Heart health

Thank you Tracy for posting about the Go Red For Women this Friday!
As quoted by the awareness website:
"Everyone can support the fight against heart disease in women by wearing red on National Wear Red Day, Friday, February 1, 2008. It's a simple, powerful way to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke. "

...pass it on!

...and still stitching!

I am still working on the Margaret Sherry Purrfect Partners Stitch Kit from the CrossStitcher (UK) magazine issue 196. Right now I just don't feel like taking a pic. Maybe I will take one tomorrow. It looks so terrible from the graphing I did on the fabric but it makes life easier with counting.
Now I remember why I don't like using kits: the threads are too short and it's a guessing game trying to figure out which color is which *sigh. I wish I did it on Monaco, I haven't used 14ct aida in ages. Maybe I will do this one again sometime. It'd look cute as a card or on a bag.

I am thinking about using those progress bars like so many others have in their sidebars. It would be cool to see for me, and may help with motivation to "see" how I am doing in the grand scheme of things.

new blogger!

We have another new blogger, this time from Venezuela! Pop over to say "Hi" at Sandra's Blog. She has posted a free pattern she has made too!

whoo hoo!

The dryer is fixed!!!!!!!!!!
For less than a $100 I have a working dryer again. Considering this is the first time ever that it's been out of commission (with heavy use too - to boot) in the 11 years I have had it- I am one, happy, camper.

I stitched.

It's been an awful day with the flossmoms site and email. I have created a temporary solution on the forum as I was maxing out over it this morning. Now on to better things with lots of pictures.

Last night, I stitched. I finished that da&% bookmark. It didn't really have that much left to do, I was so surprised with that. For some reason I had myself thinking there was so much more left. But- there wasn't!
Now all that is left (this is where I usually get hung up) is the finishing. I have to cut it up and make it look pretty.
I don't like cutting things up. I tend to mess up. Somehow I always seem to find a way to goof them up! Keep your fingerscrossed for me.
Today I managed a trip with B. (one of my awesome neighbors) to Joanns. They are having a sale today on DMCs -only 5 for a dollar! I need 10 of number 718 for my flosskid Val and they only have 3. So looks as though I will have to trek out to AC Moore anyways to get the rest. Too bad as I was hoping to get them at that deal. It was fun though. I needed a kid-free trip out with a girl friend.
Once we got back to our houses it was decided by the husbands (doesn't that phrase mean trouble?) that we were heading up to their house to watch the game. It was originally going to be me and kids there, with the husbands at my house. So having this incredible renewed energy to stitch I had to make a fast grab for something to stitch. My magazine was out with the free Margaret Sherry kit of the two kitties together. I made a photocopy to scribble on and out the door I went!
I am so happy. I got to stitch some more!

Oh yeah, the game?

• The clam dip with chips was good
• The Patriots won
• The kids had a blast playing all together
• I had a really good time.
• and I don't think that kitty will be blue.

Saturday was a BIG mail day for me. I received two awesome packages!
My Birthday present arrived from Val. She has told me she had mailed it out. I had no idea what it would be, just a hunch that it was stitched. Her stitching and finishing is impeccable.
She stitched a design by a fellow EMSer, Cariad837 aka Linda and it's absolutely beautiful. A pin cushion and scissor keeper set. Just awesome!!!!!!
They are covered in beads. It's amazing to the touch. So WOW.
Now for the pics

Designer: Happy Hours Needleworks
Design: "Lace Collection"
The pin cushion:



The matching scissor keeper:


The next parcel I received from the "Ride the Love Train" at San Man Originals' message board. This is where you agree to "get on the train" and will be sent something by who posted before you. Then the person who posts after you is who you send to.
I will be sending to Canada.
I received from a nice lady named LaDawn. (THANK YOU AGAIN LADAWN!)
It was gorgeous! A giant super shiny red, bubble envelope came filled with a cute pair of Valentine's socks, a little box of chocolates, a nice card, a small zipped purse, Valentines stickers, three pieces of coordinating floss and a card!
She had wrapped it up in tissue paper with the fancy heart printed cellophane over that. It was sooo perfect. I felt so spoiled.
I don't know why I am so in to Valentine's Day this year. The colors, the gift giving/ goodie making... all of it. And I don't normally do much of anything for Valentine's. Maybe with the weather as it's been and the bad luck of late it's just what I need.

I now have the threads for the freebie SanMan project I have been dying to do

thank to KnittyKitty who ordered it for me.


The bad news. My dryer isn't working. I will have to call a repair person Monday it seems, if they are open during the holiday. If not I will just leave a message. I can still wash things. I'll just stick to shirts that can be hung on hangers and go that way. It'll be just too cold to hang stuff out on the line.
*sigh

Vampiress

Okay what did, or didn't I do? I wish the giant blue square wasn't there so there was just the cool picture of the girl. *sigh, I have to go and do things around the house and really can't take the time to figure this out.
Wait I think it's better now.




The Temptress
You are the one who comes into people's dreams at night to drive them mad with desire.
You are sultry, sexy, and passionate.
Others find you hypnotic.
You have the sort of smoldering eyes and bedroom glances that are the stuff of legend.
What's so scary about you: Like sweet poison, you are addictive and deadly.
Your gemstone: Garnet
Your moon: Rose Moon (July)
Take this quiz!

Jan 9th and 17th SBQs

SBQ was suggested by Outi

"What is your favorite past time while stitching? Do you just enjoy
silence, listen to music/audiobooks or do you "watch" TV/movies? Do you have specific favorites you listen to/watch while stitching? "
I like to watch TV which is spent more listening to TV. If I watch a movie it has to be one I have seen before or am not as interested in, say, when the kids pop in a movie.
Now with TV shows-I love to stitch to House MD, Heroes and Monk, and I do it by stitching during commercials. Those are three shows I want to see every moment of, unless it's a repeat (and with the current writer's strikes, we'll be getting lots of those) then I can look down and count more.


The SBQ from Jan 9, 2008 :

"What was your favorite finish of 2007?"
Well, with so few finishes, this'll be easy!

It was the Pansy

flossbox findings

One word,wow.
Emily, of The Flossbox, (a site with tons of interesting info and wonderful free patterns) posted about a comparison she did of a few crafts such as cross stitch, knitting, crochet, scrapbooking and more to see what people are really doing for crafts.
The results are so interesting.

Tee hee hee~

"Some people are like Slinkies . . . not really good for anything, but you
still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs."
~Unknown

another year older.....

On this day in history-January 11. Oh yeah, and I was born!

2 Years old, today!

Patternnuts place is 2 years old today! Whoo hoo!

Happy Blogiversary to me (cha, cha, cha!)
Happy Blogiversary to me (cha, cha, cha!)
Happy Blogiversary to meee-eeee!
Happy Blogiversary to me (cha, cha, cha!)
A year ago today

LED lightbulbs

I know, and odd post, but if you have purchased LED Christmas lights you can recycle your old ones and get a little bonus here.

To start the year

What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
^Watched kids for the summer.
^Had margaritas. (Yum!!!!)
^Stich nights with my SNB friends.

Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Don't make them. I had a list of goals, they are the same for this year too!

Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.

Did anyone close to you die?
There were deaths, but I didn't know them well.

What countries did you visit?
um, USA

What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Stichie finishes.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
surviving it!

What was your biggest failure?
Goal list....... Grrr.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yep, double eye infection, other than that just your colds and flu.

What was the best thing you bought?
Tough one -I sort of bought it with DH- my new camera. I got to do the leg work and pick it out myself.


Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mine, October 14 and on....


Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
(?) October 14.


Where did most of your money go?
Food by far.


What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Oh too many things to count, my camera, the holidays, stashie thing like my Valeria Pfeiffer birds, etc.


What song will always remind you of 2007?
"Taking care of business...."


Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
not sure, wiser I guess.....


b) thinner or fatter?
same


c) richer or poorer?
same


What do you wish you'd done more of?
^More finishes crafty wise.
^Kept better track of birthdays in the family.
^Read more.



What do you wish you'd done less of?

---

How will you be spending Christmas?
I did it at home with my Hubby, son and daughter. We had my in-laws come in the afternoon.


Did you fall in love in 2007?
No.


How many one-night stands?
um, I'm married! Does he count? lol


What was your favorite TV program?
Ooh, toss up between Heroes, House MD and Monk.


Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
no, hate is a strong word.


What was the best book you read?
--


What was your greatest musical discovery?
That the kids can drum along to Ob La De.


What did you want and get?
camera (this is kind of boring huh?)


What was your favorite film of this year?
I'd say, Harry Potter- Order of the Phoenix. Saw it in the theatre, it was awesome!


What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Not much that I recall (memories). I turned 31.


What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Completing the goals I had set.


How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
I am not naked. (What a concept)


What kept you sane?
Who says I am sane?



Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Um, I don't have a clue.


What political issue stirred you the most?
You don't want to know.


Who was the best new person you met?
Betty, Shannon and Heather. They are all the "bestest" ;)




Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
Not to assume you know people. They will do things you can't imagine nor understand. So be prepared. The closer they are to you, the harder it hits you.....
The second part of this which really showed after this, was the depth of friendships. My friends, on the street and online- I don't know what I would have done without them. Thank you all.


Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Will have to think on that.

warning- griping

I don't think any one knows this but I am an environmentally minded person. I try to stretch everything. I recycle, probably 60% of what we "produce" in waste, maybe more.
My fantasy is a larger, self sufficient home. Solar panels, composting, etc. I nearly died of awe when I saw what Outi posted (grr, can't find that link! It's a house that's just awesome, completely environmentally friendly).
We are experiencing very cold weather which happens on and off through the season in Maine. With heating prices as they are we are cutting everywhere we can. I am baking, and baking, and baking to help warm the house. We are running the vaporizer to increase the humidity, turning down the thermostat as low as we can and wearing slippers and layers of clothing around the house. I have sealed up several windows and weather capped (I guess you'd call it) the main entrance door.
Here is the problem. We are using fossil fuels. They aren't replaceable. They are increasing in cost. And what the other households in the US that use oil need is a different heat source. I so wish I had a wood stove or something else that needs no electricity to help keep us warm. Even if it was a back up source. But as with most people, swapping from one to another it no cheap thing. We would have to: put in another chimney or vent it some other way, find a safe place in our very small house to safely put it and the location would have to be "doable" as far as lugging wood in to it. I even thought about those pellet stoves. I have been doing so much reading online.....
I am mad or rather frustrated. At who I don't know. There are so few options and no easy fix.

Happy January 2nd!

Yup more snow.

New Years Plans

I guess you could call this a Happy Dance!

I spent most of the day (no I am not kidding) making this Lego house with my DD. She bought the set with Christmas gift cards. It's an expensive set.

So I wanted to make it for real at least once. It came with three different directions to make. This truly seemed to the be the easiest of the three.

Then at least with pics to prove we did it she can then take it apart and build oh so many things with it. DD loves to make houses and roads with her Legos. She even makes these tiny little scale towns.

Cool stuff!

Be sure and note the garage door opens and the detail of the roof. *wink.

DS begged me to buzz his hair tonight after he took his shower. I had them take showers tonight since I know if they have school the first day back from vacation is always a bit rough. And if it's canceled from snow -yes, it's snowing again- then they can just relax and enjoy the day! So I very reluctantly took out the clippers and started. Nearing the end, the lights went out. Yes, no power! All because of heavy snow. Poor kid. Once morning comes I will have a look at "the job".

I knew I didn't want to do it! I wanted to trim it up a bit and let the barber do the rest once I get him there. I should have trusted my instincts.

Oh boy! Won't that be a sight to see tomorrow morning!

Before the power goes out again I want to say hello to a new reader- "Hi Kim!" Thanks for dropping by, I have bookmarked your blog too!