Keep on keepin on!

Well we survived vacation week, rather well I think! The alien is back to school, and I'd revel in my alone time if I weren't sick again! I've been much luckier this year, but I think I'm losing my voice again...

I really am thrilled with how focused I was during the Chatelaine Stitching Olympics! I got 8 out of my 12 goals completed, and am further along on several WIPs! We've started setting monthly goals on the Chatelaine BB, and I think this will really work for me! I'm also trying to figure out a rotation, and will implement that starting in April! I'm confidant I can get several things finished this year!

That's really all from me today, ya'll take care!

There's a baby shower!

My best friend is pregnant, and while it wasn't a planned pregnancy, it's a great thing! She's predicted to have a boy, and so all the way from NH to PA I'm helping plan her baby shower. She was so instrumental in doing my baby shower that I am so excited to do this for her. I'm also going to go down there for 2 weeks after little Christopher is born to help her out. Just like she's godmom to my little one, and like a second mom... I expect that's much how I'll be for him.

It's been so fun to crawl all over the internet and search for baby shower games, finger food recipes, and ideas for cute little favors!! It's also easier knowing that he's probably a boy... when we did my shower, we knew the alien was a girl :) There's an awesome bakery up here I want to get to make her cake.

It's snowing again here *blah* and my throat is still sore, but I've been using the down time to work in my Chatelaine stitching goals. After the Olympics are over, I'm going to set up a *gasp* rotation!! I know I know, but with 35 WIPs... I kinda need to!!

Take care of yourselves!!

We're Being Sued!!

We live on a private road, in a fairly undeveloped part of our small town. Now town zoning ordinances state that no new construction can be done on any parcel of land less than 3 acres. That's important here. We got a packet yesterday from an attorney, stating that we-along with all our neighbors here in this little area-are being sued by a gentleman who owns 65 acres of land up higher in this area. He wants to build a subdivision up there, with 19 houses on *20* acres, leave the rest for conservation, and is suing all of us for access rights to the road.

This packet came with copies of *every* original deed, all the proposed plans, and everything dating back to 1963 for pity's sake! I don't speak legalese, but it seems to me that all our deeds were written that we owned to the 'center line of the private road' so our access rights couldn't be taken away. So we have to appear in court in May!! I mean I don't even KNOW my neighbors!! But I know I don't want 19 houses back there. I'd lose my small deer family that visits me every spring, and the fox who suns himself on my huge rock in my front yard. I think the raccoons might not run away, but they surely wouldn't amble across my driveway! And I sure don't want 30 more cars coming up and down this road!

Ahh well... it sure makes life more interesting!! LOL What will happen will happen. I was just shocked to see we were named in the suit! Wonder if he'd want to buy our property? Hmmmmm.....

Y'all take care of yourselves!

Warm again!

We're home, and the power is back thank heavens! Everyone survived well, the pipes are intact, the cats burrowed. We only lost the fridge and freezer of food. Small price for when the temps were below 20 degrees!!! Tory watched a lot of curling on the hotel TV... I took stitching but just didn't manage to do it. Today I'm rising threads for Chatelaines, including some I never rinsed the threads for before!! Wow do those reds bleed!

So I decided to create a Johari window, after seeing them on several blogs. I have to confess I wasn't brave enough to create the Nohari window. I know I have a bunch of failings, but God knows I am not secure enough to hear the negative that others think about me! So here's the link to my Johari Window: http://kevan.org/johari?name=faeryxstitcher

Tory is home now for a week from school, February vacation! It was nice to sleep that extra 30 minutes this morning!

Speaking of the kid, I'm off to make lunch!! Be good to yourselves!

Wind, and more wind!

Well, I'm writing this from the warm (thank GOD) Fairfield Inn. It's quite comfy, and thanks to Dan's laptop, we can get online to check email and let everyone know where we are. The power went out on Friday, and our electric company says it might not be until Monday or Tuesday that our power will come back on.

Yeap. Tuesday. Maybe.
We had to sleep in the house last night, because we got home late and everyone in our county had an 8 hour jump on hotel rooms on us. WOW was that cold! We all burrowed under covers together, but it's not something I'd like to do again! We quickly packed, and off we came to the hotel. The very busy hotel!

I'm worried about losing everything in my fridge and freezer. I JUST went grocery shopping! And I hope the cats are burrowed into our down comforter, it's the only thing that saved US last night!

Y'all take care of yourselves!

New Look!!

Good Morning! Well, thanks to Olde Glory Designs, run by Cathy I have a new Blog format! I LOVE it, Cathy is so so talented!! I have not blogged regularly now for quite some time, and I miss it! I'll be here more than before, with most of my boring life! :)

In stitchy news today, I finished part 1 of Chatelaine's Midi Mystery 1! I set that as one of my Olympic goals and I've gotten it done! Seems like a small thing to get happy about but I'm so tickled I've made progress!!

Ya'll take care!

There Was Much Unspoken...

In any life, there are always things said and unsaid. Things done and left undone. Too many times, there is too much unsaid and undone. Once more, a young life has been cut short, and we are left to say and do what we can to ease each other's pain.

Laura, you were vibrant, full of life, and always a pleasure. We were brought together by the love of one particular designer, and together we worked to bring a bulletin board upwards. I will always remember your laugh, and the joy you had in stitching. I always envied your speed, and beautiful projects. Knowing you had Royal Holiday as a WIP, I know every stitch I put in mine will remind me of you. We may not have always seen eye to eye on some things, but we always were able to be friends.

I hope you are at peace now Laura, and with our merciful Lord.

How I wish I could stop time...

This has been one heck of a week... My grandmother was finally diagnosed officially with Alzheimer's and is now living in a home so we know she'll be taken care of. I hope that by the time I can get to PA again, she'll still know me. But if she doesn't, all I pray is that she is in a happy place in her mind.

My mom's best friend, and second mother to me died on Monday. She was so much a part of my life when I needed someone to help me interpret adult, and to help my parents understand teenager. I didn't know she was so sick, but pancreatic cancer is like that. I wish I could make it for the funeral, I don't see how that's possible right now. And it just brings back the sense of loss I've had since June. God speed and God Bless Sharon. I love you.

Fundraiser Time again!

What a year it's been! With getting Tory stable this year, and how awful her experiences she had with kids in her class last year, she remembers how wonderful she felt being a the high salesperson in her grade last year. She told me that some of the kids are hoping she is high sales again and are rooting for her, she said. The sparkle was back in her eyes, and with the summer we've had, that hasn't been there in a while. So I'm putting the info out there again if anyone would like to help her-she would be so excited and grateful! The orders have to be in on September 26th. As far as I remember, shipping is pretty hefty, so if you just want something small I'll be happy to add onto my physical order :) The wrapping paper is very worth it though!

Here's the link:
http://www.innisbrook.com/acb/basket/index_child_reg.cfm?internet_id=I51805B&DID=7

If that doesn't work, please email me if you're interested, and I'll email you and send you the info. Thanks so much!

And more wonderous mail...

Well this seems to be my week :)I got a lovely little thing in the mail again yesterday. I certainly wasn't expecting anything. I pulled a thick yellow envelope from my box addressed to me from The Stash Fairy. Now I know a few Stash Fairys, but none of them really are on good terms with me since I stopped acquiring stash at my past rate (faerys don't do abstinence well so it seems), so I wasn't sure what this was.

I opened it up and out fell Liz Turner Diehl's 15th Century European Medieval Herb Garden Chart. Wow. And not only was it a chart I've longed for for some time, it was signed.... to me. Double wow. A small note to me from the sweet person who did this just let me know I should enjoy, and that was that.

Honestly, it has been a bang-on week for mail for me. Stash Fairy, whomever you are disguised as this week--Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You brought a bright smile to my face this day. The chart is lovely, and the thought that went into having the designer sign it, and having it personalized warms me to the core. You are truly special.

Take care of yourselves.

Sometimes it's the little things...

I love to get mail. E-mail, snail mail. It doesn't really matter, if it's mail i love to get it. There's always a little thrill I guess, waiting to see if there's the pleasure of hearing from someone or getting an unexpected surprise, or even just learning about something for the first time (like from my husband's obsession with Scientific American).

But it's the totally unexpected, that is the most incredble, I think. Like the package I got this week. I'd been sick with some silly bug I caught from my stepson, and hadn't gotten to the mail for a few days. On Saturday we finally made it to the post office, and there's a package for me. I wasn't expecting anything since I'm not buying any cross stitch stuff now, so it was surprising. The return address was a familiar one, a friend I count as a good and close one. I smiled, wondering what was in store for me. What spilled into my lap brought tears to my eyes.

See, on August 28th, I was baptized. Myself, with 8 babies in my church. It was a sight to behold lol. It was done with little fanfare, but much meaning, and I told very few people. And my friend sent me some blessed things to mark this important day for me. A beautiful Rosary, a Celtic prayer book, and some other things of faith. It matters not I don't share her exact beliefs, these things are gorgeous, and I am so blessed she cared enough to send them.

On a weekend I was facing the financial woes of heating my home this winter with the cost of heating oil soaring through the roof, it was a much welcomed "little blessing". Thank you so much.

Some Gems...

Stolen from a Garden Princess (wonder if she'll notice!)

No one can ruin your day without YOUR permission.
Most people will be about as happy as they decide to be.
Others can stop you temporarily, but only you can do it permanently.
Whatever you are willing to put up with is exactly what you will have.
Success stops when you do.
When your ship comes in...make sure you are willing to unload it.
You will never "have it all together."
Life is a journey...not a destination. Enjoy the trip!
The biggest lie on the planet: "When I get what I want, I will be happy."
The best way to escape your problem is to solve it.
I've learned that ultimately, "takers" lose and "givers" win.
Life's precious moments don't have value unless they are shared.
If you don't start, you certainly won't arrive.
We often fear the thing we want most.
He or she who laughs, lasts.
Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints.
Look for opportunities, not guarantees.
Life is what's coming...not what was.
Success is getting up one more time.
Now is the most interesting time of all.
When things go wrong...don't go with them.

Tidbits to live by!

Wow, is my schedule full!!

I'm doing PTO and by all accounts the first part of the year is hell... With church activities, and the fact that I don't and haven't had time to search for a co-leader... I'm really re-evaluating my ability to lead GS this year. I just don't want the girls disappointed. I'm not sure i'm all that good at it anyways. I'm hoping when I call the new Brownie leader I'll hear someone has said something :) That way I can gracefully withdraw without harm to the girls.

Regrets...

Losing my FIL without ever *really* telling him how much I loved him, respected him, and how grateful I was to him has made me really examine my life. Do the people I care about know it? Have I done things I need to make amends for? Are there things I feel I deserve amends for that just don't matter anymore?

The answer is a resounding yes on the last 2, and Lord I hope so on the first one. It has also left me with a whole bunch of regrets...

I regret...
-I was never able to have a second child when I still possibly could have.
-I have a horrid temper
-that there are people I have hurt over the years that I cannot find to make amends.
-that there are those I am fighting with that we cannot see our way clear to fix it.
-I do not spend more time stitching
-I do not call my grandmother enough.
-I am not always the wife I want to be
-I certainly am not the best at cleaning my house.

My reflections have also left me with a profound sense of gratitude and celebration! We are so lucky in this world, whatever-where ever we are.

I celebrate...
-My beautiful, smart, funny, witty and oh so sweet daughter.
-The 3 years I had with my Father In Law.. thank You Ray.
-My husband, without whom I would be lost and half of myself.
-lifelong friends who forgive me nearly anything-thank you Crys.
-friends I can be totally candid with and who love me anyways-thank you Misty, Cathy, Stacey & Niki. I love you.
-other close friends I am not sure they'd be okay with their names here :)
-Being poor, having been on welfare, and a single mom. It makes me more grateful than I can express for my bounty now.
-My return to God. I cannot imagine having survived the last 3 months without the embrace of God comforting me.

I know there are so many more of both regrets and celebrations. These are the ones I think of now as I cry tears of sorrow and joy. Take care of yourselves.

Angi

The March of Time...

Well we're 1/3rd of the way into August, and I can't help but marvel at how fast the summer seems to have flown by. June disappeared into sadness, a funeral and grief that not even my birthday on July 3rd could pull me out of. July was spent working so hard at trying to be okay, that I forgot to do a traditional thing for my baby's 8th birthday on July 24th-a week I was trapped in PA with parents I'm never going to be a good enough Mom for.

We got back just in time for the alien to start GS Camp-yeap the camp I helped fight so hard for. I'm still trapped in my own sadness, I'm not sure when this gets easier? I hope it does, that's for sure! Right now, my excitement seems limited to watching the panda baby and mom at the National Zoo! That's truly sad, I know!

**** WARNING!! Sappy Proud Mom Moment Follows!! ****

I had a moment this past spring, when spring school pictures came out. These are always the "better" pictures-nice backrounds, posed, etc. When we got the pictures back this year-that was no 'little' girl staring at the camera with a confidant " I can conquer the world with my smile" expression on her face. That was a young lady, with an clear vision swimming there of the teen she will become. I was heartbroken. Where did the baby go?? She's tall now, and I HOPE she'll be taller than my own 5'3 1/4". I cling to that quarter inch, I assure you! She's outgrown shoes I got her this JUNE already-we had the joy of beginning school shopping this weekend. I have a feeling she's getting ready to spurt a few more inches. But she is growing up, so fast. Too fast, it seems to me.

She got CD players for her birthday-a desk one from my parents, and a portable from Daddy :) She also got tons of CD's. She goes *nowhere* without her headphones on now, and drifts to sleep with music. Again, a vision of the future. We were at the bookstore yesterday, she was picking out a CD and 4 books to use her birthday money on. A woman there, a teacher, was stunned such a young girl would choose to read, instead of say video games, or some such. We don't have a PS2, or gamecube, or any of the other game consoles in the house, nor will we ever. There are books on every available surface it seems, and to this household, reading is as important as breathing. My little crafty one also recognized the young woman was crocheting, which impressed the lady more.

So my ramble comes to this...I guess we're doing something right. Miss Thing is polite to adults, curteous in public and well (and soft) spoken. She reads voraciously (she just started Harry Potter 1 and is almost done), and she loves to write stories and cross stitch and color. She's improved in cleaning up after herself, and picking up her room. She even helps in the kitchen now. I'm so proud of the young girl she is becoming. She exceeds even my dreams of her.

She is, in my husband's words... Glorious.

I saw it!!

After many days of watching the beautiful new Panda mom, hearing the baby demanding food and attention, I finally got to see the baby!! Mei Xiang, the panda momma, has been quite attentive to her newborn cub, and last night she seemed to know that millions (I don't know how many others are as odd as I am!) wanted to her see her beautiful baby. The baby was making noises that I've come to associate with hunger, and she rolled to sit up, and layed the cub for just a moment on the straw of her bed. She hovered, but sat there as if to say "Here's your chance!" and the people who take care of her-watching through the same camera feed I can ZOOOOMMMEEED in right away. The baby is all white I think, and sooo tiny! So helpless looking! I need to research more about pandas and cubs ;) But she let the baby lay there for a minute, and then picked it up, cuddling and nursing it. It was incredible! I'm such a nerd, but I love things like this. I don't do being "in" nature well, but I so love things like this. If you want to see too, Mei Xiang & baby. I haven't loved something this much since I watched the storks hatching last year on live camera!

Still here, I swear
As I have learned, dear friends-life moves onward. I've always known that, but it's never been demonstrated to me so clearly as it has these last few weeks. While my heart, and DH's would rather time just stand still, it can't. So--Onward (and upwards) I hope.

Having been newly Christian again now this past year, taking baby steps in my faith towards growth and knowledge, I never realized the comfort God could give. The strength and the warm feeling of being held. I am so grateful that the Lord is a loving God. The morning of Ray's memorial, I was driven to find a cross and necklace. I'd been searching for one for a while, but that day it seemed necessary. We found one, and I'd been wearing it ever since. Yesterday morning, it broke. The rope chain snapped. I was heart broken, nearly in tears. But my husband reminded me that the necklace was an outward and visible sign of an inward and perfect grace. He's right, of course (ya know I hate typing that!) I still feel odd without the necklace. I'm not sure if you can get rope chain's repaired, and even so we're doing way too much to keep our heads above water to do it.

I'm stitching again! Seem obsessed by it yet again, so this is a good thing. I have a lot of obligation stitching to catch up on, so I've been doing those here and there, trying to get things complete. THere is SO much I want to do and patterns I want to complete-I need to clone myself several times. I need a Chatelaine clone Angi, a Mirabilia clone Angi, I need a clone to finish The Minstrel from TW, and so on. BUT! I want like a Borg like mind link, so I get to experience the pleasure of stitching these charts too! I don't want much, eh ? :)

Well, it's time to take the alien to drama class (not sure she needs it, but hey) so off I go! Y'all be good to yourselves.

Into the Swing again...

We're trying to get back to life normal here, with laundry, housecleaning, cooking and the like. There's stuff to finish up from when we were gone, and just everyday life. I am doing the best I can at it.

I'm not dealing with all this as well as I would like. Maybe it's because this is the first time i've ever lost anyone I care about. I don't know... but that's how I feel-lost. We have no community here, really. No one to rally around. I did get a lovely sympathy card from Kari-thank you so much. I know the best way to get through this is just keep on keepin on. And I'm trying.

I have *no* urge to stitch, I have not much desire to read. I just want to sleep... and today am fighting the typical everyday headache i've been getting. But there are swim lessons to arrange, and meals to be cooked. Laundry isn't giving me a break either, so it's back to the grind I go.

Love well, and tell each other often.

A life well lived
65 years seems like a long time at times. Today, to me, 65 years isn't enough. My father-in-law passed away in the early hours of this morning. About ten minutes before 3 am. The family-his wife and three kids-were on their way, but Ray was too tired, and was ready to go home. He slipped away a few minutes before they got there to say goodbye. He'd fought for over a week against lungs that were continually filling with blood, for reasons we still do not know. He is at peace, and content now. It is the job of the living now to deal with the pain, and our loss.

I was only blessed with him in my life for 3 years or so. It's not been enough time, but it has been enough for me to love and cherish him as my own family. A man who welcomed my daughter and I into his family eagerly, willingly and with great love. A more wonderful FIL I couldn't have asked for, who gave hugs and comfort and reassurance to me on so many things.

Godspeed Ray. You will be missed deeply. I pray you watch over us. I love you.

Well, I knew it all along!

You scored as Faerie. Faerie: Aren't you a cute little flying person? Faeries are earth spirits. They live among each element completely hidden. They have cousins called Pixies. Pixies however, are very mischevious. They enjoy tormenting other creatures for fun. Little pranksters.. I hope you never meet one. Pixies have a bad reputation for finding a creature and clinging to them until death. Faeries can be somewhat close to a Pixie, but mostly they are loving, playful, and carry with them a child-like enthusiasm for life. Hide among the pedals of a Daisy, you are a Faerie. Faerie 75% Mermaid 58% Angel 58% WereWolf 42% Dragon 8% Demon 0% What Mythological Creature are you? (Cool Pics!) created with QuizFarm.com