Summer = BUSY!!!

It is summertime!  June has flown by so fast!!!  I can barely recall what I've been doing for the past month!!! But I will give it a try!

Stitching

I have been working in some stitching time.  I have too many projects that I want completed to just let them sit by the side!!!  I have been, of course, stitching on Dragon Knot.  I've made some progress on it:

I also had one small finish.  I did a bib as a gift for one of my co-workers who is expecting her first baby.  The baby's room is being done in lambs and sheeps and since they aren't finding out the sex of the baby before it is born, I had to go pretty neutral:

Summer Convention

This year's summer convention was held in Orange Beach, Alabama.  Luckily, the place that it was held was so great, there was no need to go to the beach.  There were a number of pools to choose from and a lazy river.  This place was great.  I had a 2 bedroom condo that put my apartment to shame!!  I was very tempted not to come back!!!  The convention was a great success.  I had more participants this year than I've had in the 5 years I've been putting it on.  The oil spill did not dampen the great time any of us had!!!

Here's a few pics:

Sister Time

My Mother brought my sister back home shortly after her surgery on her ankle.  She's been at my parents house for the past 2 weeks recuperating.  It's been nice having her home.  When I can I take her out to dinner, for coffee, to movies, to bars, etc. just to get her out of the house.  We've seen Sex and the City 2 (not as good as the first one, wait for DVD).  We may go see Grown Ups this weekend.  We are both going to see Eclipse this week but separately.  She just can't wait for me to take her!!! 

Her and Mom are returning to Austin on Monday for her next doctor's appointment.  She may be able to "try" to start driving again. If that happens, she will finally be able to return to work and Mom may come home.  We'll see!

Annual Evaluation

It was annual evaluation time this month.  I was quite pleasantly surprised to have a really good evaluation.  It was actually a fairly painless process this year!  I did get a raise but no bonus.  No money was allocated this year for bonuses.  But, that really isn't quite surprising considering the economy.  I was pleased overall. 

I know there was other things, but I just can't remember what they were!!!  I hope that July and August are just as good or better as June!

Stitching, a Birth and an Accident

It's been a while since I've blogged.  Blame it on life.  Or more simply, blame it on my sister!!!  I'll get into that later.  First let me start with some stitching updates.  I haven't been stitching a lot lately.  I guess the hot Louisiana summer has me feeling very lazy!!!  But I have made some progress on two WIPs.

The first WIP is the Mary Engelbreit Mother Goose baby quilt I'm working on for Cassady.  I've moved on to Mother Goose!

This first picture is all that I've currently completed on the quilt:

The second picture is a close up of Mother Goose, herself, who I am currently working on. That feather actually took 2 nights of stitching to finish.  TEDIOUS!!!

The second WIP I've been working on is Dragon Knot.  I haven't worked on it for a while as I was working on other projects that were gifts for people, but this is one that I really want to finish this year.  I'm once again not sure who will receive this work or if I will keep it for myself, but I am going to finish it!! I've put to much work into it and would love to finish a "big" HAED!

The first pictures is a close up of the area I am currently working on:

This second picture is of all that I have completed.  I am so close to finishing but yet so far away!

Now on to what has kept me from blogging since my birthday!  The good news first!  I am an Aunt again! The day after my birthday, one of my very dear friends from college, Jason, and his wife welcomed a baby boy!  He is absolutely adorable - looks nothing like his father! Sorry Jason!  Love ya!!!  Unfortunately I have no picture to post, I'll have to figure out a way to pull it off of Facebook.  But Brendan Julian is absolutely stunning!!! I can't wait to meet him!

The bad news.  Also the day after my birthday, I was notified, late at night, that my sister was in the hospital with a broken ankle.  Llllooooonnnngggg story.  But anyway, she was told she was probably going to have to have surgery that night.  So I had to do what I never wanted to do which was call our parents at 12:30 am to tell them that their baby daughter (ok, she is 30 but still the baby) was in the hospital looking at surgery.  Ended up that they weren't able to do the surgery that night because of all the swelling.  But regardless, Mom and I both rushed to be with my sister, who lives in Texas.  Mom left early Thursday morning and I left Thursday at noon.  I was working on absolutely no sleep and was amazed that I was able to make the 7 1/2 hours drive with no problem.  I think I was working on pure adrenaline. 

My sister had an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon that Friday.  They assessed that her ankle was completely broken and would require plates and screws.  They scheduled the surgery for the following Friday and placed her back into a splint with a fiberglass cast.  I spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday just helping my mother out with cleaning my sister's apartment, shopping for groceries and supplies, and helping to maneuver my sister as she cannot walk or drive. 

My sister had the surgery.  2 plates and 10 screws later, she is on the way to mending.  Below is a picture of one of her incisions.  Don't look if you get queasy easily!  My mother has moved in with her indefinitely (wonder who is going to come out of that one alive!) and my father is there for this week to help out.  At the moment my sister has too many doctors appointments to come back home, which is what my father would like her to do to mend.  Her spirits are good.  She is frustrated as she is a very active person but she is definitely learning a lesson in patience and compromise. 

I hope to go back to see her at 4th of July if she is unable to come home.  Give my mom a chance to take a break and give my sister a break from my mom.

Picture of one of her incisions.  She has another one on the other side too.  But see how pretty her toe nails are?  I did that for her!!!

So that is what has been going on.  I've been worried to death over my sister.  But now that she is mending, I am feeling much better.  Which is good because work is keeping me super busy!!  I am working a convention this Thursday thru Saturday and then another one next Thursday thru Sunday.  This week's convention is a local one and it is rumored that Patrick Dempsey is staying at the hotel it is being held at as he is in town filming a movie!!!  I am very excited!!!  I hope I get to see him!!!  Next week's convention is in Orange Beach, Alabama.  Unfortunately the oil spill will make it impossible to get to the beach, but luckily the resort we are staying at has 3 pools and a lazy river!  I only work half days so I am looking forward to some sun!!!  (Cross fingers it doesn't rain!)

I'll try to post some more updates on stitching as I really hope to get some more done.  It's June already and I am no where close to finishing any of my goals from the beginning of the year!!!

Happy 35th

Today was my 35th birthday.  I have to say it was a good day.  I honestly couldn't have imagined it to have been any better than it was!!!

Birthday celebration started this past weekend with time spent with my mom.  We went to a tiny German restaurant in Ponchatoula for breakfast followed by shopping at the outlet mall. 

My actual birthday started at 12:20 am when the text messages started to come in.  I never realized how many "night owls" I have for friends! Phone calls started at 7:45 am.  So much for me sleeping in!!!  I got the business of renewing my driver's license done with early and quickly!  Then the rest of the day was spent receiving birthday wishes, shopping with my mom and seeing the movie "Letters from Juliet".  I highly recommend the movie to anyone who is a hopeless romantic!!!

Dinner with the parents at my absolute favorite restaurant "Louisiana Lagniappe".  That place is so good!!! Then back to the 'rents house for presents.  This year my parents outdid themselves.  I got the book "Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang" and a pair of emerald and diamond earrings.  The earrings are gorgeous!!!  Love them!!!  This was in addition to the outfits my mom had bought me this weekend when we had gone shopping. 

I've been informed that I will be receiving more gifts in the coming days as my grandparents and my aunt seem to have "lost track of time".  My grandmother called to tell me that her and grandpa were out shopping for my present today and she was excited because she found something she just knew I'd love and was going to mail it tomorrow to be here "in time."  When she showed the gift to my Uncle, he kindly informed her that TODAY was my birthday.  LOL!  She swore to me that she thought she had another week!!! It's all good though.  I don't mind.  I'm just blessed that I still have my grandparents around!!!  My aunt calls being late "stretching out your birthday celebration!"

I didn't know what to expect for this birthday.  Had I gone by my "old" plan, I am so far away from the goals I had set for myself at 18!!!  But I tossed that plan out a long time ago.  I'm thankful to have a job that pays the bills, great friends and a huge, loving family!!! I am actually happier now than I have been in a VERY long time!  (I hope I didn't just jinx myself! LOL)

I look forward to seeing what the next 365 days brings!!

Wet Weekend...Just a little late

I'm a little late posting this update.  But that is because I wanted to post this:

I finished China Blue (or Purple)!!  I fnished it on Monday evening.  I'm excited to have another finish.  I was starting to feel like I'd have very few accomplishments this year!!!  Now I just have to figure out how I am going to "finish" it.  Any suggestions?

The Weekend

This weekend was a rainy, wet one!!!  But it provided me the opportunity to catch up on some stitching projects and reading!!!

I started a new book, a little while ago, that is HUGE.  I think it has over 800 pages.  It is Diana Gabaldon's book, An Echo in the Bone.  It's part of a series that I've been reading for years!!!  In fact, it takes her years to put out a book.  But I've been spending the summertime evenings out on my balcony, relaxing in the quietness of nature (if you call birds chirping and squirrels running across the rails as quiet), reading a few pages of my book!  But with the rain, I wasn't able to do that this weekend so I read indoors.  I'm typically a fairly fast reader.  However, with her books, there is so much detail, I try to slow things down so I haven't even made it to the 100 page mark yet!

Friday night I got to spend some quality time with my friend Bart.  Between our schedules, we just never seem to be able to find that time where we are both free.  Lots of texts and phone calls but no face-to-face time. Between my work and his work, army drill, and kids, there doesn't seem to be much time at all!  So, Friday night I was able to meet up with him, at his office!, for a chat before he heads off to Houston this week for surgery on his back.  Army duty has taken its toll on him and it is time to get it fix!  We are both hoping for a speedy recovery so we can find sometime this summer to spend together!

Friday at lunch my dad gave me a call.  He tells me "You go to those fancy supermarkets, right?"  He was talking about Whole Foods and the local fruit/vegetable stands, lol.  I said, "yes, why?"  He asked me to find him a horseradish.  Not the sauce, the actual radish that the stuff is made from.  Sounds hard, right?  Not really.  I had to replenish my stock of Diet Dr. Pepper on Saturday morning so I went to the local grocery store before heading off to the "fancy supermarkets".  There it was, in the very small section of organic foods.  Ugly looking thing!!!  And expensive too!  $4.99/pound!!!  So I picked up one root, I didn't know how much he needed and my dad happily prepared two crocks of horseradish sauce for himself on Sunday.  Its a fairly easy process, you peel the "bark" off the root, shred the root, and add salt and vinegar.  That's it.  Who knew? 

I caught up on all my DVR'd shows.  Including the new series "Happy Town".  I watched the first 3 episodes only to get to the end of the 3rd episode to hear them say, "Stay tuned to future episodes."  But it didn't say when!!!  No episode this week!  How irksome!!!!  By the 2nd episode I was starting to get invested!!!  I also watched a very bad film that I chose on Netflix because it was recommended.  It was called "Sex and Death 101".  Winona Ryder is in it.  Don't get it.  It is just BAD!!!!  It is about a man who receives an email right before he is to be married.  The email consists of a list of 101 women that he has slept with and will sleep with.  He breaks off the engagement and proceeds to find all the women on the list that he hasn't slept with.  Yep, thankfully it was an hour and a half of my life that I wasted!

Ok, I am off to figure out which project I am going to either start or pick back up on.  There are just so many choices!!!

From The Bottom of My Broken Heart

No, no, no, no!!!  This is not in the reference of my heart!!!  LOL!!!  This is a title of a Britney Spears' song from the late 90s.  I heard it today when I was at the grocery store and it brought back a good memory

At one time my sister wanted to be a singer.  She's pretty good.  I'm not just saying that because she is my sister either.  She has even been asked by friends to sing at their weddings.  Anyway, in early 2000, my sister asked me to take her to Nashville to record a demo.  So I drove my sister all the way to Nashville for a few days for her to start pursuing her career as a singer.  We had a good time.  Most of it was spent in the studio recording songs and "From the Bottom of My Broken Heart" (click on the title for a brief preview of the song) was one of the songs she sang.  I have to admit, it has become one of my favorite songs.  I also know the lyrics by heart because I heard it over and over and over again about 100 times over those days. In the car to Nashville she sang it over and over and over again.  Then in the recording studio, they took take after take after take.  I kid you not, I feel like those lyrics are fried into my brain.  Amazed I still like it!!! But the process is really interesting.  We did a little bit of sightseeing when she wasn't recording but I also recall that one evening it was pouring so we went and saw "Deuce Bigelow: Male Gigilo".  LOL!!!  Oh, the things that I do for my baby sister!!!

I also remember that on the way back home, we stopped in Memphis because my sister couldn't be in the state of Tennessee and not go see Graceland.  She's only been there at least 20 times.  I guess there's a reason why her name is Lisa Marie!!! (I named her, who knew it would be so prophetic.) We also stayed with my good friend Jason's parents, Brenda and Al.  My sister especially enjoyed it because Ms. Brenda never did simple.  She loved to spoil us!!!  She had a huge dinner waiting for us upon our arrival and the next morning, because she didn't know what we liked, she had bagels, donuts, pancakes, waffles, eggs, cereal...and so much more for us.  My sister, who loves to eat, absolutely fell in love with Ms. Brenda!!!

I just had to share this memory.  It is such a good one!!!  Hearing that song was like a flashback!!!  A GOOD flashback!!!

Great Weekend....Good Monday

Friday
I managed to take off half a day on Friday and still make overtime.  It was just one of those weeks!!!  Hopefully, those types of weeks will not be continuing.

Anyway, so with no plans in my mind, I headed home.  After a quick lunch, I realized that Charlaine Harris' new book, Dead in the Family, had come out this week.  For those who don't know, this is part of the Sookie Stackhouse series which is what the HBO series, True Blood, is based on.  Very excited to read the next part of the story AND I had a 33% off coupon.  Can't beat that!!  So I headed to the book store to purchase yet another book!  Came straight home and started to read.  But I had to pace myself, didn't want to read it all in one night which was very possible!!!

Watched the movie The Blindside.  Twenty minutes into the movie and I wanted to cry.  It is just a very touching and inspirational movie.  I felt very inspired after watching.  Inspired to do what?  I have no clue.  But inspired!!!  I highly recommend anyone to see this movie.  It was a teeny tiny bit infuriating to see Nick Saban representing LSU in this movie (TRAITOR!!!).

Saturday
When I woke up Saturday, it looked like it was going to be a nasty day.  It was overcast, kind of chilly and windy.  Perfect weather for a movie.  So I headed to my parents first to set up my Mom's Mother's Day gift while her and Dad are at the beach and to pick up their mail.  Then off to the theatre to see Nightmare on Elm Street!!!

Yes, I am a horror movie fan!  Love them!!  Nightmare is one of my favorites!!!  If you are to judge this movie on just its own merit, it is a pretty decent horror movie.  As a remake, it is a total flop!!!  There will never be a Freddy Krueger except for Robert Englund.  He was, is, and always will be Freddy Krueger!!!

Took a quick trip to the plant nursery to get some more additions to the balcony and then off to lunch with my friend, Celestine.  Then back to the apartment to read some more Sookie Stackhouse out on the balcony because the day ended up being gorgeous!!!  When I got out of the movie, the clouds had moved out, the sun was out and it had warmed up.  I believe it got to the low 80s!!!

Sunday
Awww, Mother's Day.  Except my mother isn't here.  She and Dad took a weekend trip to the beach.  Another first.  A Mother's Day spent without my mom. 

Did some gardening.  The balcony is really shaping up.  Who knew I'd ever enjoy gardening?  I loathe getting dirty and really anything outdoors.  Well, except going to the pool or anything near or in water.

Ugh!! LSU once again disappointed me.  Losing 2 out of 3 to Vanderbilt.  They keep this up and they will not be going back to Omaha or even the SEC tournament!!!

Stitching Update
I've been working on China Blue (or Purple).  I finished up Humpty Dumpty on the baby quilt and so I put it down for just a tiny break.  I was hoping to finish up China Blue but then I had a set back on Sunday when I realized that I had completely stitched a bird in the wrong spot.  Thus I spent quite a bit of time frogging stitches.  But that's ok.  I'm back on track.  I hope to have some pictures very soon on my progress on my projects. 

Monday
Typically I dread going into work on Mondays.  Just for the fact that I have to go to work.  But today wasn't so bad.  We are back to being fully staffed and we were able to get some things accomplished despite some drama. I had received a text from a "friend" (yes, he's a man, lol) saying that he was thinking of me.  Always a nice boost and it was a big enough boost to get me t hrough the day DESPITE one co-worker's bad attitude and another co-worker's nervous breakdown.  I managed to get through the day with a smile on my face.  I hope that this means that this week will be good or I have officially lost it!!!!  Which is quite the possibility since I found out today that I will be working my 4th and 5th conventions in June.  And the year is only almost half over.  I'm trying not to get used to this overtime, as I assume it will end one day, but it sure is nice to have!!!!  I'm exhausted but the pay checks are real nice!!!!

I hope everyone has a great week!

The Best Friends & Sister

Another non-stitchy update!

I am back from my 3rd convention this year!!!  I am pooped!!  But it was probaby one of the best experiences I've had.  I was at a casino supporting one of our newest association coordinators as she put on her first convention.  I have to say she is an absolute pleasure to work with!!  She is hard working, smart, and WANTS to do the work. 

The resort that we were at, L'Auberge du Lac, was pretty nice.  It is a casino resort.  I'm not a big gambler but the pool area is well worth the visit to this resort!!!  It is absolutely gorgeous!!!  It even has a lazy river!!! This will definitely be worth going to during the summer for a "girls only weekend".

It has been quite tough the past few days.  Starting on Saturday when I received a text message (yep, that's right, a text message) from someone I thought was a friend cutting off the friendship.  I respected the text and did not respond back since it was pretty clear that he no longer wanted any contact.  However, for some reason, he felt the need to follow that up the next day with an email that was just hurtful and mean.  Once again, I did not respond to it.  But then, to top it all off, he decided to have his girlfriend email me too.  I guess my respecting his decision and not responding to anything was just not good enough.  I finally broke down and sent a text message asking him to please respect me enough to stop all communication since that was his wish. 

Anyway, I'm not very upset about the whole situation. In fact, I am relieved. In the back of my head, I knew it was coming.  So, I'm not hurt.  But I am upset at the way that he and his girlfriend attempted to intimidate me AFTER I complyed with his request.  One thing I learned from this situation was the fierce protectiveness that my friends and sister have for me.  It was so nice when several of my friends and my sister asked if they could "beat them up" for me.  LOL!!!  I really do pity the person who attempts to take advantage of me or is hurtful to me in anyway because I really think that they may not "survive"!!!  Yikes!!! :) Although I do think that my sister has lived in Texas too long!!  Her question was "who can she shoot."  Those Texans and their guns!!!

So thank you to my Jill, Jeannie, and my sister, Lisa!!!  Ya'll are the best and I love ya'll so very much!!!  But I am good.  I am better than good, I am going to be great because the trash is finally out of my life!!! 

Now I hope to move on with the good in my life.  Work is going to be tough for a while as unfortunately my office mate is out indefinitely on bed rest.  She is newly pregnant and recently suffered from a hemmorhage.  The baby is fine but she is on bedrest.  Until we know when she might be back (or if) I am going to be juggling a lot of duties!!!  I wish her all the best and a speedy recovery!!!  But summer is blooming around here and I can't wait to spend some relaxing time at the pool!!!  Who wants to come?  :)

Hopes for May

I hope that May is a month full of surprises and good things.  A new beginning for me as it is the beginning of my 35th year. That's right, I am 35 years old at the end of the month.  I still feel as foolish as I did at age 18. 

I am starting this month off with heart ache.  But I am hopeful that it doesn't end that way.  That which does not break me (and no man will ever break me) will only make me stronger and wiser.  That's right, Chief Ronnie B, you WILL NOT break me.  You may turn your back on me but I am the better person (ok, not so much right here but it is my blog) and I will not go about spilling your secrets, no matter how tempted I am!!!!

Good thing is that work keeps me very busy.  I leave tomorrow for my 3rd convention this year. 3rd!!!  I typically only work 2 conventions.  This is the 3rd association that I am helping with.  Not sure how this one will be as I have never attended it before.  But it is being held at a casino resort and I've heard that it is very nice and I am looking forward to seeing that for myself.  I'm also looking forward to the overtime!!!  I've got some financial goals I am looking to hit!!!!  I have, definitely, one more convention after this to work.  But there is still a lot of year left so who knows what will happen! HR has told new hires that we hit 100 hours of overtime a year.  I've NEVER hit that before, but I think I might get near 75 hours this year!!!

I'm so happy that summer time is here.  Time spent on my balcony, at the pool, at the park.  Time spent outdoors!  I love the sun, even though I don't like getting sweaty.  Yeah, I know, I live down South, it is pretty much  mandatory that one sweats 9 months out of 12.

Positive thoughts lead to positive outcomes.  Or so I've been told.  :)  I'm going to try that.  I'm looking at this as a new beginning.  A spring cleaning of "life".  I loathe when it happens but there are times when it must.

I hope to have more "happy" postings of friends, summertime activities, books read and cross stitch projects. 

If you read this post, thank you so much for bearing with me! I appreciate all my readers!

Finally! A Creative Update!!!

I feel as though I've been lagging in the creativity department.  I can't believe that May is already right around the corner!  What does May bring?  My birthday month!!!  Yep, a whole month to celebrate me!!!  I'm just picking!!!  One week is good enough for me!!! :)  LOL

Work has kept me pretty busy.  Lots of conventions, meetings, and such.  In fact, today I spent 8.5 hours straight making, printing, and laminating badges for a disaster boot camp.  Yeah, I do some very interesting things for my job!!! But it hasn't quite stopped me from stitching and reading. Not completely!

On to the creative stuff:

A Finish!
I am proud to post that I do have my first finish for 2010!  It is one that I've been working on for my Mom.  She actually requested it "if I had time."  So here it is, Mill Hill's Olive Oil:

I ordered the Mill Hill frame this weekend to finish it off.  As soon as I receive it I will post a "final" picture.

Mary Engelbreight Baby Quilt

As much as I loathe stamped cross stitch, I have been working on the baby quilt.  You would think that stamped cross stitch would go so much quicker than counted, but it doesn't!!  At least not for me. 

Here's what I've completed to date:

Close up of the two different scenes:

Cow Jumped Over the Moon

Humpty Dumpty Fell Off the Wall

As aggravating as the stamped cross stitch is to me, this piece is actually very cute and the colors are the only things that keep me motivated on it!!  In addition, to the cutey patooty 1 year old girl I am making it for!!!

Reading

The first few months of the year I was buying books constantly!! I kept adding to my pile of books to be read.  I finally put a stop to it!!!  Made a "promise" to myself to not buy anymore books until I've read at least some of what I have!!!

I recently finished Peter and the StarCatchers.  This is actually a child's book but it was very interesting.  It is a "prequel" to Peter Pan.  I put prequel in quotes because the book is written by different authors than the original.  I have to say that while it took me a while to get into the book, once you did it started rolling right along.  As you got near the end, you started to see things in the story that tied it to the original Peter Pan.  It was very interesting.  I might consider reading the other books in this series.

I have had A Lion Amon Men on my nightstand for well over a year now.  This is one of my books in the pile that I aim to finish reading.  I recently picked this book back up to read.  (It had been sitting so long, that I am ashamed to admit, it was covered in dust.) I've made some progress on this book and am less than 100 pages from the end!!!  Woo hoo!!!!  This is the 3rd book in the "Wicked" series.  I've heard that there are supposed to be a book on the Tin Man and the Scarecrow also planned but I'm not sure if I will read them.  I adored Wicked.  Son of Wicked took me a while to get through and this book, well, its dusty cover can tell you what I think of it!!!

I must finish reading what I have as there are many books by favorite authors about to be released over the next few months.  Now that it is summer (spring always skips right past us) I see much time at the pool reading a good book!!!!

I hope everyone is well!!!  I look forward to hearing your comments!

Oh My!!!

Where have I been?  I haven't posted a blog since April 6!!  Hmm, doesn't seem like that much has been going on, but maybe so.

I am well overdue with a posting about my trip to Houston.  Seems like it was such a quick, short trip, but of course, jamming as much as possible into it!

Houston
I left early on Saturday morning so that I could be in Houston before lunch time. Can't get up during the week in order to get to work on time but I can get up on a Saturday morning to be in the car before 7 am to get to Houston.  Priorities!!! Priorities!!!!

Made it to Houston right before lunch time and was immediately whisked off to lunch with Stacy and the kids.  Well, two of the kids.  Marly and Parker.  We went to Zaxby's.  It's a chicken place.  That's all they do.  Chicken.  Grilled, fried, nuggets, sandwiches.  Just chicken.  Yeah, I didn't pick it, the kids did.  Then off to the local needle store.  It was so much fun to just look!!!!  Of course, I always forget to make a list of things I may need before I get there.  I did buy a new pair of scissors, a needle minder, and this cool thing for your finger that helps you to pick up beads.  I also purchased a beginner's stitching kit for my nephew.  Yep, that's right, my nephew.  He asked me if he could have it so I didn't see a reason as to why he shouldn't learn. 

I wasn't the only one in town for the big weekend.  Stacy's mother and 2 aunts were also there.  That made for a very full house.  So I stayed at Jeff's parents house.  Best decision I could have made.  I had a bedroom to myself with a huge 4-poster bed that was so high I had to jump to get into it and a private spa bathroom.  Yep, I was living the high life for a few days.  I really didn't want to come home!!! Even harder when they said I could stay as long as I wanted!!!

So we celebrated a birthday and a baptism that weekend for Marly Grace.  She is now 9 years old.  I can't believe it.  One of her gifts was a cell phone.  So now I get texts from her all the time.  Morning, afternoon, and night.  It is sweet but I don't think I quite approve, but then she is not my child!!! Parker is also getting to be a big boy.  He'll be 8 in August.  Cassady just turned 1.  She isn't talking or walking yet but give her time.  She makes a lot of sounds and show her where her walker is and she can zoom off!!!  She is into everything!  Such an inquisitive little thing!

Parker and Marly

Cassady

Jeff baptizing Marly

Parker, Cassady and Marly

Marly, Cassady, me, and Parker.  Let it be noted that I was hurrying up Shug to take the picture because Cassady had kicked off her diaper. I just knew she was going to pee or poop on me!!!  Luckily she didn't!!

It was so much fun to see everyone.  I really didn't want to come back on Monday but I had to.  Needed to pick up Duke from the vet.  He was not a happy camper!!!

I Can't Make This Up

This past Friday I took off work a few hours early to get some things settled with my car.  I was in desperate need for an oil change and tire rotation plus I still haven't gotten a quote done on the damage so that I can start the process to get my car done.  So I went to the dealership and had my car's oil changed and the tires rotated.  Then off to the body shop.  That was a waste of time.  Having a check wasn't good enough for them.  They needed some other type of paper work that the insurance company hadn't given me.  Back home I head.  When I get in the apartment, I notice this buzzing noise.  I see a few wasps in my windows in the living room, but that's typical at times.  Sometimes when I open the patio door I get a few wasps in the apartment.  I knew I needed to walk Duke so I sprayed some wasp spray, killed them, and off I went to walk Duke.  Now upon my return to the apartment, I let Duke loose and head to the bedroom to get on my "comfy" clothes.  When I entered my bedroom, I heard a VERY LOUD buzzing noise.  I had a swarm of wasps in my bedroom. 

Yep, that's right.  Wasps were in my bedroom.  How?  Who knows?  It took 2 cans of wasp spray to kill them.  No, I didn't do it myself.  The apartment handy man came over and did it.  I packed up Duke and took him to my parents house.  I didn't want him around all the chemicals.  Well, my mom insisted I stay too as she wanted to make sure everything was dead and didn't want me around the chemicals later.  When my dad and I came back to the apartment to do a preliminary cleaning and pick up some clothes, we found between 70 and 100 dead wasps in the window sill. 

Saturday was spent cleaning up even more dead wasps and trying to get the chemical smell out of the apartment.  I had wanted to do some cleaning over the weekend but not that intensive!!!!  Duke was able to come home that afternoon and we slept in the bedroom that night.  No bugs since then!  Keep your fingers cross!!!

Stitching

I have been stitching.  Just no new photos to show you! But I hope to soon! I have been working on the Mary Engelbreight quilt and the Mill Hill Olive Oil projects.  I'm doing the beading right now on the Olive Oil one.  I like to do that when it is sunny outside as I can see better.  So I typically end up beading only on the weekends and when I am watching an LSU baseball game.  Well, then I get sucked into the game, get distracted and not much beading gets done but it is coming along!!!!

Well, I hope to have a stitchy blog soon!  Everyone continue to have a great week!

Easter Weekend and Beyond

Friday
There were only two of us working in the office on Friday.  When the boss came to us at 11:30 to say that he was leaving for the day at 11:45, we looked at each and said "WTF is wrong with us?"  So we left early at 1:30.  :)

Friday evening I went to the LSU baseball game with my Daddy.  It was a good game.  Game 1 of the 3 game series against Georgia.  We won! :)  Daddy got us awesome seats along the 1st baseline.  You can tell by the pictures I took with my phone's camera how close we were to the field!!  I love baseball!!!

Anthony Ranaudo warming up for his first start since being hurt.

Pre-game warm ups

Saturday

Saturday morning I went out shopping.  I indulged and bought myself a few new shirts but my main objective was to get my niece Marly a birthday present.  She is going to be 9!!!!  Wow!  How time flies!  So a trip out to the outlet mall to visit her favorite shop was necessary.  Justice for Girls.  A little too girlie for me but it is what she likes!!!! 

I even visited Cabelo's for the first time ever.  I've never have had a reason to go there so I was out there so I went in. I'll probably never go there again.  LOL!  I don't do anything outdoors and if I do, I just use my grandfather's equipment.  So, unless I go back for a gift card for my grandfather, it really isn't my kind of place!!!

Spring came and went pretty quickly around here.  We are now heading toward the hot, humid, muggy days of summer!!!  Saturday afternoon was quite warm, so before the LSU baseball game came on, Duke and I headed out for sno cones.  There's a place not far from my apartment who has yummy flavors and does "puppy" cones too!!  (Basically just plain ice formed into a sno cone in a little Dixie cup).  Duke and I got our sno cones and then came back home to enjoy them while watching the game.

Duke enjoying his sno-cone!!  Ooops, it spilled!

Sunday

Sunday was, of course, Easter.  Now, for some reason, I didn't sleep a wink the night before.  As I was still awake, I got up and went to early Mass.  By the time my parents called me to join them for Mass, I'd already gone and come back and was cooking breakfast!!!

Went to my parents for Easter dinner and to watch the 3rd game of the LSU series against Georgia.  It was a really pleasant afternoon! 

Now, I was really tired as I had not slept the night before, I went to bed super early.  Not just because of lack of sleep but because I was to meet the boss at 6:30 am on Monday morning!!!

Monday

Ohhhh, how I was anxious about Monday!  On Monday I took a trip to Orange Beach, Alabama with my boss.  We went to visit a resort where we are holding our summer convention in June.  It is 4 hours one way!!!  4 hours in a car, alone, with my boss.  A total of 8 hours in a car.  No radio. 

To be honest, it wasn't bad.  He was very well-behaved.  I'm not saying I had a blast but we both came home alive! :)

Now, let's talk about the resort.  This place is awesome!!! 2 and 3 bedroom condos.  Full kitchens.  Each bedroom has a private bathroom.  Huge balconies.  I cannot wait to go!!!  Since I am to have my own 2 bedroom condo, my sister and friend Celestine will be joining me for the weekend.  We may not see each other much as I have to work but why waste a 2 bedroom condo that we don't have to pay for????  Now don't feel too bad.  I will have off at least 1 afternoon where I can enjoy one of the 3 pools and the 980 feet of lazy river.  :) 

Upcoming

I have a trip to Houston coming up for my niece Marly's birthday.  I'm excited to go see everyone.  Might even run into my sister as she will be in Houston for a birthday party also that is literally just a few miles down the road from where I'll be. 

I'm also excited that my BFF Sarah is coming into town this month.  But not only this month but in June too!!!!  I hope we manage to catch up with each other!!!  It is rare that we see each other once a year let alone 2x within 6 months of each other!!!!  In fact, it has been 6 months since I last went to Houston to see her!!!  Wow, I think we might be setting a record!  I can't wait. 

Hope everyone is well and enjoying this fabulous Spring!!!

Stitchy Update

China Blue (or rather Purple)
This past week I've been working on China Purple.  It has been an easy stitch so far.  I am exactly halfway through with it. It should be an easy finish.

Mary Engelbreit Baby Quilt
I should have already had this baby quilt done.  My baby niece's birthday was this past Saturday.  She is one year old now.  How time flies!!!  But I must confess, I let the specialty stitches in it daunt me.  It has a ton of french knots, lazy daisy stitches, and satin stitches.  I am a straight cross stitcher.  I don't even like to back stitch, which is why I love HAEDs!!!  Anyway, I sat down on Sunday and decided to start working on it again.  I got the cow done!!!!  Yay!!!! The picture doesn't do it justice but in real life, the colors pop!!!!  I hope to keep working on this WIP this week!

As I mentioned, it was my baby niece's 1 year birthday this past Saturday.  It was also my BFF's birthday, I won't mention how old she is!  Thank goodness they are both on the same day!  Makes remembering the birthdays that much easier!!! Anyway, here's a pic of my niece on her special day!  I plan on visiting in a few weeks when it is her older sister's birthday!

Spring is here!

Green!!  Green everywhere!  The trees, the bushes, the grass!  Anything outside is covered in green pollen!!!  I washed my car on Sunday, within 5 minutes it was covered in a fine green dust again!  Oh well, at least I got the first layer of pollen off!!!

Spring has arrived fully in south Louisiana. I hope it stays!!!  It has been beautiful weather!  I have a new sitting area for my patio that I am enjoying immensely in this wonderful weather!  Duke and I have enjoyed the time outside over the weekend.  Here are a few pics:

My new patio chairs (courtesy of Mom and Dad)

One of the lakes down by LSU by City Park. 

 Duke and I enjoyed a nice long walk there this weekend.

Part of the trail at City Park. Everything is just so pretty right now!

Duke sniffed his way through the walk.  Had to "mark" everything!  Sigh

I do have some stitchy stuff to share but Blogger is not cooperating in the upload of photos right now!  I will try back later! 

Come, Gone, Back Again!

Spring has sprung!!!  Then it sprung away!  For the past week we've had some amazing spring time weather! But then, old man winter showed his head again on Sunday.  Temps were in the 40s!!!  It was freezing.  But luckily, spring came back this Monday!!!  In fact, right now, Duke is outside on the patio enjoying some sun and I am airing out the apartment!  There is a lovely breeze blowing right now!!! Duke and I took a nice walk this afternoon too!

Here are a few pics of my "little man":

Hanging out on the balcony, sunning himself!

Playing with his new "monkey".  I spoil him so!!!

New Stash

Ok, so yes, I broke one of my goals of the year "No purchasing of new stash unless to complete a project currently ongoing". But considering it is March, I did pretty good to go almost 3 whole months!!!! I've always wanted to do a Biscornu so I purchased The Sweetheart Tree "Cherry Blossoms" Biscornu Pincushion kit.  I'm looking forward to doing it.  I'm a little bit intimidated but I'll forge ahead with it!!!

Olive Oil WIP

This weekend I finished all the stitching of the Mill Hill bead kit: Olive Oil.  Maybe next weekend I'll sit down and sort out the beads and finish the beading part.

New WIP

So instead of working on either of the 2 baby quilts I need to complete, I started a new WIP.  I know, shame on me!!! It is a pattern, China Blue, that was in issue 161 of The World of Cross Stitch magazine. 

I am doing this WIP with all materials I already possessed, so no new stash was purchased.  I am doing it on 28 count jobelan in the color of lavendar sunset.  I converted all the threads from blues to lavendars. I just started this Sunday afternoon while watching the LSU baseball game against Arkansas (LSU won, of course).  It has been a fairly easy stitch so far.  I think I might finish this one pretty quickly.  I am thinking of giving this to one of my friends who absolutely adores the color purple.

That's all going on in my part of the world. I won't bore you with details of work.  I don't want to hear about my own work!!  LOL!!!

Hope everyone has a great week!

Working at Convention

So, I am sitting here at the registration desk of the convention.  It is getting near the end of day 2. So far so good.  I've learned two things: 1) librarians are NOT quiet and 2) paint stirring sticks are used as placeholders for books in shelves. 

The convention started on Wednesday, and hopefully not jinxing myself, has been pretty easy.  Monday and Tuesday was a little doubtful as we were putting together materials for the convention.  It took 5 of us working 8 hours a day to get it all done.  That is a total of 80 man hours. We were exhausted. 

Today I am working 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Same for tomorrow.  Most of it is just sitting in front of a computer putting in new registrants and making badges but it is exhausting.  Especially the part of being nice to all these different people.  That is quite a chore for me especially when I do not know someone.  I tend to clam up when presented with new people.  And plus, I'm just generally a very cranky person when I am tired and stressed out!!! Hmmm, I promise that I am not cranky ALL the time.  I do laugh and smile!!!

Only one more day left of convention.  I will hopefully be back in the office on Monday, focusing on my work.  There is another convention next week, my office mate's convention, but I'll just be helping with the putting together of materials and not actually attending the meeting to work it! 

Unfortunately this convention has cut into my stitching time.  Not that I haven't had time in the evening, just that I am so tired that my eyes cross at the sight of 25 count fabric!!!!

I am ready for 6 pm Friday to roll around!  I am looking forward to sleeping, stitching, and gardening this weekend!!!!

What a Mess!!!

Week in Review
Blegh!  That is how I would describe this past week.  Work SUCKED!!!  I am doing someone else's work and it is literally ticking me off and making me ill!!!  I typically am pretty good at leaving work at work.  NOT this week!!!  I have literally made myself sick this week from stress!!!!  Have driven myself to the point where I am crazier than normal!!!  Upon the completion of the work week, I went home and was sick.  Fever, chills, aches, puking.  Yep, made myself sick from stress.  And that really ticked me off!  It was the first pretty spring weekend and I was sick!!!! I need to make some changes!  Not sure what, but something has to change!!!  Especially with this upcoming week.  It will be another stressful long week but I can't continue to feel the way I do physically!!!

Movies
Started to watch Confessions of a Shopaholic on Saturday night.  I made it through about 30 minutes before turning it off.  Didn't like the book, don't like the movie!

I was up at 2 am on Sunday morning.  Part of the whole being sick thing and the only thing on tv was the Blair Witch Project 2.  Even at 2 am, and with a fever, this movie is just BAD!!!!

Dragged myself to see Alice in Wonderland in 3D for my friend's birthday today.  I highly recommend this movie!!!  I LOVED IT!!!  I think the story was a great adaptation and Johnny Depp is just yummy!!!!  The 3D glasses didn't really bother me.  Although I could tell that my eyes were quite tired by the end of the movie!!!

While at the movies I saw the movie poster for the new Nightmare on Elm Street!!!  Very excited.  It is opening on April 30!!  I know I will have to see it alone but that's ok!  I've accepted that I have to watch my horror movies alone!!!  :)

Another movie poster I saw was for Ramona and Beezus.  Did anyone read the Ramona Quimby books as a child?  My sister and I loved those books!  Made me smile when I saw the movie poster and my sister was very excited about it when I shared the news with her!!!!  Those were just great books to read!!!

Stitching

I've worked on 3 projects this week.  Had sort of a rotation going.  We'll see how long it lasts. I'm not really a rotation kind of gal.

The first is, of course, Dragon Knot.  I got a small bit done on it!

The whole picture

The tiny part I am currently working on.

The next is the Mill Hill kit, Olive Oil.  This is being done on perforated paper and I'm kind of enjoying it.  It is definitely an easy stitch!!!

The last one is the baby blanket I am working on.  It is a Mary Engelbreit design of Mother Goose.  The colors on it were what drew me to it.  It has a lot of specialty stitches in it that I don't typically do so I think it may take me a little longer to do and will be a challenge!!!

The section I am currently working on.

Close up of the cow. 

Ok, well I have to end today's post here.  I've made pasta for dinner and Duke is driving me crazy with his begging!!!  I have no clue how he knows pasta has been made but he does and he is annoying me to death with his whine!!!  So off I go to serve us both some pasta!  And to get ready for the Oscars!  I hope this week is a great one!!!