Hi All

 First of all, I want to thank the 31 followers who've stuck with my poor excuse of blogging.  I guess I needed a break for a little while.

Life is changing again (we are preparing for the DH's retirement in August and subsequent loss of 60% of our salary...a hugh amount!)  We've met with a financial planner to decide what to do with his 401K.  We've budgeted out what we think we will have as income.  I've been hoarding paper products, pet food, laundry and cleaning supplies for the last 6 months in order to cut our grocery bill.  And the numbers aren't great but we will survive. Let's just say I'm glad I've got a monumental stash to stitch from because there's not going to be many purchases until we figure out what our finances are going to be for the first year.  I will be making a big wish list.  I think the reality of this change just hit me and I put aside all the fun things just to stew for a bit.

 I've been stitching but I haven't taken one picture of what I've done.  Mainly, I've worked on Americana and patriotic small things cause I decided I needed to have a basket of those hanging around.  I stitched 7 things, Lizzie Kates, Littlehouse Needleworks, a very cute piece from the Sampler Girl.  They are all on one ginormous piece of linen and I think I have to get myself in gear to make some pillows or pinkeeps soon.  Otherwise they will be hanging around waiting to be finished for next Summer.

Today is my birthday.  It's a quiet one.  I decided not to take the day off (as I usually do) so I am working.  I didn't ask for anything because we finished up the house and that's a gift in itself.  The 2nd Lietenant and the lovely Jenna sent me a pretty card and greetings on Facebook.  A bunch of friends also sent me well wishes on FB too.  It's a nice day.  I am blessed.

Also, we finally got a German Shepherd!  We found her on Craigslist.  The rescue groups just grew tiresome and it didn't look like we would get a dog until the end of summer because even though we were "approved", the foster home had to see how we interacted with the potential adoptee and they got to decide if we were "worthy" to adopt him/her.  So, after spending 3 months jumping through hoops with 3 rescue groups, Dave just got fed up and went on Craigslist.  He contacted the owner of Daisy on Tuesday and yesterday, he picked her up and brought her home.  Daisy's a beauty, a bit on the thin side, and is very sweet.  She's intelligent, curious and is totally in love with Dave. 

However, the cats aren't thrilled.  Frankie is on the defensive.  He puffs himself up to 2x his normal size and HISSES. He lays in wait to attack her and when he does, she looks very confused and hurt. The other cats are staying upstairs.  Livy is hiding under the bed and Ella slinks downstairs when she's hungry or needs the litter box.  It will take a few days for them to sort everything out and they'll be friends. 

So, I'm not going to promise pics of my stitching but I will post pictures of Daisy.

Thanks for hanging in there with me...I really appreciate you all!