3 Pages Completed

I have finally completed 3 out of the 16 pages for the Dragon Knot pattern by HAED. Not all of the 16 pages are "complete" pages but the 3 I did finish were full pages of pattern! Maybe sometime next year I'll finally complete the whole thing!

This week will be a weird one with the one random holiday kind of at the end of the week. It kind of sucks because I have to work Monday thru Wednesday and then again on Friday. I'm hoping to get some more stitching done this week. I'm not going to set the goal of finishing another one before the year ends but that just means I'll have a finish earlier in 2009!

Christmas

I am back from Austin! What a LONG trip. 8 hours one way. Duke was really a good boy. He sat the entire trip in his car seat. If you have never seen a dog car seat, basically it is a soft box that straps to the chair that the dog can sit in and you can strap him in by his collar so he can't jump out. Makes driving much easier since Duke wants to always sit in my lap! He wasn't very comfortable going to Austin but on the way back he finally figured out he could just sleep the whole way!



Christmas was an extremely lazy day with my parents and sister. Actually, both me and my sister were feeling ill that day so we sat on the couch, slept and let our parents take care of us! That was so nice! But in our family, it really isn't Christmas unless one of us is sick! This year it was both of us! LOL!



I did receive some really nice gifts this year. I got a new flat screen tv that I am absolutely loving! The 5 Harry Potter movie DVDs. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian CD. A Gone With the Wind Afghan. Various gift cards. 2 new books: Dark Curse and Twilight. A new cookbook: Rachel Ray's Big Orange Book.

Twilight is ADDICTING! I started the book last night with the intention to read just the first 5 chapters. Yeah, that didn't happen. I'm more than half way through it. I couldn't put it down. I didn't get to sleep till 1 a.m.! In fact, this morning I have already gone to the book store and purchased the 2nd book. A new series to be hooked on! I have not yet seen the movie and really don't plan to. I'm always disappointed with movies after having read the book!

I have not gotten any stitching done this week! I'm hoping to sit down this afternoon and work on some projects that are feeling neglected! I'm also hoping to do some online shopping as I have a few ideas for some projects that I want to do in 2009! I hope that everyone had a lovely Christmas!

So this past week I've been working on the baby quilt. I've got a lot done and hope to finish within the next month! I am leaving on Wednesday to visit my sister so I will probably be bringing Dragon Knot with me in the event I have some quiet time!

On Sunday I went shopping for Duke's christmas presents. He has a stocking full of things to open on Christmas day. But one of the things I found for him, I just couldn't resist giving to him and torturing....I mean, dressing him up in! I just thought it was too adorable! He now has his very own hat and scarf set for those cold days. Although they are now predicting it to be 78 on Christmas day. Yuck!

I hope that everyone has a very lovely Christmas! Be safe and be happy!

Update on Dragon Knot

This past week I spent time working on Dragon Knot. It was supposed to be a Christmas present this year, but there's always next year!

This week I think I may work on another project. I have a couple that are pretty close to being finished. I may try to finish up the baby quilt this week. Or perhaps even start a new project!

I didn't work on Poppy's beading this weekend as the lighting was terrible with it being overcast most of the time! Maybe next weekend!

Hope everyone has a great week!

A small finish

Today I had a small finish. It's for a Christmas card for a friend. I took a picture of it when I finished the piece but forgot to take a picture of the finished project once I made it into a card!

Then I decided to torture the dog! LOL! Poor Duke. But doesn't he look so cute in his Santa outfit?

Snow Day

Today was a day that I really never thought I would see in South Louisiana. It snowed! Like really snowed! I am the type of person that when I get up in the morning I go straight to the bathroom to take my morning shower. By the time I had gotten out of the shower, my cell phone was going off like crazy. The text messages were coming in so fast I couldn't keep up. It was snowing! I figured it was just a light dusting of snow but it wasn't! It was actually inches of snow!

I took some pictures, they are kind of dark but then it was early this morning. It definitely made driving to work kind of stressful! I've never driven in snow or ice before. Not to mention the time it took to get the car prepared to drive! I had to literally dig the car out! I wish I had a picture of that! There were about 10 of us out in the parking lot this morning trying to determine which car was ours and then proceed to scoop the snow off the windows! But about as fast as you cleared one window, the window you had just cleared before that was full of snow again!

Duke did not like the snow. He would not leave the sidewalk! I think he was not very sure about it all. What was that white stuff? :)

Christmas and updates

My little apartment has been decorated for Christmas. Although I am not home much and I won't be home for Christmas, I still like to decorate. I have a little tree and stockings for myself and my dog.

I've also been doing some stitching and beading. While the beading has been going slow as I am new to it and I loathe doing any type of embellishment on cross stitches, I've been trying to do a little bit each weekend. I find that I need a lot of light and so the middle of the day on Saturdays and Sundays are best.

I've also been working on the stamped cross stitch quilt for my friend's oldest daughter. It's coming along. While it's not going quite as fast as I would like so I can finish it and pick up some other projects, it's coming along quite nicely!

Time is Flying!

Wow! It's December already! Where is the time going! Just last week was Thanksgiving and yet it already feels like it was a month ago!

I was successful in getting my tree up this year already. It's just a little one (4 foot) but it took all last weekend to do because I decided it would be a good idea to rearrange my furniture in my living room so I could put it up in a new spot. Bleh!

Another week of work is done. This week literally flew by. I had such grand intentions when I went into work on Monday and while I did get some things accomplished, I didn't get the main things done! But I'll go in with good intentions once again next week!

This week's weather has been crazy down here! On Tuesday I was scraping ice off of my car's windows. Wednesday we were having a pleasant springy type of day. Thursday was rainy and temperatures dropped drastically from the time we got to work to the time that we got out. Today has been sunny but chilly. I think we are supposed to have a few days in a row that are cold. Which I don't mind, it's the cold one day, hot the next that is killing me!

I have been working on some cross stitch projects and I hope to have some progress photos soon! There's just so much with work, chores at home, Christmas shopping, friends, families, etc. It's a very busy time! I'm hoping to get some relaxing done this weekend along with stitching!

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day full of family, friends and good food! I currently have a sweet potato pie cooking in the oven and am packing things so that I am ready to spend the day at my parents house! It is predicted to rain on Thanksgiving Day so I am hoping to get some stitching done!

I will take some pictures this weekend of the stitching I have done up to this point and post them!

Happy Thanksgiving! Good luck to those who are going out shopping on Black Friday!

Facebook

Ok, so how many of you have a profile on facebook? A friend of mine recently "invited" me to view his profile, thus meaning I had to create a profile to see his. Just another reason to be on the computer! I am now spending way too much time on the computer, between reading emails, facebook, reading blogs, blogging, etc.......I have to admit that the upside to the facebook is that I have been able to start catching up with some friends from high school. We all sorted of drifted apart due to life, distance, families, etc. But now, we can actually catch up with each other! I've even found an ex-boyfriend on there! So while it's definitely a great networking tool, it encourages way too much time on the computer!

Hope everyone has a great weekend! And I don't know what ya'lls weather is like, but here it is COLD! So, stay warm!

New WIP

I've had this quilt for two years. Last week, I finally dragged it out to start it. It's for my good friend Sarah's oldest daughter who will be 2 next month. The newest baby, born in October, will just have to wait 2 years for hers! LOL! I don't typically do stamped cross stitch as I see absolutely no challenge to do it, but it's Eeyore!

I finished the backstitching on Poppy today and started the beading. This is my first time beading and I have to stay I find it very tedious and slow. So after probably only 10 beads, I had to put it down. I am just not in the mood to bead! I think you have to be in an incredibly good, happy, patient mood to bead! And the invisible thread! It really is invisible! You can't see the darn thread! I thought I would be able to finish this one quickly, but I think it is going to be a challenge!

A New Look

Hi ya'll! I hope you are enjoying your weekend! Recently I've begun to get bored with the look of my blog so I did some searching and found this template which I think is appropriate for the upcoming holiday season! Plus I just like the way it looks! I hope you enjoy it! I'll try to post some pictures soon of what I've been stitching on lately!

Another Finish!

Since I didn't have the thread to finish Poppy, I started a new one last Sunday. It took me exactaly one week to finish. This is one for my nephew as he picked this one out for me to do for him. Had I known it would have been such a quick stitch, I would have done it much sooner!





Now off to work on another project or maybe kit up a new one! Not sure! Hope you all have a good week!

****Update: it was asked who this was designed by. It is by Sue Hillis Designs, Inc. This pattern is Boo-gie Fever. There was a website on the pattern, www.suehillisdesigns.net. Happy Stitching!

Halloween and Update on Poppy

Each year, my mom and I buy my friends' two children their Halloween costumes. We started this many years ago when Marly was born. So each year, they are allowed to pick out a costume at the Disney store. They love doing this. They love to dress up all year round. This year, Marly was Giselle from Enchanted and Parker was Buzz Lightyear. Too cute! This was actually Parker's second time being Buzz. He loved it so much when he was younger that he wanted to do it again!

I have been working on Poppy these days and am so close to finishing. I'm almost done with all the backstitching which would leave the beading to do. Unfortunately I have run out of kreinik to finish the back stitching. So I am hoping that Michael's will have some other wise I will have to put Poppy away for the time being until I can get to the cross stitch store which won't open till Tuesday.

Poppy Update

After almost two weeks of stitching on Poppy, from my last post, this is what I have accomplished:

I'm almost done with the stitching using DMC thread. I'm hoping to finish that up soon and then move on to the Kreinik. Then the beading. Maybe another 2 weeks left on it? That is if I don't touch anything else.

I have done some stitching on Dragon Knot but not enough for a picture, in my opinion. I have two other projects I would like to kit up this weekend also. I hope to have more to report at the end of the weekend!

Although it is a BEAUTIFUL fall weekend, I am staying home, relaxing, doing some cleaning, and trying to get healthy! I have been plagued the last week with a cold/sinus infection. I'm hoping to take it easy and just get better. And that means more time to stitch!

Weekend Stitching

Despite having dinner with the whole family (parents and sister) on Friday, shopping with my sister on Saturday and a terrible LSU football game Saturday night, I was able to get some stitching in this weekend. I worked on both Poppy and Dragon Knot. If completed by December, they will both be Christmas gifts!

Wonder what I will stitch on tonight while watching Dancing with the Stars? Happy Columbus Day!

Poppy

I'm being bad! I started a whole new project when I have so many other ones currently underway! But it's been fairly easy to stitch on. I am stitching Poppy. A design from Nora Corbett's Pixie Couture collection. I love it! It's my first time also stitching on 32 count linen. The color is French Lace and it is stitched 2 over 2. But it hasn't been hard at all!

I've made such progress in just 3 days that I can't put it down! I want to keep working on it!

A finish!

After all this time I have finally finished a project for 2008! Well, it's my second one but still, just my second! And just in time too. I literally finished this one 2 hours before I was giving it as a birthday present! That was close! But I enjoyed stitching on it!Now what will I pick up next? I have so many to choose from!

Road to Recovery

Things are starting to get back to normal around town: most of the power is up, gas is available, and grocery stores are getting back to being fully stocked. However, things have not been easy. 2 people quit last week at work and we are down another employee as she went on maternity leave 3 weeks early. So things have gotten stressful and extremely busy at work as more responsibilities have been added to the remaining 3 employees.

On top of that all, I had to put my precious baby, Buddy, to sleep on Friday, September 12. He was 11 1/2 years old. He was my first pet and first cat. I loved him more than anything. I noticed on Thursday evening that he was having some difficulty in breathing to the point that he was gasping at one point. Now he's always kind of had a hard time breathing because he's a Persian and had "no" nose. But this was very extreme. I decided to take him to the vet first thing Friday morning. It took the vet 5 minutes to tell me that he had a mass in his chest that was placing pressure on his lungs. Due to his age, he recommended that he be put to sleep as any form of treatment would still lead to the same outcome and possibly even more distress. So, I had him put to sleep right then. There was no taking him home for the weekend as he would not have lasted another day as he was. Cats are such great deceivers that there would not have been a way to detect that he was ill. Up until that Thursday evening, he was still eating and jumping around. While I knew that this would eventually happen, I just didn't think it would happen so soon. I was so blessed to have had him in my life. I won't be getting a new cat any time soon as I don't want to replace him. For now, it will just have to be me and Duke (my poodle).

My vet gave me this poem to help and while it is in a dog's "voice" it still applies to all pets:

A Dog's Plea

Treat me kindly my beloved friend, for no heart in all th eworld is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.

Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I should lick your hand between blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me learn.

Please take me inside when it is cold and wet, for I am a domesticated animal, no longer accustomed to bitter elements. I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth.

Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.

Feed me clean food that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life, should your life be in danger.

And, my friend, when I am very old, and I no longer enjoy good health, hearing and sight, do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. I am not having any fun. Please see that my trusting life is taken gently. I shall leave this earth knowing that with the last breath I draw that my fate was always safest in your hands.

Buddy February 1997 - September 12, 2008

Hurricane Gustav

Well, we survived another one! Well, we are surviving. Baton Rouge was not so lucky this time and has suffered major damage. Many homes are without power. Many trees are down. I am a lucky one, while my apartment complex is surrounded by trees, not one tree hit a building. Not that it wasn't scary. The pictures below show the trees that fell right outside my very own balcony. I've stayed through 4 hurricanes now, by myself, in my own place and I have to say that this is the first storm I have really been scared.

Life is slowly getting back to normal. I lost power about 2 p.m. on Monday and was lucky enough to have it back by 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Around 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday I was even luckier and was able to get cable and internet back. Went back to work on Thursday for just a few hours as we only had power but no internet, email, or phone. Today, Friday, was a full work day and we had phone by 7 a.m. and network, internet and email by 9 a.m. It's still not normal. Very few traffic lights are operational. Not many places are open for business. I was able to find a grocery store today that was open, took credit card and did not have a line to get into. So I can proudly say I now have milk and eggs and was even able to get some hamburger meat to add to my spaghetti sauce! Still not much availability on fresh fruits, vegetables or meat. But it will come with time. However, I am reluctant to even restock my freezer and refrigerator.

Unfortunately though we are now having to watch for Ike. His path keeps changing and the latest developments have it entering the Gulf sometime early in the week, Monday or Tuesday. Keep your fingers crossed that it does not come this way!

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Where did August go?

August is almost over and before it is, I thought I should get one more blog in! This has been a very busy month. I was lucky enough to hear from my sailor twice (I'm so spoiled now!) and a trip to the beach (which was absoslutely wonderful) and then work has just been plain ole busy. And currently, we, here in Louisiana, are currently trying to prepare for a storm. Phones are ringing in the office and it is starting to get hectic. Although the storm is a good 5 days away, no one is taking it lightly after Katrina. I went to get batteries tonight and they were sold out. Thankfully, my mom will be out and about tomorrow and will have her eye out for batteries.

Now on to other things! I was given another award by Noreen! Yeah! She is so sweet! Here it is:

And for a stitching update. While August has been very busy, I did get some stitching in. Here are two pictures updating on Storykeep Iris and Dragon Knot both from HAED.

I love seeing the progress on these two! I'm hoping to finish Iris very soon. And well, if I get a few days off work from the Hurricane (which I really do hope does not come this way) and I still have power, I will get some more work done both!

Warm, fuzzy feelings....

and not because of the blazing heat we are currently experiencing in the South! It's been so hot and humid, even my dog doesn't want to go outside to take his walk!

Back to the warn and fuzzy feelings. I got an email from my sailor! The first since he went back out on the sub. He's doing fine. He teased me by saying that he has picked up a couple of things already on his travels for me. But won't tell me what! And the Navy has promised that they will be home BEFORE Christmas so he will be home for Christmas this year! Keep your fingers crossed.

My knees are doing much better. Just a tiny scab on each knee so that's good news!

The boss is away on vacation for a week! Woo hoo! That's always good news. The stress level has dropped to just about zero in the office!

I did pick up my stitching this week. I had gotten lazy for about a week and hadn't done any. So I do have an update of Dragon Knot. I'm slowly but surely getting it done!

I hope to be back tomorrow with another update or some kits that I am looking to dispense with. I'll keep ya'll posted!

Award

How cool is this? I've been given an award by SugarDoll

Thanks!

By the way, the knees are much better but they still look UGLY! lol

A Finish!

Finally, my first finish of 2008! I'm excited. Due to an injury on Saturday, I spent most of the weekend on the couch, thus enabling me to finish up on my stitching. I finished Blossom by Dinky Dyes using Dinky Dye Silk Threads. I liked the silk threads but the colors are a little bright for me!

Now, this injury. What was it? Nothing serious but it definitely has me laid up! The clutz that I am fell off the curb waiting for some friends of mine and thus resulted in me landing on both my knees. Needless to say, I now have the most "prettiest" knees full of scratches and bruises. This is the picture from that afternoon. They look better now but I will still spend the evening with my legs propped up and ice packs on my knees as I am still quite sore and they are still swollen!

Update and a New Start

The past two weeks I've worked on the HAED Iris Storykeep. I've only put Dragon Knot down for a short time. I plan on picking it back up shortly but I am trying to work on different projects for a week or two at a time. I'm trying not to get burned out on projects and become bored.

Anyway, here's the update on the HAED:

I've also started a new project "Blossom". It uses Dinky Dye silk threads. I'm really enjoying it. It's my first time working with silks.

Today I also purchased the threads, beads, and materials for "Poppy" of the Pixie Couture collection. I can't wait to get started on this one. And yes, I am going to continue on with my other projects!

4th of July Weekend

Happy 4th! Yes, it's Sunday afternoon but it's still the holiday weekend! I have had a lovely weekend! Time spent by the pool these past few days and watching the fireworks down by the river.

I have gotten some stitching done and have the following photos for updates on two HAED projects I am currently working on. I do plan on doing some more stitching this afternoon.

Crazy Week!

Sorry no picture to update my progress on Dragon Knot. I have finally completed page 2 of 17 of the pattern! Yeah! I hope to have a picture to post sometime next week.

I am off to Ft. Walton Beach, Florida tomorrow morning for a convention. While it is for work, I do have significant down time that I hope to spend on the beach when I am not working or watching baseball. I purchased two new books to enjoy while on the beach and of course I always have my stitching for when I am in my room!

LSU managed to stay alive in the College World Series by beating Rice in the bottom of the 9th inning. While very exciting, kind of wish they would just win a game out right! They play again on Thursday night. If they win, they will play again on Friday night. Guess I won't be going out on the town in Florida! LOL!

What else? I was given a promotion this week. I am now Senior Association Coordinator. Crazy!!!! I was very shocked when told that. I was not expecting that as I have been given the impression over the past few months that the boss was not approving of my current work. I'm the type that doesn't conform and automatically say "yes sir." Tends to get me into trouble at my current job. But he obviously saw something or he had a momentary lapse in judgement. While it is mainly just a promotion in title only, it does get a raise with it. Not sure how much, but with today's gas prices, it'll help!

I was also very lucky in getting a bonus. Which helps offset the fact that for some reason, the company's payroll has not been paid. Today was pay day and surprise!!! No one was paid. Now of course, no one has taken the blame for this, the company or the bank. It was supposed to hit our bank accounts tonight with the correction, but I have to admit, I still have not received mine. I'll check one last time before I head out tomorrow morning.

Well, that is it for now! I hope to have some great pictures of the beach next week!

Finally! An Update!

It's been over a month since I last updated. All I can say is that somehow, I've actually been busy! Been busy without a whole lot to report though. Work has been busy! Gardening, chores, and baseball have occupied the rest of my time! LSU is begins play in the super regionals tomorrow and I will be rooting for them! I'm lucky that I have off tomorrow so I will be able to watch the game, which is on at 1 p.m. Why am I off? Especially since I just had Monday off? Because my sailor was supposed to be visiting but the Navy decided that sending him off on a trip would be much better. But it seems that it is working out so I can go and get my hair done, run some errands and watch LSU play!

I did have a birthday last weekend. I'm __ years old! LOL! I did get some great gifts. Mostly things that I needed. Like 4 new tires for my car. New towels. Some new shoes! These are my favorite pair of shoes that I got! I will be living in them this weekend!

I do have an update on the picture I am doing for my sailor. Thank goodness I don't have to have it done this weekend because NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! I do have a significant amount done, just a lot more to go!

But now that the pressure is off, I may start to work on some other projects because I am getting burned out on this one. Oh, I'll finish it for his birthday in July (I hope) but I get bored when I work on something for a very extended time.

Well, that is it for now! I hope to update more often with other projects or more results on this one!