Busy busy busy

It's been busy.  I feel like there is so much going on, my head is swimming!!! 

Life is a buzzing....

The past weekend my friend Stacy and her son, my nephew, Parker, stayed with me.  2 adults, 1 child, in a one bedroom, one bathroom apartment.  Fun times!!!!  Stacy got the bed, Parker got the couch and I, being the ever gracious hostess, slept on the air mattress in the living room.  My back is still "yelling" at me for that one!!! But it was so much fun!  We had lunch at one of the favorite local spots.  I was able to introduce to Parker the "best cheesefries" in town!  When he's a little bit older, I'll let him have one of the many international beers that the restaurant also has.  Until then, the cheesefries will have to do!

Parker is coming again this weekend to visit.  And this time he is bringing his 18 month old sister!  Yikes!!! It has been forever since I've had a toddler around here.  That ought to make for a very interesting weekend.  I think I'm ready.  Breakables are out of reach of little one's hands.  I've got "finger" foods for all the meals. I've pulled out my old dolls for her to play with.  Parker is easy.  He is fascinated with all of the books I own.  Ok, so he can't read most of them, but I have a few.  He discovered my book, "Collection of Lewis Carroll Works", this past weekend. I think if I hadn't paid attention he would have snuck it home with him!!! We are also going Halloween costume.  Tradition.  Every year, my mother and I take the kids shopping for their Halloween costumes.  We'll only have the 2 of them this year, their older sister is staying home for a birthday party but she has sent me many text messages this week to let me know what costumes she likes.

I have to say that my mind is currently full of lots of thoughts.  I've been presented with an opportunity to pursue a new career.  In the long run, it can be a great thing.  But it's the beginning that could be kind of rough.  I have some decisions to make and it is going to take some serious thought.  Please pray that I make the right decisions!

A Finish!

Woo hoo! I have a finish!  I finished the Christmas gift I was making for my friend Stacy.  It is Passione Ricamo's Welcome Fairy.  You can't really see some of the details, like the sparkly thread in the wings or the "trail" behind the butterfly.  I have to say it turned out beautiful and it is a very easy and quick stitch!

One Last Item...

I have always wanted a Raggedy Ann and Andy set.  But my mother has always said that they were too expensive and she was right.  I couldn't even bring myself to buy a set for myself.  However, I came home the other day and my mother had left me a surprise. She bought me a set!  So after 35 years, I finally have Raggedy Ann and Andy!  Sigh.  I love them! :) Yes, I am still a kid at heart!

Stitching Updates

I have a few updates to share.  I've been busy with work, friends and family but I've been taking some time out to do some stitching. 

Mary Engelbreit Baby Quilt:

Made a tiny  little bit of progress on the baby quilt.  I haven't spent the time on it that I should be but I have put a few stitches.  I am currently working on Mother Goose.

The entire area that has been finished to date.

Mother Goose, the area that I am currently working on.

Passione Ricamo Welcome Fairy:

I spent a great amount of time working on this project.  I need to pick it back up and get it finished.  It is such an easy stitch.

HAED Mad Tea Party:

This piece is my "travel" piece.  I work on it when I go on trips.  I was actually able to spend about 2 hours total on it on vacation.  I'm not sure if I have ever posted a progress photo before, but here it is now!

This is what the piece will look like.

This is the piece I've been working on while traveling.  It is the upper right hand corner of the pattern.

Lazy Weekend....

So this past weekend was a lazy one.  No plans.  No where to go.  Nothing to do.  No one to see.  This was mostly because of Bonnie, the storm that wasn't.  I never even saw a drop of rain.  Thanks Bonnie!

Reading Suggestion:
I read a lot but I'm not one to say "Hey, you should read this book."  I'm going to make an exception.  I just recently finished "In the Sanctuary of Outcasts: A Memoir" by Neil White.  This is the author's tale of spending a year in a federal prison that was located in America's last leper colony in Carville, LA.  This book is not one I would have typically read since it doesn't have werewolves, vampires or witches in it.  But it really was a good book.  I suggest, especially for those who are from Louisiana, to read this book.  And if you happen to be in the Baton Rouge area, the author will be at LSU on Thursday evening and at the Jones Creek Library on Friday.

Stitching:
Since I had nothing to do this weekend and I really did manage to avoid doing chores, I was able to get quite a bit done on my new project, Passione Ricamo's Welcome Fairy. This is going fast, but as someone pointed out in a comment, anything seems fast after working on a HAED!!!  This is very true!

Last week's start:

This week's progress:

My Cup Runneth Over....

Boy, I sure do hope I am not jinxing myself!!!  Life has been good this week.  I love my sister dearly, but, geez, she was sucking the life out of me!!!  And money too!!!  LOL!  Ok, she has me wrapped around her little finger, I cave to all her demands! Anyway....

On to the good news of the past week. 

I have officially booked my vacation for August!  My friend, Jill, and I are headed back to the Caribe!!!  I was able to get a great rate on a 2 bedroom condo and we are headed there for a few days of R-E-L-A-X-A-T-I-O-N!!!  Cannot wait!!! It has been so long since I've been on a trip with no familial obligations or work obligations. Until we leave, I am on a STRICT budget.  Money has never flowed freely from my wallet but I am going on this trip NO MATTER WHAT!!!!

Recently received an email from my BFF, a doctor in Houston.  She is due to have her 3rd baby girl in November.  Very exciting!!!  She will have her hands full!  In October, Zoe will be 2, then the new baby in November, and the oldest, Eden, will be 4 in December.  Hmmm, I wonder if she planned that!?  Going to make it difficult to make all 3 birthdays.  I only made one last year which was an improvement over all previous years of not making any birthdays!!!  But now 3?  Will make scheduling interesting. Anyway, the down pour of babies continues!

I've been spending some time out on my balcony lately.  Our weather has been good AND bad.  But when it is good, it is so beautiful out!!!  These are some pics I've taken on those "good" days! Duke and I like to sit on the balcony and read.  Ok, I read and he watches all the many, many, many black feral cats that hang out in the courtyard.

Some stitching updates.  Below is the latest update on Dragon Knot 2.  I spent a good portion of the past week working on it. 

This is the full picture:

This is a close up of the section I've been working on:

I've also started a new project on Sunday. The Passione Ricamo design that I had mentioned in a previous post that I was going to do for my friend Stacy.  I finally started it on Sunday evening.  I have to admit it is a very easy stitch and I'm thinking that it may not take me "years" to finish!!

Ok, I have a big week ahead of me.  There are tons of work to be done and today started off with a 4 hour meeting.  Tomorrow is going to start with another 4 hour meeting and Wednesday is starting with a 2 hour meeting.  That's 10 hours of time I am not at my desk.  While I enjoy being away from my desk, my to do list is getting longer and longer!!!!  Which may be a good thing though as I do need some OT!!!!

Hope everyone has a great week!!!

Spring is here!

Today was a beautiful day! Ok, I admit, I didn't know that till I left work today, I was still able to enjoy some of it! Duke and I took a little walk in the business complex across from my apartment. Got a little sun and fresh air after 5 days of rain! It was so nice to move around, clear the head, and well, I think I actually got a little pink today! LOL! As you can see in the picture, the azaleas are blooming! It was 80 degrees today and it is supposed to be in the upper 70s to low 80s for the rest of the week!

Has anyone seen the new Passione Ricamo patterns? I am lusting after Spring Beauty Princess. I am trying to refrain from purchasing this one. I've never done one of these patterns, although there are some very beautiful ones. I might put this pattern and the fabric for it on my birthday list. I can hold off for 2 more months. My birthday isn't that far away!