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!!!

Oh How I've Missed You!!!

Where have you been?  Life has been so drab and dreary without you!!!  When you poked your head out yesterday, it put a smile on my face and warmed my heart!!!  Mr. Sun, please don't go away again!!!!

Weekend
This has been an absolutely beautiful weekend!  The sun was out. The temps reached the upper 50s and 60s.  Blue skies.  LSU Baseball. It was just great. I spent the weekend mostly at home.  I did get out on Saturday to have my hair cut and color (always makes me feel better) and to run errands.  But other than that, I spent the time at home cleaning, spending time with my pup, and indulging in my hobbies.

I was finally able to get out to the balcony and start cleaning up all the nastiness left from the winter.  Majority of my plants are dead due to the extremely freezing weather we had, but for many of them it was time to go.  So, I cut back and/or dug up many plants and deposited them in the trash!!  I am hoping these warmer temps continue for another week so that I can head to the nursery to get some new flowers/plants to plant next weekend!

I also spent some time doing some cleaning.  I didn't get everything done, but I did get a good bit done.  It was time to take back control!!!  I've been gone so much, my living space has become quite disorganized!!!

Stitching
I have been stitching some more on Dragon Knot.  But I don't feel that I've made enough progress to post a pic.  While I was in Texas, I did have a new start.  It is a Mill Hill kit and is done on perforated paper.  That's something I have never done.  It's a kit that my Mother picked up when I took her to the LNS one weekend.  She asked if I would do this for their kitchen. This is what it will look like when completed (I haven't taken a progress pic):

I also was able to finally kit up the Mary Engelbreit Mother Goose baby quilt I am going to do.  I loathe kitting up new projects.  I always just want to jump right into stitching. 

Spring is just around the corner and I can't wait.  This winter has really made me more grouchy than I normally am.  Yep, for those who know me, that means I am absolutely unbearable to be around these days!!! :)

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

Blink of an eye

5 days went so quickly!  Blinked my eye and it was time to go!!!!  I had a great time in Corpus Christi visiting my grandparents.  I also got to see my Uncle Peter, Aunt Diane, Uncle Joe and Aunt Astrid.  Plus some other people who are distant cousins. 

The weather was kind of nasty.  Cold. Overcast. Rainy.  I didn't get to go fishing although one day I did go with my grandfather to pick up ghost shrimp for bait.  That was "interesting". 

The minute I arrived in Corpus I was whisked away for a cook out.  Barely had time to say hello before heading off to see a bunch of people I don't know.  Now for those who don't know me, I do not like to be around a lot of people I don't know.  Takes me way out of my comfort zone.  I was way outside of it!!!!! But my grandparents and my aunts and uncles were also there.  It was funny when I saw my Uncle Joe for the first time, in YEARS, he tells me "Girl!  You are WHITE!!"  Definite emphasis on the white.  LOL!  I can't help it!!!  The only thing I inherited from the mexican side was my dark curly hair, my big booty, and my love for the food!!!!  I just laugh it off!

I got to spend a lot of quality time with my grandparents.  It was nice especially since I didn't get to see that much of them back in May when I had gone home to visit! They have a nice one bedroom condo on one of the diversion canals.  Here's a picture from their balcony:

We did go down to the sea wall on Saturday for a walk.  I got to take pictures with my grandparents.  Aren't they cute?

On Sunday, we went to downtown Corpus Christi.  Went down to the harbor area.  Saw the statue and memorial to Selena.  For those not familiary with her, she was a tejano singer who was murdered by a fan at a very young age. She was from Corpus Christi and they STILL love her there.  We even went by her gravesite.  I know, totally touristy but interesting.  Her gravestone is a portrait of her.  Yep, I took pictures.

I have to admit that the best part of the vacation was to be "babied" by my grandparents.  I didn't have to take care of anything. They took care of everything. I didn't have to make any decisions or do anything but enjoy myself.  That was great.  Been a long time since I could do that! I'm thinking I need to find the time to visit family more often!

Happy Dance

I have TWO reasons to do a happy dance!!!

1) I finished page 8 of 16 of Dragon Knot 2!!!!  That leaves 8 more pages, 4 of which are not complete pages.  Woo hoo!!!

2) I am now officially on vacation!!!  For the next 5 days I do not have to worry about work!  I am going to go fishing! Read! Stitch! Relax!  I can't wait!

Mardi Gras/Valentine Weekend

Hello all!  I have spent this Valentine Sunday recovering from all the fun that I had yesterday at the mardi gras parades here in Baton Rouge. 

As I do not have a special someone in my life (well, at least someone who is actually mine), I spent the day stitching and watching tv.  I did make a trip to the book store after I delivered flowers and cake to my parents as today is their 35th wedding anniversary. At the book store, I bought for myself the book "Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea".  This is the book by Chelsea Handler of the E! series, Chelsea Lately.  She cracks me up so I can't wait to read her book.  This is her first book.  I believe she has a second one that has just been released or will be shortly.

Yesterday was the Spanish Town Parade.  Now, this is not a typical "New Orleans" style parade.  Meaning there are no fancy floats and no fancy costumes.  It is extremely politically incorrect and it is all about fun!!  It isn't exactly a family parade but many people do bring their kids.  I went this year with a bunch of friends.  We were prepared this year.  We brought a cooler full of alcohol and mixes so that we could make our own drinks.  We had food out the ying yang: chicken salad sandwiches, chips, salsa, popcorn, cheese, crackers, meats, cotton candy, king cake.  We were ready!!!  And it paid off!  It made the parade that much more enjoyable and a lot less expensive!  It was a great day!  I caught so many beads.  Lots of beads with fleur-de-lis on them. 

At one point we were bombarded with Moon Pies.  I don't know why.  Maybe we looked hungry?  LOL! But all of a sudden it was literally raining Moon Pies.  They were all banana flavored though.  Blegh.  I'm not big on banana flavored anything so I passed off the Moon Pies I collected to my friend Joy.

The day started off cold.  We were all bundled up.  Dressed in layers.  Trying to stay warm.  As the morning progressed though, it warmed up and we started to shed our layers. This was our "coat check" area:

The day was actually quite beautiful. A tad bit on the chilly side but otherwise it was blue skies and bright sunshine.  The evidence left by the sun is quite apparent on my face!!!  My nose is kind of glowing red today.  The first sun burn of the year! :)

It was a great day of good company, good drink and good food. 

Here are a few pictures from the day.  As I mentioned earlier, this parade is not politically correct and likes to poke fun at current events.

Sneaux Day

Today was a sneaux day in south Louisiana!  We actually had 2 inches today!  I do believe that hell hath frozen over since the Saints won the Super Bowl!!!!

I didn't get the chance to be out in it as I had to work but I did get two pics.  The first one is from my office window.  This was after about 30 minutes of it snowing.  The second photo is from the 9th floor of our main office building. 

This is the third year in a row that we've had snow.  I know it wasn't a lot but it was enough to close the government and schools down for the day.  I  so have the wrong job!!!! 

Now it is Mardi Gras time!  Two parades here in town tomorrow.  Getting prepped for them tonight.  Hope to have pictures on Sunday!  Everyone have a great weekend!

Best Day Ever!

Tonight history was made.  The New Orleans Saints did something on their very first try.  They won the Super Bowl!  I can't even begin to describe how I feel right this moment.  It's almost too good to be real! I feel like I am in a dream-like state.

This is a great day for the Boys, the city of New Orleans, and the State of Louisiana.  The Saints did what everyone (well, analysts and "experts") said they couldn't do: beat Peyton Manning and the Colts. Not only did they beat them, they beat them soundly!

When Porter intercepted that catch, my mom and I jumped up from our seats and started screaming "Go! Go! Go!" at the top of our lungs.  It was a historic moment for us! At the moment, I had tears of pride running down my face.  I know!  Silly, huh?  To be crying over a football game! 

To see the Saints win and do what so many people said couldn't be done, especially after the destruction of Katrina, is the absolute best feeling in the world! New Orleans is back!  And is going to be better than ever!  It is being re-built, they have a new mayor coming in, and the Saints are bringing the Super Bowl trophy home!  It's a great time to be in Louisiana!

Jupiter Parade and Jam

It is Mardi Gras time in South Louisiana!  Mardi Gras has grown over the past decade here in Baton Rouge.  No longer do we have to go to New Orleans for "big" parades.  Last night was the Jupiter Parade and their after party, Jupiter Jam. We had so much fun!!!

I went with my friend Joy, her mom, and her mom's friends.  We had so much fun!  We caught the parade twice before heading to the party.  Caught a bunch of beads that we have absolutely no use for!  But, it is still fun!!! 

It was so cold last night!  We were bundled up.  I lost count of the number of layers that I was wearing.  It was even more cold because we were right off the river.  The wind coming off the water was wicked cold!!!  But with the help of a "little" bit of alcohol, we didn't feel much!  :)

Last night was just the start.  There are a few more parades next weekend and then on Mardi Gras weekend we have the big parade for Baton Rouge, Spanish Town Parade.  This year the parade is being followed by a new parade, Poseidon.  So it will be full day of fun on the 13th of February in downtown Baton Rouge.

Here are some pictures from our fun time last night!

This pic was taken by a cell p hone.  We were so cold waiting on the parade! Me, Elke, and Joy

Patty and Elke on the levee before the parade.

Joy and I on the levee.

Joy taking a nip of the whiskey!  Trying to stay warm!!!

One of the floats of the Jupiter Parade

Joy and I after the first time ctaching the parade.

Joy (her back is to the camera) and I dancing at Jupiter Jam.

Joy and her mom, Elke, at Jupiter Jam

7 out of 16!!

As of last night, I have completed 7 out of 16 pages of Dragon Knot!!!  Now I should be a good girl and put it to the side to start working on the 2 baby blankets I need to finsh by this summer, but I'm on such a roll.  So I will work on Dragon Knot till January 31 and on February 1 I'll start on the baby quilts!  Sounds like a plan, right?

I've had a few questions over the past few entries on the updates of Dragon Knot.  I'm going to try to answer the ones I remember:

1.  I am stitching this 1 over 1 on 25 count lugana or jobelan (I've been working on this pattern for so long I can't remember exactly which fabric it is but those are my two favorite).

Hmmm, now that I am sitting here I think that is the only question I remember! :)  If there are others, drop me another comment and I will try to answer it! 

Warning!!!!

I preface this entry with a warning.  I am going to be self-indulgent, whiney, cry-babyish, etc.  Writing things down in my journal is just not getting it done these days so I am going to put it out to the universe.  So I apologize for this posting BUT I did issue the warning.  If you continue on reading, that is up to you!

Work
Work is supposed to get better now that my convention is over. I was hoping to get out from under the mounds of paper piles that are on top of my desk and around the desk. However, that may not be happening anytime soon. We are still short-handed.  Well, guess whose hands are being used to pitch in?  Yep, that's right.  Mine.  Last I checked, I only have 2 but I'm being asked to pitch in another 2.  Hmmmm, let's see me pull that one (or two) out of my butt!!!

I am also supposed to be taking lead on an upcoming convention for an association that isn't mine.  Why?  Because the person who is in charge of that association cannot get the work done.  She cannot get her "normal" day-to-day work done in a normal 40 hour week, then to add on to that a convention?  Yep, she might abandon ship.  So instead, the little man's solution is to have me do the work. 

And yes, I am supposed to do all of this and keep my association up and running.  While I do enjoy the money that the overtime is generating, I am so stressed, overwhelmed and exhausted I don't think the benefits are outweighing the negatives! You know, I think I might have to try being incompetent and see where that gets me!

My Sailor
Remember, I said this was going to be a self-indulgent, whiney post!  I have been missing My Sailor a lot lately.  Most likely because I am so tired and my "defenses" are down.  But I miss him telling me to stop worrying so much or in his words "stop sweating the small stuff." The way he listened to what I had to say and actually hear it (well, as long as I wasn't complaining about something he did.) He was never in my life on a day-to-day basis, but he did impact me.  Still does.  The lessons I learned from him are helping me today.  I just wish he was around cause I could really use his comfort right now.  Like I said, I'm so exhausted, my defenses are down. I typically am very good at repressing all feelings in regard to him!!!

Ok, those are my two biggest complaints in life right now.  Other than that, everything is peachy!  I have a ton of stitching projects to wade through (always a good thing).  I have a stack of books to read (another good thing). I have Mardi Gras parades to look forward to starting this Saturday.  I have a trip to see my grandparents coming up.  Then before I know it, spring will be here and I will be headed to Houston for my babies' birthdays!!!! 

See, I feel better already.  I just had to put it down for everyone to read and to realize that things aren't as bad as they seem in my head!

Now, I am off to tackle my stitching. I am almost done with the current page of Dragon Knot.  I want to get that finished and pics posted soon!

We Now Return You to Your Regularly Scheduled Program

Whew!  What a week it has been!  Convention is finally over!!!  4 days of non-stop activity!  I am just plain exhausted!!!  It always amazes me how I manage to pull off a 4 day conference!  And this year was especially tough as the schedule was so tight!  But it is now over and time to start working on the summer convention.

From what I could tell, there were only minor mishaps at the convention.  We received many compliments, which is always nice to hear!  And there were a few events that will probably force me into therapy as I get older!!!  One being dancing with the little man.  Yep, being pulled out onto the dance floor by the boss man is always terrifying!!!  Second one is bumping booty with your veterinarian on the dance floor.  Yep!  Another event to cause me nightmares!  But if that is all that happened, I'll bear with it!!!!  :)

I was able to officially clock out at 10:15 am on Sunday morning!  I went home, put on comfy clothes and sat on the couch.  I had every intention of doing laundry but ooops!  I fell asleep in the middle of Nip/Tuck.  I saw the beginning.  I saw the ending.  I have no clue what happened in between.  LOL  That is how tired I was!  I then jetted over to my parents house for tacos and football!!! I cuddled up on my parents' couch with Duke and watched the first game of Colts vs. Jets.  I was pulling for the Jets.  I do not want to be facing a Manning in the Super Bowl!!!   Then we had some yummy tacos.  Ok, maybe more than just some.  I hadn't really eaten in the 4 days of convention so I was STARVING!!!  Then it was time to settle down for the Saints game. 

Settle may not be the best word for that game.  There was nothing settling about it!  I swear I was going to have a heart attack or stroke out by the end of the game!  But I had faith!  I believed that the boys could win it!!!  And win it they did!  They won it for the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana.  It was the best feeling in the world!!  I can't even describe it.  I had very little voice by the end of the game.  My mom and I were jumping around the living room and screaming at the top of our voices at the end of the game!!!  It is just the best thing having the Saints in the Super Bowl. 

Today is my day off.  Trying to get back into a normal routine again.  I paid bills.  I went grocery shopping. Doing laundry.  Just normal, every day activities.  It's so very nice!!!  ; )  I slept like a baby last night.  I have a feeling I will sleep that way again tonight!  But back to the grind again tomorrow!  But at least it will be a normal 8 hour day!!!

I'm off to finish some household chores, love on Duke, and do some stitching!

Will hopefully have another stitching update soon! 

I apologize if some of this post makes no sense!  The brain is still not quite working correctly after last week!  It just needs some rest!!!

3 down, 4 to go!!!

Now, that title could mean 2 things!  It could be the countdown to the NFC championship game on Sunday between the Saints and the Vikings or it could be the countdown till my next day off! It's BOTH!!!

It is convention week for me.  Between that and having to fill in for the empty position in the office and do other people's work, I have been working like a dog!!!  I've already got 5 hours of OT this week.  By the end of the week, I will have almost 30 hours of just OT.  I love my check after convention!!!!  :)  Time and a half rocks!!! That's the only thing that keeps me going! 

I did take off this upcoming Monday.  Woo hoo!!!  One day off!  Then back to the office to start on the next convention which is in early March.  Not my convention, but someone else's.  I won't go into details as to why I am doing the work.  It just gets too frustrating.  I just keep telling myself "extra money, extra money".  The extra money will be helpful for all the upcoming trips I'd like to take this year!!!  Or for maybe another Coach purse!!!  (yes, I admit it.  I have a Coach purse problem! lol)

Sunday the Saints play for the NFC championship.  I am very exciting.  I get off at 12:30 that day so I have time to get in a quick nap before the game.  I can feel it!  Good things are going to happen for the Saints!!!

I hope everyone is having a good week!  I am stitching but not as much since I am so pooped!!!  I am very close to finishing the page I am working on for Dragon Knot so I hope to have that update for you very soon!

Hugs!

"Relaxing" Weekend

Hmmm, not sure how relaxing this weekend was.  I was told by several people, including family, friends, and work, to go home this weekend and relax.  Sleep in late.  Do nothing.  Not sure if I accomplished that.

Saturday morning I woke up at 5 a.m. instead of 3 a.m.  I dozed and daydreamed until 8:30 a.m. Does that count as sleeping in?  I went out to the bookstore and spent 30 minutes just browsing.  Found a few books I would have been interested in buying but I couldn't decide on just one and I also couldn't remember if I already had the books and they were just in my "to be read" pile!!!  That's sad, isn't it?  I also went to Hobby Lobby.  I actually didn't find anything there.  But I just went in browsing, I had nothing specific in mind. Then off to Papa Murphy's to pick up a pizza for the Saints playoff game.  Had a nice afternoon/evening watching football with a friend, munching on pizza and drinking beer.  For dessert we even had a black and gold king cake.  We were in the spirit!!!!  So one game down, one more next Sunday!  Thankfully it is on Sunday since I have to work the weekend but will be home by 1 p.m. on Sunday!

Now it is Sunday.  Same as Saturday.  Slept till about 5 a.m.  and then dozed and daydreamed till about 8:30 a.m.  The big decision this morning was pancakes or waffles!  I've spent the morning stitching and catching up on shows.  Now it is time for football!  The remaining two football playoff games.  Time to see who will meet the Saints in the Dome next Sunday!  I'm not sure who I want it to be, Cowboys or Vikings?  All I want is for the Saints to win!!

I have a big week ahead of me.  Convention starts on Thursday and I have a TON of work to accomplish in the next 3 days.  I hope I can handle it with some grace and dignity.  On site work at convention really isn't hard, just time consuming and physical.  But I really will be glad when it is all over.  I am so thankful that I have my parents to help me out. They do little things like shopping, making me dinner, walking and taking care of Duke.  That helps me tremendously!!! I'm very  lucky that they are willing to do that for me!!!

I hope everyone has a good week!  I hope to have another update on Dragon Knot up by the end of the day or by tomorrow.  I just want to get as much stitching done on it as I can!

End of week update

I've been working quite steadlily on Dragon Knot this past week.  I love when I can get on a roll with a project.  Seeing more progress makes me want to work on the project more and more.

This was last week's update:

After working on it for a week:

Close up of the area I am working on:

Life Update
I've got another full week ahead of me at work.  I am two weeks out from my convention.  We are still down an employee.  More overtime up ahead for me this week.  Just thinking about it is exhausting.  This weekend was entirely too long and too short.  Too long because I'm still struggling with a heavy heart and looking for a little direction in life and too short because I don't want to go back to work (ok, I'm sure very few people want to go back to work!). I find it so frustrating to know what I want but no clue on how to get it!!!  Especially when other people are involved!  Learning that I can't control others has been one that has taken a long time to learn!!!

It was an extremely cold weekend which lent itself to a perfect time to stitch.  I spent a majority of Saturday snuggled on the couch with Duke stitching away on Dragon Knot. Sunday I was able to spend a little bit of time stitching but not as much as Saturday.  I attended a babyshower for an old family friend.  It was nice to see childhood friends from the old neighborhood.  We so rarely see each other except at life events like this. 

Well I am off to finish laundry for the week and put some more time into stitching.  The stitching is much needed therapy at this time!