I never really left

I'm back, but I never really left.   I just haven't had the time, or felt that I even had too much to say.  My blog has been so sadly neglected, I'm surprised Blogger hasn't decided to shut it down for lack of use. My bad!  I have been active on Facebook and Instagram, and even here actually, just not on my own blog.  I have been reading all of your blogs.  I never give that up. And I'm not giving up my blog either, I will try harder.  I promise.

You know I thought that now that we are running our own business, and quite frankly I haven't been in to the shop now to actually work at my office there for over 10 months.  I have managed to make everything so mobile and accessible, that I can work from anywhere in the world.  Mostly my desk from home, but we went to Mexico and was able to still conduct the minimal amount of business ( just checking that everything was running smoothly) and even if we are on a road trip.  Calls are forwarded to my cell phone, email is accessible from anywhere!  So essentially out business is in my "back pocket or pocketbook" so to speak.  Which I love.    That being said you would think that I would have lots of time to write on my blog, to stitch, to read, to do leisurely things.  WRONG!  I do...but to another extent I feel like I am sitting at the computer I should be doing work instead of indulging in personal things.  It's hard to explain.  But needless to say I am going to rectify that. I am going to try to update at least once a week...so you can hold me to it.

I have been doing some stitching.  Here's an update on all the projects I have completed since my last update back in JUNE!!!  Good Grief....well if you look at it that way then I really haven't accomplished too much in the stitching department either.  When I do get to stitch though it is very relaxing.  I have been reading lots too, so that cuts into the stitching as well.

So here we go....

  Snowflake Reindeer by Daffy Cat Designs

 Snowman Trio by CCN

Christmas Chick by Heritage Crafts - Valerie Pfieffer

1st 8 days of Christmas by Plum Street Samplers

The 12 days are all on the same piece of fabric, but for some reason the lighting must have been weird on the 7th day, cause it looks completely different.  These will all be made into ornaments for this year's Stitching Tree.

I feel bad about dropping our SAL piece with Kati and Lynda, I have to pick that up too, I see that Kati has picked her's back up.  And I'm going to work on it on a stitch as I go basis.  I don't get much time to stitch on Sunday's anymore, as we have bought two race horses as well (as if we don't have enough to manage) and they usually race on Sundays.  So we are out watching them on the weekends.  Camping season is going to start up here soon as well, which means Sunday's will be taken up unloading and putting away the camping gear.  It'll all sort itself out.

I also want to finish up the 12 days....and I have a finished piece that I need to take a picture of.  So I am thinking I will have another update here very soon.

Thanks for sticking with me if you are still out there.  I promise I will make time.

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. 

Live, Love, Laugh

It's done...and I love it!  I am so glad that I won the opportunity to stitch this pattern as it made it's way around the world.  You still have until the end of the week to sign up to be a part of it...just go down to this post and leave your name in the comment section and on the 31st I'll pick the next leg of it's journey.

In the mean time let me show it off.  I tried the best that I could to show the sparkle in it, but as usual, nothing ever shows up on a picture as it does in real life.  It's stitched on Peppermint Twist Opalescence by Silkweaver...I think it was from their holiday collection fabrics.  I think it went perfectly with this piece.

That being done I have put in a few of the first stitches to Mirabilia's - Elizabeth.  I don't think that I am going to be getting very much done on it though tonight because hubby and I are having a date night tonight :)  and tomorrow is Humboldt day...so we'll see how far I can get.

Overdue Update

Well, here I am!  It's 2014!  Happy New Year everyone!  How is your year going so far?  Mine is fantastic!!!!  I can't even tell you why, it's just a feeling I have surrounding me!  It's going to be a great year!

Lots of little finishes to share with you.

The first two are actually not even really cross stitch patterns.  They are actually knitting patterns!  Who knew!!  I found these on Pinterest...and when I actually looked at the sites they were for mittens etc.  Well I decided that I would stitch them....and aren't they going to be adorable ornaments  :)
The deer is from Fabulous Fair Isle's Pinterest board...not sure where the original came from.  But that's what I worked off of.  I'm calling this Knitting Deer.

 This was another Pinterest find...Called Bird Thumb...which I am guess is to be knitted on the thumb of a mitten.  It can be found here.

 I love this little pinecone ornament.  Kati had stitched this either last year or the year before and I fell in love with it then.  Finally this year I actually got around to stitching it.  It will look great on the tree next year (oops...this year).  This freebie can be found here

 Another ornament that Kati has stitched that I just had to stitch is this little cardinal.  Isn't it pretty?  It's called Peace Cardical, but I didn't stitch the work peace on it.  It stands alone quite nicely without the word.
The freebie chart for this one can be found here.

 And the last of the freebies that I stitched this season (actually truth be told these were all stitched after Christmas...I was on a small's roll...I have hundreds of pretty little freebies and I just loved working on them.  They are quick and satisfying stitching.  But back to Stocking Reindeer.  A Daffycat original.  I have all her reindeer stitched up now...so just waiting for the 2014 addition now :)  You can email her thru her blog if you are interested in getting this one or any of her other reindeer or freebies.

 And last but certainly not least....my Sunday SAL with Kati.  Silver Linings Humboldt Coast is coming along nicely.  The picture really doesn't do it justice at all.  It's coming along quite nicely.  With a couple of breask due to summer and Christmas, we have been stitching on this project every Sunday for a year now!  Wow!!

So tonight I am going to start a new project.  Mirabilia's Elizabeth! I'm so excited!  I haven't stitched  a Mira in a while now, so I'm glad to be doing one now.  I'll be posting updates as I go along :)

The Stockings Were Hung

I haven't shown a close up picture of our stockings in a few years now, so I thought that I would revisit them again for you.  And show you the new one that was added this year.  This year we add baby Liam's to the family stockings.  Liam is a joy to behold, he wakes up with a huge smile on his face and lights up even the gloomiest day just by being him.  We love our baby Liam and we can't wait to watch him grow into an amazing man.  His Mother's stocking Nicola, hangs between her two precious sons Liam and Jaxon.  The rays of sunshine in our family.

I'm also posting pictures of my recent finishes.  Next year I have to resolve to post more often. :)  The first two are by Sharon Bennett of DaffyCat Designs.  This fine lady much to my enjoyment designs one of these gorgeous little deer each year....and I am only too happy to stitch them up and hang them proudly on my tree.   These two are Ribbon Reindeer and Xmas Tree Reindeer.   I still have to stitch up stocking reindeer and I will have that done before the year is up.

 

Next up is Mary's Sampler, the Sunday SAL that was posted by Paulette of Plum Street Samplings.  I love this design.....not sure how I am going to finish it yet, but I'm going to display this somehow in my house as well.  :)

 

 

My last finish update is Redbirds Rejoice by Blue Ribbon Designs from 2013 JCS Xmas issue, there are several more that I still want to stitch out of this on but time ran out....so I'll do them as time goes by. :)

 

And finally one of the finish of the ornaments that I finished this year.  I give you all HOPE....when I was down by the tree today it just struck me as being so pretty I thought I would share it with you.

 

Peace and Joy everyone!





A late finish

Well this year, as year's before, I have wanted to do more Halloween stitching and I never manage to do more than one per year.  So tradition holds and I was able to finish the cross stitching on 1 Halloween project this year.  This is Owl-O-Ween by Blackberry Lane Designs out of the 2013 JCS Halloween issue.

I was going to take a pic of the progress I made on Humboldt yesterday but I left my bag with my camera in it in my office, so I will have to take it tomorrow.

Hubby brought me home some "because I love you" flowers as well that I want to take a pic of too.   He's so perfect!!!!  :)

It's November already?

Can you believe that it's November already??  I can't!!!  This year went by so fast!  the summer was like a blink,  fall is just as quick!  We are setting back the clocks this weekend (this I am NOT upset about) I can use that extra hour in the morning.  It is so dark at 5:30 in the morning it feels like it's the middle of the night!  Not that it's going to be much different an hour later, but still....it'll be closer to daybreak.

Hunting season has arrived at our house.  which means that I will become a hunting widow...which is not bad...because that's when I become a stitching goddess!  LOL  Hubby has already left for the weekend so that leave me and Mom and Lulu.  Yea...girls weekend...lots of stitching for me.  My plans for tonight....taking a nice long bubble bath and then stitching until midnight!  aaaahhhhh  heaven!

So yesterday was Halloween at the clinic, it was so much fun.  It was nice because almost everyone dressed up this year.  (must be new management...tee hee hee)  I was the Queen of Hearts this year, Shelley was the Mad Hatter, and Ashley was Alice.  We were definitely a hit, lots of patients asked us to pose together so they could take pics.

I've had a finish and some progress pics to show.  There's a Halloween piece that I was working on but it didn't get finished in time.  I am going to finish cross stitching it this weekend though and I'll post that when it's done.  I finished another Dimensions ornament Ho Ho Ho.  Love the way it turned out.  I have to one weekend this month do a finishing weekend as well, so that all these ornaments will make it to my tree this year.  I also started and am participating in Plum Street Samplers Sunday Mystery sampler...called Mary's Sampler 2.  There are two versions, 1 and 2...2 having more detail. It turns out to be a nice little morning stitch on Sunday mornings and then I move on to Humboldt Coast, which I haven't worked on for a few Sunday's but I did manage this past Sunday.

So that's it....That's about as caught up as I'm going to be today.....have a great Friday everyone!

So Late!

You know I look at my blog everyday, mainly to get to see what all of you are doing on your blogs. And I have stuff to show (updates, finishes) but do I do them?  Nooooo. Too busy?  probably not.  Nothing to say? I always have something to say (as my husband..lol) Too lazy?  Probably.  Argh.  Sorry...I don't mean to be neglectful...it just happens.  But here I am.  All set with some late photos as well.

First.  My Sunday SAL with Kati.  humboldt is coming along, slowly but surely.  We went away last weekend so I didn't get a chance to stitch on it last week, but this sunday I was able to have a little time and sat and stitched.  So here's the progress so far.  It's a cold rainy weekend here this weekend and hubby has to work Sat and Sun., boohoo but it will give me plenty of stitching time so hopefully after all the household chores and grocery shopping on Saturday the rest of the weekend will be dedicated to some serious stitching.

Second.  I finished Jaxon's Christmas ornament..well the stitching part of it, not the "finishing" part of it.  He's in an owl phase at the moment, so one day we can look back at all of them and we'll tell him the story of how he walked around hoo-hooing all the time.  He'll love that when he's 15...don't ya think?  lol I don't know who the designer is on this (sorry)  I found it on the internet and had it saved in my freebies folder, but with no details.

Third.  My TUSAL update.  Orts are from the two projects above, that's it.  Hopefully more next month.

Updates

Hola!  Well ladies, Mexico was wonderful!!!  We had a couple of cool days but that was ok, gave us time to take in some dance lessons and do a little shopping.  And let the burns settle into nice tans.  I will organize some pics and share those here soon.

 

My stitching mojo was a little off since I've been back.  Was busy getting back into the swing of things and just plain being too tired at the end of the day to do anything but sit and watch tv or read, my stitching was one of those things that went by the way side.  It was back in time for my Sunday SAL with Kati on Humboldt Coast.  I am pretty impressed with my progress on Sunday.  It was a cold snowy day, so it was easy to sit in my comfy chair here by the window and watch it snow and stitch all afternoon.

I finished this little piece before I left for Mexico, it's been done by a couple of my favorite stitchers already and I was dying to do it was well, and finally this year I did it.  YEAH  I love it!!

Last and not least...my belated TUSAL.  Just threads from these two projects this past month.  Hopefully more next new Moon.

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.

Hurray for Hollywood!

I just love the Oscars!  I find it perfect stitching television.  And last night was no exception.  I get the room to myself as hubby is not a big fan, so he goes into the bedroom or whichever room he chooses to watch something on Discovery, or the sports channel, and sit back in my recliner with a cool glass of ice tea and my stitching and enjoy the show.  But not just the Oscars....oh no....I must watch all the red carpet shows to see what everyone is wearing.  Lovely lovely dresses...some not so hot, but that's ok.

So I got quite a bit done on Humboldt Coast, I would have liked to have made more progress but c'est la vie.  It's coming along slowly but surely.

Have a couple of finishes to report.  The first being one that I have had in my possession since it was released, but I hasn't gotten around to doing it.  But last weekend during hermit week, I started and finished it.  I just love it.  Not sure how I'm going to finish it yet, so I'll live with it for a bit and see what it developes into.
*** Edited...  This design is by Just another button company and it's called Lovebird.

Then this weekend I started and finished what seems to be the freebie of the month.  Merry Christmas Deer by The Little Stitcher.  Love this one too, and this will definitely be finished as an ornament.

I'm thinking about my trip to Mexico now, and I actually bought our sunscreen this weekend! Weeeeeeeee!!!! and a new pair of flipflops. In the next couple of weekends, I think I`m going to look for a new swimsuit.  Not that I really relish that fact, and I don`t really need one.....I just want one.  We`ll see, still have a while to think about it.

....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.



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!