Six Down...44 More To Go!

I just completed I Love Stitching by Hob Nobb Designs this morning :o)

I haven't officially attached the buttons yet and I won't until it's ready to frame. I'm always afraid they will break so for the meantime, they will remain nice and safe.

I can't tell you how much I love these designs and the buttons that are created for them. This is the third piece that I have stitched and this one will be for me, finally :o) The colors in it are quite bold and if you don't already have Confetti by Weeks Dye Works in your collection, I suggest you add it. What a fun fiber to stitch with! It's the one used for the border around the stork scissors and the floss in the basket.

So, that makes six projects completed in the month of January! Will I be able to meet that amount in February? I doubt it but I'll have fun trying ;o)

Today, being Tuesday, I will be working on Oak Island. I'm not going to post an updated picture on that today because most of what I stitched last week was with the glow in the dark thread and it doesn't really show up in a picture. I "did" start a new project yesterday however and I'm really excited about it! On Saturday, I had to go in to work to make up the hours that I missed on Friday, and while I was searching on the internet, I found this gorgeous sampler. See what happens when I'm left alone and bored? ;o) This is called Marquoir and it's a freebie from Passion Broderie -

The pattern calls for three colors of floss but I'm going to use four. I'm still a little hesitant about how it's going to look so any feedback would be greatly appreciated :o)

The sampler is in nine parts and I have decided, along with the girls, that each part will be counted as one project completed for The 50 Project Challenge :o) What is interesting about this sampler is that the designer has included background information, or a story, about each part. You may be wondering why the heart is stitched in a metallic gold. The designer states "The heart in this section is for first love. If you are married or living with your first love, you should stitch this heart in gold metallic thread." This piece will not only tell a story but it will be very personal as well :o)

Just a few minutes ago I received my fabric for Morning Dragon by Dragon Dreams so he will be added in to the rotation now. I decided on Pumpkin Patch (I know, believe me it was purely a coincidence!) by Sugar Maple Fabrics and it's going to be perfect!

Fart Therapy

I told DH today that I'm in need of some Fart Therapy :o) No, that doesn't mean that I "have" to fart! Don't you know that farts equal laughter? LOL! It does for me anyway and I'm in desperate need of some laughter right now.

This past Thursday I had my appointment with the specialist and as predicted, the ENG test came back just fine. After going through my list of symptoms that I brought along with me, he finally concluded that there was nothing more he could do for me. He told me to contact my family doctor and possibly a neurologist. Great! No surprises there. I should have been prepared for it because I knew ahead of time what was going to happen anyway but it was just another blow that in turn became a big cloud of depression. I'm back to square one. I was able to move up my family doctor's appointment by four days but that was it. That means it's still another week and a half away and therefore more waiting. That's the story of my life. Waiting.

Yes, I'm in quite the down mood and I've had a lengthy "pity party" this weekend. Chocolate, stitching, shopping...nothing has been able to cheer me up so that's why I figured it was time to bring in the big guns! Farts can usually put a smile on my face :o) It never fails and I don't know why. Maybe it's because I'm still a kid at heart. I was in a store yesterday and this elderly gentleman was walking in front of me and the next thing I know I hear pffffftttttttttttt. An instant smile!

Now not all farts are good ones. You know the ones I mean...those smelly, clear the room farts. DH prides himself in these! He can literally wake me out of a dead sleep with one of his! Very powerful! Then you have the sharts. Now those are definitely not good! You know what I'm talking about. You fart a little too hard and something else besides air may have escaped... That's all I'm going to say about that ;o)

Relatively speaking though, farts are funny and I don't know why society isn't more open to them. We can burp in public and say, "Excuse me." Why can't we fart in public and do the same thing? I suppose we can but people don't take too kindly to farts as they do burping. Farts are basically just a "butt burp". Why do they get such a bad rap anyway? Is it the noise or is it the smell? Not all farts smell though.

Did you know that humans are supposed to "pass gas" about twenty times a day? Do you realize that EVERY human being on this planted has farted at least once in his or her life? That means you, your neighbor, your boss, Madonna and hey, even the Queen. Farting is something that we all have in common! So I ask again, why are farts so funny? Why do they make me laugh?

Weird? Me?

Ack! I've been tagged by Mary Ann! That means I have to share with you six weird things about myself :o) Only six? LOL! Okay, so here it goes...

• I read magazines backwards
• I used to have a poster of Freddie Kruger on my wall when I was a teenager
• I can't do my "business" in a bathroom that has any pictures or wallpaper with eyes (hey, I was asked!)
• I eat pie and cheesecake backwards (do you see a pattern here?)
• I have to have my entire cutlery lined up in the drawer
• I can't have the volume on level 13 on the television or the radio

Now, I get to tag six people! :o) Once tagged, please list six weird things about yourself on your Blog and then tag six more people. Please list the people that you have tagged on your Blog along with the rules. So, here it goes -

Irene
Shannon (my weird twin!)
Karen
Jamie
Jenn
Katie (sorry if you've been tagged with this before!)

Five Down...45 More To Go!

With February right around the corner, I thought this was the perfect time to stitch up Ground Hog Day! by Bent Creek :o)

He is just too cute and I've always wanted to stitch him. Now to just get him framed...

I've had a lot of inquiries as to what I have been stitching. A few days ago I decided, thanks to the girls, that I would try a rotation in my stitching. I have never done this before so we'll see how it goes. Since DH has been asking about his Oak Island (Pirate Treasure, The Oak Island Mystery by Lynne Nicoletti), I decided to pull it out again and try and finish it up for him :o) My plan is to stitch on it Tuesdays and Thursdays. This is what I have done so far -

The reason this piece went into "hibernation" is that I was having some issues with it. DH saw the model for this pattern stitched up in a shop and the lady had used the Kreinik glow in the dark thread that Lynne suggests in the pattern. Well, I don't even have to explain about Kreinik thread do I? LOL! Trying to combine this with one strand of DMC was a nightmare! After much deliberation, I finally settled on just using one strand of Kreinik glow in the dark thread. I added to the outer edge of the water on the right side last night and tried it in the dark. It looks SO cool! I can't wait to have more of it filled in :o)

For those of you not familiar with Lynne Nicoletti's designs, check out her website. She is a Canadian designer and is known for hiding images in her patterns. In the case of Oak Island, it's the face of a pirate and that's what will glow in the dark :o) Pretty neat huh? To learn more about the real Oak Island and its mystery, check out this website.

So what am I going to stitch the remaining days of the week? Well that's just going to have to be a surprise ;o)

Is This A Sign?

Your Bumper Sticker Should Be

I do whatever my Rice Krispies tell me to!

What Bumper Sticker Should Be On Your Car?

Four Down...46 More To Go!

And it's Snowflake that comes in at number four!

This little guy comes from a kit by Bent Creek. I've had him for a while now and what better time to dig him out :o) Would you believe that I have my next project all kitted up and ready to go in the Q-Snaps tonight????

This past weekend was a pretty good one although DH and I are still in limbo, each awaiting our own separate news. Sigh! On Saturday we went through the house and did a quick cleaning and organizing. DH managed to get out once more on the tractor and plowed out the driveway again. I have to say that winter is finally here. The shack wacky state hit in the afternoon and I made a last minute decision to go out to eat Saturday night. After quite a process of elimination, DH and I finally decided on The Palate. We had a wonderful meal but we behaved ourselves. It's no fun being financially responsible :o( I got the seafood lasagna and it was delicious! Afterwards we ran up to Staples and picked up my new Norton AntiVirus.

On Sunday I woke up to the wonderful scent of banana bread :o) DH was busy in the kitchen and had just baked a loaf along with fresh croissants for breakfast. Yes, I do have it good ;o) My friend from British Columbia called shortly after lunch and we had a good model horse chat. Hi Jana! In the afternoon, DH and I had a rip roaring game of Scrabble and I FINALLY won! Woohoo! It made me feel so smart ;o) During our supper of some hearty chili, make by said wonderful husband, we watched Pirates of the Caribbean. Before we knew it, it was time for bed and another week of work waiting for us :o(

WHY? How is it that weekends go by so fast? Has anyone solved this mystery yet?

What's That Smell?

Back a few months ago, I stated in my first confessional that I had a dog that stunk. For those of you who don't know, I have a Miniature Dachshund that is going to be three this year and she weights about ten pounds but this dog could literally clear a room in under a minute! I'm not talking your regular bad doggy breath. I'm talking dirty socks meet roadside kill all over her :o( Even Duncan, our Australian Cattle Dog, who has been sprayed by TWO skunks didn't smell as bad as her!

Brie is a wonderful little dog and a cuddler too. That's what I love about her :o) When she was a puppy, she had that wonderful puppy smell but after she turned one, this unbelievable smell surrounded her like a cloud. Every morning when she'd emerge from her cocoon like cave of a bed, the air around her would turn putrid. Maybe that's why all my plants died... DH and I always joked that she had bad BO (body odor) but I think I remember reading somewhere that dogs couldn't sweat through their bodies. I know what attracted me to the Dachshund breed was that they were supposed to be odor free. DH and I also pondered whether we got a defective dog ;o)

Almost every week Brie would get a bath and all her bedding was either washed or burned ;o) She would be good for about a few days and then the smell would start up again and attach itself to anything she touched. We were at a loss. After living with this stench for two years, we were desperate to try anything! Then someone mentioned the idea of changing her food. DH and I had never thought of that. Brie was eating Canine Plus and I specifically chose it because of the ingredients. I wanted my dog to eat as well as she could.

About a week or so ago, I did a little research and decided to put her back on Iams. This was the same brand of dog food she ate during her first year as a puppy and I knew it was a good choice as well. Over three days we gradually changed Brie's food over and would you believe the smell stopped???? No word of a lie! Even without a bath she smelled better and that's saying something! I'm really amazed that that's all it took. The crazy thing is we could have avoided this whole problem by not changing the brand of her dog food in the first place. I'll blame that on DH ;o)

So now I have my good smelling little girl back and I don't mind her cuddling with me anymore :o) Maybe the saying "You are what you eat." is not far from the truth although if that is the case, I really don't want to know what was in that Canine Plus then :oS

Three Down...47 More To Go!

Prrrrrrrrrrrrresenting...Warmth Of A Good Friend by Raise The Roof Designs!

Don't you just LOVE this design???? I love, love, love it! It's just too cute for words and probably something one of my own dogs would do :oS

I was introduced to Raise The Roof Designs two years ago and I found that they appealed to my dark twisted mind ;o) If you aren't familiar with this designer, check them out. If anything, it's worth a chuckle to see some of the patterns that they have designed. Even their copyright statement is hilarious! Another favorite of mine is Dry Turkey -

I stitched this one two years ago and I'm still trying to decide how to finish it. The next design of theirs that I'd like to stitch is Pushing Up Daisies but that will have to wait until my 50 Project Challenge has been met. I'm getting there though :o)

WWW

Weird Winter Weather. That's what it is. That's what it's been. Every year it seems to get worse and worse. Do we blame it on global warming or are the seasons actually changing? If I were a bear, I'd be having a stern talk with Mother Nature! LOL!

Today, as I type this, we are getting hit with a HUGE snowstorm! There are warnings for up to 30 centimeters. Yikes! Combine that with the rain they are calling for, it basically equals a HUGE mess :o( I don't mind driving in the snow. Actually, I love it! I've got a nice pair of winter tires on my car and believe me, they were definitely a great investment. Snow covered roads are fine as long as you respect the fact that your stopping ability is greatly reduced. That being said, there are some idiots out there that drive the same speed no matter what the road conditions are and it never fails that after each storm we have, there are many accidents and fender benders.

We really shouldn't complain. I remember when we used to get snow from the end of October all the way to April. Now that was a l-o-n-g winter! In more recent years, there have been a few small snowfalls in December with the bigger stuff hitting us in January. That being said, we have been VERY lucky to get all the way to January 19 without much snow :o)

As far as temperatures go, they have changed as well and are just as unpredictable. In my opinion, this has been one of the warmest winters we've had. Remember, DH and I were sitting in front of a campfire on Christmas night :o) We just received our most recent Hydro bill and it was less than what it was last year. Last week we did have quite a cold snap that was around -22 degrees, not including the wind chill factor. Poor Brie froze up a few times while going outside to do her duties. Yes, she literally froze! When this happens, DH or I have to run out and rescue her.

As I watch the big fluffy snowflakes falling, I think about how pretty it's going to look when I get home. There is nothing more beautiful than a landscape blanketed with freshly fallen white snow :o) Now I shake myself back to reality and wonder just how much of the darn white stuff I need to clean off of my car...

Ahhh...Stitch Night!

Yes! Just what the doctor ordered, a night with the gang :o) Believe me, this was a MUCH needed evening out too! Depressed Cathey soon turned into Pissed Off Depressed Cathey on the way to work this morning when there was a HUGE backup of traffic :o( A normal 20 minute drive to work took almost one hour. I was NOT happy! Luckily I had left home early, hoping to make a few stops before work. Good thing I did. Work wasn't much better and as the day wore on, I became Grumpy Pissed Off Depressed Cathey. It must have showed because I didn't get a lot of people bothering me today. Another good thing ;o)

I was only going to pop in to our stitching session tonight but then I said the hell with it and decided to stay for a while. I hardly get out anymore. Our group, called Friends That Count, meets the third Wednesday of every month at one of our local grocery stores. I know that sounds a bit weird but they have a community room upstairs and that's where we meet :o) We have a number of regulars but the group always welcomes newcomers. A lot of the girls have become very good friends over the years so you can just imagine the hen house we have going if we have a night with a good turnout! It always fascinates me to see what everyone is working on and we also bring items for our Show & Tell table as well.

Tonight was a small group and I imagine the bitter cold was a good reason why some stayed home. I was happy to see Katie and Faith Ann there when I arrived :o) Katie surprised me with a little gift -

I've been looking for one of these for a while now and I'm wondering how she read my mind ;o) It will be hung in my computer/craft room window. I finally got to see, in person, the completed Shepherd's Bush stocking that she made for her DH for Christmas. It's absolutely stunning! Faith Ann's progress on her Christmas Village is just amazing and every time I see it, I want to stitch it myself. Good thing I'm on this 50 Project Challenge ;o) I plugged away on my current project after borrowing a needle from Faith Ann. Can you believe that I packed all my stitching and forgot the main item! Oh bother!

Yes, stitch night was definitely needed :o) It's amazing the power of friendship and laughter. I guess that's why they say, "Laughter is the best medicine." I truly believe that it is. Instead of an apple a day, maybe it should be one hearty laugh a day. I bet that would work. Smiles and laughter are infectious and easier to pass around than apples. LOL!

Speaking of which, I want to thank all those that have left such wonderful, supportive comments on my Blog. That's how many smiles you put on my face today :o)

Back To Square One

Sigh! It would figure :o(

This morning I had my ENG test at the hospital to try and figure out why I have been having said vertigo attacks. Although I was unable to take my medications for the past 24 hours and the fact that I had psyched myself out to the point of nausea, the tests were actually not that bad! DH waited while I was being tested :o) Even though I was told it could take up to 3 hours, we were only there a little over an hour. Believe it or not, that was the good news.

During the tests, I could hear her saying "This is good, this is good." NOT what I wanted to hear. After all the tests were completed, she told me that everything looked "normal" and nothing really stood out but that she would be going over the tests again in fine detail. Again, NOT what I wanted to hear :o( A HUGE part of me went in there today hoping that something would show up that would explain these awful bouts of vertigo because believe me, there is nothing "normal" about them. I have a list of at least a dozen symptoms that comes with each of these attacks so it can't all be in my head. I hope my fear that it's something worse is not correct.

So, what does this mean? Well, I'm basically back to square one. It means that I have to wait another week to go back to the specialist for the results that I already know the answers to. It also means that I then have to wait another couple of weeks to see my family doctor to see what specialist I'm going off to see next.

More waiting. More frustration.

It may be the lack of sleep that I had last night but coupled with the results of today, depression has set in :o( I am not happy. It's no fun being a human guinea pig.

That being said, I think it's fair to say that this situation requires a good session of "stitching therapy" so I'm off to veg in front of the television and try to finish up my current project :o)

D Day

Yup. That's right. Today is "the" day. Disability Day. Dooms Day. The last chance to save my LTD benefits. Whatever you want to call it.

As I write this, my appeal letter is on its way to Toronto. DH and I met with the lawyer on Wednesday afternoon to go over things one last time. After a month and a half of gathering information, requesting information, doctor's appointments and meetings, it has finally come to an end. And I say that with a BIG sigh of relief! DH and I were extremely impressed with what the lawyer put together and it was much more than we ever expected. Would you believe that the appeal letter was ELEVEN pages long and he said that that was the short version! :o)

It's so nice to know that there was someone out there that wanted to and did listen to me. He was the only lawyer, out of the three or four that I called, that was even willing to talk to me and offer to help with my situation. I know he is not making big money off of us, although we might think that his rate per hour is astronomical. In the end though, I know and feel good about my decision to turn to a lawyer for help. It has been worth every penny. To be honest, there was no one else out there that would help. The insurance company ignored my doctor's recommendations, my employer didn't want any part of my fight, Human Rights is a joke and the Labor Board referred me back to Human Rights. See what I mean?

I've been part of a circus ever since I started back to work at the end of September. Yes, this has been a l-o-n-g road. By now you would think that I have everything down pat but all along the way, there were many curve balls thrown my way and A LOT of doors slammed in my face. My health has suffered greatly and the only thing that kept me going this long was my determination and anger. Am I sorry for taking this further? No. Would I do it again? You're darn right I would! I have never fought for anything in my life, always giving in to whatever hand was dealt to me, but not this time. Even if LTD denies my appeal, at least I tried and I know that I have tried my best. I feel good about it :o)

Now we wait...they have 30 days to make their decision. My Hell is almost over, at least I hope so ;o)

Today can also be classified as Denial Day. Desperate Day. Or Danger Day

Yup. That's right. There is a massive threat ready and waiting for me. It's out there now, appearing everywhere I go! The only reason for its being is to distract me from my new "lifestyle change". It's a clear and present danger!

Did you know that the Cadbury Easter Cream Eggs are now out for Easter????

I am in SO much trouble! I have to confess that they are a true weakness of mine. Do you realize that I will have three months to try and deny myself all that delicious chocolate wrapped around that creamy, sweet filling... Drool! Okay, I have to confess...I was desperate and had one today :oS Am I sorry for this? No. Would I do it again? Probably! ;o)

Two Down...48 More To Go!

Look out! I'm on A ROLL! Woohoo! May I present finish number two for 2007 -

This is Evening Dragon by Dragon Dreams. He was stitched on a piece of Merlin by Sugar Maple Fabrics. I got the idea from Katie :o) She is terrific for picking out hand dyed fabric.

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate french or colonial knots? Argh! Yuck! Whenever possible I avoid them. Most times I will substitute them with beads if it's at all possible. But when a design calls for french knots that are smaller than beads, the air is definitely blue and a few choice words are said until I manage to make a few tiny knots that look somewhat like they are supposed to. If anyone has any great tips for me, please let me know! You may save me some frustration ;o)

What to do next... I actually have a line up of things! It's pretty neat, yet scary, that I have so many projects to choose from at the moment. Basically, it's a sign that I should be on this 50 Project Challenge ;o)

One Down...49 More To Go!

That's right people; I have finally completed my first project in the 50 Project Challenge! Woohoo! May I present Christmas Bunny Ornament by Dragon Dreams -

Isn't he just the cutest???? He was supposed to be done well before now but with the holidays and my wonderful vertigo attack, he got pushed back :o( For some reason this little guy seemed to have taken forever to complete but maybe it was just me. I can tell you one thing though, the Nun Stitch was a bugger and the air was a bit light blue yesterday. I think I have only done the Nun Stitch one other time but that was through only one piece of fabric and not two. All in all, I would say that I am 95% happy with him. I was unsure of how to join the threads while doing the Nun Stitch so I can see where they meet. To be honest though, they aren't that noticeable but hey, I'm an anal retentive stitcher so I see all ;o)

For those Dragon Dreams fans out there, you can get this pattern in the new magazine called A Needle Pulling Thread, the Festive 2006 issue. This is a Canadian based magazine and it touches on all forms of needlework, not just cross-stitch. It seems to be a bit difficult to find around here but I see that Traditional Stitches in Alberta carries it. The magazine has a website as well. In the next issue, another friend of mine will be featured! Tracy has a cross-stitch design and button business called Fiddlestitch Cottage. There are a lot of us anxiously waiting for that issue to come out :o)

If you haven't already noticed, I have added a new link on the right hand side. I have created another Blog to house my goals and finishes and it's called Pumpkin Patch & Co Graveyard :o) Take a look if you haven't already!

The weekend was relatively good. We had DH's parents stay over on Saturday night. They had come up to see their daughters as they were celebrating their 30th birthday :o) HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRLS! Yes, I said girls. They are twins, although not identical. They hosted a dessert party and let me tell you, it was goooooood! I was bad and succumbed to all the sugar but I think I was good as well. At least I didn't indulge in everything that was there. I figure I came out okay. Alright, maybe in my "own" mind ;o)

I have a wonderful gift to show you! My MIL made me this Chatelaine -

I was SO happy when I opened it :o) She did a beautiful job! I've attached some of my stitching pins but I want to personalize it a bit more. Any ideas?

On Saturday night, I got a call from my parents. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that they were in Nashville, Tennessee! Okay, I almost dropped dead ;o) Last Thursday, they had packed up the fifth wheel and headed out on their three month Florida trip. Dad had made an itinerary for the trip down and it outlined every stop, turn and bathroom break! With that schedule, we figured there wouldn't be much sightseeing on the way down, let alone any sidetracks. So imagine my surprise when they called to tell me where they had landed! Mom, Dad, if you are reading this, have a great time :o)

Right now it's snowing and hard too. I was able to switch my work schedule so I am home today :o) I plan to snuggle up on the couch in my fleece, with a cup of hot chocolate and my stitching. How can it get any better than that?

The 50 Project Challenge Has Begun!

As you may or may not have noticed from the ticker at the top of my Blog, I have officially begun The 50 Project Challenge! Am I crazy? Probably. Do I think that I can do it? Possibly. Will I do it? That remains to be seen ;o)

Back in December I started looking over my list of completed projects for 2006 when I noticed just how many projects there were in total. I was already up to 45 and without even realizing it! That included my two big L&L projects as well. Then I got talking with the girls and knowing how much they like to taunt, I think in our conversation somewhere I was dared to do it ;o)

To see if it was humanly possible, I picked up my Snowmen project and completed him. That brought me up to 46. I quickly put together the items I needed to stitch up Be Merry (the Snowmen's companion) and he was finished within a few days -

I was not happy with a few things in this pattern so I changed them to suit myself. I wanted him to match Snowmen a bit more so I cross-stitched the border instead of using the running stitch. I also alternated the colors for the Be Merrys, used Algerian stitches for the snowflakes and to top him off, I placed a white pompom on the top of his hat instead of the yellow star. I'm quite happy with him :o) Be Merry was stitched on the 25 count Moss Green Lugana but he was done over two instead of one. Like I said earlier, I think both pieces will be made into cubes. I was now up to 47.

Earlier in December, I had done up a PIF gift (by the way, I still have two more openings) and had mailed it out to the UK. Karen has received it now so I can post the picture :o)

These sparkling ornaments were in the January 2007 issue of Cross-Stitch & Needlework magazine. I think they are so pretty and you could use any color combination you wanted. Now I had two more under my belt for a total of 49.

The last project I did, I cannot post a picture of because it's another PIF gift :o) It is done though and I hit the 50 project mark for 2006!!!! Woohoo! This only proves that I can do 50 projects within a reasonable amount of time though. Whether I can hold off buying new patterns until that goal is met is another story but I am willing to put my full effort into it. DH is 100% supportive of this but that's only because he has caught sight of my "store" and he feels that I have enough to last me five lifetimes. I'd say it was more like two lifetimes, three tops ;o)

So far I have lost two days in 2007 so I hope I'm on the mend soon so I can get back to my stitching! I bet you are all wondering what I have on the agenda for 2007 :o) Well, here is a somewhat official list -

• Autumn Medley by Heart In Hand
• Snowman Medley by Heart In Hand
• I Love Stitching by Hob Nobb Designs
• Sea Stars by Ink Circles
• Breast Cancer Ribbon Mandala by Ink Circles
• Stargazer by Mirabilia
• Gathering Eggs by Mirabilia - finish
• Giggles (boy) by Mirabilia - finish
• Where There Is Life by Little House Needleworks
• Quilt Time Sampler by Little House Needleworks - finish
• Seaside Sweethearts by Lanarte - finish
• Summer Snapperland by Bent Creek
• Spring Snapperland by Bent Creek
• Autumn Snapplerland by Bent Creek
• Breast Cancer Afghan by Dutch Treat Designs
• Good Night Dragon by Dragon Dreams
• Post Office Kit by Mill Hill
• Church Kit by Mill Hill
• Victorian House Kit by Mill Hill

By my count, there are 31 projects there. Hey, the Snapperland Series count as five in my book ;o) I have pretty much everything, if not all; for each of those projects so I shouldn't have to buy anything in the meantime. You do realize I'm going to have to rely on special occasions to receive stash! I can do it though. I know I can!

Bring It On!

Every year people make a list, either verbally or mentally, about the resolutions they want to keep in the upcoming New Year. I'm one of them. Sometimes my resolutions fizzle out after three months, some limp along all year and then others never even get out of the starting gate. One of my resolutions this year is to get back into my "lifestyle change" that I started approximately six months ago. No, this is not a "diet". Dr. Oz states that diets are a no-no. In reality, the word "diet" puts too much pressure on the individual to meet certain goals in an unrealistic amount of time. Not good. Who needs more pressure?

Dr. Oz is my new best friend :o) I first saw him last year on Oprah and I took to him immediately. He "dumbed down" the medical terms and explanations so that the audience could understand but he didn't do it in such a way that it was condescending or ignorant. I now consider him my Overall Health For Dummies teacher :o) It was shortly after my Dad had two more stints put in that Dr. Oz did a show called Appearances Are Deceiving. He showed the difference between a healthy and unhealthy heart. He explained how and why plaque builds up in the arteries and where the worst place to carry fat was. It pretty much scared me senseless! Just learning and seeing what a few harmful ingredients could do was enough to make me sit up straight and take note.

So what is my "lifestyle change"? Well for starters, it's eliminating harmful and/or unhealthy ingredients from the foods that I eat on a daily basis. Have you ever read the ingredients section on some of the foods that you eat? I do now. I consider it almost like a job interview. If the item has an ingredient that I don't like, it basically does not get the job of being my next meal :o) Hydrogenated oils, sugars, high fructose corn syrup and enriched flour are the four items that I plan to cut out of my diet (food) this year. Up until Christmas, I was very successful in eliminating the hydrogenated oils and enriched flour. I even lost some of the fat that I had accumulated but the holiday season pretty much squashed any progress I made :o(

Last night I watched the movie Super Size Me for the first time. If that won't turn you around, then nothing will! DH and I haven't been big fast food eaters this past year and it's hard to even remember the last time we went to one. I now have that movie taped and I will use it to squash any future fatty cravings that I might have. The more turn offs the better! Now don't get me wrong, this will not be an easy road. I found eliminating hydrogenated oils a bit hard but it's going to be the sugars that will do me in. I have a sweet tooth. A VERY sweet tooth. So far I have been able to wean myself off of Coke but now it's the Country Time Lemonade that needs to be conquered. That and chocolate :o(

I have come to listen to Dr. Oz and I would really love to get his book You, On A Diet. I know there is a lot more to this "change" than what I just listed. The second stage of this plan is to get out and walk more. Will all my wonderful ailments; this has proven to be just as difficult as eliminating unhealthy foods. My idea is to get my hands on a step counter and make walking into a game :o) Oh, I walked 1500 steps today, well let's see if I can increase that to 2000 tomorrow. You get the idea.

What's on your resolution list for 2007?

...Three, Two, One...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

To all my friends and family, may this year be rich with love and happiness :o)

Where's The Party?

Yes, that's what I asked when I got up this morning :o( After sleeping 18.5 hours the previous night (I hate to say it but it's true), I woke up feeling like I was partying all night but didn't remember the actual "fun" portion of the party. Do you remember in my post Mr. Sandman Bring Me... I stated that something was going to give soon and it wasn't going to be pretty? Well I officially hit the wall. At least I got to enjoy a bit of Christmas before doing so.

As you may have noticed, I have not been around to update my Blog. Do I have the flu? I wish! Is it my Fibromyalgia? I could tolerate that. No, the reason I have not been around is that I have been hit with a severe attack of vertigo :o( For anyone who hasn't had a vertigo attack, this is what it feels like. Imagine yourself drunk but not having the benefit of actually drinking any alcohol. The world feels like it's spinning around you. I can't eat, watch television, read a book, stitch, work on the computer, let alone drive. I have a tremendous pressure in my head with a constant (and loud!) ringing in my ears. One minute I'm famished and the next I can't even think about food. One minute I'm so hot I have sweat dripping and the next I'm so cold that I can't feel my fingers and toes. I sleep a lot and I sleep hard. Sometimes I wake up and I think I'm coherent but I can't feel certain parts of my body (maybe they are still asleep!). The dreams are awful and plentiful. I wake up wondering if some of them actually happened or not. Sounds like fun, huh? ;o)

It all started about a year and a half ago when I got my first attack. At the time I thought it was the flu but then it happened for three or four months in a row. Somehow and for some reason it went away and then about nine months later it was back and worse than before. I was popping Gravol like they were candy but it didn't do much good. Finally, after one of the more severe attacks that lasted seven days, I had had enough. The hospital wouldn't take me and the after hours clinic was useless. I saw my family doctor and asked if I could try Serc. I had read about it on the internet and heard through people that it helped with vertigo.

Serc definitely has helped. It has taken an agonizing weeklong torture down to about a day and even sometimes that day is so mild that I have a hard time knowing that it is an attack. What happened this time? I have no idea. I don't know if my body just couldn't handle any more or if the generic Serc I am taking is just not as effective. I'm thinking it's the former. I talked to my pharmacist and he states there should not be any difference between the Serc and its generic drug. I have a feeling that the circus I have been attending with work and LTD, along with the holiday season, just wore me out and made my body vulnerable.

In a few weeks I have an ENG (electronystagmography) test at the hospital. Supposedly it will determine if my problem is in the inner ear or with the central nervous system. Neither sounds appealing to me but if they can find a cause, I will be happy just to know.

We Wish You A...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

It seemed that Santa arrived again while we were sleeping. I guess that must have meant that I was a really good girl this year ;o) DH, in an attempt to make my Christmas perfect, had stuffed my stocking full of goodies, placed a card on the tree and prepared a scrumptious breakfast by candlelight. I was so touched that he did this considering we had agreed no to do anything for each other this year but then again, we never listen to each other ;o) My sweetie got me all of my favorite things - a box of chocolate covered cherries (Lowney's of course), four delectable truffles by Godiva, a pack of Scratch & Win tickets (in which I won $10 from!), a CD (Matt Dusk ~ swoon!), fuzzy socks (to match my pajamas) and a book (Nobody's Mother, Life Without Kids by Lynne Van Luven). Am I spoiled or what! :o) The "kids" each got their own gift. Pickles got a package of Carrot Slims and unbelievably he loves them! Do you know how hard it is to buy for a rabbit???? Brie got a stuffed toy with TWO squeakers in it and Duncan got a nice big doggy bone :o)

After breakfast we packed up the car, with both dogs in tow, and headed down to the ocean to spend Christmas with DH's family. It was a beautiful day, with no snow in sight, and we could have swore it was early fall. Once everyone arrived and we were somewhat settled in, the gift opening began! With eight adults, one baby and SIX dogs, you can just imagine what kind of madhouse we had going :o) All the gifts were wonderful and well thought out. My MIL loved the Flower Lady that I stitched for her -

Our nephew, and his parents, was pleasantly surprised by his new Dory Rocker that my FIL made -

I was very touched by the lovely cabinet that I received from my in-laws :o) DH put it up in the living room for me and it now holds a few of my special horse models -

In all the giving and receiving, the dogs were not forgotten in the least! While we had hors d'oeuvres, the dogs got biscuits and dip (I kid you not!). Each dog received a bag of handmade cookies by my MIL, a special Christmas hanky from my SIL/SO, and a toy from my other SIL/BIL. Brie decided to pose with her hanky on but the way DH took the picture, it looks like she is sporting a pair of bunny ears :o)

We "attempted" to take a picture of all the dogs together but this was the best we could do -

From left to right we have Misha (Burmese Mountain Dog), Duncan (Australian Cattle Dog), Samson (a mix of Jack Russell and Lhasa Apso), Brie (Miniature Dachshund), Briar (Boxer) and Buddy (a Terrier mix). You try to arrange a picture with six unruly dogs and see how easy it is ;o)

My MIL put on a wonderful Christmas dinner as always. Everything was delicious and again, I behaved myself :o) While we waited for dessert and for our supper to settle, we decided to put on a fire...OUTSIDE! Yes, it was THAT nice that the boys went out and built a small campfire overlooking the ocean. I can't tell you how peaceful and tranquil it is down there. My MIL figures this should be our new Christmas tradition and I for one agree, just as long as we have the same nice weather year after year ;o) Instead of marshmallows, we snacked on a Chocolate Explosion Lava Cake for dessert and was it ever yummy! I will see about getting the recipe from my MIL if anyone is interested.

For our evening finale, we all participated in a rip roaring IQ game :o) I have come through it knowing that I am just as smart, or dumb, as those around me. LOL! It really is a neat game though so I will leave you with another brainteaser -

How many times does the digit 3 show up between the number 1 and 50?

For the one person that guessed and guessed correctly, 15 it is!

If you think you know the answer, post it in the comment section :o)

I hope everyone had as wonderful a Christmas as I had!

Christmas Eve

For a number of years now, DH and I have alternatively switched Christmas Eve and Christmas Day between the two families. We used to try and do it all on the same day but it just got to be too much. Two turkey dinners in one day proves to be a very bad idea! LOL! Plus, with my parents now living 45 minutes away and DH's parents living about an hour and a half away, it's just not humanly possible. This year, it was Mom and Dad's turn to have us on Christmas Eve and it worked out very well seeing that it landed on a Sunday.

DH, Brie and I arrived at the lake shortly after lunch. I was quite impressed with Dad's tree, for a second year in a row, as he managed to part with another $20 and buy one from a tree farm again instead of venturing into the woods and coming back with his typical Charlie Brown Christmas tree. Now you may be chuckling at this but I'm very serious. To be truly honest, I think Charlie Brown's tree was actually fuller than some of those that Dad managed to bring home. Let me put it this way, even Brie would have hit a branch if she was thrown through Dad's tree this year ;o)

As predicted, the living room was full of presents. Brie be-lined for them right away and managed to find Duncan's gift but not hers. I think Mom was sneaky this year and put it up where she couldn't find it. Last year Brie was able to pick out her own gift and it was a dog leash, not food! I guess I taught her well as nothing surprises me much anymore. I'm quite good at my PGTs (Present Guessing Techniques) ;o)

Mom put together a scrumptious but elegant Christmas meal. I even ate some of her squish (squash)! I was good and took a little bit of everything, trying not to overload on one thing more than another. DH's plate needed sideboards but the boy can take all that food and not have to face the consequences afterwards :o) The meal was topped off with our traditional family dessert, Jell-O Squares. It's nice and light and the perfect ending to a huge meal. We've had this in our family for as long as I can remember and it wouldn't be a Christmas meal without it :o) If anyone is interested, here is the recipe -

Jell-O Squares

1/2 cup melted butter or margarine
2 1/2 cups graham wafer crumbs
1 1/4 cups boiling water
3 oz (85 g) package of Strawberry Jell-O
pinch of salt
250 ml whipping cream
1 cup icing sugar

Add melted butter to graham wafer crumbs and mix well. Keep aside about 1 cup for topping and press the remaining mixture into a 9 x 11 pan.

Add salt to the package of Jell-O and pour in the boiling water, mixing well. Place in fridge too cool to an egg white consistency.

Mix whipping cream and icing sugar until cream is whipped. Add it to the Jell-O mixture and mix well. Pour onto wafer crumb base and sprinkle on wafer crumb topping. Place in fridge to set, about three hours. Keep refrigerated.

If you have any questions, I might be able to answer them :o)

After dinner it was present time! Woohoo! And believe me, I wasn't the only kid there ;o) Between Mom and Brie, there was a huge tie, lol! As usual, DH and I were spoiled but everything will be put to good use. The neatest thing I got was a 1GB Verbatim U3 Smart Drive from Dad. What a cool gadget! It's got this neat picture software on it and it will definitely come in handy when sorting and storing my many pictures. It's also got an email program but I'll need to spend more time with that before I get brave enough to try it :o) I couldn't believe it but I also got some stash this year! I got two sets of DMC floss (66 skeins in total) and a 2-meter piece of moss green Monk's Cloth for my next Swedish Weaving project. Again, very spoiled indeed!

Mom was very touched by the pillow I stitched up by Pine Mountain Designs -

Dad was pretty pleased with his new John Deere tractor that I stitched as well -

More than likely, it will go down in their bedroom along with the antique John Deere tractor seat that we got him last year :o)

Brie was like a mad dog, helping DH and I open our gifts, and it didn't stop until she got her own gift. It goes to show you just how smart she really is :o)

DH, Brie and I left Mom and Dad's at a reasonable time and when we got home, I was pretty much ready for bed but..."apparently" Santa arrived while we were out and there was a box waiting for me under the tree. Now this was a definite no-no as DH and I agreed not to do anything for each other this year. I quickly unwrapped it and inside the box was a beautiful, soft pair of penguin fleece pajamas! The funny part was...I quickly explained to DH that I had bought "him" something and that it was hiding under the couch so I had easy access to it on Christmas morning. His answer..."I know." You see, DH thought it was a great idea to hide "my" gift under the couch as well (for easy access) and came across the wrapped gift that I had hidden there :o) Can you see how much we think alike???? Scary! LOL!

Since I was wide-awake by this point, I thought I might as well open the rest of the gifts under the tree :o) I have some wonderful friends and each gift they send me is special. I was tickled pink with one in particular though. It came from my good friend in British Columbia -

It's a little Norwegian Fjord pin and I just adore it! It reminds me so much of the Fjord ponies that we used to have, Princess in particular. This is one item I will treasure dearly :o)

A big THANK YOU to all!