I think I might be in a stitching slump. I'm not sure though. I've been so busy lately, I don't know if it's really a slump, or I'm just too tired when I do have a few minutes to stitch.
I did stitch two ornaments for Tobi's teachers. I did Apples 25 Cents by Hob Nobb Designs on Crystal Carnival Cashel linen from Picture This Plus. I finished them as mat board ornaments. Of course I didn't start them until the Sunday night before school got out for the holidays. The last day was a Wednesday, so I was up until two that morning to make sure I got them done in time. So that's why no pictures. By the time I got them done, all I wanted to do was sleep. They loved them though.
I did pick up two frames. First I got Happy Hoppers by Lizzie Kate back. It's stitched on 28 ct. Spring Cashel linen from Picture This Plus, which came with the kit. I stitched it up over a year ago for my niece. Her birthday was last week, so I'll give it to her next time I see her. I'll probably never know if she likes it. She's such a little snot at the moment. I'm sure part of it is her age (eleven now), but she gets away with way to much. She calls her mom fat, and she is always rude. Last time I saw her, we were all at my mom's. They were getting ready to leave, and she said to here mom, who didn't hear her, "Come on! Just stop talking already!" I got so mad, that I pulled her aside and told her she needed to be nicer to her mother; she was being just plain mean, for no reason at all. It wasn't like she had anything planned to do. She was gonna go home and watch cartoons. She was better for the rest of the time they were there, but I doubt it lasted until they get home. I could understand if she was just mean and pissy one week a month, but it is every freaking day! After they left, I apologized to my mom, for anytime I was ever that bad.
Back to framing stuff though. I also got back The Time I Spend Stitching by Dragon Dreams. I think this one is on Mulberry Cashel linen by Zweigart. I brought it to show my mom, and she loved it. I also showed it to my grandma. I brought In Every Nest at the same time. Her response was, "Wow! Those are bright colors!"
I'm thinking next I'm gonna finish Kitty Love. Maybe a quick finish is what I need. I was going to work on Pirate for the Mermaid SAL on the HAED board, but then the weekend kinda exploded on me.
Last Friday, I took Darin to the doctor, because he had had a cold, and the cough just wouldn't go away. The doctor said it was asthma. The doctor had to give him a nebulizer treatment before we left though, because Darin couldn't take a deep enough breath for him to be sure. They make dinosaur masks for kids to wear. They let Darin keep his, since they can't reuse them.
So this Friday, we had to go back, to make sure the medicine was working. Meanwhile, Jymi tells me he also has a family history with asthma. I didn't know this, because neither he nor his sister have it. So when we went back to the doctor, I told him this. He said he was going to put Darin on a inhaled steroid, since he had so many risk factors. He also needed the inhaler more often than he should.
We go back in another two weeks to make sure he's doing better. Then, they're also going to do a blood test to see if the animals are triggers. The doctor doesn't think so, though, or we would've found out about the asthma sooner, since we've always had cats. Which is good, since the cats, especially Hannah, are kinda his. The upside to this, is now Jymi will finally quit smoking and not start again. He has been trying to quit for about a month now, and this has given him extra incentive. It also gives him a very good reason not to start again. For some reason, "It's bad for your health," and, "I don't want to lose you," have not been good enough reasons. Now, "It could cause Darin to have an asthma attack," is working. That may be an exaggeration; I'm still learning details, but Jymi's as ignorant on the subject as I am, and if it keeps him quitting, I'll keep exaggerating. The ends justify the means kinda thing.
So we spent the second Friday in a row at the doctor's in the morning and at the pharmacist in the afternoon. While doing the basics, the doctor said Darin had fluid in his ears. If they weren't infected yet, they would be the next day. So we also had to get him an antibiotic. It was fun trying to get him to take it, too. The doctor had given him an oral medicine for his asthma the visit before, which evidently tasted very bad. He screamed when he saw the new red bottle, after I promised him no more of the nasty one. Once I held him down and got him to take it, it wasn't a problem anymore. This one, I guess tastes much better. The pharmacy was out of the inhaler the doctor prescribed though. So we had to go back today to get it. Did I mention we use the pharmacy at Target? That was fun. NOT! We've got it now, though.
Saturday, we were supposed to go to Jymi's dad's family's Christmas party. I woke up at three in the morning, sick though. So when they showed up, I let them take the boys, and I stayed home. After a couple hours, I called my mom, and asked her to bring me some popsicles. She did, along with lots of other easy to make foods, in case I wasn't feeling up to cooking when the boys got home. I was feeling better by the time the boys got home though. It was short lived.
Around eight, Tobi came out of my room, screaming his head off, saying his ear hurt. So I got dressed, and we went to the urgent care center. After two and a half hours, we were finally seen. The first hour, Tobi screamed nonstop, because he was in so much pain. When we did see the doctor, he was very nice. He talked to Tobi, and asked him about his Wolfie he'd brought. He also listened while Darin told him how his ears were sick, too, and he had to take orange medicine. The doctor said both Tobi's ears were infected, and gave us a prescription. By then, it was eleven, four hours past Darin's bedtime, and three hours past Tobi's. So we went home, and Saturday morning it was back to the pharmacy. Tobi got a different medicine though.
I've got all the presents wrapped now. I've also got to open the present Jymi ordered me. He wasn't sure he'd get Christmas off, and he wanted to see me open it. So we put on the webcams, and he watched me open my pink sapphire and diamond heart necklace. It's gorgeous!
I feel kinda bad, since Jymi doesn't have any presents to open. I already sent him his, and he's already opened them. He says he's okay, but I'm getting the impression he's a little down. It is late, too though. It's already Christmas there. We'll make it up to him when he gets home though. Only a few more months. It's more than halfway through.
Anyway. That's plenty for today. Maybe I'll get a few stitches in Kitty Love after dinner. Happy holidays! Peace on Earth, and goodwill to all!

Labels: Framing, HAED, Holidays, Jymi, Kids, Kitty Love, Real Life

I did finish all the wallpaper on the first page, but by the time I finished, was ready to move on. So for the whole SAL, I only got in about five hundred stitches.
I'm not sure what to work on next. Starting in October, I'm going to work on Tobi's stocking exclusively, so I may go ahead and start working on it.
Believe it or not, I haven't bought anything in a week. I haven't started anything in two weeks! I must be sick or something. Of course, I'm considering another new star when I finish Tobi's stocking. Darin loves penguins, so I bought The Magic Place a while back. Since I've got a Schimmel started for Tobi, and I'll be starting one for my dad, I might as well start Darin's too. Plus I've got Merlin And Arthur started for Jymi. That way I'll have something for everyone. It won't be much longer before I never have to start another project again! of course, I will anyway, but that's beside the point.

Labels: HAED, Ruby QS, Tobi's Stocking

Here's my weekend progress on Ruby! I got in almost eight hundred stitches! Right now, my plan is to keep working on it for the rest of the month, but I'm not great with plans.
I can't remember if I mentioned it before, but Earth Song, which I started because I thought Jymi'd like it, has now also been claimed by Tobi and my dad. My dad is a big Schimmel fan. I've been thinking about it, and I've decided to keep Earth Song here, for Tobi and Jymi. Instead, I'll stitch Only One Home for my dad instead. He loves tigers, too, so he'll still like it. Plus, it's relatively small for a HAED. He stitches a little, but he says he can't see well enough to stitch over one. I suggested Schimmel to HAED, and they sent me a copy of the email the sent to his representation. I forwarded it to my dad, and sent him a link when the charts were first put on the site. He bought Tobi some of Schimmel's children's books when we lived with him. I looked through one the other day (they'd been packed up in the box with the grown up books when we moved), and saw Earth Song! There were several others I'd love to see charted, but I can't find any of them online.
I showed my grandma one of the HAEDs I had started, and she doesn't ask about my cross stitch anymore. Now she calls it my "fancy work." She likes to see what I've done, since she can't sew anymore herself. Her arthritis is so bad, she can't even thread a needle anymore.
I got to talk to Jymi everyday this weekend! At regular times too, not at two in the morning. I sent him a box full of stuff, and when I told him what they were, I couldn't believe what excited him most. I sent him Kool Aid singles to put in his water and Rice Krispie Treats. Never mind the stuff he had told me he needed or the DVDs, he was getting Kool Aid and cookies! The DVDs, by the way, were cartoons (The Simpsons and Family Guy). I always thought my mom was kidding when she told me men never grow up.
I've found a great new way to get some good exercise. I took Darin to the park after dropping Tobi off at school. The park has a mile and a half trail. I took Darin for a walk before going to the playground. He walked for about half a mile, then his legs got tired. So for the next mile, I gave him a piggyback ride. Talk about having a monkey on your back! That was the best work out I've had in a long time! The half mile Darin walked on his own served as a nice warm up, too. After the walk, Darin payed on the playground for about an hour, while I rested. Once we got home, Darin went straight to bed for a nap until it was time to go pick up Tobi. We've done this twice now, and I'm definitely gonna make this a regular thing!

Labels: Earth Song, HAED, Jymi, Kids, Ruby QS

I've been stitching, but I've been having issues with the printer/scanner. I finally gave up on Angel Of Capricorn for the moment. The colors are pretty, but it's more confetti than I want to deal with right now.
I started Dragonfly Quick Stitch. It was another big block of black, like Earth Song, so it was nice and easy. It looks funny up close, but from a distance, you can start to see the picture.
For once I didn't start something new. I pulled out Ruby again. I've only put in two lengths of thread though, so it's not enough for a picture. Soon though. Emerald was just released, and everytime she releases the next in the series, I get the urge to stitch on Ruby again.
Life's been hectic. We're all feeling better Tobi's on his second "girlfriend" at school. Darin got better, but he's feeling worse today. He went to the doctor last week for his check up. He got three shots, and I think this is just from those. They said he was in the fiftieth percentile for height, but only the tenth for weight. They said not to worry; he's just like Jymi, tall and scrawny. After a few minutes with him, the doctor went to get his shots. She came back with an extra nurse. After that little bit of time with Darin, she knew she'd need some extra help to hold him down. They also told me his iron was low, and ordered some blood work.
The next day, I was planning to take him to the lab, but the car overheated while taking Tobi to school. So we spent the day at my mom's, waiting for them to finish. They said I needed a new radiator, and it would take, at most, three hours. That was at ten. They called me at FIVE! That was after I'd called twice to see if it was ready. I am proud of Tobi's school though. My mom took us to pick him up, and when the helpers told the teachers Tobi's ride was there, they held him back, saying, "No, that's not Tobi's car." I had to get out and show them it was Tobi's mom, even if it wasn't Tobi's car. I love his school.

Labels: Angel Of Capricorn, Dragonfly QS, HAED, New Starts, Real Life Sucks, Ruby QS

It was a wonderful four days. We spent Sunday with his family. It was outside, and very hot, but still fun. Jymi said he didn't want to spend everyday with his parents, but I didn't really think he meant it. On Monday, though, they called, asking us to dinner. We had just sat down though, so we didn't go.
They kept hinting at doing something Tuesday, but he kept telling them we were going to the movies. We saw The Simpsons (very funny, if nonsensical, like the show) and Harry Potter (after seeing it the second time, I've decided it was pretty disappointing; there's nothing to except the battle at the end). Then we bought Darin's birthday presents, and brought them home. When we got home, Jymi's parents called his cell. He knew they wanted us to go to dinner again, and didn't answer. They called the house phone, my cell, and Jymi's cell again before giving up. Jymi waited until we went to Dairy Queen before the last movie, at eight, before calling them back. He wanted to talk to them about Darin's birthday, but not in person. After DQ, we saw The Bourne Ultimatum. It probably would've made more sense if I could remember anything from the first two.
After that we came home, and wrapped presents while we watched Shaun Of The Dead (the best zombie movie EVER!). We had watched Hot Fuzz (also very good) a few days earlier, and it put me in the mood to watch Shaun. You almost have to watch them together; they sorta play off each other.
Yesterday was Darin's birthday. My "baby" turned four! We had pizza and cake at my mom's. Darin had a blast, and got a ton of presents. Then we had pizza for dinner at Jymi's aunt's. He had fun and got even more presents. I think I will spend the rest of my life picking up puzzle pieces and Hot Wheels. He also got some cash, which was his favorite present. He didn't want anyone else to touch his "dollars".
I took him to Target to spend it after we said good bye to Jymi this morning. Afterward we went to my mom's for awhile. I didn't want to go home. I'm still not sure I want to be here. I did decided to treat myself to Selina Fenech's QS Dragonfly. When I downloaded it, though, it was the wrong QS Dragonfly. That'll be fixed soon though. I decided to start it for the new start SAL on the HAED board later this month. Like I need a new project!

Labels: Family, HAED, Jymi, Kids, Movies, Stash

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'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

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

This is the beginning of Ruby QS. It seems a little odd working on a quick stitch. I can already see the pattern in the wallpaper and the gold work. This one is four full pages and five partials. I'm putting it away now, and starting Dragon Soul later today.
There was another sale at Heaven And Earth Designs last weekend. This time I bought Beckon, Cascade, Goddess Of Tides, and Lotus Wood. I've decided I have to have all of Jonathon Earl Bowser's Mythic Naturalism series. I also think I should go ahead and start them all, too. I will start Cascade as soon as I get the fabric. It's 400x948, so if I'm gonna get halfway done before I die, I figure I'd better start now. So I'll buy a yard of fabric first of the month. I told Jymi what I wanted to do, and how big Cascade is. He said as long as it made me happy and we had enough money, he didn't care. He did tell me he thought I was insane for starting something that big, but he knew I was insane when we got married.
Before I started Ruby, I did finish the ground on Snow Fence. I'll start Sweetheart Fence when I need a break from the over one.
Here's last week's SBQ. How do you store your WIPs and other projects that you have kitted up? All my projects live in Ziploc bags, in my cross stitch cart. Although my wip drawers are getting too full with all my new starts. I'm gonna have to do something else with them soon.
Tomorrow is Jymi's birthday. We put a package in the mail for him Monday, with his birthday presents in it. It should get there today, but they're going out in the field again, so he won't get it until they come back. He's not allowed to take his phone either, so I can't even tell him happy birthday.
I'm starting to get anxious about Tobi starting school. I'm not sure why. I think part of it is my dad. He keeps calling and asking what Tobi's gonna need. Kathy knows already, but her kids are going to a different school. Tobi's school doesn't send out all that stuff until mid-July. Plus, since this is his first year, and we have enough money, I kinda want to take Tobi to the store and get everything myself. I guess it's silly, but this is the first time I get to do it. Just another piece of my insanity, I guess.

Labels: HAED, Jymi, Kids, Ruby QS, SBQ, Snow Fence, Stash