What could be worse than a visit from Hurricane Irma?

You might well ask, what could be worse than a visit from Hurricane Irma?  What is, is a visit while you are supposed to keep your right leg elevated because of surgery on it.

On August 11 I was looking in the back room of Needle Nicely trying to locate a string of faux pearls that are back there so I could send them to the finisher for a mermaid pillow.  I couldn't and didn't find the pearls, but in the process I knocked down a well-balanced pile of things which unbeknownst to me contained a board that had been the end of one of Needle Nicely's counters.  Very heavy, about 15x18 and 3" thick.  It hit my right knee and skidded down my leg.  It peeled a flap right below my knee that miraculously healed itself.  However, it pounded my foot.  It didn't break anything, but I had a large hematoma and a massive blood blister formed.  I, of course, with my trusty needlepoint needle punctured it several places, but it didn't drain much.  I developed an infection and called my doctor (the next week--I'm tough).  He prescribed an antibiotic and sent me to the wound clinic where the next day a doctor cut a 3x2.5 cm opening in the top of my foot to release the blood clot (thank you, eliquis).  They rewrapped it twice, but it wouldn't stop bleeding.  I went to the emergency room and spent that night under observation in the hospital.  That was 8/18/17.

This is the cross-stitch pillow where I prop my foot on the coffee table.  I do turn it over so nothing will damage the design.  By the way, it is a Creative Needle design.

This shows the Needle Nicely inventory either in plastic  bins or covered with black trash bags.  All of the stitched models are in the cabinets that are around the walls of much of the shop.  Marcia, Toni, Lois and Arthur performed yeoman duty while accomplishing this with me reluctantly sitting and directing.

Yesterday Ray came and put the shutters up, so everything that can be done, has been.

EDIT:  It occurred to me that many may wonder why I am so paranoid.  The roof went off our last location and if I hadn't  covered everything up, I would have been out of business.

Blogcation

I'm going to take a few weeks vacation from the blog.  It's primarily because my stitching mojo has left me and I can only tap dance for so long.  Thanks for reading my blog.  Back soon.  Mary Agnes

Data Pro Inventory Program

Over 25 years ago, Needle Nicely purchased an IBM computer with a dot matrix printer.  We hired a computer guru from Palm Beach to install an inventory program.  He selected one from Data Pro in Tampa.  We are still using that program today.  About 15 years ago, Data Pro started charging a yearly licensing fee.  They were shocked to find out that Needle Nicely had the first version of the accounting program.  We have long since replaced both the computer and printer for HP products.

I have difficulty with the technicalities of dealing with a computer--so when June comes around every year, I call the company in Tampa and someone there takes control of my computer and upgrades the program for another year.  It's a strange sensation to watch the cursor move with my touching anything.

Feather purse flap, finished

This wasn't much of a stitching project--doing a long-short feather on this Sophia purse flap.  However, with my current ho-hum approach to my stitching projects, I feel thankful that I completed the feather today.  And stepping back from it, I do like the appearance of the feather.

destination dallas 2017

Several months ago, information was sent out about the independent trade show run by Destination Dallas.  It was time to register to attend the show.  And coincidentally, to register with the show hotel.  I did not dally as I had two years ago when I had to stay a shuttle away--bummer and time waster.  I immediately booked my hotel room at the show hotel.

Then I booked my airline ticket with Dallas, which I paid for with Capital One.  About two weeks later, I checked on line to check that the ticket charge was posted.  Then, I called and the amount of the ticket was eliminated through Capital One's points for miles program.  I next upgraded the ticket with Delta frequent flyer miles, once again paying for the cash charge with Capital One Points.

I also reserved the Super Shuttle round-trip to the hotel and checked with the gentleman here in Vero who I use to drive me to and from the airport.

Last week, we selected the classes we wanted to take.  I signed up for a class on various hair techniques by Carolyn Taggart.  The other two classes I selected were a Melissa Shirley Halloween house taught by Patricia Sone; and Artist Collection's Santa on a sleigh taught by JaneAnn Sleeman.  My fingers are crossed until I hear that I got my choices.

Summer arrivals

With the temporary lull in customers that comes when snow birds have gone North; and before school lets out and the children and grandchildren of snow birds appear for summer vacations, I get bored with the shop inventory and start slipping orders in to some designers to fill our gaps.  These are some of the new canvases that have arrived in the past few weeks.

This is a new addition to Susan Roberts' "stripe" stockings.  Great for anyone interested in transportation.

 Alice Peterson has added a series of small travel trailers with various purposes.

 I chuckle to myself when I see scenes like this barn--it is supposedly a barn.  I grew up on a dairy farm and our barn was white CBS and the house was yellow clapboard.  But this is a good stereotype!

 Another of Alice Peterson's travel trailers, obviously in ski country.

 Kathy Schenkel is always adding new designs to her mini-stockings with inserts.  These are a few of the ones I just received.

Summertime in Vero Beach

Needle Nicely always starts its summer hours on Memorial Day.  That is our first Monday of the summer.  So our summer hours are from Tuesday through Friday.

Macy has already gone North and is working part-time for Threads in Charlottesville.  Marcia is
whipping her yard into shape so she can leave town for Michigan soon.  Hopefully, she will be back in August.

Someone, obviously new to the area, came into the shop Friday.  I was waiting on a customer, and while I acknowledged her, it was obvious I was occupied.  She spotted Lynn (my volunteer fiber clerk) through the swinging doors into the back room.  She commented that "can't she help me".  I had to tell her Lynn only does restocking, not customer service.  And that she does with her hearing aid off!

When I sent my rent check for June 1, I requested that my landlord have someone clean out the swale behind the row of shops where Needle Nicely is. Over the year, debris collects in the swale--like a large tree branch from a wind storm.  During a massive rain storm last year, all of the drains clogged and the swale was stopped up.  The water behind the shop came in the back door everytime a car drove by.  The water in the parking lot was about 15" deep. I had to wade through it to get to my husband, waiting on a side street.  So I warned the landlord to be sure the drains are clear (as well as the swale).