New Year, New Start

Well Happy New Year everyone!  So I'm thinking that if you are still out there, then I am very thankful.  I have been so neglectful of my blog.  You know what the crazy thing is? I visit my blog every single day at least twice...to look at my bloglist to see what you have all posted on your blogs.  I know that it's ridiculous, being so close, and then not post...and still wait eagerly for everyone else to post their lives.  I will do better this year with my New Year, New Start attitude. 

Speaking of new starts 2014 took turns that I did not expect would happen in my life.  As I had mentioned left his job back in 2013 and started his own company in the summer of 2013.  Much to my dismay I might add.  I am a creature of habit.  I am a person that likes to plan ahead. I am a person with lists and sub-lists and schedules.  So let me tell you this threw me for a GIANT loop.  Thank God and all the powers that be, and the never waivering confidence of my husband that he has made such a success of his company, that all my fears and apprehension were laid to rest.  Our little business (and yes I said "our") has grown to be so successful that in August of 2014 I had to make another difficult decision and left my 10 year position at the medical clinic I was managing and came to join my husband as office/business manager at our company.  If you knew me at all you would know the turmoil that I went thru because of this as well.  Not only that having to go to my boss and let him know that I was leaving him.  I felt like I was betraying him somehow.  The funny thing is...he was so fantastic about it.  He said that back when we opened the company he knew that it was going to be inevitable, because he knew that kind of person that my husband is, and he knew the kind of person that I am, that he got a sinking feeling back then knowing that my time was limited with him. And although he was sad for himself, he was happy for me.  And that was the theme of the month notice that I gave them from every doctor and staff member.   Needless to say, it has been an incredible last 1/2 of the year.  And I can tell you that I have NEVER been happier in my whole working career, than I am right now! And I don't say that lightly.  Everything that I have learned from all my jobs have all been leading to this one time in my life/career and it's been so worth the ride.

Sooooo...not using that as an excuse (well kinda) that is why I haven't been posting, because I have been overwhelmed with so many other things...and also let that be my excuse (yep)  for not stitching as much as I would like.  I did do some stitching but didn't get them finished for my tree this year.  So I didn't get any new ornaments on my stitching tree this year...so sad about that...but I will rectify that this year for sure!  In the meantime here are the ornaments that I have stitched since August.  All from Prairie Schooler's Nordic Holiday book.  Love them.

Another thing I want to start fresh with is my lifestyle.  Hubby and I have both been living a little on the high end side of life and have both gained some pounds that neither of us should be carrying around, him not as much as me.  He works physically so it's not so bad or as noticeable.  I on the other hand am more tubby that I want to be...so it's time to stick to the fresher foods and getting some fresh air, just taking better care of ourselves, so that we can enjoy the life that we are building for ourselves.  I have to do my activities a lot more moderately, as I have a knee that I am waiting for treatment on and am fairly limited in the things that I can do and for how long.  Hopefully this year I'll get in with the ortho for this miracle injection that I am slated for.  I know that losing a little weight will help with it as well.  So all the more to make the changes we need to make.  I'm keeping track of my lose on my sidebar, and so far since the beginning of the year....8 pounds have been shed!  YIPEEE

Kati and I are going to be starting up another SAL on January 18th!  It's been a long time in the making, with troubles of getting out fabric and our fibers together, we finally have it all sorted out and we are set to begin.  If anyone wants to join us there is still time.  We would love to have you. 

So that's it my friends!  Please keep posting your lovely posts.  I read them all.  That is another thing....I promise to comment.  We all love comments, and quite frankly, that's how we know for sure we aren't just talking in the dark. 

Ort report, dances and SAL

So here we are again, it's ort report time again!  I can't believe how the months are already racing by this year.  Did February go by in a blink of an eye and already we're sitting in the middle of March?  I can't believe that I'm leaving for Mexico next week Friday already!!!  aaarrrriiiiibbbaaaa!!!  I have everything that I need to go now, I just want to go and buy a couple of new bras!  ARGH!  I hate bra shopping!  Oh well.  has to be done.

I was walking in my front door today and caught a glimpse of some tulips poking thru the ground!  On further inspection there is a whole spread of them popping up.  The parts that are snowcovered are still a mystery, but where the sun has melted it away there are their brave little tips poking out to greet the world.  I just love them, my only hope is that they weren't too eager and freeze.

I was inspired to do some Easter stitching this pas week.

First is my 2013 verion of Bunny Bums...last year I stitched them in pink, this year I went with the green.  Lovely little cottontails...aren't they?  It's a freebie from somewhere on the internet and I don't have the new link, the one that I have on the actual chart that I downloaded, no longer works. Sorry :(

The second one is the Easter Bunny from Prairie schooler.  Also a freebie that can be found here.  http://www.prairieschooler.com/free.htm  love him!

My third offering is me Sunday SAL piece Humboldt Coast that I normally do with Kati, but Kati is off on a wonderful holiday for the next month so I have a subsitute Sunday partner Edit, please do visit her blog, she loves company :)

And last but certainly not least my ort report, along with all the projects that contributed to my little collection this month.

....and a partridge in a pear treeeeee

All done!  YEAH!!!!!  All 12 of my Prairie Schooler 12 days of Christmas are done and I LOVE THEM!!!!  I will make them into ornaments in July...midway thru the year, I will make what I've stitched into ornies for my stitching tree!  I stitched the last stitch into in on Sunday and with a sigh I snipped the last thread off the back.  I love finishing projects...it gives me such a feeling of satisfaction.  But I also love the start of new projects, the anticipation that every stitch will be perfect.  I'll be starting a little bird next.  "Lovebird" it's called by Just Another Button company.  I fell in love with it when I saw it and ordered it right away...now it's been sitting here for a long time waiting patiently for it's turn on the q-snaps.  I'll start that tomorrow.  Tonight I will be sorting and putting away floss!  I have two large ziplock bags full of floss that needs to be sorted and put away....so I think that I will do that while I am watching The Bachelor.

12 Drummer's Drumming - Prairie Schooler

It's Ort Report time!!!  Yep the new moon has rolled around again, and these are the orts from last month to now.  I'm showing month to month ones this year I think...and then I'll show the full cup (hopefully) at the end of the year.

I didn't work on Humboldt at all yesterday. Went out with my hubby yesterday for a bit...just browsing at furniture and stuff, then when for a little lunch. Came home and we had a nap...but when I nap I have a tendancy to wake up with a headache...and that's exactly what happened. So I just relaxed and watched tv, and cuddle with hubby in bed all evening. It was a good day! So I'll work on Humboldt next week and post then.



A good stitchy week!

Two finishes and a good chunk of the blue study done (white has been added to the study).  I would love to pick up Humboldt again tonight, but I won't.  I will be a good SAL partner and lay it to rest.  Which is still ok because I only have one day left to stitch in the 12 days of xmas!  yeah!  So they will definitely make it on my tree this year!

 10 Lords a Leaping - Prairie Schooler

11 Pipers Piping - Prairie Schooler 



Humboldt Coast -Silver lining WIP - SAL with Kati



The stomach flu is running rampant thru our clinic right now.  2 staff down last week, and 3 called in today!  In all this...knock wood....I feel fantastic!!!  In fact this past winter season I haven't even had as much as a sniffle!  Now I know with that I have just jinxed myself and I'll be deathly ill by the end of the week, but that's ok....I deserve a day off now and then too.  LOL

So tonight I settle in with my stitching and some good tv. 

2 in one shot

So I had to take two pics today for the TUSAL and to show off my first finish of 2013!  And while I was taking out the camera to take a pic of the finish I decided to just do the ort shot at the same time.  In all honesty it was just laziness. LOL  It's Sunday I'm allowed to be lazy! 

Pot roast is in the slow cooker, all the houseworks was done yesterday.  So today it's just sitting and relaxing and watching the Real housewives that I have PVR'd and waiting for the Golden Globes to start.  Excellent stitching television!  Working on Humboldt today.  Love it!

It's a New Year!

I have been such a crummy blogger this past year!  So much happening in my life!

First and foremost we got another member of the family.  Nicola (my niece) gave birth to her second son Liam Edward Frank in August!  YEAH!!! He is the most precious baby...and already looks wise beyond his years.  You look into his eyes and you know that you are looking into the eyes of an old soul.  So calm and watchful.  He's actually mesmerizing to look at.  His big brother Jaxon is as happy as can be and never hesitates to run over and give his baby brother a kiss when he's a little fussy.  Poor Lulu has her hands(paws) full trying to keep out of the grasps of little hands when they come over to visit, but she manages.

Next big news...the manager at our clinic decided to leave us after 18 years of being on the job!  It was a big gutsy move for her, it`s a brave thing to do after such a long time at bing at one place, and we all loved her, but because of differences with certain people in the clinic she felt that the best thing for her to do was to move on.  The bigger news in relation to this is that her position was offered to me.  I have to admit, I was afraid to take the position when they offered me the job.  I knew that there were big shoes to fill, and because D had been there for soooo long there was an almost what I would call legacy in place there.  I just didn`t see that people would respect me the way they respected her.  It`s hard to explain and I don`t think that I am explaining it right even now.  Yet even after all my concerns,  the owner restructured the position after he asked me what my concerns were about the job, and he made it impossible for me to turn it down.  And I must say that after 2 weeks in my new office I don`t regret the decision I made to become manager of the clinic...the staff was wonderful with the transition, the doctors I work for are all relieved that it was me that took the position and not someone that was new and unfamiliar to them.  My boss said the the transition was seamless and that was due in part to how I handled everyone`s concerns.   Although I still feel like I`m missing something, or doing something wrong, because I am not as busy as I was before in my other position!  :)

We got ready for Christmas, that felt like it had to be rushed too, because we got a call from a friend of hubby`s on the 1st of December saying that he was coming to visit and spend the holidays with us from Hungary!!!  What??????!!!!!! And he was arriving on the 15th!  So basically it was a mad dash to the finish.  Not only did I have to decorate the house for christmas and think about menus and get together's and just the usual company that Xmas brings....but now I had a live in guest coming as well.  So that just added more stress and more work...because you know how that is...when you have a guest coming to spend some time with you, you do that extra cleaning that you have to do...the things that you neglect on a day to day basis because it can be done another time.  So THAT all had to be done too.  I had dresser drawers and closet space to clear out for him, and plus it was like a lost a storage space!  Because the spare room where he is staying is also the room where I put all the things that I "put away" for when I have to put my Christmas things out.  So everything had to go downstairs.  I had to go and buy storage rubbermaid bins just to put that stuff in!  LOL  Let me tell you I was losing my mind!  And all this on top of the stress that I was putting myself thru with my job as well  ARGH!!!!!

But in the end it's all good, all great! Accept that my mom does not like this man that is staying with us.  So I feel like I am caught in the middle of this little war between being on my Mom's side and being on my husband's side.  There is definitely a personality clash between the two of them....and neither one of them will let it go!  I can hardly wait until he leaves quite frankly.  Not because he's a bad person, but because the tension in the house is sooooo thick...and I hate to see my Mom upset all the time.  ARGH!!!  Mind you, she does have a tendency to over-react to things...and this I think is the case the majority of the time!  but you know what...she's 78 years old..and set in her ways.  Therefore, we have to be a little understanding of that too.   Anyway, he is leaving on the 4th for Argentina and then coming back for 4 days in February before he heads back home.  I just hope our little family can survive it.

Stitching??  Oh yeah!  I remember that!!!  I used to do that a long time ago!  LOL

Well I didn't get my Prairie Schooler 12 days of Christmas finished!  boo hooo.  I got 8 of them finished and 1/2 of the 9th.  And when I say finished I mean I just finished the cross stitching on it.  Not the actually finishing them into an ornament.  So they will be up on next year's tree :)  that's ok  :)   The two that I did finish though are the ones I finished for the boys.  They turned out sooooo great!  I almost didn't want to give them away.  I was thinking that maybe I can put them on my tree and then they can just see them every year!  LOL  but I was a good Great Auntie and gave them to them.  ARGH!  LOL  but look at them!!!  Aren't they adorable?????

So that's it.  I'm sure I left out a whole bunch of stuff! But I'll fill in the blanks as they come.
 
I signed up again this year with Daffycat's TUSAL (totally useless stitch-a-long)  Follow the link/icon on my sidebar to find out more about it and join us!  Perhaps this year I will post every month.  As I told Sharon...even if it's an empty jar I'll be posting that picture on time! 

Letters for Susie...

I didn't have an update last week because I didn't do any stitching at all last weekend.  I tried but I just didn't have any stitching mojo in me.  I did manage to get it back this weekend and worked on and finished 5 golden rings.  Which was a little blurring in the picture for some reason, so I will be retaking it.  I love working on these Prairie Schooler ornaments.  These are my first PS's but once they are all done, I know that they won't be my last.  Love them!!!

Then there's Suzannah....ahhh my poor mouthless girl...she has some solid ground to stand on now...and some letters as well.  I was debating on whether I should do the flower side or the letters, and Sharon...just for you...I did the letters!  LOL

Tonight with the Stanley Cup playoff on, and the Bachelorette..I should get some serious stitching time in on my 6 Fatmen! Although I'm so comfy in my chair right now it feels like I could just sit and veg all evening too! 

How I wish it were Friday...*sigh*

Hermit Weekend & Suzannah

Had a good Friday and Saturday of stitching...Sunday I got to work a little bit on Suzannah, but certainly not as much as I would have like to, or wanted to. 

I worked on my usual IHSW project Prairie Schooler's 12 days of Christmas...this month it was 4 Calling Birds.  I love working on these pieces.

Prairie Schooler - 4 Calling Birds - 32 ct Lugana mushroom

Then I got to stitch at little on Sergei.....finished the flower anyway.  Hopefully this week I'll get a more significant amount done on him.  However, I've got some things I need to do this week that might deter me from doing so.  However Hubby is going to be working out of town starting on Friday and well into next week, so I'm thinking I'll have lots of time to stitch then.

Last but not least I've got a very "little" update on Suzannah...didn't have lots of time to stitch on her yesterday as it was Jaxon's 1st birthday yesterday and we were busy with that...once it was home time, we were just happy to sit around and do nothing. The weather was amazing yesterday and even more so today, so we were out enjoying that yesterday...today had to work...but tonight we're throwing a couple of burgers on the bbq and eating out on the patio.  I LOVE SPRING and SUMMER!!

So tonight will work on FatMen on our Monday SAL.  Can't wait to stretch them out on the qsnaps and get stitching.

Such a Successful IHSW weekend!

I had such a great stitching weekend and still had time to visit with friends, and go grocery shopping and get everything that had to be done...done! 

First and foremost I FINISHED Hummingbird!  OH MY!  It is soooo beautiful in person! No scan or picture that I took to try to capture it did it justice.  So you'll have to take my word for it.  I'm sure that Laura will be pleased.  If not then I'm taking it back and hanging it in my house! That was Friday night. You might wonder why I have signed it Lulu 2010.  Well that was because Laura was Lulu's breeder, and Lulu was born in 2010.  So I wanted her to always remember Lulu :))

Hummingbird & Fuschia by Dimensions Stitched on 32 ct Lugana Solo by Silkweavers

Then on Saturday, I stitched up PS's Three French Hens.  So I'm on track with that too.

3 French Hens by Prairie Schooler  - Stitched on 28 Ct Mushroom Lugana

Sunday was SAL Sunday with Kati.  I worked some more on Suzannah.  Her proportions are bothering me...but I'm plugging along and it will come together. I love stitching her....I really wanted to give her a head but I didn't get that far this week.  But it looks like I'll get there next weekend.

So that is my IHSW report!

IHSW post

I had a great weekend of stitching for IHSW!  Saturday I didn't get any stitching done, we took a little road trip with hubby and then went to the Lacrosse game on Saturday night, both were fantastic!  But Friday night I started and finished 2 Turtle Doves by PS!  I love working on these! 

2 Turtle Doves by Prairie Schooler - stitched on 28 ct Mushroom Lugana

Sunday was a great day of stitching as well, and because here in Alberta today was Family Day, we had a long weekend, so I spent an extra afternoon working on Hummingbird as well.  The scan doesn't do it any justice, the colors on this project are so pretty!  I'm afraid my mom is falling in love with this one and I think that she's hinting that she might want one for herself once I'm finished this one...but we'll have to see about that one.  I do think that it's stitching up pretty quickly despite all the detail.

Batteries are dead!

So I can't update pics of my TUSAL or Mary Margaret today, but I was able to scan two of my projects for this past week and weekend, and then tomorrow I will post pics.

This past weekend was International Hermit and Stitch weekend. I love the idea and concept of this weekend, because it's almost like a guiltless reason to stitch all weekend, because everyone else on the list is doing it as well.  I LOVE IT!  I didn't get to spend as much time stitching as I would have liked, we had some commitments and a Lacrosse game to go to on Saturday, and sadly I missed a stitching date with Kati & Edit because of them.  But I was with them in spirit! 

I started and finished the First day of Christmas by Prairie Schooler this weekend, so I was thrilled about that.  I am going to love working on these every month, and I think what I'm going to do is I'm going to do them in the IHSW weekends.    This is also so the start of what will be my 2 1/2 sets of 12 Days of Christmas.  I have one full set already by Margaret Sherry and then I have days 1-6 by TW...one that I have always meant to go back to but never did.  Maybe next year.  I don't know why it looks so slanted, it's straight on the fabric.  I will just have to take pics of everything when my batteries are recharged

1st day of Christmas by Prairie Schooler - 32 count Mushroom

I also started and worked on Hummingbird & Fuschias.  It's a good start, and I'll be working on that again this week.  See how far I can get with it anyway.  The scan isn't a very good one..sorry.

Talk to you tomorrow!

It's the weekend

Oh yes it is!  And it's going to be a beautiful one weather wise.  So that means working outside.  YEAH!  And doing some recycling!  Not so YEAH!  But it needs to be done and it'll be a nice pay-off in the end as well.  May even be enough to pay for a little long weekend getaway!  Hubby has been gone for a few weeks working out of town, and he's coming home to mama!  Wooo hoooo! 

I finished my April reindeer, yes I know that it's May, but I didn't stitch April's so far, so here it is.  I love it!

Two by Two - Deer by Prairie Schooler Stitched on 26 Ct White Lugana

I have my May one all set in the qsnap's already.  So we'll see what's on tv or put a good girl movie into the dvd player and see how it goes.