The Cadet

Tomorrow morning, bright and early, I put my Cadet onto a plane bound for Ellsworth AFB in S. Dakota. He will be there with about 499 other ROTC Cadets for Field Training. Field Training is a euphenism for BOOT CAMP. That's right, the boy is on his way to Boot Camp for the entire month of August.

Needless to say, I need to visit my hairstylist for a coloring as my hair has gone completely grey from worry and stress and just plain being the mother of a boy bound for the military. Please don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with the military. I am very proud of my son and all the others who have gone to serve our country. But....I'm a MOM and Mom's worry. It's hard wired into you when your child is born. Sorry...when a child is born, his or her Mom is given eyes in the back of her head and a healthy dose of WORRY.

The biggest thing is that I will not have any contact with him for the entire month. No phone, no emails...only snail mail that takes, well a snail's pace to get to S. Dakota. I know that he will be yelled at, he will do eleventy-dozen million sit-ups and run as fast as he can during PT. Plus, drill, drill and drill. His day will start at 4AM and end at 9PM. They will break him and then rebuild him.

He will become a soldier.

And when he returns on August 30th, he will be a man.

SO...please, for all those who pray, remember him and all of his 499 buddies in your prayers. Pray for their safety and for their protection. Cause, kids, in a few years, they will be protecting US.

So I leave you with a photo of my Cadet and his best friend, my second son, Charlie.

I love them.

My Boys

Mike and Charlie

July 31, 2007

Where did my stitching mojo go?

Has anyone seen my stitching mojo? I think I misplaced it. Or maybe, it went to Aruba on holiday. Anyway, it seems to be lost. If you happen across it, please send it home, as it's owner is missing it. Terribly.

I haven't stitched anything in at least a week and a half. Just don't feel like it. Is it the Dog Days of Summer? Or just a needed break? I finished off a giftie and that's about it. For a few days, I looked for the fabric to M.Pollard cause I misplaced her. But I found her hiding out with another WIP this morning. Now she is snuggled up with the pattern and silk in her own little project bag. Guess she needed a vacation too.

I have been perusing blogs though and I must say they are keeping my creativity and desire to stitch alive right now. That and the embarrassing amount of stash that I bought recently. Shall I tell you about my Prairie Schooler binge?

Work is still the Land of the Drama Queens. I want to get off this project soon. Have to chat with Mr. Manager about it though, but I think he wants me to corral the misfits. Blech. I don't want to mother 50yr old women who whine for their supper. Mr. Manager, I am not up to the task. Nor, Mr. Manager, am I paid enough to take them on. It makes me tired....

Well, I thought I'd post just to say hey, I'm still here! Did you miss me? And to say, thanks for coming by the most boring blog in blogworld. I am glad you are here though. I appreciate all of you very much and welcome your comments.

Oh, and when the recipient of the giftee receives it...I'll post a picture, I don't want to spoil the surprise!

We interrupt cross stitching for this important event

Harry Potter!

I admit it, I am a Potter fan. Today, when I opened up my mailbox, there was the box from Barnes & Nobles...Harry arrived! How I love new books! Especially hardcovers. I don't buy many books really. But I've bought all the Potter tomes.

So I opened the box and cracked open the binding. And I began to read. I read all day and into the evening. I am just about 1/2 done with the book now and I must say it's a good read. No, I am not going to spoil it for anyone and give away anything that I've read today. Honestly, I wish that this wasn't the last Potter. I'll miss the adventure.

I stitched a little on Thursday. I called in sick because I just needed NOT to be at work. A mental health day. The drama queens have gotten to me and I just didn't want to deal with them another moment. Plus, the Cadet is giving me a headache, as well as, our house woes. So, I pulled out a Wip, Prairie Schoolers, Autumn Winds. I started it last year with Patti and Cathy. We didn't keep up with the SAL and when I looked at my spreadsheet, I hadn't worked on it since last Fall. It's coming along. I am almost done with the center panel, I decided to stitch the pumpkin. Almost 1/2 way done.

Anyway...I believe I'll be spending time with the Wizards. for a few days...

When the going gets tough, the tough go...

SHOPPING!!

General Disclaimer: Yes, I KNOW I said I wasn’t going to buy any more stash because I have enough to stitch for eternity. But, I was stressed, ok?
So there!

In the last few weeks, I have been very stressed with my big work project. Although the migration went fairly well, as with all big projects, we had some bumps in the road and some grinding of teeth and renting of clothing from those who had to be dragged into the new system and are mourning the death of the old system. To those I say...CHANGE IS GOOD!! EMBRACE THE NEW!!! But of course, the sky is falling and will continue to fall for these folks until they finally give up and just get on with it. That may happen when it gets cold and freezes somewhere south where the devil and his buds hang out.

I’m not holding my breath.

So to alleviate the stress - I WENT SHOPPING!! Boy, did I ever! The packages keep rolling in from the postman, actually, it’s somewhat embarrassing and the amount of packages left in the mailbox caused the DH to raise an eyebrow...he asked which lifetime I was planning on stitching the new *crop* (as he calls my ever-growing stash.)

Ok, I know that you are wondering what I actually bought...here’s the list...read it and join me as I roll in stashy-goodness!

Plymouth Sampler - Sampler Company
Kind Fond Love - Sampler Company
New England Sampler - Sampler Company
Remember Me When This You See - Fingerwork
Elizabeth Savilles 1841 - Fingerwork
Hellen Bell’s Multiplication Sampler - CHS
Scripture Collaboration - Faith - Little House Needlework/Cresent Color Collaboration
Rebecca Blake 1809 Ackworth Sampler - Needleprints
Trousse Fleurs Bleuses - C Mon Monde
2007 Prairie Schooler Sampler - Prairie Schooler
Thanksgiving Comes Again - Prairie Schooler
Pumpkin Patch - Prairie Schooler
Good Things - Lizzie*Kate

On Saturday, the Cadet turned 20. 20!!! I certainly haven't gotten older, so when did he get to be 20? For the last 5 years or so, the DH and the Cadet go away to PA to play paintball to celebrate the momentous birthday event. This year, the trip fell on his birthday. So, even though I didn't share the day with the Cadet, I had the house to myself for 2 full days and I was estatic cause I needed Silence. Me and Chrissy the Wonderdog lived it up...we cleaned up the garden, reduced a mountain of laundry to a small foothill, played with the horses and cleaned the bathrooms. It was a nice break. I stitched a little too (actually, a lot of a little). I bought linen banding awhile ago and decided to make a small pouch. I am stitching an alphabet (one of my favorite things) in Vicki Clayton Garnet silk.on the front. I am a tad perplexed on how to go about finishing it. It’s coming along nicely. And I worked a tad on my Stitcher’s Wallet. Not much but a little. I’ll be moving on to the second page soon!
And I finished up a giftee...

So, I hope you all had a lovely weekend and are rested and ready to face the new week. Thanks for coming by to visit. It's so nice to see you!

Oh new Prairie Schooler designs!!!!

Have you seen these new designs from the Prairie Schooler? There is a passel (just love that word) of new designs on Hoffmans site! But these 2 are my favorites!!! I love Halloween, so I can see this one jumping into my stash, no question about that!

Pumpkin Patch

Prairie Schooler Designs

Thanksgiving Comes Again

Prairie Schooler Designs

I don't have many harvest designs, so I think this one will come home with me too!

I just can't resist...Autumn is my favorite time of the year. I love the colors and the smells and sweaters...

Thanks for your comments about my Americana Samplings...I finished it. Just have to take some pictures.

Red, the pattern is yours....I'll be sending it to you next week.

Well, I 've worked 32 hours in the last 3 days. I am bushed but I believe that my software project is a go. Only 24 hours left before it launches. Yeah!

Thanks for visiting, I am so glad you stop by!!

Happy July 4th!

Happy Birthday USA!!!!

First of all, I want to thank everyone for their well wishes on my birthday! Thank you so much remembering me. You've made this milestone birthday a memorable one! And thank you again to Carol and Wendy for the coolest gifties! What pleasant surprises they were for me!

Today, I am off work. Tomorrow begins the BIG software move. To say I am nervous about it is an understatement. I do have complete confidence in the consultant...but it's the fear that I forgot something MAJOR that scares me. Oh well, we will take it all in stride and work through all the issues. This weekend is a big one for my team and come Monday, when everyone is back to work, well, that's when the rubber meets the road. The following 2 weeks are critical.

Since it's the fourth of July (and it's raining....of course), I am planning on working on a semi-UFO. It's Little House Needleworks, Americana Sampling. It was an exclusive kit released in 2005. I began it right after I bought it and I remember working on it last year around this time too. Maybe this year, I will finish it and by next year have it framed (LOL!!!!). I think I am going to frame it myself and paint something patriotic on the frame. Given my track record, it will be next year when I decide on what to paint and actually do the painting.


Once I am finished stitching this sampler, I'm going to give the chart away to the first person who asks for it, so if you want it, drop me a comment. The pattern is OOP. I will warn you though, I had a coffee accident on the page with the floss and fiber symbols. It's readable but not pretty. The pattern is in good shape cause I kept it in a page protector.

Last night, I worked a little bit on my birthday gift and on Blackbird Designs, Their Song, too. Should have taken a pic to it to show you but silly me, hindsight is always 20-20. I'll snap one when I start on it again.

So, I hope you are having better weather and can see some fireworks on this July 4th. Be safe traveling and if you are having a picnic or party, have a great time!!! Eat a hotdog for me!

Thanks for stopping by~ :-)

Birthday Exchange!!!

Today I received the most wonderful surprise from Wendy (Wendy Home at Work)!!! It's beautiful! She made me a terrific stitching purse and Prairie Schooler bird fob! I tried to get all arty with the photo, obviously I missed that mark, but you can see how lovely her work is!



This is the interior of the purse. There's little compartments to put stitching accessories around a puffy pincushion.

The fob is a Prairie Schooler design from one of the new charts, Birdsong I. Wendy personalized it with our initials and year. What a generous gift, I will treasure it and you can bet I will be using it to organize my travel projects!

In the card that she sent, Wendy said that she's been reading my blog, trying to figure out what I liked. Well, Wendy, you hit the mark cause I LOVE what you sent to me. I hope that she will continue to visit.

Thank you very much, Wendy!

Gee, this birthday is never ending!!!

I'm still here!!!

HI everyone...thanks for stopping by! No, really, I mean it. It's nice to know there are cyber-friends out there checking up on me.

Unfortunately, there ain't a whole lot of stitching going on at Chez No-stitching. Why, you ask? Because I am now into crunch time with my big project at work. 12 hour days, fighting fires and dealing with all the drama (and drama-queens) really make me tired! So, I've just come home and crashed. However, it doesn't mean that I've stopped buying stash...no sir...my credit card is wheezing from the work out. So far, I bought the latest Quaker offering from Needleprints, Sarah Spence. I bought the remaining AVAS for My Home Town, a spring/summer biscourne pattern, some CHS's, a Prairie Schooler off the bay of evil, my FOTM from Shakespeare's Peddler, some Lizzie*Kate, Brenda Keyes, a sampler that's on Tempest Fugit's blog and, well, I know there's more but I can't think of them! Chock it up to birthday $$ and an indulgent DH.

Today, was the first day that I picked up a needle in 2 weeks and I am stitching a gift so I can't even share the progress with you.

Yesterday was our 28th wedding anniversary. David and I spent the day at the air show watching all the jets do their thing...the F-17A Hornets and the AirForce F-15 jets just make me marvel...they are sexy planes. To think that my Cadet may fly one of those someday (if he gets a pilot slot and gets through the physical part of the training) just makes me smile. Do you think he'd take me up for a spin? Anyway...it was a great day. Cool but sunny, fair food, jets, helicopters and large cargo planes. We spent the entire day there and loved every minute of it. We topped off our anniversary with take-out pizza from Pizza Hut.

The Cadet is coming home tomorrow for the week. He's going back to his apartment at the end of the week cause he has a date with the lovely Jenna and an Arnold Air Society volunteer function. Then he's coming home for the rest of July. In August, he goes to South Dakota for field training. And then the summer is over and it's back to the books. WOW, when you think through the time line, it's pretty short!!!

So, again, thanks for sticking with me and the most boring blog in blog world. I've got to go feed the ponies so stop by soon...there may be pictures of the air show and some stitching too! :-)!!

Oh..btw, this is the week my project launches at work...please keep good thoughts and PRAYERS for a successful conversion and migration...thanks!

It's my birthday and I'm having a party...

It's my 50th birthday...50!!! Wow! I can't be that old, now can I???

Actually, I've been celebrating most of the week but today only with the DH...

On Friday, my document migration team treated me to a chocolate mousse cake (a surprise) during our status meeting. I thought it was nice of them to remember me.

Then my girlfriend, Penny, took me to lunch at a very girly restaurant called the Rose Garden. It's a beautiful little place decorated as a Victorian rose garden, pinks and soft greens and creams. Victorian decor abounds in this place and it's a nice place to eat. Penny gave me a bottle of wine called, Bitch. She said that it went with my new age. And she gave me beautiful earrings, a very nice bracelet and a card that made me cry. My boss gave her permission to take me to an extended lunch too, so thank you, Brad.

Yesterday, I got some goodies in the mail. Carol, darling Carol, sent me this lovely fob. I was so moved that I cried. This fob is so beautifully stitched and so tiny. My initials are embedded in the design and it took me awhile to find them. Very clever. Now, I am on the hunt for special scissors and I will think of her every time I snip a thread with scissors that this fob is attached.

THANKS CAROL!!

On Tuesday, my son and hubby took me and Mike's GF, Jenna, on a dinner cruise. We sailed out of Ithaca on the MV Manhattan for a 3 hour cruise (Oh, Gilligan!!!) up Cayuga Lake. Dinner was scrumptious, the weather and scenery was beautiful and we had a wonderful time!

Some photos...

Jenna and Mike

All of us

Me and Dave

The cruise was a blast! Good food, nice company. Very relaxing.

This morning, David treated me to vanilla cappuccino and cinnamon raisin bagels in the sun room. And he gave me a beautiful card and a gift card to my favorite boutique, and a promise of a new digital SLR when I decide a) when we can afford it...(let's get through the contractor mess) and b) when I actually pick the one that I want. I really want the Canon EOS D but will settle for the Nikon D40...

Tonight, he's made dinner reservations at a place he's not disclosing...when I asked him where he told me that he didn't remember where or how to get there...funny, right!

And I treated myself to a OLN shopping experience. I bought a couple of Little House Needlework patterns, a biscourne pattern and some LizzieKate that were so darling. When they arrive I will take pictures.

So, the day has started lovely and I believe will continue that way!

Go 50!!

Cross this off the list...

Sorry about the lack of cross stitching posts recently. Honestly, I haven't had a moment's time to do any stitching in the last few weeks. Between the big work project and getting certified to a new Quality Management standard for aerospace auditing (that was 2 long days this week), I am beyond tired.

I am happy to tell you that today, I completed the auditing course and I PASSED!!! In fact, I did very well! I got a 96% on the test and a 98% overall score for the class. So, I can cross that off my list as finished. Now comes the hard part, implementing this QMS into our business in a very short amount of time. Hello, new project. Toss in a couple of Customer audits, the IT conversion project and just keeping up with my work in general...well, I am busy. And it's just what I want to be.

Last weekend, the Franklin Graham Festival came to our local university for 3 days. Oh, what a wonderful event that was! I got to listen to some great Christian rock (Third Day, Tree63 and Building 429) watched over 800 people accept Christ as their Savior and listened to wonderful messages of hope from Franklin Graham. It really was the highlight of the week.

The Cadet is here for a few days...It's nice having him home but tomorrow he's going back mainly because his GF is leaving for the month of July to teach at a summer camp (the name escapes me now..grr-rr) so he wants to spend a little time with her. I will see them next Tuesday as David and I are meeting them in Ithaca to go on a diner cruise on Cayuga Lake to celebrate my 50th birthday (which is the 24th).

Some stitching news, now. Sue (Red's Thread) and I are going to restart My Home Town. I am unhappy with my fibers, she is unhappy with her fabric. So I traded up to AVAS from Vicki Clayton silks, I wasn't happy with the colors in the conversion and Sue is trading her 36ct fabric for 32ct. So, we are guaranteed that this project won't sink to the bottom of the stitching basket. Now that I am not studying that aerospace standard every waking moment, I intend to use that time to stitch on MHT and The Stitcher's Wallet. I can't wait to sit in my stitching nest and cuddle with my fabric...
Also, I am making my reservations for CATS in Hershey tomorrow. Is anyone going? Let me know cause I'd love to meet up with you there. I believe Sue is going to be there and I am so looking forward to stitching with her!

And on the house front, well, let's just say that things are heading to court.

Well, that's all from my world, thanks so much for stopping by and I promise stitching pictures the next time I post.

See ya!

Learning Hands - Exemplar from the Heart

Oh my....this sampler is coming to live with me when it gets released!!!

It's Examplars From the Heart, My Learning Hands...gosh, I just love it!!! I love every thing about it...the house the border, the colors, the verse.
Usually, I am not drawn to Vilma's designs and I don't really know why. I know that everyone loves *And They Sinned* and it's still a very sought after design. I think I was the only one on the planet who didn't purchase it.

But this sampler..gee...I am in love...I think it'll look good with John Foster, don't you?

I am amoured with house designs right now.

I didn't die

It was a very interesting day for me at my place of employment.

But before I tell you the story, I have to give you some backround though. You see, I am an introvert. Big time. My Myers-Briggs profile for introversion is off the chart. I believe that I am at the outer limit of the extreme end of the introverted spectrum. I believe that I have introverted blood flowing through my veins. I will do everything and anything not to call attention to myself, I will do anything that I have to to stay in the backround. Hello, wallflower. I am very content to be out of the spotlight. I don’t like crowds. I hate to shop. I sometimes do not leave my house for entire weekends. Just so you know.

So, today, at work, my boss calls.

Boss: Hi, guess what’s scheduled at 1:30??...big pause..
Me: I have NO idea.
Boss: Well, it’s the IT meeting and guess what’s on the agenda...your project. BIG PAUSE. So, I don’t want IT to talk to it, I want you to come and pitch it to the CEO. Be there at 1:30. Bring your status page and talk to it.

"CLICK"

I immediately break out in a cold sweat. It’s noon. I have an hour and a half to worry and prepare. Oh gosh, I hope I don’t die. Better yet, I hope that I don’t make a fool out of my boss (a VP) and have his peers tell him that he made the biggest mistake of his corporate career by hiring me as one of his staff. So my stomach knots and I immediately feel sick cause you see, I AM AN INTROVERT.

I panic.

The clock ticks down.

So, I try to rehearse. My mouth feels like it’s full of sand.

When I get there, my boss says:
Boss: You’re on first.
Me: First?
Boss: Yep. Go up front, look him in the eye and give him the status.

So, I did. I talked and yes, I made some mistakes but I caught my boss’ eye. He was smiling.

Mr. CEO looked up at me and said:

CEO: OUTSTANDING JOB...Terrific work

And he shook my hand and thanked me.

I was out of there in 3 minutes.

And I didn’t die.

Recently, I've been harping to myself about projects that I've done as gifts or as RAK's and the fact that I've felt like maybe it wasn't worth it. Well, I came across this blog and I am linking a post for you to read. It brought some things in perspective and I will no longer feel that my efforts were *less than* because I didn't spend money.
So here's the post:

http://tttl1998.blogspot.com/2007/05/long-walk.html

Let me know what you think.

Whoo-hoo-ooo!!! I am on a 4 day weekend!!!

Oh and I need it badly.
I have been one crabby person the last few weeks. The work project is gearing up now, it's becoming a reality and it's so stressful!! There's so many personalities involved, drama queens. power plays and naysayers and some cheerleaders, so many that I just want to crawl under my desk and hide from everyone. Today, I literally went down to one of the manufacturing breakrooms with my work just to get away...from the phone and from the noise (I live in a very noisy cube farm) and from the distractions of people stopping.

But...wait...NOW I AM OFFICIALLY ON A 4 DAY RESPITE from my self imposed madness.
Go me.

I plan on doing some stuff around the house, finish putting in my flower bed and stitching until my eyes pop out of my head. I hope to make a lot of progress on My Hometown and maybe a wip or 3. On Saturday, we are going to see the Cadet...did I tell you he bought a motorcycle...??
and he has a cutie patootie girlfriend too?? I hope I get to meet her on Saturday but I doubt it cause it's too early in this blossoming relationship to *meet the 'rents*.

So color me euphoric!!! Cause I am on a holiday weekend!!!

A froggie came a courtin'.....

Here's my progress on A Stitcher's Wallet. I had much more stitched but unfortunately, the froggies came by...so rip, rip, rip!!! After pulling out much of the dark brown motif, I restitched as much as I could but no where near what I had stitched previously.

I spent most of the weekend tending my flowerbed and taking care of one of my horses. Mighty Joe took a mis-step in the pasture and came home limping on 3 legs. He seemed to hurt his right hind leg, just around the fetlock. He favored it most of Sunday but today he's bearing weight on it but he still is a little short on it. It's hard to tell how hurt he really is, he is SUCH A BIG BABY!!! But that's what makes him such a lovable woobie!!!

I have to say that I didn't work on My Hometown like I planned, there was just not enough weekend to do everything I wanted and besides after the quarrel I had with the Stitching Wallet, I just worked on easy stuff and, of course, I surfed everyone's blog!

I hope that everyone had a great day today and a lovely weekend. Thanks for stopping!

For your viewing pleasure

Hey there, thought I'd pop in and show you what I've been up to since the last time I posted pictures. See, this is the proof that, yes, I've been stitching! Not a lot but just a bit to ward off a brewing slump. Today, I took drastic measures to prevent this slump and I walked down to the LNS (it's dangerouly close to work, like a 1/2 block away..yikes!) because I thought that seeing stitching and breathing in all that stitching would scare my slump away. And besides, it was a gorgeous day, perfect for a walk, nevermind I took a side trip to the LNS. Ahem. I came away with stash that was in my folder, The Drawn Thread's, ABC, Little House Needlework's, Nature's Beauty, Week's Dye Work thread for Blackbird Designs, Their Song and a cut of 36 ct.Belfast Linen in Sand to stitch it on. Stitching slump slayed!!!

And, my stitching budget is spent.

Now, on to the pictures:

This is the progress I've made on my Quaker Boxtop. (What do you think, Nancy?) I am very pleased on how it's stitching up, I really want to work on some interior motifs cause I am curious on how they are going to fit. But I told myself that I would stitch the border first and the 1/2 motifs along the sides before I stitched anything in the center area. As it stands now, I may rip out the center motif, I think it's a bit too small. What do you think?


Here's my progress on Carriagehouse Samplings, My Hometown. I'm stitching this with Sue, Vonna and Chelle. We are the Rag-Tag SALer's!

And finally, this is the start of A Stitcher's Wallet. This pattern is from The Gift of Stitching e-magazine. I am stitching this with Patti and Sue and Debby.

I am sorry about the picture quality, my little point-and-shoot digital camera is showing it's age. I would love a digital SLR but that's out of the question now.

I've been reading the blogs about Celebrations! For those who attended, your experience sounded fantastic! Such fun you must have had renewing friendships, visiting, stitching and shopping! Next year, ladies, I want to join you!

So there you have it! I've got to get off the computer now, cause I am procrastinating big time. I have homework, I have to read the user's manual for some of the modules we are bringing on during our conversion. Ugh. I want to stitch.

Hope you are having a wonderful day! Thanks for dropping by!

Saturday

Today in Upstate NY it was a gorgeous Spring Day!! Sunny and breezy. A perfect day to just be outdoors. I spent a little time puttering with the horses, handgrazing them to get them ready to be out in the pasture. I did some heavy housecleaning too, I supercleaned the sunroom. We run a pellet stove and it's the dirtiest form of heat that I know. When you clean the stove (which is daily) a fine layer of black soot settles everywhere. So today, I mopped the floor and wiped down the window sills and the woodwork. I opened the windows to let the fresh breezes in and the stagnant winter air out. And I watched the Derby. I have not missed a Derby in 30 years. I know that I watched it as a girl, I wanted to be a jockey, heck, I wanted to be a horse when I was a little girl. I had an imaginary steed named Lightningbolt. I always knew that I would have a horse one day and today, I am blessed with 3 pasture ornaments.
On the stitching front, I worked on A Stitcher's Wallet, so yes, Sue, I started it. It's a fast stitch. I wasn't sure that I would like the Flower Thread, it's somewhat coarse, but on this fabric, it looks terrific! I don't have much done really, just a couple of the upper motifs on the first pattern.

I think that I am going to put away most of my Wips again, with the stress of work, seeing unfinished stitching is making me anxious. So, I plan on leaving out in plain sight the SAL pieces, My Hometown and the Stitcher's Wallet, the Quaker boxtop and Maria Short. Everything else is going back into the wicker trunk at least for a little while. By putting my unfinished stitching away, I won't be reminded of unfinished projects while I am pre-occupied with work. I am doing this cause I feel a stitching slump brewing. It's just cause I am so wigged out over this work project. It's consuming every waking moment of my life and it's on my mind 24/7. I will be happy when the conversion is over so I can relax just a little. De-cluttering and keeping my house somewhat tidy seems to help keep my anxiety level down. It's a control issue. I don't feel in control at work, so if I keep some control over my house, at least there is something that won't be competing for my attention. I need my house, particularly my family room and bedroom picked up because I need a place to unwind.

I've been reading the blogs that posted about Celebrations. Geez, I wish I were there! Patti, KiwiJo, Carol and Nancy are there and when I saw the pictures of them, all the memories from CATS last September came back. What a fun time that was! I don't know who will be going there in September. I certainly want to go and I hope some of my stitching buddies will join me there.

Well, I've spent enough time on the computer, I think I am going to get ready for bed. I hope everyone is having a great weekend! Thanks for stopping by!!

Can I get off the ride now, please???

I have to tell you that lately life has been a tad overwhelming. I haven't spent anytime with my needle until today. It felt good to stitch a good part of the day. I also got to weed the flower bed. The day was really gorgeous, in the 60's and sunny, for a change.

The Cadet came home this weekend. He and Dave were going to play paintball on Saturday. They left around 8 AM for the game. I had the day to myself but I spent it doing the lad's laundry, our laundry and some slick housekeeping. You know, slick it up with a promise to do it better next time.
The guys got home earlier than I anticipated so we headed out to do some shopping. We ended up at Men's Warehouse for a suit for the Cadet. He is going to a wedding in June and he needs interview clothes for next year when he looks for internships. The kid cleans up really good and he cleaned out my wallet too...I didn't care though, it's nice to be able to give him what he needs. Thanks for the tax return, Mr. IRS. We ended up with takeout from the ONLY chinese restuarant worthy of selling us Chinese food, 2 movies, Casino Royale and Flight of the Phoenix. I fell asleep at 9:00. What a party animal I am.

Today, brought Bagels and French Vanilla cappacinos. The Cadet left for Rochester at noon. And the house got quiet. David and I immediately started to miss him. We had a nice weekend, I didn't push his buttons about his grades and he didn't get snarky with me.

So we puttered in the yard, planted a lilac that is doomed to perish and I weeded the flower bed. We grilled burgers for the first time this year - YUM! And once we were done with supper, I got cozy with my Quaker boxtop sampler. I finished all the motifs that I started except for one now. I have 6 completed motifs now and I've marked out 2 more. I love how little sampler is coming out! I promise pictures.

Work has been insane and it will continue to get more insane over the next couple of months. We have 8 weeks to pull of the biggest miracle - ripping out a complete software package and replacing it with another. It'll get done by hook or by crook. And a lot of sweat and late nights.
I just know that we can not fail with this migration. Prayers would be appreciated, please!

The house is still where it's been for the last 18 months. Mr. Contractor is now promising May 15th. I don't think we are going to buy this last promise though, the lawyer is going to start proceedings.

And the last thing...the DH had a health scare, fortunately the tests came out ok. But it was 3 weeks of waiting and worrying, more on my end than the DH.

SO, now you know why I want to get off this ride!

More Photos

Quick update cause I MUST go to bed.

I stitched a teensie bit this weekend, nothing major, mainly because I was POOPED. We had our annual ISO 9001 survelliance audit at work and I put in 60 hours. Needless to say, it wasn't until Sunday before I picked up a needle. SO, with further ado...I present to you some updates.
Below is my Quakter sampler boxtop. It's going to someone very special, you know who you are, Miss N...so yes, this is the big surprise. It's slow going but it's to die for GORGEOUS!





Next is Carriagehouse Samplings, My Hometown. Sorry Sue and Vonna, I couldn't resist but I put it away until you get your stuff and we can start together. I had to see what the purple looked like on this fabric. It just pops! I am thrilled but I will be good and not put in another stitch till everyone is ready to start.

Lastly, I leave you a picture of Chrissy, the Wonder Dog...isn't she sweet? She's laying in a pile of the Cadet's dirty laundry that he conveniently unloaded in my living room...AHEM...

Gotta go to bed, thanks for stopping and I AM so glad you come by to visit. I makes my day to read your comments!

Picture Pretty

Hi All,

As promised, here are the pictures of my weekend work. First up is BOAF's Peace Sampler. I really like this sampler but I am finding it a hard stitch. Don't know if I like the fabric, it's BOAF Sandpiper. It's really a drab, dirty grey. I also am not happy with the color of the letter *P*, it's a brick color. But, if I decide to hang all my *house* samplers together, it will look great with my Hillside Samplings House of Needlework sampler. Not so good with John Foster though.

BOAF Peace Sampler

32ct BOAF Sanpiper Linen

Gentle Arts Sampler Thread

Stitched over 2 thread

Next is Blackbird Designs, March Hare. It's from one of their books, A Fine Collection. It's stitched on 32ct Lambswool Lugana, over one thread. I like it very much. I only can work on it during the day because my eyes cross if I stitch on it during the evenings.

March Hare
Blackbird Designs
32ct Lambswool Lugana
Gentle Arts Sampler Thread
Stitched over one thread

Lastly, this my misplaced Quaker box top sampler. THIS is the sampler that I thought I threw away. Some of you who commented thought I threw away the pattern. No, I thought I threw away the SAMPLER. For a few days, I searched high and low, I went through the garbage and even the recycling. I was very much afraid that the DH had taken it to the landfill. I was heart sick cause I have spent MANY hours stitching this piece. When it is finished, I will mount it on a wooden tea box that I bought from AC Moore.

Quaker Sampler Boxtop
Various Ackworth Quaker Sampler Motifs
32ct Lambswool Lugana
Gloriana Overdyed Silk - Autumn Foliage
Stitched over one thread

Last night, I didn't stitch at all. Tonight, I have to do some work. I am not sure how much stitching I will get to do before the weekend, the job is going to be on the front burner. And next week, work will be insane.

Well, let me know what you think of my weekend accomplishments!