(Please read to the end.)

Tomorrow is my birthday, level 65!  

Because of attaining this milestone of life, at this moment I am stuck in a boggy mire of medical insurance,  Now I have medicare but I have to pay for it, applied for medicaid but for some reason the forms I filled out at the office were not turned in.  (The girl behind the glass doesn't care for me).  Had to reapply, which takes 90 days to be approved.  No doubt I will be approved, but until this situation is handled I am a couple hundred dollars short on my monthly "paycheck."  

When something like this happens, something that is completely out of my control but has everything to do with me, I tend to retreat back into myself a little bit, to ponder about the situation, and my possible ways to resolve it.  

I had my budget pretty well worked out, and was covered by insurance with no cost to me, so what I'm needing to do is find a way to supplement that couple hundred dollars back into my pocket.  It's not much, and honestly I can get by without it, but it's a "bare bones" existence.  I'm very familiar with this existence, only recently feeling that I was doing much better.  The amount of $$ in my bank account at the end of the month was bigger every month...so, I need to do something to bring that amount of money in to continue to move forward.  I don't want to stop, and I don't want to move backwards.

I applied for a job here in town, checked in on it this week, but haven't heard from anyone,  I'm sure my age could be a red flag, but trust me, I have plenty of life left.   

So...my point.  While I ponder, I stitch.  

The first of  these are not stuffed yet, stuffing comes tomorrow.  These will all be available next week.  If you want to dib one of them now, feel free!  I'm selling them for $5 each + $6 s/h.  Just a note, I believe I can get 2 in a box without the shipping going up.  

This one is made of faux leather, that looks like its been tooled.  The brown eyes and the inside of the ears are brown velvet.  Very textural.  

 

This one, too, is faux leather, in a woven look, in various shades of blue.  Beautiful blue eyes and inside of ears are a lighter blue felt.  Again quite a nice texture.

All wrapped up with a bow on top...this one is red velvet, with white felt eyes and ears.  The appliqued gift is an ivory colored felt with a green felt ribbon.

Almost Halloween!  Black felt with bright yellow felt cat shaped eyes, orange ears and appliqued pumpkin.  

This cutie in gold velvet with appliqued felt leaves.  The appliqued acorn is pleather and felt.  

(This one is stuffed)

And this crazy little one with the tuft of hair.  Pink and black and cute all over.

I hope you have read this far, because in re-reading this is sounds like I am trying to use your sympathy for my financial troubles to make a sale.  Not the case!  Not at all.

I only told you the part about the insurance because it was on my mind and I tend to just let my fingers fly.  It was/is not intended to try to get you to buy a Critter.  I mean, if that were the case I'd be asking more than $5 each, right?  I ponder, I stitch, and the Critters pile up, you know?  I'd much rather you have a little Handmade by Cosmo cutie perched somewhere in your home and/or office that brings a bit of joy to your day!   

Financially, I'll be fine.  Not to brag, but I have been landing on my feet for 64 years and 364 days so far, and I have no intention of stopping anytime soon.  

Play Nice!  

xxoo

I Did Another Thing

 

Big Boy Brad

Good Boy Greg was so bored.  He was tired of the games we play all the time.  Even new toys didn't excite him.  All he wanted was for me to stop whatever I was doing and do something with him, even if he didn't really want to do anything, he wanted my full attention.  

Good Boy Greg

Not that I blame him, I'm pretty cool, but dang, I have things I want to do, too.

And I know I said I didn't want another cat, I remember all those things I said...

I got Greg a little brother this weekend. My niece found him for me.  (That girl has the pet connections like crazy.)  after the first night of Greg showing this little 10 week old kitten who was boss, I think he likes him.  He'll be standoffish for a bit, I get it, kitty language and all that, but Brad is not afraid of him one bit.  

So far, Brad is a sweet boy, already knows his name, and loves his cat food,  I feed them together, with separate bowls, of course, and they do fine.  They share a water bowl, which gets refreshed at least 4 times a day, including ice cubes.  Yep, I like my water cold, they probably do, too.

I have a white pleather Big Fat Cat with gray and white details.  Stuffing it tonight.  

Here's some pics I took over the weekend of the Critters I have available right this minute.  If you see anyone you'd like to know more about, check my shop over on FB, and if it's not in there, send me a message!  

The pleather pig is way redder than this shows. 

That's about all of them, for now anyway.  

Play Nice!  xxoo

Handmade by Cosmo

Back to "Normal"

Whatever that (normal) is.  My kids are gone back to Europe.  It was a short visit, I spent time with my grands but not so much my daughter, which was disappointing, but I will take what I can get and be patient until the next time.  

I've been working on my FB shop, finally figured out how to do it...being away from my computer for over a year, I had to get used to it again.  

Anyway, I've started listing Critters, I'll list the Pyrography after.

The kids made it "home" just fine.  And I have reconciled within myself to not be sad about it.  We'll stay in better touch now.  

If you've been reading a bit, you know that the my life changed at the end of 2021.  It was something that I hoped for, dreamed of, prayed about, and wished for.  And now I'm finding my way around my new "normal" and loving every minute of it.  

So, for that Year Of Limbo, our communications were pretty light.  I didn't want to worry her as she was so far away, and I was working through that big Demon (that got it's ass kicked, btw)...it was just a lot, and most of it was external on my end.

But now, since she's been here and we've all reconnected physically, she's seen that I'm actually doing what I said...I think it's better now.  Not that it was bad, just a little stretched.  

I think it's safe to share a pic here.  

Ain't they lovely? 

 

Unfortunately we did not manage to get a selfie of the two of us?  Next time!  

(Not knowing how many "next times" we have left, this is a practice that has to stop!)

Later...

Greg and I have had a couple of play times, morning chores are finished...probably do a few more throughout the day, 'cos that's how I roll.  

Gonna go post some more Critters in my FB shop which I have been informed that it is Live now!  How exciting, right?  

 

Just a couple Pleather Critters, you can find them in my shop!  

Handmade by Cosmo

Play Nice!  xxoo

I made this one for my daughter, for her Birthday.

(she's 38!)

  

Well, Hello!

 It's been a little bit, I've been doing a few family things, since my little family has come to America to visit for the first time in 4 years.  My grands spent the night last week, Thursday, and are coming to spend the night with me tonight!  

My place is small, but we all fit, and we have a wonderful time.  

They are staying with family about an hour north from here.  I drove up to see them, all his cousin's  and their families, and all his siblings came...they had a really good time.  It was fun to watch them in the pool, laughing and talking to each other, as grownups, for probably the first time.  I hope they took group pics.

There are a couple of "things" going on, family wise.  Of course, right?  One may be fixable.  The other I think it could be written in stone that it is finished.  

You know, people feel how they feel.  I think it's disrespectful to try to change the way they feel.  But I will, however, suggest a different way of looking at a situation.  That's about all I can do really.  

So, I've been creating little Pleather (faux leather) Critters.  Really liking the Pleather Suede a lot. I'll get my photobox and stuff back out of the closet once the kids are gone.  

Good Boy Greg is one year old!  Our routine is so comfortable, but he's still a "teenager" in most ways.  Energetic, mischevious, cantankerous when he doesn't get his way...but also sweet and cuddly when he wants to be.  

I love this cat.

Here's a couple pics of something I've been working on.  Those are I think 5 x 7 stretched canvas.  I've hand appliqued the kitty's and handsewn them to the canvas.  Teal and a few shades of purple.  

I think they are so cute!  

And of course, I can do them in just about any color combo,

and have some printed felt, as well.  

Send me a message, I would love to create something for you!

Alright, it's almost 1:00 pm, they will probably be here in a couple hours, so I better do anything that needs to be done before they get here because that's how I roll.  I only have them for a short time, and it will be a long time until I get to squeeze them again.  

Play Nice!  xxoo

Found those Benihana Buddahs on the free table in the community laundry room!  

Score!  One for me, one for Mary! 

(tiniest Gain bottle, for scale) 

HandmadebyCosmo

Instagram

Fitting In

 How in the world does a person do that?  Is it easy?  

Or maybe a better question, how do you know if the people you pal around with are really your friend?

Here's where my concerns are.  Every morning as I am having my coffee, I check in with a few family members and friends.  

I find myself wondering, though, what would happen if I didn't do that?  How many days would it take for them to notice that they haven't heard from me?

Or...are they keeping in touch because they might need something from me?  

I want the people that I care about know that I care about them.  But I'm not sure that they care about me the same way.  

In my previous life, there were people that I saw every day of the week.  We laughed together and drank beers together, and I thought we were all friends.  But since I have been gone, not one single one of them have reached out to me, to see if I was ok, what really happened, nothing.  Silence.  *insert crickets*

I understand that they were "his" friends first and foremost.  It jarred me, though.  Did they ever like me?  

I probably shouldn't worry about this, and I really don't "worry," I'm just trying to figure out how to know.  Because now I feel pretty stoopid for caring so much about them.  

Ok, enough about my insecurities.  They only rear their ugly heads once in a great while.  

I made a thing...

I am liking doing these on the canvas.  

This is on a printed canvas. Made for Mary.

It's her two orange cats, Buddy (on the bottom) and Boo.

My kids are coming for a visit from Germany next month.  I haven't squeezed them for about 3 years now, so every day I am getting more and more excited.  I have made something special for both the girls, and am working on a gift for the boy.  

I am so excited for them to see my new place, and to meet Greg.  The oldest knows that "Papa" and I are no longer together, but I don't know if the younger ones know.  I will leave that up to their mother to tell them, and I will give them age appropriate answers to their questions.  

He didn't deserve to be in their lives.  

Ok, before I get too involved in thinking about "that," I will leave you for now.  

Play Nice!  xxoo

Greg

Handmade by Cosmo

Friday Again!

 First of all, I can't believe that I didn't update all week!  I went to town on Wednesday for a few things, saw the boys.  I've been home, happy and content...but a little hungry...

While I appreciate the food pantry, last week's haul was pretty slim.  I got really happy watching them load up a bunch of fresh fruits, but sadly most of them had already past their prime.  The black grapes and pineapple were deluxe, though.  

My sister and I are going again today.  We have the first two Fridays of the month.  It goes by alphabet, what letter your last name starts with.  Glad she and I are on the same day!  I will be thankful for and use as much as I can of what they are giving.  And as always, I will share some of mine with my boys. 

I was just getting another cuppa and looked at the calendar...in just a couple of weeks I will have already been living here for 6 months!  

Curtains for my windows is my next project.  I just had the thought that if I had enough fabric stashed away I could make my own, but I just don't think I have enough fabric that I would actually want curtains made out of.  

I've been toying with a project idea in my head, and actually made a physical piece of what I've been thinking about.

This is one of my kittys, but instead of making a 3D piece, I've stitched it together and stitched it to a stretched canvas.  Keep in mind that this is the first piece (I've started another and attached the ears to the body before putting it on the canvas.  It has some dimension to it, and future pieces will probably incorporate more items in the background, or words, or something.  The possibilities are not endless, but there are a bunch of them!  '

Later...I've had a shower, done all the morning chores and then some, my house is straightened up enough I could invite someone over without worry, as if, ha ha ha ha!  

I am happy to report that Good Boy Greg is healing nicely and feeling so much better!  He still takes his nap in the afternoon, but he's staying in the living room with me instead of the bedroom, which I take as a good sign.  He is also completely transitioned from clay litter to crystal, not Pretty Litter yet, but hopefully soon.  

If you are going to get a kitten or a kitty, don't get the clay litter.  It is so gross.  And I clean the litter box twice a day.  It's the pee part, honestly.  And the Mess!  

Anyway, I better get, gotta do a couple things before I get to Mary's.  

Play Nice!  xxoo

I made this for my Aunt Trish, 

dropped it off at her house, she loved it.  

Wednesday Morning Coffee Thoughts

 Synchronicity - Just yesterday I was thinking as I was putting things where they  belong, "I have a lot of 1 yds of fabric...I wish I had a simple pattern to make some tops.

Boom - Last night I found the perfect pattern, and it is printing out now, in all it's PDF glory.  

My little family in Germany are coming for a visit in June!  I haven't seen them for 3 years, and we really don't video chat very often.  Times are different, they are SO busy...so I am really looking forward to this visit.  

The Twins were 2, and Delightful was 9 when they left, I watched the babies grow to toddlers in person, from then on it was all in photos, and they have all changed so much, but have remained the same, somehow.  Phew, are they gonna get squeezed!  

I was a little stymied with getting all my sewing supplies put away, but the solution was right in my kitchen, again, with the synchronicity...I had started looking for a small craft cart, but somehow I ended up with one through the move...I don't remember owning this before, but that doesn't matter.  I have it now and it will be the solution I was looking for.  

So, now that I've found that pattern, I am gonna want to get my fabric and sewing machine out, but I can't yet because of all the other things that need to be put away, which is great incentive for me to do that so I can do that.  

I posted some LLBean khaki slacks on Mercari yesterday.  I posted a Mini Kitty on Instagram/FB yesterday.  

Later...

Norm the Maintenance Guy just came and went, had to replace a filter.  

Play Nice!  xxoo

I call this one Hannibal.  

Day Four

 Oh My Word...I had no idea how much stuff I really have.

I am not surprised at the amount of sewing & crafting supplies, but I am shocked at the amount of clothes!  

I did have a walk in with rods on both sides (Summer on one side, Winter on the other), so maybe that's why it didn't look like much.  I'm all for comfort, nothing fancy or trendy.

My bed.  Man...I did miss that comfort for sure

Unboxing has been fun!  I found this last night and caught my breath,,,

When I was little, I thought this was me.

A lady made it for my mom when she was preg with me.

This is one of my most prized possessions.

I better get to it, My boys are coming later this week to help me move some stuff around.  I will be ready for them by then.  

Off to my bedroom to figure out this clothes situation I seem to have found myself in.  I am sure there are all sizes from 8 - 14 in there.  

Oh, and got all my winter coats!  Spent the last two winters in my Roswell Hoodie, until I got a purple wool coat at the thrift store last summer.  

Play Nice!  xxoo  

Results

 April 1st, 2023  Saturday

He did it.  He even sent everything in my bedroom (yes we had separate).  The bed, dresser, chest of drawers and mirror.  My bedroom is full now, I gave the bed I had to my niece and nephew.  Old dresser that was here when I moved in, and 1 bookcase are by the dumpster.  

My bed.  My sheets.  My pillows.  I slept in my own bed in my own place for the first time in over a year.  And kids, the smell.  I thought it would dredge up bad feelings, but strangely it was a very comfortable smell.  I slept like I haven't slept in a long time.  

There is a lot of stuff in my small place, I will be purging a lot!  I have way more clothes than I thought I had, that's one thing for sure.  

All my old burnings, from when I first started...I believe that we are going to have to have a great big bonfire, because I am not going to try to sell them.  I'll let the fam go through and see if they want anything first.

All my sewing supplies and fabric!  Oh my goodness!  Having it all right here is giving me a great opportunity to have it completely organized and I am stoked about that!  

And all my felt!  I have SO MUCH, and I have so many ideas and all the time in the world  (that I will be allowed, of course),

There are a few things left behind.  I'll make a list once it's all unpacked.  So far it looks like just some things that were in the storage room.  That's a room off the basement with shelves, goes all the way under the garage.  Hopefully he will let unprofessionals come get that, I don't think a tote would cause $800 damage to his floor.  ha ha ha.  

And now that you are updated, I am going to put on some 70s tunes and bop around putting things away around here.  

Play Nice!  xxoo

I took this when they were about 1/2 way through unloading the truck.  

Half way, there was this much brought in after this.  

My living room is 10' x 10'  

Greg has thoroughly enjoyed this new area of exploration that he is sure I set up just for his amusement.  

Anticipation!

 Ok, which did you think of, the ketchup commercial or Carly Simon?

All my stuff!  I keep thinking about "back then" and where all my things are...I lived in that house (not home) for 20 years, and can still see every nook and cranny in my head.  I know where everything of mine is.  

Ah, but since he will be unsupervised by anyone on "my side," I will get what I get and I will be happy with what I get.  I really don't think he will keep anything of mine on purpose.  

And there he'll be left with a great big house.  Empty of everything except the demons.  

It's all his.  All of it.  He wins!

Kidding, of course.

I, myself, am the glorious, victorious winner!  The Queen of Everything has been restored!

Her Throne is small, as is her kingdom.  That's how she likes it.

TA DA!

I just playin', kinda.  I am the Queen Mother, my kids treat me very nicely and love me.  

At this stage of my game, I could also be called a Dowager (right, Danielle?), which I really don't care for the sound of of the word, and the first definition does not fit at all, hopefully the second one does...

dow·a·ger

[ˈdouəjər]

NOUN

1. a widow with a title or property derived from her late husband:

   "the dowager duchess" · "the queen dowager"

   • INFORMAL
     a dignified elderly woman:
     "a handsome dowager was standing in front of the mirror"
     
     

 Or, a Crone, which I do like the sound of the word, but I had to search for the definition that fits what I mean...most of the defs were appearance descriptive, but I mean the "aspect" of what being this age is like...

crone

  (krōn)

n.

1. Derogatory An old woman considered to be ugly; a hag.

2. A woman who is venerated for experience, judgment, and wisdom.

 I'll take 2 for the win.  

Well, that was a nice distraction.  I also did my morning chores, which I will probably detail in a later blog, because I know you are dying to know.  *insert saracastic tone here*

I remembered that I had a brand new pair of Skecher sneakers over there in my closet, I hope they make it here.  He bought them, so it's iffy.  Not a big deal.  (Random thought)

So, I'll close for now and work on some burnings.  

I made this one for my Aunt.  

She's a good, Christian woman,

and she makes beautiful quilts.

  

These are going in my bathroom

This one is hanging on my front door.

I don't have many visitors, 

and those that do always call...

but you never know.

If you see something you're interested in, leave me a comment, or hit me up at cndfrnd@gmail.com.  Put something clever in the subject, just for grins.

2 days away from Stuff Day!  

Play Nice!  xxoo

Greg says, "Meow."  

(Literally, that's all he can say)

*gs*

Greg, and other thoughts

 Greg, after seemingly healing from his food allergy (somewhat self diagnosed), has been a maniac for the past few days.  

My place is small, but it can be traveled in a circle, at an amazing kitty speed, including a leap from the floor to the top of the fridge.  

He is like a toddler, I have to constantly move any small, moveable objects on any flat surface before he casually/intentionally knocks them to the floor.  With this cheap, wood looking flooring and no rugs yet, even a pen makes a bigger noise than it should.  

And dangly things...How can I have something like the shade opening wand dangling and him not play with it?  

All he's doing is being a cat, and I get that he's a young one and feeling good and that makes me happy.  But that doesn't mean he's not getting some CBD cat treats.  Never too young to learn the art of being mellow.  

Next Day:

The boys came over and moved a med cabinet for me.  It involved a dril, which I do not have yet.  

They got to meet Greg, and he was cool with them.  I foresee a kitten in their very near future.  

Greg's really bouncing back from his allergy, his fur is so soft!  And growing in at the base of his tail, he's just about full fledged Greg again!  

I'll be going to my sister's today, it's Food Pantry Day!  We keep so much food from going to waste!  There is way too much for just one person, so she shares with her kids and I share with mine.  Everybody wins.  

These are the days I love my little trolley.  I can't wait to get/make a liner for it.  Maybe someday soon I will have my sewing machine here!  

I was chatting with some old friends in a crafty group I belong to, and I believe they are going to send me some scrappy scraps I could use on my Critters.  I am excited about that.  

I also would like to covet all your selvedge.  Please cut it 1/4" above the selvedge itself.  I will pay you back for the postage, rounded up to the next dollar.  TIA

Gotta run, see you soon!  

Play Nice!  xxoo

Just a purple Kitty
$15 + $5 s/h

Send me a message

Tuesday Morning Coffee Thoughts

 Sitting here at my kitchen table, having coffee and gazing out the window, thinking my thoughts.

This living alone thing is very nice.  It's not as easy to shake some shackles off, though.

So many preconceived notions about time, especially.  I have been, for most of my adult life, lived by the clock.  I did the same things at the same time every day.  Get up, go to work, come home, eat dinner, bla bla bla.  

Even the last couple years, before the "Stuff," I didn't have a job, but I still did things on a routine basis.  

So now, when I can do whatever I want, whenever I want, I find myself still feeling like 10:00 pm is my bedtime, and my alarm is still set for 8:00 am.  

So, first things first...unless I have to be somewhere the next day, I will not be setting a morning alarm.  Second, I will try to stay up until I feel sleepy, although Greg is pretty used to us hitting the feathers at 10, so he might have an issue with this.  

Meet Greg.  

He had a cone on because he had a wound at the base of his tail.  

He's much better now.

He also has a feel for when wake up time is.  He demonstrated that this morning when he lightly bit the tip of my nose about 3 minutes before the alarm went off.  

Tomorrow will be an alarm day, as it is my payday.  I'll be heading into town to pick up a  grocery/supply order.  Will probably have a quick visit with a couple of my favorite boys, then head back home.  

The next day will be a big laundry day.  I feel lucky to have laundry facilities within walking distance.  Not like having them in my own place, but better than driving to a laundromat, right?  

This is my Kitty Version of Greg

(I kinda love him, check out his white toes)

My son has been telling me to "slow my roll" for a few years now.  I tend to "flit."  Instead of focusing on how I get there, my focus is getting there.  

I start a project, I am bang on gonna work on it until it is finished...then on to the next one.  Especially my wood burnings.  Fast and furious.  I could do a couple in a day...but not as well as if I had actually focused on each line.  While my burnings were good, they are getting so much better.  

I don't know if you can tell the diff or not, but I can.

This is a 11" round hanging plaque, there's plenty of room for a quote, a last name, a word to be burned onto it.  Comes with twine for hanging.  Let me know if you are interested.  

Anyway, I am gonna finish this 2nd cuppa coffee, do my morning chores, run a quick errand, and be home for the rest of the day.  

Play Nice!  xxoo

Handmade by Cosmo