Stitcher's Heaven

I know, I know, I know

2009-08-16T10:18:00.002-04:00

I haven't updated in such a looooong time, as I keep getting reminded in nasty emails from friends, so here I am updating, so expect a long one!!
It's been a super busy and very very stressful summer. We have worried over dh's unemployment most of the time--would it run out? would there be an extension? etc etc etc. Well, it looks like there just MIGHT be an extension coming. Governor asked legislature to give a 20 week extension because more jobs are being lost every day here in WV and other places I'm sure!
Business my dh used to work for (before he got laid off) laid off another 123 jobs at the end of July!! That will definitely change the statistics for WV!! LOL
13 yo son is going to have tubes put in his ears this coming Friday. About 3 days after he got home from church camp (and that was the quietest week of the summer!) he complained about ear ache so I took him to the dr (the kids have CHIP insurance) and expressed my concerns about his hearing or actually loss of it. Dr said he did have a slight infection in right ear so gave him a Zpak for that. Did a tympanogram test and ds failed that one! Dr said to come back in 2 weeks after antibiotic did its thing and would do another test. So, back we go again. This time he did even worse on the hearing test than WITH an infection. So, off to an ENT guy.
This one did a more stringent hearing test and he has some definite problems in right ear, but okay in left. But, we decided to go ahead and put tubes in because there was fluid already building up again in right ear.
So, he is having that done. I think I might call dr on Monday and ask him to go ahead and take adenoids out. Dr said they could come out, but wasn't a necessity. I think I'll ask because Alex has started to snore and is a very bad mouth breather.
Now, onto the next kid. 18 yo Nick. He has been escorted to the ER twice in 8 days via ambulance due to heart rate going up to 162 at times. The first time in ER it was 162 and we thought it might be allergic reaction to Benadryl, but it wasn't. Just a few days later, back he goes in ambulance. Since this was the 2nd time in such a short span, this dr put him thru all kinds of tests; more blood work, CT scan, urinalysis etc. This time we know it's sinus tachycardia (the non dangerous tach) and now we have to figure out why.
So off to cardiologist he goes. Now he was to wear a ECG monitor for 2 weeks and whenever he has an 'episode' he pushes record. So, we went thru that and at the end of 2 weeks, mailed it back off. Now have to wait for dr's appt in Sept for results and all that crap.
Well, in the meantime, I decided to talk to younger son's dr and he said to bring him (Nick) in when I brought Alex back in for checkup, so I did. We talked about his insomnia and I said I was beginning to think it was the lack of sleep that was making him easily agitated and stressed. So, dr gave him a few samples of Ambien CR (not large dose) and more Vistaril (for anxiety, altho it doesn't do squat for that). It has been 10 days that he has been on the Ambien and Nick says he can tell a difference. He has been bike riding all over town and no issues with heart rate, so I think that is going to be the answer. Now to get the dr to prescribe the Ambien CR for an 18 year old. Also we need to get dr to increase dosage because Nick can take that medicine but it will take about 4 hours for it to kick in!!
I think that's all on the boys. Now onto other things.
DIL is in line for a new program that has just started around here. Drug Court. It is set up for people who have committed a felony (non violent) due to drug addiction. Well, that suits her to a T. This program will take at least a year to get through. The first part is very intensive with drug testing several times a week, going to the drug court several times and meeting with probation officer along with counseling. I think this is going to do her a world of good. We are just waiting to hear from her lawyer.
Now, onto my gorgeous, beautiful and awesome gd!! She is now 3 1/2 months old and growing like a bean!! She just went to the dr on Friday and had some more shots (yuck) and now weighs in at 14#, 2 ozs and is 25 1/2 inches tall!! She is in the 97th percentile in height for her age. I think she is going to be pretty darn tall.
She is already starting to teeth (God help us all!) and that of course is no fun at all! She is so cute though and starting to make the "happy baby" noises everyone loves to hear! Her smile is so adorable and just makes you feel sooooooo good!
Today is my gs's 2nd birthday (well, technically it was yesterday) and we are celebrating it here today with cake, ice cream and presents! He is growing up so fast! He is starting to talk (uh oh, there goes peace and quiet) and is doing very well. Can already count to 10!!!

Well, can't think of anything else to add, fibro fog is acting up because I have done too much over the past 2-3 days!
Will try to update soon!

Granddaughter's month check up!

2009-06-05T19:03:00.002-04:00

Granddaughter's month check up was today! She has gained 1lb 9 oz in 2 weeks! She is now 10 lbs 1 oz!! She also grew 1 inch, now at 22 inches!! She is such a piglet!!!
She goes back on the 19th for her first set of immunizations!! Poor thing, I hate those! They cry for a long time afterwards!! Plus they usually come down with a minor temperature after their shots!

But, she is now drinking 3-4 oz of formula at a time (did I mention she is a piglet?) and eats about every 3 hours or so. She does sleep well at nite now, only wakes up long enough to eat and then right back to sleep. We are all happy about that!

Well, that's the report so far! Stay tuned as she grows!

TA-DA!!!! My garden pictures!

2009-06-05T18:49:00.003-04:00

Here are some pictures of my garden as of today!
Since it's been raining most of the week they have been drinking very well! But, it's supposed to be sunny and warm allllllll weekend long, so if I'm outside (which I'm sure I will be) then I will probably hear it grow, just like I'll be hearing the grass growing!! LOL

The first pic is of my Upside Down Patio Garden, and this thing is utterly cool!! My tomato plants are hanging DOWN!! I have 6 of them in this sucker. On the left of the top is one set of 1/2 runner green beans--I planted several in here before I found out they need a stake or something to vine about. But, my sister (who is a long time gardener) said to go ahead and try it out to see what happens with them! So, I'm letting them grow over the side. On the right side are cucumbers! They are growing very nicely also!

The next pic is of my garden plot. Boy, was this fun to dig up! Took me a week to do and a week to recover from! lol At the top are my corn plants, then more green beans ( I love 1/2 runners!) and below the beans are some more cucumber plants. I also have one lone cantaloupe plant in there. It's not growing as well as I thought it would, but we will see!

The last pic is a closer shot of my corn plants! Right now they aren't as "high as an elephant's eye", but they do "look like they're climbing clear up to the sky" (from the musical 'Oklahoma'). I hope these actually sprout ears. I've heard the first time you plant corn, sometimes it doesn't grow so well. But, I'm hoping!!

I think it will be totally cool to be able to walk out the basement door and pick corn, green beans and tomatoes! And I'll probably be busy canning a lot this summer also! I can't wait!!

My Garden is growing!

2009-06-02T00:09:00.002-04:00

I cannot believe it!! My garden is growing very nicely!! I did a little bit of weeding today and I transplanted the half runners that I had planted in my Upside Down tomato planter (before I kenw they needed a trellis or something to climb utp) and those are about 8 inches tall!

Even my corn is sprouting up!! I hope it grows all right. I would love to be able to walk outside and just grab a few ears of corn right off the stalk! That would be very nice!!!

I have my 16qt pressure cooker/canner now, so watch out! I'll be cannng everything I can get! DD's fiancee's mom said she is going to have a plethora of blackberries this year, so I can make me some jelly! yummy!

Now on to stitching news.... SBP is coming along very nicely. I really hate white now!! LOL
I am also starting another one, but I don't want to put it up here because it is for a very very special friend and I don't want her seeing it yet!
Also starting the framework for a RR I'm in.That's about it for now!

I'm getting pretty tired. I sat outside today for about 4 hours (and yes did some stitchiing). I was outside basking in the sun and soaking up as much vitamin D as I could today. Heaven only knows when it will be this pretty again!

What's been going on...

2009-05-30T06:32:00.002-04:00

in my life lately! Well, I finally did start my Spring Beauty Princess by Passione Ricamo! Here is whai I have stitched so far. There is so much white in her dress!! I hate large blocks of color like this, but her dress just called for it!

I also finished digging up my garden and planting the seeds last Sunday. Lo and behold! With all the rain we have had this past week (every day) and what little bit of sun we had this week.. yesterday I went out back to check and I have green beans popping out of the ground, the cucumbers are starting to sprout and best of all, corn is starting!
That made me feel so good! I wasn't really sure if anything would even grow. I've never tried to grow a veggie garden before.

I need to transplant the 6 inch green bean plants that are in my Upside Down Patio Garden, because (I didn't know this when I first planted the seeds)but.... 1/2 runners are supposed to grow up a trellis like thingy. So I will be buying some tomato cages soon!
Speaking of tomatoes.... my tomato plants in the Patio Garden are thriving! Some are definitely getting bigger!

I also was able to get that 16 qt. pressure cooker/canner the other day at Wal-Mart! Now, all I need to get are the mason jars and lides and then I will be ready to can!

I'm hoping to get a picture soon of my garden. Just waiting until they come up a little more! and are more photo ready!! LOL

I got my limited edition fabric from Silkweaver yesterday! Gorgeous!! I don't really remember ordering opalescent fabbie, but that is what I got! Totally awesome!

Not much else going on right about now. Just lots of pain due to lots of rain (and still in recovery mode from digging garden!

2 week check-up for granddaughter!

2009-05-24T06:04:00.002-04:00

On Friday, May 22, we took my darling granddaughter for her 2 week check up. She has gained 9 oz in 11 days (a little above average). She now weighs 8 lbs. 8 oz. and has grown 1/2 inch (21 in. now)!!
Her doctor constantly raves over her color (luscious pink) and how advanced she is. While we there, the doctor checked her reflexes, her leg strength (very high) and how well she can hold her head up (about 1 1/2 minutes) and to see if she could roll over. Of course, she didn't at doctor's office, but she certainly does here! She has done it twice I know of.
She does have a little bit of diaper rash, so dr gave her a prescription to use, just in case.

She is doing fine though! I went out the other day (Thursday) and purchased a couple of those Playtex bottles with the plastic inserts. The are sooooo much better on her tummy. Not as much air.
Seems to be working better also. Apparently they have cut down her hiccups and colic-y behaviour. She actually slept for about 5 hours the other night!

2009-05-21T07:45:00.001-04:00

Vote for my pet in the Furry Faceoff Challenge!

rascal

It's cats vs. dogs... the ultimate showdown! I've entered my pet in the challenge and need your help to win!

The furry friend with the most votes will be the lucky winner of the AmericanGreetings.com Furry Faceoff Challenge.

Wedding Sampler Completed!!

2009-05-17T04:30:00.004-04:00

Here is my Teresa Wentzler Wedding Sampler completed. I stitched this for my cousin's wedding this June. I had given him my TW Egyptian Sampler a few years ago, because he had spent so much time in Egypt while in the service.

I think this will match that in some ways mostly because of the colors and because of the beads and intricate/specialty stitches she uses in this.

I had to put it aside for a little bit while I stitched up Serendipity Fay and all I had left to stitch (when I was finished with SF) was the little corner down on the right side!! I thought I would never get that little bit done because I was so anxious to start on PR's Spring Beauty Princess!
Now I have started on SBP!!!

Hope everyone enjoys this design!

Sorry I've been so long updating, but.....

2009-05-16T08:00:00.002-04:00

with having my beautiful GD born last week and all the running around I did last week, to store, to hospital, home, to hospital, shopping, cleaning, putting up the crib, getting things ready in the room, I didn't have time to do much of anything!
I didn't even get any stitching in last week! Wait, I take that back! I did do a little stitching on Alla Turca while we were waiting for her to deliver, but not much. Chairs were terribly uncomfortable and I can't stitch very well in uncomfy chairs!

Then, over the past weekend, I finished up TW's Wedding Sampler, washed it, ironed it and took it to my framers since I wanted mats on this one. Should be ready by June 1. I need to mail it off shortly after that so they can receive it before June 21!!!
I have taken pics of it, but haven't uploaded them yet, but will try to do that today.

With all the running around I have been doing since the 5th, my body went into shut down totally. Yesterday, I didn't do anything at all, but sit and stitch! I hurt in areas I didn't even know I had! And, to beat it all, it was a gorgeous day! Sunny, blue sky and 80F!! But, I didn't even have the energy or ability to go out and sit down and stitch!
I woke with terrible spasms in my upper back -- I could literally feel my muscles rolling around in my back, very very painful!!

The best news of the past couple of days is that I finally started on Passione Ricamo's Spring Beauty Princess! And boy, was Dawn right! I already hate white and I haven't really done a lot of her dress! Lots and lots of white in her dress!!

Hopefully I won't go so long without updating from now on!

Finally! After 23 years.....

2009-05-16T07:43:00.005-04:00

I got my first granddaughter! I mean, my DD is 23 years old now and all the rest of my kids and grandkids (up to this point) are boys! So, boy was I ecstatic to find out I'm going to have a granddaughter!

And she is perfect in everyway! Fantastic skin (no stork bites/acne) anywhere on her!!

She was born on May 5, 2009 at 11:14 pm after a long day! DIL had to be induced, but nothing was happening for the longest time! They came in and broke her water, but that still didn't help any!

Finally, she started having contractions and with barely a fart/hiccup, out she slid! She squawked once when she came out, but then she didn't make a sound! Even while the nurses were cleaning her up and getting her ready to be presented to Mommy and Daddy, she didn't make a peep!

She was the most alert baby I have ever seen! She just kept "looking" around as if she were waiting for someone to tell her what to do! She was definitely ready to take on the world as soon as she was born, that is for sure!

She already has eyelashes, and some really long ones at that! Plus, she has some very nice black hair, but I figure that some of that will disappear and her regular hair will grow back in!Everyone says she is going to be a heartbreaker when she grows up and I believe them!

She went to the pediatrician earlier this week for her 1st week check up and she had already gained back the 5 oz she lost during her time in the hospital! Dr was slightly surprised she had gained it back so quickly. We told doctor how she eats---she is a total piglet!! She sounds like she is going to suck the bottle right into her mouth!

Not only that, but at 10 days old, she is wanting more than just 2 oz of formula! Unfortunately, her tummy isn't big enough! Her eyes are definitely larger than her tummy!! Of course, sometimes we might give her an extra oz or less, but boy, she sure can eat!!

Latest Picture of darling GS!!!

2009-05-02T01:28:00.003-04:00

Here is my darling grandson, Marlon, asleep on the couch with his Daddy (my son)!! Isn't he precious (baby, not daddy! lol)
We get him every Sunday (long story there) and this was taken last Sunday. He has discovered cars and since my youngest son (12) has every Hot Wheel car ever made, Marlon was in 7th heaven!

Plus, since it was a gorgeous day (80's and sunny) he took Alex's car carrier outside and played with it for hours! Hence, the nap time!!

Still waiting for granddaughter to arrive! She is due on 5/3/09, but I don't think she will be coming then. She is just now dropping into position!

When Stacy (mom) goes back to dr on Tues, I think she is going to discuss picking a day and having a C-section. Since there is a possibility of some issues due to Stacy's drug use (needle user), I personally think a C-section would be better for her and baby. I think she thinks that too. We have talked about it a lot!
Went out the other day and bought some of those Onesies for baby to wear, along with some receiving blankets and crib sheets.
We need everything for baby, since they have nothing now. Everything has been lost over the past year or so. So, I'm trying to help as much as I can! Can't do a whole lot, because our money is soooo very very tight right now.
We did go out to the DHHR the other day and she got her medical card. Surprisingly, I was able to also get a medical card for my 2 boys! Great! Now I can finally take my youngest and get his ears checked! I think he might just need those tubes put in so he can hear! Also means, dental and vision can be taken care of finally also! You have no idea how much stress that relieves! Both of them need dental care badly and eyes checked also!

Happy Dance Time for Me!! Yay!

2009-04-26T21:39:00.004-04:00

Here she is, in all her splendour glory! Serendipity Fay by Passione Ricamo, stitched on 28 ct Lugana, Solo by Silkweaver.
She was designed as a companion piece for Enchanting Fairy, and I must say she certainly measures up to EF, that is for sure! Both are simply gorgeous and delicate designs and will look wonderful hanging together!
I will probably take her to the framers tomorrow, or I might just go up to AC Moore and buy the pieces of frames and do her myself. I don't really like mats too much, and most of my pieces don't have them.
She stitched up in 35 days, not too shabby! Usually can get PR's done in under 30 days, but too much going on over the past month.
Best part was the last 2 days! Sitting outside and basking in the 88F weather, was wonderful for stitching. I think I do my best and fastest stitching when it's sunny out (and warm of course)
I certainly hope everyone enjoys her!

Last update on dog bite!

2009-04-21T08:18:00.002-04:00

I forgot to post about the last update on the dog bite incident! Yesterday, I got a phone call from the Health Dept and he said they had been out to check on the dog and the dog "appears" to be healthy, so he said I had no worries about rabies or anything like that.

I thought: "the dog 'appears' to be healthy" a little ambiguous myself! But, since apparently the dog was not foaming at the mouth, that must be good enough for the Health Dept!

But, how did they keep the dog inside for quarantine but can't (apparently) keep the dog from running loose? Hmmmm?

I really HATE rainy days!

2009-04-21T08:06:00.002-04:00

I know, I know, April showers bring May flowers! But it also brings mud, leaves, and lots of pain! Out of the past 2 weeks, only 2 were sunny! I hate this time of year! The dogs go out and then come in covered in mud, which of course dries and then becomes dirt/dust on the floor, and EVERYWHERE! This house is so bloody dusty, it's driving me batty! I have to dust almost every day (thank heavens for Swiffer dusters!!), it's really a pain!

I haven't gotten a lot of stitching done this past weekend. Sunday was Stacy's (son's gf) birthday, and since I figured her parents wouldn't be doing anything for her (they never do), I baked her a cake and made her favorite dinner--15 bean soup!! She was so happy!

She is doing very well and quite happy to be out of jail and here on home confinement. She is getting some much needed rest and is able to be less stressed now. Today is her day for checking in with the HC (home confinement) office and let them know what her schedule will be for the next week.

It took us forever to find the phone number for her dr's office! But, we finally succeeded only to find out her appt was yesterday! The jail sort of "forgot" to tell her that in the huge paperwork mess on Friday. So we rescheduled her for next Monday. She also made an appt with WIC for Wednesday. So, we know those 2 appts for sure, but she still needs to get to the DMV (for a new ID), DHHR for medical card (I need to go there anyway and see if we can get some food stamps since we have so many people here now). So, we will be asking HC people how to do that, since we can't guarantee how long it will take.

She also wants to see about being able to volunteer at a food/clothing pantry at my church on Tuesdays. She and I both thought that would look really good, wanting to do some type of community service. Of course, my son (who is a total jerk about religion) will probably say something really stupid about her helping at a church, but she needs to do what she wants and not what he wants. If she wants to go to church, then she should be able to go without him having an aneurysm over it.

I'm freezing to death right about now! It's only 45F and rainy, so I'm cold and hurting! Supposed to be as low as 38F tonite! What is up with this weather?!? But, after Wed., it's supposed to get up to 80F!! Hip hip hooray!

SF Update!

2009-04-18T09:45:00.002-04:00

Here is what she looks like after 26 days of stitching! This picture was taken 4/13/09, so I have gotten a lot more done of her now, but this is the most up to date picture I have right now.

She is flowing so nicely! That is one of the reasons I love Laura's designs so much, they just seem to flow so effortlessly when I stitch them!

It's actually almost a zen-like thing. Once I start on her, she just cooperates and everything goes flowing along without really any big help from me!

Another Update (finally)

2009-04-18T09:31:00.003-04:00

Sorry it's been so long since the last update on the dog bite (db) incident! But, have been rather busy this week!
Well, on Monday, I called the health dept, to find they didn't have a bite report from the hospital! grrrr So I gave them a bite report over the phone. They faxed it to the pound who said "we will have someone out there soon" yeah right. Later that day, I called the pound to see if they had picked up the dog. Nope. No one was answering the door (notice I didn't say no one was home, because the dog warden guy said he could the TV and multiple dogs)
So, no picking up that day.
Tuesday: Called pound again to see what was going to happen now (almost 5 days later) and they told me they weren't really sure, because, gasp! there was no supervisor again today! So I asked what would the normal event be? She told me they would put a notice on the door on the 2nd trip out that stated "surrender the animal within 24 hours or police action will be taken", well that was fine with me! Later, around 2:30 or so, the health dept guy called wanting to know if I had a contact phone number for these people! Like I would have the number of anyone whose dog had bitten my son! (if there had been a police report taken, then I could have the number!) So I told the guy I would try to see if any of my neighbors would possibly have it and I would call him Wed morning. He said fine. He had been out 3 times between Mon and Tues and no one answered for him either.
I wrote another scathing letter to the mayor!
Wednesday: I had gotten a cell phone number from a lady down the street. So I called the health dept guy back, started to give him the number and he said they had contacted him late yesterday afternoon and the dog was now under quarantine and that the health dept would be back out on Monday to check the dog. It took the threat of police action to get them to cooperate!
In the meantime, later that day, my phone rang. It was the hospital. If it had been anyone besides the guy who called, I would have been totally PO'd!! There had been a mistake at the hospital and the bite report had never been scanned into the system nor sent to health dept! By this time, I'm just shaking my head and laughing hysterically!
About 4:30 or so, the phone rang again! This time it was the Police Chief! We had a nice long conversation and he agreed the pound was useless. There is no governing body over it since it receives money from the city and 2 counties! I told him something needed to be done about that issue. He also told me he personally and the police dept have several issues already with the pound because of some other dog bite incidents.

Major headache city! I did get to Sam's that day (courtesy of my mother) and I did manage to purchase a (drool here) Cheesecake Factory cheesecake! YUMMMY!

I also talked her into buying me (she was getting herself one) an Upside Down Patio Garden thingy! You plant your tomato plants in it so they grow down and above those you can plant herbs, flowers, and other small type veggies! It is so totally cool!

Next post will have update on SF!

Update on Dog Bite incident

2009-04-12T09:39:00.002-04:00

Well, that was Thursday. All day Friday I waited for the stupid pound to come, because I called them first thing in the morning. I called them 4 times during the day to check and the first 3 times I was told the trucks were still "out" and she had no idea if the dog had been picked up or not.
When I called at 4:25 pm on Friday, it was only then that I was told "we can't pick up the dog without a copy of the bite report from the health dept". I was furious! I asked why I had not been told this any of the other times I had called and she said she didn't know that until just now (like I really believe that!) Plus... she told me there was no supervisor there to open the office (so, the faxed report could have been in the office that whole day!) I said, there is no supervisor at all ALL day long? and she said yes.
She tells me to call the health dept and get them to fax the report and I said I think they are closed by now and she said "oh no, they don't close until 5 pm", so I get the phone number, call and guess what???? they closed at 4 pm!! and of course, by this time the pound is closed!!
So I called the medical records at the hospital I took him to, and begged the lady to fax a copy of the report to the pound. She said she would

Now, it's Saturday morning. I called the pound (again) and once again demand they pick the dog up. I inform them the hospital had faxed the report they needed. Once again, the idiot girl at the desk tells me they can't!! Why not???????? Because (once again) there is no supervisor there to open the office where the fax machine is!
Lots of yelling, cursing and gnashing my teeth folllow the completion of this call!

So, light bulb over my head! I sit down in all my righteous anger and write a very long, very angry (yet polite) letter to the mayor. I explain the whole situation and who asinine it is to have a pound that does nothing! I also write a letter to the police chief complaining about the police who never showed up.
Of course, I wrote these letters, never believing I would get any kind of response. After all, we do live in Huntington where the police can do anything and nobody seems to care!

Surprise, surprise, surprise!! At about 6 pm (on a Saturday evening) I answer the phone and it is the mayor! He seems to be very concerned with the whole mess. He said he had read all the letters (apparently dh had sent 2 letters also) along with the forwarded on from the police chief. He said he needed to find out if police had been dispatched and I said no, and he said he needs to find out (then I know, police may have been sent out and just not come)and he wants to listen to 911 tapes. I told him I would be on there about 3 or 4 times.
I told him no where in the city or county code does it say anything about needing a "bite report" before picking up a dog that has bitten. Plus, I told him I see police and pound at dog bites before in the paper, on the news and now I feel like my son is not as important as other because nothing has been done so far!

So, the upshot is--it has been over 60 hours (as of this posting) and that stupid dog is still loose and nothing has been done!
I really can't wait until Monday! All hell will break loose!

Last night totally sucked!

2009-04-10T09:57:00.005-04:00

Well, last night totally sucked! About 8:30 pm my youngest son came running in the house, screaming and crying! Dog down the street had bitten him on the leg! He had bite marks on the front under his knee and on the back right in the muscle behind the knee!

He was about 3 houses away from where the dog lives when he was bitten and dog was not o leash nor under any kind of control.

I went up there, and boy was I p'd off! The woman who owns the dog gave no apology nor expressed any concern about my son. Her only response was "well, we can't keep him in." Her daughter, who is such a b**ch at the ripe old age of 14, asked me how old son was and when I told her he was 12, she said "he should not be afraid of a dog at that age". Boy, that really set me off!

So, I came home called the police. 911 dispatcher asked if I wanted EMS and I said no. She said "they will be out there soon". We waited an hour and no police came, so I called 911 again. This time I asked for EMS because I knew he needed a tetanus shot and antibiotics and a good cleaning. So EMS got here in under 2 minutes. EMS tech told me police don't come out on calls like this!! So we wasted a good hour!

Took him to the ER and into "Immediate Care" (what an oxymoron that is!) finally dr came in and cleaned it, gave him a tetanus shot (oooouch) and gave me a Rx for antibiotics and dressed the areas.

Stupid antibiotics are about $50! Gotta keep that receipt for sure! Because those people are going to pay the entire bill--EMS, ER bill, Dr bill and pharmacy bill! Even if I have to take them to court!

We didn't get home until about 1 am this morning! So much for Immediate Care!

Below are a couple of pictures. One is of front of leg and other is back of knee.

Another Update on SF!!

2009-04-09T01:59:00.005-04:00

Here are a couple of pictures of my progress so far on Serendipity Fay by PR! The one on the left shows how much I have gotten done in 22 days of stitching. The one the right is a close up of her stole and although it doesn't really show up all that well, there is Kreinik filament in there to give it a little bit of shine! Does look very nice!
There is a lot of beading on this one as you can tell from the photo of the dress itself. Beads all the way down the front of the dress and also in her stole! She is looking so nice!

Also, had a good day today (actually Wednesday) because I FINALLY received my pattern of Spring Beauty Princess! And boy is she going to be so gorgeous! But, I have been warned there is a lot of boring "block" stitching all in white! And I do mean a lot!! 7 skeins worth of white! WOW! No wonder Dawn has decided she is sick of white now! LOL

Ain't he sooo handsome?

2009-04-08T10:49:00.002-04:00

Ain't he soooo handsome? LOL! He was "helping" our youngest to clean his room and found this and decided to put it on and test it out. So I ran (meaning, crawled at a quick pace) up the stairs to get my camera, and lo and behold, he actually waited for me! I really thought he would take it off since he knows I have a "tendency" to post funny pictures of him on my blog and other places, ha ha ha! But, he waited for me to take the picture!

We have finished the interview/inspection part of the home confinement thingy. Apparently we passed, because the guy was really nice and fast. Actually he really didn't do much inspection at all! He just asked about the phone line, checked it, asked a few more questions then asked if I understood exactly everything. I told him I knew about the no drugs, no weapons, no alcohol and that I had drugs (prescription) and they were locked in a safe box with a digital combination and welcomed him to inspect that box if he wanted.
He said he didn't need to. So, then I asked if he wanted to start upstairs, but he said he didn't need to look around the house! In all the years he has been doing this, this was the 2nd time he had been to an actual family dwelling. Usually just apartments. After all the worry and stressing we did over this inspection! But, if we hadn't then, sure enough, there would have been an intense investigation, that is just the way it works for us!

But we did get the house clean and I did get DH to throw out a bunch of junk from downstairs!! Yeah! Of course, this does mean the garbage men are really going to be irked tomorrow!! LOL! They really hate it when I do major cleaning, because my garbage to be collected is about 5-6 times more than normal!! lol

So, everything is ready on our end, the paperwork will be submitted to her attorney and the judge. We only have to wait for the judge to sign off on it and then home confinement will go up and pick her up and bring her here.

Now, for the rest of today, I'm just going to sit and rest and recuperate! I really pushed myself so hard yesterday, doing all that cleaning. DH has a backache today from all his work yesterday too. And his bursitis is really bad today (shoulder).

Family situation update!

2009-04-04T01:46:00.002-04:00

Everyone get ready, this will be a long story, but will try to give you the highlights mostly! Be warned! LOL!
Okay, my son's gf is in jail on possession with intent and uttering and forging charges. They are both recovering heroin/pill addicts. My son has been clean for over a year now (thank the good Lord) and she has only recently been clean (since January when she was arrested)
On Wednesday, my son came home from work and I could tell he was totally freaking out. I made him come up here and made him talk. Turns out his gf is pregnant! Not only pregnant but is due in May! Oooh boy! My first response I won't type here, but you can probably imagine what I said! Then I got my head on straight so I could think calmly and clearly.
That reason explained why he has been so adamant about getting her out early on home confinement.
He had gotten an apartment for them, but he discovered (Wed) that the deposits for the water and electric would be about $600 all total. Now he just works at a fast food place right now and of course he doesn't make that kind of money in one paycheck! We could not afford to help me $$ wise since dh still hasn't found a job yet.
I asked my dd to help, because I knew she had the money in her savings account because she had been going to use it for a down payment on a newer car (her car died of transmission failure). But she said she "couldn't afford it" (boy is she like my mother, it's really freaky!!!)
So, I was trying to think of a way to help him and her and so I swallowed my pride (gulp) and called my mom to see if she could help. This meant I had to listen to a 20 minute lecture about him and his issues. Fun, fun, fun!
About 15 minutes later, dd comes into the room and says she has an idea. She is willing to move to my mother's for a few months so ds and gf (soon to be dil) can live in her room while they save money for a better place and while she is pregnant and after she has the baby.
Of course, dh was totally against it!! He doesn't like the gf and really doesn't care about her at all! I have trust issues with her because of her addiction, but I don't want to see my grandchild born in jail either. So I told dh HE would have to tell our son no. When our son came back home (from looking at a cheaper apartment) dh, me and ds all sat down and talked. Dh said it would be okay for her to move her and let home confinement monitor her. I knew he would, because he doesn't want to be the "mean" one! Isn't that just like a man?
So, now all son has to do is install a landline phone and then she goes in front of judge and she will be released to our house.

Best part of all..... I am finally going to have a grandDAUGHTER!!! Yippee! I'm over the moon about that one! I have always wanted another daughter, but that didn't happen, so I have been hoping and praying I would get a gd sometime and now I am! I can't wait!

Son's gf broke down in sobs when son told her we were willing to accept her here and make her a bigger part of the family. Her family is all psychos! Her own mother doesn't even want to know the sex of the baby! Won't visit her, talk to her, write letters, answer letters, etc etc etc!! That is unreal to me! Her dad (while still strange) at least has been visiting her and talking to her.

So, we are trying to get everything ready for HC people to come out and inspect the house and make sure it is not like a crack house and dope heads and alcoholics live here! That means, yuck city here, I am going to have to really clean the house up! I don't want thme to think this place is a dump! Which it is right now since I cannot seem to get the kids to pick up anything!

So, that is the concised version of my past week! What time!

SF Updates!

2009-04-04T01:28:00.010-04:00

Here she is after 16 days of stitching! I absolutely love the bodice on her dress!!

It is done mostly with metallics and is so gorgeous and shiny! There is a little bit of purple in there for a floral look, but most is metallic!

Down below here are pictures after 17 days because I have added the beads to the bodice and the front section of her dress. The beads will go all the way down in that front section (the darker color with metallic inserts). There is also another close up of her bodice now that I have the beads on there! She is coming along very nicely! I have gotten a lot of her done over the past few days, she is just stitching up so quickly!

I certainly hope you all are enjoying her as much as I am! I am trying to hurry and get her done so I can start on Laura's latest wonder, Spring Beauty Princess. I already have the fabric and the 6 skeins of white floss! 6 skeins! That is a lot of white! I have it on very good authority I will be heartily sick of white after I finish SBP's dress! LOL

Update on SF after 10 days of stitching!

2009-03-25T23:36:00.002-04:00

Here she is after 10 days of stitching! Coming along nicely, but still not as far along as I had thought I would be after 10 days. Sinus issues have me dragging along with that blasted cold front that is stalled to the west of us and is causing me a great deal of aches and pains!

Not much going on at the home front. Dh still does not have a job, and it looks like he will not be getting one any time soon! He is sooooo driving me crazy at times!

Haven't heard anything about the will or probate court, so I guess that is good news!

Garden work!

2009-03-24T22:33:00.002-04:00

It was so beautiful yesterday and today! Up in the high 60's and low 70's so I decided to go outside and soak up some vitamin D and clean up my flower beds! I had to dig up weeds, get rid of the old weed stopper fabric stuff and the old gravel that was decorating the area. It looks so much nicer now.
My hyacinths are blooming and growing so nicely and they smell so nice! I think I would like to have some more and place them closer to the front. I want a lot of them so it really smells great in the early spring!
Bought some seeds today and some of those peat pots in the plastic greenhouse to start them. Several different kinds of flowers and one big package for a container garden. Since I have to transplant my fiscus tree this year (he's getting antsy and mad) into a larger pot, then I can use the one he's in right now and make the container garden. Hope it works out.
I still need to clean and deweed the side section where I have that orange, absolutely gorgeous lily type flower growing. That is where I will put some of the seedlings that I start in the greenhouse thing.

I also am thinking about starting a small vegetable garden out back this year and grow some tomatoes and green beans. I really want to have loads of green beans so I can can them this year! Nothing better than fresh half-runners!! Of course, I have to get the pressure cooker/canner, but I can get that from Wal-mart. I will have to get a little bit of fencing to put around it to stop the dogs from getting in it, but that won't be hard to do.

Also going to get 2 sections of privacy fence to fix the fence behind the patio out back. Really want to bust up patio and build a deck and have it hang over the hillside there a little. When they had to fix the sewer line, they managed to tear down a bunch of the brush back there (what a shame) and now I can extend the fence line back about 6-8 feet and that will enlarge the back yard and then I can take down that awful chain link fence that is all crooked and broken down from the big branch that fell on it last fall.

So much to do, but not enough $$$ to do it all!! So, I guess it will be slow progress, but I want to straighten up the back yard so we can actually use it some! I plan on sitting out there some this summer and stitching! I have another resin type table and 2 umbrellas on layaway at Kmart (one for front table and one for back yard) that way I have a table on the front porch and a table in the back yard!
I also would like to get the swing or hammock they have up at Kmart! So, I just might do that later on.

Hope everyone is enjoying his/herself and stitching up a storm if that is your thing!
Have a great day everyone!!

It's been a looonnng month already

2009-03-22T08:33:00.002-04:00

Well, I hate the month of March anyway and have for 7 years now (since my father passed away) and now I have even more reason to hate it! My darling mother in law passed away on 3/12 between 4 and 6 am. She was 91 years old and more of a mother to me than my own mother!
She was a wonderful, caring, loving, and tender person who became ill with "symptoms resembling Alzheimer's" (that is what they HAVE to call it now---this PC stuff kills me!) several years ago. When her dh passed away 4 years ago, she became even more confused and her "darling" (very loose term here) daughter came up and whisked (kidnapped) her to NC.
She didn't want to go with her, but she wasn't really given a choice. Then, the next thing dh and I knew, HS (half-sis) was selling the house and Really moving her down there (to stay)!! We were very mad and upset we weren't consulted about the move and/or the selling of the house.
Well, after MIL died, I was at the bank on Monday (3 days after she died and 2 dies before graveside service) and there was a lady who used to work at the other branch where MIL and FIL did all their banking! She asked about MIL and I had to tell her the sad news. She commiserated with me for a little bit and then she asked about FIL. I was shocked! I told her he had passed away 4 years ago and SHE was shocked! Apparently no one had ever notified the bank he had died, so they were sending tax info to the IRS under a dead man's SS number! What a mess!
So, MIL's money all got frozen because of her death. Now, HS came up Monday nite. First thing Tues morning, she went to the bank to take out all the money (she had POA) and "split" it between her and dh . Boy was she pissed when she found out her POA was no longer valid (hello, MIL was dead! ) and was told by the bank to contact executor of the will! giggle giggle giggle!!
Before this, HS was telling DH that she had no idea where executor was, where she lived, how to get in touch with her, that she was ill, and bedridden and wouldn't want to do ti anymore! Well, after she went to the bank, she apparently was able to find the executor without any trouble!
Executor came to visitation/graveside service and was quite surprised when DH told her everything HS had said! She was a little perturbed she had not been told that MIL had died (considering MIL was her aunt) and even more so when she found that because HS had told her it was "mom's wish" {translation--HS's wish} that FIL's will not be probated, the bank had been making a HUGE booboo for 4 years!
What a mess this is!!
Of course, now it's all in the executor's and probate court's hands and I certainly hope DH doesn't get shafted again! It's not like we only want the money, but he only wants his share! I don't see anything wrong with that. I almost wish there had never been any money, that way HS wouldn't have come up and basically kidnapped my MIL!!!

Stay tuned for more on my life in the soap opera......

Serendipity Fay WIP

2009-03-22T08:23:00.003-04:00

Here is my latest PR in progress. Serendipity Fay, stitched on 28 ct Solo by Silkweaver. She is really going to "pop" on this fabric, I believe.

I had to stitch "something" while I wait for SBP and my fabby to get here! That one is going to be a gorgeous piece also! But them all of Laura's are outstanding!

I like the brown hair on this one. Seems to take to me! My favorite thing is the wings. They are fun to do! Even with 1 ply! But that makes them more dainty looking.

I have been moving right along with this one, thanks to all the stress I have been dealing with this month.

Alla Turca update

2009-03-22T07:54:00.003-04:00

Here is my Alla Turca (parts 1, 2, and 3) completed finally! Now I'm all ready for part 4 when it comes out 4/1!! Of course, the 3rd part was simple, because it had very little stitching in it. Most of the time was spent on part 2, which is the bottom right hand side of picture.

This is the first SAL I have ever done and I'm enjoying it immensely! Of course, it's also a fantastic design by Pelin Tezer, so that definitely helps!

This is stitched with DMC Satin 211 (and I'm not a really big fan of DMC Satin floss, let me tell you!) on 28 ct evenweave off antique white fabric. I think the Satin floss does give it a nice sheen that you can't quite tell in the picture!

Another Happy Dance for 2009

2009-03-13T19:37:00.002-04:00

I get to do another Happy Dance for 2009! This is Passione Ricamo's Violet Fay, stitched on 28 ct Solo by Silkweaver. I started her on 3/08/09 and finished her on 3/13/09. I have already submitted her for the Silkweaver 2009 Showcase contest.
My dd picked out the fabric for this one and I think she did a remarkable job on her selection! It turned out beautifully.
She is stitched over 2 and I just love those violets, even though I am not really a violet lover. I can't wait to do the companion of her, Hellebore Fay. Still have to figure out what fabric for that design, but will try to do it soon.

I just received the Blonde and Brunette Cameo pattern in the mail today and have already ordered the pattern for Spring Beauty Princess! She is unbelievably gorgeous!! I even have the fabric picked out for SBP--Silkweaver's Jamaican Sunset (28 ct linen). Going to be gorgeous!

Long trip and sad week!!

2009-03-13T18:57:00.002-04:00

Well, it was a very long weekend. We left Friday morning for Hope Mills NC to see my MIL. It took about 8 hours or a little less to get there. We had a nice hotel outside of Fayetteville. But the best part of the trip was the little car we rented! We went with the least expensive car we could find. I found a fantastic deal through avis.com--50% off weekend rental, so a 4 day rental was only $81!! When I went up to pick up the car, the girl at the desk couldn't believe that price! It was normally $50/day on a weekend rental!! Wow, what a deal!
So we got a cute little Chevy Cobalt. But boy was it loaded!! Power windows, AC, CD player, sunroof and the best of all XM Satellite radio! That was the best! No searching for radio stations as we traveled and no trying to avoid all the country stations that are around when you head south!
When we got there, MIL was not in good shape. She had been diagnosed with Terminal Restlessness (keyword- terminal) and was thrashing around in the bed. BUT, she woke up and talked to use on Saturday afternoon and she knew who we were! That was a blessing to DH, that's for sure!
Saturday nite, she was sleeping all the way thru our visit, missing her meds (Ativan, MS (for the restlessness) and another med). So, we just visited with his sister, niece and nephew. Also on Saturday came a HUGE surprise. His sister told us we could go ahead and take his dad's car home with us! Talk about a shocker! His dad had told us about 5 years ago (before he died) that he wanted our son to have that car for when he started to drive. But when he died, they took the car to NC, so my MIL could look out the window and see it and ride it in every Sunday to church.
So, we checked the fluids in the car (needed some brake fluid and water) and started home. Stopping more often than on the way down to keep an eye on the car. But, boy, is that a gas hog! It's a 1989 Ford Crown Vic with only 74,000 miles on it! Great shape!! Does need a section of the exhaust fixed though.

Then we talked to her when we got home only to find out MIL had begun being agitated ever since we had left. Seems like she knew we were there and was calm with us there, but when we left, she apparently knew that also.

On Thursday morning, we got a phone call about 6:25 am, telling us she had passed away in her sleep. Boy, that really hit DH for sure! I am soooo glad we went down when we did, because it looked like she was holding on for us to get down there! DH's sister told us she kept telling someone "I want to go home". And she finally went home.

Now, it's hard to handle funeral arrangements in 2 different states. His sister wants to have funeral services there at the church MIL went to, but we also want to have at least a visitation time before graveside services up here! There are much more people up here that would visit than down there, I'm sure.

Well, that is all I have to say about that situation! After the funeral though, will be the very interesting part, the reading of the will. I have seen both his dad's and his mom's will before and I know pretty much what they say, but I wonder if it will be the same now. Oh well, that's a worry for another day. First, I have to survive the graveside service (which is all we are apparently allowed to have up here) without an axiety attack

WOW!!!!

2009-03-06T00:40:00.002-05:00

WOW!!! Look at her! She is Laura's newest outstanding and gorgeous design! Spring Beauty Princess! Can you believe it!

This is certainly a must have!! I can't wait until ECC gets her so I can order it! I gotta have her, I already have Winter Beauty Princess (stitched her several years ago) and I think SBP is the best companion ever!

I don't know how she does it! Every time she rolls out a new design, I think "she can't top this one" and then there she goes, outdoing herself!! I wish I had 1/100th of her ability!!

Amazing!!

Well, on to more mundane and sad news. We are leaving (dh and I) tomorrow morning (actually this morning ) for NC to visit his mom. He called down there earlier and apparently it's a very good thing we are going now. His sister (loose term) said his mom is getting worse every day, physically and mentally! She is 91 years old and in end stage Alzheimer's.

Sad business that is. I think that is a very cruel thing, not only to the patient and but to the family also. Not being remembered is so difficult.

I was a geriatric nurse for 12 years and I have seen all of it. The confusion, paranoia and all of that which goes along with Alzheimer's. It is so not fun!

Well, I really need to get to bed, so good nite all!

Another TW Update!

2009-03-05T10:26:00.004-05:00

Here is my latest update on TW's Wedding Sampler I am stitching for my cousin's wedding in June this year.

It's coming along fantastically! Stitching it right up and should have it done by the end of this month (if I don't start another big one soon).

Have been working on the Alla Turca SAL, trying to get parts 2 and 3 done. Running behind on that one, but almost caught up. Also starting another smaller PR, Violet Fay. Stitching her on 28 ct solo by Silkweaver. Going to be gorgeous!!

Well, we (dh and I) are leaving tomorrow morning for NC to see his mom. She is 91 years old and is in end stage Alzheimer's. Don't think dh realizes what it's going to be like for him. He doesn't understand what it does to a person and the family, it's terrible!

We had to rent a car, since ours is 14 years old. Only has 61,000 miles on it though (and it gets about 33 mpg!!), but don't think it could make the trip. My mom is paying for the car, but we have to pay for gas, hotel, meals etc. We are staying in a hotel that has a deluxe continental breakfast!!! Love those!!!

Hopefully will have another update by the time I get back!! Either on AT or my VF!!

Another finish and some sorrow

2009-03-01T23:13:00.003-05:00

Here is my latest finish! Another freebie from PR. This is the Passione Ricamo logo designed by Laura. She does such gorgeous works! I adore her designs!!!! I can't get enough of them!
This is stitched on 28 count evenweave, antique white and then I sewed it onto my favorite denim totebag, the one I use to transport my stitching around in! I haven't really found a totebag I love as much as that one.
I do collect totebags wherever I go, just like I do with the shot glasses, but I haven't found one I love as much as that old denim one!

It's coming up to that time of year again...I really hate March anymore, even though my oldest son's, mine, my brother in law's, my niece's, my grandson's and my sister's birthdays all are in March. It will be 7 years now, really doesn't seem that long, but it has since my best friend in the world, my dad went into the hospital and never came home. My cousin took himself off dialysis and died 11 days later 7 years ago this month too. Along with my dd's best friend's father passing away. So I really dislike March anymore.

I have a really hard time during this month, and into April. I get depressed, moody and very very thoughtful during this time. I really miss my dad, every day. He was my best friend in the world and I loved him so much. He was the greatest guy ever. Thank heavens my youngest son takes after him. Big hearted as I don't know what! He reallly takes after my dad in lots of ways. He barely can remember his grandpa but what he remembers is good--the camping trips, the amusement park trips, the cars the watchin races together, etc. So that is good.

But, on the upside (if there is one at this time of year), it is getting easier bit by bit. Every year, there is less sorrow and more happy memories to remember. But, I don't think the pain ever truly goes away. Sometimes it sneaks right up and smacks me in the face. I was watching some move the other night and all of a sudden WHAM, there it was!!

Of course, everyone knows how I am this time of year, so they are pretty understanding of my actions. They know I get down and just want to be alone sometimes and they are pretty good about letting me wallow!! It seems if it is a dreary month it is worse, if it's nicer out, then I can get outside and do something in my garden or just pick up around the yard and I feel better for doing that.

Just a chance to express my feelings about this time of year. Hope I don't ruin anyone's day when they read this post!! That's not my intentions! Sorry for the blubbering on you all!!

LOL

Have to take that back!

2009-02-27T23:23:00.002-05:00

I will have to take back all the negative things I said about my stand now!! After sending an email to the company expressing my dissatisfaction, I got a call (on a Sunday) from the owner/builder of the stand! He explained to me how I could work with it until he sent me some spring washers.
I got those today and installed them, and now the thing is working like I just want it to! It is awesome! I am very pleased with it! I just wish the pattern holder was a little closer. I don't like them very far away. Seems a little hard on me to have it far away. But I have figured out a way to put it beside my bed and beside my rocker and still use my over the bed table to hold the pattern nearer.

My mother in law (Mabel) is doing poorly. Earlier this week, they thought she wouldn't last long at all, so DH started freaking about how to get down there (NC) since we lost our van and I know the little car won't make it.
We have enought to cover a hotel/gas/food but not a car rental. Plus, if you use a debit card, they authorize a charge for $525!!! There is no way my bank can authorize that, especially since I don't have that kind of money in my account, lol! Then, I checked on cash option. You have to have $300 in cash to rent a car!!
Dead end!! Or so I thought. Then I thought about asking my mother (big groan here) for help in renting the car. She can rent it and put me on as additional driver, then we can take care of anything else!!
I can only hope she will help us. It's not like we planned on losing the van or DH's job going overseas!! Of course, I had to endure the "lecture" about saving money, but I asked her "how can we save money when we don't have enough to even take care of bills and food!"

But, DH called down there today and then we had to check to see if hell had frozen over!! Sister actually invited him to speak with nurse there and then even more unbelievable--- she asked him his input on putting a DNR order in her chart. They did decide to do that because, like the nurse said, they could very well kill her by trying to save her (i.e. crack her chest like an egg)

She is doing better right now. She is sitting up and actually ate today and is joking and laughing, So we are going to try to get down there next weekend and visit her. DH knows this will be the last time he sees his mother, and boy, is that going to be hard!! Not only on him, but on me because I will be putting up with the after effects!!
Plus, he really has NO idea about Alzheimer's patients. Having worked in geriatrics for about 12 years, I have a pretty good grasp on it. He is really going to be bothered by this I know that also.

Not really looking forward to this trip. Except for the dim hope of finding a LNS while I'm down there! That would be a really nice surprise!

Total bummer!

2009-02-22T00:24:00.002-05:00

Well, today totally sucked! I was so happy and excited about my floor stand! But it has one HUGE problem!!! WAAAYYYY too difficult to rotate stitching to get to the back!!! So, am going to have to return it.

I want a good floor stand so badly!! I really thought this would be a good one. That is the problem with ordering online I guess. You can't "see" what you are getting until it arrives at your house and you put it together!!

I really really wish I had a LNS around here! That way "maybe" I could see a floor stand and actually try it out!

I may exchange the one I got for ADP's EZ Stitch Floor Stand. I think that one is better for me and will work the way I want it to. Either that or Aritsan Design's Ergo floor stand. They both seem to be along the lines I want. Ease of rotation of frame!!

Well, that's my rant for the day!! Plus, I had to take Wedding Sampler off extender bars and put it on shorter bars so I could use my lap stand! Since I can't use the floor stand.

What a day!

Wedding Sampler Update!

2009-02-20T09:50:00.002-05:00

Here is my current WIP--Teresa Wentzler's Wedding Sampler. This is stitched on 28ct evenweave (off white) and has loads of specialty stitches and beads in it. That is one of the reason's I love TW's designs!

I have to have this one done before June 2009, because it is for my cousin's wedding! I figure I should make that deadline with plenty of time to spare, but still nervous about it.

I spent the last few days in bed, not doing much but feeling crappy. I did however, manage to get online and spend some money! I ordered some things from ADP, for my lap stand. Some charts, floss, fabric and bling for designs I have here which needed the bling, or floss!

I have set up my floor stand, which arrived yesterday, so I am getting ready to try that bad boy out! Sure does look to be very helpful, but will ahve to "test drive" it!! I hope it helps as much as I thought it would!

Also got my booking/confirmation number for next year's Stitching Cruise yesterday! Hooray for that! It's now official! Only 330 days left until I'm sailing the ocean blue again! Can't wait! It's been so bloody cold here and now they are talking about another snow storm this weekend! I'm heartily sick of snow and cold weather!!!

My new bed is wonderful! I love it!! So comfy and so good for my back! Have not woken up once with back pain since I got it! I wake up with my usual back/body pain, but not like before, with the old bed. Cats and dog love it also. They have loads of room to stretch out on it now, without sleeping on top of each other!!

More economic stimulation from me!!

2009-02-15T07:03:00.004-05:00

Well, once again I have helped stimulate the economy! And all I can say is thank heavens for tax refunds! I finally have purchased a floor stand, which is something I have been wanting to do for years now! This one ---> is called the Stitch It Mantis Cross Stitch Needlework Floor Stand. I found it on Stitch-R-Stuff, a really interesting and inexpensive online store!

I should be able to use this while stitching in my bed, rocker, recliner or couch! Plus, the big added bonus? The pattern/floss board comes with it! Most of the others I have looked at, you had to pay extra for the pattern/floss holder! Yay for that one!

Also, another stimulating purchase--- I finally got around to getting my new bed! It's a Simmons BeautyRest and boy is it comfy!! It's a very firm mattress (for my back issues) and has a pillow top with it (for my FMS). It's also about 6 inches taller than my other bed! I purchased a Queen size this time, so I had to buy me some sheets and a new bedspread. Thankfully, my heated mattress pad was able to be squeezed on there!

I love it and I had a good nite's sleep for the first part in a long time.

Well, just wanted to report my economic stimulation input! LOL

I'm going to be in trouble if....

2009-02-13T00:36:00.003-05:00

my hubby finds out what I just spent money on! LOL I purchased Martina Weber's (Chatelaine) Mystery XII and Vienna Mandala!! I have also applied for the Yahoo groups for these 2 designs.
I just HAD to order the Mystery XII because it's Caribbean! I figured it was a sign that I really had to purchase this one. The Vienna one I got because it goes along with St Petersburg one I bought a while back.
Her designs are so intricate and detailed, just like I love them!! The more intricate, the better as far I am concerned.
I plan on using my store credit from ECC (for using my finished projects at Nashville market) for the kit that goes with the MXII. I will have to pay some of it, since the kit is over $100, but it will be worth it. I have never worked with some of the fibers Martina uses, but that will be the fun part of it all! She does give DMC conversions, for a less expensive project, but I wanted to do this one the "right" way.

I also ordered some more extender bars and an extra adapter bar from ADP so I can have more than one scroll rod for my lap stand. That way I can use my lap stand for different projects. I am also considering buying ADP's floor stand. I think that will help me a lot. Plus the floor stand looks as if it can also hold a Qsnap frame!! That will definitely be beneficial, since I use those a lot too!!

Well, they say confession is good for the soul and I do feel better now I have confessed my SEX for the day! LOL

What I returned home to....

2009-02-11T01:10:00.007-05:00

I'm not telling this in sequence, but I don't really think that way anymore, so I just go with the flow! I decided to show everyone who reads this what I came home to after my cruise! Now remember, I had been spending 10 days in the warm (80-85F) Caribbean with loads of sun!

This is what happened while I was cruising: We got about 6 inches of snow that week! The schools were closed all week long, so that meant my dh was stuck with them ALL week long! hee hee hee! Needless to say, the emails I received from him were full of despair, nerves and stress! LOL

The kids of course had a field day! Here is my youngest (left side) with his best friend, attempting to ride bikes in the snow. I don't think it worked out too well though.

The picture on the top is our neighbor's van showing how high the snow got!

Then of course after I got home, they had one day of school then another snow storm hit and we got another 4 inches of snow. Our town only has one snow plow and had run out of salt! Not an unusual occurence. Since we don't normally get very much snow, we never have a large supply on hand! So these two snowfalls did the town in! People were being asked to stay off the roads unless you were emergency responders or it was an emergency that you absolutely had to drive!

Another night of no sleep!

2009-02-10T05:57:00.002-05:00

Well, it's 6 am now and I have not been to bed yet! Very bad nite for me last nite! Legs are killing me, back is aching to beat the band and I'm pretty much miserable. I think there is somethiing moving thru in the weather system. Is supposed to rain today, but it's not that kind of pain!

I got my newest S.E.X. the other day!! 2 more solos from Silkweavers! One is a greyish color and the other is perfect for PR's SF! ( I do believe) I also ordered some more stuff from American Dream Products. That is what my lap stand is and I tell you it was the best investment I have ever made!

This is the second one I have had so far. The other lasteed about 15 years or so and I literally wore it out! I took a pic of it before I had to throw it out and emailed it to the fantastic people at ADP-USA and they said they had never seen one that had lasted so long with such intense use!
I ordered another set of side bars with a 10" spread instead of just the 8" spread I have now. I also ordered another adapter bar that will fit up to a 22" scroll rod, that way I can have more than one project on scroll rods and still use my lap stand!!

I am now on the hunt for a nice floor stand that can go around my rocing chair when I'm sitting in it and stitching! ADP has a couple of really nice floor stands and I know there products are sturdy!!

Total change of subject here, but I think it's time I organized all m files on my laptop. I need to organize all my stitching patterns that I have purchased and downloaded, all my freebies and other stuff. Will get to that soon!!

Class Day on Cruise!

2009-02-08T21:54:00.003-05:00

This was the first class day during stitching cruise. This is Lorrie Birmingham and she is such a wonderful lady! She, Marilyn and Liz were totally awesome! Plus, the designs they created for the cruise were absolutely stunning!

They were all so funny and caring! They really make you feel so welcome. Also, no problem helping you with an unfamiliar stitch or issue you were having.

The picture below is my name badge I made for the cruise this year. We were all asked to make them since Lorrie, Marilyn and Liz couldn't remember everyone's name! LOL This is a freebie from Passione Ricamo and I decided to do it over one on 28 count evenweave. This way it was small enough to make a little "purse"/name badge! Worked out very well I thought.

Then I just added a nice bright twisted rope for the necklace part. Used design program to create my name for it. I'm not real good at figuring out what type of lettering, so just went with something easy! :)

Wedding Dress Picked Out!!

2009-02-08T21:38:00.005-05:00

Today was the day!! My darling daughter found the perfect dress! It is absolutely lovely!! Classic, elegant and so perfect for her.

It is ivory/ecru in color, with some wonderful netting under the top layer!

Also lots of sparkly on the netting and along the shirring down the front.

It is so gorgeous!

She went ahead and got it today since it was a very good deal-$200 off bridal dress!

So, today she got the dress, the veil, the alterations paid for and the inserts in the "bosom" area!!

The dress is form fitting until just slightly below the hips where it flares out into a gorgeous train. As you can see from the picture to the right, it has 2 layers from the hips down. The top layer is the plain fabric and under that is a netting with loads of "bling"!!

She really looked a vision in it today and it was a "bad hair day" as she called it! LOL

And since she got her dress today, and if I make it there before the end of Feb., I can get my mother of the bride dress for 20% off! I saw a couple there that are very interesting, so I will probably go back there next week and get my dress for her wedding!

She will probably get after me for posting these pics on my blog because she doesn't want her fiancee to see the dress, but I doubt he reads my blog! lol

I'm home, safe, sound and brown!!

2009-02-06T05:24:00.002-05:00

Well, I made it back home! Sure do miss the warm weather! I'm safe, sound and very very brown! Love it!
Here I am on the top deck (where the wind is the worst of course) on embarkation day! A lady was kind enough to take my picture (altho I don't really like my pic taken). It was so windy, you can't even see my hair, because it was streaming straight back from behind my head!!
I will be posting some thoughts, and pics here over the upcoming days about my cruise. Along with pictures of the wonderful designs/kits that were given to us in classes.
Next year, we are going Western Caribbean and there is only 345 days left until that cruise!! Yes, I'm already counting down!! LOL!!
When I got home, there was about an inch of snow left from what there had been dumped here all week long. There had been no school all week, so that meant dh had the kids everyday!! LOL Then Thursday night (first nite back) and early Friday morning, we got another 5 inches of snow!! We don't have any salt left in town, can't buy salt, and even if there WERE salt to buy, couldn't afford it! This city is flat busted broke!
Then, there was school on Mon, Tues of this week. They got out 3 hours early on Tues, because another snow storm was heading our way. So, on Wednesday, another 3-4 inches fell here in town and then on Thurs it was down to -4F, so they had a 2 hour delay, but I couldn't get the car to budge, so I kept the kids home yesterday! Hopefully I can get them to school today! (Friday)
Well, just a quick post to let anyone following my blog know I am safe at home! Freezing to death, but safe.

First full day at sea!

2009-01-20T21:52:00.000-05:00

Well, today was my first full day at sea! And, more importantly, first day of class! Liz Turner-Diehl was teacher today. She gave us all a remarkable kit called Flamingo Palms. It includes all the beads, Madeira threads, metallics and fabric for a wonderful piece. We went over several unusual stitches she put in it. I have never done these stitches before! Double back cross is one of them and I can't remember the other names. We had so much fun!! I did take some pix during the class and hopefully I can upload one or two of them tomorrow night (the internet is a.) so slow here and b.) way too much money for only 100 minutes!)

It started out cloudy with a little rain this morning, but since I was in class, I didn't really mind. After class was over, I headed back for my stateroom and changed into "suitable" attire for basking in the sun on the Lido deck! But of course, when I got there, all the deck chairs were taken (or actually being saved) except for the chairs up one deck, where the wind is really really bad!! But finally, someone left and I could lie down and start some serious basking. I did start on the PR logo there, but then decided to lie down and I fell asleep. Was out there for about 3 hours or so.

Then I came back to get ready for dinner. Tonight was formal night, so I decided to "dud" myself up real nice! I curled my hair and fixed it so it just wasn't hanging like usual and went to eat in the DaVinci Dining Room! Beautiful room! I had to speak to the head waiter regarding my food allergy (milk products) and I decided to have the broiled chicken breast and it was so delicious!! Of course, after dinner, they brought around the dessert menu and there in big bold letters were my downfall!! Traditional New York Cheesecake with marinated strawberries. Oh no!! Not cheesecake! So I ordered it and enjoyed every bite of it, knowing full well what the consequences would be!

So, I'm looking forward to another wonderful class day! I can't wait to get to the biggie project of the cruise! I can't remember whose it is, whether it's Marilyn's' or Lorrie's, but it is so outstanding! Plus, tomorrow will be gift day! We all get a gift! We already got a nice tote bag (with a flamingo on it and 2009 Stitching Cruise) with a copy of Stoney Creek, a bag full of fabric and some Kreinik filament. We also were given Mardi Gras beads so we can ID each other! Because not everyone finished a name tag!

So, until my next posting! Ciao!

First Day of trip!

2009-01-19T00:23:00.000-05:00

My first day of my trip was a success! Even if they had me flying northeast before heading south! Strange way they set up flights!! First, they had me land in Washington DC, then on to Florida. When we were landing in DC, when I looked out at the city, all I could see were cars' headlights or taillights all over the place! There must have been hundreds of thousands people there today for the concert and whatever else was happening there today! The flight attendant told me the airport had been very very busy yesterday and today and they were anticipating an even worse day tomorrow! I can believe it!

Then, when I got to FL, it was so nice to get off the plane and go thru the jetway thingy, because I could feel the warmth! It was 69F in Ft Lauderdale!! I had left in 32F and snowy weather to come where it was nice and warm!! Yippee!

I am staying in a little hostel I found last year. Only 25.00 a night here and the owner is a very very nice man! You meet all sorts of people here, because it is crew quarters for the cruise ships along with people who are just here for a while working or even backpackers traveling. So after I got here, about 10:30pm or so, I sat outside in the courtyard for a while talking to the other people who were out there. 2 from England (one of them a girl who works for Royal Caribbean cruise line), 2 from "down under" and a young man from New Jersey. They were very nice and quite friendly, although the 2 Aussies were pretty drunk and slightly funny with it!

I am in a 4 bed female dorm, but this one is separated into 2 bedrooms, much better than last year, where all 4 of us were in one room. I really like it here. It's a nice clean place and not very noisy after about 11:30 pm. Jorge, the owner, keeps it pretty much under control. Last year, I was here 3 days before the cruise and 1 day after, because of the flights I had. So, I was able to enjoy it more. I sort of wished I had come down a day earlier now, to really relax and have time before my cruise!

That's all for now! Will post again tomorrow (today)!

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

2009-01-15T09:50:00.004-05:00

'WINTER' a poem by
Abigail Elizabeth McIntyre

DARN, it's cold!

The End

This is exactly how I feel today!! Woke up to 11F temps with wind chill of -1F!!! Bizarro land! Tonight, it is supposed to be down to -5F!!! Way too cold for me. But, on the other hand in Ft Lauderdale at this time it is 62F!!

3 Days to go! I can hardly wait! I think I have my stitching stuff ready to go. Will be taking TW's Wedding Sampler (starting on it during cruise) for my cousin's wedding this June, along with a few of the PR freebies, Be My Love, Winter 2008, and the PR logo. They are smaller designs and I figure I can work on one of them while I wait for my connection going down there. Threads all in my plastic bobbin box along with extra needles.

Of course, I also have to pack my light and magnifier, along with extension cord, but will do that last as I need them for the next few days to stitch here at home! LOL

Today or tomorrow, I will be climbing thru the cubby hole in my closet to get to my totes that have my summer clothes in them. I need to try some of them on, since I have lost some weight along with a couple of inches, so I certainly hope they fit! I don't think the stores have shorts/swim suits out yet! Plus, I need to find the clothes I can mix and match so I can have several different outfits without all the extra clothes! I am really going to go lightly this year. Learned my lesson last year.

Then, I have to type up my shopping list (souvenirs) and the household list, telling dh where everything is and what all I have stockpiled for him and the kids to have dinner while I'm gone. Plus, on that list, I need to leave explicit instructions, NOT TO WASTE THE MONEY!! Last year, he kept going to the game store and buying Playstation games!! This year I worry about car models! He has already built 5 of the 7 he got for Christmas!!

So, that is my plan for the next couple of days. Getting everything ready here at the house and packing to go cruising!

First finish of 2009!!

2009-01-12T20:40:00.002-05:00

This is my first finish of 2009! Yippee!! It's Alla Turca part 1, by Pelin Tezer! It's a 9 part Mystery SAL she designed specifically for my Yahoo group, Stitchers Heaven. We have had about 30 people join just for this Mystery SAL. Pelin has been the greatest about linking the design to the group and she has been so fantastic to design this for us!!

We think we are going to have her do another for us when this is finished! She doesn't know that yet though! LOL

Well, 6 days to go! And boy, am I looking forward to it! I hope it warms down there before I get there though. This week, I saw Orlando's high was only going to be in the 50's!! What's up with that? There was only one teeny tiny part way down south around Miami that was going to be in the upper 60s/70s!! That is not normal! I want it to be super warm down there so I can brag about it to everyone back home!
It is going to be in the 20s rest of this week, too cold for me. Lows are going to be in the lower teens/single digits some nights. This is not good! That means I won't be getting much sleep because when it gets that cold, my bed is usurped by my furbabies. Do you know how hard it is to sleep with 4 cats and 1 Border Collie taking up most of the bed? I usually wake up stiff and sore because I can't turn over and heaven forbid if I should try to move on of them!! They get the "snooty" look on their faces and then move even closer to me! I know they do it on purpose.

I am trying to learn about dh's camera. It's his new 10 megapixel I got him for Christmas. It looks like the older 35 mm he always loved, that's why I got it for him. But, I need to learn how to work it! Basic instructions are in the booklet, but the more advanced stuff (like how to use macro, or video) are on the CD in .pdf format, so now I have to put it on my puter (that way I'll have the instructions with me on the cruise) It holds a 4gb SDHC card, so that means lots of pictures! Has a great digital zoom also!

Still trying to figure out what all I'm taking stitching wise and clothing wise. Hope I still fit in some of my shorts! I have lost a few pounds and a couple of inches, so I'm not sure! But, that is what belts are for! LOL I am definitely going to pack lightly!! Definitely!! Learned my lesson last year! When dh and I went on our 25th anniversary cruise, we drove to Miami, so we didn't have to worry about overweight charges and sizes or amount of baggage. But, with airlines charging per bag and being so picky about sizes and weight, I'm definitely going light!

7 days to go!!!

2009-01-11T02:03:00.002-05:00

I saw this one somewhere, and I thought it was too cute!! It's titled "Cat Fight", but I see no hair flying!!

My cats, may not look like this, but I do have one cat that actually does attack sort of like that white and orange cat is doing! Just lays back and wallops the other!

Well, I'm happy to announce, I only have 7 more days to go!!! I am getting so excited!! Especially since this week, the weather is going to be very very bad!! Highs just in the 20's and the lows in the teens and single digits!! Too cold for me! I want to be where it is warm and dry and comfy!! I am praying there will be no rain the whole trip. I don't care if it rains at night, after we are all tucked in our beds, but not during my pool side time or during our stops!

Oh, the newest news!! I have been asked to donate 2 of my Passione Ricamo pieces to the European Cross Stitch Company's booth at the Nashville Market this year!! I am donating Queen of Fairies and Mediterraneo. I will be sending them out in the mail early this week. I am so excited! Apparently this is one of the bigger trade shows out there. Plus I get 50 bucks store credit. I did ask if I get double store credit since I have 2 pieces in the show, but haven't heard back yet. That would buy me some stash for sure!!

Not much going on at the home front lately. DH still is searching hard for a job, but still nothing! He did get his "Pre-exhaustion/Application for Emergency Unemployment Extension" on Tues, and he filled it out and I took it down there on Wed. Didn't trust the mail, plus I knew what would happen if I mailed it. I would have been driven crazy by my DH. "Do you think it made it there." "How will I know I am getting anything?" "How do I know they got it?" etc etc etc. So, to save what little sanity I have left, I drove it down there and handed it to the lady at the window. The next day, I told him to call there and check. He found out he will be getting the additional 13 weeks, plus an extra 7 weeks!! That should put us up through June or so.

DD still has not come down from cloud 9 over her engagement!! She has been showing me dress after dress after dress!!! Unfortunately for her, I'm not what you call a fashion diva! My idea of getting dressed is to throw on jeans, boots, and a sweatshirt or long sleeved Tee and flannel shirt and heading out the door!! I am not high maintenance!!

I just finished the Twilight series for about the 5 time now. I have no new JD Robb books, no new Twilight books and no new Sookie Stackhouse novels to read!! I don't even know what I'm taking on the cruise! Pitiful!!

I did watch this hysterically funny show earlier this evening. It's called "Over my Dead Body" and it was so funny!! there were some sad spots, but mostly funny! Enjoyed it immensely.

It has been raining here all day long. If it had been about 10 F lower, we would probably have about 6 inches of snow!! Which would totally close this town down!! I don't think our salt truck even works.!

Nothing much else to say, so good night! and Happy Stitching!

12 days to go!!!

2009-01-06T14:31:00.002-05:00

I'm getting antsy now! 12 days to go until I leave this frozen tundra and head for the sunny (hopefully) and warm Eastern Caribbean!! I am already making lists, buying a few things I need to take with me.
I'm going to pack very very lightly this time!! Last year, when I flew home, I had to pay overweight charges and this year, I'm not doing that! So, just the bare necessities so I can have room for souvenirs for me and family.
I always get a shot glass wherever I go and I get my dh a coffee cup wherever I go. So, those are definites. But, I also get a few things for others in my family. 1 son wants a beaded necklace from one of the islands, my youngest son just wants anything. DD hasn't mentioned what she would like, but I'm sure she will.
My only fear is that most of my summer clothes won't fit me any more!! I have lost quite a few pounds and a couple of inches since summer!! I am going to pull out all summer stuff and start trying them on and seeing what will fit and what won't. I really hope my swim suits still fit, because I don't think any stores have those out yet!!

It's been a couple of lousy days here. Rainy, cloudy, dreary, blah and all the other "wintry" words you can think of. Cold and damp don't mix well with my body. Been hurting quite a bit lately.

Dh got his "pre-exhaustion" letter from unemployment office today. Along with it came the form to apply for the emergency unemployment extension. He filled it out and I'm taking it to the office tomorrow after I go to the gym. I figured if I took it there, he wouldn't worry about it so much. Our mail isn't the most reliable. This way, it also saves a little bit of my sanity (what I have left anyway) because he would drive me nuts going around the house muttering about--did it make it? how do I know it made it? how will I know if I get extension?--that kind of stuff.

Hello to all!

2009-01-02T23:20:00.002-05:00

Just felt like a little blogging today! Didn't do much at all today. Hurting moderate to severe today. Something must be coming (weather wise) and I don't think it's going to be a nice type of something. Several days out though, will have to wait a couple of days and see how I feel then. I'm getting pretty good at pinning down these fronts when they are coming through. Maybe they need to hire me for weather reports! I can pinpoint almost to the hour when a front is going to hit here!

Stitched some more on Tut today and I must admit, I'm getting slightly tired of him. Dying to start on something else! Plus, I need to start the time consuming and stress provoking chore of deciding what to take on the cruise with me! I don't want to have to tote around scroll rods and teh lap stand, mostly because they are so heavy! I am going to try to pack lightly this time.

DD is going to help me go thru my summer clothes and find several pieces that can be mixed and matched for different outifits. That way I will have less clothes, but several outfits. I am beginning to wonder if I will be able to fit inot my chorts and swim suits! I have lost several pouns over the past few months, so I don't know what will fit me!

She has to go back to teaching next week and she is sort of upset about that, she has been enjoying her break, but life is going on!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T02:10:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year to everyone! Well, I did manage to stay up and see the new year in! Usually, I go to sleep, wake up in time to see the ball drop and then go back to bed. This year, I decided to try to stay awake and now I can't get to sleep!! That's why I'm blogging at 2am!!

I wish everyone who reads this blog a happy and healthy New Year! For all of you who have aches, pains, disabilities, I wish you ease this year! For the rest of the healthy ones, I just wish you safety, happiness and continued good health!

I had a fairly peaceful New Year's Eve. The boys went to church (thank Heavens) so that enabled dh and me to have a couple of hours of peace and quiet in the house! Boy, were we thankful for that! We have 5 more days to go before school is back in session!! I don't know if we can keep our sanity that long! Any day now I really expect the men in white coats to come and put us in a padded room! :)

I am now in the trying to get everything in order stage for my cruise. I have to load up the house with food for dh and kids while I'm gone. That means frozen food, easy to make dinners, pizza, pot pies, and other assorted dinner type items. I am also making a list of things I need to get before I go. I am going to do my best to pack very lightly this time. Will have dd help me arrange my outfits, so I can mix and match as much as I can!
I did get my new suitcase. It's a Jeep brand, with 360 wheels, so it can roll in any direction it wants to! It's a 29" expandable, so it's just perfect! It was marked down at Wally world, so I went ahead and got it!

I have 17 days before I get on my flight! I cannot wait! I am so looking forward to being warm!

Blessings on all of you for this wonderful New Year!

Last Blog of 2008!!

2008-12-31T08:57:00.002-05:00

Well, as you all can see, the biggest news this Christmas was my dear daughter getting engaged! It's a beautiful ring! 15 small diamonds on both sides of the solitaire! And I don't even really like diamonds, but even I said, "Wow, that's gorgeous!!"

Her bf (now fiance) gave it to her on 12/26/2008. She always laughed at people who got engaged on Christmas and Valentine's Day, so he decided to take her at her word!

He bought her some small diamond earrings and had them put in a ring box at the jewelers. When she opened her presents on Christmas Eve, she was really really expecting a ring! Apparently, she was 'extremely' disappointed there was no ring. Her bf said he had never seen anyone unhappy about diamond earrings!! LOL

Then, the night after Christmas, as he was walking her to the door after they had been at his family's for the day, he bent down like he was tying his shoes. He told her to give him a hand up, and when she gave him her hand, he just slid the ring on right then and there! On our front porch! She was really bouncing off the walls all night! I don't know how many times she came in and shoved it under my nose for me to see!! It was actually really funny!

She has always wanted fall colors for her wedding (burgundy, gold, green) but I don't know if it will be a fall wedding. They are both still in school although he is graduating soon. I will be doing the bouquets for her and the bridesmaids, helping with the decorations and whatever other "crafty" thing she wants!

We all had a wonderful Christmas. Sometimes it seems to be when we are in financial troubles, we have the best Christmas! Everyone got what he/she wanted, and everyone was happy! As soon as I get the pix from my dh's camera, I will post a few here!

I want to wish everyone a wonderful New Year's Eve and a happy, healthy, wealthy (yeah right) and wise New Year!! Remember, if you drink tonite at your party, don't drive. If you drive, don't drink!! Please be safe tonite and every nite!

One framed and some presents!

2008-12-20T23:35:00.005-05:00

Well, finally got Marilyn from the framers today! She turned out so nicely! This will be for my dear daughter, who is a HUGE Marilyn Monroe fan! It's a Vervaco kit, stitched over 2 on 28 ct linen.

It's done with just browns, so it's a rather unique way of shading and everything! She came out wonderful!

She is in a creamish frame with dark brown mat. Framer did a fantastic job on her! I can't wait until she sees it on Christmas morning! Next problem, how to wrap her? I think I will wrap her and then put her in a gift bag! Sounds like a great idea to me!

Also, yesterday (Friday) I got an envelope in the mail marked "Fragile", so I was very curious! Out came these 2 little dragon ornaments! They are so adorably cute! They are from a wonderful lady on one of the boards, Christina and I absolutely love them! She knows how much I love dragons, and found these!

I have no idea where she got them, I've never seen anything like them around here, but I'm certainly glad she found them!

THANK YOU SO MUCH CHRISTINA!!!

Today, I had the privilege (arduous task) of shopping with my mother. Now, when I go shopping, I know just what I want to get and go in, find the stuff and get out. But with my mom, nooooo, that's not the way it happens!

We were shopping for over 4 hours!! Oh, my aching body! But she did pretty much finish up her shopping for the kids, grandkids and great-grandkids! Hallelujah and Amen!

Now for the homefront news! My microwave oven, which is probably about 5 years old now, decided it wanted to die-right before Christmas, when I need it the most! :( Happily enough thought, while we were out shopping today, when we were in Wal-mart, I saw a microwave on sale for only $58.

Mom was even nice enough to get it for me without it being a present! She knows I just want $$ for my present, so I can take it on the cruise (T minus 28 days today! ) Of ccourse, as soon as i got home, I crawled (literlly) into bed and passed out! I was hurting so badly with the walking, the standing, the weather front coming thru.

I had a nice 2 hour nap this evening and now I'm ready to really hit the hay! I have cookies, fudge and other goodies to make all day tomorrow! Yippee! Along with the laundry (of course), so I need to get to bed so I can start work on all the goodies I need to make!

Will keep you posted on how Tut is doing along with any other activities here at the homefront!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!! AND A SAFE AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!!

Update on Tut and family stuff

2008-12-18T20:18:00.004-05:00

Just thought I would post another update on TG's Tut tonight. He is coming along nicely, and I'm hoping to get him done before the end of the year, not sure, but certainly hoping to! I haven't really been doing a lot of stitching. Every time I sit down to stitch it seems like I start dozing off! Now, I have been accused of stitching while I'm asleep (actually several people have sworn I did it at Camp Stitch-a-lot a couple years ago!!), but I can't swear to it!

Our youngest son's school Christmas program was last week and here he is in his really tasteful and cheerful shirt! After all these years of going to (and suffering) so many Christmas/Choir shows, it was a very pleasant surprise to attend one that was actually cute, fun and very very good! It was entitled "Santa Claus Goes Green" or something close to that (can't really remember the whole title) and needless to say, it was about how Santa couldn't see any reason to go 'green'. It was a really nice program. I didn't even really notice time passing, so that is a big big plus!!

I have been reading the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris. I have all of them now (finally) and I love them all! Unfortunately, the next one is not coming out before I leave for the cruise!! I don't know what I'll take to read. I have read the series about 4 times now! The HBO series 'True Blood' is based on the novels and it's totally awesome! Only second to 'Dexter' on Showtime! Both have Golden Globe nods too!

The other books I read a lot are the JD Robb's 'In Death' series. I have all 25 of them and I read them over and over again! It is so much fun to have a series like these to really get into and get to know the characters so well! It almost seems like the characters are family members, you know them so well.

I'm planning on baking this weekend. Making fudge, candy and cookies. DD wants to take some to her co-workers and since I have a doctor appointment on Tuesday, I think I will take some goodies to the registration ladies and my doctor and his PA. They are all fantastic and I want them to know how much I appreciate them. Even if my doctor isn't really comfy with treating chronic pain, lol! He wasn't much happy about increasing my pain meds last time I was there, but I couldn't go through another winter like last year!!

It's been so dismal here lately, can't remember the last time I saw the sun! We had a nasty system come through earlier this week and there was a 2 hour delay, but I just kept the kids home because I wasn't about to try to drive in that mess! There were fender benders all over the place! Another storm system is out in the midwest right now and will be heading here soon. My body figures it will be here in about 3 days, and it's usually right! I'm actually getting to be better than a meteorologist!

Well, back to watching "Mamma Mia", for about the 16th time since Tuesday! I love this movie! Of course, it helps that I love ABBA music (as if you can't tell, since it starts up when my blog opens up! lol). My aunt and I went to see it at the theatre about 3 times. The last time we went, we were the only people in the theatre so we were able to sit and sing to our hearts' content! It was really a blast!

Finally a pic of my first design!

2008-12-16T05:16:00.003-05:00

Here is he in all his splendored glory! My first Stitchers Heaven Designworks design---Dragon Nap! This is from a picture (copyright free) I found on the net. I just altered the eye a little, because there were so many colors in it. Also "rounded" off the pillow a little by adding 1/4 stitches to it, so it would take on more of a rounded shape.
I think he is cute. I have so many CDs and books of copyright free designs/patterns, etc and I will be putting them on my laptop slowly but surely.
I would really like this to take off. I hope one day to have an actual business and people will actually buy my desigsn and I will have them in stores and catalogs! That would be wonderful!

Total change of subject, but a long awaited day has come! 'Mama Mia' comes out today!! I love ABBA and this movie was such a feel good movie! I can't wait to get the DVD and sit down and watch (listen) to it and stitch! I am so excited!!

It's apparently snowing outside (if you believe the radar) and it's about 35F colder this am than yesterday! Weird weird weather!

My First Design!!!

2008-12-15T00:42:00.003-05:00

Well, I have finished my first ever Stitchers Heaven Designworks design! It is called 'Dragon Nap'!! Cute little dragon perched on a pillow. However, can't seem to figure out how to upload it to my blog, since it ends in .xsd (for pattern maker readers only). So, will have to figure that one out later.

Maybe one of the other ladies who design can give me some help on that one.

Just wanted to make that announcement!! Of course, it's not one I designed myself, it's a copyright free clipart thingy that I imported, but I did it!

Yeehaw! for me!

Oh Wow!

2008-12-14T22:34:00.003-05:00

First, a little depressing news. Both of my favorite shows have now finished the season. Total bummer! Dexter on Showtime finished up tonite, and for once without a cliff hanger!! Nice, but weird. Two weeks ago was season finale for True Blood on HBO! Don't know what I'm goint to do until next fall! Thank heavens, DH has burnt them on DVD for me, so I can watch whenever I want to. Will probably take them on the cruise as well, that way will have something to watch in my cabin!

Found something very interesting! While I was perusing Passione Ricamo website, one of my favorite past times, I saw a gallery of stitchers' work, so I looked up my name! And sure enough, there I was!! This is the link to my gallery page on Passione Ricamo. I looked over all the other stitchers and for some really "weird" reason, it looks like I have finished the most of her designs!! She even added in some of the emails I sent along with the picture. Thought that was very nice of her.

Well, that's all for tonite, just wanted to share the depressed part of the night along with the happiness of seeing that my work is up to Laura's standards (I guess) and she put me in her gallery!

New Gadget on Side Bar!!

2008-12-13T00:16:00.002-05:00

I have a new gadget on the left side bar!! It's a "followers" gadget! It lets people see who likes my blog and reads it often! Pretty neat idea!!

After you add it, it is 'suggested' to write a post and let people know so they will become 'followers' of my blog, so that is what I'm doing!

Come and read my blog and become a follower of Stitcher's Heaven! Thanks!!!

Snow Day!!

2008-12-12T23:58:00.003-05:00

Oh yay! Snow day! Yet, there is less than an inch of snow!! It rained all day yesterday and then last nite turned to snow and everything froze, of course. So they powers that be at the school board first decided on a 2 hour delay. Then about 7 am they decided "road conditions had not improved" so they cancelled school for the day! But, the roads weren't bad at all in town. Maybe the roads out in the county were worse. But to me, it was a snow day wasted!

So, kids were home today and boy was that fun! I hate it when they cancel school! I did get some stitching done today on Tut and he is looking nice. I haven't been stitching a lot lately. I don't know why, but just not in the mood. I think part of it is because it's alway grey, overcast, cloudy and blah outside. I also hate the fact it gets dark at 5pm!! When it gets dark, I'm ready for bed!!

Tomorrow it's supposed to sunny and up to 43F so maybe I can get out and do a little shopping. I still have a few presents left on my list! I'm always one of those last minute shoppers. The presents are still unwrapped also! The tree is up and decorated but nothing is under it yet. It looks a little forlorn. Of course, it's going to be rather bare this year anyway.

Hubby still has no offers. He did discover the city's unemployment rate is 10.5%!! Unbelievable! They say the state's unemployment rate is around 4.6% but I don't see how it can be when cities are so high. I guess it must be because of the coal mining counties. This "recession" is getting so bad, it's really a depression.

No jobs are being found anywhere lately. Every time I turn on the news, there are more companies laying off or closing down. Just heard where KB Toys is going under and liquidating its stores. Not only that, but there are over 9 million gift cards that are going to be worthless real quick! Economists are saying not to buy gift cards this year because you don't know if the company will be in business or not! That's really bad!!

Enough of the moaning and groaning! It's Christmas time after all. Let's all just rejoice in that fact and try not to mope and worry!

Just another dreary day!

2008-12-09T09:05:00.002-05:00

Just another dreary day here in my wonderful town. Grey skies, cool temps and rain on the way! What a day! Good day to hunker down and stitch!
Think that is what I'm going to do after I get dh to put up Christmas tree (at least I think we still have our tree). Last year I bought a real tree, but this year, due to $$ constraint, will have to go with our other tree. I love real trees, since they feel the house with a wonderful smell, but the prices this year are outrageous!

After that is done, think I'll snuggle down and do some stitching! I want to start on the new Christmas Fairy freebie by PR. She is exquisite! I hope Laura will make her full size one day. I can imagine her with a long cloak and walking on snowy ground! Absolutely stunning! Since she is not so big, I can probably get her done in a day or so. I will have to put her on plain blue fabric since I don't have any hand dyed that will do her justice.

There is another freebie I have I would like to do also. This is a snowman and will look good on the blue fabric. It is by Whispering in the Wind and I got him from another blog. So, I would like to get those 2 started (and hopefully finished).

But, first things first, I have to get dh to get his butt in gear and put up the tree!

Extra news I forgot!

2008-12-07T12:39:00.002-05:00

I forgot!! I have a new toy, thanks to my wonderful, computer literate son! I now have Pattern Maker! Exciting!! Yippee!! and all that jazz. Now, I can try my hand at designing my own designs!!
This may just be the beginning of another career! I can only hope to 1/10th as good as my idol, Laura of Passione Ricamo! I can only hope and dream that one day (soon, I hope) Stitchers Heaven Designs will be out for people to actually buy!
I am so scared to take this step! One, it will take away from my stitching and two, I don't know where to start! But, excitement is my other feeling right now.
So, hopefully sometime soon, I will be posting a picture of my very first design!

On a rant today!

2008-12-07T12:28:00.002-05:00

I have been on a rant today! Have been writing letters to just about everyone in DC!! About the bailouts, the stupid credit check law, and even to President elect Obama, who is wanting anyone's ideas and stories!
Why am I on such a rant? I don't feel well today, to say the least! It's been bitter cold (20F) and it snowed yesterday. The roads are slick, we had over 150 wrecks yesterday alone in the town!! Bunch of idiots, if you ask me! Just stay in if you can't drive on snow/ice!!!
My road is finally clearing, thanks to cars travelling around it to the church, but it will all probably freeze again tonight.
DH had a bad accident yesterday. Heavy sigh!! Men are such idiots at times! He was working on a model (cars) and he was using an Exacto knife to cut something or other on the model. All of a sudden he comes running in, saying he had cut himself badly. Understatement of the year!!
He had sliced his forefinger (left hand) from the first knuckle (near palm) to the tip!! He actually had it cut so badly the skin was flapping. So, I immediately grabbed some paper towels and put pressure on it. Then I had everyone in the house running for tape, bandaids, and whatever I could think of at the moment.
First I put regular bandaids on it, pulling it as tightly together as I could to put added pressure and to close the gash. Then I called dd to pick up some surgical tape and Neosporin. When she got home, I made steri strips out of the surgical tape and pulled it together some more. Then I put a bandaid on the smaller end of the gash. Then I wrapped it all up with some Kling.
The worst part was down near the palm, where he started the gash. It is pretty deep. It really needed stitches, but without insurance, no can do. So, being the retired nurse, I made do. Of course, it is killing him right now.
This time I know exactly how he feels! When I was about 14 or 15, I was peeling potatoes for my mother and I accidentally peeled my finger (left forefinger also). All of a sudden, there was this huge section of flesh in the sink with the peels! When I looked down, I could see the bone in my finger. Needless to say, since then, I am rather jumpy when peeling potatoes. Actually, it wasn't until after I was married that I ever peeled a potato again!
So, he is in agony, I am in agony, our grandson is here and we both are in no shape to play with him. Disappointing weekend all the way around! I am going to try to get some laundry done today and maybe fit in some stitching Tut.
Adieu for now!

Been a while, but....

2008-12-02T09:33:00.005-05:00

I do have a good excuse! Been busy doing so much and being down (physically), I haven't gotten a lot of stitching done lately! I did finally get the first 2 pages of Tut done and here is how he looks right now. This is the first 2 pages and part of page 3 done (page 3 was when I first started this bad boy!).
The metallic in this makes the illusion of light on the right side of the face more realistic! In "real life" it looks fantastic!
I'm sorry to have been absent so long, but things come up and a person just can't do what she wants!
DH still has not found a job and he is really despondent about it. I totally understand how he feels and am totally behind him on his job searches. Unfortunately, it looks like the economy is going to get worse before better! I heard on the news this morning that they have finally admitted the US has been in a recession since last December. Hello? Where have they been? Now, I think, we are in a depression instead of a recession!
I just realized the other day that when the inauguration is! I will be sailing the Eastern Caribbean on that day. I hope the ship will be able to pick that broadcast up, I really want to watch it! After all, his bumper stickers are on my car! LOL
Well, that's about it for now, my back is killing me and I have to go lie down some more! Then I hope to get a little stitching in today!

Warm to cold!

2008-11-15T18:12:00.003-05:00

Yesterday it was 67F and today it started off at 52F but now, it's only about 37F and I have seen a few of those disgusting white flakes! Horrors!

I haven't done a whole lot today, just a couple loads of laundry. I was awakened at 5am this morning but terrible "toothache" pains in both my legs, hips and arms. So all I could do was get something to drink and take a pain pill, crawl back into my bed, turn on mattress pad and heated throw and whimper. It was horrible.

I have been ebaying today though. Trying to get a certain car model for dh for Christmas along with one for youngest son. They are both heavy into model building now. Dh has always liked it, but now that he has all this "free" time, he is really doing it! I don't mind. I have my hobby (which as we stitchers all know can be expensive) and he has his!

Not looking forward to next week either. For two excellent reasons! 1.) The highest temp of next week is 42F and the lows will be in the 20sF; and 2.) I have to clean the house! With Thanksgiving just a little more than a week away, and my mom and aunt coming to eat with us, I have got to get this house clean!!

Isn't that a super cheerful thought to end a blog post with! LOL

Happy Stitching everyone!

Just jamming to my tunes!

2008-11-12T22:58:00.002-05:00

Just sitting here jamming to my tunes and burning a CD to play in my car (got tired of the other one that is in there!) and decided to post a quick update on my blog!!
I've got 68 days until my cruise departs!! That means only 67 days until my flight!! WOOHOO!! I got my cruise papers in the mail the other day, along with my luggage tags, my shore excursion order forms (I already reserved online) and other "legal" things they have to send. Getting so excited now. Have to go out and buy that suitcase I have my eye on. It's a Jeep on and it's a 29" expandable with 360 wheels!! Last cruise, they broke the wheel on my suitcase and had to reimburse me. Hoping that doesn't happen again!
Haven't gotten any stitching done for 2 days!! Haven't felt like stitching. I've been stuck on reading the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris, the books that one of my favorite shows on HBO is based on: True Blood. That show totally rocks!! I'm so glad they picked it up for another season! Along with my SHO series, Dexter, Sunday nite is rather difficult as both shows are on same time, different channel. But, I get around that by watching Dexter at 12 mn instead of 9pm. Totally awesome shows, I highly recommend both shows!! I love vampires and serial killers! Weird, but that's me!

Such bad news in economy lately--DHL with those layoffs, Circuit City with bankruptcy and Best Buy going down it looks like now. Even in my backyard now, AK Steel is laying off 600 and closing down the furnace for now! Recesion, bah! We're in a Depression now (please notice I used big D not little d!!)

Have fun everyone!

Felt like blogging today!

2008-11-09T10:50:00.003-05:00

For some strange reason, as I was sitting here at my laptop browsing my dragon sites, thought I would do some blogging as well, so here I am, updating absolutely nothing! Fun, but very weird.

So I thought I would put a cutesy little picture in with my blog today about how I feel!! Without the food limit reached of course. I just want the sleep cycle!

I have decided I really really hate this time of year! By 5:30pm I am sooo ready for bed! It's pitch black outside and when it gets dark, for some reason I get terribly sleepy!! I don't like that at all. I must have been a bear in my former life since once cold and winter set in, I'm ready to hibernate.

Sitting here in my nice warm bed, I have Rascal (dog) at my feet, and a cat on each side another on my lap. That tells the family when it's cold outside; when the cats come in and take over my nice warm bed!! Sometimes between 4 cats and 1 bed hog dog, I can barely roll over in my sleep!

I have had a couple of very bad days thanks to the weather changes that have been going on around here! We went from 7-8 days of sun, warm, dry 70F days to dark, damp, 40F days and boy, am I feeling it! The front that came thru a couple of nights ago was very very intense and boy, wasn't fun at all.

Well, I guess that's it for now. Off to work some more on Tut and hopefully get quite a bit done today.

Ciao!!!

WIP Update 11-6-08

2008-11-06T23:04:00.007-05:00

Here is my updates on King Tut by Thea Gouveneau (not sure exactly if I spelled her name correctly or not). Coming along nicely, finished page 1 now, and here are a couple of pictures of him. The gold thread in it doesn't show up the greatest in the pictures, but it does add a nice touch to some of the shadows in it.
The picture on the left is the update pic, and the pic on the right is an update of the facial area. The shading looks great! It is so weird how when you are stitching on a design that uses no backstitching and different shades of colors to make the shadows in the design. Once I step away a few inches/feet, I can see how it is actually looking!

Beautiful day today and totally enjoyed it!! Going to be the last pretty day for awhile. Can already feel the front getting ready to come through. Supposed to rain over the weekend and my body totally agrees with that forecast!! Loads of pain today and for some reason or another, loads of stress. Hands shaking, short tempered and so on!!

Thought everyone would like to see progress of my King Tut. Enjoy!!

Another finish for 2008!

2008-11-02T22:58:00.007-05:00

Fairy Queen by Passione Ricamo is completed!! Here she is in her splendid glory!! I stitched her on 28ct Lugana Spring Garden by Silkweaver. I didn't reallly like the Terracotta that was originally selected, so I chose something completely different!

I probably would have finished her a long time ago, but home life interfered in a drastic way!! Too much stress going on in my house this past few weeks, and I didn't get a lot of stitching in.

All the metallics make her dress sparkle in any light and the beads for the wand were a totally superb idea!!

Halloween this year was a slower than last year! We didn't give out candy this year (who could really afford it?), but my dd and ds were out and about collecting about 5 pounds of it!! DD was Catwoman from the original Batman and her costume turned out wonderfully!! DS was a ninja, as if you couldn't tell!!

DD took him trick or treating this year to save me the pain and agony of walking all over the place with him. First time in years she has taken him out!! I was very thankful to say the least!

No, this is NOT my Halloween costume!! I did not dress up this year at all. This dress/costume is from 1976 when I was in Junior High School playing the piano and singing in our Bicentennial celebration that year! My mom was going thru a bunch of old costumes and was going to throw them away (I still need to go thru another box and see if there is anything I want) and I saw this one and we both laughed at how old it is!
Then I told her "I bet I can still fit in it" and she said "No way", so I brought it home and had my dh zip up the back of the shirt (the zipper was sort of stuck after not being moved for so long) and voila!! Instant de ja vu!! I really could not believe that after 32 years I could still wear something I had worn in Junior High School!!
I immediately had dh take pictures so I could email them to my mom and show her that yes, I still fit in it! She wasn't so happy she lost the "bet"!!

My home life is still as stressful as ever. I had posted (I thought) an update about a week ago, but it disappeared from the blog, so don't know what happened to that. Everything and anything which could go wrong this past week has gone wrong!! Youngest ds (ninja above) came down with a "wonderful" cas of poison ivy and being only 12 years old, kept on scratching and rubbing it until it spread all over him!! So he missed 4 days of school and now has a crap load of makeup work to do!!

Found a great Freebie place!!

2008-10-13T00:52:00.002-04:00

A lady in the Stitchers Heaven Yahoo Group gave us a fantastic link for free cross stitch patterns!! You just join (free) and every day there are new pattern to download. Just follow this link: Cross Stitchers Club !! Plus, if you click on this link, you get a gift when you subscribe! It's a great place, they have some really nifty designs!! Everyone needs to check it out!! Just click on the link and away you go!!

Sorry, it's been so long....

2008-10-09T08:42:00.002-04:00

I'm so sorry it's been so long since I updated this blog. But, things have been happening that have prevented my doing so! I started having sinus issues around the last of Sept and then it went into my throat, leaving me without a voice for several days (and boy, did the kids love that time!! LOL) and then down into my chest!
I even had to take cough medicine (eewwww, gross out)!! I hate that stuff. So, I've been feeling off for a couple of weeks! I did not even get a lot of stitching done! I was hoping to have FQ done by now (technically should have anyway), but with being sick and all, just didn't have it in me to do much stitching.
However, I have been stitching pretty much non stop the past few days and I'm proud to announce, I am on the very bottom of her dress! Not much longer now, before I get her done.

I think after I get her done, instead of starting right in on SF, I may take a quickie break and try some dyeing of my own. I have everything I need (at least I think I do) and am hoping I can do it! My only problem will be having the patience to let everything dry! lol
I am looking forward to trying my hand at this. Who knows, maybe someday someone out there will be buying Stitchers Heaven Hand Dyed Fabric!! Along with Stitchers Heaven Cross Stitch Designs!

Yes, I'm still trying to figure out a good design to start with. I got my books from Amazon and they seem to be what I needed, but haven't had time to really dig deep and try out anything. Plus, it's all kind of moot when I don't have a program to use for actually turning anything into a pattern!! I still need to get that program and I'm still not 100% sure which one I want. I have had several designers (like me) who say Pattern Maker is the best, then someone else says PCStitch is the way to go, so still a little undecided on that one.

Well, I have to go back to my chair and stitch and rock, stitch and rock, etc etc etc!

Another Rant!!

2008-09-30T06:14:00.001-04:00

Here's another rant I just thought about it! The creepy crud I've had for the past week has decided to go south into my lungs. I now have a dry cough with some phlegm, not much, but some. My nose is still running like a seive and I hate it! I am taking these Chlor-tabs every 4-5 hours, but sometimes they just don't work!

So, when I wake up I have the coughing fits, which do me no good at all. I really hate being under the weather!! I hate it! I hate it! I hate it!

Rainy Day, plus Drs Appt!!

2008-09-30T05:50:00.003-04:00

Well, once again I woke up at 3 am today! I really hate doing that! So, I get up and of course that means Rascal (my spoiled Border Collie) thinks its time for him to go up and do his business! But I am not going to let him run thru the house at 3 am, so he is just going to have to wait until 6 am when I "normally" get up!!

Plus, it's a rainy day, oh joy!! More pain, no gain today! There hasn't been a rainy day in so long, my body is really really really reacting to this on! I ache (bone deep) in both legs and arms along with shoulders/neck area! Don't want to take pain meds right now because, and still more joyful sounds here, I have an appt with the pain clinic this am at 9am!! I have to be there by 8:30 though since I have to register and fill out more papers; never mind they sent me a small book of papers to fill out BEFORE I get there!

I'm not looking forward to this appt at all. Only reason I'm going is because my dr is unhappy treating chronic pain! He doesn't like writing Rx for pain meds all the time. All these doctor shoppers and abusers are making it so damn difficult for people with legitimate issues to get the care/meds they need to even have some kind of life! First my dr tried to tell me the State Board would get after him for writing large amounts of meds on one prescription, but as soon as I got home from that appt, I contacted Board of Medicine and read the regs on Chronic Pain Management and nowhere on there did it say a dr could NOT prescribe pain meds of any kind/dosage. So, I talked to a dr who is on the State Board and he said my dr probably just felt "uncomfortable" prescribing them. Well, I think my dr should have been upfront about it!

And believe me, I will bring that up next time I see him in October!

So, I have to go to a pain clinic. I have great misgivings about these places. I have heard they are nothing but pill pushers; that this is where abusers go to get all those drugs they are on; and several different stories about them. I don't like/trust them after what happened to 2 of my family members who went to a pain clinic before! So, I have a great deal of cynicism and distrust of these places.

I called this place earlier yesterday; one to check if my insurance covers it (it does) and then I decided to be frank. I told the girl my concerns. I know my body. I have been dealing with chronic pain for 10 years, and I don't want someone messing with my meds who I don't even know! So I asked questions!! I asked if the person I will be seeing today (MSN-PAC) will actually LISTEN to me, and I was told she would.. I asked if she will attempt to change my meds and I was told she wouln't. I asked if I came in and told her my meds needed to be adjusted she would adjust/change per my request and I was told she would. I asked if she would accept I know my body and she doesn't and I was told that would be no problem.

So, we will have to se what we will see! So, the upshot is I'm going to a place I have no trust, it's rainy, and I still have the lingering sinus issue!! Not going to be a great day! I know I will have to sit there forever, so that is also a minus!! Will be taking some stitching with me tho!!

Prayers for our friends

2008-09-28T03:37:00.003-04:00

Here is my cat (really my cat!) offering prayers for our friends and group members in the way of any and all hurricanes/storms this year!

This is my baby Bowie, (Fatema's favorite) offering grace before devouring number 7 squirrel! I caught this pose, earlier this week and thought it was so unbelieveably hysterical! He is so cute!

He is such a funny baby! He loves to wrestle with my biggest baby, Rascal, my border collie, who is my guard dog and my baby sitter! When I was sitting outside earlier this week, getting some much needed sun and warmth on my body, he got so upset that I was outside without him, he was actually getting "pissy" when I came in to stay in! He was jumping up on me and not letting me out of his sight since then! He follows me everywhere I go now!

I have been staying inside the past 2 or 3 days because of my sore throat, ear aches and froggy voice! I must admit, my children are loving the fact I cannot yell at them or for them lately! It is getting better, but still not up to yelling yet. But, I am keeping a list, so when i ge my voice back, watch out! I will be yelling about things they have done all week long! LOL

Here is another pic I named "Not tonite dear, I have a headache!" Just look at the pic and see if it says the same to you! This one was sent to me by my Aunt ( I really don't know where she finds them, but they are wonderfully funny pix!)

I certainly hope I get my SF chart soon. I don't know what is going on, I've never had to wait so long to get my order from ECC before. I don't know if there is an issue with ECC's wholesaler, or what, but I certainly do wish I could get her soon! I can't start her yet, as I still have to finish my FQ first, but am doing very well on her! I would figure I have over 2/3 of her completed, so should not have to much to fnish!

Thank you to all of you who have visited my blog and signed my Guestbook! Pleas try to sign it everytime you visit!

jean

Still not feeling the best, but have an update!

2008-09-27T07:04:00.004-04:00

Still not feeling 100% yet, sore throat is going to my ears and back of neck, but just had to show my latest update on PR's Fairy Queen, which I have been stitching on for a few weeks.
Here she is after a little more than 3 wekkes! I think she is coming along so nicely! I have roughly 2/3 of her done.
Working on the lower part of her dress now. Lots of RG and beads on lower part of dress I've found. But will get her done soon.
Still waiting on ECC to deliever my SF, that's the next one I'll be working on. I'm so excited about her!!
Sore throat remains, stiff neck is showing up (feels swollen on the outside, but isn't), and ear ache is rearing it's ugly head! However, no matter how badly I feel, I will have to go out and go to store today! If I sent my dh, he would have another heart attack over the prices of everything, like he did last January when I was on my stitching cruise! LOL
Well, that's all. Think I'm going to go back to bed for a while! Need lots sleep lately. Keep falling asleep over stitching!
Have a great day for those of you checking my posting here and Happy Stitching!!

Under the weather for the past few days

2008-09-26T03:22:00.003-04:00

I haven't been feeling the greatest for the past couple of days. :( I have had some serious spasms in my throat/neck and that has caused my voice box to go a little wonkers. I have no voice now, and my kids are loving it, LOL!! However, now the spasms are going away (slowly, but going away) and I am discovering I actually have a sore throat! Due to sinus drainage because (as gross as this sounds) I can feel the post nasal drip! I am not happy about this! I hate it when I get sick, mostly because I don't normally get sick!! The last time I was actually ill ill, I don't remember! So very rare!

I have been stitching up a storm lately. Mon, Tues and Wed I sat outside on my porch basking in the sun, stitching up a storm and listening to my mp3 player for hours each day! Now, I have to admit, I have fallen asleep sitting out there several times, but it was so wonderful outside, I couldn't resist!

Today, I stayed inside due to my throat issues! Rascal, my baby (dog) was very happy I was inside today. He gets so antsy when I'm outside and he's not. He is not a happy camper if I'm not in my bedroom where he can keep an eye on me! He's such a baby! Plus, he wants to make sure I'm well guarded!!

Well, I am certainly glad I don't eat when I'm stressed out or I would look similar to the cat! Have you seen anything that huge before? How does he get around? Does he have a kitty sized skateboard to roll around the house on? Maybe his owner should get him one. It would make it much easier for him than trying to walk! Although, clearly, walking would be much much much better for him!! Here's a clue: stop feeding him so much! They do have "diet" food out there for animals and this fat cat (resembles some of those CEOs of oil companies, doesn't he) definitely qualifies for the diet food out there!

I really love these pictures my aunt sent me, they are so funny! Plus, I got to add my own captions to each one! So really had a field day doing that!!

I am still waiting for my SF to get here. Don't know what the holdup is, usually ECC is much much faster than this on getting out the newes PR chartpacks. Did get an email from Cindy stating Angie (her wholesaler?) had them and and was shipping to ECC, but Cindy asked Angie to mail me mine directly, so I wouldn't have to wait any longer. So hopefully, I will get it this week! I really want it so I can check the fabbie I got for it will actually be good, or I might try my hand at dyeing some fabric for it!

I have everything I need for dyeing now, but to be honest, slightly scared to try it! I have asked all sorts of questions from a lady on the group Stitchers Heaven and they are a great help, but still a little nervous about it! I bought all sorts of dye and even found some actual fabric paint (permanent) at AC Moores and Michaels when I went out searching. Plus got some more 28 count fabric. I would really like to do this and do this well, since the pieces of fabric I buy are usually 20x27 and that is bigger than fat 1/4 that is sold from PTP and Silkweavers. Sometimes a PR design is a very tight fit on the 18x26 size they have! So, think I may just actually do it this weekend!

I received my books from Amazon today (hooray!!) and they have some pretty good clip art/pictures in them. The book that teaches you about drawing fantasy characters is not exactly what I thought it would be, but who knows, I might end up loving it. However, to really utilize that book I will need to find Adobe Photoshop! I think dh has a copy of it somewhere in that mess he calls a basement/office/model builiding room!! Hope it is not a super old version! I will have to spend hours updating it!! But, since I will probably need it eventually for designing, I guess I may as well get it installed now!

Next on my list will be the designing software. All fingers point at something called Pattern maker, so that is whay I will probably buy. But the cost is like $60.00 or something like that. So I'll have to try getting that so I can pursued this part of my dream! I really wish I could draw like some people do, but I'll figure it out!

Today was not a good day!

2008-09-20T23:21:00.005-04:00

This is what my bathroom (wc) looks like sometimes if the cat gets ahold of the toilet paper!! He loves that stuff! He will drag it all through the house! Sort of funny unless you are the one cleaning it up! Because he goes right behind you and pulls more out!

Isn't this one the truth? Every family has one of these, whether they admit to or not! I love these cat pictures, some of them are so so funny, but the majority are really gut busters!

Today was not a good day. I woke up with something wrong with my back. It hurt so badly!! I have done nothing but eat pain pills pretty much all day (so if my words are slurred, I apologize!). Sometimes, for no apparent reason, it would actually take my breath away!
So I decided I wasn't going to do anything constructive in the house! I sat outside in the sun, basking in the late sun, listening to my mp3 player and STITCHING!! I was out there 5-6 hours and got a lot done on FQ today too! Hope I get done with a bunch of her before SF hits my house next week! I am so excited for her!!!

Taking the dive!!

2008-09-19T00:31:00.002-04:00

Okay, I'm taking the dive! I just ordered some books from Amazon.com to help me in the next step of my dream! The books are to help me start designing my own projects.

One day, (in the not so distant future), people will be buying my designs, sold under the Stitchers Heaven name! I know I can do this, just finding the time away from stitching is the biggest hurdle, especially with the newest PR coming to my house soon!

Also bought some dye today to try my hand at dyeing my fabric. Don't think I will take that one mass manufacturing any time soon! LOL

After I get the first step of my dream out of the way, on to my 2nd step. That will be to have an actual mortar/brick LNS and accompanying ONS named Stitchers Heaven. That step will be some years down the road

Went to see Mama Mia tonight with my Aunt and I loved it!! Since it had been on so long, we were the only ones in the theater so we were able to sing along with the movie, which we most happinly did!! I really like it!

Woo Hoo!!

2008-09-17T06:26:00.002-04:00

I just was on Princess Cruise's website to check and see if I can pre-reserve my shore excursions yet because technically can't do that until 120 days before cruise. However, I was quite pleasantly surprised to find I could!!
So I have just spent the past hour (hey, I can't help it if I woke up at 4:55 am today!) looking up and pre-reserving my shore excursions!! I have one for each port: Antigua, Barbados, St Lucia, St Kitts, St Thomas USVI, and Princess Cays!! Yippee for me!!
I now have 124 days before my cruise, which translates to 123 days before I leave, since I am flying out the day before. I was always told to get down there at least 1 day before ship departs.
One time, last fall, I was up at the airport to pick up a lady who was our exchange student over 30 years ago. She was finally coming back to WV for a visit!! However, her flight was delayed because of mechanical issues and the people who were waiting for that flight so they could leave (and there were a lot of them!!) were kept waiting all day long! Some of the people were very upset because they had a cruise they had to get down to Miami to board!!
Some of them had cruise protection, so they would be reimbursed for missing the cruise, and some found another flight, but several lost the price the paid on the cruise because they had no cruise protection and could not find/afford another flight! I felt so sorry for them. So, I now will always be at the departure city 1 day before departure!!

DH is going to a State Job Fair today. There will be so many areas of state job hiring people there. He has about 10 of his resumes to take with him. Going out and talking to people about jobs available is so good for him. He rarely leaves the house now, only to do a couple of errands or go buy some car models for him and youngest son to build. This will be so good for him and I hope he finds something there today.

Also today is the day I am stuck at home all day because Sears technician is going to be here sometime between 8 and 5 to put on that stupid piece on my even more stupid water heater!! I still have not heard back from Lowe's (big surprise) about the $90.10 I paid for installation of a piece Lowe's said I needed, but did not need at all!! AARRGGHH!! So, I will probably call them back today sometime and ask once again what Lowe's plans to do about their mistake. If they don't want to give me cash back (which I prefer), I will take store credit. That way I might be able to get some things to work on this house a little bit!!

Will keep this blog updated on the water heater incident and also as soon as I get my new SF chart, will post it here!!

Fairy Queen update!

2008-09-16T12:00:00.003-04:00

Here is Fairy Queen after 2 weeks of stitching! She is coming along nicely! The colors are so beautiful. She is stitched on 28 ct Spring Garden by Silkweaver.
I am working as fast as I can on her so I can have her mostly done when I get the newest PR design, Serendipity Fairy (hopefully this week!). That way I won't have to worry so much about starting on SF or getting FQ done!

Just thought I would just post this update real quickly today, while I took a quick break from beading on her! I am about ready to roll her down some more to start work on the lower dress part! Moving right along, yea!!

Thanks for looking!

New!! Guestbook Added!!

2008-09-15T22:59:00.007-04:00

I have finally figured out how to add a Guestbook to my blog!! Scroll down to bottom of posts and please sign my Guestbook!! I would be honored to have you sign it, so I can know how many of your have visited me here at Stitcher's Heaven!! Thanks so much for signing it!!

How's this for a computer technician!! Isn't he just adorable? I thought this was so funny!! I have several hilarious cat pictures my aunt has sent me and I thought it would be fun to put them in my blogs when I don't have any updated WIP pix to put in. (Yes, I know, I need to! ) Will try to add some soon folks!

Here's a good one of a cat dog fight and it looks like the cat got a really got left jab in there !! No wonder it's called shazam!! Looks like something one of my cats would do to my dog! LOL

Today has been a really crappy day! Just one of those days when I should have NEVER gotten out of bed!! Just wanted to bang my head against a wall several times today!
All I can say is NEVER buy a Whirlpool Natural Gas Water Heater and especially don't buy it from Lowe's!! Boy what a day! I spent most of the day on hold with Whirlpool and Lowe's!

Will try to get some pix tomorrow of my WIP!! I know I have been slipping on that, but just wanted to get as much stitching in on her so I will be ready for SF when she comes out this week!! Woo Hoo!

Don't forget, sign my Guestbook!! Thanks!

Some funny pix!

2008-09-12T01:13:00.004-04:00

I woke up with a stiff neck!!!<<<<<

Yes, dear, I have the flu!!!>>>>>>>

These are 2 of the many hysterical cat pictures my aunt sent to me today (well, yesterday actually)!! She knows how much I love to see these types of pictures!! I just howled at some of them!! Especially since I have 4 of these fur babies and they all are very weird acting and do some of the strangest things! One cat loves my iced tea!!

Well, today has been a very bad day:( I woke up feeling like a semi had driven over me at least 8 times. Everything in me hurt. I guess it's a combination of the cold front coming in, the rain coming up and just plain stress! Plus the fact it was down to 50 degrees last nite. brrrrrr!

I could hardly move at all today. I just mostly sat in my rocker and rested. I did get some stitching done today, though I took very frequent breaks to stretch (ouch) and go downstairs (much more ouch there)!!

I am still awake although I took my meds a while ago! My body is just in so much pain, it won't let me rest!! I keep having the myoclonic jerking and I really really despise those! I will be sitting/lying there and all of a sudden, my body will just jerk and then stop! Very annoying and usually makes me have to frog!!

My fabric is on its way!!

2008-09-11T00:46:00.002-04:00

Hooray!! My fabby is on its way to me!! PTP emailed me to let me know it shipped today! I decided to go with their suggestion. I emailed them a picture of the Polstitches fabric and a picture of SF and asked them what they would suggest. So I am now the proud owner of a fat 1/4 of 28 ct Lugana Confetti from PTP!!

I also received another email from Cindy at ECC (she is so utterly terrific!) letting me know how much my order would be if I added the beads and a couple of cards of RG metallics that I needed. So all of that will be coming as soon as Cindy gets the chart pack!! Supposedly around the 19-20 of this month!! I can't wait!!

Today has been a rotten day. Started out pretyy decently. Went to the Y, worked out on the treadclimber for19 mintes, then went thru all of the Nautilus system with the exception of one machine. Showered then came home. By about noon, feeling very rough.

There is a cold front coming thru tomorrow so I have been feeling rough since noon. Legs are killing me and I keep having those blasted myoclonic jerking things!! I hurt so badly tonite!!

Bitch bitch bitch!! But I can't help it when I feel this badly!! Took out all the garbage today and put it beside the road (how lazy these guys are now) I can remember when they came to the house and took the garbage cans to the road and after they were emptied, another group would come by and put them back!! Forget about that onw!

not much more tonite/morning!

Well, she is mine now!!

2008-09-10T00:24:00.002-04:00

Well, I have ordered the newest PR, Serendipity Fairy, and she is mine now!! I just have to wait for Laura to ship them out, which should be around the 19th!! I also went ahead and ordered the fabric for her. I am going to use 28 ct Lugana Confetti from PTP. I have used them a lot for my PRs!! The gals there are so great about answering all my dumb questions! I just sent them a pic of the Polstitches fabric and the picture of the new PR and asked what they would suggest, and Confetti it was!!

DH had his job interview today. Boy it certainly was nice around the house while he was gone! LOL! He was there about 2 -2 1/2 hours. He had to take a personality and intelligent test. He scored very high on both! So hopefully that will help! He had to sign for the background check and that's not bad as long as they don't do a credit check, we have crappy credit!! Especially now, after having the van repo'd!

I am going to get on my soapbox for a moment. I don't think it is fair for employers to be able to do a credit check on you!! A credit check does not tell a lot about a person in real life. It just shows a person has made some boo boos throught out his/her life. Criminal background check is okay and should be done anymore, but this crap about credit checks needs to be stopped!!

Okay, that's it for my soapbox time. I took my meds a while ago and they are starting to work so off I go to la la land!!

Good nite all!

Here she is!! And boy, words escape me!!!

2008-09-07T23:03:00.002-04:00

Here she is!! Finally!! Boy, do words ever escape me on this one!! This is Serendipity Fairy, the newest PR masterpiece. Look how utterly unspeakably gorgeous she is!!

I am having a hard time describing her. All I know is I have already written to Cindy at ECC to preorder her!! Don't know when she comes out, but I got to have her ASAP!!!

I don't even care if I have to add her to rotation with Fairy Queen! I MUST have her! Laura always seems to outdo herself with each new design! I don't know how she does it, she is such a wonderful artist and designer!!

I have been making some fairly good progress on FQ, the wings are just about totally done, will try to remember to post a pic tomorrow; here and in my album on the group!!

Was a pretty quiet day today. Little cool for my taste (and my body) but with a cold front coming in, the pains are bad. Did a couple loads of laundry (total yuck on that) and this week hope to do some house cleaning (triple yuck on that as well!! :) :) )!!!

We did have our gs over today for a while, that is always nice. He is growing so much! He is learning to walk and that is such a fun time!! But boy, how that boy does crawl! You literally have to run after him!!

I am so happy our group is so welcome to everyone there! I love it! That is what we (Fatema and I ) envisioned when we started this group just a couple of months ago! and it has grown beyond our wildest dreams!! Now, if I could just get Fatema out from under the chair, that would be great!

I plan on going to the gym again tomorrow and hopefully continue to work on my left leg, to strengthen it. I know I can't get it 100%, but at least 75 % would be nice!! I noticed the other day when I was doing my stretching exercises, that my left foot cannot flex as well as my right. Smal concern there. Shows beginning of a larger issue down the road. But, no time to dwell on what might be!

Still nothing on the job front for my dh!! He is really getting down about this. He seems to feel it was his fault for his job being outsourced. Seems to think (stupidly as men tend to do) that he should have worked harder. This from the man who worked from home no matter the time, date or how sick he was. He even worked on his vacation days!!! Irritating to say the least!!

Well, that's my update for today!!

Got some patterns in the mail yesterday!

2008-09-05T06:35:00.002-04:00

I received some totally awesome patterns in the mail yesterday from Margaret in UK!! They are for blackwork. They include Henry VIII and all of his 6 wives, along with Elizabeth!! I'm so stoked by this!! Actually may start on Henry today! I can't wait to get them all done and framed to show my mom, she will croak!! And then beg to have them!! I love it when I have found something I know she will like!! Then I get to tell her no, she can't have them!! ha ha ha (not very nice I know)
Well, it's time for me to go get the boys up for school. Don't think I will make it to the gym today. This heat has beaten me up the past few days!! I don't have energy to do much of anything!
Well, "schoolititis" has reared it's ugly head all ready!! Youngest just came up and said "i don't feel well" Heavy sigh!!! His stomach hurts, his throat hurts, etc etc etc. Told him unless he is running a temperature, he is not staying home! Not going thru THAT again this year! He is so small, he gets picked on at school. AND of course the school does absolutely nothing about it!!! Have called, gone up and complained and nothing is done. If it continues like it did last year, the county may just end up paying for his tuition at a private school!! Will threaten lawsuit for not following their own "bullying" rules!
Well, I've got to go and get dressed myself. Then I think I'm coming home and getting stuff ready for Henry!! Will try to take a pic of Fairy Queen today (outside, so natural light will let the colors of the fabric show up!)

I cannot wait....

2008-09-03T11:26:00.002-04:00

..for the newest PR design!! Laura is being so mean to us!! She is just adding a little at a time to the picture on her website. Now she is torturing us with the floss list! Looks to be another masterpiece!! The colors alone are drool worthy!

I have made a pretty good start on Fairy Queen. I am stitching her on 28 ct Spring Garden by Silkweaver. I wasn't too fond of the Terracotta fabric, I thought she needed something more fairy like. Wanted to put her on a Silkweaver solo, but when I opened the fabric up, it looked too much like a sky, so I will save that for something else. So far, the fabric I picked seems to be looking good. I have finished the face (done in Splendour Silks instead of DMC) and the backstitching there, along with a large amount of her hair. Am now doing the wings.

It has been so hot here, yesterday while I was stitching, I kept nodding off!! Every once in a while, my head would drop onto my magnifier and now I have to clean that off because of all the smudges from my nose and cheek!! LOL! This heat has been terrible the past several days. That is why I start nodding off all the time! If there is no break at all, it begins to affect me.

We had a pretty nice "cook-in" on Monday. We went to my mother's house and she grilled hot dogs inside. About 13 people were there. All of us, my niece and her friend, my aunt, and my dd's bf and his 2 friends. Plenty to eat (actually ate too much as usual). Then came home and promptly fell asleep! (another side effect of eating too much)

Went to the gym today and used the treadmill and then some of the Nautilus equipment. Used mostly the leg machines, to get strength back in my left leg. I have noticed something that is not the best of news. I cannot flex my left foot the same amount as my right. There is about a 2 inch difference! Try as hard as I can, I just can't get it to bend any more. That is not a good sign. That shows my left leg is not responding to signals as well as my right. Add that to the weakening of it and there is some concern! So, will keep using the gym and hope I get at least some strength built back up.
I have lost way way way too much weight since January! I haven't been trying to lose it, but it's dropping off too fast. I weighed myself last week at the gym and used the same scale today (dressed in same clothes) and there was an 8 lb difference! Oh boy, will my doc rant and rave at me next month! He absolutely hates it when I lose weight like this!! I hope I'm not starting another episode of metabolic issues again!! I don't want to have to travel up to JH again! No Way!!

Blackwork Princess HD!!

2008-08-30T23:01:00.003-04:00

Finished my Blackwork Princess by Dragon Dreams!! I did her on 28 count evenweave. Used GAST Jasmine and Bluebell along with gold metallic for the bling! I wanted to put a little twist on the "black" of blackwork! LOL!! Think she looks very nice if I say so myself!
I have some fantastic blackwork patterns coming! One of the ladies in my group, Margaret, has stitched them and I saw them in her photo album. They are of Henry VIII and his 6 wives!! I posted how much I would love to have them and she is sending them to me along with Elizabeth!! Cannot wait! Gonna be so neat to have those!

It's been a nice week this first week of school!! So quiet during the day and peaceful, it's been wonderful!! Started back at the Y on Wednesday, and it felt great to be back at the gym! I'm going to try to take off a couple of inches around my waist and hips along with toning muscles. Hoping to get in good shape before my cruise in January! Plus I bought some additional tanning sessions so I can keep my awesome tan going! I've never been this tan before and it looks nice on me! Will try to lie out some this week since it's going to be so hot!

DH still has nothing happening on the job front. He has applied to so many different places, but nothing comes of it. Most just right him back "does not meet our criteria"; whatever that one means?!

We're planning on having a "cook-in" at Mom's on Monday. Just us, mom and Aunt Helen. Will be making potato salad tomorrow for it. Everyone wants my potato salad! Don't really know why, but I must admit it does taste pretty good!

(after)Weekend Update!

2008-08-25T08:36:00.002-04:00

This is the blackwork piece I have chosen for the Blackwork SAL for the Stitchers Heaven Yahoo Group! It's "Blackwork Princess" by Dragon Dreams. I have decided to add some 'bling' to her!! I'm doing her necklace, headband and jewelry in RG Petite Treasure Braid Gold! I think it adds a definite something !! Also going to do the vine in GAST Bluebells(sort of a bluish green color) I think that will be nice also!

Yesterday (Sunday) boys and I went to the pool down in Kenova. Boy, it certainly isn't the YMCA pool! Dirt all over the floor of the pool, too loud, and absolutely no recliners/chairs anywhere!! Thankfully I remembered to pack my recliner and a beach chair!! I just laid out and basked! Felt so good! Did a lot of work on my bw piece too. I got a lot of sun, actually across the back of my neck and forehead feel a little warm, but not burned. Nick got pinkish red across his chest and stomach, but he wanted to get some sun, and didn't use sunscreen (once again), except for his shoulders. Of course Alex, the fish he is stayed in the pool unless he was whining about starving!! LOL

Well, today is my last day of insanity!! Well, at least partial insanity will remain after tomorrow! School starts!! Have to get the last of laundry done today and go through Alex's clothes and pull out what doesn't fit! Also have to get bookbags ready! Stock them with paper, pencils, notebooks, pens, etc. Busy busy day today!

Finally took some pictures!!

2008-08-18T15:00:00.005-04:00

Finally got around to taking a picture of Fairy Celebration III by Passione Ricamo. This is a free pattern she makes to celebrate Fairy Day! I have 2 of them done now, 2007 and 2008. Need to start on 2006 version. This one is the best of the three she has done so far. I added metallics to her wings and in the corners plus I used beads in the corners and for her wand's sparklies!!She is stitched on 14 count blue Fiddler fabric. I didn't have enough of the blue marbled Aida I used for the 2007 version.

Yesterday was my grandson's 1st birthday!! We just had a small family gathering here at the house. Here he is riding his riding/pushing lion! He is such a doll!! We got him a teddy bear that sings the "ABC's" and "123's" along with teaching colors and parts of body. He really like it!! His aunt (our daughter) got him this really neat baseball toy. It has a bat and ball and it says "Home Run" when he hits the ball off the tee. It also plays music and talks!! More noise for the house!!

I'm currently stitching on Thea Gouverner's Tut pattern. It's so pretty! I'm not particularly fond of the linen included in the kit though. That's the problem with kits, sometimes the fabric is not the best. Also the kits usually just have 14 or 16 count fabric and I like 28 count the best!! I think it looks better. However, this linen is very thin and lightweight. I don't know what kind it is, but I don't like it that much. I would rather have the pattern and pick my own fabric!! I do love her designs though. There is one, St Petersburg, that I would love to have! But it's like over 100 bucks! The last thing I spent that much on was The Last Supper by Vervaco!

Only 8 days until I get 1/2 my sanity back!! The kids will be starting school, hallelujah!! Of course, with dh still at home and job hunting, that will mean 1/2 my sanity is still gone! LOL!

I do wish he would find something soon. He is getting very depressed about not finding a job yet. I don't know why he can't find something in the call center business, all his rejection emails say something about "not meeting our criteria", whatever THAT means. I have to wonder if it has to do with his age (55).

Our wonderful daughter started her teaching career last week. She isn't even out of college yet and this school wanted her to teach Latin to 4th and 5th grades!! She is loving it though! She was so excited last night when she printed out her first quiz!! It was really kind of funny to watch and listen to her!

Slacking off some lately

2008-08-14T01:35:00.002-04:00

Sorry, but I've been a little slacking on the cross stitch side of things lately. Don't know why, but just can't seem to get it going! Hate that too!
I've been reading the Twilight series over and over again. Absolutely love this series! It is totally awesome! Makes you look at vampires differently than before. There is a movie coming out in December from the first book. Can't wait to see it. I added the countdown widget here so I can see how many days left until it comes out!
On the old homefront, no job openings on the horizon for dh yet. Each time he has applied somewhere he either gets an email that says he doesn't meet their "criteria" or "expectations". What is that all about? He has over 14 years of managment experience!! How can that not be up to their par? I think it may be an age issue also. Lots of places don't want to hire someone who is over 50.
Youngest son is doing very well. He had the tooth pulled on Monday and boy what a root on that thing! It must have been at least 1/2 inch long!! I've never seen a root that huge on a tooth before, not even my wisdom teeth (and they were wrapped around my jawbone!) He recovered very nicely from that. Didn't even so much as flinch when the dentist did the Novacaine shot (can we say ouch!)!! Brave boy!!! He had plenty of applesauce and mashed potatoes to eat though.
Did get my flight plan today for the stitching cruise in January. Thought I better get it before the prices go up even more!! Not a bad price actually. Was more expensive the first time I looked, but this time it was less than it would be for gas, so I decided to go ahead and buy it now. One less thing to worry about!!
Well, that's my update so far in my life! Promise to get back into the stitching craze again real soon! Want to work on some projects, but just can't seem to get inspired! I think the stress of everything is getting to me now.

She is completed!!

2008-08-07T01:28:00.007-04:00

After 39 hours 22 minutes throughout 22 days, she is finished! She is so gorgeous with the metallics and the beads!! I think the Crystal Mercedes fabric by PTP was a very good choice!
The left picture is the full view and the right picture is a close up of her body/face!

The way Laura had us do the beads for this was unusual, but totally fun!! We mixed all 5 bead colors together and then we were told to go wild with them!! It was loads of fun to just pick a bead and say, okay you go here!

I finished her on 8/5/08 and I must say I just love the colors!

Today I had to take my youngest son to the dentist for an abscessed tooth. The dentist sent him immediately to the ER for some IV antibiotics!! I have never heard of that one before! So, off to the ER we went. Of course, everyone knows it takes forever in the ER. However, today we were lucky as it just took a little over 2 hours to get him signed in, seen by the doctor and the IV meds in. (Doesn't he just look pitiful?)--------------->

After that was over, I took him to Cold Stone Creamery for a treat, for being so good while he had the IV put in. Then I brought him back home and went off to fill his prescriptions for antibiotic and pain meds. They cost 68 bucks!! Boy, I hate being without insurance!!

Of course, all this happens just shortly after the insurance ran out! Naturally!! If it weren't for bad luck, we would have no luck at all!!

Well, that's my update so far!!

Check this out!

2008-07-29T08:15:00.005-04:00

Here are two of my guys in the household. My dh and 3rd oldest son who are sitting back and getting ready to enjoy the Hannah Montana concert in 3-D!! Don't they look funny!! I laughed so much at them that night!! They both said, don't post them to your groups and of course, I said I wouldn't do that, but hey, you got your kicks where you can, especially now!

DH had a job interview yesterday. Actually he went in to take the test, but since he scored 97 out of 100, they went ahead and interviewed him. He is really hoping he gets this job. He really liked what he found out about the company and the site here. I like the fact he would get a discount, stock options, and 3 companies to choose health insurance from!

My neck and back pretty much stay knotted up at all times anymore. I really don't think I can take any more stress. This is really killing me!! Plus the heat and I am about nuts! The van has been repossessed (of course they sent me a letter saying I can get it back, but I don't have the money for that!), so now I have to drive dh's car, which was my dad's, and it's low to the ground (can barely get in/out) and it's a standard tranny, which with my weak left leg, does not make it easy to drive! If I drive it very long, my leg starts screaming!!

So, my summer has pretty much sucked since the beginning of July and I still have to deal with my other son moving back in and his gf (who definitely is not looking real hard for a job)!! At least my son starts his job today, but who knows how long he will keep it? As for her, she needs to quit being here all day long!!!!

Well, enough of a rant for now!

Good News and Bad News!

2008-07-26T01:32:00.002-04:00

Here is another update on my progress on my OTR!! This is after 23 hrs 10 min of stitching!! Photo is dated 7/22/08!! So yes, have gotten some more stitching in!

Didn't get too much done on Tues or Wed tho. Went out of town with family to see an outdoor theatre production of "Hatfields and McCoys" at Beckley's Grandview Theatre!! Too bad, that 10 minutes before it started a massive thunderstorm came in along with a really strong cold front!! The lightning was unbelievable! Have never seen so much nor so bright! Then of course, there was the pain associated with the cold front coming thru. Not good at all!

Then the next day (Wed) as we were driving home, my dh called to tell me our van was, at that very moment, getting repossessed!! I had called them last week to explain our situation (ie, dh laid off, my disability, etc) and then a week later they came and took it? Sounds like they didn't want to give any kind of help to us at all! Oh well, at least I don't have the payment anymore and my insurance will go down some!!

We got his first unemployment check today (whoopee!) Was enough to pay one tiny bill and to get some groceries!! Yeehaw!!

Did get a little good news today! Dexter, my most favorite serial killer/TV show on the planet, is starting it's 3rd season on Sept 28 at 9 pm on Showtime. I even have a countdown now on this blog!! If you have never seen this show, I really pity you!! It's the most awesome show ever!!

Well, think that's all the news for now, will update later again!

Another Update on OTR and my life!

2008-07-21T09:16:00.002-04:00

Here is my latest update on OTR!! This is after 19.5 hours of stitching! After I posted it to Laura at PR, she added a note on there that said "perfect crosses"!! So excited she thinks my stitching is "perfect"!
Have gotten lots more done on her now, just in a couple of hours! I need to take a new pic and email it for the contest. Hopefully will do that today.

DH still has not found anything! No severance check either right now. Don't know where that is. He is beginning to think they are going to shaft him on it. I certainly hope not, we desperately need it!

Did the online test for DHHR help and it looks like we are not going to be able to get anything there either! How they can say we make too much money is beyond me! He doesn't have a job, his unemployment amount is a joke and my disability is so small! Plus, we have 6 in the household now! So how can they say we have too much money is unbelievable!

DS (29 yo) is now staying with us also. He has managed to piss off his friends over the years by leeching off them and now he has no one to live with, so he came home. His girlfriend is not staying here, but she may as well be!! She is here everyday from sunup to sundown! All she does is sit and play Guitar Hero!! The other time I timed her and she played it for 81/2 hours straight!

I keep pushing DS to get a job and some responsibiility about his family, and he replied "responsibility is not my strong point"!! My jaw dropped! I told him he was plenty old enough to stop farting around and since he now has a child, its time for him to assume some! He had a job interview on Friday and is supposed to go back tonite at 6:30 for another interview. It's telemarketing, which he doesn't really want, but that is just too bad!! When you have a family to support, you need to take what ever comes!

He wants to work in a restaurant, but since he has no car and I'm not wasting my gas on taking him everywhere, he needs one in town. However, I think he has worked (and messed up) at every restaurant in this town!

Well, just wanted to do a quickie update on OTR and my life (which currently sucks!). I wish I had someone to talk to about my worries and fears about all this, but no one is around. I can't discuss with DH, since he is already worried. If he knew how much I was worried, he would worry 5x as much!! He really has no idea how bad things cost and what our bills amount to!

Tomorrow, I am getting a break though. My mother is taking me, my aunt, and niece to Beckley to see "Hatfields and McCoys" at the outdoor theatre down there and we are staying over night. Just one night away and that should help me some! Will be taking OTR of course! So I can stitch on her in the hotel room! Of course, I have to go outside to smoke, but at least I'll have a break from all the moping being done here at home!

Have a great day, everyone who reads my blog!!

Update on OTR!!!

2008-07-14T00:14:00.004-04:00

Here is my first WIP of my OTR for the contest. This is after 6 days and roughly 18 hours of stitching!! I should be further along, but have had so many family "issues" I haven't really had a chance to do a whole lot of serious stitching! Hoping to change that soon!

I think she is coming along nicely. I certainly do wish I could do the beading along with her as I usually do on a PR design, but can't do it on this one, because she is on Q-snap frame! Fabric is too long to fit scroll rods!!

Here is another pic of her, this one is a little closer shot of her and her dress! The colors on this design are so gorgeous!!

Plus, one of the reasons I wanted to do this one so quickly is so I could hang her up to remember all my pets who have finally crossed "over the rainbow bridge" to a happier place where they can chase all the rabbits they want!! And for cats, where they can chase squillers they can find!!

Oh, finally got my secret exchange kit from the PR board!! My secret exchange(r?) was Angi and she sent me a beautiful fob and ornament, along with some fabulous fabby for PR's Lady of the Snow! How wonderful!! I loved it all!

My ds (29yo) decided to pay us a visit this weekend. We haven't heard from him for about 6 or 7 months and all of a sudden he his here. He has had a drug problem since the age of 14 and the past 3 years of his life has been wasted on that terrible drug Heroin. He finally is off all that horrible stuff and has been straight for a couple of months. He has no job, no place to live, and the cutest 11 month old baby in the world!

Here is my wonderful grandson, Marlon!! Here he is with his Grandpa Robert (dh) and Uncle Alex(ds)!! He was here with us for about 8 hours and I never heard him cry once!! Not even when he was tired!!

He is so adorable and chubby cheeks galore!! He enjoyed meeting Rascal, my "guard" dog, who does not like strangers. But Rascal went right up to him ad started sniffing. Not a growl, or a hackle rasied anywhere!! It was the strangest thing! Not even a growl, when Marlon grabbed Rascal's ears.!

Well, that's all for today! Going to bed so I can go to pool tomorrow and hopefully get some good stitching time in!!

Happy Stitching to everyone!

She's coming along nicely!

2008-07-09T09:27:00.002-04:00

Over the Rainbow is coming along nicely!! I have all of her head done (minus beads) and most of her hair and am now starting on her dress. I hope to take a pic of her today and I will post it here when I do!! I am having so much fun with her!

It's difficult not to do beading as I go along! I am so used to doing that on PR's designs!! But since she is wider than tall, can't fit her on my scroll rods, so I am using Qsnaps on her. Don't reallly like that when there are beads, but oh well! I might be able to put some on her while she is on the Qsnaps, but not many!

I really hope and pray I win the contest, not so much for the prizes, but just to know I have done a good enough job for Laura! I want her to see how much I prize her designs! She has released the full version of her Winter Lady now also!! Her Summer Lady has been out for a while, but ECC is not carrying her yet. Hopefully soon! I would love to have all 4 of those ladies!

DH went down to unemployment office yesterday to get that process started. That means I am going to have to get down to DHHR as soon as he gets his paperwork from them to see what we can get from there. I am also going to try to get the school clothing allowance this year, that would be a big help in getting the boys ready for school! I have already started buying some school supplies, they had one subject notebooks for only .05 the other day!!

Just a quick update on how my life is going at the present!!
Check back soon for more updates!!

Mea Culpa!!

2008-07-04T13:20:00.003-04:00

Mea Culpa, mea maxima culpa! I'm sorry for not updating as much as I want to!! I just haven't had the time or thought of it! But here I go, and this is going to be long!! So much has happened.

First the good news, I got everything needed for my floss toss for OTR by PR!! I am ready for the contest! Plus, Laura recently posted a note that states exactly what time it starts and thanks to the time difference I get to start at 7 pm on July 6th!! Yea!!

Here is a pic of my floss toss. I am doing her on opalescent 28 ct Crystal Mercedes by PTP!! I think it will be gorgeous when I get her done. Plus Dawn was nice enough to give me a goal! She got the model done in 5 1/2 weeks, but that was with dr's appts and other things going on (dh being ill, her being ill, etc). She said it would normally take her 4 weeks. So, my goal is now set!!

Another good thing, a fellow stitcher who lives near me (well about 2 hours away) has found out she has the Egyptian Glory issue of the magazine I was looking for and is going to send it to me!! Yea!! Plus she says she has another Egyptian pattern that is in another issue and she is going to find that issue and send it to me also. I have got so many gorgeous Egyptian patterns now! I'm so excited about it!

Everything had been going along just fine until about a week ago, or maybe more, when DH came home from work and said his campaign was being outsourced to Phillipines and he would more than likely be RIF'd. That was a big blow to us! He has been there 9 years! We thought it would be more likely he would be transferred to another campaign, since he has been there so long and everybody agrees he is the most liked and hardest worker there.

Well, yesterday he came back home about 10:30 am, which didn't really surprise me because he was always coming back home to print a picture, burn CD's, print something or do something for work. However, as I quickly found out, that was not the case! His job had already left for the Phillipines and he was not invited! So after 9 years of hard work, lots of 80-90 hour work weeks, he was RIF'd. He gets a small (very small) severance package and that is all.

Of course, he is old enough to be able to get in that program that not only pays for his schooling to be retrained, but also gives him a small stipend while he is doing it! Plus he will get unemployment, and I will apply for SSI that will go along with my disability check.

The only down side is our insurance will be gone after July 31st, so after I was able to make a rational thought, I called my dr and made arrangements to have a 90 day supply of my meds prescribed. That way I can at least use my mail order pharmacy before the end of the month and get 3 months meds.

I get the fun job of sitting all day Monday on the phone with Social Security making arrangements for SSI and then I also have to do major research on the different Medicare insurance plans and find one for myself. So, that is going to be sooo much fun!! (big sigh)

That is all so far! Will keep everyone up to date on the exciting happenings in my life!

Happy Birthday Alex!

2008-06-20T21:42:00.010-04:00

Got my PR yesterday! So happy to get her! She is even more glorious when you can handle her! Unfortunately, I can't start stitching on her until July 7th, that is when the contest starts! I will be working on her exclusively until I get her done! I'm so excited! I keep taking the chart out and looking at her! I need to take the chart and get a working copy made soon, I don't want to wait until July, because I might wait to long and I plan on starting at 12:01 am on the 7th!

Here are a couple of Egyptian patterns I want so badly! I found one and am able to buy it without buying the magazine, that one is the Cross Stitcher Tut Superchart! Boy, it's gorgeous! I saw that magazine one time at the bookstore here in town, but then I never saw any issues again! I really am thinking the UK magazines are much better! I still like Stoney Creek, mainly for the afghan patterns they have. I need to renew tho! The first picture is the Cross Stitcher Super chart, the other pic is of Cross Stitch Collection Egyptian Glory! Aren't they absolutely wonderful?

Well today was my son's 12th birthday! He went with me today so he could pick the bike he wanted. That is all he wanted this year. My dd and her bf got him one of those i-pod shuffle mp3 players, 1gb size! He really liked that one too! They just brought him an ice cream cake too! DD is going to take him shopping sometime next week when she has time off. His grandma (my mom) is taking him shopping and out to eat tomorrow! He loves nice clothes and since he has finally starting wearing size 8 finally (yes, he's a shrimp!), he could use some new ones. So he might actually start to grow some finally!

Stitcher's Heaven Yahoo group is doing pretty well! We have over 25 members now and they all seem to be enjoying themselves pretty well. We are having our first SAL on the 29th of this month, theme being mystical/mythical! We are also trying to get a word list ready for bingo! I'm going to try to come up with some prizes for the winner!

Happy Father's Day everyone!

2008-06-15T09:19:00.002-04:00

Totally awesome night last nite (or rather real early this morning)! Fatema and I decided to start our own Yahoo! group!! We got to talking about how some groups were so intolerant of others' beliefs and how some groups treat others so we decided to go in together and create our very own group! So here it is, our own slice of internet -Stitchers Heaven !! Anyone who visits my blog is more than welcome to come and join us! We are slowly growing and hope to be a fairly good size and have SALs and games as we get bigger!
Together we are going to create the best Yahoo! group ever! I just know it and maybe later we can add some can sale or trade board to it! The possibilities are endless! I just think it's totally awesome how 2 people from across the world (almost literally) can come together and create something. She is co-owner and moderator and she can work on the group while I sleep and I can do the same thing! Heaven know we each stay up late chatting to each other!!
Last nite, I didn't go to be until 3 am this morning, talking with her and setting it up! Almost immediately we had 2 new members and now we have 8! Yippee!!
Come and join us!! Remember it is StitchersHeaven !!

Good Saturday Evening to everyone!

2008-06-14T19:51:00.002-04:00

Good Saturday evening to everyone! I'm sitting here in a very cramped space because I have my laptop on my table, Bowie is beside the laptop and Rascal is trying to crawl on my lap under the table!! People are setting off fireworks outside and he's scared! Crazy dog! My legs are asleep because of him and he keeps trying to further and further under the table! Finally, I have to push him off the bed, because he is going to knock my laptop off!!

This is a picture of Bad Faerie, after 4 pages completed! That was my goal for the Yahoo group's challenge, and I met it a lot faster than I thought! But, gives me time to get more stitched before the end of the challenge!

Still waiting for OTR to get home, but Cindy emailed me today about my CC info, they lost it again! So I posted that back to her asap and she wrote me back saying everything was great now. So, hopefully it'll go out in Monday's mail and I'll get it next week!

Well, I have used up all my gcs I got and now I'm depressed about it! There is so much stuff out there I want!! Wish I could win the lottery! I'd buy it all and start my own LNS! My big dream! When I drive around town, I look at empty buildings and wonder if that would be a good place for a LNS! Is adequate parking, room, that kind of thing!! I found a couple of sites that would be wonderful! Too bad I can't do my dream!

Still waiting!

2008-06-10T23:09:00.002-04:00

for the new PR design to hit my mailbox! I went to the website today and noticed a link that wasn't there before. Laura has posted the rules! Unfortunately, the contest isn't going to start until July 7! Wow, too long to really wait, but wait I have to!
Also rules stated I need to send an email with my info, a floss toss pic, and make sure I show the originial chart pak! Also states we have to send wip pix often along with the time spent stitching up to that date. Also, have to make sure the back is clean as there is a back pic that is required. But I don't care, for the grand prize I can do all that!
Have sold some of my stash, not as much as I had hoped, but some. Some people have requested items but then I haven't heard any more from them. Will have to start stalking I guess.
Mailed off my package for secret exchange from the PR bb today too. Hope she likes the stash inside. I know I would.
We had a doozy of a storm early this morning. About 4 am or so according to dd and ds. They were both awake for some weird reason. DD was awake because the rain was blowing in her window and getting her wet! Love it when that happens! It's so funny.
Not much else to report. Have put a couple of my WIPs on hold for right now to get ready for the contest and to concentrate more on the other WIPs I have going. Tired of rotating so many designs, will stick to just a couple!