I don't have any new stitching to show right now. Cascade is still on my Q-Snaps, but it's being neglected at the moment. I've spent almost all of the last two days cleaning, and when I did have time to sit down, I didn't want to have to think. My sleeping patterns are now totally out of whack. I go to bed at two and get up at eleven. So I've been getting up, making brunch, and spending two hours cleaning the boys' room. I should finish today, the third day of working on it. It's been quite a while since I REALLY cleaned in there. After I'd finished on the boys' room, I've had to wash dishes and make dinner. Not long after dinner, it's time to get the boy's ready for bed. Once I get their room done, I'm gonna clean the rest of the house, too. Hopefully I'll get it done before Jymi gets home.
Once the boys go to bed, I've been reading. I'm still rereading Harry Potter, and I'm about halfway through Goblet Of Fire. I can only read after the boys go to bed, though. I can stitch for five minutes, go do something for them, come back and stitch for another five minutes, and so on. I can't do that when I'm reading. I don't need quiet, but I don't like to be interrupted either. So reading goes much slower now that I can't go in the bedroom and lock Jymi and the boys out.
Now for SBQs. Do you consider yourself a “floss miser?” A little, but not nearly as much as I used to. When Jymi and I first moved in together, I'd stitch till the very end of a thread, and then do three more stitches. We just didn't have the money to buy more thread, so I made it go as far as I could. Now, I still use all the thread, but I stop with alot more left than I used to. Does that make sense? Probably not.
What do you love to do that many people hate? What do you hate to do, but do anyway?
I like working with metallic braid. I discovered Thread Heaven, which helped so much! I do still hate blending filament, though. I also hate lazy daisies and any kind of knot.
Which project (finished or in progress) are you most proud of? Explain why.
Right now, it's Cascade. It's going to be beautiful, and huge. If I ever finish it, I will have to throw a party to celebrate. Of course, I'll be eighty by then. That will probably change with my next project, though.
Have you ever thought of getting a rider on your household insurance to properly cover your stash (some of us have quite an extensive stash that an average household policy wouldn't fully cover) in the case of some sort of damage to your house that would destroy/ruin charts, fabrics, floss, etc?
No, because, um, I don't have any household insurance. I know, bad, but we can barely pay all the bills normally. It just doesn't seem like a good idea to add another one. When we buy a house (hopefully soon), will definitely get insurance. I may do it then though.
Now my mom has a cross stitch quilt that she has had insured. Before I was born, the other nurses where she worked each stitched a Precious Moments block, and then they had it sewn into a quilt. One of the ladies (I don't know if it was Gloria or Pat), was at the cross stitch store my mom went to then. She took it and showed her. She suggested the insurance, since it would've cost her over a thousand dollars to have a model stitcher do all that, and have it quilted. That was in the eighties, too.
My July goals were: work on Tobi's stocking and 900 stitches each on Pirate, Cascade, and Angel Of Capricorn. I did everything except start Angel Of Capricorn. I also worked on seven other projects this month.
My August goals are more new starts. I want to start: Angel Of Capricorn, Earth Song, and Wizard Of Oz. I also need to pick a project to stitch in line in the car when I go pick Tobi up from school. I'll probably take book until I finish rereading Harry Potter though, so no rush.
In non-stitchy goals, I want to Darin to have a happy birthday (eight more days), enjoy all of Jymi's visit, even the time spent with in-laws, and make it through Tobi's first day of school without crying. My mom and my sister are already making plans. I also need to survive the next few days. They're going to be very busy with trying to get everything clean. Today I will finish the boys' room, clean the kitchen, and give the boys baths. Tomorrow I'm cleaning the living room, taking the boys to get haircuts, and number of other boring errands. Every time I think about everything I have to do, it just overwhelms me. Deep breath. One thing at a time.

Labels: Books, Cascade, Goals, Jymi, Kids, Real Life Sucks, SBQ

For the first time in almost a year, I worked on Avatar. I got alot done on the clouds. I finally got all the half stitches done, and the whole stitches done in the same color! Next time, I'll finish the clouds, but for now it's put away for another year.
I also started Garden Fence. I love Weeks Dye Works Envy! It's the most gorgeous shades of green I have ever seen!
I got my fabric in last week. I started Cascade! This is the ultimate big ass project! The fabric is 21 inches by 40! I've got several hundred stitches in already. The first day went slow, since it was fifteen shades of brown, and all confetti. After that it was alot of black, and it's gone alot faster. I am loving this piece!
Jymi comes home in one more week! I am so excited! We decided not to tell the boys; just to surprise them. Jymi's planning to buy a teddy bear or something to bring home to them. He just finished emergency medical training. He seemed to really enjoy it, and is now considering becoming an EMT when he comes home. This morning he sent me a text saying he'd gotten promoted, too. He's pretty happy at the moment. I can't wait until he gets home!

Labels: Avatar, Cascade, Garden Fence, HAED, Jymi

I worked on The Castle a little bit. I got bored quick though. I stitched some greenery, and after a day, I put it away.
Then I started Sweetheart Fence. I finished the ground, and put it away, too. Now I'm working on Avatar again. My fabric for Cascade should come in Monday. Another new start!
I got my new Harry Potter book today. I'm not ready to read it yet, though. I'm still rereading the first six. I'm taking my time, and I'm a few chapters into Prisoner Of Azkaban. I'm not in a hurry for it to be over, despite the desperate desire to know what happens next. Problem is, I can't talk to my sister or do much online until I finish it. I'll get there though.
I took Tobi to the new movie Wednesday. He wasn't scared really, but one particular scene that made him jump two inches in the air. I'm sure anyone who's seen it knows what it was. He didn't get upset, though. I don't think he even blinked! He loved it, but I don't think he understood everything going on. I think I enjoyed it, too. I won't know for sure until I see it again.
I will, though, when Jymi comes home. We're planning to spend a whole day at the movie theater. Jymi wants to see Harry Potter, The Simpsons, and Bourne Ultimatum while he's home. I think we'll see Bourne last, so I can't go to sleep if I want. I'd love to see Harry Potter again, and I'm dying to see The Simpsons, but I couldn't care less about Bourne. I knew Jymi was dying to see it, though, and it comes out the day before he gets home. It's only two more weeks until Jymi comes home! He's counting down the days, and I've got it marked on a every calender, and a calender in every room.
Darin once went up to Jymi, looked at him, said, "You're not mommy," and walked away. It reminded me of the old TV show Dinosaurs. I used to love it when I was little, so I added it to their Netflix list. They got it last weekend, and loved it! So I bought it for them. They've watched the whole set, and Tobi and I are currently watching the second disc. Most of the shows I've rented that I watched when I was little now suck. I actually called to apologize to my mom after watching an episode of Pee Wee's Playhouse. Dinosaurs is still hilarious though. I've really enjoyed watching it again, and realizing all the "grown-up jokes" I never got. Stuff about environmentalism and the difficulties of trying to raise a family. I still love that baby!

Labels: Books, Jymi, Movies, New Starts, Stash, Sweetheart Fence, The Castle

This Jymi's reaction when I explained to him why Darin spent Friday night at Grandma's. After all the errands I had to do (see my last post), I went to pick up the boys from my mom's. When I got there, my sister and her kids were visiting, too. Darin had been crabby for about a week, and threw himself on the floor, screaming, because we made him share the toys. I tried to calm him down, but I couldn't. My sister picked him up and rocked him for a few minutes, and of course he fell right to sleep.
I felt like such a bad mother, that I started crying, too. They told me I was a good mother, just over stressed. They also said part of it was his age. They reminded me that Tobi had been just as obnoxious about everything a couple years ago. My mom told me about calling Grandma when I was Darin's age, and threw a tantrum that lasted two days over a video tape. Grandma had told her, "When you were that age, I also had your brother, and another one on the way!" At that, my sister and I both said, "Poor Grandma!"
Darin fell asleep around six. We all had dinner, and at eight, my mom suggested I just let Darin spend the night, since he hadn't moved since Kathy put him down. So Tobi and I went home. We both slept twelve hours that night, and the three of us were happy to see each other the next day. My mom said the first thing Darin said when he woke up was, "Where's Tobi?"
I've been working on Kitty Love. I've gone as far as I can until I get the color I'm missing. There's not much left to it.
I've got The Castle on my Q-Snaps now. I'll work on it next for a couple days.
Tobi has a pre-screening test for kindergarten at school. They're testing to see what each specific child needs to focus on during the next year. I had to reschedule Tobi's though, since they scheduled his test for Jymi's last day home. I explained the situation, and they said it was no problem. I know I shouldn't worry, because Tobi's very smart, and it's just to see what he needs to work on, but I'm still a little nervous about it. Wish us luck!

Labels: Jymi, Kids, Kitty Love, Real Life Sucks, The Castle

I've started Oriental Courage, but with just black thread, I got bored kinda fast. So I also started Kitty Love by Dinky Dyes Designs. I'm really enjoying this one, but I need one more color. I need another skein of another color for a different project, so I'll order those soon. I hate to just order two skeins of thread, and there aren't any shops nearby that carry Dinky Dyes.
Speaking of Dinky Dyes, look what I got as part of my model payment! All the new Dinky Dyes silks! I especially love Black Opal and Parrot Fish! Bright colors! I also got all the new Cross Eyed Kat designs, and a quarter yard of Picture This Plus Legacy linen. I'm think With Cat For Comforter would look great on the Legacy, and my grandmother would love it. Not to mention the fact that I can't wait to start it!
Of course, I would've been much happier about this package if it weren't for what happened just before the mail came. A debt collection agency called asking for James, saying he owed $1800 on an insurance policy he canceled! After freaking out and crying on the phone, the person I talked to said she'd email the records. I had no idea about any of this! When I looked at the email, the "James" on the paperwork had a different last name. I called the person I had talked to, and told her this. She asked if we lived at the address she had listed, and it wasn't us. So that was a small heart attack over a wrong number.
I get a day off from the boys today. I'm getting new shoes, which I've needed since April. Jymi wants me to send him a PSP, and getting that, packing it, and going to the post office will be so much easier without the boys! Afterwards, my mom is making homemade chicken noodle soup! I mean homemade, too. She makes the noodles herself! I know how, but Jymi and Tobi won't eat it. It's too much work for just me and Darin. The last time I made them, Darin was only two months old, and Tobi was two years old. When I turned away, Tobi tried to feed his noodles to Darin! Which would've been fine, if Darin had been ready to eat solid foods! So when my mom makes it for us, it is really special!
I have also paid all the bills, on time, for the first time on over a year! I'm alot more excited about that than is probably normal, but it is a big deal to me. Not to mention the power company found the $200 payment they lost.
I also bought more HAEDs. They're discontinuing some of their artists, and they were on sale. So I bought Life Force and Love And Magic. I couldn't just buy two charts, though. I'm a little embarrassed to admit how many I bought, but please keep in mind, I was VERY happy about paying off all the bills. Plus new stash and new starts are helping to keep me off antidepressants for a while. That being said, I also bought Matrix, River Genesis, Riddle Fisher, Hansel And Gretel, Wizard Of Oz, Earth Song, Magic Place, and Warmth Of Home. I think I have a problem.

Labels: Courage, Family, HAED, Kids, Kitty Love, New Starts, Real Life Sucks, Stash

I finished the castle last night. It took me awhile though. I think it was almost midnight when I put it down. Time to move now. I'm going to start Courage today. I gridded the fabric last night. The blue pen doesn't show up as well on the red fabric as it does on the white. I think it will be well worth it though. I should be very pretty on the red. It should also go much faster. I may actually finish this one!
Jymi survived yesterday. He said it was even worse than he anticipated, but he did well. He texted me at three to tell me it was over. When I talked to him at nine, he was still "recovering". He was also exhausted, since he didn't sleep well from worrying. Hopefully, he'll never have to do it again.
The new Harry Potter comes out today. I can't wait to see it. One more week for us. Of course part of the reason I'm so eager is just for some time away from Darin. I need a break from both boys, but that will have to be another day. I'll have to have someone else watch the boys while I get Darin's birthday presents, so I guess I can have a day to myself then. I don't know how single parents do it.

Labels: Courage, HAED, Jymi, Jymi's Stocking, Kids, Movies, New Starts

I've been working on Jymi's stocking. I don't like this one when I pick it up, but after about twenty minutes, it's not so bad. I should be able to finish the castle today. That is, if I have enough energy. I have to wrestle my kids to the grocery store. I think wrestling alligators would be easier, and much less painful. I'll bet they wouldn't ask for M&Ms, either.
I'm worried about Jymi today. He's going to have a very rough day of training. Last night, he was panicking about it. The more upset he got, the more I worried about him.
Not much else to say. Our life is kinda boring right now. The boys are fine. They spend their days driving me crazy, but it's a short trip. Jymi asks me everyday how many more day until he gets to come home, since he can never remember. I had to send him directions. It never occurred to him or his friend that neither of them has ever driven to Mississippi before, so they don't know how to get home. Darin picked out his birthday cake. We'll get present next payday. That's about it!

Labels: Jymi, Jymi's Stocking, Kids

Okay, not really. I have finished the wagon on Tobi's stocking. It only takes me a couple days to get sick of this one. If it's not done by October, I'll put everything else away and finish it. There's not really that much, but it just drives me nuts!
I'm going to work on Jymi's stocking next. I'm gonna try to finish the picture of the castle before moving on, but no promises.
I bought some more charts. There's a big shock, huh? HAED had a Fourth Of July sale, and I decided I'd only buy two charts this time. That lasted until the next morning when I decided on two more. I also bought a story keep last night, too. I'm done now, though, until the next sale. I bought Angel Of Capricorn, Isis, The Awakening, Forest Light, and Oriental Courage.
I'll start Courage when I get sick of Jymi's stocking. I'm just going to stitch the black on a piece of Picture This Plus Crystal Phoenix I already have. I think it's the perfect shade of red, and then I may actually finish a HAED in this lifetime! I considered doing Strength for Jymi, since he likes dragons with wings more than Asian dragons, but I don't think he'd use it. He doesn't read much anymore. Even when he was home, he hasn't really read a book in awhile. He never had the time, and when he did, he didn't want to have to use his brain. Maybe I'll do it for my niece, Alex. I know she'd love it, and she reads constantly.
I added two tickers to the top of my blog. I'm so excited about Jymi coming home, and he is, too. Last night he said he'd been down all day, just wishing he was here. Jymi is not flying home now. His friend Paul, who lives about ten minutes away from us is renting a car, and they're going to ride together. That way they can leave as soon as they're set free. They'll get here sooner, and be able to stay longer. Jymi's decided while he's here, he wants to have a party for Darin's birthday, see Harry Potter, and get a new tattoo if we have the money. Since he's not flying and I don't have to buy a plane ticket, we just may. He just wants something small. I want Selina Fenech's Motherhood. I want to make her tail blue, and her hair brown, though. We'll see. Other than Darin's party and the movie, we're just gonna play it by ear.
Tobi and I are still going to see Harry Potter a week after it comes out though. I have the perfect attention span to watch movies again and again. Again, I'm figuring if I wait until it's been out a week, and take Tobi to the first show on Wednesday morning, there won't be as many people. Jymi understands.

Labels: HAED, Jymi, Jymi's Stocking, Kids, Movies, New Starts, Stash, tattoos, Tobi's Stocking

My June goal was just to stitch and enjoy it. Done!
I put my July goals up on the HAED board, and the first one was to put at least 900 stitches in Pirate. I did that today. I want to start Cascade and Angel Of Capricorn this month. I also want to work on Tobi's stocking some. I'll start stitching on that tomorrow. I've ordered fabric for the other two, but it's not here yet.
I bought Tobi a backpack today. We don't have his full supplies list, but I know he'll need a bookbag. Darin is very jealous. I promised him next payday we'd get him one, too. We also picked up a few other basics: pencils, a sharpener, and a notebook. Both Tobi and I are excited and nervous about his first day. That's all for now. Have a safe and happy Independence Day!

Labels: Goals, Kids, Pirate