Dusty's Daily Doings !!!

Hi Everyone !!!

2011-12-05T21:04:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that it has been so long since the last time I posted. As I've said before, I just don't know were the time goes. Since July we have had to deal with a hurricane, DH's health problems and numerous other things that have cropped up along the way. For Halloween we had our first snow storm of the season that left us with many trees down and no power or heat for six days. After that my stitchging mojo was hiding under the bed and refused to come out. LOL I finally managed to coax the little bugger out recently and started stitching again. I am working on an Advent Ornament SAL with the Sticklounge. All are by differnt designers and all are pretty. I am behind in my stitching ( nothing unusual there LOL) but I have six designs finished and working on more. I am also working on The Berlin Work Sampler / Sticklounge by Pelin Tezar. I love this design and am working on the next part right now. Below are pictures of my efforts. I hope everyone is enjoying good health and preparing for the coming holidays. I will try to be more faithful to my posting as time goes on. Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful day !!!

Advent Calendar part1 / Sticklounge

Advent Calendar part 2 / Sticklounge

Advent Calendar part 3 / Sticklounge

Advent Calendar part 4 / Sticklounge

Advent Calendar part 5 / Sticklounge

Advent Calendar part 6 / Sticklounge

Berlin Work Sampler by Pelin Tezar / Sticklounge

Here We Go Again !!!

2011-07-30T19:51:00.000-07:00

This month has been a busy one, plus blogger hasn't been letting me post. We'll see if this works. I had a surprise visit from my sister, her husband, her daughter, and Joshua, her grandson. They were only here for the day but what a great visit. They live in Maryland - a nine hour drive away and stopped on their way through to upsate New York. Joshua is 4 and a little love. This was the first time I've seen him other than pictures. He is such a happy child. He is actually my great nephew -- where does the time fly to. I can remember Stacy at this age. sigh !!!

Sissy, Stan, Stacy and Joshua

Sissy, my " baby sister" and me -- DH in the background

Josh and Auntie

For Joshua !!!

Another surprise afternoon visit from my Aunt and Uncle that same week. They live in Massachusetts. She is my best friend and a very special person to me.

Aunt Duggy and Uncle Gil

As far as stitching, I have been plugging along. I finished the second part of the Berlin Work Sampler and the Summer Heart is complete. Both are SAL's on Sticklounge. I really am enjoying the Berlin Work Sampler. I love watching all the colors come together. It has 36 different colors for the whole design. Can't wait for more. LOL i am thinking of making summer Heart into a pillow. I just need to decide on the fabic and style.

Berlin Work Sampler Part 2 / Pelin Tezer / Sticklounge

Summer Heart / Sticklounge

Well I guess that is all for now. Thank you for stopping by. Take care and have a great day !!

Hope This Works

2011-06-18T00:14:00.000-07:00

I tried to post several times this past week and blogspot would not accept it. Hope this time it works..

Life has been about the same around here, although today was a great day.. My son took me out to lunch. We had a great meal at the Olive Garden and a nice chat. He lives about 50 miles from me so most of our contact is by phone. He pops in every now and again to see how we are, but his life is busy so those times are not as frequent as I would like. My other son lives in Kentucky so I don't get to see him very often.

As far as my stitching, I am moving right along. I finished Madonna and Child and just need to get the fabric to make a pillow of it. I am pleased with the way it turned out. I have also started two new SALs in the Sticklounge. One is Summer Heart, a small design and the other is a Berlin Work Sampler by Pelin Tezer. It has 36 colors but I am enjoying it so far.

Madonna and Child

Summer Heart part 1 / Sticklounge

Berlin Work Sampler by Pelin Tezer - part 1 / Sticklounge

Thank you for stopping by and have a great day !!!

Rainy Again.

2011-05-16T23:07:00.000-07:00

We had lovely sunny weather for several days and now it is raining again and is supposed to rain for the rest of the week. I know it is good for the flowers but the sun did feel nice. I guess I will eventually get the front of my house the way I want it. I will have to be quick and get out there in between rainy days. I was walking in the back the other day and found a cluster of wild violets. They are so pretty. So I ran and got my camera and took a picture.

As far as stitching, I have been working on a few small things but mainly just sitting and relaxing. It is unusual for me to sit and do nothing but there you have it, I have been a lazy slug !! LOL

I hope you have sunny skies and a wonderful day !! Thanks for stopping by.

Spring Is Here !!!!

2011-05-13T13:16:00.000-07:00

At last the sun is shining !!! The last several days have been beautiful. Cool at night but warm during the day. I didn't think it would ever get here. My Lilac bush is loaded with blooms, I am sure all this wet weather has helped that out. The air is full of their wonderful scent. As you can see I have a mixed bush, both purple and white. I love them !!!!!

My Lilac Bush, isn't it lovely !!!

A close up of the Lilacs

Another close up of the Lilacs, can't you just smell them.

As far as my stitching, i have finally finished my Homage to Japan, a SAL through the Sticklounge. i love the way it looks. I just need to take a run to the LNS to get the hardware for a bell pull. I have also been working on the RR for Needlecraft Haven. I should be finish with that either today or tomorrow.

Homage to Japan / Sticklounge SAL

Thank you for stopping by and have a great day !!!!!

Back Again !!!

2011-05-04T21:59:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have been away for so long. I didn't realize that so much time had passed by. We went to DH's daughter's home for Easter and had a great time. We always do. DH was not feeling well but we went anyway. He had a good time but was very tired when we got home. Here are some pictures from the day.

DH / Easter Sunday

Nikki and Katy / 2 granddaughters

Donna (DH's daughter) and her Mother

our Katy -- what a ham !!!

The whole gang, of course I am taking the photo !! LOL !!

I stitched on my Chatelaine Mini Mandala Rose garden and have it ready for the beads, it should really pop once they are added. I also finished a small freebie I had on hand. My Homage to japan is almost done. I have one more part to stitch and then I will have another finish for 2011. And I finished The 2011 Easter SAL from Novalee. It was a fun piece to stitch.

Mini Mandala Rose Garden / Chatelaine

Joy / Hand Blessings

Homage to Japan / Sticklounge SAL

2011 Easter SAL / Novalee

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you have a great day.

Not a Good Day

2011-03-25T02:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was not a good day for me, I felt very tired and unwell. I slept on and off all day and then was in bed by 10pm. Obviously there was no stitching done. Oh well Tomorrow is another day !!! Take care !!

Dreary Weather

2011-03-23T22:40:00.000-07:00

The weather here has not been pleasant. It has been over cast and dreary. We have been having snow flurries for the past two days. Thankfully nothing is sticking to the ground. I really do not want to shovel anymore this year. Sigh!!! DH is also having a lot of problems with all this cold damp weather, we just go day by day.

I have managed to get some stitching done. I finished a quilt square for a friend, made more progress on my granddaughter's graduation sampler, finished another part of a Quickie SAL on the Sticklounge and caught up on a small SAL for one of the French Blogs. Doesn't look like a lot but I am pleased never the less.

Quilt Square for a friend it is from a freebie from the Gift of Stitching mag

Easter SAL from French blog ( Novalee)

Quickie SAL from Sticklounge part 2

Progress on Graduation Sampler for Granddaughter

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day and take care.

A Rainy Day !!!

2011-03-06T23:08:00.000-08:00

The rain has been pouring down here for the last couple of days, light yesterday but today I think someone unzipped a cloud and forgot to close it. The snow is melting away finally.

Today was a day to sit relax and stitch with some laundry trown in out of necessity. LOL I managed to finish my Mandala at last. Its a design by Tracy Horner and I loved stitching it. it was part of my 2011 UFO Challenge. So you can see that I am making some progress. LOL I did some more on When Stars Collide and finished part 4 of Homage to Japan. I love the colors in this design and it a fun stitch. i am off to bed shortly and hope I can get more stitching done tomorrow.

Mandala by Tracy Horner / Finished !!! / Sticklounge SAL

When Stars Collide part 8 / Sticklounge SAL

Homage to Japan part 4 / Sticklounge SAL

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day !!!

A Quiet Day !!!

2011-02-26T12:53:00.000-08:00

Today has been a very quiet day, not much stitching as my back has been giving me trouble -- again. I think I did too much shoveling the other day. When I take the pain meds I can't function very well as they make me very drowsy, but they do help my back. I just seem to sit like a lump and sleep. Hope fully this flare-up will settle down soon.

i did receive my Valentine's exchange package finally. The mail has been giving everyone fits here lately. Anyway I received a nice pair of bed socks, some floss from House of Embroidery and a nicce hand made card from Polly / Needlecraft Haven. thank you Polly.

Valentine's Sock Exchange / Needlecraft Haven

I think that is about it for today. I am making a lot of spelling errors, I hope I caught them all. I'll post some more in a day or two. Have a great day.

2011-02-22T11:27:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone, things here are the same as usual, we lead a very quiet life for the most part due to DH's health. We had a couple of days of lovely spring weather last week. One day even got as high as 60 degrees. I loved it but unfortunately it didn't last. We had three inches of snow yesterday and today it is bitter cold. I can't wait for the warmer weather to get here and stay for a while. I have been stitching, I managed to do three more parts on HRW from the Sticklounge and the next part of Homage to Japan. I love the both of them. I have also been working on this years Ozark Sampler Mystery SAL. It is going to be a bell pull. I have half of the border done so far. It should be interesting to see what comes next. I also received my pinkeep from the Sticklounge exchange. Jette did a wonderful job on the finishing. I love it and the sweets that came with it. Thank you Jette.

Sticklounge Pinkeep Exchange from Jette

Homage to Japan part 3 / Sticklounge SAL

HRW through part 9 / Sticklounge SAL

Ozark Sampler Mystery SAL - border

Well I think that is all for today, I hope everyone has a great day. Take care.

Happy Valentine's Day !!!

2011-02-13T19:56:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone. Here is hoping that all of you have a special someone in your life to make you happy, whether two legged or four legged. We all need a little love. DH and I will probably spend a quiet day at home, it is too cold to venture to far. LOL

I have been sitting and either stitching or reading, two of my favorite pastimes. The weather has been kinder to us here lately. The temps have been above freezing during the day and thankfully no new snow fall. What we already have is starting to melt. What a mess !!! LOL We just keep our fingers crossed and hope for an early spring like everyone else.

Clare's Round Robin / Needlecraft Haven

A Little Furry Friend

Progress on Chatelaine's Mini Mandala Rose Garden

Take care and have a good day !!! thanks for stopping by !!!

A Stitching Day

2011-02-09T01:25:00.000-08:00

Today has been a day to catch up on my SALs. As it rained all day I didn't even feel guilty. LOL The laundry still needs doing and the house will wait for another day. I rested on my Laurels and stitched. Lazy thing that I am. LOL Here is what I worked on.

Part 2 of Homage to Japan from Sticklounge

Mary Poppins through part 4 / Sticklounge

Now it's time for bed. Sweet dreams everyone and have a good day !!!!!

Where's Spring !!!!!

2011-02-07T14:47:00.000-08:00

It is definitely winter here. We have had one snow storm after the other. According to reports, we have had over 60 inches of snow for the month of January. Too much as far as I am concerned. All I seem to do is shovel as DH can't do any of it any more. Now that February is here the temperatures have warmed up a little, but now we have huge puddles of water that freeze as soon as the sun goes down. As I said Where is Spring !!!!

I have managed to stitch though. I finished two pinkeeps that I will use for gifts and exchanges. And, there has been progress on my Challenge pieces. Here are some pics for you to see of my stitching and all the snow.

Two pinkeeps, one for an exchange and one for a gift

Papillion's Byzantine Gem all it needs is the beads and then it will be a finish

Progress on my granddaughter's graduation sampler

A first finish for 2011 and the Challenge

The front of our home and all the snow. You can barely see the roof of our car.

This is the side yard and our shed. We won't be getting into it for a while.

Thank you for visiting and have a great day.

A Bitter Cold Day

2011-01-23T23:15:00.000-08:00

The weather has turned so cold the last couple of days. the cold goes right through to your bones or maybe that is just my age. LOL If it isn't snowing it is bitter cold. Will this winter ever end. Come on Spring!!! LOL

I didn't get any stitching done today. I tried but it just didn't happen maybe tomorrow. I did manage to get more done on Zentangle and When Stars Collide -- Sticklounge SALs over the last couple of days. Here is the two of them so far.

When Stars Collide / Sticklounge SAL

Zentangle / Sticklounge SAL

Thanks for stopping in, stay warm and have a nice day !!!

Crazy Challenge Starts

2011-01-17T03:01:00.000-08:00

I managed to start my fifteen projects. I had to change my original list as some of the threads for the needlepoint ornies had not come in and my muse liked something else. I had to take off homage to Japan as the first part of the SAL does not start until the 17 th of this month. But I am pleased with my choices none the less. I have my starts here for you to see. They do not look like much right now but should grow as the year goes by.

Chalelaine / Christmas Tree Mandala

Snow Poem Tree by Erynne Chard

Peek-A-Boo Christmas by Trilogy

Needlepoint Candles Ornie -- all the sparkle does not show in a photo

Hardanger Graduation Sampler for my Granddaughter

Knitted Scarf for Special Olympics

A Rose is A Rose by La-D-Da

Pearl Drops by Judy Dixon / I changed the colors

Byzantine Gem by Papillon

chatelaine / Tiny Rose Mandala Garden

Hardanger Table Scarf

Hardanger Angel

There are my efforts, now lets see how many make it to a finish in 2011. LOL
Have a great day and thanks for looking
BTW DH is home from the hospital and doing better.

Hectic !!!

2011-01-06T00:30:00.000-08:00

Life around here has been anything but dull. DH is having problems again. He hasn't felt well since right after Christmas. Tuesday he started vomiting. Anything with GI symptoms get my attention as that is what he has instead of pain when his heart problems act up. He was feeling so bad that he asked to go to the Emergency Room. He has to be really bad to ask for that. We got to the ER at 12 midnight, of course they saw him right away because of his heart. Once he was stable we waited for lab results and such. To make a long story short, they decided to admit him for observation and testing. i was amazed when he didn't kick up a fuss over being admitted. So as of right now he is in the hospital. I finally made it home at 8 AM and fell on my bed and hugged my pillow. I was back to the hospital late afternoon. He is supposed to have some more tests done tomorrow and maybe discharged to home depending on the results. He does well for a while and then he has problems. He gets so frustrated at times. Bless his heart.

My stitching for the challenges has had a slow start but I am trying to keep up. In five days I have managed to have 3 new starts. We will see what time permits. Here is my three new starts. They don't look like much right now but will improve with time.

Christmas design - counted canvas by Kick Back and Stitch love the colors and all the stitches

Another design by Kick Back and Stitch

Mary Poppins Sampler / Sticklounge part 1

A Dreary Sunday !!!

2011-01-02T19:59:00.000-08:00

It has been a cold dreary Sunday. I have been futzing around the house trying to get a few things done. Housework ! YUK !!!!! But it must be done or we would live like slobs I guess. LOL DH and I got lazy and went out for supper. We received a gift card for 99 Restaurant and decided to use it. it is always great when your meal only costs you $5.37. I do love gift cards. I am on the computer to pay some bills and then I am going to stitch. Not enough done on any one thing to post a picture but maybe by the end of the week I can show an update. I hope everyone is enjoying the new year so far. I am having trouble remembering to right 2011 on things. LOL All the dates were transferred from the old calendar to the new one, so at least we have all the birthdays and Anniversaries taken care of. If I don't right then on the calendar, someone inevitably gets forgotten. With sixteen grands that is not hard to do. Well I am off to stitch. Have a wonderful day and smile !!

Stitching Challenge for 2011

2011-01-01T01:22:00.000-08:00

Here is my list for both the UFO Challenge and the Stitching Challenge

UFO Challenge

Morning Glory Fairy /Mirabilia (75%)
Sweet Pea Fairy / Mirabilia (75%)
Queen of Freedom / Mirabilia (40%)
Garden Angel / LaDeDa (75%)
Vierlanden Quaker Sampler/ Weihenberg (50%)
Canvaswork Snowman Ornie / EGA class (50%)
Weihenberg Quaker Sampler (15%)
Carnation Sampler / Weihenberg (15%)
Zentangle 2 / Sticklounge SAL (80%)
When Stars Coillide / Sticklounge SAL (50%)
See The Stars / Sticklounge SAL (50%)
Hearts Red and White / Sticklounge SAL (25%)
White Musings Band Sampler / TGOSM (50%)

Stitching Challenge

Hardanger Graduation Sampler for Granddaughter
Knit Scarf for Special Olympics
Crochet Scarf for Special Olympics
Snow Poem Tree / Erynne Chard
Chatelaine Workshop 01
Chalelaine Workshop 04
Chatelaine Workshop 05
Chatelaine Workshop 06
Mary Poppins Sampler / Sticklounge SAL
Homage to Japan Band Sampler / Sticklounge SAL
August Canvaswork Ornie
September Canvaswork Ornie
October Canvaswork Ornie
November Canvaswork Ornie
December Canvaswork Ornie

Well I think that will keep me busy. Now to see how well I meet the Challenge.
Take care everyone and have a Happy New Year !!!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow !!!

2010-12-27T10:22:00.000-08:00

The snow finally found us !! yikes !!! It started yesterday around 9AM and is still snowing but starting to stop. We have plenty of it on the ground. The snow plows have been out and the shoveling has started. Thankfully I don't have to go out in it to go to work. That is one good thing you can say for retirement. The wind is terrible and a lot of people have lost their power because of it. So far we are ok.

Front yard from porch

side yard from porch

Our Christmas was a good one. We went to my son's home for Christmas Eve for dinner and gifts. My DIL makes Lasagna every year for Christmas Eve. Yum, so good. She decorated their tree this year with teddy bears. So cute !! We had a good time until DH started to feel unwell. So we left around 9 PM.

Charlie and Linda's Tree

Charlie and Linda (my hands weren't too steady )

We went to Dh's daughter's home for Christmas Day, it was along day but a good one. All DH's children and his grands were there. Big crowd !! The teens were all in the basement playing pool, they would pop upstairs every once in a while to get food. And there was a abundance of food. We ate all day !!!!!

Christmas Tree at Kim and Billie's

Everyone in the kitchen

DH peeling potatoes

Nikki - granddaughter

Kim and Billie cooking

Nikki and Donna (DH's youngest daughter and her daughter)

Jeannie ( DH's ex wife)

Kim and Billie in the kitchen

Donna, Diego, Santiago and Juan Pablo

DH and I in front of fireplace

I Am Getting Better

2010-12-20T00:35:00.000-08:00

I am getting better, I just posted three days ago and here I am again. LOL Maybe the New Year will be a better one. I have posted a picture of my granddaughter. This one of her Senior pictures. She finished her Senior year early and will walk with here class in May. She plans to go to Nursing School next fall. I know I am biased but isn't she beautiful.

Audra Senior Picture

This is another ornie class from the LNS, you can't tell from the picture but each line is a different stitch. Her ornies are always something different.

Glowing Bulb

This next one is a chart that I have had for a while. the design is one from Cricket Collection. It was a freebie several years ago. I finished the stitching on it today.

Cricket Collection Freebie

And finally. I was able to finish part 4 of the When Stars Collide. This is a SAL for the Sticklounge (German Group) and was designed by Tam. The colors don't show up very well but it is overdyed purple from Threadworx and gold braid from Kreinik on Pink/Rose fabric Monaco. It really is a fun stitch. I enjoy Blackwork anyway.

When Stars Collide part 4 by Tam

That is all for now. If I don't get back on the computer, I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year. Take Care

Middle of December

2010-12-17T19:12:00.000-08:00

My time since Thanksgiving has been very hectic.Rich has had some health issues again but is doing ok right now. We also had a death of a long time family friend. My best friend's brother finally ended his ordeal with Muscular Distrophy. He was only 60 years old and has spent the last 2 1/2 years in a nursing home. My best friend died of MD about 5 years ago. He was the last of the family to go. My best friend's daughter was pretty upset about her uncle's death and stayed with me during her stay for the wake and funeral. She has called me mama dusty since she was a very little girl and told me I was all she had left. It broke my heart. But I told her I would always be there for her and her children no matter what. I just wish she was not so far away. I am sorry to go on. It was just a very emotional time .

On another note, my LNS has had ornie classes for the Holidays again this year and since I am retired I have been able to attend all of them this year. I was even able to attend an open class for two projects for the EGA. So my fingers have been busy. I even managed to do more on Zentangle and am not too far from a finish. Below are pictures of my stitching.

Blackwork Bulb
class from LNS

Sparking Bulb LNS Class

Danish Star EGA class (just needs to be assembled)

Zentangle thru part 13

A Fun Day !!!

2010-11-12T23:02:00.000-08:00

Today was such a beautiful day. The temperature got all the way to 70, not bad for mid November. We (all the neighbors) had our last picnic of the season. I know November is a little late but we had originally planned to have it around Labor Day but our hostess was bitten on the hand by her cat and was unable to do the honors. So we all waited and decided we better make a last hurrah while we could. The grills were working over time with hot dogs and hamburgers. Everyone donated food to the feast. We all had a wonderful time. I am usually the one with the camera but I forget it this time and only remembered after everyone had finished eating. We all visited and chatted around the fire. ( fire was in a lone kettle grill ) It was almost like sitting around a camp fire all that was missing was the marshmallows. LOL We came back home about 7:30 pm happy and contented. Surprisingly it was not that cold after the sun went down.

After returning home, I was able to finish off another small ornie. I must have a hundred of the little kits in my stash. It worked up fairly fast. Now to make it into an ornie is next. I also received a surprise in the mail several days ago. My Aunt and best friend made me a small ornie for my tree. She said she did it while she was receiving her chemo treatments. So it has a lot of special meaning for me. She is having trouble with neuropathy in her fingers and occasionally has trouble holding onto the needle. But she finished this for me. She is a very special lady.

Small ornie finish

Ornie stitched by Duggie

Hello Again !!!

2010-11-11T01:08:00.000-08:00

Well here it is November, at least I am staying true to form and posting about once a month. Maybe one of these days I will make once a week and then once a day. Maybe !!!!! We had our first snow on Monday morning, about an inch according to the weather man. The cars and ground were covered. It turned to sleet before it stopped about mid morning. I am so glad that I didn't have to go out in it. That is one good thing about retirement. LOL I have been busy this month working on my Sticklounge SAL's, stitching ornies (just need to finish them now) and I even uncovered the Queen of Freedom / Mirabilia. She has been buried for a long while. I really don't know why as I really enjoy working on her. I have put her in my rotation so maybe she won't get buried again. Here are the pics of all my stitching this month.

See the Start thru part 4

Zentangle 2 thru part 9

Queen of Freedom / Mirabilia

Ornie from JCS magazine old issue

Bride's Tree September Ornie

An old dollar ornie I found in my stash

Another old ornie from my stash

DMC freebie from a few years ago

Bride's Tree ornie for October

From the Gift of Stitching Mag

JCS ornie issue not sure of the year, I think this year.
First time using DMC Memory Thread (handle on lantern)

Freebie from internet

Bride's Tree July

Bride's Tree August from UK mag

That's it for now. Hope everyone is staying warm and getting ready for Thanksgiving. Take care.

October Already !!

2010-10-04T00:41:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that October is here already. It seems that I only get on here once a month lately to post. As I have said before " Time just flies by !!!" I do love this time of the year though, the crisp air and all the beautiful colors are a treat. Unfortunately, all to soon the snow will fly again. ugh !!! I don't even want to think about that.
I received a package in the mail for an online stash exchange form Jaynes Attic and had a nice surprise. There was a small chart a variety pack of Mill Hill beads, a coaster and a small scissor charm for my enjoyment.

I also was in a Halloween Ornie Exchange on the EMS board and this is the ornie that I made.

Front

Back

These are my offering for a Charity Tree for a friend on Jaynes Attic. The designs are my own and improved as I went along. The small green one was my first attempt and I seemed to get braver as I stitched. I really enjoy Hardanger.

I even managed to get some stitching done on my Sticklounge SALs

See The Stars part 3

Zentangle part 6

When Stars Collide part 2

Hopefully I will get back here to post again before another month goes by. Take care and enjoy the great fall weather.

It Missed Us !!!

2010-09-03T23:45:00.000-07:00

We were all ready for Hurricane Earl but thankfully it turned away from us. We had a little rain today but not much else. I hope everyone else faired as well. Today was not a very productive day. I wasn't feeling very well. I don't know if I ate something that didn't agree with me or what but I have been crampy and nauseous all day. I am feeling a little better right now but of course it is time for bed. I hope everyone has a great week end. take care.

September Already !!!

2010-09-03T08:20:00.000-07:00

Here it is the 3rd of September, hard to believe. Someone said to me the other day that we only have 120 or so days left until Christmas. I just gaped at them in horror. Christmas already !!!! Impossible !!!! But time just keeps marching on. LOL

On a stitching note, I have been busy. I finished adding the beads to Olivia by Loopy Lou and now just need to find a frame.

I finished a fun piece which says all there is to say in regards to housework. My DH had a good chuckle when he saw what it said. I will display it prominently for all to see. hee hee !!!

I am in a Just Nan SAL on Jayne's Attic and am doing a lot of smalls at the moment. This one is called Painted Lady (a freebie from the 1998 Charlotte Trade show) I just need to get the enameled butterfly for the center and will do that when I go to the LNS this afternoon. I love the simplicity of the design.

This next piece is a small ornie kit from Kreinik that is as old as the hills. I think I bought it sometime in the 80's and just found it. Some of the threads in it were so old that they fell apart when I started to stitch with them, so I had to get more. Mainly the blending filament and the Japan gold. it stitched up fast . There is another two or three companion pieces floating around the house somewhere. hope I find them soon. LOL It is very sparkly.

And last is a Humbug that I stitched for an exchange on the EMS board. I used one of her designs. This was my first humbug, so I may rethink the top and bottom stitching the next time so more of the stitching shows. I am just not sure. Maybe a repetitive design would have been a better idea for the next one. I am not sure. That is something to think about anyway. I don't think this one turned out too bad though.

Well that is my offerings for today. I hope everyone enjoys the week end. And I also hope that all those living on the East coast don't get hit too bad from the hurricane that is coming in.

Stay safe !!!

Saturday Again !!!

2010-08-28T13:49:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that another week has gone by again. All the days just seem to fly. It is a beautiful day again today. It is so nice to have the A/C off and the windows open for the fresh air. No stitching today so far, maybe later on this evening. I hope everyone is enjoying the beauties of nature. take care and smile !!!

I'm Back !!!

2010-08-26T18:29:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that it is the end of August. I don't know where this month has gone. The weather here has been cool enough to give the A/C a needed rest, thankfully ! DH has had an easier time breathing and moving around without all the heat and humidity. I have been stitching like mad so that is a good thing. I am making a little headway with my WIP's at last.

The Mandala is coming along nicely and I have the last parts now so I can finish that one up. Here is the picture for that one.

Here is the Debbie Draper Mystery from the German Group -- finished at last.

I managed to finish stitching May and June for the Brides Tree SAL, I just need to finish them into ornies and then start working on July and August to get caught up.

I am working on a Humbug for an exchange on the EMS Board. This is one of her designs and just needs to be made into a Humbug and then I can mail it out.

I have been working on a Loopy Lou design for quite a while and finally have all the stitching done on that one. All I need now is to do the beads and then it will be ready to frame. It will be a gift for a friend of mine.

Lastly, I received a wonderful surprise from my Aunt. She was going through some of her things and found a small stocking that my Mother made for me before she died. Actually she made one for me and one for my sister. This is mine. Mama did beautiful crewel work. Something I am not fond of doing. I have quite a few pieces that are from her hands. It is small but I love it as it is part of her. She has been gone from me for eight years and I miss her everyday.

Thanks for reading my ramblings and have a nice day !!!

Mandala Progress

2010-07-29T20:43:00.000-07:00

I finished part 41 of the Mandala SA for the German Group. I have 19 more to go. Deadline is August 26 -- think I'll make it??? My needles have been working overtime. LOL Here it is so far. The lighting in my bedroom was terrible. The fabric is supposed to be pink. Incandescent lights give everything a yellow hue. I'll now better the next time.

I also finished a small Just Nan design. I had to get a new hummingbird bead for it as I put the first one away so I wouldn't lose it and now can't find it. I seem to do that often. It must be "old age " LOL I am gong to finish it as an ornie and give as a gift. Here it is. As you can see my hands were a little shaky today.

The fabric for this one is supposed to be white. You can bet I won't take pictures in there again. LOL

A Good Day !!!

2010-07-28T00:03:00.000-07:00

Today was a great day. We had a party at a neighbor's house for the Birthday of another neighbor. DH had a good time also and stayed until 10PM, that is amazing for him. One of the neighbors plays a keyboard and had it outside for our entertainment along with his singer. They entertained us as we ate. it was a good old fashioned cook out. You know, hotdogs, hamburgers and all the salads and trimmings that go along with it. We all sang, joked, ate and had a gfay old time all evening. I finally got home at 11 PM. At least I didn't have far to go as it waas right across the street. here are some pictures. Now I am off to do a little stitching and then off to bed.

A Rainy Friday

2010-07-23T21:30:00.000-07:00

The weather here has been terrible. Yesterday and today we have had heavy rains with tornado warnings and severe thunder storm warnings. It rained so heavy that our street looked like a river. They are predicting another heat wave for the next few days. The temperature is supposed to be in the hundreds again. Thank goodness we have an A?C, I don't think DH would be able to handle the heat and humidity without it. He has a hard time breathing when the air gets to heavy. So we pretty much stay indoors when it gets bad. He likes to sit out on the porch and watch the neighborhood for short periods of time. He keeps me abreast of all the gossip going on. LOL

I have been working on my Mandala for the German Group. I love the way it is looking. I just finished parts 31-35. And I have started parts 36-41. There are 60 parts all together and the deadline is August 26th. I am stitching like crazy to get it done. Here is what I have done so far. Take care and thanks for looking. Try to stay cool.

I'm Back

2010-07-20T14:17:00.000-07:00

I was surprised at how long it has been since I last posted. Time goes by so fast. It can boggle the mind. We are staying indoors trying to stay cool. At least the temperature has not been in the 100's for the last week. Our A/C was working overtime, thank goodness it didn't give out.
I have been doing a lot of stitching and loving it. I finished the small ornie that I did for my aunt as well as a get well card. Her surgery went well and the pathology on her breast tissue showed that they have a clean margin. Now she just has to endure Chemo because of the type of cancer that it is. Amazingly, she has had very little pain. Here are the the card and ornie finishes.

I managed to bring out my Sweet Pea Fairy, she now has legs and wings. I was surprised that the wings worked up as well as they did. They are all done with Kreinik #4 very fine braid. I love all the sparkle. I have to do the beads and the swirls around her and then she will be finished. Here she is for you to see.

I also managed to finish my part in the ongoing Round Robin for Jayne's Attic. This one was Teddy Bears, cute to stitch. I had to concentrate on my stitching as this one was stitched \\\ and crossed back ///, which is the opposite from the way I stitch. I ended up doing a little frogging but not too bad. The whole piece is cute. Her is the picture for you to she the two that I stitched and the whole piece.

Well I guess I have rambled on long enough. I hope everyone is well and staying cool. Take care.

A Good Day !!

2010-07-02T21:10:00.000-07:00

Today DH turned 70 years old. As the kids used to say "Happy Ti Ti Bo Bo", how they got that from happy birthday I'll, never figure out. You know little ones though, they have a language of their own. LOL We had a quiet day, of course the phone rang constantly with birthday greetings for him. He was delighted. I took him out for supper to his favorite restaurant, Maine Fish Market. It used to be just a hole in the wall fish market but has grown over the years to a fantastic seafood restaurant. We both had Sea Scallops and left the place groaning we were so full. All of the waitresses came to the table with a piece of chocolate fudge cake and a candle and sang happy birthday to him. He said he was embarrassed but he was really enjoying the attention. All in all it was a great day. He was even feeling better today as the weather was on the cool side and the humidity low. He was still singing happy birthday as he was going to bed. I guess you never really grow up.LOL He told me that he never thought that he would live this long. Thank God for blessings.

Tuesday Evening

2010-06-29T16:40:00.000-07:00

Well Here I sit ,playing on the computer again. I try to limit myself or I would sit here until I am covered by cobwebs. LOL I am addicted to some of the games. sigh !!!
The weather here has been hot and humid. We have had to use the A/C for the last several days because of DH's breathing. It is supposed to cool off tonight and stay cool for the next couple of days thankfully. At least that will give the ol' A/C a break.
I have been doing odds and ends around here and trying to keep up with the hated housework and laundry. Why oh why do we have to eat and wear clothes ??? it would save so much time and energy, not to mention money, if we could do without both. I know, my cheese is slipping off my cracker. LOL

My stitching has been progressing in spurts and starts. I did manage to finish Fiori from the Marquoir German group and also another part on their See the Stars. I have been diligently working on Mandala so I can get it finished before the deadline of end of August. Here are the pictures of Fiori and See the Stars.

This next one is for my aunt, more my friend than my relative, she is a very special person and is having a Mastectomy tomorrow because of Breast Cancer. I am hoping that this will help to cheer her up. I still need to finish it into and ornie or a small wall hanging, I will try to get that done later this evening.

TUSAL

2010-06-13T00:17:00.000-07:00

Well here are my offerings. I missed the new moon last month. LOL My container is starting to fill up. I will have to start packing it down at this rate or buy a bigger container again.

Week end Again

2010-06-12T23:33:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a quiet and lazy Saturday here. The weather has been overcast and chilly -- hard to believe that it is Mid-June. So we stayed snug inside. Our supper was take out. I told you I was lazy today !! LOL I think the only thing I did around here was make the bed after we got up. I've spent the day stitching and playing on the computer.

I have two finishes. I finally finished the back of an afghan I crocheted for my Father for his Birthday. Now I just need to get it in the mail, as we are not going to be able to go down as planned.

I also finished a Mini Quaker Sampler from the German Marquoir Group. It was fun to stitch and I am quite pleased with the colors that I choose. I wasn't sure at first but I like the look of the finish.

This next piece is also from the Marquoir group and has only one more section and it will be complete also.

In Friday's mail I received my stitched card from Lynn as part of the Stitched Friendship Exchange through Jayne's Attic Forum. Her stitching is so lovely and I also received a nice chatty letter telling me about herself. Definitely a fun exchange.

An Eventful Weekend

2010-06-06T20:21:00.000-07:00

Well life does have it's twists and turns. I am no longer working as of Friday. I thought it best to take early retirement and stay home with DH. Evidently it was a good idea as we spent yesterday evening from 5:45 Pm until 11:45 PM in the emergency room yesterday. DH said he pulled a muscle in his back on Friday and last evening he was in so much pain that he had tears in his eyes. He told me that the pain was radiating around to the front of his chest so just to be on the safe side, we went to the hospital. I know he was feeling bad when he asked me to take him as he hates the hospital. Thankfully it was not his heart though. I can't figure what he did but when he woke up from his nap on Friday he was complaining. The MD said it was a muscle strain of the muscle right under his shoulder blade and that is why it hurt him so bad when he coughed or took a deep breath. The gave him some Percocet and an IV anti-inflammatory drug - Toradol. They sent him home with the Percocet but was did not want to give him anymore anti-inflammatory drugs because of his impaired kidney function. He is doing better today. Still hurting but not as bad. It always seems to be something. smile !!!

Today was a nice relaxing day. I made a nice roast chicken dinner for us and even managed to get some stitching done. I have to say, it is nice to know that I don't have to go to work tomorrow. i finally finished up my ornie for the Brides Tree SAL, I am behind so here is my April Bunny. I think he is cute.

I also finished my part in a RR for Jayne's Attic. I just love the butterflies. here is my part and the whole RR piece. I think she said the designs were from UK's Crazy for Cross Stitch. I just love the colors

This piece is the Lavender Morning by Chatelaine from the October, 2006 issue of Gift of Stitching magazine. I finally managed to put the beads on it and now all I have to do is frame it. I changed some of the bead and floss colors. So I guess you could say I made it my own.

This last one was a fun one. "Whatever !!!" is my answer to everything, it drives my DH mad. LOL He kind of growled at me when he saw what I was stitching. I told him I was going to hang right in front of his eyes so he would never forget it. I won't repeat his comment. ROFLMBO !!!

A Pleasant Sunday

2010-05-23T17:21:00.000-07:00

Last summer I had planters in front of my home, which included Vinca vine. I always thought Vinca Vine was an annual that had to to be replanted each year. To my surprise, a piece must have fallen to the stones last summer and came up this summer. It was only one small vine but I left it alone and to my surprise it bloomed. I was shocked. I never knew that Vinca Vine blossomed. It is a small light purple flower and so delicate. There was three flowers altogether on it. Her is a picture. Isn't it pretty ???

This a picture of my double blossom Clamatis. My Mother used to have this trailing all along the porch each year. Since she died it seems like the plant doesn't want to bloom anymore. Last year I didn't have anything on it. This year there is maybe 10 buds -- this is the first one to open. I also have a single blossom in a purple, but I guess it misses Mama, there are no blooms on it this year. Too bad, they are so pretty.

Yesterday was a fun day, the local LNS had a needlepoint class as part of a trunk show. I don't do very much needlepoint, I like the look of it but it is so expensive to buy the hand painted canvases. This little one I just couldn't resist. Most of the stitches I have used in my cross stitch but there are a couple that are new to me. The stitch for the sky -- Nabuko stitch -- is giving me fits as well as Reverse Diagonal Mosaic. But I know if I mess up too bad Judie at the LNS is not far away. I actually accomplished quite a bit after I got home yesterday. I did a lot of swearing as my DH will attest to. LOL He said ," if it bothers you that much why don't you just put it away " he just doesn't understand the stitcher's mentality. LOL the designer of this little sailboat has a lot of lovely designs. There was a beautiful canvas of poppies that caught my eye. The "CANVAS" was only $68.00 . I almost swallowed my tongue !!!! I very slowly put it down and turned my back. I can get into enough trouble with cross stitch. I can't afford to get too caught up with that hobby. I had fun anyway. I still have quite a bit to do.

This is a Mini Quaker Mystery through the Marquoir German Group. It is an enjoyable stitch with still 2 more parts to go. I am stitching on 32 ct Floba with WDW threads. I just love stitching on Floba.

Well I have taken up enough of your time today. I am back to work tomorrow for the next three days. Since I have to work, I love my schedule. I never work more than three days in a row before I have a day off. I hope everyone has a great week and enjoy the pretty weather.

More on DH

2010-05-18T17:08:00.000-07:00

The CT Scan shows that he has fluid in his heart muscles known as Congested Heart Failure. That is what is causing most of his breathing problems as well as his Emphysema. We saw a new Cardiologist last Tuesday and his Primary MD on Thursday. The Cardiologist is going to do an Echo Cardiogram next week to see if any of his numbers have changed before he starts to change any of his meds. He is on major diuretics now and we have to watch him for renal problems. He is just a very unwell person. My whole social life revolves around doctor visits and work. What a life !!! LOL

I also received some bad news. My aunt and best friend was diagnoses with breast cancer last week. She is going for a lumpectomy on the 24th. She is a very special person and my dearest friend. their is only 5 years difference in our ages and we have always been close. She is 68. Please say a prayer for her.

On a better note. Little Ella is doing great. She will be 3 months old on the 21st and is 7 1/2 pounds. She is still a little peanut but a little cutie. I received pictures for Mother's Day of both my "Little Girls", what a couple of sweeties. Here they are , see what you think. Emma is 19 months now.

Big Day Tomorrow

2010-05-03T22:08:00.000-07:00

DH is still not doing well. He started with the same thing again about a week ago. So he is back on Prednisone and just finished a week of Antibiotics. He goes for a CT Scan of his chest in the morning. Wednesday is an appointment with the pulmonologist and then Friday is an appointment with a new Cardiologist. Hopefully they will come up with a plan of action for his care. We just go day by day at this rate.

TU SAL

2010-04-18T22:28:00.000-07:00

Here are my offerings for this month. My container is getting full. I will have to look into something bigger. I read on another blog that this person uses her orts to stuff her smalls and it works out well, I will have to give it a try. Have a nice day !!!!!

Middle of April ?????

2010-04-18T22:04:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how fast time does fly. A lot has happened this month. Little Ella is home !!!! She came home at 1 month old at 5 lbs 12 ozs. She has really amazed everyone. My DDIL says that she eats like a little pig. LOL She is past the 6 lb mark and growing more all the time. I will post a picture as soon as I can. As for me, I was taken by ambulance from work a couple of weeks ago. I was light headed, queasy, weak and shaky and also had the cold sweats. It came on all of a sudden as I was setting up my med cart to pass out meds at start of shift. The supervisor was there, took my blood pressure and found it very high and wouldn't hear of anything but sending me to the ER. sigh !! So off I went in an ambulance,on a stretcher past all the patients on my unit and all my co-workers. I was so embarrassed. I kept trying to cover my face with a blanket. Anyway, in the ER the did a 12 lead EKG and took blood for testing. My blood pressure was very high, so every thing was rush rush. They found that my potassium was low after all the tests and there was no heart issues. thank God !!! They gave me some potassium and shortly there after my blood pressure came right down.. So now I have to eat at least one banana a day, and hopefully that will keep things where they should be. I have an appointment with my primary MD in a couple of weeks. I was so afraid of how my DH would do with the news of me going to the hospital. He was so upset that he couldn't drive, so a neighbor brought him to the ER. I have been fine since then. Now DH is sick again !!! He seems to go about a couple of months before he has more problems. Last week he was spitting up blood when he coughed and just wasn't feeling well. I called the MD and they saw him right away. He has a respiratory infection again. So they started him on antibiotics and prednisone for a week. They also sent him for a chest x-ray. I didn't like the results of that. He has mild congested heart failure, the infection in his right lung and fluid in his lungs. The MD called back and increased his diuretic for a week. Poor man, he has more shortness of breath now with the infection. Each time he gets an infection it takes so much out of him. I am amazed that he doesn't have to go on oxygen as of yet, I am sure that that day will come though. he only has problems breathing when he does anything taxing. He gets so frustrated. My stitching has been sporadic at best here lately. I will try to post more often. Take care and thanks for listening to me rant on.

TUSAL

2010-03-16T02:12:00.000-07:00

Well here is my offerings for this month. If it keeps growing as fast as it is I will need a larger container for it. As you can see, I have been stitching more here lately. I have another of my Mrs Albee figurines watching over it.

Monday Again.

2010-03-15T22:35:00.000-07:00

Monday is finally behind me, thankfully. Work was crazy as usual. I have several really sick patients right now so things can get hectic quick. The week end was a productive one. We had all the rain and wind from the Nor'easter that came through Saturday and Sunday. Thank God it was rain and not snow, at least you don't have to shovel the rain. The lights flickered but thankfully didn't go out. A lot of people lost their power from the storm. Some areas were hit pretty bad. We have tree branches down in the yard and in the woods behind the house. But everything was OK. DH and I just hibernated for the week end. I did managed to get quite a bit of stitching done while I was kept inside though. I caught up on two of my SAL's for the German Marquoir Group ( I am so far behind every one else sigh !!!) and have two more to work on. This is my progress on Mandala and Zentangle 2.
I decided to start a new one, I know I shouldn't have but it was calling to me. It is Lavender Garden by Martina Weber from the Gift of Stitching Mag October 2006 issue. I am really enjoying it and trying to do a small rotation so I get a little done on all of them. I love the looks of it so far. And it is a really enjoyable stitch.
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This last piece is one that I finished the stitching on quite a long time ago and just let it rest with all the other pieces that I have completed. Our Primary Care Physician is retiring at the end of the month and I wanted to give him something nice. He is a wonderful man and I/we will miss him terribly but he is 70 and needs to have some time to travel and spend time with family while he is still healthy and able to. I gave this to him last week and he had tears in his eyes that I thought of him so fondly. He has been my doctor for the past 19 years . He will be missed by a lot of people. I was shocked to how big of a practice he had when they new doctors had an open house to introduce the new group to Dr Sethi's patients. The amount of people was mind boggling. He never had a crowded waiting room . He felt it was rude to make people wait for long periods of time. And he always had time to sit and talk to you in his office after he examined you. I have been spoiled. I sure hope this new group can stand up to his standards. We will see. This piece is a Loopy Lou SAL that was done on Jayne"s Attic several years ago. I just love the looks of it
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End of the Day !!!

2010-03-06T21:55:00.000-08:00

Work wasn't as bad as it could have been thankfully. But then week ends are usually quieter than the rest of the week. Two more days to go. LOL Yesterday I was a lazy bum. I sat in my chair all day and stitched. I didn't even stick my nose out of the house. DH made supper for us. I managed to finish my Just Nan SAL for Jayne's Attic and the Brides Tree SAL Flower for March. I just love days when I can indulge myself. Aren't I bad !! hee hee hee Here is what I stitched on :

Just Nan Memories and Flower for March / Brides Tree SAL

Ella update

2010-03-06T00:52:00.000-08:00

I heard today that Ella is up to 4 lbs 5 ozs. She is just growing away. Maybe she will get to come home early. She is thriving wonderfully. thanks for all the prayers and good wishes.

Little Ella Update.

2010-02-28T16:18:00.000-08:00

Little Ella is doing well. She is off C-PAP and breathing room air without any difficulties. She is eating and digesting her food. She was even able to latch on tho her mother's breast to nurse. No one thought she was strong enough yet but she did it. She didn't nurse for long but she did nurse. DDIL is pumping her breasts so there is milk there for her when Becca is home. Becca went home form the hospital Thursday. Leaving Little Ella behind was hard for both DS and Becca. Becca is still having a lot of pain from the c-section but each day brings improvement. Her is a picture of DS, his wife and Little Emma. She is so tiny.

A Grandmother again -- Need Prayers

2010-02-21T23:47:00.000-08:00

Sunday evening at 7:37PM, Little Ella Marie made her way into this world. She is 8 weeks early and weighs 3 lbs 14 ozs and is 16 1/2 inches long. Right now she is in the NICCU on CPAP. She was given Surfactin to help mature her lungs. So far she is holding her own, but will be in the hospital for at least another 6-8 weeks baring complications. DDIL became pre-eclamptic. The MD decided to do a C-section to help avoid problems for both her and the baby. Her blood pressure is starting to come down now that the baby has been born and she is feeling tired but a little better. Both her and DS are worried about Little Ella though. I just wish they were not so far away from me. And I am unable to make a trip to see them now because of DH's health. DS is going to keep me updated on their progress. I told him to email some pictures of my new little one. Emma (16 months) is staying with her other grandmother while DS and DDIL are otherwise occupied. Please keep them in your prayers for healing and well being. Thanks.

TUSAL -- February

2010-02-15T00:18:00.000-08:00

I almost forgot to post this one. Here is my TUSAL for this month. It looks like I have been stitching like mad but I had a frog hiding in my house and it took me forever to find him. As a result there is a lot of "ripits" in there this month. Oh, BTW that is me writing up a rough draft of my post. hee hee hee !!!!! ( I wish !!! ) Isn't she lovely ?? She is one of the Mrs. Albee figurines that my mother and I earned through Avon's Presidents Club. Mom sold Avon for almost 26 years and I worked with here for the last ten of that. We have Mrs Albee's for almost the whole time. I love then. But then I am partial to anything Victorian anyway. Have a nice day !!!

Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T03:21:00.000-08:00

First I would like to wish everyone a nice Valentine's Day. DH took me out to dinner last night so we could avoid all the crowds. Too many people tend to tire him. He is still doing well. He has his bad days but not like before. I have been away from the computer for the last week because of a death in the family. My Aunt passed away. She was 81 years old and put up a good fight but died in the end. She has been failing for a while. Now she is at peace. I had to go out of state for the funeral. DH stayed home as I was only gone overnight. Thank good for cell phones, he had contact with me at all times and a neighbor was there if he needed anything, thankfully there were no emergencies.

I managed to finish my February Heart for the Brides Tree SAL and finished two more parts on the Marquoir Christmas Mystery. i just hope I can get it finished before the deadline at the end of the month. My fingers have been flying every chance I get. Here are my efforts so far. e

Good News

2010-02-06T02:37:00.000-08:00

The new med that DH is taking has worked wonders. He lost 12 pounds of fluid in the last week and a half and is doing much better. He even went for a drive to the store today (Friday). He hasn't felt good enough to drive for the past 2 months. He even has his sense of humor back. It makes me feel so good to see him improving. Thanks for all you good wishes.

As far as stitching goes, I have been working on two of my projects for the German Marquoir group. One I finished and the other I am trying to finish before the deadline at the end of the month. My needles have been smoking. LOL Here is my progress so far.

A Quiet Sunday

2010-01-31T12:23:00.000-08:00

I am enjoying a nice relaxing Sunday -- no work today!!! yippee !!!!! I am off every other week end, so look forward to each one. It is so cold here that we have not stuck our noses out of the house all week end. I didn't get any stitching done yesterday because of a headache that just would not leave me alone. I sat like a slug all day. I think the only thing I did was make supper for us -- a very easy Tuna Casserole. Oh and I did clean up the kitchen afterwards. Other than that nothing. Hopefully I will get some stitching done today after all my chores are done -- all the ones I didn't do yesterday. LOL
Our visit to the MD on Thursday was enlightening to say the least. They found that DH is holding fluid in his abdomen as well as his feet and ankles. The MD lowered his current diuretic (water pill) and is adding another type of diuretic to his long list of meds. It seems to be working, as his breathing has been a little better since he started it. So we will see. We don't go too far as he can't tolerate this severe cold weather we are having, so for the winter we are like hermits. I don't go far, just to the store for food stuff and work. At least I feel better about leaving him alone while I am at work.
Stitching wise, I don't have a lot to report. I started to work on Clare's RR but there is not enough progress to show yet. I have been trying to stay on top of the Marquoir for the German Group as it ends the end of February. I should have something to show tomorrow.
Hope everyone is enjoying their week end and stitching away. Take care !!

January TUSAL

2010-01-28T04:05:00.000-08:00

I am late but here is my TUSAL so far.

A New Day

2010-01-28T03:50:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that I am up and functioning at 7 AM. I am not a morning person as a rule. But I napped on and off last evening so I guess I didn't need the extra sleep this morning. I am normally just going to bed at 4 or 5 am. LOL

DH had a pretty good day yesterday. We went to the Pulmonologist on Monday as scheduled. They did a Breathing capacity study on him and his breathing has declined since the last one they did. The Pulmonologist still seems to think most of his problems are Cardiac related instead of lung related. It is hard to tell because he is so compromised with both. The MD ordered an Overnight Oximetry (amount of blood oxygen while he is sleeping) Study to be done. We are just waiting for the Techs to get in touch with us to schedule the test. We go to our Primary Doctor today. We both have appointments. Mine is just routine. I am sure we will learn the lab results on DH today. The Pulmonologist did a chest x-ray when we were there Monday but we haven't heard anything yet. It seems like my whole social life revolves around MD visits. sigh!!!

I have been stitching on a Christmas SAL for the German Marquoir Group, the SAL ends the end of February so I am working away so I can get all the parts. I missed the last part on one of them because of a deadline. So hopefully I will make it this time. Her is my efforts so far.

Friday Noon Time

2010-01-22T09:36:00.000-08:00

Had to cancel DH's appointment with the Pulmonologist today he just didn't feel well enough to go out of the house. We are supposed to go on Monday morning. Hopefully he will feel up to it by then. I have been fighting with a clogged kitchen sink for the past three days trying to clear it myself. No luck, I had to get someone in today to do it. I did plumbing for about fifteen years but can't climb under cabinets anymore. The knees won't let me. Isn't aging a wonderful thing ???? LOL Well I am off to clean my messy kitchen. Haven't been able to do disshes for a couple of days, isn't that a mixed blessing. LOL

Back to Work

2010-01-19T00:20:00.000-08:00

Well i finally went back to work today. I have been off for the past week with DH. He health is not good. They finally put him on steroids and an antibiotic this past Friday and today he felt a little better. At least enough so I could go back to work. I was afraid to leave him alone for very long as his breathing was so bad. This Friday we go to the pulmonologist and see what he has to say.

I didn't get very much stitching done even though I was not working. DH took up a lot of my time. Bless his heart, it frustrates him so much to be dependant on anyone. hopefully when the warmer weather gets here he will fare a little better.

A Computer Day

2010-01-13T00:15:00.000-08:00

Today was a day off from work as well as tomorrow. I spent most of the evening on the computer trying to clear my mail box. What a chore -- 9,000 emails !!! yikes !!! I try to get on the computer about every three days and stitch in between. ( in between work and home that is LOL ) DH is still not doing to well. He can't tolerate this cold weather and stays in the house most of the time. I wish I had the option of staying home with him but unfortunately we need the health insurance for him right now. So I guess I will just slog along until I can retire. Just three years and 4 months to go ----- yes, I am counting !!!! Maybe then I will have the time to stitch all the things that I want to. Heaven only knows, I have enough here to stitch for two life times. LOL I have been working on the Just Nan SAL for Jaynes Attic and I am really enjoying it. Instead of plodding along as I usually do, I have about 3/4 of it finished. I love it !!! I am planning to do one of her angels for the rest of the SAL.. When I visited my LNS I found a JN chart for a border for one of her angels and it will fit all of her angels. Ther is also a Christmas stocking that will fit all of the angels also. I will have to plan on making a stocking for each of my granddaughters. I have two now and will have a third come March or April. The family is growing by leaps and bounds. DH's youngest son told him the other day that they are expecting another baby in August or September. That will give us 14 grandchildren for this next Christmas. 4 for me and 10 for him. Of course he has four children and I only have two. Prolific little devils !!!! LOL Anyway here is a pic of my Just Nan SAL. Hope you have a great day.

2009-12-27T00:02:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, ours was fairly quiet. We went to my son's home for Christmas Eve. Present were my son, his wife, her daughter (grown), myself and my husband. A small, intimate gathering. Their tree was lovely as usual. Linda (DDIL) cooked a great dinner for us all. What a wonderful cook she is. She made our traditional Lasagna, salad, homemade herb bread and lots of Christmas cookies for dessert. We all ate until we were ready to pop. LOL Then we tackled the gifts. I received gift cards for Borders, Best Buy and a gift card for Cracker Barrel (one of our favorite places to eat) for the both of us. I also received a gift basket with lots of goodies in it -- a large tin of all different teas, a new mug, snuggle socks for those cold nights and a wonderful scented candle. We arrived back home about 9:30 pm. I had to go to work for Christmas day, so DH had the day to rest and relax. He is still not feeling well. I worry about him, but try to keep up a good front. We just continue to take things a day at a time. And thank God for that. We had a great deal of snow right before Christmas and right now it raining or I should say pouring. The snow should be gone by morning. I am working for the next couple of days so stitching time will be sparse. right now I am trying to catch up on all the projects that have fallen behind. sigh!!! Someday I will have the time to stitch as long as I would like to -- maybe. LOL Hope everyone is well.

TUSAL

2009-12-18T20:18:00.000-08:00

My TUSAL is growing faster than I thought it would. the picture is a little blurry, I was a little shaky tonight. i might even have to get a bigger recepticle.

2009-12-18T20:13:00.000-08:00

A girl at work asked me to make her six angels for Christmas. I finally finished them. I love the lacy look of Hardanger. here is a picture of my efforts. she waas quite pleased. I think I will have to make another set for my tree.

Monday is Over

2009-12-08T00:34:00.000-08:00

Monday always seems to be a bad day at work. It seems as if the administration staff have to cause chaos to earn their week end off. sigh !!! I got to work at 3PM today and walkied into a disaster. One of the patients had fallen and there was a new admit to the unit. As if that wasn't bad enough, one of the doctors came in to renew orders and left with the chart rack sitting on the desk with orders to note. I ended up with 14 charts that needed noting and a nursing note as well as the regular charting that needs to be done. I felt like hiding under the desk after the first hour of the shift. Thankfully though I managed to get it all done and even punched out at 11:20 PM. I sure hope tomorrow is a little calmer. Maybe I might even get to take a supper break. LOL

On a stitching front, I have been trying to get Hardanger Angels finished for an order. Someone at work ordered 6 of them. I have 4 complete and just need to make 2 more. Here are my angels so far. I still need to starch them up but all the stitching is complete.

Another week over !!!

2009-12-05T00:30:00.000-08:00

Thank goodness I am off work for the week end. We have a couple of new patients and they are a handful. Both are very confused and very needy. One of the ladies follows me around all shift and talks none stop. Bless her heart. I love my job but it can be exhausting at times.

On the stitching front, I have been busy. I finished my "carry along" finally. This piece has traveled with me to countless MD appointments for DH as well as to work for those unexpected times that I get a break for a few minutes. It is a hardanger piece of my own design and I am quite pleased with it. This is the first large piece that I tried without a pattern. I have designed bookmarks and ornies but nothing bigger until now. Now if I can figure out how to chart it maybe I will on my way to being a designer. LOL Big asperations for one piece, I always was a dreamer. Oh well, you never know.

totally Useless SAL -- November, 09

2009-11-15T23:03:00.000-08:00

Here are my offerings for this month. As you can see it is growing slowly and being overseen by my amphibian friend. LOL I filled my little jar and had to get something a little bit bigger. I like this SAL, it is an easy one to keep up with. LOL

Two Days of Fun

2009-10-21T21:03:00.000-07:00

Well, my days off this week were interesting anyway. DH had an appointment with a doctor that puts in defribrillators. I really liked the doctor, he was very easy to talk to and not patronizing at all as some doctors can be. He answered all of our questions and told DH to call him when he made a decision. DH is so afraid to go into the hospitol again that I told him to make the decision that he felt the best with. He really needs to have it done but I am not going to pressure him. He fears that if he goes into the hospitol again that he will not come home again. So I can't push.
Later Tuesday evening I went to my LNS and took a pulled thread ornament candle class. What fun !!! It should be pretty when I have it completed -- almost there. This evening I went back to the LNS and took the class from last week as I was working for that one. (Wednesday is Open Class ) I started a needlepoint bargello candle -- I enjoy doing bargello. This one is done on 13 mesh canvas and uses gold opalescent white and silks - 2 shades of soft green and 2 shades of rose. I love the way it is turning out. I will post pictures when there is more to see.

Totally Useless SAL

2009-10-21T20:58:00.000-07:00

Well I am a few days late but here is what I have so far. Have a nice day !!!

October is Here !!

2009-10-10T22:04:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that October is a reality and almost half over. I just don't know where the time goes. I used to hear people say that time went faster the older you got and used to laugh. but, I am not laughing now. I just don't believe how fast it flies away. Oh well !!

I am still stitching. Not as much as I would like but stitchinng noe the less. Work and dreaded housework seem to get in the way. i just finished a bookmark for the JA Hardanger Bookmark Tutorial. I changed the design as I did mine on canvas instead of fabric. The design called for xs and eyelets on the sides but they got lost on the canvas. So I used cables instead and am quite pleased with the finish. the other bookmark is a design of my own. I did a weaved rose in the center for something different. I like the way it looks.

Here also is my progress on two of the Garden Fairies by Nora Corbett / Mirabilia. MOrning Glory Fairy is ready for me to add the metallics and the beads, while I was waiting for some of my beads to come in I just had to start Sweet Pea Fairy and love the colors in her skirt/dress. So I guess I will have two of them to add beads and metallics to. .

thank you for visiting my blog , I will try to post more often. take care andd enjoy the clean crisp air of Fall before Father Winter adds icicles to your nose. hee hee

September Already !!!

2009-09-02T01:43:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it is September already. The time just keeps flying by. I found out the other day that I am going to be a grandmother again. this one will make 4 grands for me. I have a 19 year old grandson that is starting his 2nd year in college (unbelievable -- I remember holding him when he was a new born ) , a 16 year old granddaughter that is still in high school, and a ten month old granddaughter that is just starting to walk. my son is hoping that this one will be a boy (the two girls aree his ) so he will have a hunting and fishing partner. Although I am sure he will initiate the girls in his pastimes also. LOL

DH cont to have health problems, but he is stable at the moment. My stitching seems to take a back seat to work and MD appointments. So it has been sporadic at best. My latest finish was for a friend. It is from one of the UK mags and was a fun stitch. I am quite pleased with how it turned out.

I also just finished a mail art envelope for an exchange but will post a picture after it has been received. Have a nice day and enjoy the crisp weather.

Another Rainy Night !!!

2009-07-23T23:34:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone !!!! As you can see, I am not a faithful poster. sigh !!! Time seems to get away from me. Not enough of it for all my leisure pursuits. LOL As you can tell by my title, it is raining again here. I live in Connecticut, USA. That is in the Northeast corner of the states better known as New England. This has been by far the wettest summer I think I have seen in a long time. All it does is rain. I feel bad for all the beach lovers. There hasn't been much sun for sun bathing. I used to love the beach but since I married my DH, my beach time has become next to non-existent. He is not a beach person at all. Me, I could sit and listen to the surf breaking for hours on end. Such a relaxing sound. He is a TV/sports nut. So I sit and stitch and listen to audio books while he watches his sports. That is, when I am not working. I will be so glad when I can retire, only 3 1/2 more years to go. Yay !!!
I hope everyone is having a nice summer and getting some stitching time around all the picnics. So long for now. Take care.

Tuesday - Another Snowy Day

2009-02-03T17:59:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that it is February of a new year. The time just goes too fast. Between work and life in general, I am kept busy. I had more surgery on my right eye and can now stitch again. Most of what I am doing is smalls but I also started one of the Mirabilia / Nora Corbett Pixies - Morning Glory. She is a fun stitch.

I am making good progress so far. I like the way all of the colors are coming together. It's a nice easy stitch. I am stitching it on Antique White 28ct Monaco by Charles Craft. Her it is so far.

Most of my stitching has been Hardanger Ornies and a Bookmark. I like these smalls as they are great to carry along with you.
Here also are Christmas pictures of Emma Rihann, my new grand daughter. She is three months old as of the 22nd of January. I think she is a cutie but of coarse my opinion is biased. LOL

Another Day

2008-12-09T01:01:00.000-08:00

It was freezing cold yesterday, in the 20's. brrrrr!! Today it is supposed to warm up. Crazy weather!! But then that is New England for you. I worked yesterday, and will work again today and Wednesday. then two days off. YEA!!!! Love those days off. I still have not had the time to get any decorating done around here. Hopefully I will get something done on my days off . I have been trying to get some stitching done. If I get on the computer then nothing gets done. Time just seems to fly by. I am working on a couple of Hardanger Angels foR a girl at work. I don't usually take orders as I don't like to work under pressure. I just enjoy the act of stitching. It seems to relax me after a stressful day at work. i will try to post pictures when I get a chance. I guess that is about all for today. Take care.

Grandma Again !!!

2008-10-27T22:39:00.000-07:00

This past Thursday my youngest son and his wife presented me with a new granddaughter. Her name is Emma Rihann and she weighed 6 lbs 12 oz and was 19 1/4 inches long. What a sweetie she is. She is my third grandchild and the only baby. My grandson is 18 and in his first year of college and my other granddaughter is 15. The 15 yr old is my youngest son's daughter from his first marriage. And my grandson is from my eldest son. My DH's youngest son and his wife had a little girl last month Mikaylah Marie, another sweetie. Between the two of us we now have 12 grands, quite a crew. I will be busy stitching for these two new ones, not sure what yet. I am busy looking around for something special. Catch you later !!!