The Cup of Fortunes: Week 46 (November 9-15)

The Cup of Fortunes delivers yet again this week. I'm not sure I liked either one of them, but they were definitely present. I'm on the board for the condo association and this week's meeting was the perfect example of the first fortune of the week. We're breaking up with our current property management company, and it really does feel like a breakup. A lot of white dude audacity from a few people and some community members being "shocked" that this is happening despite being told and disliking this company more than is probably normal. I don't believe Confucius said this although a version of this fortune, "Show-off always shown up in showdown," is a pretty popular fortune cookie message. Did the show-off get shown up? I'm not so sure about that. I don't think any of the people I'd consider a "show-off" in this particular situation learned anything and they'll probably do it again. I don't know what Confucius would say about that.

In addition to having to replace my furnace this week, I also had to replace the water heater. I got up Monday morning, the day the furnace was being installed, and I had just enough hot water to take most of a shower. A technician was able to come out before the furnace guy came, and told me the news. He came back the next day to install the water heater. If you invite me somewhere and I say no, know that it's because I'm home enjoying my mortgage, which now includes a new furnace and water heater. Sigh. 

Anyway, fortunes like the second one are clearly written to support the vision of capitalism that rich people want you to believe. If you budget "correctly," you'll be fine. I'm not saying not to budget, but budgeting isn't the shining star that will fix most people's financial standing. We've all been fed a lie since we were little that this is possible, but it's really not. Was I able to pay for the repairs because I have a budget (which I do technically have a budget)? Not really. I had to pay through financing and credit because I have "good credit" (also a scam) not because I had a large sum of money sitting around that I could just use. I don't know that I know anyone who can just pay for stuff like this. Did I have a panic attack when I found out I needed to replace them both? Not really. Me six years ago would have absolutely had a panic attack. Me today? Well, I need a furnace and a water heater. I have very few options other than the one I took. This is how the world works at this moment in time. What I'm saying is capitalism sucks and we need to tax the rich. 

Here are this week's fortunes and lucky numbers. 

November 9

November 10

November 11

November 12

November 13

November 14

November 15

Weeks 1-46

WIP: The House Purse (Meow Manor)

Well, the Woodlawn people must know that Meow Manor is almost done. I got a call for submissions postcard for the 2026 show in the mail earlier this week.

What's that you see under the postcard? Is that an almost completely seamed needlepoint house purse? Why yes it is! I've made a lot of progress on Meow Manor since last week. This is what happens when you have to stay home for most of a day because the water heater is being replaced. I started on seaming (that's what the process of joining the panels is called) on Monday and was able to get all but the roof panels completed by Tuesday afternoon. It came together nicely. I struggled a little bit with the first few panels because it's hard to balance the pieces and seam them together, but I figured out a system that worked for this piece. I'm so proud of the piece as it stands now. I wasn't sure what I was doing but it's coming together beautifully. I'm so excited to finish (probably next weekended, depending on how much I get done this weekend). 

All the cut fabric for the lining and the supplies I'll use for the finishing steps. 

The first seamed piece! I would love to tell you I intentionally put the two gray cats side by side, but that's absolutely not true. Should I have put the black cat on this side? Maybe, but I like to think Keely wanted to be near Bea.

This is what it looks like right now without the roof panels. 

The inside - this is why the bag needs to be lined. It's a beautiful mess. 

While I was working on the seaming, I also got the idea to make a bag tag. One of the other people participating in the stitch-along posted a photo on Instagram of her bag with a handmade tag on it and I thought it was so pretty. I had two ideas for a tag.

I bought a set of tiny ornament hoops a few years ago and used several of them to make embroidered Christmas ornaments. I forgot there was a cat-shaped one. Very happy I didn't use it for an ornament.

Since I couldn't decide which idea I liked better, I decided to make both. The needlepoint tag is serving as my signature on the piece, and the cat tag is the name of the piece. I'll finish the signature tag with the same fabric I'm using for the lining. I need to pull some ribbon for attaching the tags and decide how to attach them to the purse. I should be able to find the lobster style key ring clips at Michaels or maybe have one around the house I can repurpose.

I have a training class later this afternoon, so I hope to get the fixed roof panel attached before class and start working on the lining. I can't attach the other roof panel until the lining is done since the lining is done in two pieces: one large piece for the house and fixed roof panel and one small piece for the roof panel that opens. After the lining, I'll finish up with covering up any visible sections of the plastic canvas. Since one roof panel opens, the front parts of the side panels will be covered with yarn in the same shade as the roof. And then it's done! It's going to take me time to sew the lining since I'm doing it by hand. I hope I can knock it out over the course of today and tomorrow, but I don't need to rush. 

Other Small Joys

The whole furnace/water heater replacement event wasn't my favorite thing to happen this week, but I have to say I was so pleased with the level of service and professionalism that I experienced during both inspections and installations. This is the first house I've ever owned and I'm new to having to do these types of purchases and replacements. I'm also a woman who lives alone, and have had experiences with repair work that wasn't great. During both of these installations, I never felt talked down to and every single technician answered my questions and gave me some helpful tips for keeping both items running. Good service is such a joy, and it makes an expensive and stressful situation less stressful.

Bea is doing so well these days. She has two more doses of her meds left and hasn't had any sort of coughing episode in over two weeks. I don't want to jinx it but I feel good about where she's at. I have to go to Tampa for a work trip this week, and my brother is watching her. She seems to like him, so I think it will be okay. 

My last small joy this week was deciding to make a one pan chicken, rice, and broccoli dish for the first time. I had the ingredients out and it sounded so good. I used this recipe from The Girl Who Ate Everything's website. It's super easy to make and it was delicious. I would make it again next week if I was going to be home. Anyway, if you're looking for an easy and cozy recipe, try this one. 

Look at this girl's legs. I don't even know what she's doing anymore. She did wake up when I put The Life of a Showgirl on this week, so maybe this is her Taylor Swift pose.