Allow me to introduce......

Holly! Yay! I finally finished her!!! Forgive the bad picture, it is a very cloudy day here! Plus I used my cell phone's camera feature because I was just too lazy to pull out the camera!! LOL! But she is done!

Adventures in Babysitting!

I know I promised a picture of Holly when finished. I am still very close to finishing but didn't have much opportunity to stitch this weekend as I was babysitting 4 kids (3 boys, 1 girl) ages 14, 13, 11, and 9. What an adventure.

While I didn't have to amuse them I did have to play referee. That is what I was this weekend. All I heard was "he did that", "he did this", "she did that", "she did this". And of course, it was all INTENTIONALLY! Heaven forbid should one of them just look at the other! LOL!

There were some good moments. We played Monopoly and went swimming. But I am very happy to be home now in my own apartment in the quiet!

So, my goals for this upcoming week are to finish Holly, pick Dragon Knot back up, start Nora Corbett's Letter M, and continue my evening walks. Oh yeah, go to work too. :P

I'm Still Here!

It's been a while since I posted! Things have been very busy lately! We've had 2 people quit at work and so of course, the work has just been piling up! Luckily though we have a one new person starting on Monday. Keeping my fingers crossed this one lasts!!!!

I've also spent the past two weekends traveling and shopping. I'm becoming a name brand snob!!! LOL! In addition to my recent purchase of a Coach purse, I broke down and bought a pair of designer sunglasses! Juicy Couture. I can't believe I indulged myself that way! Because of all the travel and shopping, I kept my booty home this weekend!!!! And even that didn't stop me from spending money! LOL!

My favorite uncle passed away one week ago. To me, it was sudden, as I don't live in the same state as he does and was not aware how ill he was. I last saw him in May when we had gone home for graduation. He looked good and was in good spirits despite having just been diagnosed with lung cancer. So it was quite the surprise to me when he passed away. I wasn't able to get back for the funeral due to work, but my sister did and she said it was quite the celebration. I'm just glad that he is no longer in pain.

Also coping with the loss of a close friend. No, this friend did not pass away. We've been on the outs for several months now and despite my best efforts, I just don't think the trust/friendship can be salvaged. It is very disappointing because this was a very close friend and distance just seemed to have gotten in the way and our own personal demons. I'm still holding on to hope but it is slowly slipping away despite me digging in with my fingers! And anyone who knows me, knows that I am very stubborn.

On the stitching front, I have been working on Holly. I am so close to being done that I don't want to put up a picture till it is complete. It's so close I can see it finished! LOL! Just the kreinik and beading is left. Both of which I loathe, but I am determined! I also picked up the materials (fabric and specialty threads) for the Nora Corbett Letters from Nora "M". I can't wait to start that. This one is just for me!!!!! :) Sure I have one other loved one with M as an initial but this one is for me!!!! I am going to be selfish for a change. I have so many projects that I have started with the intention of being just for me and I end up giving them away! Not this one!!!!

Things are not all bad despite what I've presented here. I'm doing ok. I like my life. I see things I want to change and am trying to change or improve things. Trying not to stay still. Trying to keep moving forward! I've learned that is best. And yet, I am trying not to bury my head in the sand! I do a really good ostrich impression but I've learned that really doesn't make things better!

So till next time! I hope to have some updates on stitching for you!

Update on Stitching

Hi ya'll! It is a beautiful summer day here and I just spent a few hours out on my balcony soaking up some sun and reading Demon Mistress. Yep, I finished it! :) But I still have two more books to read!!!

Here are my updates on Dragon Knot 2 and Holly! I stitched mostly on Dragon Knot 2 this week but got in a day of stitching on Holly!

Now off I go to watch game #2 of the LSU-Rice Super Regional. LSU has already game 1 and just needs one more to go to Omaha! Geaux Tigers!

Cross Stitch Update

I do have an update on stitching! I actually was able to get a few hours of stitching in the mornings done while I was waiting for my sister to get ready! While on vacation I worked on Dragon Knot 2! I am loving the way this piece is really starting to come alive! The pictures do it absolutely no justice at all! The lighting here is pretty dark since we are having an overcast day!

I've also started a new project. I know I shouldn't have but it has been calling to me! I started Nora Corbett's Holly. This picture is pretty out of focus but was the best of the many I tried to take! The picture below it is of the final product.

This weekend is my birthday weekend. My birthday is Monday, Memorial Day. So I am treating myself to a trip to a LNS in New Orleans. I am sure I will find something but just what it will be is the best surprise!

I am also going to get caught up on my sleep, get back into a routine and clean my apartment. Now a days, one needs a vacation from the vacation!

Package in the mail!

Don't you love it when you come home and you have a package in the mailbox for you? I know I do. Today's package was full of the threads and pattern for Nora Corbett's Holly! I cannot wait to start it!!!! But I will not till I finish Eeyore! At least that is what I keep telling myself!



Speaking of Eeyore. I am so very close to being done. If I don't finish it this week, then I am just being incredibly lazy!!! As you can see, I just have the bottom right corner left to do. It's not really a bad amount. I'll try to work on it tonight while I am watching the finale of The Bachelor.



This weekend was relaxing but kind of busy. I was lucky enough to get my hair cut and colored on Saturday, followed by a trip to Hobby Lobby, and then a very exciting LSU men's basketball game. The weather also went from hot to cold in one day! Saturday started off in the 70s and by 5 pm it was 49 degrees!!! I loathe when it does that. Sunday was a pretty day with white fluffy clouds and bright sunshine. Duke enjoyed spending some time out on the balcony. HOWEVER, it was all very deceiving!! The wind was wickedly bitter cold and the temps were in the low 50s! I am so glad I decided not to go to the LSU baseball game!!!! On Sunday, I caught up with an old friend/boyfriend of mine from high school. We hadn't seen each other probably since sophomore year in high school. Through Facebook we were able to reconnect and it was really nice catching up with him and comparing notes on where we've ended up in our lives!!!



This week is going to be a very busy week at work. I have a mini-convention on Friday and then I am also helping another coordinator with her convention which is next week. And it's a big one! Over 600 participants. That is double my largest convention!!!! It's already kicking my butt! But I did hear from My Sailor today and he is once again, or at least I am assuming he is (I guess I should have gotten that clarified!), that he is back on land again! At least he is alive! :)

I hope to make some progress this week on stitching and hope to share that with all of you later! Have a great week!

Stash and Valentine's Day

While I did not spend my Valentine's with that "Someone Special" I did have a good day. My daddy bought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers and then I indulged myself by buying myself a bouquet. I always like to have fresh flowers around and well, it's a luxury that I tend to have to live without. I had a wonderful lunch at a fancy french restaurant with my parents and then I headed off to see a movie.

On Valentine's Day, by myself, I saw.......Friday the 13th! Yes, on the day of love I went to see a horror movie! I LOVE horror movies. At times, I believe that they are so much better than a comedy. I can't tell you how many times I, and the audience, were laughing out loud! And proof that it isn't that bad of a movie, it was #1 this weekend!

I also did some indulging this weekend. I purchased the books, Night Huntress by Yasmine Galenorn and Confessions of a Shopaholic. I also purchased two cross stitch magazines. And the biggest indulgence of all, I purchased Nora Corbett's Holly pattern, some fabric from Silkweavers, and 2 HAED patterns: The Mad Hatter's Tea Party and Cinderella's Coach! I've already downloaded the 2 HAED patterns and will probably start kitting those up really soon. But I have to wait for the rest of my purchases to come in the mail! I'm very excited! Because what I need is one more project to work on! :)