Progress Reports

Just to let everyone know, I have been stitching, just not much. Having a 10-week old kitten the house really takes up a lot of my time, you know! :) Also, I lost some of my stitching mojo in June, but it's slowly returning.

But first, let's start with a finish! Yes, I said a finish!


Blessed are the Pure chartpack by Little House Needleworks

Here are the first two seasonal saltboxes together. I'll be starting the next square on Saturday.



Caroline by Miss Crescent's Crowne has been my lunchtime stitching project since the beginning of June! Needless to say, I don't do much stitching at lunch or I'd be done by now, but it's been a fun stitch anyway.


Lastly, Evergreen by Blackbird Designs. Have I ever mentioned that I've never stitched a BBD without having to frog??? Well, it's true and the pattern continues with this one. I have to frog the entire left vine, leaves, and flowers on this thing because I'm missing one row of stitches!! I tried to figure out a way to work around it, but it'll throw off the entire design, so out it will come. :( Phooey! Phooey! Double dog phooey!


The Tumbleweed is adjusting well in his new home. He's still in the front bedroom, but today we put the screen door up, so he's got free roam of the room and he can see the girls and they can see him, but they can't touch each other (I hope!). He's enjoying his freedom, but spends most of his day napping under the bed. He loves to play in between naps. He's still a little unsure of the humans, but he'll come out when we talk to him, but any quick or unexpected move on our part sends him skittering away. We've decided that we'll have to continue to socialize him and just take it nice and easy with him. Some of that skittish behavior may go away or subside when he begins the integration process with our girlie cats.

Forward Progress and Staying on Task

Last night was Saturday Night Stitch and I worked on my LHN Seasonal Saltbox project. I am happy to report that I made much more progress this Saturday than last Saturday! I got in about 2.5 hours while watching all kinds of winter games and cheering the US team on to victory. (DH doesn't like it when I cheer loudly, so I have to contain my excitement. LOL)

Here's where I started...


And here's where I stopped, after watching Lindsey Vonn and Apolo Anton Ohno win bronze medals in their respective sports, as well as watching the men's bobsledding heats on that very, very fast track!



This year with my stitching, I'm trying something new. Since I stitch on several projects each month, I like to record my time (just to see where it's going), and I have goals I'd like to meet I'm trying to do a better job on keeping organized. I have a terrible habit of setting goals, posting them, and then going off and doing something totally different! My stitching friend, Mary, does something similar, so I'm really borrowing her idea and then tweaking it to suit me and my personality.

First of all, I found some free calendars on the internet I could download. I found them at Graphic Garden and you can download the entire year at once or by the month. I know there are tons of other sites you can get calendars from, so do a search and find something that works for you. I like these because they have nice big blocks and room to write notes at the bottom or top of the calendar.

After printing off the calendar, I then pencil in what I'm going to work on for each week. Saturdays are SNS night and Sundays are usually my day for stitching on my incentive project. When I'm in between incentive projects, I stitch on one of my WIPs. For example, the last incentive round has finished and the next one starts the end of March, so on Sundays I'll be stitching on Quaker Friendship Sampler, which hasn't seen the light of day in who knows how long! One week is usually for an ornament, and if I'm involved in any exchanges, that goes on there as well. The rest of the weeks are either projects from the WIPs pile or something new. At the bottom of the calendar, I write my monthly goals. When I sit down stitch, I start my little hot pink stopwatch/timer. When I get up, I stop it, if I remember! At the end of the night, I record my day's time on the calendar, then I reset the timer for the next day. (Yeah, I always remember this part! NOT! LOL) Here's what my calendar for February looks like. You can click the pic to see it in all it's detail.



You will notice that it's not the neatest thing in the world, but it works!

This week in my little stitching world, I'll finish up my colours exchange piece and move onto my Jan. 1st piece, which I should be able to knock out before the end of the month!

:>)

Wordless Wednesday 2/17/10

It's the Start of a New Week!

And I'm feeling immensely better! It's amazing what cough syrup with codeine can do for a good night's sleep! LOL I'm sure the antibiotic my doctor prescribed for my sinus infection is helping some, too. Now, if the mountain cedar would just go away, I'd be able to truly get well. I hate that stuff!

So, the Saints are going to the Super Bowl! Woohoo! So proud to see a team that's never been in the Super Bowl advance to that all important game. I hope the beat the tar out of the Colts! Honestly, the Colts have a GREAT team and Peyton Manning will no doubt be in the Hall of Fame someday, but really, it's time for some new faces in the Super Bowl. Geaux Saints!!!!

This past week was a stressful one, plus I didn't feel well, so my stitching time was minimal. I started my January ornie, "Joy", a complimentary design from Lilybet Designs. I've been working on this during my lunch/dinner time at work.


I'm stitching this on a scrap of 28 ct. Vintage Autumn Fields linen, using DMC, CCs, and GAST.

On Saturday, I worked on my SNS project, LHN's Seasonal Saltbox series. Got the main body of my house "painted" and started on the flowers in the border.


Yesterday, during the Saints v. Vikings game, I stitched on my incentive piece, "Give". My plan is to work on this at home during the evenings. I'm so close to a finish, that I've got to get it done!


In other news, my potatoes have been taken out of the box and are getting ready to plant. I've only got about 2 more weeks!! They're starting to grow eyes. The Kennebecs seem to be growing the slowest, but they're also the biggest potatoes, so maybe that's why. We have also added onion sets. I absolutely LOVE onions! We have 3 sets of 1015Y ("THE" Texas sweet yellow onion) and 2 sets of Red Burgundy, a red onion. I'm thinking of going back and getting a bunch of the white onions they had.

These are the Kennebecs. Come on babies, you can sprout!

The Reds and Purple Vikings are doing great!

The Banana Fingerlings are going like gangbusters. I even have one that reminds me of a walrus! LOL

The onions awaiting their permanent home in the garden. I've put them in a pan of dirt and then I water them about every other day.

Sunday Updates & So Long Cowboys

This past week has been an interesting one. I've managed to come down with either a cold or a sinus infection that's really worn me out. I've been trying some herbal remedies, which are helping, but I have an appointment scheduled for Tuesday with my doctor for the high powered drug if I'm not feeling 100% better. My boss is leaving on Tuesday for a 2 week vacation with his family at Disney, so I can't afford to be sick and miss work.

This past week, I've been spending my limited stitching time on my January 1st piece, Have a Heart by Val's Stuff. I'm really loving the way this is coming together. I won't finish him this month most likely, but I will finish him next month.


Last night during my SNS time, I tried to work on LHN's Seasonal Saltbox series piece. I just could NOT keep my eyes open, so I ended up throwing in the towel after 35 minutes and heading to bed. Here's my itty bit of progress.



Football season is officially over for me. Don't get me wrong, I'll be watching the Super Bowl, but my Boys fell out of the running today in a shameful loss to the Minnesota Vikings. I will be rooting for the Saints next weekend against the Vikings. It was a great season for the Cowboys, though. Winning in December, winning their division, and winning a post-season playoff game is nothing to be ashamed of. They are a great group of young players, so be looking for us to tear up the league next year!

How 'bout them Cowboys?!? (& some Progress Pics)

Woohoo!! I am one happy Cowboys fan today! In a game full of penalties, The Boys defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 34-14 last night (for the 3rd time this season) to win the NFC East wild card playoff game!! It's been 13 long, dry years since we've had a playoff win. This Dallas team is a special group of men and are playing excellent ball. If they can keep it together, stay healthy, stay mentally focused, and stay a cohesive unit, then I can see them going all the way to the Super Bowl.

On one of the message boards to which I belong, every Saturday we have Saturday Stitch Night (SNS). We post our before and after pics, so everyone who participates can see our progress. Last night while watching the Cowboys whoop the snot out of the Eagles, I stitched on the LHN Seasonal Saltbox design, "Blessed are the Pure in Heart". It's kinda hard to watch the game, cheer for your team and stitch at the same time, but I managed a great amount of progress.

Here's where I started:


And here's where I stopped after 3 hours and 5 mins of stitching (& cheering) time:


This past Friday, I got about an hour in on my Jan. 1st piece, "Have a Heart" by Val's Stitching. Of course, I started by frogging, but I didn't have as much to frog as I had anticipated. I've decided this is going to be my project for this coming week.


Today, I'll be stitching on my incentive piece, "Give" by Plum Street Samplers, so be looking for an update in the coming days. Until then, stay warm!

:o)

Happy Reformation Day!

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted his "95 Theses" on the church door at Wittenburg, Germany which was his disputation against the Pope and the selling of indulgences to pay for the rebuilding of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. To say that Luther was a revolutionary is an understatement. The Lutheran Church is a direct result of his break with the Roman Catholic Church. Most other Protestant denominations can also trace their beginnings to the Protestant Reformation.

To read more about the Reformation and Reformation Day, visit these sites.

Wikipedia

Question & Answers about the Reformation

Sunday School Lessons

To read Marin Luther's "95 Theses" (in English), visit Phil's History Info

To read about Martin Luther's contribution to furthering Christianity and Reformed theology, here's a great site: Martin Luther and the English Bible

Now then, on to stitching!! As you saw in my Wordless Wednesday post, I have completed the LHN Seasonal Saltbox, "Blessed are the Meek". I have moved on to "Blessed are the Pure in Heart". Here's my progress so far. I plan on working on this tonight. And since we fall back tonight, I get an extra hour of stitching! How cool is that?!?



Lastly, my sweet friend Jan of Tree of Life Samplings, has unveiled her latest design. I absolutely LOVE it!


For the "scoop" on how to order it, you can visit her blog, Tree of Life Samplings.

This afternoon after I got home from work, I worked out in the yard for a bit. I planted the rest of my garlic, transplanted some blanket flower plants, collected seeds for Blanket Flower and an unknown cuphea, and sprinkled out some poppy seeds, bluebonnet seeds, and Drummond Phlox seeds. Can't wait to see if they germinate and sprout!

A few days ago, on my whirlwind tour of the flower bed, I found this little cutie trying to bloom. I thought I'd lost this plant early in the spring when the doodle bugs (sow bugs/pill bugs) ate all the leaves off it. I'm so glad it's making a reappearance!

Introducing....

...my finished "Heart of America" by Little House Needleworks piece!! I'm just beyond thrilled to finally have her finished and ready for hanging in the closet with the rest of my finishes waiting to be framed! LOL


Design: Heart of America by Little House Needleworks
Fabric: 32 ct. Vintage Examplar Linen from Lakeside Linens
Fibers: Crescent Colours included in the kit

A view from my garden to leave you with...

Closing in on a Finish & Other News

My latest progress scan on Heart of America. It's creeping ever closer to a finish!! I've run out of English Ivy which is used on that bottom swirly thing that's not finished, but never fear! I have more in my stash closet, I just have to put my hands on it. I so want to get this one finished before starting on my new incentive piece, so I'm torn as to what I'll stitch on today. Do I try to finish this or do I go ahead and start "Give"? Decisions, decisions, decisions!!

In other news, I had a little gardening accident this past Tuesday while out harvesting bell peppers. I tried to lop off the side of my finger using my hand held pruning shears! OUCHIE!! This resulted in a trip to the minor emergency clinic, a DPT shot (diphtheria, pertussis aka whooping cough, and tetanus) in my arm that is STILL bugging me, and 5 pretty stitches on my finger. The stitches only impaired my stitching for a few hours. LOL I go back to see the nurse practitioner (a fellow stitcher btw) on Tuesday for the removal of the stitches. Things are healing nicely. I'm still putting some Neosporin on the wound and also some vitamin E gel on it to reduce scarring. At home, I try to go without a bandage, but if I'm going to be out and about, like at work, I put a bandage on it. I'm down to one band-aid now. Progress!

Here's the finger, all mummified after my visit to the clinic, with Callie investigating and protecting me:


When I first cut myself and was sitting on the couch trying to get the bleeding to stop, Callie immediately jumped up behind me and settled down on the blanket up there. She wouldn't leave me as she knew something was wrong with me. She was watching over me and wouldn't let Mark move her one inch! LOL When we got home, she followed me around constantly and was either on the floor near me or laying next to me at all times. I just love that cat!

Here are my not-so pretty stitches:


Surprisingly, I've not experienced much pain from the actual wound. Most of the pain and some bruising I've experienced were from the nerve block shot the NP injected into my finger to deaden it before beginning her little stitching project. I did experience some throbbing in the finger the day it happened and some tenderness, but mostly it's been pain free. Of course, if I manage to whack it on something, then it hurts, but left alone, there's no pain. I can even type normally now.

We have a few firsts in the garden! We have a pumpkin! After battling the squash vine borers, drenching rain, and heat, we've discovered at least one baby pumpkin on the vine. Woohoo!


We also have our first winter sown Purple Coneflower (echinacea)! I planted the seeds for these way back in February of this year. They've been slowly growing but have really taken off with the cooler temps and rain we've recently had.


Lastly, our first Green Zebra tomatoes! This was one of the heirloom tomato plants we got for $0.50 at a local nursery in May. We've babied these all summer and now they're producing babies! This tomato will not turn red, but will stay green with greenish stripes. If you click on the pic to see it larger, you'll see the green stripes already starting to form. Will be so fun to watch them mature. There's a total of 3 babies on the plant so far.



Fall is definitely here with football season well underway, the temps down to near 90º, and the days getting shorter. This is my favorite time of the year. Enjoy your fall!

Blessed are the Meek Progress

This past week has been a booger! We've had people call in sick at work which makes everything more stressful and busy. I came home worn out every night with little desire or energy to do anything but veg out on the couch or in front of the computer. I did manage to get some stitching accomplished though. Here's my progress on Blessed are the Meek, one of the Seasonal Saltbox threadpacks from Little House Needleworks.


In other news, I'm a great aunt! (I've been a great aunt for 21 years, but now I'm a Great-Aunt!) I don't have pics to share, but I hope to have some soon. My niece gave birth to a little boy, Lucian Zane, on Friday morning. He's 20" long, weighs 7 lbs, 5 oz, and has pretty auburn hair like his momma. I'm thinking a trip to see the great nephew is in order, but I just have to figure out when that will happen.

Lastly, I'll leave you with the bats flying out in my garden.

It's a Wrap and I'm Building an Ark!

Design: City Stitcher Country Stitcher
Designer: Little House Needleworks
Fabric: 32 ct. Autumn Harvest from R&R Reproductions
Fibers: DMC and Crescent Colours

I'm so happy to have this one finished! It's a former incentive piece project from 2007. I remember stitching on it while my husband was in the hospital after falling from a ladder. After I brought him home, I was so busy taking care of him and doing everything else, that this went by the wayside. I did leave off the weather vane on the "country" house on the right. It has French Knots on it and I was having all kinds of problems getting the knots to stay on the top side of the fabric! I love doing French Knots and normally don't have any problems, but today was not my day!!


This was our rain gauge on Friday night. We had 3.75" of rain on Friday night between 6pm and 11pm. That's an insane amount of rain for such a relatively short period of time. It rained fairly hard for about 2 hours with lots of thunder and lightning. However, it didn't stop there! This morning, I dumped out another 3.5" of rain, and we've received almost another 1/2" today! We're supposed to get more this evening and into tomorrow. I feel like a hurricane has come ashore and we're getting the after effects. I'm thinking I might need to start building an ark! Here are some pics from my morning stroll of the yard in the drizzle this morning.

Crepe Myrtle blooms laden down with rain

Rock Rose (I LOVE this plant!!)

A very wet Blanket Flower. I have another one that shows a very soggy flower head.

Black-Eyed Susan


This bucket hasn't been emptied since the rains started. Just think, there's more water in it now!