wrapped into one. I think that I made a good choice since I have some nerve damage in my left arm and hand from previous surgery/accident and because it hasnt' stopped me yet from burning the needle still, I caved this morning under extreme pressure and gave it up.

I ordered a Needlework 4 system where flipping the linen will be much easier than struggling with a wood stand. Now, don't get me wrong, the floor stand was a good stand and still very usuable but for us arthritic, old folks, I decided to take like and enjoy while it's here.

Holding the Qsnap for me is like my left arm and shoulder being a stand and it really can't do that well anymore without muscle spasms so some kind of stand is what works best for me.

I still stitch small projects without frames or stands, just in hand, but for larger ones...........here ya go. My dream is to not tug and pull to cut my threads off in the back of the linen.

See, with this system you build your parts basically so I chose the Travel floor stand so I can fold it up and take on a trip (hehehehehe, like Boston hopefully in April) and I picked the Qsnap holder instead of the scroll frame. You can always add to it if you want both but right now the Q snap holder will twirl any 8-17inch qsnap.

I clicked my heels in today and instead of girlie shopping as usual went into serious needlework shopping. (that was yesterday at Victoria's Secret LOL)

I also got the magnifying light/chart holder piece. This doesn't come with the light. That is separate but I can put just about any lightweight light or magnifier on it.

Here's the travel stand. It's the same height as the regular stand, it just folds. It's lightweight easy to move from room to room and fits into snug houses.

I caved and got the attachment of the chart holder. This fits into the magnifyer/light holder.

Maybe I won't have to cuss at the pattern now as much!

Yes, it's extreme, it's even selfish, but I did it, I invested in better equipment to help me burn the needle without taking as much arthritis medicine.

I've been through at least 3 years of physical therapy sessions 6 weeks at a time to keep my left arm and hand functionable. I'm not a quitter and accept disability well. So, I'm going to try and make stitching as much fun as I possible can. It's my sanity, my life. And I have soooooooo many projects to do......so many. And Hubbie is great with the idea. That's a good thing too.

What's your morning routine? This is Ren and Abbie's

Ren is having good days and some not so good days. His hair is all loved off, his little backbone sticks out and I put salve on it so it won't get skin breakdown and usually put him on a TShirt. That seems to comfort him. This morning Ren wanted to eat naked.


He announced his early morning awakening promptly quite early. His time change hasn't set in yet and my day off is not too important to him right now for rest.

So, in the morning he gets Apple Jacks or cheerios but his favorite is Apple Jacks.


Abbie is not too far away. I have to hold her so she won't go steal all his food like a little varmint! LOL
But, buddy she keeps her eyes on him until I get her a treat. She already had her breakfast and her poo time so she is ready for that snack. Her breakfast is healthy puppyfood but Ren he eats dog food wet with water at night or lasagna, or pizza, or hamburger/fries combo.............he is different, spoiled and made happy in his 17th year of life.


Pardon the Bedhead, I haven't brushed her this morning. Her hair has gotten thick and so long on her back it parts almost. Her heart spots are still there.

This is her fave. Just found out by accident from the Dollar Store. Sweet Potatoes wrapped in chicken bits. She will chew on one of these for an hour!
And they come in a small size too.

And when she takes her treat, she looks back around at Ren to show him her find this morning.
Like, "see, see my momma loves me better," look. There is a sibling rivalry going on and Ren doesn't know about it..........

Then she resolves to keep it still till I put her down and she can enjoy it.

I will try to get some better pics of Abbie later. Right now, it's hard with me holding the camera out and not getting my own bedhead in the background! LOL

Ren is now finished his apple jacks and found the laundry pile in the hallway and turbaned himself in a towel. So it's careful walking if there is laundry to be done!

If Abbie is out of her kennel, she prefers going under my bed and sleeping on a rug and chewing up all the extra sockies she can find.

Well finally, finally a quiet moment. The Labs outside have been extremely adamament about barking loudly all night. Bodyguard sleeps like a train. Me, if I'm up from dogs barking under the window all night it's a bad morning. They come out at night like vampires and sleep during the day.