Well, sorry that it's been a couple of days since I last posted.
I want to thank all of you who emailed, left comments or just kept us in good thoughts and prayers over the David's back adventure. I appreciate all of you and it's so nice to know that there are those who care, even though we've never met face to face. I think that's cool and I AM BLESSED!!!!!!!!!
The DH went to the doctor on Monday and it went just like I thought...the doctor didn't know what happened but suspected that Dave slipped a disk because of the sudden onset of pain without pain in any other part of his body...but the doctor couldn't be sure..the diagnosis given was to take it easy and come back if the pain persists...DUH. And no, David did not meantion that he was sick a couple of weeks ago...MEN.
Dave's got a few days left of painkiller and muscle relaxant. He's still snuggling with the heating pad too. In the morning, he is quite stiff and he hurts alot. Then his back gets progressively better and the pain subsides to a dull ache. We don't know if that's happening because the pain is being masked by the meds or if he's really on the mend. Time will tell. Being the girl who's glass is always half empty, I believe that once the meds are gone, we will be right back to the doctor and then maybe we will get something more than a vague, *Gee, I don't know why this happened*. Like and MRI.
Anyway, he is getting tired of taking it easy. My hubby is fairly active, he does a lot of physical stuff and this is just killing him not to be able to do the barn work or bring up wood or do whatever manly things he does. Not to mention he's not happy that he's put on a few pounds since he's been couch ridden for the last week. Now that the feasting is over, we've both turned into bunnies because both of us have put on a few this last few weeks. He because of inactivity, me because of stress and not knowing what to do besides eat when I am anxious, depressed and scared. One would think after all the Weight Watchers meetings I've attending over the last 4 years I could figure out a way to substitute food for something else to give me comfort. Nope, this back thing combined with Thanksgiving gave me a liscence to eat. Somehow, I doubt that James Bond would be impressed and no, I will never be a Bond Girl.
I am really tired. Keeping hearth, home, husband, horses and job is a lot of work. I've haven't had a lot of down time this last week and I am getting crinkle-y. I am not complaining, mind you...it's just taking a little bit to get used to doing everything. I never realized how much work the DH actually does around here until he couldn't do it anymore. And I'm impressed!!! And grateful for all he does.
On the stitching front, I am reporting that I have stitched a teeny bit over the week...I completed my ornament for the SBEBB exchange just about 10 minutes ago. Now I have to put it together...joy of joys, finishing is SO much fun! NOT...
And I worked on my love, John Foster, a bit...not a lot but just enough to give him those warm fuzzies and to let him know that he is still the cat's pajama's with me. Sarah Tatum saw my needle for the first time in forever too. I finished stitching the motifs about 1/2 way across the top of the sampler and almost 3/4 down the left side. Some of those motifs are hugh(!) and they are taking quite a long time to stitch. I read on Legacy that someone has finished the new Sarah Moon sampler in RECORD time and has begun to stitch Hannah Hicks, making great progress on that sampler too. I am shaking my head in shame cause I started Sarah T. in January of last year...and I am not even an 1/10 completed. I am a slug stitcher...slow as a sloth. I do not own turbo needles what so ever.
But it's the journey, not the destination, right?
I would like to post some photos of my progress but it's so dark when I get home that photo taking is somewhat futile. I am hoping for the weekend to at least grab a sliver of daylight. Even if it does snow (like the weather man is predicting) at least I should have some light to get a somewhat decent pics of Sarah and John. Guess you'll all have to wait until the weekend to see my updates. I have been living vicariously through all your blogs though, you guys do great work!!!
Well, I do have to go to bed, 4:45-5:00 AM rolls around very fast.
Thanks again for the good wishes and prayers and thanks so much for visiting my little corner of the world.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Update on the David
First of all, thank you for your prayers and well wishes. They are greatly appreciated!
After spending a restless night, David got up about 4 AM to try to get some rest on the sofa. So he propped himself upright with the heating pad and went to sleep. When I got up at 7:00 to take care of the animals, I found him lying down sound asleep. That's a good thing.
Right now, he is sitting at the kitchen table working on a presentation. The heating pad has become his best friend. He is able to sit ok and he is walking very, very slowly. But he can not stand for more than a few minutes. He says his pain level is about a 3 which is a great improvement over the last 24 hours when it varied between an 8 or a 10. He took a shower and is eating ok.
Me, well, I am still scared and we do not know what why this happened. He thinks he over-did it when he and Mike were out splitting firewood on Tuesday. I am not so sure.
He was sick a couple of Sunday's ago, he had a terrible headache and he was throwing up most of the evening. Right after he felt better, he started to complain about his back, not a lot, just to say that he was sore. We chocked it up to throwing up so much, that he strained muscles from up chucking. Now I am wondering if all this is somehow connected. He doesn't think so and of course, he never told the ER doctor that he was sick 2 weeks ago.
And I am now paranoid. There is a man that I know from work who picked up a bacterial infection that settled in his spine. He told me that it began with a stiff neck. Two days later he was in ICU and his prognosis was not good, it was either death or becoming a paraplegic. Fortunately for him, his doctor discovered the infection, his surgery was a success and the super-antibiotics worked. He has only lost the use of his left arm. See why I am so scared? I am trying not to compare my DH to Brian, but it sure is hard not to connect his symptoms to my DH's.
I was very surprised that the ER doctor didn't do a blood screening. I guess she figured that David probably just wrenched something so it wasn't necessary. I hope that when he sees our primary care physician on Monday, he does a blood panel to rule out infections. I know David will not tell him that he was ill a couple of weeks ago.
Well, I have to go now, I just wanted to keep you all updated. Continue the good thoughts and prayers, K?
After spending a restless night, David got up about 4 AM to try to get some rest on the sofa. So he propped himself upright with the heating pad and went to sleep. When I got up at 7:00 to take care of the animals, I found him lying down sound asleep. That's a good thing.
Right now, he is sitting at the kitchen table working on a presentation. The heating pad has become his best friend. He is able to sit ok and he is walking very, very slowly. But he can not stand for more than a few minutes. He says his pain level is about a 3 which is a great improvement over the last 24 hours when it varied between an 8 or a 10. He took a shower and is eating ok.
Me, well, I am still scared and we do not know what why this happened. He thinks he over-did it when he and Mike were out splitting firewood on Tuesday. I am not so sure.
He was sick a couple of Sunday's ago, he had a terrible headache and he was throwing up most of the evening. Right after he felt better, he started to complain about his back, not a lot, just to say that he was sore. We chocked it up to throwing up so much, that he strained muscles from up chucking. Now I am wondering if all this is somehow connected. He doesn't think so and of course, he never told the ER doctor that he was sick 2 weeks ago.
And I am now paranoid. There is a man that I know from work who picked up a bacterial infection that settled in his spine. He told me that it began with a stiff neck. Two days later he was in ICU and his prognosis was not good, it was either death or becoming a paraplegic. Fortunately for him, his doctor discovered the infection, his surgery was a success and the super-antibiotics worked. He has only lost the use of his left arm. See why I am so scared? I am trying not to compare my DH to Brian, but it sure is hard not to connect his symptoms to my DH's.
I was very surprised that the ER doctor didn't do a blood screening. I guess she figured that David probably just wrenched something so it wasn't necessary. I hope that when he sees our primary care physician on Monday, he does a blood panel to rule out infections. I know David will not tell him that he was ill a couple of weeks ago.
Well, I have to go now, I just wanted to keep you all updated. Continue the good thoughts and prayers, K?
Friday, November 24, 2006
Black Friday
It was a Black Friday of epic proportions. And I didn't step near the Mall or any store for that matter. The plans I had made for the day was to go to the Animal Care Council and adopt a cat. An adorable calico cat. But no....
I spent the entire day...12 hours long in the ER.
My DH has been having back pain off and on for the last week or so. He's been dealing with it. But yesterday, it got worse. He couldn't lay down. He could hardly walk. So he parked himself propped up by 4 pillows in bed and slept upright most of the night.
This morning, he hobbled out of the bathroom to go feed the horses and I told him that I would do it. And he readily agreed. So, I was about 10 minutes behind him and I figured that he was already outside. But, no, I found him sitting in a chair in the sunporch. Looking very scared. He could not move. He couldn't stand up. He couln't lift his foot without crying, and I mean crying out loud. So I went out to feed the horses at his request. I was just finishing when my cell phone went off. He was calling to tell me that he needed me right away. So I sprinted to the house to find him in the same position but shaking uncontrollably. Get an ambulance right now was the words I heard.
In 15 minutes the EMT's were at the house, the DH was bundled onto a gurney and we made the trip to the ER. We got parked in the hallway. The ER was packed.
The DH was in such pain that every move was excuriating. But he couldn't stay in one position more than 10 minutes. And we waited and waited. Off to the get a lumbar x-ray. The nurse came by and he asked for pain meds. My husband, asking for demoral. This is the guy who won't take an asprin for a headache. About 3 hours later she came by and gave him a shot of something. Didn't touch the pain. Finally, the doctor came and she examined him. He had reflexes, no radiating pain, no fever, normal vitals, the x-ray was ok. HMMM-MM.
So we waited another couple of hours and they decided to let him go, only if he could stand and walk on his own. So he painfully gets up and then gets nauseous and collapses in the nurses arms. Back onto the gurney. They decided to give him an IV of something, they hooked him up to a monitor and gave him another pain shot. And they leave us again for another couple hours. I needed to go home to take care of the horses so I go...and within an hour and a half I am back. They want to keep him, he wants to go home. So the doctor said...if he could get up and walk then she would let him go, although they felt he should stay...
He got up and walked...so we are now home 12 hours later with a mega-dose of ibuprophen and a muscle relaxant.
And me...I was scared and I AM scared. Neither one of us know why this happened or what he did to his back. All I know is that I prayed all day. I could not believe how much I love this man and how much I depend on him.
Black Friday...and my credit card is whole, my husband not so much.
I spent the entire day...12 hours long in the ER.
My DH has been having back pain off and on for the last week or so. He's been dealing with it. But yesterday, it got worse. He couldn't lay down. He could hardly walk. So he parked himself propped up by 4 pillows in bed and slept upright most of the night.
This morning, he hobbled out of the bathroom to go feed the horses and I told him that I would do it. And he readily agreed. So, I was about 10 minutes behind him and I figured that he was already outside. But, no, I found him sitting in a chair in the sunporch. Looking very scared. He could not move. He couldn't stand up. He couln't lift his foot without crying, and I mean crying out loud. So I went out to feed the horses at his request. I was just finishing when my cell phone went off. He was calling to tell me that he needed me right away. So I sprinted to the house to find him in the same position but shaking uncontrollably. Get an ambulance right now was the words I heard.
In 15 minutes the EMT's were at the house, the DH was bundled onto a gurney and we made the trip to the ER. We got parked in the hallway. The ER was packed.
The DH was in such pain that every move was excuriating. But he couldn't stay in one position more than 10 minutes. And we waited and waited. Off to the get a lumbar x-ray. The nurse came by and he asked for pain meds. My husband, asking for demoral. This is the guy who won't take an asprin for a headache. About 3 hours later she came by and gave him a shot of something. Didn't touch the pain. Finally, the doctor came and she examined him. He had reflexes, no radiating pain, no fever, normal vitals, the x-ray was ok. HMMM-MM.
So we waited another couple of hours and they decided to let him go, only if he could stand and walk on his own. So he painfully gets up and then gets nauseous and collapses in the nurses arms. Back onto the gurney. They decided to give him an IV of something, they hooked him up to a monitor and gave him another pain shot. And they leave us again for another couple hours. I needed to go home to take care of the horses so I go...and within an hour and a half I am back. They want to keep him, he wants to go home. So the doctor said...if he could get up and walk then she would let him go, although they felt he should stay...
He got up and walked...so we are now home 12 hours later with a mega-dose of ibuprophen and a muscle relaxant.
And me...I was scared and I AM scared. Neither one of us know why this happened or what he did to his back. All I know is that I prayed all day. I could not believe how much I love this man and how much I depend on him.
Black Friday...and my credit card is whole, my husband not so much.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
G is for....
Red posted this little meme called Alphabet Soup on her blog. She assigns a letter to anyone interested and you have to come up with 10 words starting with that letter. She assigned me the letter *G*. I am glad she didn't assign me the letters of DOOM...
So here goes...
1. GOD - The supreme being, creator and ruler of the universe. I have a very strong belief in God. I see evidence of His work everywhere. I am a Christian and I do not know where I would be without His presence in my life.
2. Gratitude - This is something that I am working on. It's not that I am ungrateful, it's just that I don't express gratitude for all that I have. I need to give thanks for all the blessings are mine.
3. Glutton - That's what I think of when I look at my stash. I've recently beat myself over the head about my stash, but no more. My stash is a blessing that I am grateful to own. I love it and I am very happy to be able to choose wonderful patterns to stitch.
4. Gloriana Silks - for a long time I didn't like them. They felt *scrunchy* in my hand. But now I'm a convert as I've been using this glorious color for a set of smalls that I am stitching. But because they are so expensive, I only have a few skeins. Recently, I purchased 2 skeins of In the Burgundy...scrumptious, rich, deep burgundy red....YUMMY!
5. Grace.
6. Groovy - There is a girl at work who uses this word as an adjective in just about every sentence. Everything is groovy to Melissa. She's pretty groovy herself and I am glad she is my friend.
7. Glad - experiencing pleasure, joy, or delight. I am VERY GLAD that I do not have to go to work until Monday. Need a break.
8. Gusto - as in Go for the GUSTO! I equate this with Passion. I am passionate about my family, my house, my horses, my job, and my life. Going for the gusto means giving 100% and enjoying it.
9. Gorilla - I like this word. And right now, I am ignoring an 800 pound gorilla in the room. I just don't want to face it - so there.
10. Graphic - I am a graphic designer. Once upon a time, I wanted to be an illustrator. I have a BFA in graphic design and I wanted to work in advertising on Madison Avenue. Big dreams. Life is funny. I do not work in advertising nor do I do any graphic design work. I work in Quality Engineering. But I look at everything from a designer's eye. I have a great sense of color, an eye for detail. That training has served me very well.
SO there... the letter *G* has been brought to you by....ME!
So here goes...
1. GOD - The supreme being, creator and ruler of the universe. I have a very strong belief in God. I see evidence of His work everywhere. I am a Christian and I do not know where I would be without His presence in my life.
2. Gratitude - This is something that I am working on. It's not that I am ungrateful, it's just that I don't express gratitude for all that I have. I need to give thanks for all the blessings are mine.
3. Glutton - That's what I think of when I look at my stash. I've recently beat myself over the head about my stash, but no more. My stash is a blessing that I am grateful to own. I love it and I am very happy to be able to choose wonderful patterns to stitch.
4. Gloriana Silks - for a long time I didn't like them. They felt *scrunchy* in my hand. But now I'm a convert as I've been using this glorious color for a set of smalls that I am stitching. But because they are so expensive, I only have a few skeins. Recently, I purchased 2 skeins of In the Burgundy...scrumptious, rich, deep burgundy red....YUMMY!
5. Grace.
6. Groovy - There is a girl at work who uses this word as an adjective in just about every sentence. Everything is groovy to Melissa. She's pretty groovy herself and I am glad she is my friend.
7. Glad - experiencing pleasure, joy, or delight. I am VERY GLAD that I do not have to go to work until Monday. Need a break.
8. Gusto - as in Go for the GUSTO! I equate this with Passion. I am passionate about my family, my house, my horses, my job, and my life. Going for the gusto means giving 100% and enjoying it.
9. Gorilla - I like this word. And right now, I am ignoring an 800 pound gorilla in the room. I just don't want to face it - so there.
10. Graphic - I am a graphic designer. Once upon a time, I wanted to be an illustrator. I have a BFA in graphic design and I wanted to work in advertising on Madison Avenue. Big dreams. Life is funny. I do not work in advertising nor do I do any graphic design work. I work in Quality Engineering. But I look at everything from a designer's eye. I have a great sense of color, an eye for detail. That training has served me very well.
SO there... the letter *G* has been brought to you by....ME!
Friday, November 17, 2006
Just a quickie
Ok...get your minds out of the gutter!!!! LOL!
The cadet is home!!!!! YEAH!!! He looks great and is very happy this trimester is behind him. Grade wise he didn't do as well as he hoped..he's worried about his programming grade. Seems that the policy at RIT is even if you are carrying an A average, if you flunk the final, you flunk the class. He can't afford to do that and he's a bit worried. If his gpa falls below 2.5 the ROTC will put him on conditional status which means he'll lose his scholarship for next quarter and his stipend. He definitely can not do that!
Me, we are totally busy at work. And nothing is new with mr. contractor. Grrr.
Oh, I have been stitching, just a bit. I picked up my love, John Foster the other night, we are still arguing a bit....I realized I used the wrong color for the motif inside the Quaker medallion...it should be grey, mine is DMC 420, a burnt golden brown. I am not sure if I'm going to leave it or not. I have to stitch the bird in the center and then I'll decide. Normally, I would leave the error, I don't think that it is going to stick out like a sore thumb, but this is a reproduction sampler and I have this anal retentive thing about doing reproductions exactly as they are charted...am I nuts?
I'll post a picture tomorrow and you can take a peek and tell me what you think.
Oh, does anyone who reads my blog subscribe to Ellen Chester's, With My Needle? If you do, have you saved any of them on your computer? This year, John Foster (my darling) was their year long stitch along project. I think I want to use the monthly assignments as a way to keep on track stitching John. I need July, August and September's instructions. If anyone can let me know if you've saved them, please comment and I'll get in touch with you. It's not life or death but it would be nice to use the assignments as a guide to stitch him. According to what I've saved, I am just about 5 months finished. Woo who! And that's about right because I have stitched the entire upper left corner the central medallion and some of the right side. I have to finish the right side's bird, dovecote and words. I am almost down to the house. It's exciting to see the progress. Also, I am not looking forward to stitching the roof. It looks tediouly boring. I don't think I'll stitch it in one session, I'll do a little bit at a time as I stitch the bricks on the house. And maybe save it for when I want to watch TV and don't need to concentrate.
Well, I have to go to sleep. Thanks for visiting!!!
The cadet is home!!!!! YEAH!!! He looks great and is very happy this trimester is behind him. Grade wise he didn't do as well as he hoped..he's worried about his programming grade. Seems that the policy at RIT is even if you are carrying an A average, if you flunk the final, you flunk the class. He can't afford to do that and he's a bit worried. If his gpa falls below 2.5 the ROTC will put him on conditional status which means he'll lose his scholarship for next quarter and his stipend. He definitely can not do that!
Me, we are totally busy at work. And nothing is new with mr. contractor. Grrr.
Oh, I have been stitching, just a bit. I picked up my love, John Foster the other night, we are still arguing a bit....I realized I used the wrong color for the motif inside the Quaker medallion...it should be grey, mine is DMC 420, a burnt golden brown. I am not sure if I'm going to leave it or not. I have to stitch the bird in the center and then I'll decide. Normally, I would leave the error, I don't think that it is going to stick out like a sore thumb, but this is a reproduction sampler and I have this anal retentive thing about doing reproductions exactly as they are charted...am I nuts?
I'll post a picture tomorrow and you can take a peek and tell me what you think.
Oh, does anyone who reads my blog subscribe to Ellen Chester's, With My Needle? If you do, have you saved any of them on your computer? This year, John Foster (my darling) was their year long stitch along project. I think I want to use the monthly assignments as a way to keep on track stitching John. I need July, August and September's instructions. If anyone can let me know if you've saved them, please comment and I'll get in touch with you. It's not life or death but it would be nice to use the assignments as a guide to stitch him. According to what I've saved, I am just about 5 months finished. Woo who! And that's about right because I have stitched the entire upper left corner the central medallion and some of the right side. I have to finish the right side's bird, dovecote and words. I am almost down to the house. It's exciting to see the progress. Also, I am not looking forward to stitching the roof. It looks tediouly boring. I don't think I'll stitch it in one session, I'll do a little bit at a time as I stitch the bricks on the house. And maybe save it for when I want to watch TV and don't need to concentrate.
Well, I have to go to sleep. Thanks for visiting!!!
Monday, November 13, 2006
I hope I know what I'm doing
I just posted my 10-25-50 challenge rules. Now, I am having some second thoughts. Will I be able to meet this challenge? I have to be strong though and I know that it's something I should do just cause I would feel better to stitch my stash instead of just collecting it. I do love collecting though, I like thinking about where I'd hang it and what fiber and fabric I'd use. If only thinking about stitching would fill my walls and empty out my binders.
I already have another exception to my challenge rules. I will allow myself to purchase patterns that I know will go out of print and become hard to find. Mainly, those will be Quaker samplers, as there seems to be a lot of one and only printings happening. Prairie Schoolers seem to be that way too and some of the Drawn Thread patterns but not so much anymore. You can't get your hands on some of the earliest Drawn Thread patterns but I have most of those.
Everyone who's commenting on that challenge post has wished me luck. Thanks so much for the encouragement. I will try the challenge. And I will give it a good try too. But if it gets to feeling too restrictive, I'm going to give it up. Veronica is right, this is to be a fun thing, not a diet. I just want some of those patterns I've bought to see the light of day and this may be one of the ways that I will do it. Really, when I was filing patterns there are so many that I just love, I loved them when I bought them and I love them today. I am surprised that my tastes haven't changed over time.
Honestly, completing 20 patterns before I get to buy ANYTHING is like when pigs fly. It's a plan, really guys. I do want to finish my 5 WIPS and there's more that I'd like to stitch too. If it gets me to stitch some of the stuff I've bought and just put away, then good for me. I just know that this challenge will bring to my attention my blooming stash and perhaps will stop me from purchasing patterns *just because I can*. Give it a go, that's what I'm going to do.
I do want to comment on someone's post to me. Barbara said that I was sensible. What a nice thing to say about me, Barbara. You absolutely made my day. WHY? Because all my life I've been told by people who love me that the only sense I have is what I got from a book. That I only have sense because I learned it, sense is something I do not come by naturally or intuitively. So that comment meant so much to me. It is sorta like validation. That yes, I can trust my judgement and no, I didn't have to read about it in some book to execute it.
I know I am blonde...and yes, math is hard Barbie! LOL!! Thanks Barbara for telling me something about myself that I knew, but never truly believed about myself.
Lena, yes, Autumn Leaves is over one and I am enjoying stitching it a lot although I do not like the way that some of my stitches look. That's the perfectionist in me...Yes, a perfectionist control freak...YIKES what a combo. But that's me.
So the net of all this rambling is that I am grateful to all of you...and in this season of Thanksgiving, I am glad that I know you even if it's only through a sentence or so...I am grateful for ALL of you.
I already have another exception to my challenge rules. I will allow myself to purchase patterns that I know will go out of print and become hard to find. Mainly, those will be Quaker samplers, as there seems to be a lot of one and only printings happening. Prairie Schoolers seem to be that way too and some of the Drawn Thread patterns but not so much anymore. You can't get your hands on some of the earliest Drawn Thread patterns but I have most of those.
Everyone who's commenting on that challenge post has wished me luck. Thanks so much for the encouragement. I will try the challenge. And I will give it a good try too. But if it gets to feeling too restrictive, I'm going to give it up. Veronica is right, this is to be a fun thing, not a diet. I just want some of those patterns I've bought to see the light of day and this may be one of the ways that I will do it. Really, when I was filing patterns there are so many that I just love, I loved them when I bought them and I love them today. I am surprised that my tastes haven't changed over time.
Honestly, completing 20 patterns before I get to buy ANYTHING is like when pigs fly. It's a plan, really guys. I do want to finish my 5 WIPS and there's more that I'd like to stitch too. If it gets me to stitch some of the stuff I've bought and just put away, then good for me. I just know that this challenge will bring to my attention my blooming stash and perhaps will stop me from purchasing patterns *just because I can*. Give it a go, that's what I'm going to do.
I do want to comment on someone's post to me. Barbara said that I was sensible. What a nice thing to say about me, Barbara. You absolutely made my day. WHY? Because all my life I've been told by people who love me that the only sense I have is what I got from a book. That I only have sense because I learned it, sense is something I do not come by naturally or intuitively. So that comment meant so much to me. It is sorta like validation. That yes, I can trust my judgement and no, I didn't have to read about it in some book to execute it.
I know I am blonde...and yes, math is hard Barbie! LOL!! Thanks Barbara for telling me something about myself that I knew, but never truly believed about myself.
Lena, yes, Autumn Leaves is over one and I am enjoying stitching it a lot although I do not like the way that some of my stitches look. That's the perfectionist in me...Yes, a perfectionist control freak...YIKES what a combo. But that's me.
So the net of all this rambling is that I am grateful to all of you...and in this season of Thanksgiving, I am glad that I know you even if it's only through a sentence or so...I am grateful for ALL of you.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Uncle, Uncle!!! I give!!!!!!
So. A few days ago, maybe a week, I posted that I was going to think about joining the 10-25-50 challenge that so many of you are participating in. Yesteday, while I was filing away things from my recent binge (Hey! I'm stressed, ok?!) I decided, enough is enough. I have to get control of something in my life cause certainly I feel that everything right now is out of control. It's a control freak's worst nightmare, not to be in control, and I am the ultimate control freak in my world. YOU may think YOU are the ultimate control freak but step aside, cause I OWN that crown.
But I digress...
I was filing and sorting and going through piles and getting very antsy and frustrated cause I LOVE every pattern that I laid eyes on. I thought to myself, SELF, get a grip. Exactly how many patterns do you think you will actually stitch in this lifetime? Golly, I hope to live to be a crotchety old lady with cats and God willing the eyesight or the means to purchase the world's highest magnification light. But there ain't no way that I am going to get around to stitch all my stash and I continue to buy more. So...I decided to toss in the towel and join you all in this challenge.
Here's MY rules. I pinched some of them off a few blog sites cause they just made sense. Thanks to those who saved me from burning brain cells trying to figure out what's best for me. You did all the work so props to you.
I have decided to join the 10/25/50 projects challenge.
The Rules:
Have fun reducing your pattern stash.
There is no time limit- I have different size projects I would like to work on.
But with that being said, the first commandment shall be:
Thou shall not purchase any new patterns until 5 current completed WIPS are stitched and the remainding 10 are chosen and stitched from the stash that's taking over the universe. I must stitch the first 5 before I begin on the next 10.(Did you hear God's thundering voice proclaim the first commandment? I did.)
Pattern size does not matter.
EXCEPTIONS...(Ya gotta have loop holes)
1. I may buy stash for inclusion in exchange packages and I can buy supplies needed to complete projects on my list as long as I absolutely can't substitute something using my existing stash.
2. Gifts, gift cards, trades, RAKs (stash sent by others randomly) and patterns bought with gift money are not a violation of this challenge.
3.Freebies count as part of my total and I may aquire them at any point.
4. I do not have to declare the projects I intend to work on. (Listing makes me feel better...it's like journalling in Weight Watchers, that I've had good success with when I've faithfully done it. Plus, listing the projects keeps me focused and accountable.)
The offical start date of this challenge will be January 1, 2007. (I have some things that I MUST finish prior to Christmas and I could cheat and count them but I want a new start for the new year, so there!) Prior to January 1st, I will review my list and make any changes, corrections or updates.
My list consists of WIPS and wants. The first 5 entries are wips that I am currently working on exclusively to finish. I will not begin a new project until the first 5 are completed.
The next 10 on the list are designs that I want to begin. They are in no particular order. However, I reserve the right to swizzle this list based on which patterns are screaming to be worked on. So those ten future WIPS are subject to change during this challenge. But, once I begin to stitch a pattern, I can not abandon it in favor of the pattern of the moment. Once it's started, I must finish it. I do not want to have a gazzillion new starts and eventual UFOs.
I also reserve the right to work on any of my current WIPS in any order that I chose for however long I want to stitch on them. That's the screaming part of my modus operandi.
I am committing to stitching and completing 15 of the projects listed before buying any new stash for myself.
Oh God, please help me.
1. Autumn Leaves - The Prairie Schooler. A SAL with Patti & Cathy
2. John Foster - Historic Stitching
3. Beatrix Potter - Quaker Sampler
4. A Prairie Year - The Prairie Schooler (currently UFO, wince)
5. Real Roses - Drawn Thread
6. BOAF - Peace Sampler
7. Chester County Collection - Elizabeth Pusey
8. Nantucket Needlecase - the Drawn Thread
9. Armada
10. Nellie's Garden Revisited
11. My Home Town - CHS
12. Rose City Sampler - EE&F
13. Atelier de Brodeuse - Au fil des Reves
14. Friendship Sampler - Plum Street Samplers
15. An opern slot just because I want an open slot
So there you have it. It's posted and I expect all of you to keep me honest.
Let the games begin.
But I digress...
I was filing and sorting and going through piles and getting very antsy and frustrated cause I LOVE every pattern that I laid eyes on. I thought to myself, SELF, get a grip. Exactly how many patterns do you think you will actually stitch in this lifetime? Golly, I hope to live to be a crotchety old lady with cats and God willing the eyesight or the means to purchase the world's highest magnification light. But there ain't no way that I am going to get around to stitch all my stash and I continue to buy more. So...I decided to toss in the towel and join you all in this challenge.
Here's MY rules. I pinched some of them off a few blog sites cause they just made sense. Thanks to those who saved me from burning brain cells trying to figure out what's best for me. You did all the work so props to you.
I have decided to join the 10/25/50 projects challenge.
The Rules:
Have fun reducing your pattern stash.
There is no time limit- I have different size projects I would like to work on.
But with that being said, the first commandment shall be:
Thou shall not purchase any new patterns until 5 current completed WIPS are stitched and the remainding 10 are chosen and stitched from the stash that's taking over the universe. I must stitch the first 5 before I begin on the next 10.(Did you hear God's thundering voice proclaim the first commandment? I did.)
Pattern size does not matter.
EXCEPTIONS...(Ya gotta have loop holes)
1. I may buy stash for inclusion in exchange packages and I can buy supplies needed to complete projects on my list as long as I absolutely can't substitute something using my existing stash.
2. Gifts, gift cards, trades, RAKs (stash sent by others randomly) and patterns bought with gift money are not a violation of this challenge.
3.Freebies count as part of my total and I may aquire them at any point.
4. I do not have to declare the projects I intend to work on. (Listing makes me feel better...it's like journalling in Weight Watchers, that I've had good success with when I've faithfully done it. Plus, listing the projects keeps me focused and accountable.)
The offical start date of this challenge will be January 1, 2007. (I have some things that I MUST finish prior to Christmas and I could cheat and count them but I want a new start for the new year, so there!) Prior to January 1st, I will review my list and make any changes, corrections or updates.
My list consists of WIPS and wants. The first 5 entries are wips that I am currently working on exclusively to finish. I will not begin a new project until the first 5 are completed.
The next 10 on the list are designs that I want to begin. They are in no particular order. However, I reserve the right to swizzle this list based on which patterns are screaming to be worked on. So those ten future WIPS are subject to change during this challenge. But, once I begin to stitch a pattern, I can not abandon it in favor of the pattern of the moment. Once it's started, I must finish it. I do not want to have a gazzillion new starts and eventual UFOs.
I also reserve the right to work on any of my current WIPS in any order that I chose for however long I want to stitch on them. That's the screaming part of my modus operandi.
I am committing to stitching and completing 15 of the projects listed before buying any new stash for myself.
Oh God, please help me.
1. Autumn Leaves - The Prairie Schooler. A SAL with Patti & Cathy
2. John Foster - Historic Stitching
3. Beatrix Potter - Quaker Sampler
4. A Prairie Year - The Prairie Schooler (currently UFO, wince)
5. Real Roses - Drawn Thread
6. BOAF - Peace Sampler
7. Chester County Collection - Elizabeth Pusey
8. Nantucket Needlecase - the Drawn Thread
9. Armada
10. Nellie's Garden Revisited
11. My Home Town - CHS
12. Rose City Sampler - EE&F
13. Atelier de Brodeuse - Au fil des Reves
14. Friendship Sampler - Plum Street Samplers
15. An opern slot just because I want an open slot
So there you have it. It's posted and I expect all of you to keep me honest.
Let the games begin.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Autumn Leaves & Screamer
Just to let you know that I haven't totally abandoned stitching I am posting my progress on Autumn Leaves...yes, Cathy and Patti, I am still working on it and no, I haven't ripped out the center motif, although the desire to do so is very strong.
I am sorry that the picture is a bit blurry, the snapshot digital is on the fritz and this is the best photo I got out of like eleventy dozen pictures.
I haven't worked on Autumn Leaves for about a week, if I stitch at all, I've been working on Beatrix Potter, the Quaker Sampler. But even then, I only can stand to put a few stitches in at a time cause I've lost my mojo right now.
And this is a photo of our barn cat, who desperately wants to be a house cat. Her name is Daisy (don't ask) but we call her *Screamer* cause she meows at the top of her little voice until she is hoarse the entire time we work in the barn. She just loves attention and feels that the world should be paying attention to her and not those big clunky horses. We let her into the new room last week cause it was cold out and she was meowing pitifully at the door. David has a soft spot for her.
Oh, news from the contractor for those who care.
He called Thursday saying he was ordering the windows on Friday.
He didn't.
So, I believed him..NOT!!!!
I am sorry that the picture is a bit blurry, the snapshot digital is on the fritz and this is the best photo I got out of like eleventy dozen pictures.
I haven't worked on Autumn Leaves for about a week, if I stitch at all, I've been working on Beatrix Potter, the Quaker Sampler. But even then, I only can stand to put a few stitches in at a time cause I've lost my mojo right now.
And this is a photo of our barn cat, who desperately wants to be a house cat. Her name is Daisy (don't ask) but we call her *Screamer* cause she meows at the top of her little voice until she is hoarse the entire time we work in the barn. She just loves attention and feels that the world should be paying attention to her and not those big clunky horses. We let her into the new room last week cause it was cold out and she was meowing pitifully at the door. David has a soft spot for her.
Oh, news from the contractor for those who care.
He called Thursday saying he was ordering the windows on Friday.
He didn't.
So, I believed him..NOT!!!!
Friday, November 10, 2006
Tag, I'm it!
Seven songs...Veronica from Senorita Stitches tagged me...so here's the rules and my songs....
Here are the rules: List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre. Whether or not they have words or even if they are any good but they must be songs you’re really enjoying right now! Post these instructions in your blog along with with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to.
I am not really into top 10 music, I tend to listen to old things...
And it's hard to pick just seven...
1. Speed of Sound - Coldplay. Listening to this all the time.
2. Oceano - Josh Groban
3. 100 Years - Five for Fighting
4. Nothing without you - Bebo Norman
5. Sand in My Shoes - Dido
6. Take Heart My Friend - Fernando Ortego
7. Free Man in Paris - Joni Mitchell
Ok. Well there's my seven. I'll have to figure out who to tag. Be on the look out...you may be tagged!
Here are the rules: List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre. Whether or not they have words or even if they are any good but they must be songs you’re really enjoying right now! Post these instructions in your blog along with with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to.
I am not really into top 10 music, I tend to listen to old things...
And it's hard to pick just seven...
1. Speed of Sound - Coldplay. Listening to this all the time.
2. Oceano - Josh Groban
3. 100 Years - Five for Fighting
4. Nothing without you - Bebo Norman
5. Sand in My Shoes - Dido
6. Take Heart My Friend - Fernando Ortego
7. Free Man in Paris - Joni Mitchell
Ok. Well there's my seven. I'll have to figure out who to tag. Be on the look out...you may be tagged!
Thursday, November 09, 2006
It just isn't happenin' here
Well folks, the mini-slump continues.
However, I am still spending $$ on stitching stuff so the desire is still there, thank the good Lord. Cause I have eleventy-thousand hard earned dollars (and no sense) tied up in this hobby and I would hate for it all to be abandoned like my bizzillion painting patterns and paint and painting supplies that have been banished into the dungeon, um-mm, I meant basement. I just hope that my small flame stays alite cause there's nothing sadder than all that stash just going to waste in my dungeon of a basement.
So, I went to the LNS today to have Kimberly help me match a fabric scrap that I began to stitch some smalls on and I needed MORE to make a needlebook and a scissor keep...and I walked out with that $20 piece of fabric, a pattern and the silks to go with said pattern for an additional $56. Add that to a mail package from Wyndham, The Twining Thread and Stitches N Things...gosh, I will hate see my credit card statement next month but it sure was fun getting those packages.
And the stress levels are increasing. We just got a phone call from the Air Force cadet who has finally told us that he and his room-mates are not getting along. I suspected that all along but the cadet would not admit it to me. Hasn't he realized by now that I am a MOM and on the day her child is born she is equiped with radar, eyes in the back of her head and a sixth sense regarding her child's happiness? So he is avoiding his apartment and his room mates and is spending a lot of time away from an apartment that I am paying almost $400 a month for him to live in. Doesn't that boy have any sense of how much stash I could be buying with that money?!!! (just kidding, folks...)
Just add this to the stress of my contractor, my job, my weight, my life...shake well and you have one overwrought, insomniac who is developing an eye twitch and acne (at the ripe old age of 49!!) who just wants her kid to be HAPPY.
However, I am still spending $$ on stitching stuff so the desire is still there, thank the good Lord. Cause I have eleventy-thousand hard earned dollars (and no sense) tied up in this hobby and I would hate for it all to be abandoned like my bizzillion painting patterns and paint and painting supplies that have been banished into the dungeon, um-mm, I meant basement. I just hope that my small flame stays alite cause there's nothing sadder than all that stash just going to waste in my dungeon of a basement.
So, I went to the LNS today to have Kimberly help me match a fabric scrap that I began to stitch some smalls on and I needed MORE to make a needlebook and a scissor keep...and I walked out with that $20 piece of fabric, a pattern and the silks to go with said pattern for an additional $56. Add that to a mail package from Wyndham, The Twining Thread and Stitches N Things...gosh, I will hate see my credit card statement next month but it sure was fun getting those packages.
And the stress levels are increasing. We just got a phone call from the Air Force cadet who has finally told us that he and his room-mates are not getting along. I suspected that all along but the cadet would not admit it to me. Hasn't he realized by now that I am a MOM and on the day her child is born she is equiped with radar, eyes in the back of her head and a sixth sense regarding her child's happiness? So he is avoiding his apartment and his room mates and is spending a lot of time away from an apartment that I am paying almost $400 a month for him to live in. Doesn't that boy have any sense of how much stash I could be buying with that money?!!! (just kidding, folks...)
Just add this to the stress of my contractor, my job, my weight, my life...shake well and you have one overwrought, insomniac who is developing an eye twitch and acne (at the ripe old age of 49!!) who just wants her kid to be HAPPY.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Not much stitching going on here
So, I posted photos of my house. Not so much for my stitching. Why, you ask? Because I am in a mini-slump. It's ok, it's just the time of the year. The holidays are coming. Have I told you how much I dislike the holidays? I dislike them because I never feel that I've done enough, made it special enough, kept tradition...I don't think my family really cares one way or the other, if I do anything for the holidays. I think that's the main reason I dislike them cause I work hard trying to make them special and it doesn't seem to matter.
Work has gotten very busy. After months of looking for work, I have enough to keep me busy for weeks now. Part of that is because my partner has dumped his grunt work onto me. I am not complaining...it's better than trying to look busy.
I did have homework this weekend, my boss asked me to put together a couple of charts for him to present to his manager, the CEO. It took me a couple of hours to do but I fretted over it for 2 days. Go figure. He'll use them as a starting point for what he really wants, which when he gave me this mini-assignment he didn't have a clue. He'll tweak them. I may have totally missed the mark, which in all honesty, is possible. Then he'll tweak them and send me scrambling to fix them.
I did stitch a little bit. I worked on Autumn Leaves. I am working on the center motif. It's coming along slowly.
I have seriously been considering joining the 10-25-50 challenge that so many bloggers are participating in. I've been hesitant to take it on cause I stitch SO SLOWLY. But if I do the challenge, I will first work on my WIPs. I have around 5-10 that I want to finish. Some Quaker, a repro or 2 and some holiday pieces. Give me a couple of days to think about it and if I decide to accept the challenge then I will post my WIPs and those patterns I want to stitch in the near future. I don't believe I will take the 50 challenge. If I did I would not be able to buy ANYTHING for the rest of my life! Maybe that's what I SHOULD do!
Recently, I have slowed down with buying charts. I've only bought those that I think will be scarce and hard to find when they go OOP. I seem to go in spurts, for months I will not purchase anything then I go on a binge. I've spent a lot of money this year, mainly on Quaker samplers which I can't seem to get enough of. I bought all the new Quakers that Judy Holdingworth has put out and I also bought the new Quakers on Historischestmuster. I've toyed with stitching nothing but Quakers next year but that's unrealistic too, I think. It sounds nice but I will need a variety just to keep my interest. I'll have to come up with a good mix of things to stitch. This should be interesting.
Oh, I want to thank you all for visiting my blog, even if you don't comment on my posts. When you do though, I feel like we've talked and that's really nice.
Work has gotten very busy. After months of looking for work, I have enough to keep me busy for weeks now. Part of that is because my partner has dumped his grunt work onto me. I am not complaining...it's better than trying to look busy.
I did have homework this weekend, my boss asked me to put together a couple of charts for him to present to his manager, the CEO. It took me a couple of hours to do but I fretted over it for 2 days. Go figure. He'll use them as a starting point for what he really wants, which when he gave me this mini-assignment he didn't have a clue. He'll tweak them. I may have totally missed the mark, which in all honesty, is possible. Then he'll tweak them and send me scrambling to fix them.
I did stitch a little bit. I worked on Autumn Leaves. I am working on the center motif. It's coming along slowly.
I have seriously been considering joining the 10-25-50 challenge that so many bloggers are participating in. I've been hesitant to take it on cause I stitch SO SLOWLY. But if I do the challenge, I will first work on my WIPs. I have around 5-10 that I want to finish. Some Quaker, a repro or 2 and some holiday pieces. Give me a couple of days to think about it and if I decide to accept the challenge then I will post my WIPs and those patterns I want to stitch in the near future. I don't believe I will take the 50 challenge. If I did I would not be able to buy ANYTHING for the rest of my life! Maybe that's what I SHOULD do!
Recently, I have slowed down with buying charts. I've only bought those that I think will be scarce and hard to find when they go OOP. I seem to go in spurts, for months I will not purchase anything then I go on a binge. I've spent a lot of money this year, mainly on Quaker samplers which I can't seem to get enough of. I bought all the new Quakers that Judy Holdingworth has put out and I also bought the new Quakers on Historischestmuster. I've toyed with stitching nothing but Quakers next year but that's unrealistic too, I think. It sounds nice but I will need a variety just to keep my interest. I'll have to come up with a good mix of things to stitch. This should be interesting.
Oh, I want to thank you all for visiting my blog, even if you don't comment on my posts. When you do though, I feel like we've talked and that's really nice.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Just so you can see...
that I am not completely insane....this is the state of my house after a year of construction. Sorry they are a bit on the dark side, I took them at dusk...
The fireplace side of our house:
The front:
The sunroom:
The back of the house:
The garage side of the house:
So am I nuts to be upset???
The fireplace side of our house:
The front:
The sunroom:
The back of the house:
The garage side of the house:
So am I nuts to be upset???
Blogger has been giving me fits
I don't understand what has happened to my blog. Blogger posted my latest post way down the template. I didn't change any settings and I only edited the last post. Sorry for the inconvenience to have to scroll 1/2 way down the page to hit my posts.
Hmmmm...
And another thing... I can not post comments to anyone's blog now. I get the comment block and the word verification but when I click to save the post to the blog it just won't save it. My ID is not present, I have to choose whether I have a blog account or Google account. I choose blogger. No place to identify myself or my url. So, be assured I am reading everyone's blog but I just can't comment on your posts. I'm sorry, I really WANT to say nice things about everyone's stitching. Don't think I'm ignoring you!!!
I wonder if it's cause I haven't committed my blog to their beta site. I have heard mixed feelings about the beta blog. I like my template and I want to keep it but I am not sure if the beta version will allow it. I am not html savy and although I understand a little bit about customizing my blog, it's not enough to make wholesale changes.
Hmmmm...
And another thing... I can not post comments to anyone's blog now. I get the comment block and the word verification but when I click to save the post to the blog it just won't save it. My ID is not present, I have to choose whether I have a blog account or Google account. I choose blogger. No place to identify myself or my url. So, be assured I am reading everyone's blog but I just can't comment on your posts. I'm sorry, I really WANT to say nice things about everyone's stitching. Don't think I'm ignoring you!!!
I wonder if it's cause I haven't committed my blog to their beta site. I have heard mixed feelings about the beta blog. I like my template and I want to keep it but I am not sure if the beta version will allow it. I am not html savy and although I understand a little bit about customizing my blog, it's not enough to make wholesale changes.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Ok..
Blogger is being a pain...this is just a test post to see if my blog loads correctly....
It didn't.
It didn't.
How to set your contractor on fire
There's nothing like a good rant to clear out frustration.
Today, I called Mr. Contractor on his cell phone and of course, his voicemail was full. So, I called his office and his secretary answered. In my most pissed off Customer voice, I curtly said to her...this is Joanie L. and I want John to call me immediately. And she said OK, she'd pass the message on to him. Honestly, I didn't think he'd call back but at 12:45PM my cell rang.
It was John.
So, my heart was racing and my mouth got dry, but I remembered the cardinal rule when talking to a man who thinks he's got the upper hand:
Lower your voice an octave.
Talk to him as though he is stupid (which most of the time they are.)
And I confidently, calmly and forcefully told him how I felt and how I would not put another dime into this job. And for MY PAIN, the least he could do was cover the difference for these windows. I didn't even have to use the *L* word...
I held my breath. (I figured he would tell me that he was packing up his tent and refunding my money.)
But...I heard a long sigh.
And then the words...
Yes, you are right. I will eat the 5K and give you what you want.
I feel vindicated. Today, John was on the receiving end of my Hungarian temper and trust me he didn't like it. He knows that I mean business.
So, on Friday, I will have a new contract that spells out exactly what I expect from him, firm completion dates with penalties if he slips the dates, a provision for reviewing all records of my job to ensure that material is correctly ordered and I can SEE that the order has been placed.
My DH is skeptical and believes that John will not hold up his end of the bargain and we will be letting the lawyer loose to make his life more miserable than it already is. Actually, I am not holding my breath for a new contract. Historically, he hasn't come through without a lot of phone calls and threats. But it's the principle.
But I feel better letting out what I've kept inside for the last 9 months. :-)
On the stitching front I worked on Autumn Leaves. I still am experimenting with over one techniques and I did find a mistake but I am not ripping out this piece again. I will live with it. I do not like how some of my stitches appear smaller. The green DMC I am using is thinner than the black DMC so the green stitches sink into the black and don't show very well. It's frustrating and I am not sure I really like how it looks. I refuse to rip it out. No, I am not going to rip it out and begin again....OK, I need an INTERVENTION...Please tell me NOT to rip it out cause it's fine!!!
Well, I gotta go to bed. Thanks ladies for all your comments, I really appreciate them! You've all made me feel like I needed to light up my contractor's life and not in a good way...hee-hee...
Today, I called Mr. Contractor on his cell phone and of course, his voicemail was full. So, I called his office and his secretary answered. In my most pissed off Customer voice, I curtly said to her...this is Joanie L. and I want John to call me immediately. And she said OK, she'd pass the message on to him. Honestly, I didn't think he'd call back but at 12:45PM my cell rang.
It was John.
So, my heart was racing and my mouth got dry, but I remembered the cardinal rule when talking to a man who thinks he's got the upper hand:
Lower your voice an octave.
Talk to him as though he is stupid (which most of the time they are.)
And I confidently, calmly and forcefully told him how I felt and how I would not put another dime into this job. And for MY PAIN, the least he could do was cover the difference for these windows. I didn't even have to use the *L* word...
I held my breath. (I figured he would tell me that he was packing up his tent and refunding my money.)
But...I heard a long sigh.
And then the words...
Yes, you are right. I will eat the 5K and give you what you want.
I feel vindicated. Today, John was on the receiving end of my Hungarian temper and trust me he didn't like it. He knows that I mean business.
So, on Friday, I will have a new contract that spells out exactly what I expect from him, firm completion dates with penalties if he slips the dates, a provision for reviewing all records of my job to ensure that material is correctly ordered and I can SEE that the order has been placed.
My DH is skeptical and believes that John will not hold up his end of the bargain and we will be letting the lawyer loose to make his life more miserable than it already is. Actually, I am not holding my breath for a new contract. Historically, he hasn't come through without a lot of phone calls and threats. But it's the principle.
But I feel better letting out what I've kept inside for the last 9 months. :-)
On the stitching front I worked on Autumn Leaves. I still am experimenting with over one techniques and I did find a mistake but I am not ripping out this piece again. I will live with it. I do not like how some of my stitches appear smaller. The green DMC I am using is thinner than the black DMC so the green stitches sink into the black and don't show very well. It's frustrating and I am not sure I really like how it looks. I refuse to rip it out. No, I am not going to rip it out and begin again....OK, I need an INTERVENTION...Please tell me NOT to rip it out cause it's fine!!!
Well, I gotta go to bed. Thanks ladies for all your comments, I really appreciate them! You've all made me feel like I needed to light up my contractor's life and not in a good way...hee-hee...
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