Needlepoint Fabric

Try NeedleDelights.com and tell Kathy I sent you.

I called their 800 # and have already ordered exactly what I need.

She knew exactly what I wanted, and asked all the right questions. She even indicated that she knew this might be for a Laura Perin design (it is) and what colors were need for the design I'm going to make.

Great to know they exist.

Lucille

OK, so which LP, and can I have the chart when you're done?

Lucille

snipped-for-privacy@mid.individual.net...

No fair! I want it too~! And I have other LPs to trade!

Linda

No fair! I want it too~! And I have other LPs to trade!

Linda

Don't fight children--When and if this gets done I promise to advertise that fact and then you can figure out who should be allowed to adopt it.

By the time Lucille finishes, I should have a few finished LPs to trade, too. I suppose I should tell her which ones I have on hand so I know which one to start first. ;)

Right now, I have Mardi Gras and Starry Night all kitted up - if I ever finish my Spring BOAF lady!

Linda

I know I have the Calif Poppy, and I think it's called Fourth of July, and a purple flower (pansy). Probably have some others hiding somewhere. Unfortunately, since I've been hiring people to clean my house, they have been putting things in boxes for ME to put away later (no, honey, I hired YOU to put it away) and stacking those boxes in front of my Needlework Storage System, so now my stash is scattered all over the place.

Have you been explicit with your expectations that they put things away for you? I cleaned houses for many many years and we rarely put things away. It's really hard to know where to put things in someone else's house. My job was always to clean and neaten, but not to make decisions about where to put things. You might want to discuss it with them (again) so that you're clear on what you want them to do.

Elizabeth

Absolutely. "Put all the Tupperware in that cupboard", which is easy enough for them to figure out, and when I come back in the room, they've put all the Tupperware in boxes and bags "so you can put it away later". Well, if I wanted to put it away myself, I wouldn't have told YOU to do it.

Then there was the one who put laundry all over every flat surface in the dining room, rather than bringing it in the bedroom to ask me "which drawer do I put the socks in?" But then, she just folded it as it came out of the basket, so socks/undies/shirts/jeans were all in one pile, so it was going to take her forever to put it away because she hadn't sorted while she was folding. When I brought it up to her the first time, she said "I don't want to come in the bedroom and disturb you", which I assured her was fine to disturb me if she was working, and the second time I mentioned it she quit.

They want to dust and mop, which I can do myself. They don't want to do the more physical tasks that I can't manage.

One day when I was well enough to clean in the guest room, I discovered that the one I'd thought was so efficient that she had even emptied the recycling bin without being asked ... simply boxed up the contents of the recycling bin and stored them in the guest room!

You just can't hire good help any more. Ask them to do something they consider distasteful (like taking out the trash because it's starting to smell) and they decide they don't want to come back because you make them work too hard.

Perhaps you need to stop looking for a cleaning person and start looking for a personal assistant? When I was cleaning, I wanted to dust and mop too. I would have put stuff away if you asked, because I was trained to do pretty much anything I was asked to do in the way of household help, but lots of people who worked with me wouldn't have seen what you're asking for as part of the job description.

Elizabeth

They'd expect me to be a celebrity who needs a secretary, not some schlump looking for a housecleaner.

What I need is to get approved for Disability so that I can qualify for the program that provides cleaning services to the disabled, where the cleaners are trained that they have to do whatever the client can't.

I think Karen , that when hiring ANYBODY to to Any job , you and that person should sit talk and agree about what each of you expects from the other... My work room is out of limits in regard of floor shelf cleaning , but when she `does windows`, she will enter my workroom ,,, I let her [ she comes every second week] , to make her own General plan , what to do each time, and after some years , she knows what she can do or not with stuff ,,, In fact we both work together on her days. Have a Coffee break together [while we discuss loads of subjects, not cleaning issues] , I learned somethings from her she learned some from me ,,, we work together, with each other . The odd times that she mooved something i could always call and ask if she recalls where she put it , but with time each of us learned how the other obe works ,,, mirjam

Finding some one that will do exactly as you want it almost impossible. This is a list of my experiences and of several girlfriends who have used various services, big nationwide names and local firms.

I always asked them to put things back after dusting. Instead, I'd find them piled in one spot. Lifting each item to dust it and under it wasn't in the game plan. And if you¹ve moved it, at least dust it. Surfaces dusted includes dusting what is on the surface. Don't touch the stereo cabinet - completely ignored - hundreds of dollars worth of CDs on the floor.

Cleaning a toilet does not merely squirting blue junk in the water and maybe swishing it around. Males miss, you need to clean the outside the bowl, the back of the seat, under the rim, around the rim and the surrounding floor. And don't forget the tank and the tank cover

Anyone that cleans your wood furniture with Windex is to be show the door before the second time. Corollary, anyone that wants to wash your hardwood floors WEEKLY is shown the door immediately.

If you break something, tell the customer - don't let them wonder what happened to Grandmother's plate that was put to remember her birthday. Finding it in the trash was just too painful

Hard water stains can build up quickly, but are easily dealt with and IT IS your job to deal with them. So is any mildew or mold. This is the South, land of humidity.

If a package or express envelope has arrived, put it on the kitchen or dining room table. DO NOT PUT IT IN THE COAT CLOSET. Or the linen closet

If I have to speak a second language to deal with you directly or need to call your supervisor to get my instructions translated, you're not coming back.

The heart of the problem is that the cleaner has contracted for 2 hours and wants to be in and out in less than 1 hour and 59 minutes.

I wanted to finish this later, but hit send instead SO

Finding some one that will do exactly as you want it done is nearly impossible. This is a list of my experiences and of several girlfriends who have used various services, big nationwide names and local firms.

I always asked them to put things back after dusting. Instead, I'd find them piled in one spot, on the other side of the room. Lifting each item to dust it and under it wasn't inthe game plan. And if you¹ve moved it, at least dust it. Surfaces dusted includes dusting what is on the surface.

Don't touch the stereo cabinet - means DON'T TOUCH THE ELECTRONICS, THE CABINET AND WHAT IS IN THE CABINET - hundreds of dollars worth of CDs on the floor and damaged wiring.

Cleaning a toilet is not merely squirting blue junk in the water and maybe swishing it around. Males miss, you need to clean the outside the bowl, the back of the seat, the top of the seat, under the seat, the lid, under the rim, around the rim and the surrounding floor. And don't forget the tank and the tank cover

Anyone that cleans your wood furniture with Windex is to be shown the door before the second spray. Corollary, anyone that wants to wash your hardwood floors WEEKLY is shown the door immediately.

If you break something, tell the customer - don't let them wonder what happened to Grandmother's plate that was put to remember her birthday. Finding it in the trash was just too painful

Water stains can build up quickly, and IT IS your job to deal with them. So is any mildew or mold. This is the South, land of humidity.

If a package or express envelope has arrived, put it on the kitchen or dining room table. DO NOT PUT IT IN THE COAT CLOSET. Or the linen closet. Especially if it is from Omaha Steaks.

If you say you use your own supplies, do so. Don't let me come home and find the brand new package of paper towels opened and half gone.

If I have to speak a second language to deal with you directly or need to call your supervisor to get my instructions translated, you're not coming back.

The heart of the problem is that the cleaner has contracted to you for 2 hours and wants to be in and out in less than 1 hour and 59 minutes.

Don't forget....

If something falls on the floor, it is NOT ok to put it in the trash (and then empty it) rather than putting it back. Especially if it is the instruction manual to a sewing machine.

Around here, the minimum contract is for three hours,they have all been "trained" by the agency in what to do, they want to do EXACTLY that and and get out in 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Since I was so sick and could not do the work myself, I have decided simply to accept that they will not do it all, much less do it as I would, be grateful that at least some of it is being done, and fill in the odd jobs myself. I remind myself that if these women could get well-paying, congenial work they would do so, rather than working for low wages cleaning up after someone else. Perhaps it is not their fault that the Good Lord chose not to endow them with an adequate amount of brain power..........but it sure is frustrating for those of us who are forced to employ them.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans

When I retired from work we decided that housework would not be allowed to interfere with higher priority activities. Maureen spends much more time sewing and knitting, I spend more time on the computer and my model railway; in the summer we spend more time in the garden and in the winter we spend more time together in the evenings. I've probably posted this quote from Quentin Crisp before but it's worth posting again - "After four years the dust doesn't get any worse". I hasten to add that we're not quite that bad (yet!)