Are you ready?

Are you ready for this?

I know I am!  We got clobbered earlier this week with a nor'easter that dumped 16.5 inches of snow on top of 10 inches that was already on the ground.  Oh, how I want warmer weather. 

Anyway, I've been stitching, I am almost finished with this:

I only have 4 stars on the right side to stitch and the letters G, R & W to go.  I ran out of Clover thread.  Bummer.

Next up, I am planning on stitching this:

I am so looking forward to my purchases from Market too!  I ordered the new Blackbird Designs book, Honeysuckle Manor and Bird in Hand.  I also bought the new Goode Huswife book and the new Prairie Schoolers.   Just because I needed a mid-winter pick-me-up.

I am focusing on my wips too.  Summer Basket was one.  I am proud of myself because I've resisted a new start, even though, this sampler from the City Stitcher is calling my name loudly!

I think it's the house that won me over.

So that's all that's going on in my little stitchy world. 

What's new with you?

Just Some Here and There

HI everyone! How are things in your world? In mine, it never is a dull moment.

First of all, my sweet MIL fell down her basement stairs. Mom is 85 and frail so she didn't fare well with her tumble. She broke her arm in 3 places, her wrist, arm and elbow. She banged her head up too and in general, is just a big bruise. She spent a week in the hospital and is now in a rehab nursing home until she is steady on her feet. Please keep her in your prayers. Thanks!

The Second Lietenant and the lovely Jenna are getting ready to leave for the South. Initially, they go to Alabama for 2 months while Mike attends officer's training, then onto Texas for 7 months while he's in Intelligence school. I am getting sad that they are going. I know it's not rational, they are away now and we don't see them but once a month or so. I guess I am concerned that they will be AWAY, more than a day trip away. And now is where things get interesting, they will be on their own, for real!

Moms worry, don't we?
 
I have been stitching. I'm doggedly working on WIPs because at last count I had about 30. Yes, 3-0! I am not exaggerating. Most are about 1/2 done. I think I have a phobia or something about closure. I get going on a piece, get all excited and about 1/2 into it, the bloom is off the rose and I'm looking for my next piece to give me that stitcher's "high". You know, the one that you feel when you start something new and you are in love, love, love until....until the frogs come or there's stuff you dread stitching like big blocks of solid colors or teensy tiny pieces of pattern that's stitched in eleventy dozen different shades of chartruese. You know, the thrill is gone and the piece just becomes another WIP. This is the reason I have 30 pieces in various stages of "done".  So I thought I'd do something about it. 
 
First,  I went through EVERY box, bag and hidey-hole where I thought a WIP could be lurking.  What treasures!  And I thought that I would find things that I didn't want to stitch anymore but I was wrong.  I still love everything that I have going and I sighed to myself and wondered why I didn't finish them up long ago.
 
So I chose 2 pieces to concentrate on, mainly because they have bright colors and I felt I needed a bit of color after so many grey days here in Upstate NY. I chose This is the Day by Hands to Work. The pattern is in one of the JCS magazine issues. I am doing it on 36ct Vintage Autumn Gold with the recommended threads. It's a cool piece that is completely out of my comfort zone for color.  This is the Day was about a 1/4 done when I began this adventure. Now it's 1/2 done and I gotta tell you, stitching the entire alphabet and number area is slow going. I like the effect but it's taking forever to see any progress. I make myself stitch at least 2 threads each time I pick it up.
 And I also decided to work on another(!) Blackbird Design, Summer Basket. I figured that I subscribed to all the Loose Feathers, so I should at least stitch one, don't you think? It's also stitched on the recommended fabric with the recommended fiber because I bought it as a kit from Needlecraft Corner. Summer Basket was just a start when I put it up but now it's almost 1/2 done. The colors are very soft and the linen is not as crisp as I'd like but it's an enjoyable stitch.

And I'm stitching a replacement piece for the Blackbird Designs Exchange that I host. 

My stitching plate is full.  But it's a happy full and I am less stressed about stitchy things cause I have a plan.  When I finish with one Wip, I'll continue with another.  And maybe allow myself a new start or 2 but not a free wheeling, no holds barred start everthing in sight. That's how I got 30 WIPs in the first place.
 
Now, don't get to thinking that I won't buy another pattern cause my cupboards are chock full o'WIPs.  Oh no-o-o-oo, I am supporting the needlework industry already in a BIG way cause I've pre-ordered a few things from the Nashwille market.  I had to have the new Goode Huswife book, the new Blackbird Designs, the new Prairie Schoolers and a few things from With Thy Needle and Thread.  I am debating on the new Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow but I am holding out because I haven't even started Village or Houses of Hawk Run Hollow. 
 
How 'bout you?  Are you lusting after anything from Market?  Is there anything that you can't live without?
 
So, I hope I'll get some pics up on the old blog soon.  The kids gave me a new digital camera for Christmas and I am still learning how to take a decent picture with it.  I am so glad that you've come by and I'd love to hear from you!  It makes me happy that you've stopped.

Some Chit-chat

Hi all!  I hope you are having a good week.  Tomorrow is FRIDAY!  YaY!   It's been a busy week at work, I am conducting an internal audit and literally on my feet all day.  I go home and collapse. 

I stitched though, I worked on the Miss Snow Fairy.  I added her right wing and started on her pot o' holly on the right.  I've been trying like the devil to resist the urge to start something new but I caved tonight and started yet another Blackbird Design.  I started stitching the heart from Truly Thine, one of the early Loose Feather Designs.  I guess I got bit by the Valentine bug after seeing all the Valentine finishes on your blog.  I want to stitch all the Valentines that you have done but unfortunately I must work to feed my addiction.

Have you been keeping up with With Thy Needle and Thread blog?  Brenda's got the best tease on her site for an upcoming sampler she's going to post on Country Stitches.  I LOVE the colors and I am sure that it'll join the gazillion other samplers in my ever growing stash.  She's got neat punchneedle designs too.  I like how they look but I haven't had good luck with punchneedle. 

Do you think the designers could just cool it for awhile?  I know Nashville is just around the corner and there are teases everywhere on various designer's blogs.  Go check or the Blackbird Designs blog too.  Eye Candy!  Love that sampler she's got in captured in the hoop.

The Second Lieutenant got his official orders yesterday.  They will be leaving in March for Alabama.  He's going to Officer's school for 7 weeks and after that they travel to Goodfellow AFB in Texas for 7 months.  Say a prayer for them, it's a big change for both of them.  They've settled in nicely in Rochester, made some great friends and have nice jobs that they will have to leave.  They are sad but I think excited too.  Both of them are a little anxious.  And fearful of the unknown.  They'll get through it but it's just another strain on the newlyweds. 

Well dear friends, I am going to close for now.  I am so glad that you stopped by for a chat.  I hope that on Saturday I'll have pictures for you.  So thanks for your comments and your visits.  I love that you come by!  :-)

Happy Saturday!

Ok, Take 2 of this post. IE just shut down blogger on me while I was uploading pictures. I hate Vista.

Anywhoo...as I was saying...

It's a glorious Saturday here in Upstate NY. The sun is out and it's warm. Yes, W-A-R-M! Almost 40 degrees warm!  The David and I actually washed the cars out in the driveway and I was wearing a hoodie!  No, I wasn't bundled up to the point where I couldn't move. Contrast today to last Saturday when we were barely above 10 degrees, this is down right balmy. Not complaining one bit. I'll take it and I wish it would be this way for the rest of winter. Not going to happen though, ol' Man Winter has a few snowstorms up his sleeve, I bet.

Anway, back to stitching. I've got pics. Hopefully IE will allow blogger to upload them.  Well, blogger is being a poop and doesn't want to upload all my pics but here's Miss Snow Fairy. She's getting done!  This piece puts a smile on my face.  And it's one of those pieces that I am enjoying every stitch. 

I've made some progress but not as much as I'd like. Miss Snow Fairy now is standing on some snow and her holly is in it's container instead of floating in mid-air.  The week was very busy and I was very tired when I got home so last night really was the only night I stitched for more than an hour.  It was nice. There will be no stitching tonight though, cause we are going to a wedding celebration. My boss' son got married out of state in November and  there wasn't many of us invited to the actual wedding.  So tonight we are going to a party to celebrate the wedding.  It should be ok.  I am a little anxious about it cause I don't really know any of their family and I'm not sure who will be there that I know.  It's at their church so it's going to be dry.  At least I won't have to worry about having too much to drink and saying something stupid.  I'll just do that sober...ha, ha!

When it was so cold outside, the cats took turns laying in front of the fireplace.  Ella is toasting her belly...

And  her back...

This is Frankie. Frankie showed up at our door in the Fall around Halloween. He was really timid and wouldn't let us even touch him. It took him weeks to allow us to pet him.  But today, he rules the roost and is quite content. I really like him.

It's a little unnerving being in one room with 3 housecats and 2 barn cats. I feel like I am turning into one of those crazy old cat ladies hanging out with 5 felines.  (Not really, but...it does get crowded in the family room with all of them.)  Oh, geez, excuse the cat tree.  I didn't realize how terrible it looks.  The cats use it as their scratching post (better than my sofa, although they've managed to claw that too) and I didn't realize how shabby it looks...gee whiz.  The DH and I will have to do some repairs on it.

So, I think I'm going to pull out a bit of stitching or maybe my Kindle.  Thanks for dropping by!  I hope you are having a great weekend.  Until next time, happy stitching!!

My Sentiments...EXACTLY!!!

The DH just informed me (sadistically, btw) that it's a mere 10 degrees outside. 
With the wind chill it's a balmy -10.

Yay.

He wants to go cross country skiing. 

Stupid man.

I think this sums it up quite nicely, don't you?

I saw this pic on With Thy Needle and Thread.  It made me laugh.

Thanks!  I really, really needed a chuckle.

Stay warm, kids!!

P.S.  Stitchy pics to follow!!!!

Baby, It's C-O-L-D Outside!!!

Wowser, it's bitter cold AGAIN in Upstate NY...I must tell you I am really, really tired of this weather.  After a few years of relatively mild winters, one's with a week or 2 of this weather, a winter like this is just plain brutal.  And a dreary steel-grey color to boot.

I've been stitching. I've worked on Miss Snow Fairy last week. I'm about 1/2 done now. I switched out working on her with This is the Day. You remember that sampler in JCS by Heart in Hand?  The one with exhuberant colors?

Well, with all the grey in the recent days, I've decided I needed something colorful to work on.  So I pulled it out of my ever growing stash pile.  I'm stitching it with the original colors.  I have a love/hate relationship with the sampler, though.  The linen I'm stitching it on, 36ct Lakeside, Autumn Gold, is very, very scratchy.  It grabs the thread.  It distorts the stitches.  It makes me unhappy.  But I'm too far into this sampler to start over.  This linen will NOT get the best of me.

So tomorrow,  I'm hoping for some sun.  Then I'll take some pics of my stitching.  And BTW, I snagged the pic from Edgar's blog, Blacksheep's Bit of the Web...

So until tomorrow, stay warm!  I'm curling up by the fireplace with my Kindle, my stitching and a cup of cocoa.  How about you?

The holidays are officially over

The Second Lieutenant and the lovely Jenna have returned to their home and tomorrow we head back into the routine of work.  I really enjoyed the 2 long weekends we had for the holidays, not quite as good as the 2 weeks I normally save but none the less, a welcome break from the office.  Now, back to the stress of projects and money and bills.  It was nice to put aside all the routine and have a few days where I didn't worry about anything.

All things end, right?

Tonight we watched Iron Chef America and I stitched some on Miss Snow Fairy.  I am disappointed that the Steelers didn't get into the playoffs as a wild card.  But honestly, they didn't deserve to be in the playoffs so I'm not too disheartened.

Anyway, I do want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you who come by and come back to see what the ol' blog has to say.  I thank all of you who leave comments and I thank those who don't too.  I enjoy everything that you write and I hope that you find something worthwhile when you visit here.  I am grateful to all of you.  Many times over the past year I thought of deleting the blog.  But I am glad I didn't.

So, it's onward and upward to Monday.   I wish everyone a great week, I hope you stay warm cause it's freezing here in good ol' Upstate NY.

See ya later!

Hello everyone! My Stitchy Year in Review

I hope everyone rang in the new year in grand fashion.  We did...on the sofa with the DH softly snoring beside me.  Actually, he woke up about 11:45 and we watched the ball drop on Times Square. We were snug in our bed by 12:30 AM. Such party animals!

The 2nd Lieutenant and the lovely Jenna went to a friend's house for a little get together.  They were home relatively early but I couldn't say for certain what time cause I didn't even hear them come in.

I have been blog surfing off and on today and I see many of you've posted your stitchy accomplishments.  My 2009 accomplishments were very, very thin this year.  Mainly I started many, many pieces and most aren't too far along.  My usual MO.

The biggest accomplishment I had this year was to finish Bea.

I also finished Parson Brown, a lovely snowman from Notforgotten Farm.

I participated in a few exchanges and had a couple of small finishes. Nothing to brag about, really. I am hoping my stitching 2010 will be better! I'm going to work at it. As I said in my previous post, my plans are to stitch from my stash and to work on my Wips.  Currently, I am stitching on Miss Snow Fairy on an evenweave with the intention of making her into a pillow too. She's about 1/2 way done.

I have been bad with buying new things though.

The 2009 Blackbird Designs Loose Feather Club:

Some Lizzie Kate, LHN, Prairie Schooler..oh too many to list!  I feel like if I don't get what I want when I see it, it will be gone forever. I can thank all of you for that! I see what you are stitching and then I MUST have it too! Much to my husband's displeasure, I am sure. LOL!!! I tell him it's cheaper than therapy and when I am old and gray, as long as I have a magnifier, I am ALL SET!

I also have been drawn to more Primitive pieces, particularly for bowl fillers and little sachet pillows.  Have you seen this designer, Country Rustic Primitives?  She sells in e-patterns which I absolutely LOVE.  They come quickly and I like that you can save them on your computer.  How green!

Well, I should go for now, we've had a rather lazy day here.  I hope you all are having a great start to the new year!  See ya soon!

Looking forward to 2010!

Hi there, friends and fellow stitchy folk! 
I want to wish you a very Happy New Year! I hope that all of you who read my musings had a wonderful and MERRY CHRISTMAS, too.

 I am looking forward with anticipation that this coming year will be filled with GREAT things. 
Do you make resolutions?  I do but rarely do I keep them.  This year, I only have 2.
1.  To get healthy.
2.  To stay positive and not be so afraid.
This year, I VOW (and you are my witnesses) that I will get healthy.  That means to continue my Weight Watchers journey to finally lose the 35 pounds.  I will eat healthy but not deprive myself.  I will exercise and that doesn't mean only to walk on the treadmill which can get mighty boring. 

The next thing that I VOW to be is more positive.  If you haven't guessed by now, my glass is pretty much 1/2 empty most of the time. My life is tinged with blue most of the time.  And I am a complainer.  I've worked on the complaining part and I can say that I do less of it but I'm not exactly where I'd like to be.  I want to look at my glass and say, "Hey, it's 1/2 full!  I've decided to stay away from those folks who suck the life right out of you.  (This is going to be hard cause I spend most of my waking hours at work with someone who is SO negative, it's contagious.  But, I'm going to do my best not to let him get me down.)  I'm not saying I'm going to be Polly Polly-anna but I am going to be less Chicken-Little.  I want to be more open and embrace change and new things.  Look for the good in people, situations, LIFE.  Stop burying my head in the ground.

Have faith.

I think that these lyrics by Nickleback sum it up perfectly for me:
If Today Was Your Last Day

My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had, if today was your last day?

What if, what if, if today was your last day?

Against the grain should be a way of life
What's worth the price is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try
So live like you're never living twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?

And would you call those friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one you're dreaming of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day?

If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are

So do whatever it takes
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothing stand in your way
'Cause the hands of time are never on your side
If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?
And would you call those friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one you're dreaming of
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day?

2009 was a year of change for me. I had big changes in my life and I came to terms with stuff I tried to forget about.  A lot of it I didn't like but I had to face it.  I had wonderful things happen, a lot of FABULOUS times, proud times (the wedding, the commissioning, a promotion) but I was AFRAID.  Afraid to lose my job, afraid of losing 2/3 of our income when the DH retires and (OMGosh) what if, what if he can't find a teaching job in September?!  Afraid now that the 2nd Lieutenant is married, he would grow away from me (I know, weird...)   Facing my financials, making peace with my half finished wreck of a house.  Working on forgiving my self and the people that hurt me.  Realizing that it will all get done in God's time and not MINE.

So anyway, I apologize for the post cause it's rambling.  It helps to write it down and then be accountable.

And for stitchy things...I'm going to work on my WIPS and stitch from my stash.  I am not rotating but will work on whatever I want at any given time.
 I will blog more often and guess what!  I got a new point and shoot camera for Christmas (and a KINDLE, oh it's so wicked!) which means that I have NO excuse for not posting pictures.

Anyway,  out with 2009 and in with 2010!

I wish you all the most blessed, abundant, love-filled New Year!


It's going to be a GREAT year!

With Heartfelt Gratitude

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have so much to be thankful for and so many blessings that I am overwhelmed and humbled by them.  I am thankful for so many things, too numerous to list but I'm gonna list a few of them anyway!

I am thankful for:
My faith- Without my love of Jesus, I don't know where I'd be
My husband - who loves me through and through
My Second Lieutenant and the Lovely Jenna - they bring such pride and joy into my life
My health - for a tough old bird of 52, I have just a few aches and pains that are expected.
My hearth - It's not a palace and it's a work in progress but I love it!
My job - I love it and am thankful everyday that I have a means to feed my needlework addiction!
My critters - They teach me unconditional love every day.

My friends - Wow, I am thankful for you, dear blogging friends!
My hobby - A 30 year addiction.

And much more.

I am not as eloquent as other bloggers but when I look at what God has given me, I am amazed, grateful and thankful.  He promised to meet my needs but He's certainly met my wants too!

Have a wonderful day with your family and friends.  The DH and I are trekking to Rochester to have dinner with Jenna's family.

Enjoy your day!

Check out the Giveaway

Hi! The Linen Stitcher is giving away a really nice OOP Carriagehouse Samplings pattern. American Sampling!

Go check it out and sign up!

Have a great day everyone!

I'm Back...

Hi everyone! I'm back! Did you miss me? Yea, like a bad rash! LOL!

I took a little break from my life. I was exhausted mentally and physically. I was so surprised by how much the wedding took out of me. And, I've been dealing with a bunch of personal things here at home. I decided to let some of my commitments go, take a break (and give myself one too!) and make peace with some of the stuff I can't control. That's a first for me cause I am a control freak extraordinaire. I am feeling much better.

Anyway, I've been stitching. First off, I finished Notforgotten Farms, Parson Brown.

I stitched him on 28ct lugana with DMC. It came out pillow size so I went and picked out some homespun fabric to back him and I'll have another snowman for my collection.

Also, I'm working on a few exchanges and a Christmas gift or three. And, I am stitching ornaments for Jenna and Mike. I've finished 2 ornaments so far, a Prairie Schooler and one from Angel Stitching that was in the '06 JCS ornament issue. But I've not put them together. Recently, I've developed a fear about finishing things. Mainly, because I've ruined a couple during the finishing process. So I've decided that I have to have quiet to concentrate and not rush things. I've discovered that I like the stitching process more than I like the finishing process.

Are you looking forward to the holidays? I approach them with caution because this isn't my favorite time of the year. I'm not a fan of the hustle and bustle and with the economy, our resources are tight this year. I've been bummed about that and I'm having a hard time knowing that Santa's pack won't be as full as it was in Christmas' past. I don't have any vacation either so the holidays overall will be different. Usually, I have 2 weeks off but this year with the wedding and a forced vacation via a July 4th shutdown, my vacation is very short. The 2nd Lieutenant won't be here on Christmas Morning (he's off making holiday memories with the lovely Jenna). Different indeed!

Thanks for hanging in there with me. I'll be posting more often and if I get enough light, I'll try to take some pictures (if my dinky camera cooperates). So stay tuned!

Anyway...I'm off, I've got to get ready for tomorrow. It's back to the work week for me! Thanks for stopping by..I do appreciate all of you!

No longer a Cadet

Yesterday, Mike commissioned into the Air Force as a Second Lietenant. The ROTC detatchment had a little ceremony and here are the pics:

Mike and Jenna:


The Lietenant:

And all of us.

We are very, very proud of our son!

More Wedding Pics

Ok, some more wedding pics...the snapshots are coming in from friends and family.

This is me coming out of the church right after the ceremony. I love the dress! I do wish I'd worked my arms a bit...but...hey...it is what it is.

Mike and Noah doing some line dance...the kids and their friends danced the entire reception. Of course, I did too. Made a proper fool out of myself.

Jenna dancing to the same song. I love her dress. You can see some of the "bling" on it. All pics are clickable and will get BIG.

And the happy couple.

Stitching is going very well all of a sudden. I've gone from famine to feast. I'm back 100% and want to start everything I see (which is very, very dangerous). I allowed myself to start Notforgotten Farms, Parson Brown, a very cool snowman. I'm stitching him on 25count evenweave with the recommended DMC. I did change out one color cause it faded into the fabric. I'm planning on making him into a nice homespun Winter pillow. He'll join the other Frosty Friends in my collection.

Oh, if you are interested, today is the last day to sign up for the Blackbird Exchange Blog Round 3 exchange. Pop on over and sign up. Or email me. Names will be assigned tomorrow. We've got very talented stitchers in the group. No lack of creativity in this bunch. Please join us for a fun time!

Thanks for stopping by. I love when you visit. I enjoy your comments and I hope you enjoy your time in Joanie's World. Stitching pics soon cause I've made enough progress to share. My progress is distinguishable now, not just blobs...hee-hee!

Slowly, slowly my MoJo is coming back

Thanks to everyone for commenting on my last post. I am getting back to normal and feeling more like myself. A few nights, I went to bed with the chickens (one of my Mom's fav sayings). And I am stitching again. Small things. I can't stand the thought of stitching on anything BIG.

So, I worked on Where My Heart Blooms, the house is about 1/2 done now and I am about 3/4 of the way finished. About this time in the progress, I usually just focus on that piece and finish it. It's like an obsession. But I haven't gotten to that place just yet. Soon, I bet! And I am working on the Plum Pudding freebie and I am working on October from Mary Garry. I've stitched that little witch before but gave her away.

I cleaned my house today. It's mostly clean. I stitched most of the afternoon, put out some of my Autumn decorations (I LOVE Fall!!!) I ordered new drapes for my living room (got 'em from JCPenney at 50% off which softened the blow when I told the DH how much they cost).

It's been a good day!

Have you been watching out for the new market releases? There are MANY that I want but I will practice restraint and do my very best not to purchase, um-mm, much. (I'd like to say I am only going to stitch my stash but I would be lying. I am trying to do that. I have so many cool patterns and I love them all!)

I love the new Carriage House Samplings! Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow and the tombstone are too cool. But I am drooling over the new Goode Huswife release, the Colonial Garden Series book. I will buy it and it will be my Christmas present to my self. Everything else that I love will go on a Wish List. Unless I lose my resolve, get stressed out, the planets align and I lose 10 pounds. At that point, there's no telling what I'll buy!

So what's on your Must Have list and your Wish List?

Out of Sorts

Have you ever been like a bird that flits from one thing to the other? Have you ever done that and got so overwhelmed by your lack of focus that it made you somewhat nuts? And gave you small anxiety attacks? Well, that's been my week.

Unfocused

Unproductive

I am blaming my short attention span to the wedding. I don't mean that in a negative way, it's just that's been our FOCUS for the last few months. Now that the wedding is past us (and the kid's are sailing to the Western Carribean as I write you) I realize that there is so much that I let go while preparing for the wedding. And now, there's too many things to focus my attention and energy on. Too many things that need my attention and too many things vying for a piece of me.

Work is insane. Hence a small anxiety attack followed by some really negative self-talk about not being able to handle this job (insert rolling eyes here...). I know that we are busy and yea, I am behind on a few projects but not enough to make me hyperventilate. Which I did and which is terribly perplexing.

Cross stitch is everywhere too. I can't focus on just one project and I can't stitch for more than an hour or so cause I get all fidgety. I've worked on a Prairie Schooler Santa from Santa and Snowmen. It should have been an easy-peasy finish, except, I can't count. Frogs.

Then I came across a blog devoted to smalls, Stitching Smalls with Friends so I had to start an autumn design. I decided to do a small Plum Pudding Needleart freebie called Blessed Be. I thought that it would be fast and easy...Nope. No attention span. Fractured attention span.

So, I decided to write here for a little bit and then go for a walk. It's a gorgeous day so I should at least spend a bit of time outside because before to long it will be too cold and snowy to walk outdoors.

Then maybe I'll be a little more focused and can make a dent in my autumn design.

More Wedding Pics

I am going to bore you a little more with wedding pics...here's the happy couple right after the ceremony.

Mike with 2 of his groomsmen, Charlie, the best man, on the left and Brian a groomsman in the middle at the rehearsal dinner.

And the wedding gift...Jenna pulled Mike away from the driver's side and insisted on driving it! At this point, she still thinks the car is a rental.

Mike getting ready to tuck her into the driver's seat. Jenna is checking out the interior.

Wedding Day pics!!!

I have a few pictures from the wedding. What a beautiful day! It was magical!

This is Chris...he was one of the groomsmen. Mike, Charlie and the DH were picking up their tuxes. Chris decided he wanted to be a manequin...

The wedding cake was scrumptious! Mike and Jenna chose 2 different flavors, one tier was hazelnut cake with chocolate filling (my fav) and the other was an almond cake with raspberry filling. The cake was dense, moist and the icing was not that sickening sweet buttercreme. It was DELISH!!!

The wedding party. The day began with rain but the sky cleared early afternoon. By the time we got to the reception, the photographer could take some outdoor pictures.

And our beautiful bride. Her dress was exquisite. The pictures do not do her justice. She was radiant!

We had a blast at the reception, the food was great, the DJ spun great songs and I danced until my feet ached! We laughed and just had a wonderful time.

Oh, and the best part? After the best man's toast (which was appropriately funny and heartfelt) Mike gave Jenna her wedding gift.....are you ready? He gave her a '08 cherry red MUSTANG! You should have seen her reaction, it was priceless. Mike told her that he misled her, that the car wasn't a rental, he bought it for her. And that he wanted to give her her dream car because he just wants to make all her dreams come true. When he held out the keys to her, there was a gasp from all of us, no one could believe it!

There will be more pictures to come. These are the one's that we got before the camera decided to quit for the evening. I hope you like the little bit that I could share with you!

R.I.P. My Chrissy the Wonder Dog

Today, is a sad day at Chez Wedding...our beloved Chrissy the Wonder Dog has joined Freeway, Fraggles, Pirate on the Rainbow Bridge...

She battled a very aggressive cancer which was untreatable. The tumor was growing all over her muzzle. She didn't appear to be in any pain but she never was a complainer. Our vet, Dr. Steve, told us that there wasn't anything he could do for her. It was only a matter of time. So before she got too bad, we made the painful decision to send her on her way. Oh, how it broke my heart...

Oh sweet Chrissy, how I miss you!

Oh the countdown begins!

We are just under a month away from the nuptials...OMGosh, I can't believe in less than a month my Cadet will be a Mr. & Mrs.!!!! The invitations are mailed. Details are getting finalized. Of course, we do have a glitch, the florist decided they couldn't do the wedding so now we have to come up with another one - IN 3 WEEKS! There's so much to finish and do!

The wedding sampler is 1/3 complete. Being who I am, of course I changed it to suit me and I struggled with some bands and the personalization. I am through those parts now so it's just follow the patterns and get her stitched. I am shooting for getting it to the framer by the end of next week to take measurements so the frame can be ordered. Then my needles will be flying to finish it to give the framer time to do her thing and have it done the Wednesday before the wedding. I also have to finish making the money box and the scrapbook. The scrapbook and the sampler will be given to Jenna at the bridal shower her sister is giving her on the Thursday before the wedding. I just realized I am on a short runway! EEE-EEK!!

Anyway life is busy here at Chez Disorganization. Between work, insomnia, work, wedding stuff, work and more work, housework, wedding stuff, my head is going to explode. Add the stress of my DH's upcoming retirement and lack of a new job to fill in the gap between what his retirement will bring in and our monthly expenses, it's a wonder I've not been deemed certifiably insane and committed to the Psych Ward at our local hospital.

But anyway, time marches on.

Stitching...I've picked back up Blackbird Designs, Where My Heart Blooms. It was my car project because I can actually see the holes in the 30 count linen with my cheater glasses. But I wasn't feeling the love for this piece so it went into the UFO pile. This week, I just wanted mindless stitching. So out it came. And I fell back in love with it. I realized that I didn't like how my car stitching looked...mainly cause the tension was all wonky. And that's why I disliked the piece so much. Plus the linen is like cheesecloth so the stitches were either to loose or too tight. So out went that stitching to be replaced by even tensioned little Xs. And I am back in love with the piece. I stitched on it over the week and I am working on the house now.

Then I decided that I will be working on the Wedding Sampler exclusively from now until it's FINISHED. I have to reserve the hardanger for the weekends though just so I do it when I am not bone tired. I did some hemstitching last night late and guess what! It's got to be frogged. First of all, I misread the directions (and they aren't written that well either) and cut the wrong threads. Then when I started the hemstitching I totally missed wrapping a few of the vertical threads. I am chocking it up to fatigue. Learned my lesson.

SO that's life in Upstate NY..hope you are doing well in your corner of the world. Oh, before I leave you...check out Threadhead's Unite! A lovely French General give-away is happening! Tell 'em I sent you!

It's been awhile...and 1/2 way

I've been a bad blogger. I admit it. I'm sorry. I've neglected you.

Honestly, I've not stitched in weeks. I want to but when I get home from work, I am DOG tired. So tired that I do a few things around the house and then C-R-A-S-H. I sleep like a rock but wake up tired. My DH says that it's stress from work. Work hasn't been fun the last couple of weeks. That's putting it mildly.

I saw that Prairie Schooler released new Fall, Christmas and Winter designs. And the new 2009 Santa! I LOVE Prairie Schooler and even though I have enough stash to last 14 lifetimes, I've pre-orderd them from E-Handcrafts Stitching Room:

And now for the 1/2 way. It seems that I stitch a pattern until I hit the 1/2 way point and then it goes put in the Wip pile. I have ahem, MANY Wips that are finished 50% to completion. I am sad to say this. I swear I have Stitcher's ADD. And I have NO desire to work on them at this time. Has any one felt this way? I think it's the reason for my slump. I am in a slump.

I am sad.

Oh, and we are 5 weeks away from the wedding! OMGosh, I can't believe it's almost here! The invitations were mailed this week, details are getting completed, the kid's got their liscence, booked their honeymoon cruise and I'm holding on tight!

Thanks for the nice comments about the Bridal Shower. It truly was lovely. Don't you just love my GF's home? TOO DIE for!!! Jenna had a lovely, lovely day.

Well, thanks for stopping by. I love that you come and visit, even though I've not had much to say. I am hoping that changes REALLY, REALLY SOON!

Bridal Shower Pics and Just Stuff

Two weeks ago, I hosted a Bridal Shower for the Lovely Jenna and my family and friends. I'd like to share a few photos of the event. I have more but they are on a CD that's with the future Mr. & Mrs., so you'll just have to wait to see pics of Jenna opening gifts, the family, and the beautiful table that my GF set for the bride-to-be and our families. (All pics are clickable and will get BIG.)

This picture is of the stack of favors in the dining room. I stamped the boxes and filled them with homemade chocolates, dark hearts and white chocolate rosettes. They were tied with 2 ribbons, one the color of the bridesmaid's dresses and a sheer white one over it. A tag and a heart charm was tied to the ribbons.

Here's the gift bags I gave to all the guests. Inside was the chocolate filled boxes, homemade biscotti, chocolate covered spoons and a CD of Mike and Jenna's favorite love songs. I stamped the bags with the same rose stamp I used on the chocolate favor boxes along the bottom of the bag, I stamped the bag tag with that stamp and put the happy couple's name on the tag. This shot is in the livingroom.

This is a shot of the dining room table before we served lunch. Penny graciously used her best china, Old Country Rose. I made the calla lilly centerpiece. Each of the lillies held a wedding picture, the DH and I, Jenna's grandparents, her sister, Jenna's parents and Mike's maternal and paternal grandparents. The center lily didn't have a picture in it, it represented the upcoming nuptials. I wrapped the stems in white silk and tied the bunch together with wide red silk ribbons.

Lastly, this is the Lovely Jenna, our bride-to-be and her sweet Mom, Trish.

Aside from some awkward moments with my family and a very selfish 19 year old niece, the shower was everything I dreamt it would be for Jenna. She got enough kitchen stuff for 2 kitchens, a beautiful handmade afghan, vintage table linens, towels, sheets, pots and pans. I gave her formal china, Lenox Opal Innocence, and her everyday dishes, Pfaltgraff's, Patio Garden.

On the stitchy front, a crowd of frogs decided to spend their summer vacation with me. I've worked on the wedding sampler but each row of the band sampler, I've had to frog, frog, frog. I put it away and started Heartstring Primitive's, My House is Built in Glory. But of course, all my work on the twisty, viney border needed to be ripped out.

I have a bad urge to start another piece, I purchased With Thy Needle & Thread's latest designs. I want to start Miss Snow Fairy really, really, really bad. So bad that I went out and bought the linen. Also, I have a 60% coupon from Michaels, so I may just purchase the frame to go with her. I also purchased the latest Sampler and Antique Needlework magazine, I got the latest Blackbird Designs, Loose Feather pattern, It's Berry Time, which I love and a plethora of other patterns that are calling my name loudly. I don't think I have the willpower to resist starting ALL of them.

Well, sweet friends, I'll have more shower pics as soon as I see Mike and Jenna again and hopefully some stitchy pics over the weekend. Thanks for hanging in there with me and thanks for stopping by to check out my corner of the world. Now that the bridal shower is over, I may have a bit of time to breath...you'll see more of me, I PROMISE!!

Hi all, just a quick post

Thanks for hanging with me, gang! Our home computer has died (the motherboard decided to leave permanently) so I do not have unlimited access to the internet or anyone's blogs. I am going nuts. Like an addict without her fix. It's terrible, especially because I am on VACATION and have time just to relax and catch up with all of you.

This weekend, we are going to Rochester to see the kid's, book a rehearsal dinner resturant and then help them out with their plans. Next weekend is my bridal shower. Stay tuned for pics!

I've been working on the wedding sampler. It's a slow go cause I am basically designing it as I stitch. A motif here, a specialty stitch there, FROGS here, there and EVERYWHERE!!! I have to pull out about an hour's worth of work cause I used the wrong silk. But I'll post a picture of my progress soon. Right now, it's a few bands and the kid's names. Nothing spectacular.

Well, the DH needs his 'back so take care and thanks again for visiting!

Happy Fourth of July!!!!

Today we spent the day with Jenna, Mike and Jenna's parents at the Broome County air show. The air show is sort of a tradition with us, we love the planes especially the fighter jets. And we were not disappointed!

The Blue Angels performed at this show. They were AWESOME!!!

So, I am feeling a bit patriotic at the moment!

Wishing all those who are Americans, a Happy Fourth of July! I hope you are having fun where ever you are! And to my non-US friends, I wish you a great weekend.

Now, off to the fireworks!

Busy, busy, busy, busy....

What can I say! The wedding plans are heating up! The shower is in 2 weeks and I am in a tizzy over the planning! You know how you ask people you've invited to RSVP? Well, NO ONE has but I know there are at least 8 who are planning to attend. What is it about picking up the phone and saying Yay or Nay? It's making me nuts cause I need to have a nose count so I can plan food, favors and just rest easy. GEEZ!

The wedding is in 8 weeks. I finally found a dress but I am waffling a bit on it now. My girlfriend, Penny, says that I look hot in it but I feel a little pudgy. I've not done well on WW the past 2 weeks cause last Wednesday was my birthday, today is my 30th wedding anniversary. This past weekend, I went to Pittsburgh to my niece's graduation party. LOTS of food. And the weekend before we took Jenna and Mike on a paddleboat ride on Canadiagua lake to celebrate everyone's graduation...yes, it was a 3 hour tour...Oh, Gilligan!! LOL!

So starting tomorrow, it's back on the program with a vengeance. Most of our partying/celebrating is just about over. Jenna's parents are coming down on Saturday and I think that's the end of parties for awhile.

As far as stitchy things go, I've not put a needle to anything since I finished up Bea. I am in a small slump. It's cause I have to do so much before the bridal shower on the 18th. The house NEEDS a lot of attention since I now have 3 households plus my own to deal with. I have some things from my Dad that I've got to come to terms with, my in-laws are passing down things they no longer want but think we need and my sweet boy has moved out of his apartment into Jenna's parents but his stuff has moved in with us. I don't have room for all this stuff and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed trying to relocate everything.

Well, I have to go now, I just wanted to say hey and to let you know I'm still fogging up the mirror here in Upstate NY....thanks for hanging in there with me.

Beatrix Potter and Prairie Schooler Exchange

Bea is finished!!

And I received this wonderful exchange from Suzanne. She was my partner for the Year Long Prairie Schooler exchange.

I love it Suzanne and I've hung it on my hutch in my kitchen where I can see it all the time.

Bea's progress and news

Ok...I'm back. Did you miss me? I took myself out of circulation for a few weeks, there's so much going on right now at Chez "What Are We Going To DO" that I became a tad overwhelmed, stressed, bitchy and most of all weepy. I have to say that my stitching has kept me sane. Thank goodness for linen, silks, DMC and a needle. And of course, all the blogs that kept me motivated to be creative and not hide under a rock.

This month, I've made significant progress on Bea: (sorry for the crappy photo, but if you click on it, it'll get BIG!)

She's almost done! I am down to one motif on the lower right side and the initials in 2 motifs. Plus, while I was pressing the piece in order to take a semi-decent photo, I noticed that some of the thread ends are working loose. I didn't double back my threads when I was ending them until very late in the sampler, so I may have to do some repairs just to ensure that nothing unravels.

It's very possible that I could see a finish in the next week or so. Hear the band warming up? It's going to be a Happy Dance!

I decided to stay true to the pattern and stitch the initials from the original sampler. I toyed with personalizing the sampler with my family's initials but my anal tendencies won over and I'm staying true to the original. I may break from tradition and add my initials above the bee motif on the lower left corner. I don't think Bea would mind and there is enough room in that space to make it look like adding my initials was intentional and not crammed into the space. I don't think placing my initials there will detract from the over all composition of the piece so I'm going to stitch them in that spot.

Before I forget, I am accepting signups for Round 2 of the Blackbird Exchange I am hosting. I hope you will join us for the next round. Stop by for all the info to sign up. Round 2 sign-ups will be open until June 15th. Shoo! Shoo! Go see what treasures have been stitched in Round 1! That should whet your appetite to come play with us!

I have been stitching every night for the last few weeks. Mainly on the projects that "Shall Not Be Shown". I've finished my Prairie Schooler piece, now for the finishing and the Blackbird Designs exchange is just about done. I am torn on the finishing for that piece, I have a couple of ideas clanking around in the ol' cranium but nothing that's won over my heart. But I'll figure it out very soon!

I've bought a bunch of stash but I'll save that for another post cause the camera is wheezing and is refusing to take another picture. And I've got LHN's Watermelon to show you and Blackbird's Petite Rouge sampler to show you too. Plus, Feed the Birds which is inches away from completion.

After getting my exchanges sent off to new homes, my focus will be the Wedding Sampler. I am combining Victoria Sampler, Heirloom Wedding and Heirloom Christmas patterns into the sampler. There's a section of stitching in the Heirloom Wedding that I am not fond of so I decided to swap that part out for a section from the Christmas sampler. Plus, I like some of the lace patterns from the Christmas sampler better than the Wedding Sampler. It will be unique for the soon-to-be Second Lietenant and his lovely Jenna. But I've got to get cracking, otherwise I'll be giving it to them on their 5th anniversary. I am stunned to think that the Wedding is about 100 days away! Geez, where's the time gone! So much to do!

Lastly, I want to thank each of you who've stopped by to read my drivel and keep up with my adventures. I certainly appreciate all of you who come by and honestly, it's a comfort and a blessing to know that you care enough to stop on by. I promise now that things are somewhat settled, I'll be back around a little more frequently.

HI everyone

I just wanted to say that I am sorry I haven't been around recently. I am just a little overwhelmed with life right now and I always tend to withdraw when that happens. Please forgive me!

I've been stitching, on my exchanges and Bea. Bea is 1.5 motifs from being finished! I am so excited! She's all I want to work on but I MUST, MUST, MUST be disciplined and work on my exchanges. I do love what I am stitching so it's not that big of a chore.

I haven't taken any pics to share but I promise I will tomorrow as long as we have sunny weather. So stay tuned.

In other news, we were told that our gelding, Joey, is severely arthritic in his hocks and in his right front fetlock. The ponies got pedicures today and the farrier was very concerned about him. We will be putting him on an arthritic supplement. The farrier really gave us a start cause initially, he thought it was laminitis which is very bad. He thought this because our horses have been on grass for the past few days and new grass is very rich. We've been weaning them on it for a week now so we thought all was well. Fortunately, laminitis is not the case, YAY!

The Cadet, the lovely Jenna and the DH graduated this past Saturday. I am so proud of all of them!

So, off I go, my needle is calling!!! Stop by again soon!

Stitching and the Military Ball

First of all, I want to tell you how much I missed all of you!

This week, I finally got a chance to stitch. Yes, you read it right. I. STITCHED.
I worked on my 2 pieces that "Shall Not Be Shown" (exchange pieces) and I stitched on Bea.

Below is my progress (click and it'll get BIG):


As you can see, I am nearing the finish! YAY!!! I love Bea and I will be sorry to hang up my needle with her but honestly, Bea, you are quite the demanding girlfriend!! Every time I sat down to stitch, YOU cried the loudest and then pouted until I picked you up and stitched on you. And if I left you alone, you unleashed the frogs just to let me know that you were upset to be neglected. Because of you, I have 2 exchanges to complete in 2 weeks, you Vixen!

Now on to family stuff...you can stop reading if you don't want to hear about the Military Ball.

Two weeks ago, we attended the Cadet's final Military Ball. We had such a great time. It's such a special evening, filled with good food, an engaging speaker and awards. This year was no exception. Even though the Cadet didn't receive any awards, we are still very proud of him.

Here we all are..

And another family pic:



The DH and the Cadet:


And the Cadet and his lovely bride-to-be:

The Cadet received his assignment, upon his commissioning as a Second Lietenant in October, he will be going to Intel school in Texas for 7 months. From there, I don't know...one step at a time.

Right now, we are planning graduations, the DH graduates with his Masters in Education, the lovely Jenna graduates with a BS in Elementary Education and the Cadet will graduate with a BS in Criminal Justice. I am also hip deep in planning a girly-girl bridal shower in July and getting together a bunch of things for the happy couple. I started the wedding sampler (just basting guidelines cause I am waiting on thread) and I am putting together a scrapbook for them. Also, I am trying to gather recipes for a cookbook too. Somewhere in the midst of all this, I have to find a dress for the wedding, a restaurant for the rehearsal dinner and so much more, I just can't remember. Before you know it, the wedding will be here!!

Busy times!

So, I hope all of you are well and are finding more time than me to stitch. I promise though, I'll be posting more pictures soon. I actually put ALL my wips together in one spot (and I won't tell you how many I have...let's just say I have Stitcher's ADD) so I can pick and choose what I want to work on. I know the focus piece will be the wedding sampler but I hope to finish up some of the pieces that are 3/4 complete. This year, I haven't finished one thing except for a few exchanges! What's up with that!!!

Take care everyone, and to all you Mom's out there...Happy Mother's Day! I wish you a wonderful day surrounded by the love of your family. For me, it's going to be a quiet day...we will go to church and just spend the rest of the day at home. The David will be grilling steaks, the Cadet will make a phone call and so will my sweet MIL. And I'll be thinking of my Mom.

Have a sweet day, Mom's everywhere!