The beat goes on...

Hi y'all... yes I'm still here (well, I don't know if anyone missed me lol). It's been a whirlwind month since my last entry.

Today is 4 calendar weeks since we lost Shai, and it will be a month on the 29th. I never expected a little furbaby to affect my life in such a profound way, but he did, and is. I got the call from the vet to pick up his ashes before my trip but just didn't have the heart to go do that yet. I will tomorrow I think.

We just got back from 5 days in PA where I helped host a baby shower for my very best friend, Crystal. (she's crystal622 on ezboards). She's nominally due May 12th, but I'm pretty sure, as are her dr's, that she won't go quite that long. I'll be headed back down there for a 2 week stay (just by myself whee!!!) to help her with the lil one. I'm really excited about that!

I also had the chance to go see my grandmother while we were home. I haven't seen her since Christmas, and as she's not doing great, I wanted to make sure she and Tory and I all got together. It was incredible to see her light up when she saw my daughter, and how much Tory loves her 'Old Grammy'. My grandma has always been a steadying force in my life, and it's been rough to see how little she's becoming. She is still cross stitching (stamped stitching, but I have lovely pillowcases she's made me) and she does a stem stitch that you can barely see anything but a straight line!! She'll be 80 in September! It meant so much to hug her and hold her hand for an hour. We also got this picture:

Gramma is worse than I am about pictures, and rarely looks at the camera!!

See y'all soon.. take care of yourselves

At the Rainbow Bridge...

waiting for us, will be a great kitty. He was funny, and entertaining. He was loving and warm, and I will miss him snuggling onto the green fleece blanket behind my head when I was stitching. We had to put my little blonde cat Shai to sleep today, and we buried him with the green fleece he loved so much. I just pray he is happy playing in the sunshine, and I'm grateful he is in no more pain.

You were much loved Shai. I miss you.

Amazing Weekend!

We got home late last night from Boston where DH's brother, sister, and Mom along with obviously my BIL's wife gathered to celebrate, albeit a few days early, his 40th birthday! It was *amazing*

His mom so generously hosted us in the Doubletree Suites, and even insisted we have room service breakfast in bed on Saturday morning. The room was-imagine this-a beautiful suite with a huge, comfy king size bed, lots of pillows and NO KIDS! We checked in and then met his mom and sister, then waited for his brother to guide us to a nice-if noisy!- Mexican restaurant, The Border Cafe in Cambridge. Delicious food, but a bit spicy for me. I have a very mild taste tolerance, unlike my brother in law who regularly has his Indian cuisine spiced "crazy hot" and goes to Hotter than Hell Night at a local Cambridge spot East Coast Grill. We all piled back to the hotel and just spent a few hours catching up before we all went to bed.

It was lovely to sleep in until 9:00 am, and then enjoy breakfast tucked in with my handsome husband. After that it was off for a day of wandering around Harvard Square, people watching, and some window and not so window shopping. I found an incredible bead store that I will have to revisit soon! The weather was gorgeous, sunny and perfect. Then back to the hotel to rest and change for the 'offical' birthday dinner! We went to Maggiano's Little Italy... a poignant place for us all, as the first offical gathering of the families after I moved, and my now SIL moved in with DH's brother was at Thanksgiving a little more than 3 years ago. Memories and thoughts of Ray were strong, and while he was very much missed at the celebrations, we all could feel him there. The food was excellent!

Sunday bright and early I was up and in the car, zipping back to NH to pick up the kids and take them into Boston so they too could see the family! While it made for a long day, it was so very worth it! Far too soon it was time to see DH's sister off to her flight back, and then the rest of us went to Boston Beer Works for really good burgers!

It was a great weekend.. and the gimmick Dh's family came up with was to give him about 40 presents for his birthday! There were great things there, plus some funny gifts like a "grow your own duck"... some sort of sponge thing! Celebrations continue all this week and into the coming weekend, with a close family friend coming up from NYC on Friday for the weekend!

No stitching this weekend, but I'm about to head off to my spot now! Y'all take care!

Good week!

Boy it's been a busy week, but a great one! I got another little envelope in the mail from my SS, and she says I'm going to need all these lil flossies. Hmmm.... I'm intrigued!
DD has been busy, doing DI and Girl Scouts. She's got her DI competition coming up this month, on the 25th. I volunteered to be a judge because each team needs an adult volunteer... We'll see what they have me doing! She's pretty excited, she and her team have been working for 6 months on their challenge!
We're going out of town this weekend for DH's birthday. His mom and siblings are hosting us in Boston, as it's his 40th :) I've been busy all week plotting, cleaning, and now packing.
I am amazed that when I went down to my laundry room to work on laundry, there's hardly any down there! I wasn't sure that was even possible, to be totally caught up on laundry!! Yay!
Not much stitching this week, but I'm hoping to have some down time this weekend in the hotel!
Y'all take care!

Busy Busy Busy...

I realized it'd been longer than I liked since I updated my blog! :) Things have been wikkid busy around here lately, getting ready for Dan's 40th birthday party, school, etc. DD's events are starting to take off too, so my evenings are starting to get even busier!
I started Mirabilia's The Stargazer--not that I *needed* another WIP, mind you. I keep telling Dan "Need has nothing to do with it!". I am however working on setting up that rotation I talked about earlier, and see what happens. Stargazer, like so many other Mira's, isn't true to color in her picture. I'm loving it so far though! Here's my progress:

Cleanin' house day!

Yeap, Wednesdays are my house cleanin day! I used to *hate* it because we weren't all that good at keeping the day to day stuff put away so I could clean when it was time. I spent all my time playing catch up with putting this thing and that thing away. But we've really done a lot to reorganize the house, and work at keeping it cleaned up. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a neat freak, and I doubt my house will ever *always* be company ready--at least not *all* of it. We still have some ways to go in getting our bedroom more organized. Today, however I was able to start early this morning and I scrubbed everything in the kitchen, then swept and scrubbed the floor. I cleaned the kids' bathroom, dusted and swept my living room, and did several loads of laundry. It felt awesome that I could just get going, and not have to "pick up" before I cleaned up.

I worked some on the Band Sampler RR I've got that's due to be mailed Monday. My goal is to have it done Friday. I also think I may be honing in on narrowing down my WIPs to my rotation list. I'm not going to try to rotate through all 36, that'd be silly. I think I'll go with the 'slots' recommendation I got on the Rotation BB. Sounds like I could possibly handle this type of a rotation!

Off to make Chicken Ceasar's for dinner! Y'all take care!

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