All By Myself

I did it! I actually went to the movies by myself :o) I know this might not be a big thing for most but it was always something I wondered if I could do. And I did it! Me, Myself and I. Oh wait, does that mean I went with two other people? ;o)

All week the theatres have been playing matinee movies for a toonie! That means two dollars here :o) So yesterday after treatment, I "treated" myself to Shrek The Third. It was a weird sensation being there alone but I wasn't really uncomfortable. The movie itself...I was a little disappointed. Definitely not my favorite Shrek.

On Wednesday afternoon, DH and I were able to take advantage of the cheap matinee and we saw Evan Almighty. Now that had some funny moments! We had a great time and again; I got to indulge in my orange slushie. Ahhhhhhhh.... :oP Seriously, this is the only place that I know of; in this city that has them! Grrrr!

My next challenge? That would be to eat in a restaurant by myself. I think that's going to be a little harder. Does anyone else have problems doing these things by themselves? I tell you, it sure makes your confidence feel good when you can overcome a fear.

Btw, my Halloween SAL is completely stitched! Keep an eye out this weekend for a picture of it in its finished form :o)

Off To The Frex

It's that time of year again. Our annual fair starts this Sunday and preparations are being made to enter some items in the exhibition. I just picked up Gathering Eggs from the framer today and here she is -

Although I am not crazy about this piece, I do love the frame that I chose for her. Whether she will be a winner or not remains to be seen but I highly doubt she will be Grand Champion material. I guess I have to give up that title at some point ;o) Speaking of which, I saw Katie's Mirabilia Cherub entry and she's FA-BU-LOUS!

There are a few other classes I'm going to enter but my entries will be small this year. I usually enter the photography classes but I didn't get my act together fast enough so I will have to pass that up this year :o( I had some good pictures picked out too!

I think it's been about seven years now that I have been entering my work. There is a lot of preparation but I'm still having fun and that's the main point. Although winning money is always good, what I really enjoy is looking at all the items people have created. There is so much talent out there!

If you have a local fair, why not investigate and see if they have an exhibition where you can enter your items. Whether it's a small or big fair, the joy should still be the same and really, this is something that you should enjoy doing :o) A lot of people are so critical of their work that they refuse to let it be seen. I say, "What's the point?" Let others enjoy looking at something you made or created. Don't worry whether people will like it or not. What would the world be like if we all liked the same things? Take a chance. Have some fun :o)

Hammy's Revenge

He's back again and he's determined!

Yesterday morning I got to enjoy watching the little bugger as he was trying out his new plan of attack on the shed. I saw this red/brown streak run across the top of the dog kennel and pop up on the other side of the shed roof. His aim...under the eave. What Hammy failed to realize though was that the roof is trimmed with bent metal. Have you ever seen a squirrel trying to hold onto something so slippery? I just about died laughing, although DH not so much! LOL! One minute he'd be hanging off the siding and then the next he'd be hanging by one arm or falling through the air, legs desperately trying to grab anything that his little nails could hold onto :o)

Has he given up yet? Nope! The last time I saw him, he was heading for the ground. My guess is that his next attack will be aimed at the wooden door :oS

Finish Thirty-Two

No, this isn't my Halloween SAL but a little project I've had in my stash for awhile now and I really wanted to stitch it :o) This is Wipe That Pumpgrin Off Your Face by San Man Originals -

As you 'should' know by now, I am a pumpkin freak...hint, hint ;o) Since I rarely use glue to finish my projects, it took awhile for me to figure out how to go about making the project into a small wall hanging as instructed -

I don't usually work with Aida so pulling threads was not a fun task. I had enough fabric on either side to bring around the back and then I stitched them closed so you can't see the back of my stitching :o) I also did a blanket stitch through two layers of Aida just above the fringe as extra support. I used the threads that I pulled from the Aida so they blend in very well. I'm definitely happy with how it turned out.

I also brought out Noah's Crew for our trip down to the ocean on Sunday and I made a bit more progress on that. Now I have four out of the thirteen pieces completed. Here's what I have done so far (the rabbit was already done) -

These pieces really don't take a lot of time. I should just finish the project but it's a good one for the car since the holes are big enough to see ;o)

My Halloween SAL is in the works and I'm doing well. I don't believe I have ever stitched on 32 count black Lugana before and boy...I'm not sure if I want to again! Oye! I'm a little disappointed with my readers though. No one has guessed my two favorite things yet. I just gave away one hint and I thought that was an obvious one! LOL!

Barking Mad

What do you call a family with only two grandchildren but EIGHT grand-dogs???? Barking mad, that's what! LOL! I kid you not and here is the picture to finally prove it -

From left to right we have Samson (the devil of the bunch), Brie (the instigator), Buddy (the old man), Duncan (the slow child), Briar (the obsessive compulsive), Misha (the gentle bear), Cassy (the long distance runner) and Stella (the shy one).

As you can see, they all have very different personalities. Yesterday was the first time that the eight dogs have been together all at once. Surprisingly there weren't too many scuffles although Duncan decided right off the bat that he did not care for Cassy so he found himself in the kennel for part of the day :o( Brie was kept inside or close to us for the whole day because she is the smallest of the pack and usually gets swarmed by the other dogs. No one is out to hurt one another but it's best to keep on the safe side of things. I'm sure all eight 'cousins' are tired today. Brie has not even stirred and it's going on 2 pm!

So, yesterday found DH and I down at the ocean for a family celebration! My SIL just got engaged to her SO and they'll be married around this time next year :o) We also got to see my SIL, BIL and nephew. They live in the States now so it's much easier for them to come and visit :o) Finally, my other SIL (yes, big family), her DH and our little nephew were there with Dylan being the entertainment for the event. LOL! He even said Brie's name and he's just 15 months old!

The day was very relaxing with delicious food. When we had left home that morning, I noticed that my jeans were quite loose now so I indulged in a few brownies ;o) There were numerous visits to the beach and at the end of the day we all took the dogs for a walk down to the tip of Oven Head. I had a great time snapping pictures and I spotted some Sea Lavender or what we like to call Wild Heather -

This plant is great for drying and it's very popular at the farmer's markets this time of year.

At the end of the day, we had a gorgeous sunset to end the festivities -

Why did we have to come home???? LOL!

Hammy's Back!

And he's MAD!

One night while we were making supper, I heard this awful noise coming from the backyard. When I looked out the kitchen window, I saw Hammy up on the dog kennel swearing up a blue streak and he was looking right at DH, who was at the BBQ! LOL! We're thinking that Hammy just got back from vacation and found out that his winter storage shed has been squirrel proofed and therefore he cannot access his food. He was not a 'happy camper'.

I've noticed that Hammy has been hanging around all week and I was beginning to wonder where he was making his new home. I may know the answer... DH came in to wake me up at 10 am this morning. As usual, he'd already been up and working for part of the morning. While he was out in the yard he noticed that...he had left the shed door WIDE OPEN ALL WEEK! ROFL!

Maybe it's Hammy who is having the last laugh now ;o)

Finish Thirty-One

Here is Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbon Mandala by Ink Circles -

This is a freebie on their site so check it out! I really love this piece. I used Carrie's Threads and found them very nice to work with. I will say one thing though...in the end, I only had one strand of the four yards of Purple Pansy (the main part of the mandala) left :oS Towards the end, I was biting nails thinking I was not going to have enough. I even dove into my orts bag and rescued some strands that were long enough to do small areas. For me, that was just too tight for comfort. LOL! This piece was stitched on 28 count Platinum Lugana, my new favorite color :o)

This pattern was on my 2007 Goal List and now I get to cross it off :o) I haven't been very good at following this list. I have a feeling I won't do any better than last year but I still have four and a half months left in which to stitch. Will I be able to do it? I'll hazard a guess right now...nope ;o)

The girls and I are going to do another Halloween SAL. We did one last year and it was really fun! Boo by Dragon Dreams was the pattern we all stitched but this time we've decided to each do something different. I've picked mine out and I even have all the material to finish him into a cube when I'm done! What will it be you ask? I'll give you a hint...the pattern includes two of my favorite things :o)

You Might Be A Redneck...

if you hang your laundry out on your gazebo. Yes, that's right and "I'm lovin' it!" Kim, this may very well be up there with your satellite on the side of the outhouse ;o) LOL! But seriously, I think it works out really well. See -

Now, come on! You don't think I'm going to take a picture showing my undies do you? And plus, you already know that they're white ;o)

A few years ago my 'normal' clothesline broke and DH just never replaced it. I harped, a few times, and even tried putting out just the indoor clothes' rack but it just wasn't big enough for full loads. Then last weekend, DH came up with the brilliant idea of a temporary clothesline and I just about died laughing when I saw what he had rigged up! It's great though because we don't have to run the dryer 'and' you just can't beat that fresh outdoor smell you get on your clothes :o)

We had a few good laughs as to what it probably looked like to people when they drove by. Last Sunday we were invited up to T & J's place for supper and I mentioned the fact that I was glad they didn't come down to our place for supper because of our new laundry situation. Little did I know they had already seen it! LOL! Busted!

I never really did like doing laundry. One reason was getting the clothes to the washing machine. With my Fibro, it's very hard for me to carry a full basket of dirty clothes to the other end of the house so therefore, I rely heavily on DH to be around and do that for me. I have finally purchased the neatest laundry hamper though and I'm SO excited about it! Yes, it is exciting :o) This hamper is divided in three so that the laundry can be separated right from the start. It also has...wheels! Woohoo! It's going to be a breeze wheeling those dirty clothes down the hall now ;o)

While we're on the topic of laundry, what is ironing? I'm really not too familiar with that word ;o) Who out there irons? I refuse to, unless it's a piece of cross-stitch. LOL! I have never ironed our clothes since I got married. My mother used to iron e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g, and I mean everything! To me, it's wasted time. If you're going to fold the item and place it in a drawer, it's going to come out with wrinkles so why bother in the first place? Why not iron it right before you wear it? That's what I used to do until I met 'the dryer'. I know, I know, it's not good to run it that much but it's SO much faster :o)

A New Creative Outlet

After a very long and mentally exhausting day yesterday, I was pretty tired when I got home. DH arrived shortly after I did, with a quirky smile on his face and something hidden behind his back. This always scares me because I never know what he's going to produce. LOL! I was completely taken off guard when I saw what was in the bag -

I am now the proud owner of a Watercolors Painting Kit! I absolutely love watercolor paintings but I have never painted before in my life. Well...walls and fence posts, but those don't really count in my book. Nothing artistic about that. LOL! DH thought that with this break I needed a new creative outlet, something of my very own that I have come up with myself. A way to express myself in a different medium. To bring forth how I look at things through my own eyes. I can't even begin to explain how touched I was. My DH believes more in me than I do myself. Maybe this is a way to increase my confidence. I don't know. What I do know is that I can't wait to try it out so you might have to put up with some pretty interesting pictures for awhile ;o)

So far, it has proven to be a great stash week -

Drema, who always spoils me, sent Nursery Rhymes and Nursery Rhymes II by The Prairie Schooler, Captain's Inn by LHN, a piece of 32 count white Jobelan, two packages of Peacemaker Needles (#26 & #28), GASTs (I'm getting very close to having the whole collection!), WDWs and two skeins of Belle Soie (my new best friend!). I was finally able to track down Heart In Hand's Easter Sampler kit thanks to Lois :o) I was also sent two breast cancer patterns, a kit called Hope Blossoms by Cindy Valentine Designs and From The Heart (needleroll) by Lois Mouriski Bear. If I can find a tin small enough, I think I'll attempt it with Hope Blossoms. Katie, I'm going to need your expertise help with the needleroll. Just thought I would give you the head's up ;o)

I'm still plugging away with the last Harry Potter book. There are just not enough hours in the day! DH and I went to see Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix on Sunday night. I have to say that this is by far my favorite of them all. I was on my toes the whole time and the camera angles were awesome! I'm not sure if they have a new director or what but it definitely added to the movie IMHO. Just a note...I must have looked some funny coming into the theatre with my bright pink oversized straw :o) You see, I LOVE slushies but they have to be the "right" slushies. They have these "perfect" slushies at the theatres and nowhere else in the city BUT they never have big enough straws. On recent trips to Maine, I've found these "perfect" slushies with the "perfect" oversized straw. Needless to say, the straw came home with me. I coveted my orange pop slushie the whole movie :o)

Before I close, I just want to thank all of you who read my post "It's Time For A New Boob". Your comments were hilarious and I really appreciate the laughs that you gave me in return :o)

It's Time For A New Boob

LOL! You heard me right :o) I didn't think I was going to post about it on my Blog but hey, I've already covered farts, snot and underwear, so why not add to the list?

As some of you may know, I had breast cancer back in 2000. I had a radical mastectomy of the right breast followed by a saline implant. Because they removed so much tissue, there wasn't much for the plastic surgeon to work with so I was given a Fake Right B Boob (FRB) and my Real Left Boob (RLB) was reduced down to a B as well :o) Well, over the years my weight has fluctuated and of course with weight gain we all know it can add itself to any part of your body. That and gravity :o( Some of mine was added to RLB.

I never really gave the mismatch much thought. I was just happy that it looked like I had two real boobs. I doubt that anyone off the street, that didn't know me, would be able to guess otherwise. But, as 2007 started, I began to notice a big change between FRB and RLB. In the colder weather I only had one nipple and in the warmer weather I was lopsided. LOL! Talk about a dilemma! On top of that, trying to find a bra that fit was a nightmare! I couldn't find the one I was wearing anymore and most of the bras out there had under wires and are designed for two boobs that are somewhat symmetrical. When you can actually "see through" your bra, you know it's time for a new one ;o)

I knew I probably wouldn't find what I was looking for in the regular stores so I started investigating mastectomy products. Going with a breast prosthesis after my surgery was something I never even considered. The thought of carting around a heavy, jelly beanbag didn't thrill me at all. Then, about a month ago, I finally got the nerve to call and see what they had to help my unique, or so I thought, situation.

Well...let me tell you, they have quite the array of products! They have your full breast, partial breast, bras and yes, even nipples :o) DH was quite excited about the last one, dreaming of different areas on one's body to attach them to. LOL! For me, I needed something that was going to increase the size of my FRB so I went with a breast prosthesis that looks like a full breast but it has an indent in the back of it for my bump to fit into. I could not believe the difference when I tried it on. I actually looked like I had a "full rack" again ;o) I can even shift it around in different angles, lol!

Now the bras are something else. I don't ever recall having a bra that fit so well! The only difference, compared to a regular bra, would be the two "front pockets" for the prosthesis and the price. You think a Warner's bra is expensive... I joked with the girls about my new bras, commenting that I could use the pockets to smuggle floss across the border ;o) Once I have the prosthesis and the bra on, I don't even notice it. The weight disappears. It's almost fun to stick out my boobs now. Hee, hee!

The thing that shocked me the most was that Blue Cross covered the prosthesis 100% but would not cover the bras at all. Do they even understand? I mean, how am I supposed to wear my fake booby when I've got nothing to attach it with? It just seems weird. But guess what? I can have a new boob every two years! Imagine that ;o)

This whole experience just seems so funny to me. When I went and picked up my prosthesis, I ended up taking the wrong size home. Do you know how odd it sounds to call up and say that you got the wrong boob in the box???? How can you keep a straight face when they tell you that your new boob has a two-year guarantee???? I asked the girl if there was a maximum mileage as well ;o) You know, the five-year guarantee or 100,000 miles.

I hope I have not offended anyone with this post because that is not the purpose at all. This blurb was meant to be lighthearted and funny and something that I want my friends, family, readers to enjoy reading :o) I know all about the deep impact that breast cancer can have on oneself but I refuse to sit in a corner and feel sorry for myself. I don't mind talking or joking about my experiences, in fact, I hope that someday I can help someone out there that is going through the same thing. The boobs don't make the woman...our souls make us who we are.

Finish Thirty

Wow! If I had stuck to The 50 Project Challenge, I'd be more than halfway through it by now! Knowing how strong my will really is though, I'm surprised I lasted as long as I did to begin with ;o)

I just completed my second Biscornu -

The pattern for the top portion was in the July 2007 issue of The Gift Of Stitching. It's called Sweet Biscornu and it was designed by Periphaeria Designs -

On the bottom, I just made my own adaptation -

I enjoyed stitching this project but because of the heat and humidity, it took longer than usual. This time I used 25 count Light Taupe Lugana with Needle Necessities Passion Flower (#1941). DH had helped pick out the buttons :o) The finished size of this Biscornu is 3.5 x 3.5 inches. A little easier on the eyes than my last one. LOL!

Yesterday the humidity topped 42 C! Thankfully late afternoon brought heavy rain and cooled the outside enough that I even got goose bumps :o) We're in for another humid day today but the rest of the long weekend is looking good.

I'm officially done work until the end of December!!!! Woohoo! I can't tell you how well I slept last night. It felt so good. Now if LTD will just leave me alone for a few months so I can learn to relax, I might get myself back on track.

I now have the new Harry Potter book in my possession :o) I tried SO hard last night to get in few chapters but when I started reading the same line over and over again, I knew it was time to put it down. I'm so excited to read it though! Thank goodness Katie came to the rescue ;o)