Thursday, January 27, 2011

A, B, C's of Me Meme

I have seen this meme on a few blogs, and since I don't have any stitching to share today, I thought I'd play along.


Age- 34

Bed- Queen, but the next bed I buy will be a King sleigh bed.

Chore you hate- Dishes. If I didn't have a dishwasher, we'd be eating off paper plates with plastic utensils. Sad, I know, but true.

Dog's name- Zippy (7 yr. Basset/Lab mix), and Rudy (4 yr. Dachshund) We also have 3 guinea pigs, Rusty, Mr. Nibbler, and Bandit.

Essential start of the day item- not so much an item, but I need peace and quiet for the first 15 minutes after I wake up, or it'll be a long morning for everyone. After that, the mayhem can ensue.

Favorite color- Hmm. I am not really a color snob, but I don't really do pastels. Green and blue would probably top the list of favorites for me.

Gold or Silver- Silver, or white gold.

Height- 5' 6", or 1.6 meters

Instruments you play- I played the clarinet in school for 2 years, but haven't played since then. I do like to sing, if you can count your voice as an instrument, although very badly, while cooking, cleaning, or driving the car.

Job- I have been a homemaker for the last 8 years. The thought of going back out into the workplace is a little frightening for me. I don't adapt very well to change. I'm happy where I am at this point of my life.

Kids- Andrew (8), and Adam (5)

Living arrangements- Scott and I bought our current home 6 years ago.

Music you love- I like a little of everything, except rap and heavy metal. My music tastes are categorized more my the artist(s) than a particular genre.

Nicknames- None that I'd like to share here.

Overnight hospital stay- Two births.

Pet peeve- I have several peeves, but the mother of all is cruelty to animals. Nothing gets my blood boiling more that seeing someone mistreat or neglect their pets. I could easily go into a rant here, but this meme is supposed to be fun, right?

Quote from a movie- "No, you submit, do you hear? You be strong, you survive. You stay alive, no matter what occurs! I will find you. No matter how long it takes, no matter how far, I will find you! (Last of the Mohicans) That scene always gives me chill bumps.


Right handed or left- Right handed, although I was left handed for a few weeks when I was little, and broke my right pinkie finger. My homework was not very neat, but I had to make due. I was in first grade, I think, so it wasn't that bit of a deal.

Siblings- One sister, Claudia, who is 12 years older than me, and still resides in Germany.

Time you wake up- Monday thru Friday, my alarm goes off at 6:30. On the weekend, my sweet husband lets me sleep in until I wake on my own. I usually wake to the smell of onions and bacon being fried up for breakfast potatoes. Mmm...with fried eggs, and a tall stack of pancakes. I love the weekend!

Underwear- Yes. ;)

Vegetable you dislike- There's really only one I can think of, and it's OKRA. Pfui!

Workout style- Treadmill, but only when the guilt sets in from my gluttonous diet. LOL I've never been an exercise lover, but I make an effort. Occasionally.

X-rays you've had- I'm a glow worm. I think I've had them all.

Yummy food you make- I think it's all good, but my family's favorite is my spaghetti and meatballs. (I just hollered into the living room for a vote, and this one came out the winner.)

Z (Best place to visit)- For me, Germany is my destination station, because all of my family lives there. My mother, step-father, and I are the only ones from my family to venture onto this continent. I didn't speak fluent English until I was a teenager. I had taken the required (Queen's) English in German school, but I was not prepared for the sing-song dialect of the American deep south. I swear, I didn't understand a word that came out of my Alabama history teacher's mouth for the first month I went to high school. Sorry, Mrs. Deerman. Now I can y'all and yes'um with the best of 'em. It really is a lovely part of the country, and you would be hard pressed to find nicer folks than these elsewhere. They don't call it "southern hospitality" for nothin', do they? That being said, Scott and I would love to take a vacation, or even relocate to Australia. It's not an option at this point, but I'd like to think we'll make it down there at some point. ;)

Now that I've finished my autobiography *wink*, I'll go and see about the kids. I didn't mean to be this long-winded with some of my answers, so if you're still with me, thank you for letting me share some things about myself with you.







Monday, January 24, 2011

Birthday Surprises

A very happy birthday wish to my favorite eight year old boy, Andrew. I love you with all my heart.


No stitching update today. We had a cookout for Andrew's birthday, and we had a grilling mishap, causing a fire in our attached carport. Thankfully, the garden hose was close at hand, and the blaze was put out before the fire spread to the house. There is quite a bit of damage, but I am thankful that nobody was injured. My nerves are still a bit rattled, so I'm keeping this post short. Hopefully, I'll be back with some stitching pictures soon.

Friday, January 21, 2011

"Momma said there'd be days like this..."

I've been stuck in first gear today! It was cold outside, the boys have been more whiny than usual, and I couldn't seem to finish anything I started. I think my house was the center of a time warp, or something. My chores are half done, only some of the errands were run, we had a hodgepodge supper, and the kids went to bed without brushing their teeth. There's more, but you get the idea. I'm totally exhausted, but have nothing to show for it. *sigh*

In the morning, I'll brew myself some very strong coffee, and see if I can't tie up all these loose ends that almost strangled me today. ;)

I am making progress on Miriem Brocklehurst, but I don't have an update picture for you. Instead, I thought I'd post two more of my WIP's. Well, UFO's, really. These are two that I'd really like to finish this year.

Rose Sampler by Butternut Rose
stitch count 242 x 250
32ct. evenweave with DMC & Caron Wildflowers
Started in 2005!


This sampler hasn't gotten much attention since I laid it aside a few years ago. A length of thread here and there. I like the design very much, but those roses are a real pain! I also don't care for the Lugana evenweave that came with the kit. I should have swapped it out for something else, but I'm too far along to start over now.

Waiting on Ships by Mirabilia
stitch count 161 x 260
Started in 2006



I'm almost finished with this mermaid. I'm not really sure why I haven't finished with the stitching. I just lack some of her scales, the rest of the tail, and the beading. There is a good bit of metallic thread stitched throughout her scales, and it's very shimmery when the light hits it just right. I tried to take a clear photo, but my camera skills are just so-so. I can't wait to see her finished, and all beaded up.

I wanted to say thank you to everyone who stopped in to leave a comment, especially the birthday wishes for Adam. I probably wont get much stitching time in until later in the weekend, so I wont be back with an update until next week. My older son, Andrew, has his 8th birthday on Monday, so there's some prepping and baking to be done for that, too. I wish everyone a great weekend. :)

Monday, January 17, 2011

Happy Birthday, Adam! (picture heavy...)

My sweet baby boy is 5 years old today! During both my pregnancies, people would tell me to appreciate every moment that my children were little, because time would pass so quickly. I couldn't really appreciate the advice they were so kindly dispensing until my oldest started school 3 years ago, and time seemed to be literally flying by.

I thought it would be fitting on this birthday, as he is going to start Kindergarten in the fall, to post a few of my favorite photos of his life thus far.

In this photo, a nurse had just brought him out of the hospital nursery for me for the first time. He was less than one hour old. We had a good snuggle. :)

One day old. He must be having a sweet dream. I love the expression on his face. 

Scrunched up face...the flash on my camera was disturbing his nap. No likey! 
3 months old, and a total ham for the camera! :)
9 months old. He loved his blue swing in the backyard. 

Peek-a-boo would bring on frantic giggles every time. The sound of a baby laughing is the most beautiful sound in the world. It doesn't matter what kind of day you've had, it just makes your heart smile. Well, mine anyway.

Adam would watch the birds and insects flutter around, and many times, he'd doze off for a quiet nap in his swing. I'd sit close by reading a book, or play with Andrew in the garden.
19 months old. I tried to find a photo of him in his car seat that conveyed his feelings for his car seat. For the first year of his life, he would scream and cry whenever he was buckled in to his baby seat. It got better when we purchased his toddler seat you see in this photo. He wouldn't throw a fit anymore, but he was still not sure he liked having to be buckled into a seat. 
He eventually made peace with the car seat. (3 y.o.) 
Brothers, and best buddies. (Cheaha, 2 y.o.)

He loves being out in nature. Always has.
(Cheaha National Park, 2 y.o.)
I came around the corner of the garden to find that the two boys had climbed on Scott's old Land Rover. (restoration project) Fearless, those two! I had to snap a pic. before making them get down. (4 y.o.)
Enjoying a rare Alabama snowfall... (4 y.o.)
Adam, I love you so very much, and am so proud of you. You make me happy everyday. I love being your Mom! Watching you grow from a small, helpless baby to a smart, independent, caring, and funny young man has been a joy, and a privilege. I will miss you when you start school this fall, but I know that it will be the beginning of a new chapter in your life, and a what a grand adventure it will be! 


I couldn't close this post without Adam's furry best friend, Rudy. We adopted a shelter dog for each of our boys when they were 1 year old, and Rudy has been Adam's constant sidekick through (almost) every adventure. 

Friday, January 14, 2011

Ok, so many stitchers are doing some version of the Crazy January Challenge. Some are starting 15 new projects, and some are working strictly from their WIP pile. Yet others are enjoying the best of both worlds by starting a few new things, while still feeling the satisfaction of knocking the cobwebs off some of those poor, neglected waifs laid by the wayside for a shiny new project by a cruel, cold hearted mistress. At least that's what my WIP's would say if they could talk. Well, everything after "cobwebs" anyway.

So, in an effort to appease my guilt and my wallet  tidy up my stitching room, I've made a list of WIP's that I'd like to finish this year, or on which I'd like to make significant progress. I am also allowing myself a couple of new starts, if the I get the urge. I am not setting a 15 project goal, but will try to work at a steady pace to finish however many I can. No pressure. Last year, I tried to push myself a little harder, and it backfired on me with a huge stitching slump over the summer.

Anyway, I will be posting the projects on my list over the next few days. I'm trying to get them photographed, and on the blog.

Miriem Brocklehurst by The Scarlet Letter
Stitch Count 182 x 310
32ct. linen hand-dyed by me using DMC
Started February 2009
I loved working on this one, but that big band of diamonds made me lose interest. 

Not sure if I'll finish this one this year, but I'd certainly like to give it my best shot. 
Here's the finished design.
(c) The Scarlett Letter

Well, hubby is home with take-out in hand. Our town has a great BBQ place that we go to sometimes. After dinner, I'm parking myself in my stitching chair for a few hours, until it's the kids' bedtime, at least. Ok, the table has been laid, and I'm drooling on the keyboard....I gotta go. Oversized BBQ sandwiches, fresh cole slaw, and beer-battered onion rings are singing to me from the dining room.  ;)

Thursday, January 13, 2011

You have probably seen it on the news already, but the South and East of the US have been in the grips of a terrible winter storm this week. Well, I'm smack-dab in the middle of it. Today was the first day I was able to get out of my icy driveway. All roads have been closed, and all businesses shut down in our small city. My husband and oldest son were both home from work and school, so we've had some good family time. Surprisingly, not as much stitching time as one would think, though. :) I live in Alabama, and we rarely get snow that sticks around for more than a day or two, but when we get several inches, everything shuts down. We just don't have the proper street equipment to clear the snow and ice.

I also wanted to say a word about the horrible flooding in Queensland, Australia. My heart and prayers go out to all the families that have been affected. People have lost their lives in this tragedy, and many more are missing. So sad.

Relaunch in 5...4...3...2...1...

Ok, so I started this blog three years ago with grand plans for an online journal to chronicle my stitching and life in general. Well, I have been living my life, but forgot all about the journaling part. So...almost three years later, I'm having another go at it.... stay tuned.