I love this time of year

Not because it's warm, the beaches are open, there's fresh fruit, and I can do fun things on my days off.

Because Michaels puts their 4th of July stuff on clearance! Perfect for finishing cross stitch.


I went in this morning to get floss to work on my patriotic pieces and for buttons to embellish the twins' bandannas. The leaflet showed some fancier JABC buttons, but I'm using the designs for dogs. I don't think those buttons were meant to be worn, and most definitely, not by two rowdy little dogs. While they didn't have really adorable buttons, they had ones I can use and not worry about if they break off. Unless someone tiny and hairy decides to chew them, but, I think they can control themselves now--they'll be 10 July 30th.

Anyway, after I looked at the buttons and bought the floss (and forgot to buy needles, since I didn't bring any or even a WIP. So I'm sitting here at work, surrounded by everything I need to stitch except a needle, bugger, bugger, BUGGER), I went back to the patriotic stuff. Because I love patriotic decorations. They had a wagon wheel in blue and white country colors, just hanging there, with a clearance sign over it. I love a clearance sign like a fluffy girl loves cake. And to have an expanse of plain surface that I could mount something patriotic on for the price of $4.99. Well, crud, I can afford that. Especially for something to stick an unfinished finish on? I spent a few minutes trying to figure out how to pry the metal star on the center off, but then it struck me. One of Prairie Schooler's new releases this spring was patriotic smalls. I could put those on there! With just a little diddling, and a trip to Lowe's. So I have that! For $4.99.

They also had a long sign that read, "God Bless America." I like that too, but I couldn't figure out what to do with it. Just to have it to put up on the wall in the summer just doesn't work--I'm not that good at switching random pictures, and we don't do the seasonal decoration thing. So I left it there. Although my common sense should have dictated that we'd make it work for $5.99. On the way to work, I realized I had totally spaced, That little sign could also hold patriotic smalls to hang off the bottom. SO could have helped me put eyebolts in. He likes doing stuff like that. I am such an idiot.

I'm going back for it. Tomorrow, when they have a sale. I'm dense, not dumb. If I can get it on further discount, all the better.

I did finally finish the nun-stitch edging on my afghan last night. I was up late doing it, and I'm so glad it's finished. I think I'll be content to work on smalls for a while.