24 hours with no power.

Yesterday at around 2 in the afternoon or so we lost power. *zip!* Gone. I was midpost for Annie's blog award (thank you Annie!) and had to make a fast shut down as the rumbling-in-the-distance thunder finally got closer. It had been rumbling for quite a while. So it was pretty slow moving, or at least it seemed so!
I was on a blogging high too. I had posted some of exchange items, the giveaway and a birthday present (refresher) and our anniversary pics. Thank you all for the nice comments. You were all too kind! We do look so young there, and to think, we were only 20!

Anywho.... We lost power from then on. Apparently a tree fell on a wire on our little side road. That's why it took so long for them (Central Maine Power) to reach us. Gorham and Standish- neighboring towns- seemed to get the worst of it. I feel lucky as the hail damaged our outside light, nothing a quick trip to Home Depot can't fix!

The "kicker" is when I was picking up the broken glass off the deck I got stung by a yellow jacket. Two benadryls and it was better. Killed the little bast*** too!

So with no power, nor water, flushing and so on.... I kept busy. :) See? What's a stash addict to do? Wind threads of course! I lit about 20 candles in all I think, trying to conserve our flashlight/lanterns, plus it creates a mood. You know? I managed to do quite a few. Plus I discovered a few (lots of fews) threads I had forgotten about.

I had been putting the light effects, variations, the hand dyeds, Anchors and other special flosses willy-nilly into this box. Well, I have started neatening that box! Not too sure how many will go into that segmented box (pictured), but at managed to get a bunch of the variegateds wound and ready. :)

*Lotta- the sticker is made by Jolees By You. Oddly enough the two I found online don't look quite as nice as the one I had bought. They are really nice as they have a nice layered felt-fabric feel to them. That's about what I paid for it too.

Flower!

But despite having to throw away most of what's in my fridge/freezer, I noticed this! I think it's my very first poppy growing in the pansy pot. I had forgotten I had thrown the seeds in with the flowers- not knowing if they would take or not. :) What a nice surprise!

Grey, grey and more grey!

First Grey

We had two weeks of no rain, averaging 70F with loads of beautiful sunshine. It was great for walks and general outdoor enjoyment, but bad for the plants and trees just starting their active cycles.

I had ordered the two new unfinished bureaus (drawers to some) and nightstand during the glorious sunshiny time. The day they came off the delivery truck it was rolling thunderstorms. It was kind of funny watching the guys try to unload with the sky rumbling not far away with huge dark clouds coming. They deliverers were on a mission, no doubt.

Second Grey:

It hasn't stopped drizzling, raining, or the threat of rain since. Notice the timing? I need to get the two old bureaus out, get the new ones primed (it's a grey primer), and painted (they'll be black) and then loaded into our bedroom. You know, that room that's going to get a new bed too. :) Now if the weather would just cooperate and let me do my stuff!

See that weather snapshot? I may have to prime the bureaus in the house. (*Ugh, what a mess and smell!) I managed to prime the nightstand out on the deck just in the nick of time before the rain came in the other day. I was bummed not to have been able to do more.

Other news...

I haven't stitched a darn thing. But the S&B (Stitch'n Bitch) girls and I have been busy with a fellow S&Ber's upcoming baby shower. We managed to buy and wrap over the course of several days. S.'s baby shower is this Saturday. I can't wait. I hope she loves what we picked out. I have taken pictures, but since I am not sure if she reads here, I can't post them yet. Let's just say they look awesome.

As a flossmom I have been super busy. I am shopping for two people at the moment- one a flosskid, and the other well, it not my flosskid officially, but I am helping her "stock up". As it stands now I have bought well over 200 threads in the last few weeks with many more to get still.

Third Grey: Oh and I dyed my hair again. Though technically the first time was done by my neighbor B. because I am a chicken. This time I did it myself, and used a shade lighter- 6GLight Golden Brown-, though I should go down even lighter next time. It's fun to play and hide the grey. I have been using the "warmer" colors, and I think warmer really means red hues. I think I will try for the cooler next time as well.
Each time I dye my hair it makes it several shades darker than my natural color which is an "off mix" of mostly browns, with white, grey, blonde, and almost black strands. Aren't I a weird one?

Stitch'n... Eat?

We had our Stitch'n Bitch last night. I had planned on working on a project- with everything I needed in hand, those soft pretzels with cheddar cheese (*drooling, one of my all time bad-for-me-snack), a couple of "cool beverages" and off I went to the neighbor's. I walked up , it felt wonderful. The snow is melting quite well in most places. Still some areas in people's yards with two feet or so, but in my yard we just have a "lake".
Anyways- I was the second person to arrive at S.'s house and the other girls came along after. What a spread of food we had! I think we all over did it a bit, it's just been so long since we've had a stitch night. We had it covered: veggies with dip, chips with dip, mozzarella cheese sticks (YUM!), strawberries, grapes, potato skins.... I know I am missing a few things.
For me it was Stitch'n Eat. I never touched my project. The other girls noticed. But I was having a great time talking, catching up really. We haven't seen one of our "members" since just after Christmas. So many things can happen in such a short time!


Oh how my brain and body needed that.
We are set up for next Tuesday at B.'s house.
Can't wait.

Excedrin update

Thank you for such nice comments and well wishes. It really has helped. :) I have only a dull headache now, and no fever. I think I managed to fight off whatever was getting to me.

but to backtrack:
Once DH had gotten home later that afternoon, I ran out to Hannaford to get some much needed Excedrin (generic this time) and return the recalled yogurt. Too bad too, it is one of my favorite flavors of yogurt. Even in the store I was a locked up mess from the neck up. I was speaking softly, or at least as softly as I could in a loud environment. As soon as I got home I took the excedrin and laid low. I was fever free the remainder of the day too, which helped a great deal. Otherwise DH would have gone to the store for me. (It was partly guilt too, just a few days before I had him return the cantaloupes which were recalled. Feel sort of bad having him do that again.)

The reason why I waited= we are down to one car. DH's car is eating coolant so he's been taking the van to work and I have been carless. Just need to drop the car off at the garage and find out what's happening. I think that's why it has sat in the driveway so long- over a week. We both have a hunch it's big and expensive. And we don't live in an area that's handy to public transportation.

Some more good news. I have been watching the change in the yard. Snow slowly melting away. Birds moving about with more energy, singing like crazy.
Did I mention the pie on my table cooling? Yes, there's a pumpkin pie on my table. Once it has cooled enough I will devour it. If the kids are lucky, I may share a little.

I am in dire need of ink and paper. I must print off the The First Robin Of Spring (SAL) from Pamela Kellogg, and the crazy quilting seam treatment book that I already bought too. ASAP! Naturally I spotted something else there that I want. I loves the fat birds! Yup, "I needs this".

Thursday night adventure

Did you know that there's earth beneath that cold, white stuff? Yup, I saw it with my own eyes! It's a gray/brown mix, but it's under there! Just imagine! Soon those sprouty things, called "plants" will get bigger and greener. Yes "green", what an odd sounding word. Too bad we are expecting about 6+ inches of white stuff to fall tonight/tomorrow. I seriously thought the weatherpeople were trying to pull one on us. But no, we have a batch on its way to drop all over place. bleh*
Here's an odd one: my cat Pidy has increased his time spent playing in his water dish. He prefers to lick the water from the sides of the bowl so he takes his oversized paw and hits the side of the bowl and slaps at the water, splashing it all around. I have seen him do this but he's increased the time spent doing this. Odd cat. I suppose it is better than snacking on my tulips when I am asleep.

We had a great time tonight. DH, my son, daughter and I went to watch a game at the Portland Civic Center: the Harlem Globetrotters! Do you see that little funky looking "x"? That is where we parked. Now the Civic Center is circled red, that is about where we were when I realized I left my camera in the car, so that would put it under that "x". There are no pictures. I never get pictures of the things we actually do. Like when we went to the Seadogs game. I took pics and bumped the camera and lost them all. Or when we go to Funtown (*cough, every year!)I never remember to take the camera. So it seems like we don't do anything except stay home. When in fact we do, it's just the camera is usually at home!
Anywho.....We had a great time. Stopped for Subway on the way there for dinner. Then headed over and got to catch the pregame show and everything.
The only souvenirs we bought were a set of wristbands. I know, it sounds cheap but it was the best idea there, so each of the kids could have one. It's embroidered with the team name. This way they can wear them to school or where ever. And it was one of the few things there for under $20. Okay, so I am cheap! Who runs out of hacky sacks anyways???
The best part is that kids have no school tomorrow due to a Teacher Workshop day. So staying up as late as they did tonight won't hurt them tomorrow. They can sleep in (ha, ha) and ;) recover.

Maybe the mail carrier will bring my goodie tomorrow. I ordered a(n) chart by My Mark designs called "Be Silly,etc". I had seen it stitched up on a blog I think...... Once it arrives I will take it off my wishlist. I am very careful about that. Don't want a stash jinx.

spring........

Spring is a long way off still.
I remember over a foot of snow on the ground in April when I was little. Have the pic of that somewhere. It was Easter and I was all dressed up.

DS's party is scheduled for the 22nd. Late I know, but the bowling alley is booked- I didn't want to have it on a Saturday night.
We have it at the bowling alley every year, that way the noise and mess is there and not in my house. Plus, the (15+/-) kids always seem to have a good time, and I pay the same amount no matter how many kids show up.

The roof! The roof!

The roof has no sno-ow!
I had a neighbor come over and clear the roof off of, *gasp, over a foot of snow. Our calculations put it at about a foot-and-a-half in some areas. My roof rake just can't reach it all. I tried. But I gave in because I can't let my roof collapse because I can't admit I can't do it all from the ground. He shoveled and scooped and I grabbed anything that came near the edge with the rake. I like to think it helped him.
I gave him some money and have arranged it so that the next time he's in a bind, I will watch his son for him.
Thank you J.

Now it's freezing rain!
Me thinks I will stitch a bit today, maybe. The kids had school canceled again. They'll be going in July if this keeps up!

Yooo-hoo! Spri-i-ing! Where are you????

This'n That

Before I forget to mention it - Silkweaver is selling tuck pillows on eBay. Not a bad price at all.

It's snowing again, seem as though winter will never end! We are supposed to get at least 6inches with this one and possibly a good foot. This winter we are approaching record breaking snow. Yippee.

Today is the release of Pamela Kellogg's "First Robin Of Spring" Mystery Stitch-Along. Which is funny as I have had a group of robins hanging out all winter in my yard along the edge where the trees canopy and Spring is still nowhere to be found.

Thank you all for your thoughts and comments. I miss Chris E. terribly. I am still filled with regrets. But I am functioning now. Talking about it has helped me. This may surprise you all but I am a normally very positive, glass-half-full person. Pidy has helped me too, cuddled up now on my lap as I type, purring.

progress and random thoughts

How cool is this? I have never heard of -Kitchener stitch.

Sorry to bore you all, but, I find that by posting here I get even more motivated. It's kind of cool. :) I am pleased in looking back a bit to see how much I have done instead of focusing on what I haven't.
There's so much I want to do this year. And quite frankly I feel that it helps keep me sane. Go me.
If I could complete a project each month I think it would be great.



Non stitchie news- oil is being delivered tomorrow. The price has come down to less than $3 a gallon.
I had the furnace cleaned last week so I feel better. Things are changed and cleaned and hopefully will work even better.

It's 50-50 the Venus Flytrap will make it. *fingercrossed*

It snowed almost all weekend. And it will snow again starting Tuesday night I think. Right now the sun is shining but it's bitterly cold. My guess is there will be no school or a delay or something on Wednesday.
Oh to see daffodils!

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.

snowy

See the orange part? That's us.
School will probably be canceled tomorrow.
I still have to wrap stuff!
Ugh, so wish I had another week until Christmas!

pretty day

I was taking this picture and could hear the cardinal in the bushes to the right. The branches are covered with snow still and my zoom just can't get him well enough - unless you want to try and find the little red speck. But in person it is gorgeous, better than my camera can capture.

White stuff

The snow started Sunday night and stopped for a short time this morning. This was taken about 10 minutes ago. I wish I had one of those digital cameras that took video too, it looks so pretty coming down. The still camera never shows the falling snow very well.
Surprisingly there was no delay in starting school this morning. Many towns canceled or delayed today too. But not ours. So the kids hopped on to the bus encased in fresh snow from playing in the snowbanks while waiting for the bus to arrive.
Now the kids are really going to be nuts in anticipation for Christmas!

My son went in to school today. It will be his first full day of school in over a month. Running 10 miles up to go and get him/drop him off everyday has been brutal on the schedule (and gas tank). Not to mention hard on him. We had him alternate most days , ride in on the bus in the morning and I would get him at 11:30 one day, then drop him off at 11:30 and have him ride home on the bus the others. That way he wouldn't keep missing the same classes.
Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts for my DS.

I have Pamela Kellogg's Christmas Biscornu pattern (only one of them left there btw!). I am dying to stitch it up! But I have to rake the snow off the roof, shovel a bit, tackle some housework and decorate the tree. Oh to have more hours in the day!

September?

It's September and it's 88F- with the humidity it says it feels like 90F. And the real kicker is that we will have the heat on in a few short weeks.

Hey!

Guess what today means?

Free Layouts and More at Whateverlife.com
And it's at least 70F, and sunny with beautiful blue skies today. Not your typical weather here in Maine at this time of year.
By now we would normally be wearing jackets!

No clever title

for today. My camera has fresh batteries and is not working properly. You can still use the screen to view previous pics . But when you open the front (slide the panel over telling it to turn on and get ready) it just blinks the little red light and does nothing when the button is pressed. Grrrr! Now what to do? Part of says I may give it a little friendly "bump" to see if it does the trick. What more harm could it do?
Looks as though I'm going to be in the market to get a new camera, and not willingly either. So many other things I'd rather be setting money aside for! Sheeesh!
So sorry guys, no piccies until I scan things. And scanning takes longer so who knows how soon I'll be getting to that. Too bad too, we have a ton of rain on the ground and coming down in spells and I was going to be a smartie and take a pic of the "pond" near the road. It's really a ditch, but with so much rain it looks almost good enough to kayak! Certainly giving the sump pump a workout! (Which sets Hubby's heart all aflutter!)

Good news
I am meeting a fellow EMSer at the Mall on Thursday morning! We'll be french knotting and sipping fancy coffees. :]

And the 13th is the last day of school for the kids. So I guess that marks the official first day of summer for our household. So "rain, rain go away. Come back and bug us later"!

Patriot's Day Storm

Um, a whole week since I last posted? Yikes. A long story made longer update:

The kids started their Spring Vacation last Friday.
Normal Saturday.
Sunday I prepared for the upcoming storm, which started.
Monday, it came on harder, and hung on for several more days. Didn't stop raining/snowing until Wednesday, midday I think. We were on edge the whole time. Lost power at 7am Monday. In our house that means no heat, water in (private electric pumped well), water out (*septic, electric pumps that too), cooking, or main sump pump on top of the usual no lights. You could hear trees snapping outside. Not fun.
Lucky thing DH spent most of Saturday intalling a back up battery powered sump pump system. Without it I would have had a flooded basement. The basement with that furnace which heats the water and house. Expensive thing to replace that would be!
DH managed to get home Monday morning from work only by leaving the car about a mile away where the tree had fallen, the one that took our power with it. I had received a call from a neighbor stating that if he was going to come home at all (not his regular shift time) that he'd better head out right then since the water on the other side of our main road was rising fast (no water and then 6 inches 20 minutes later).
By mid afternoon our phone line was also out. So our crappy cell phone battery could only be charged in the car, which naturally we couldn't go far, nevermind the fact that we were afraid if we left we would't be able to get back to the house. Losing the phone made things more complicated, and me a bit more ugly, I hadn't been able to shower- you know how that goes.
We have lived her for 6 years now. We have lost our power many times, but never lasting longer than a few hours. So this was not exactly fun.
And the kids wanted more than anything was to play outside. Um , with trees falling down around us? Nope, don't think so.
The same neighbor took DH down to the car when the tree was romoved enough for people to drive through. Funny I can't remember when that was exactly.

Tuesday at 2:30 our power came on. It was great. :)


Over the next few days I have been busy with putting the house back together. We lost most of our groceries in the fridge/freezer. So I threw everything out and cleaned the fridge real good. Then I hit the store to replenish. The basement floor needed a good scrubbing with bleach in a particular area. The coolers we had tried to use to keep what we could save cold were scrubbed up too.Lucky for us there was a little bit of snow left outside during the storm that I could grab to stuff into the coolers to keep our milk and a few other items cold. Then catching up on laundry and the regular stuff like that.
The kids went to Grandma's Wed through to Friday. So that helped with getting things back in order. And all of this on top of the regular busyness of vacation.
Oh and I forgot to mention- the library waved the fees for the movies I couldn't return during the storm. :)
Thank goodness for friendly people who let you recharge your large batteries for free. For trees that stay where they are supposed to near our house. For Coleman Camp stoves that heat water for coffee. And DH willing to stand in the crazy and drive through the crazy to get you a hot breakfast sandwich for each person to warm our hands and tummies, fresh batteries for the basement and to heat said water for coffee (and cocoa for the kids) .

Another Spring storm

No green grass yet!
Just when the snow had started to go away.... Including the poor snowman DH and the kids made. Which DH encouraged they do so the kids wouldn't use him for target practice. *chuckle


This happened! This is a shot from my daughter's bedroom window at about 6:30am. Sorry about the screen showing. Nice view she has, huh?


And there's another storm heading out way for Sunday night/Monday. Yippee.

The good news, I have undone my scarf and am planning a new tactic. I think if I start it again it will stop being so cold and snowy. Could work. Right?

Biscornu Babble

Okay, I am jumping on the bandwagon. But, I may have started on the wrong path. I have created a design. With no experience other than observation of the overall rhythm of how they seem to be. The sizes. The normally symmetrical way they are set up. I chose a not so perfectly centered way to do it. The balance is still there I think, visually.
The point? Well maybe I should try another design to get the assembly part of it done. Then I can apply it to what I am doing. Sort of learn the ropes so to speak and go from there.
But it is so much more fun to be able to do it all on my own.
Oh this is a test stitch. Once I have it looking fairly decent I plan to post the pattern.

Knitting
**Just how do you restart a messed up section in knitting?*** I was going along and realized a few rows too late that I should have started it not as wide, or however that's said. I was going to make a scarf for myself and sort of lost the gusto once I messed up and and the weather changed so much. Funny, it's snowing again and I want to work on the scarf.
And I need to make a little something to practice different stitches. Something sort of practical. Not something to just toss aside or away when I am done. Ideas?