This is who I am

Insight

Posted on February 15, 2010 by Terri | Comments Off

Defined:

penetration: clear or deep perception of a situation

a feeling of understanding

grasping the inner nature of things intuitively

This morning when I opened my email I had notice of a lovely comment from Margie. It contained the following quote:

Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love.
They depart to teach us about loss.
A new dog never replaces an old dog;
it merely expands the heart.
If you have loved many dogs, your heart is very big.
-Erica Jong

Jasper is such a sweetheart. It’s very obvious that he was not raised in a home that spoiled him. He cringes when he jumps onto our bed – or any furniture that’s not the ‘puppy throne;’ won’t sleep in our bed at night; rarely jumps up to sit with me in my chair; doesn’t seem all that crazy about being picked up and held; sometimes runs from me when I bend over to pet him; etc. I have found this offputting, and now I know why! Now that I think back over the past couple of months I can’t tell you how many echos I have in my head of either myself or Kahuna saying how different he is from how Bandit behaved. When I read Margie’s comment it became so crystal clear that I have been trying to make him replace Bandit. I don’t know why I’ve felt this way because Bandit certainly wasn’t the first dog we’ve every had. It’s so obvious Jasper is starved for attention because if you’re sitting and not paying attention to him when he enters the room he will whine for your attention. Now I need to figure out how to make him less afraid of the things he now has that he was denied in his past life.

Thank you so much Margie for thinking of me and sharing.

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Posted in Puppies

Happy Daytona Day!

Posted on February 14, 2010 by Terri | Comments Off

Okay, I know it’s Valentines Day but Daytona Day is much much better 🙂 Besides, Kahuna already gave me my Valentines on Friday. He brought me beautiful pink roses (with one red one). They are extra special because he bought them locally. I have been trying very hard to buy from small businesses out in town whenever I have a need to shop in town. I know it costs more, but I figure the cost to me will be higher if I have to drive past a bunch of empty store fronts. It’s a good thing for me the “local” needlework shop is a couple of cities over.

Thank you gals for your hugs on “Bandit” day. I was completely unprepared for how I felt. I thought I was dealing with it very well. I think part of how hard it hit me was because I’m not feeling very well. I have Kahuna’s illness. I’ve tried to give it back. This morning I woke with no voice and having trouble breathing. Right now the breathing part is better and I have a sexy voice.

Yesterday was my monthly stitch together. We had a nice time. It was a little more subdued than normal. Many of us were up late the night before watching the Olympics Opening Ceremony, or killing people in Mafia Wars 🙂

I never switched stitchy projects and continued to stitch on Home of a Needleworker Too yesterday. Here’s my really bad progress photo:

I also purchased stash. Margaret Bendig is our ‘teacher’ and she brought in a lovely spot sampler a couple of classes back. Yesterday she brought in her pattern and it was snapped up fast at our end of the table. In fact we bought her out. The photo isn’t the best (her fault, she’s getting a better one) but it’s cross stitch with just a teensy bit of of over one (Joy can be changed to Peace). It is really quite lovely. This photo is courtesy of Darla’s cell phone 🙂

I also wanted to share photos of the stash I purchased earlier this month (listed to the right), but just don’t have the energy. It came in the mail this last week and my fingers are itching to start Thankful Wheeler.

I also purchased again yesterday. Last month I had asked the shop owner to order a couple of charts for me, but unbeknownst to me it was not time for her to order so when I showed up yesterday they still had not been ordered. I was looking for fibers for one and Margaret brought some of hers in to show me what they were like. When I got home I found a source that not only had the chart and fibers, but they were on sale as well! So, more delving into my stash budget. I think I’m tapped out 😉 I’ll share what it is when it arrives.

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Posted in Stitching

One year

Posted on February 11, 2010 by Terri | Comments Off

and it still hurts very, very bad.

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Posted in Life

Just a teensy update

Posted on February 9, 2010 by Terri | Comments Off

My emotions have been all over the place lately!

I found out last week a family member has an illness that I’m not supposed to be worrying about (advice from my mother), but I am freaking out over it.

The Saints won the Superbowl!

This week marks a year since I lost my HeartBandit.

Kahuna is sick, and I’m afraid he has pneumonia again. He’s promised to go to sick call this morning and I’m trying to be patient and not contact him to see if he’s gone.

I had another medical test yesterday and am dealing with the afteraffects of it today. Ouch. Hopefully this is the last test. I had to have it because something showed up in another test and because I’m having ‘elective surgery’ I have to be ‘healthy.’ Sigh.

My stitching has been holding me together. With that I’m still stitching on Home of a Needleworker.

I didn’t stitch last Thursday because we went out to the street market with the dogs. Harley had an accident while there and it just put me out of stitching mode when we got home. She’s okay, just a little bruised in a couple of places. (Updated: Harley got barely stepped on and because she was crowded by people and very large dogs she freaked out, got herself wound up in her leash like a yo-yo, and body-slammed herself into the street. I was standing across the street with Jasper and it was scarry watching it and not being able to stop what I knew was about to happen. I was worried that with her tied down on the ground she would get really stepped on or attacked by one of the other dogs.)

I didn’t stitch last Friday because we went to the opera! La boheme. Front row seats. Nice surprise from Kahuna.

I didn’t stitch much on Saturday because I had errands to run, salon appointment, sitting in the pharmacy for an hour, etc.

So last night I decided to just keep on going with what I’m working on since I’m enjoying it soooo much. I’m in love with GAST Sable that I’m using for the roof and the upper and lower border. I know I’ll be using it again in something. It reminds me of mink, chocolate, warmth, and right now ‘roof shingles’ 😆 I think it would be great in a quaker design.

I don’t feel too terribly bad about not switching to my next project because I am almost finished with Quaker Needlework Treasures anyway.

This Saturday is another stitchy Saturday up north and I’ll be working on Summer Queen.

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Posted in Puppies, Stitching, surgery

The influence of friends

Posted on February 2, 2010 by Terri | Comments Off

No sooner do I post that I’m going to start listing what I buy to help me cut back than I come across a post that sends me shopping! 😆

I fell in love with Thankful Wheeler the day Siobhan posted her finish on her blog (Notes from Blue Hen Hollow). I seem to remember that she stated the chart was OOP; however, today, Miss Siobhan posted that Thankful Wheeler was available, along with other charts, on The Goode Huswife site! So I had to look. Then I had to buy. Not only Thankful Wheeler, but Eliza Perry 1838 and Fanny Erb. Thank goodness I stopped, because I was also tempted by Plain and Fancy! Not too badly damaged, but my February budget is gone and it’s only the 2nd! 😆 Thank you Siobhan, I think 😉

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Posted in Stash

Photo update

Posted on February 1, 2010 by Terri | Comments Off

I’m about to sit down and start this week’s project, but wanted to get the photo stuff out of the way before I do. I’m stitching it on 32ct Creme Belfast and using the following changes for fibers (Crescent Colors/switch):

Bamboo / GAST Straw Bonnet

Razzleberry / GAST Briar Rose

Old Blue Jeans / Old Blue Jeans

Brandied Pears / WDW Palomino

Cocoa Bean / GAST Sable

Hickory Sticks / GAST Dark Chocolate

Weeping Willow / GAST Chamomile

The finished size will be 8w x 7h using the 32 count. It calls for 28 count with a finished size of 10w x 9h

Next up is my latest Summer Queen photo

Last but not least is a picture of my new ort ‘jar.’ This past Saturday Darla mentioned the SAL where everyone was saving their orts (I’m sorry I can’t remember what it’s called). I’ve been saving mine, but didn’t have anything to keep them in that the puppies couldn’t get into. I looked on Sunday while doing errands. I didn’t know what I wanted, but knew I would know it when I saw it. There’s a somewhat long joke behind the design on my ort jar. We’ll see how long it takes for someone to comment on my choice. But let’s just say that the minute I saw it, I knew it had my name written all over it 😉

Now, I’m off to snuggle with a puppy or two and my stitching while I wait on Jack Bauer 😀

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Posted in Life

January's "goal" progress report

Posted on February 1, 2010 by Terri | Comments Off

I don’t think I set any monthly goals and I don’t know if I’m going to. I think what I’d rather do is just post progress reports for myself on my goals for this year. So here’s where I am so far:

1. Actual Stitching

What I want: Mirabilia Summer Queen – I’m already stitching this and it has to be finished and framed by mid-May in order to be entered into the fair. I’m thinking I may stitch on this every Saturday and Sunday as well as devoting a full week to it. The rest of the items I’ll stitch on Monday – Friday.

Where I am: I have faithfully stitched on Summer Queen every Saturday and Sunday, plus 1 week (this past week). I’m pleased with my progress so far.

What I want: Carriage House Houses of Hawk Run Hollow – It will satisfy more than one ‘requirement’ for my rotation. There are 12 blocks and I am going to attempt to stitch one a month. I have a yard size piece of 40 ct Vintage Maple Sugar already in my stash, and I have been collecting the NPIs over the past year for this design and the Village. Just need to measure twice, cut once, surge and go!(Fortunately, the other two HRH designs have not tempted me, but I hear there’s an autumnal design in the works and I may be in B.I.G. trouble when it comes out.)

Where I am: I started this design but switched to Vintage Sand Dune. Since Kathy announced Autumn of Hawk Run Hollow is going to be on Sand Dune, I’m really glad I did. I don’t know if I am too ambitious, or if my preparing my fabric put me behind, but I didn’t get the first block finished.

What I want: Glory Bee Flying Monkies – new and small. I want to put this over my desk at work so I can just point to it 🙂

Where I am: I finished this and it’s sitting on my desk right this second. I purchased fabric and fibers for finishing yesterday and it’s going in the mail today to be finished off! Woohoo! This stitching slot will be filled by Home of a Needleworker, Too!

What I want: With My Needle Quaker Needlework Treasures – this has been around for over a year (I think even over 2!) and will fall into the ‘smalls’ category. I will decide whether or not to attempt the actual finishing once I get all the stitching done. I may just ‘farm’ it out. I do have everything for all the parts, etc., kitted.

Where I am: I made such great progress on this project this month. I am going to start looking for someone to finish it for me. I’ll first contact the sweet lady who’s doing the work on Flying Monkeys to see if she’s interested. If I happen to finish the stitching on this design during February, I’ll probably be slotting in another already started “necessities” project. If I don’t have one, then I’ll be starting a new one from my stash, that’s already kitted.

2. Framing –

What I want: Most of the designs I would like to see framed this year will be going on a ‘sampler wall’ in my bedroom. I am aiming for at least 6 designs.

Where I am: I have Token of Love ready to go to the framers, I’m just waiting on them to have a sale.

3. Stash Enhancement – I have myself on a stitching budget. I am going to try really, really hard to not purchase anything but we all know how that usually goes 😆 so I’m budgeting. I have tons of fabric, so really can’t see myself buying any of that in the future and am going to try to stitch as much from my stash as possible. One thing that has worked for me in the past is to trade for things. I may try that when I start on #4 below.

Where I am: I knew going in this one was going to be hard on me. I’m doing better than I thought I would though. I did make some purchases, but when it came to kitting a new design, I switched fibers to make sure I could stitch as much as possible from my stash. I think in future months, I’m going to list everything I buy so I can see just how *bad* I’m being 😉

4. Stash Downsizing – I am going to be thinning out my stash. I have some fibers to get rid of (anyone need to purchase the complete set of Vikki Clayton silks for HoHRH?) and I even want to sell some of my fabric. I know I have some duplicates in charts to weed through, plus my tastes have changed over the past 30+ years. I’ll be doing a lot of eBaying (user name is mcbcpsdca) and will post here when new stuff is going up and may even post things for trade before putting them up on eBay.

Where I am: I suppose stitching from my stash falls into this category somewhat. I did pass my Flying Monkeys on to another stitcher for a cup of coffee! 😆 I have started pulling things and listing them on my blog and linking to them on my photopage.

So that’s where I am. I need to post a photo of Summer Queen (was too tired to drag the camera out last night) and a before picture of Home of a Needleworker, and post the fiber changes I’m making. I can’t believe it’s Monday already. Saturday was spent up north stitching with friends all day, and Sunday was errand day. I really don’t like weekends like this past one because I feel like I don’t get any downtime, even though I’m spending all day Saturday stitching.

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Posted in Carriage House Samplings, Framing, Goals, Mirabilia, Stitching, With My Needle

What I'm stitching next~

Posted on January 30, 2010 by Terri | 1 comment

Wow, thank you for your comments. It’s so nice to know I have a little audience. I really wasn’t expecting anyone to weigh in and now that you have, I wish that I had put it out there as a giveaway! I will next time since I have so many things I want to stitch and it’s always hard for me to decide.

I took all the designs with me to my Saturday Stitch-in. I also took a lot of light colored fabrics and almost all my GAST and WDW since I am trying so hard to stitch from my stash. So, since *we* have decided upon Home of a Needleworker (too!) I was able to *match* all the fibers, but ended up buying the blue for the house because I was afraid I wouldn’t have enough of the blue I had in my stash. I will post my fiber/fabric conversion on Monday 🙂

In puppy news, Harley Quinn made her second *kill* today. We feed finches just outside our patio and she is always darting out the door scarring them off. Today she caught one and was kind enough to leave feathers and the head strewn all over the house for her daddy to find. I’m so glad I wasn’t here!

I have several errands that must be run tomorrow so I have no idea how much stitching time I’ll get in. I didn’t stitch as much today as usually do. There was a whole love of laughing though, and browsing through the shop. I purchased a new set of 11″ q-snaps, the latest SANQ, and 1 Crescent Colors.

Oh, and before I forget! Kathy has posted the fiber list for Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow on her blog 🙂

1 Comment

Posted in Puppies, Stitching

What to stitch next?

Posted on January 29, 2010 by Terri | 6 comments

I don’t know what I did but yesterday late in the afternoon at work my right wrist started bothering me. By the time I left I could barely use my right hand to drive home. It was hurting me so much by the time I got home I seriously contemplated taking some of Kahuna’s ‘left over’ oxicodone. Needless to say we didn’t make it out to town to pick up the puppies’ new clothes. Plus, I couldn’t find my brace so didn’t sleep all that well last night because it bothered me when I turned in certain positions. So this morning I’m pooped and very much glad it’s Friday. It’s still bothering me, but not near as much. In fact, I haven’t taken any sort of pain killer.

Anyway since it hurt to move, I didn’t stitch. I thought about trying it but was worried the constant, repetitive motion might make it worse since I don’t know what I did to hurt it.

Instead, I dug around in my stash looking at smallish patterns for my new project, while watching Vampire Diaries. Here’s what I’ve narrowed it down to:

Chessie & Me – Love Liberty

Katidid – Come Gather

Little House Needleworks – Home of a Needleworker (too!)

Little House Needleworks – Necessities Sampler

Sheepish Designs – Eagle

Little By Little – Black Heart Samplar

Lilybet – Spots

Ewe and Eye and Friends – Primitive Sheep

Blackbird Designs – Grand Old Flag

I had 3x this many pulled when I first began going through them! 😆

Now, which one should I stitch?

6 Comments

Posted in Injury, Stitching

Things are not as they seem

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Terri | 1 comment

First, my post below about us going to the superbowl….our team, not us personally 😉

I hate it when I have expectations about something and they don’t pan out.

I just knew I was going to get a ton of stitching done this week but that hasn’t happened. Work has been crazy. My hours were increased this week and I’m back to working full time. While I know I’m going to enjoy the money, I really hate losing those 2 hours a day to stitch. Doesn’t that just figure that I finally get my stitching mojo back and now I lose stitching time. When I have been stitching, I keep getting interrupted.

As to work I can’t figure out how those 2 extra hours are helping me. I’m spending tons of time waiting on stuff to download and process, etc., and not getting any substantive work done…or at least that’s how I feel. I will say moving to the larger desk has helped. I now have more desktop to sprawl over, and let me tell you I’m taking advantage of it! 😉

Tonight we’re taking the puppies out to the weekly street market. They get a hotdog, love the socialization, always get lots of attention, and did I mention they get a hotdog. In the summertime they get ice cream too. Tonight they’re getting new clothes. We’ve had a new harness made for Harley Quinn, and a martingale (same fabric, different color) for Jasper. We’re celebrating that he’s officially ours. I got the paperwork back from the rescue society on Tuesday 😀

I wish I had a stitching picture to share, but nope…I’m too lazy/tired to drag the camera out! 😆 I need to dig through my stash this weekend and figure out what I’m going to put in “Flying Monkeys'” stitchy spot. I’ve got a stitchalong on Saturday and I’ll take FM with me, and then I’m sending it out for finishing…which reminds me, I need to answer an email about that.

Ciao.