Need Help With XS Fabric Choices

Before I say anything else, I would like to thank everyone who has left comments on my blog these past 2 weeks or so.  Sadly, with the very, very, very bad thing falling into my lap (please do continue to pray about this, by the way ... it's still overshadowing my every waking moment), the holidays, & my getting sick, I have not been able to respond to them   : (   I deeply apologize for this.  I know that some of you have asked me questions in your comments & I will eventually answer these.  Please just give me a bit more time.  Thank you   : )

Now for the fabric choice question.  This year I would really like to stitch Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow.  I will be using the recommended silk threads thanks to Santa Bear's generosity   : )   I know some of you have stitched this chart on something other than the recommended 40 count examplar linen.  I don't mind stitching on this linen.  I'm assuming I stitch over 2?  However, if someone knows of a nicer linen for this project, please let me know.

I would also like to stitch a few Prairie Schooler ornaments this year.  I have yet to stitch any even though I started buying charts during the Christmas of 2011 when Marly so brazenly posted photos of her multitudes   : )   I remember someone posting once upon a time that using the recommended 18 count Davos made the ornaments too big.  I don't want them to be too big.  Can anyone recommend a nice fabric to use for these ornaments that won't make it look like I'm hanging sofa pillows on my tree?

I've been stitching but I have no photos to share with you yet.  Maybe today   : )

Yesterday I noticed a female cardinal perched outside the back door for the longest time on top of a tree post.  She seemed to be looking for something in the yard or maybe surveying it for some reason. She was there for so long that I grabbed my camera.  She flew away soon after I took the photo.  Last year we had about a dozen pair of cardinals coming to partake of our bird seeds & cakes.  This year I'm counting 6 pair.

Now that I'm relatively healthy again I have been sorting through long overdue insurance forms to file, letters to answer, & of course looking forward (not) to my gum surgery tomorrow.  It's supposed to be a relatively simple procedure, but when the terms "incision" & "prescription pain medication" are bandied about, it always makes me a bit concerned.  

Someone suggested I save the gifts still under the tree for after my surgery since it might result in me needing a little pick-me-up.  I thought that was a good idea so the tree is still up & the gifts remain underneath it. After opening them I will have to take down the tree.  Then I will have to start getting the house ready to list with a realtor. Remember when we were growing up how many times we uttered the phrase "There's nothing to do!"  Those words are coming back to haunt me now   : ) 

Incidentally, I'm not extending Christmas on my blog ... I just can't figure out how to get a new template uploaded & make color/font changes.  Whatever happened to the design button that you'd click on to do these things? Between this & my inability to leave comments on some blogs, Blogger is trying my patience   : (  

Well, I guess that's it for this post.  Last night I slept a total of 1 hour & 45 minutes.  This has been the norm for the past few days ... ever since I started feeling better.  I know I slept a lot when I was sick but I don't think I could've banked all that rest   : (   Hopefully I will start sleeping normally again sooner rather than later.  I got out of bed this morning & tried sleeping on the couch, then on the recliner.  Then I decided to do a bit of stitching (yes, I was that awake).  Then I tried sleeping in the recliner again, then back to the couch, & finally I just gave up, made a pot of tea & got ready for the day.  

Happy beginning of a new week to everyone!