Milestone Day

My youngest turned 10 today.  Big milestone for him.  Of course now he cant wait to drive the trucks…

For now he will have to deal with the Kick Ass new bike he got (after he gets the hang of riding it)

I havent been able to really sit down and relax or stitch much.  See I was a tad overwhelmed this week, having completely misplaced the date of the BIG DAY.  So blaming the business of late Feb early March.

But the party was put together and a good time had by all. (and for the record Bullwinkle’s Family Fun Center is LOUD!!)

I do have some updates of what I have been able to pick up and add x’s to.

First is Snowy Night by Prairie Schooler.  Not much added but some better than none.

Next Stained Glass Pine by Ink Circles.  Ive been working on this one this evening.  Adding more of the outside outline.

Then Quaker Study by CHS.  This was pulled out this weekend while I waited for P to finish his Saturday Academy class.  He is taking microbiology, getting his hands on for CSI stuff.  Good stitching time for me with the 2.5hrs of waiting.

And finally His Name.  I just cant get a good stitching rhythm on this piece.  Im blaming all that darn yellow.  Its a gift and not for me but all that yellow is hard to get through.

Thank you for the comments on framed Tanglewood.  It was fun picking out the right colors of mats and the cut-outs.  Only the top was chosen and that style keeps with the leaves and bends of the tree.  Now to find that perfect spot on a wall…

Practice

I spent more working on casting on and moving on to the first knit row today.  This evening I even tried a second knit row and failed spectacularly!  Learning what works for me and how to loosen up my stitches.

I was using #7 needles today and seemed to have better luck, at least with the looser stitches for the most part.

Only other major thing I did was work more on Quaker Stocking.

Finished two motifs, each one is a mini happy dance – closer to finishing.  I’ll take those where I can.

Brine’n

The turkey is in the brine!  Frozen and thawing.  Im planning on cooking it Wed so its not hogging oven time from other dishes.  I hope its thawed by then.  I read its how Alton brines his birds, so here’s to hoping it works for me too.

I so scored today.  Got a 23lb bird (Butterball as per request), and got enough groceries for another bird for free (store brand), 16lb.  Both will be cooked this week and with luck I wont have to cook meat for a while.

Soups, casseroles and sandwiches galore!

While searching for my Holiday recipes I found the Egg Nog bread and pumpkin cookie recipes.  I made sure I got the items needed to make those this week – my house is going to smell so good!

I have stitch updates – actual pictures!!

Mother Maya – I have a goal for Nov, to see how much I can complete the box motif.  It holds a monkey and shouldnt (famous last word) be too complicated to finish.  I am thankful the border lined up on the first try.  Maybe its making up for the trouble the eagle motif caused?

Quaker Stocking – Not too much added but a finished motif (dk green on lower right) and a couple letters this week (E & F). 

 

I also worked on LOTR Map but only added a length of thread so no pic.

Bit by bit and projects will be completed.

Until tomorrow – Happy stitching :o)

Mish-mash

Is it wrong to dislike what may be the last bit of good weather of summer?  I was placed in such a good fall mood last week that I'm missing the dreary grey clouds and mist/rain. We now have wonderful sun, not too hot, almost breezy for a light sweater or jacket.

The acts of forgetting most needed items for school have begun. Elder son forgot to tell or remind me of at lest two things last week (which resulted in lots of driving around looking for elusive heffalumps) and already missing items this week (it's only Monday!!). I'm waiting for son #2 to start in...  And Boy #1 made my point again tonight!  Thankfully it didnt involve any gasoline (good thing as Ive already changed into my not-going-anywhere-else-comfy-clothes) but did involve raking my brain to remember milestones of his life so far.  Bad mom that I am I dont have baby books for either of my kids.  Nor do I scrapbook (although thanks to my awesome mil they each have one).  What I do have is a somewhat ok memory.  And I was able to pull some funny tidbits out of my brain, first airplane ride, first tooth, first camping trip and so on.  Also added some sad ones such as Homer (cat – first pet) passing last year and the first person he knew personally passing away 5 years ago (My paternal grandma).  More than enough to get his brain going.

Stitchy update – I found the camera!  And no it hadnt been put away, just hidden under computer stuff.

First off, thank you so much for your wonderful comments on Indian Summer.  Im happy to be able to share a fun project with others, see what others have done with their fabric and thread choices and finishes.  I had the fabric picked for the BBD Halloween stockings but it was perfect for this as well.

Three Gables – Last time I worked on this was late last fall.  Poor thing was practically screaming for x’s to be added.  As Im doing filler work, this is my current train project

Renaissance Angel – Shes had more recent x’s added (March) but she was also started after Three Gables.  I was able to finish her, need to work on the wings and bs and she will be done.  Then its the fiddly-bits on either side.  Lots of satin stitches and those are taking much thinking (and painful at that)

Quaker Stocking – not much was added, was trying to stitch on this while on the train back from PAX, too much jostling and the thread was wanting to knot up in the worst way.

That is all for now as its already time for bed (Where does time fly to?)

More colors

Not on me this time!  But before I get to post name gotta get other business done :P

Ive been doing more checking out on the Kinetix site and decided I didnt have the correct figures for what I should be eating.  So from 7-6-6 its now 6-5-5, basically ~1600 cal daily.  Now its on to building MY meal plan.  Thankfully most of the meals I have been making fall in to these ranges and the boys will eat them.

I took today off, was really tired last night and went to bed early.  I still set my alarm but made the decision to stay in bed.  Nice to take a day off here an there but I try for only one per week.

I got Jillian Michaels’ 30-day shred and got my ass handed to me.  O M G does she make you work out!!  I have muscles that are still barking at me 2 days after the fact.  Tomorrow is a run/walk day for me and Wed I will do the 30-day shred again.  Im still on track burning 300-500 cal per day.

Thats enough for the fit update, now on to the good stuff

More color added to my Quaker Stocking!! Shows a bit more changes Ive made.  My initials will be made in the pink instead of having my name across the top

Well thats all the updates I have for now.  More to come soon :o)

Wait for it…

I have pictures today!!  I got smart and took them this morning when I had a free moment and the oomph.

BBD Snow Garden

LHN Neighborhood

CHS Quaker Stocking

Loki – He is a WIP!!  (lol)

Trying hard to fit in a tiny box

Get’n my groove on

 

My jeans have gotten a bit easier to fit in.  Ive been keeping up with my new regimen of up at 5am (ack!), working out for 30 min, drinking over 64 oz water a day, and eating my calories – smarter!

To date Ive lost ~5 lbs and 4.5 inches (over all).  I was stoked when I did the math today.

D got me 1lb glove weights to use with Wii Active.  Not up to using them with that work out but I have added them with my “rest” days when walking on the treadmill, get more action out of my arms :o)

Stitching news

I started another new project.  Carriage House Samplings Quaker Stockings.

Couldnt help myself!  These have been on my outer radar for a while and due to the news I jumped and got the chart, fabric & colors.  I will be working on 32ct Silvery Moon Belfast linen and using NPI colors 663, 666 & 633 (greens & dk coral). 

Once I finish mine (riiight) I will be doing recon to see what colors to do for D’s

Mother Maya has been coming along quite nicely

During my shopping today I got helpers

These are +150 and I hope strong enough to help but light enough not to mess up my eyes.  I chose these as each set has their own sturdy case.  Its the fabrics 36 + that are causing me counting fits – hope these help me at least see the holes if not count :P

Weekend update

Quick update on stitchy progresses from the week.

Quaker Study - finished the flowers over the line of alphabet completed during the weekend.

Midnight Watch - this one was causing me so much grief.  I had a wonderful friend even take it from me last Tuesday to see if she could find the missing stitch.  We ended up agreeing that it was just meant to be – so I hid it as best I could.

Home of a Needleworker – I had hoped to have this completed this weekend but it doesnt seem to be.  I am damn close though!  The bottom border should be great for stitching on the train.

Had family over for dinner tonight – last b-day gathering for me this year.  Pizza and fruit salad.  Pizza was ok but the salad was wonderful.  Will need to remember the fruit combo for the future. mmm mango :o)

Thanks for stopping by

Strange noises

This evening while DL was supposed to be doing chores he came to us concerned about a strange noise.  After playing 20 questions about where the noise may be coming from and what it sounded like we found water pouring down the door of our washing machine!

After stopping the cycle we found 1/2 of the glass on the inside had broken and fallen off!  Thankfully I had just started the load and the piece was still pretty much in one solid section (a few slivers may be missing).  Now this machine is just about 2 years old – so just for that Im extremely miffed.  Thankfully I was smart and took the extended warranty when we bought the darn thing.  Now to see how long it takes for it to get fixed.

For those who want to know – Its a Frigidaire.

So I got things together while D wrung out the clothes in the washer and off I went to a local Laundromat to finish my weekly washing.  More things Im thankful for is that we have one close and I only had 2 loads to wash.  So much for a quiet Sunday :op

Stitchy update!

While I did work a smidge on Tanglewood after posting Friday Its not enough to warrant a picture update.  Leaves have been added but nothing else.  Many thanks for all the wonderful comments on how this project is coming along.  Those are such a boost to getting my projects completed :o)

A Quaker Study was pulled out as I needed something else to work on.

This first bit was added quickly and I hope the rest goes just as fast.

Hope all your Mondays are like Wednesdays!

Birthday Wishes

Many, many thanks for all the wonderful birthday wishes.  I had a great day.  Lunch out with the work gang, dinner & cake with the family and more cake with my stitch gals at A&T!

Dinner was Tri-tip steak with mashed potatoes, green beans and wonderful bread.  Dessert was ice cream cake from Dairy Queen (100% ice cream – no cake in this bad boy.  And that yummy crunchy chocolate middle!).  I’d been drooling over the steak since I bought it on Sat, it was yummy!

So far for birthday stash I got LHN Poinsettia House and Prairie Moon’s Merry Xmas.  And just like with Christmas, the festivities are stretched for at least a week as I meet with others in my extended family so more stash could be coming :P

Stitch update!

I have a picture to show the tone on tone for Quaker Study (always want to type that as quacker!)

After getting this very small bit stitched, Im even happier with my color choices.  Lets hear it for internal arguments!  The green-blue heavy over-dye (by that I mean extremely variegated) would have been too over whelming for this fabric.  The solid threads do it justice.

Well Im off to roll myself into bed.  Hope to get on something of an exercise schedule – next week, after all the cake.  I’ll need one then!

So not ready

for heading back to work tomorrow.  Its been great staying up til wee hours in the morning and waking up later and later.  Even though I did have to login and work last week, I was still able to sleep in and then just work in my jammies if I wanted (and did most of the time :P)

I gifted myself a new chart (kitted up and all) on New Years.  Carriage House Samplings’ A Quaker Study,  Fabric is Spice by Colorscapes (36ct) using NPI 224 & 226

I was originally going to use a limited edition CC thread, cant remember the color but it was a very variegated green-blue with the same fabric.  Ive been having internal arguments over that combo for quite a while and finally decided to go with solid colors and use the same tone on tone that was used on the model.  Fellow stitchers and gals at A&T, so helpful when it comes to fabric & floss tossing!

Now for a pic of letters K & N on the wall of their new home

Niece N wants to color the mat around her picture.  Ive asked her to wait and we will take the mat out for her to color and put it back in when she is done.  That way she can be part of her present :)

Small Happy Dance – The sky is complete on Tanglewood! 

I also have only outline x’s to complete on the branches.  Page 2 is almost complete and then its on to the bottom of the chart.

Thank you for all your wonderful comments :)