Stash Is In The Air!

Gee, I didn't realize that I haven't posted since Monday :o( It's been a busy week here, resulting in me staying home from work today. I almost fainted when I woke up and saw that it was 1:30 PM! Needless to say, I am very tired out and obviously needed the rest.

This week was awesome as far as mail goes ;o) It was nice to finally see some goodies arrive by post again. It's really hard to get ecstatic over a phone bill. Believe me, I tried. LOL! Here's what arrived this week -

I want to thank Sandy from San Man Originals for the care that she puts into every order. I only bought a dollar chart (bunny of course) and it still arrived all wrapped up with a free chart and the ladybug pencil :o) Drema spoiled me with Seashell Silhouette by Imaginating, Briar Rabbit by L-D-Da, 30 count 18th Century Rook Linen by R & R Reproductions (for Briar Rabbit), Mill Hill beads (to finish Giggles) and four GASTs (Red Plum, Tropical Ocean, Flax and Cidermill Brown). Last but not least, some Oh-So-Gorgeous fabric from Daisy Stitches. This is my first fabric from Enchanted Fabrics (Ocean Depths) and it's very comparable to Heaven Lee Creations fabric, IMHO. The color swatch on Despina's website is not even close to this gorgeous shade of blue.

Yesterday I was surprised by a package from my friend Pam :o) We had just talked on the phone earlier in the week and I guess she didn't waste any time getting her care package out! Look at all the goodies!

Would you believe that bunny is chocolate scented???? Pam knows the way to my heart ;o) And I do have to apologize Pam, there were three Lindt chocolates in there but now there are two in my tummy and one in DH's. LOL! Pam also donated some floss to my Two By Two afghan project. You know, at first I thought it was silly to put up my floss list but now it's turned into something I never even thought of. Do you realize that each person that donates floss is going to be a part of this project? How amazing is that! It truly will be something special in the end :o) If you want to donate some floss, you can find my wish list down the right hand side of my Blog.

Finally, I thought I would post a picture of what I'm currently working on -

Yes, Gathering Eggs popped her head out again and I'm very pleased with the progress I have made. I may even finish her! That's today's goal anyway ;o)

Dream On

Do you remember your dreams? What do you dream about? Have you ever had your dreams analyzed?

There are five distinct stages of sleep. Stage One and Stage Two are a light sleep. Stages Three and Four are considered your deep sleep and Stage Five is REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. In Stages Three and Four, your body produces growth hormones, which help with tissue repair and healing. There is little dreaming in these two stages. Most of your dreaming will occur during REM sleep. These five stages repeat over and over again during the night, approximately a ninety-minute cycle. In order to function properly, it states that we should have eight to nine hours of sleep per night. If this is the case, does that mean that we can have five to six different dreams a night?

When I was younger I always had a similar element to my dreams. In each dream, I would be attacked or chased by a black bear. Why? I have no idea. I've seen bears before, from a good distance that is ;o) I've never encountered a mother bear with cubs or any bear for that matter. During my late twenties, those dreams stopped and I've never dreamt about black bears again. The Curious Dreamer states that having a bear as a dream symbol means "Power, or a power imbalance. To dream a bear is attacking symbolizes aggression and/or protectiveness." Huh.

In the past ten years I've had another dream that plagues me. I'm trying to contact DH by phone but I keep making dialing mistakes. Here's what The Curious Dreamer has to say about that one "You're feeling frustrated in communicating something. You're isolated or cut off from others. You feel the need to reach out or ask for help. Your subconscious mind is imagining a worse-case scenario based on a fear of needing help and not being able to get it." I'd say the last statement could be spot on.

Some of my dreams become so real that I have to orient myself in the morning to make sure that what I experienced was actually a dream. They are not always bad dreams but the ones that are have introduced a new twist to my sleep...I wake up screaming. Yup! It nearly gives DH a heart attack :o) Sometimes the screams are hoarse and caught in my throat but other times they are piercing (from what I have been told). There are times when I vaguely remember doing it but I can never remember why I was that terrified. I'm the perfect guest for a sleep over ;o)

Just for fun, take a look at The Curious Dreamer and find out what your dreams mean. It may or may not be accurate but it's good fun :o)

One Of Those Days

Have you ever had one of those days where nothing makes you happy? No matter what you do, you still struggle to take interest in something. You feel no inspiration what so ever. It seems my week is going that way. I just can't seem to get myself out of this slump. I've tried different things but when I get turned off by my stitching, then you know something is wrong!

My head feels so full that there doesn't seem to be room to breath. My creative self is yelling for help because it's so bogged down and drowning. I tried taking some pictures after work today but nothing spoke to me. There were no flowers to speak of. Everything around me still looked dead. It's been cold here and today is not helping. It's windy, cold AND over cast :o(

When Quilt Time Sampler finished the first of this week, I started to make plans for my next project. I can't tell you how many times I went through my stash. I kept taking things out and then putting them back again. Nothing was talking to me there either. I started my Marquoir Sampler over again but I'm still having problems with the lightest color. I have one more to try and then maybe I'll post a picture.

It seems I have settled on Gathering Eggs for now. I dug her out and started stitching her again. She really doesn't have that much left so hopefully I will stick by her until she is completed this time. I want to thank everyone for putting their votes in for my next project. It looks like Stargazer has won! I just love that design and I look forward to making her come alive :o)

Today I finally received my Two By Two (by Sue Hillis) book -

I have seen this design stitched up twice and each time I was in awe. I just love it! I'm going to reserve the fall to start this biggie because I really don't want to be tucked under that afghan all summer. Plus, it looks like I have some DMC to buy. Would you believe this takes 156 SKEINS OF DMC???? Ack! The floss is going to be the most expensive part of this project! Anyone up to donating to the cause? ;o)

Finish Twenty-One

And it's about darn tootin' time too!

This is Quilt Time Sampler by Little House Needleworks. It was stitched on 32 count Country French Latte Linen with DMC floss.

I never thought this project would come to an end! You should have seen me last night, I was quite a sight :o) My determination and dislike for this project gave me the strength to stay up late and complete this WIP. It was just under the wire too! At 11:30 pm, I was sitting on the couch in a zombie-like state (from being over tired) with a sense of euphoria (from my new Fibro drug); unable to do a happy dance because of the pre-existing states I was in. LOL! Needless to say, I am one happy camper today though! Getting rid of that project feels so liberating!

So, what's next? I'm not 100% sure. Since I feel off the wagon, my plans have changed somewhat. I have decided to revamp my Marquoir Sampler. Every time I opened that project, it just kept reminding me of Christmas and that was not the effect I wanted. I was originally using DMC 520, 815, 3790 and 3865 but thanks to a member of one of my groups, I will be changing to the colors to DMC 167, 3051, 3858 and Anchor 390. I think this should give me the antique look that I was trying to aim for. The not-so-good part of the revamp means I will be doing some frogging :o( Yuck!

I really do want to get another WIP off my list but we'll see how much of a priority that is by the end of the week ;o) Gathering Eggs has been gathering a lot of dust and I'd say she's about 2/3 of the way done. The same with Giggles but I don't know if I want to stitch a Christmas design right now.

My desire to dive into a huge project is very strong. I have two afghans, one L&L and one Mirabilia that I want to stitch but I can't decide where to start. I think the afghans will be put aside until the fall though. With the warmer weather on the horizon, I really don't need the extra heat. So...that leaves me with two to choose from. Okay, I'm going to ask for your help then. Which project should I pick up next - Lady Of The Thread by L&L or Stargazer by Mirabilia? Leave me your vote in the comment section and later on I'll see who wins out ;o)

THUD!

What's that you ask? That's me, officially falling off the wagon. Yes, I can no longer deny it, my will is just too weak and the dark force is just too strong. It has pulled me in with all of those colorful fabrics, twinkling beads, silky threads and must do designs. Let's not leave out all the enablers, whether they realize they are guilty or not ;o)

I have to admit that when I made the decision to do this challenge, I never thought that I would make it almost halfway. I started out pretty focused though but now I can feel it side tracking quite a bit. I'm not sure if it's the warmer weather, the fact that I don't really have a huge project on the go or maybe it's just all the stress that I have been under.

So now I'm officially stepping down from The 50 Project Challenge. My legal department, namely Shannon, can no longer find any extra clauses or exceptions that would still let me qualify for the project. I have strayed quite a ways from the rules and regulations. The Bunny Clause and The Charity/Donations Exception can only go so far ;o)

In the end, I have still saved money and that was one of the main things I was striving for. I also stitched up quite a few charts that I've wanted to do for a while now but just never got around to. Plus the fact that I already have twenty projects under my belt and that definitely helps the year-end total.

My goals for the rest of the year will remain somewhat the same though. I will refrain from spending a lot of money on stash, I will keep working on my WIPs and 2007 Goal List and I will still dig in that bottomless drawer of mine to search out other patterns that are hidden in its depths :o)

Wrinkles Aren't Just A Sign Of Aging

As I was putting away two weeks worth of clean clothes this morning, two thoughts came to mind. One, I was glad that they were piled on the spare bed instead of the floor this time and two, how much I hated wrinkles. There is nothing that I detest more than wrinkled clothing or fabric. Yes, I have always been that anal ;o)

Back before the Fibro zapped all of the energy out of me, I used to always iron my clothes before I wore them. Always. Every piece. Okay, not my socks, bra and underwear but you get the picture :o) If my clothes weren't ironed before I wore then, I would feel frumpy and disheveled. Now, I rarely iron my clothes but only because I have found a quicker, less exhaustive way of getting my clothes wrinkle free. Enter the dryer :o)

Clothes aside, I feel the same way about my stitching fabric. I absolutely LOVE when shops keep their fabric as wrinkle free as possible. There used to be a shop in Moncton, that is now closed, and Barb kept her fabrics in such a lovely, organized way. I rarely bought my fabric elsewhere because just looking at those crisp pieces of linen was enough to drive a girl to heaven :o) She even surged around the fabric so that all the ends were nice and neat. Sigh! Barb, I "really" miss you!

I have yet to find a shop that keeps their fabric at this high level of excellence. I've found a few that come close so I guess I will just have to settle for that for now. On the other hand, I have been into shops that have fabric everywhere. And I mean e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e! The scene looks like something out of a horror movie. Instead of bodies lying everywhere, it's fabric. I just cringe when I think of how that lovely fabric is treated :o( Two years ago I finally got to visit one of the "very popular and most talked about" cross stitch store and I was horrified to see their fabric literally dumped into plastic bins. I still can't erase the awful pictures in my head.

I store my fabric in drawers and I try to keep them as wrinkle free as possible. Now unless you have huge drawers, there are always going to be some creases and that's understandable. Before I start a project though, I always iron my fabric. Again, anal I know, but if I'm going to spend days looking at this project, I don't want to be seeing a piece of frumpy material in my hands. LOL! Does anyone do this as well? Does anyone share my anal retentive ways?

At least I can say that I haven't reached the level of sorting my fabric by color. Not yet anyway ;o)

Itchin' To Stitch

Whew! I'm still trying to catch my breath from last week! I told the girls they are going to have to wheel me around in a wheelchair the next time we do something like that. Hey, it might be fun! For me anyway ;o)

I was looking at my journal last night and I realized that I haven't stitched for two weeks! Can you imagine? I think the second longest time I have gone without stitching was back in May of last year when I had a real bad case of vertigo for a week :o( It will be nice to get back into the groove of things again.

To be fair though, the reason for the first week off was because I was doing some sewing :o) Do you remember when I said I had a surprise for the girls? Well, I finally put what my MIL taught me to good use and I made them each a reversible bag. Although I'm not gifted for putting two patterned fabrics together, I'm quite impressed with my results. Katie's bag had a scrapbooking theme with a matching dark green interior and buttons with a stitched look -

For Faith Ann's, I went with a lovely floral pattern that I've had for a while now but didn't know what to do with. Her purse is lined with a lovely lilac color and her buttons are pearly white flowers -

On the stitching side of things, I have gone back to my Quilt Time Sampler by LHN and I'm determined to get this done and out of the way. I'm not very fond of this piece and if I don't finish it now, I fear I never will. This is my progress to date -

My goal is to finish this one, work some more on one of my WIP pieces, stitch a few smaller pieces I've been anxious to do and then maybe start a big project again. I've been eyeing a few. Who knew it would be so hard to pick!

Shop 'Till You Drop Or...Puke?

As you may have noticed (and thanks for all the concern from those who did!) I have not posted since I went on my trip to Maine with the girls. It seems there was a bit of a glitch with my awesome plan to use shopping therapy as a way to push aside all the stress that has been overwhelming me at the moment. Even though I had a TERRIFIC weekend, my body thought otherwise and decided to finally surrender :o( I guess things just accumulated enough to drive my immune system down and I caught a bug somewhere. I have to say that I have not puked like that in a long time but the good news is, I think I lost a bit of weight! LOL! Well, at least I lost whatever I put on that weekend ;o)

So I bet you are all wondering how the weekend went! Were you on pins and needles all week? :o) Let's see, where to begin...the weather had us guessing right up until the last minute whether we were going or not. We got a nice (NOT!) snowstorm on Friday and by Saturday morning, everything was white but at least the roads were clear. I, somehow, made it out of the house on time, picked up Katie and got to Faith Ann's shortly after 7 am. We all piled into Faith Ann's car and we hit the new four-lane highway all the way up to the border crossing. The guard must have eaten her Wheaties that morning because she was pretty friendly and soon had us through. I knew my trip was going to be great after finding a Coke slushie at our first stop! Gooooooood slushie!

Since we had quite a list of places to hit, we decided to forfeit going to the new fiber store in Orono. It wasn't a full-fledged cross-stitch store anyway. We were really liking the idea of getting to Jo-Ann's Fabrics and AC Moore with our 40% off coupons ;o) We graced our presence at Old Navy and Khols before we hit the Olive Garden for lunch. I have never been to an Olive Garden but I'm SO glad (NOT!) that Faith Ann suggested it. Wow! They have some nicely prepared pasta dishes with loads of flavor. I kept wondering why people were leaving with bags full of food and now I know why!

We checked into the hotel and then we decided that the mall was the best place to walk off all of that food. All three of us, finally, found a pair of Mary Jane Crocs and I absolutely LOVE mine! They are soooooo comfortable :o) We also made stops at the Burlington Coat Factory, Wal Mart, Borders and Toys R Us. I was pretty satisfied to find my Mr. Potato Head parts. For supper, it was unanimous that we go to Ruby Tuesdays. Their ribs are delicious but their Strawberry Lemonade was the real winner! Good thing I can't drink alcohol at the moment and therefore mine was a virgin ;o)

A bed never looked so good as it did Saturday night! I think I read for about ten minutes and then it was lights out for me. I was still in the same position when I woke up the next morning, lol! The hotel had a very nice continental breakfast with lots to choose from. We made a few more stops before heading for home. Target and Shaws were great places for me to spend my money at and I pretty much found everything that I was hoping to, along with a few extras :o) I'm still desperately searching for Slice though! Since there are no more Friendly's restaurants in Bangor, I was more than delighted to find their sundays at the grocery store. I had a big grin on my face when I got back to the car with my Peanut Butter Cup Sunday, let me tell you! With three happy but exhausted women in front of him, the cute guard at the border just waved us on by. It pays to be a girl sometimes ;o)

So I bet you are all wondering what I bought! Details, you want details! LOL! I have to admit that I was very good and very restrained. I had a set limit and I ended up coming home with $6.19 US :o) Aside from the items mentioned above, I stocked up on some more DMC floss but didn't really buy my normal bagful. I was extremely happy to find my Alphabet Afghan by Charles Craft and I got it 40% to boot! The doggy steps that I bought for Brie were another bonus. I think she was a little miffed that what I bought her wasn't food although she did try to eat the steps. I'm embarrassed to admit but most of my purchases were food items :o) I got Hershey Cinnamon Baking Chips, Land O Lakes Raspberry & Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix, Country Time Lemonade, Country Time Lemonade Ice Tea, Country Time Lemonade On The Go Packs, IBC Root Beer, Pringles Cinnamon Sweet Potato Crisps, Bakers Dark Dipping Chocolate, Kashi TLC Honey Almond Flax Bars, Del Monte Sun Fresh Citrus Salad and Archer Farms Milk Chocolate Pretzel Clusters.

Whew! I bet you are exhausted just reading this. Well, imagine actually living it ;o) Today has been the first day that I have truly been even remotely interested in the computer so I thought I would update my Blog since this reaches the most people. I will be slowly catching up this coming week so please be patient; I will get back to you! It's good to be back among the living again :o) Seriously!

USA Bound

That's right! In less than 12 hours, the girls and I head for Maine for a weekend of shopping. Woohoo! Little do they know but I have a bit of a surprise for them :o)

See everyone on Monday!

I'm So Excited...

...and I just can't hide it!

Today I gave an interview. That's right, an interview :o) Not just for a local newspaper this time but for a magazine. Yup, a magazine that is distributed all over North America! How cool is that! Do I have your attention? ;o)

Last September I was in the drug store picking up a prescription when I decided to check out the magazine selection before I left. A bright pink cover caught my eye and when I looked closer, I noticed that it was a magazine solely geared towards breast cancer. The name...Beyond - Live & Thrive After Breast Cancer -

Seeing that this was a new concept that I had never seen before, it peaked my interest and I bought it. Well, I think it's one of the few magazines that I have actually read from cover to cover and enjoyed every minute doing so. I was so impressed, in fact, that I emailed them and shared my story. Months went by though and I got no response.

Then, a few weeks ago, I was in the same drug store picking up another prescription and what do I see among the magazines but another issue of Beyond! Of course I picked it up immediately and added it to my purchases. Again, it proved itself to be just as well put together as the premier issue. Even DH was reading it!

It must have been fate because this past Monday I received a response from the magazine :o) Michele Meyer is a freelance writer for Beyond and she is doing an article called Dancing With The Fear. She wanted to talk to me about my experience so today we talked on the phone and I shared my most intimate worries and fears with her. What a wonderful person she is too. She must have a very good sense of humor because while talking to me, she got a taste of my twisted funny side :o)

So, the article is going to appear in the fall issue of Beyond. Woohoo! As much as I hate this winter weather that WE ARE HAVING IN SPRING (anyone listening!), I almost want to will the summer away so I can read the finished product. From what I have learned, the magazine is being published twice a year. I don't see an actual website for the magazine but they do have one where you can order the back issue.

Now to start counting down the months ;o)

On This Day Three Years Ago...

A little bundle of joy was born :o)

This was Brie the day we arrived home with her. She was SO tiny! Resilient though! DH and I kept stepping on her and jamming her in doors. We weren't used to having something that small following us everywhere :o)

To this day I still say that she is smarter than DH and I combined. While she was in her puppy stage and still being housebroken, we gated off the small hallway off the kitchen and placed her kennel under the set tub, because both of us where working at the time. One day I came home and Brie wasn't in her kennel area. The baby gate was still up and there was no way she could have gotten under, over or around it. I eventually found her curled up in my pile of clothes in the bedroom :o) It took some time but we finally found that she had chewed through the thick plastic mesh of the baby gate. If not inspected closely, the baby gate still looked intact. Well, this was quickly remedied. DH replaced the plastic mesh with a metal mesh. We figured that would stop any further escapes. Or so we thought...

I got home from work one night and DH was waiting there for me, looking quite sternly. He asked me why I didn't put Brie into her kennel area before I left for work. He stated that when he got home, she was out and about and there was good evidence of this. I was shocked because putting her away before I left was surely something I would remember to do. So again, we found ourselves wondering how she escaped this time. The gate was intact. She couldn't fit under or around the gate. There was no bloody way she had jumped over the gate! We sat perplexed.

Finally, DH suggested that we put her in the kennel area and see if she would repeat the act. She just sat there behind the gate looking at us. So we started calling her name. She would just up against the gate but there was no way she would have been able to jump clearly over it. Then we tried toys. Again, she did the same thing. Then, as DH and I sat in the kitchen with complete blank looks on our faces, we watched as our brainchild hopped onto her kennel and then over the gate. We were dumbfounded! I'm a little biased but I think she got her intelligence from my side of the family ;o)

So Brie...Happy Birthday my little hot dog!

To Retreat Or Not To Retreat

Yes, that is the question…

Every year, for the past seven years, I have attended a stitching retreat at Camp Wildwood. It’s only about a two and a half hour drive from home so I consider it pretty local. The weekend consists of two nights and three days of stitching, shopping, eating and catching up with friends :o) It’s not The Ritz mind you but that’s fine with me because as long as I have a bed to sleep on, a chair so I can sit and stitch and a table that will hold my food, I’m a happy camper. LOL! The camp provides two or three meals a day plus two or three snacks in between. We even have the LNS set up there so we can indulge without even having to leave the lodge :o)

There are two retreats a year, one in the spring and one in the fall. Women come from all over and on average there can be anywhere from 65 to 80 women. Yes, that’s a lot of female hormones in one place at the same time ;o) You should see the look on a husband’s face when one dares to come and pick up his wife! There are chairs, Ott-Lites, tables, totes, foot stools and extension cords e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e! It really is quite a site. Many ladies have been coming there for far longer that I have but each year there are always a few newbies that are welcomed into the family.

At fall retreat we have an ornament exchange. It’s a wonderful way to start off the holiday season. A Christmas tree is put up and during the weekend, more and more stitched ornaments adorn the tree until the last day, when they come off and are presented to their new owners :o) In the spring we do another exchange but this can be anything that is stitched. It’s amazing the creativity of some of these ladies.

Each retreat, for as long as I can remember, we have joined together and held raffles and auctions. Most of the time the funds raised have been going towards breast cancer research but there have been other causes as well. The generosity of these ladies is amazing as we can usually bring in around $600 in one weekend! There have been a lot of tragedies and sad stories shared there but on the other hand, there are a lot of hugs available and shoulders to cry on.

Last week I received the email announcing our upcoming spring retreat and I have to be honest, it did not fill me with the usual excitement :o( The past few letters have gradually become colder but this one was completely void of warmth. New rules are being implemented and the price has increased again. This has not gone over well with me or some of the other gals that go. Two retreats a year has now become only one as some of us cannot afford to go to both now. And while I do understand why prices have to increase, there are other issues. Maybe it’s time for a change of hands.

So my answer is…no, I will not be attending spring retreat this year. Instead, Katie, Faith Ann, Flat Shannon and I are going on a trip! We are heading to Bangor, Maine for the weekend to do a little shopping, and more shopping and more shopping ;o) I’m sure we’ll fit food and sleep in there somewhere. LOL! As much as I shouldn’t be going, I really do need this time to unwind and forget about things, even if it’s only for a few days. I’m hoping that maybe we are starting our own spring tradition, something new to spruce up the old. Don’t worry though; the Ta-Ta Twins will still exist! We might even morph into the Ta-Ta Quadruplets ;o)

Hippity Hop

HAPPY EASTER!

I hope the Easter Bunny finds everyone and spreads the joy of chocolate everywhere :o)

Twenty Down...30 More To Go!

SHIZAM!

Woohoo! It's finally done! My completed Spring Snapperland by Bent Creek.

One more pattern checked off of my 2007 list :o) As mentioned before, the original design called for brown flowers. This did not call out as spring to me so I made some changes to the border. I pulled the two lilac colors out of the individual boxes and used those as substitutions for the flowers. I'm quite happy with the effect it gives. Like the Winter Snapperland, I have developed a dislike for this project and I have no idea why. Maybe it's just too busy. I don't know. LOL!

DH and I just got back from a nice walk along the beach. The snow is still here but it's starting to melt. It's still cool out there too. I'm not feeling the best this weekend. As hard as I try to relax here, I'm still worrying about work and LTD. DH talked to our lawyer on Thursday and we were told that my file was going to be looked at by LTD at the end of next week or the first of the following week. Hopefully this whole thing is coming to an end because I am SO tired of it. The energy and anger I had that kept the fight in me going is no longer there and I'm ready to admit defeat if this is not the end :o(

I forgot to mention that DH and I celebrated Easter on Thursday morning. A little early, I know, but the Easter Bunny thinks I'm special ;o) I woke up to an Easter egg hunt and I collected a bowl full of mini Cadbury Cream Eggs and dark chocolate Lindt eggs. There was a hollow chocolate bunny waiting for me as well. The Easter Bunny has continued this tradition for many years :o) I hope he finds everyone else too! As a child, this was my favorite holiday and it still is. Did I mention that I LOVE BUNNIES???? It's plain to see in old pictures why this is because I've had stuffed rabbits for as long as I can remember :o) One year I entered a coloring contest at the local drug store and I won first place! The prize...a four foot stuffed rabbit!!!! In the picture that my Dad took, its ear tips are just above my head :o)

On Thursday night, DH made a wonderful turkey dinner with all the fixings! It was yummy! We had mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, creamed corn, turnip and cranberries to go along with the delicious turkey. It was around a twelve pounder too so we are set for turkey for the next month ;o) For dessert we bought some of Mary's Carrot Cake. This is the most delicious carrot cake I have ever had. It's so moist and the frosting is to drool over! Sooooo good!

Has anyone figured out how to stop time yet????

Is it Christmas Again?

This is what DH and I woke up to this morning -

That's right! About six inches to be exact. Poor Brie could hardly plough through it. She had to do bunny hops just to get around. Maybe I should invent stilts for Dachshunds :o)

DH and I went for breakfast over in Calais, Maine this morning and we overheard people saying we were supposed to get 14 inches when all was said and done. ACK! I have to wonder if this is some cruel, twisted joke by the Easter Bunny. If so, it's not funny! Green grass, gone. Bare roads, gone.

In case you haven't guessed, DH and I are spending Easter weekend down at the ocean :o) My in-laws are on a trip so we have another wonderful, peaceful weekend of pure silence and bliss. Ahhhh! We arrived last night and when we parked the car, I noticed the outline of a deer in our headlights. It was on the hill behind the house and it wasn't too afraid of us. When it started to walk away, the poor thing was limping. I guess it has been spotted before and it has a mangled back leg :o( DH thinks it was coyotes.

While across the lines, we dropped into a favorite place of mine that carries bolts upon bolts of fabric and at "really" good prices. Their motto is "I should have bought it, when I saw it, at Marden's!" This is very true. Sometimes you go in and there is absolutely nothing. Other times, like today, I was lucky and this is the fabric I picked up -

Believe it or not, but since we arrived last night, I have hardly put a stitch in my Spring Snapperland. I hope to have it completely done so I can move on to something else. It seems I have enough here to keep me relaxed that I don't need my stitching. I know! Hard to believe ;o)

Reign Over Me

After a terrible, terrible, terrible day on Thursday, DH surprised me and asked me if I wanted to go to the movies that night. At first I didn't think it was a very good idea, considering the mood I was in. Then I took a minute to think about whether I wanted to sit at home and mull over what a rotten day I had or go somewhere that was going to take my mind off the crappy news I had received. Hence...the movie idea won out. Plus, I couldn't pass up the chance to get a Coke slushie and some popcorn ;o)

DH and I had seen the trailer for Reign Over Me many times on television and that was our choice on Thursday night. I probably should have gone with a comedy but I figured I was already wallowing so I might as well be even more depressed. We were not disappointed with our choice though. What a powerful movie it was. If you are looking for action or a real thrill, this is not the movie for you. It did have its comedic moments but they were well placed within the movie. DH and I like Don Cheadle and Adam Sandler but both gave such tremendous performances that we love them all the more! You definitely walk out of this movie thinking...

...and thinking I did. The movie touched on how we deal with loss. What, we as a society, think is appropriate behavior when we loose something or someone that we love. The proper response, as dictated by society, is to grieve, lean on those around us for support and start living a normal life within an appropriate amount of time. Basically, we are supposed to go through the five stages of grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. But what happens when someone chooses to grieve outside of this box or they become hung up on one of the five steps? They will be judged by those around them. The foreign behavior startles people and drives them even further away. They have no idea how to deal with it and in turn, alienation occurs.

But is it appropriate to grieve in our own way? I believe it is. Grieving is a process in itself. Do you scream and yell? Do you cry until you can't cry anymore? Do you just sweep your emotions under the carpet and try to forget about them? Some people take longer to get over a loss than others. There may be some that love so deeply that they literally think their heart will break. Then there are others that cannot seem to climb out of the depression that washes over them. Everyone deals with loss in a different way and to me that is acceptable. To me that is normal. That is part of what makes us unique :o)

How do I deal with loss? Not very good. I never have. I've had many losses in my life. I've had family, friends and animals pass away. I've lost jobs. I've lost control over aspects of my life. I've lost a breast. I've lost hopes and dreams. Some losses I have gotten over faster than others. Some losses I am still dealing with. Some, I have not dealt with at all. Is it healthy? Maybe not but it's the best way that I know how to deal with things. It's the best way that I know how to protect myself.

I think it all comes down to time. Time is the key factor. Take the time to grieve. Take the time to heal. Take your own time, not someone else's.

Nineteen Down...31 More To Go!

BAM! BAM! BAM! The fourth and final square...Hutch by Bent Creek -

Again, more French knots but I'm quite pleased with myself as I think I have finally mastered them! I love the effect the knots give the bunny's tail :o)

Here are the four squares together -

The next step is the border. After a friend of mine raised the question of the colors in the border, I finally took a look at what colors the pattern actually called for. I was not impressed. Brown flowers for spring? I think not! I have since changed the colors and I'll keep things secret until I unveil the finished project :o)

Eighteen Down...32 More To Go!

BAM! BAM! Here's the third square to Spring Snapperland...the Coop by Bent Creek -

I hate French knots. Do you know how many French knots are in this piece???? NINE! I did them though. I figured I would have some pretty funky chickens if I didn't give them eyes ;o)

Here is another progress picture with the other two squares -

Irene asked me what fabric I am using for this piece and as far as I know it's 32 count Smokey Pearl linen. I bought my Spring Snapperland kitted from Needlecraft Corner. I hope this helps :o)

Sharon wants to know how long it takes me to stitch each Snapperland and that's a hard question to answer since I don't keep track of hours, only days. For Winter Snapperland it took on average about three days to complete each box. I didn't really keep a good track of that one so it's a bit of guesswork :o) It looks like I have been a little slower with Spring Snapperland. Each box is taking me about four to five days to complete. I would say that being back to work has been a factor in this.

Terri has raised a very good question for me. She wants to know what I'm going to do about the colors in the border. Believe it or not, I didn't know because I didn't even look at those colors. When I looked at them last night, I was quite surprised! Brown flowers do not remind me of spring. I will definitely be changing them now and I'll keep my choices secret until it's time to reveal the completed project ;o)

Seventeen Down...33 More To Go!

BAM! I present to you...Hive by Bent Creek -

I just love that little bee :o)

This is what the project looks like so far -

I would have to say that I like this one over the Winter Snapperland so far. I'll have to wait until the border is complete to give my final verdict though :o)

I won't go into details about the weekend. Let's just say that doing my taxes did not make for a very happy day and I really need to win a million dollars. Okay, just a hundred thousand. All right, all right...ten thousand. I'd be happy with ten thousand ;o)

SOS

Sights/Smells Of Spring.

Grass. The snow is going and we have grass showing now! I shouldn’t complain or be surprised because winter never really started until February. The snow we got was minimal compared to other places but grass is always one of the first signs of spring for me. Ask me again in a few months just how much I like grass and it will be a very different story though ;o)

Skunks. I swear they plan and co-ordinate when they will all appear from their winter dens. Their smell permeates the air with their own Eau De PU. We have one that hangs around our house every summer and the sadistic little bugger will “let go” on the hottest and most humid nights. You know, the ones where you “have” to keep the windows open :o(

Deer. Lots and lots of deer. They pepper the fields in large numbers, looking for the new grass growth. It’s an amazing sight to see large herds of them. They are such a beautiful creature.

Cow Poop. Yes, you heard me right :o) Since we live in “the country” we get to enjoy this smell about four months out of the year. With the melting of the snow it soon becomes time to spread that juicy cow concoction on the fields, fertilizing them for the year. Mm, mm, good :oP

Robins. I’m amazed that I have not seen one yet. Usually they have arrived by now. Maybe they just don’t like my yard ;o) Their huge red bellies are so pretty against the raw colors of a disappearing winter.

Dog Poop. You can’t think spring without that smell coming to mind :o) I don’t know if it’s “actually” dog poop. How can you smell dog poop everywhere you go? Maybe it is. I don’t know. There sure is a lot of spring poop going on!

Bunnies. I LOVE bunnies! L-O-V-E! Unfortunately the only ones I have seen have been flattened on the road :o( But seeing their white fur turning to brown reminds me that winter is on the way out.

Chocolate. The stores become filled with this heavenly smell for Easter. Just go down one of the isles and breathe deeply. Very deeply! Ahhhh… Oh sweet sweet dark master, you have such a hold on me :o)

I'm Ready For My Close-Up, Mr. DeMille

This is Brie with her hair up :o)

This is Brie hamming it up for the camera :o)

Sixteen Down...34 More To Go!

I finally dug out Spring Snapperland by Bent Creek and here's the Cottage -

The whole design won't be done before spring, obviously, but I hope to have it done, at least, before spring is over :o) At this rate, I think it's possible.

Today is the first day of spring so it's only fitting that Spring Snapperland is in the works. I wish I could say something more positive about the weather outside. We still have snow although it's much less than what we had before. The heavy rains on the weekend took away a good portion of it. The temperatures are still cool though. On the positive side, green grass is starting to emerge!

I've been down the past few days with another bout of vertigo :o( I swear, this has got to be the worst ailment I've had. I should have known it was coming because on Sunday I had told DH that I was feeling very weird. It never fails and so far I have not learned to recognize the early warning signs. I'm feeling much better today but I sure could go for a huge plate of Chinese food :o)

All Points Bulletin!

News Flash...70,000 pounds worth (monetary not weight) of Cadbury Eggs have been stolen! Story here.

I guess I should find a better hiding spot for mine ;o)

Okay, seriously, if anyone has any information on this or the whereabouts of these eggs, PLEASE...EMAIL ME!

Fifteen Down...35 More To Go!

Think Pink by Lizzie Kate is done! Woohoo!

I just love the way the variegated threads turned out on this one :o) I actually completed this on Friday but just never had the chance to post before this. It was a fun project to stitch although I'm not sure how I'm going to finish it yet. I love the pillow that was made for the model piece but mine won't look as good as that! I'm going to have to put on my thinking cap....

This past week and weekend were extremely busy for me. I'm almost ashamed that I haven't posted since last Wednesday. I think it was the fact that I scared so many readers with my underwear post ;o) Honestly guys, it was just a bit of kicks and giggles. LOL!

To update everyone on the LTD/work issue, LTD came back saying they wanted an IME (Independent Medical Exam) and it was to be by a doctor of their choice. On Friday, I went in for this exam and DH went with me. I believe the visit went very well. There was no denying the fact that I have Fibromyalgia or Mitral Valve Prolapse. I was good and tired for the exam seeing that I was up at 4 am that morning and unable to get back to sleep. Since I also had to work before the exam, the fatigue was very apparent by the time I got to my appointment. It will probably be a couple of weeks before we know anything more but we're hoping we are one more step closer to having this whole thing over with.

On Saturday, I finished cleaning my computer/craft room and I'm SO happy to have a spotless space again! I cannot tell you the last time it was cleaned. There were dust bunnies the size of Brie in there! LOL! Now, this room is quite small and it took a good two days for me to do all the work. I paid for it though because the pain was almost unbearable :o( DH and I plan to do the whole house in stages but he's going to be doing most of the work. I've got the spring cleaning bug ;o)

On Sunday, we met up with DH's parents for breakfast up at Smitty's. My SIL, BIL and nephew were there too. It's been awhile since I've seen the little guy and I was shocked to see that he's got FOUR teeth! I'm told he is quite the little biter though ;o) I can never get over how happy this child is and we were at the restaurant for an hour and a half. DH is jealous though because our nephew has already earned his first paycheck and he's not even a year old yet :o)

What Is Victoria's Secret Anyway?

I’m getting dressed for work this morning and I’m almost ready to go out the door when I realize the fact that if I were to bend over my underwear is going to show. Not an attractive sight when you’re wearing low rider jeans. So, I quickly run to change when I realize that the underwear I want is among a huge pile of laundry that has accumulated over the past two weeks. Now even though it was all stuffed and stacked in the basket, it was done in an orderly fashion. Enter DH this morning and chaos has hit like an explosion, sending bits of clothes here and there, therefore disrupting the organized mess. The ones I’m looking for are not where they are supposed to be, making my morning more rushed than necessary. Thankfully, I located the little buggers. People can rest easy now when they look at my ass ;o)

What type of underwear do you like? A very personal question I know but hey, about 90% of the population wears them. The other 10% I’m assuming are going commando. Myself, I’m very particular about what I like. Very particular! Don’t ask me why but everything has to be plain white. White, white, white. No prints, no colors, no stripes, no frills. White. I prefer cotton but will go with a bit of Lycra if I have to. DH calls them my “Granny Undies” but hey, they’re comfortable and I’m the one wearing them after all. I have ventured into the boy short style panties and they aren’t too bad, but my heart is still with plain old white cotton undies that don’t bunch up into my behind :o)

Thongs. To be brutally honest, I hate them. Who, in their right mind, invented them? LOL! I’d like to meet the sadistic person who came up with the idea. Why would someone love to go around with a piece of string up their butt crack? I know, I know! There are some women who love them and like the fact that they do not get a panty line but there is seamless underwear out there now. My hat is off to those that can pull it off and who enjoy wearing one though :o)

I also hate underwear shopping. Give me a root canal any day ;o) What makes things so frustrating is when I find something that I like, it becomes discontinued later down the road :o( Argh! And let’s be even more honest…I’m not a size 2 anymore. Hey, maybe if I were, I wouldn’t mind wearing all those cute styles that are out there now. What makes things more difficult is the fact that you cannot really try underwear on before you buy it. I realize that it wouldn’t be very hygienic if you could but how are you supposed to get the right feel or style? You know those stockings they have when you try on shoes? Maybe they should come up with an underwear condom :o)

So in the end it all comes down to this…here’s to Granny Undies everywhere! No frills. Cheers :o)

Fourteen Down...36 More To Go!

I hate to say it but I'm still on the pink ribbon bandwagon ;o) On Friday, I completed another piece. This is Where There Is Life by Little House Needleworks -

I am SO in love with this design! It's absolutely gorgeous and the picture does not do it justice! The threads are so soft, the fabric is a dream to work with and the verse is beautiful. This was a joint effort between LHN and Crescent Colors and all the proceeds from the kit are being donated to breast cancer education and awareness programs. There is only one shop that carries it so contact Elegant Stitch for yours :o) You will not be sorry.

The weekend wasn't bad but I have NO idea where it went. On Saturday, we headed down to the ocean to spend the day with DH's parents. DH had to bring some plywood down for his dad and while he was there, he helped with the latest batch of wine on the go :o) I spent the afternoon with my MIL and she taught me how to sew a new project! Unfortunately I cannot divulge what it is but I will definitely post a picture once it has been received. Sewing for me is always a bit nerve racking but with the super easy instructions that my MIL typed up, I should have no problems doing one on my own. I was also in heaven when she gave me three pillow covers that I can CROSS STITCH ON! Woohoo! The fabric is basically a blown up version of an evenweave (although this material is much thicker) so it's ideal. It works out to be 10 count over one or 5 count over two. I'm going to be on the search for the perfect patterns now :o)

Since DH did all the driving this time, I dug out my travel project, Noah's Crew by Imaginating. I fell in love with this piece when I saw a picture of it and a very kind soul sent me the pattern for free! Thank you Ann :o) The frame has been bought and received so now I just have to stitch everything up. On this trip I completed the rabbit :o) I'm sorry I don't have a better picture. He is so cute -

This new Daylight Savings Time that we have been put on has reeked havoc on my inner clock :o( I'm a bit more tired than usual, if that's even possible! I slept half of Sunday away and the rest was basically curled up on the couch with DH and Brie watching movies :o) DH is finally getting over his cold and I seemed to have caught the last bit of it but thankfully it wasn't bad. I took a good dose of Cold FX and I really think it worked.

Today it's back to the grind and reality. I was pleasantly surprised to find a package full of Dragon Floss when I got home though!

Aren't they gorgeous???? Thanks Sue!

At least I can say it's a little warmer outside, the sun is shinning and the days are going to be longer :o)

How To Save A Life

I really love this song. I first heard it last year when I was watching an episode of Grey's Anatomy. It's by The Fray and if you haven't heard it before, it's definitely worth a listen. The lyrics read -

"step one you say we need to talk
he walks you say sit down it's just a talk
he smiles politely back at you
you stare politely right on through
some sort of window to your right
as he goes left and you stay right
between the lines of fear and blame
and you begin to wonder why you came

where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
somewhere along in the bitterness
and I would have stayed up with you all night
had I known how to save a life

let him know that you know best
cause after all you do know best
try to slip past his defense
without granting innocence
lay down a list of what is wrong
the things you've told him all along
and pray to God he hears you

where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
somewhere along in the bitterness
and I would have stayed up with you all night
had I known how to save a life

as he begins to raise his voice
you lower yours and grant him one last choice
drive until you lose the road
or break with the ones you've followed
he will do one of two things
he will admit to everything
or he'll say he's just not the same
and you'll begin to wonder why you came

where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
somewhere along in the bitterness
and I would have stayed up with you all night
had I known how to save a life"

The song is about an adult that is trying to help out a troubled teen but just doesn't know how. The band states that even though this story was the original intent, the lyrics are open for interpretation.

Have you ever saved a life? Do you know someone that has? The only person I can think of is my dad. He saved the life of his friend. It was a couple of summers ago and they were working outside on one of their many projects down at the lake. Luckily Dad noticed the early signs of a heart attack and eventually convinced his friend to go to the hospital. It was a good thing too because his friend was willing to shake it off and continue working!

Do you know someone whose life has been saved? Has someone ever saved your life? My life was saved when I was around two years old. I walked off the end of the wharf at our cottage and sank to the bottom of the lake. A neighbor happened to notice and he jumped in, clothes and all, to bring me back up. Hence the reason why I hate water but then again, if you sink like a stone I don't believe you were meant to be a great swimmer ;o)

Saving a life doesn't necessarily mean saving someone from death. There are other ways that you can save someone's life, as pointed out in the song. Try donating food or winter coats to your local shelter or become a Big Brother or Big Sister. Imagine the impact you could have on a child's life further down the road. There are not only human lives to be saved but animals as well. Just dropping by your local SPCA and donating some dog or cat food would be greatly appreciated.

There have been a few times that I have saved the life of an animal. I'm always on the lookout when driving now after rescuing a poor little dog that was hit by a car and left in the middle of the road :o( I have never saved a human life though, not that I know of. I've seen death in action once and I can't even begin to explain the feeling of helplessness that overcomes you. I received bad news last night that a dear friend, and fellow breast cancer survivor, has lung cancer and that helplessness has returned. How can such a thing happen to such a wonderful woman (she has basically outfitted Brie with all her lovely bandanas). If I could save her life...I would.

Thirteen Down...37 More To Go!

After seeing all these finishes, I know what you're thinking and all you can say is...WOW! I KNOW! My needles have been smokin' :o) This cute little design is the Awareness Ribbon Christmas Ornament by Dragonfly Stitches -

I changed the DMC colors to 604 and 986 and instead of individual pink stitches; I substituted Mill Hill beads (#02005). I really like the effect. Now I just need to figure out a way to finish it. I have loads of breast cancer fabric so I might use that somehow.

I was so excited yesterday when the mail showed up. My Think Pink kit by Lizzie Kate arrived :o) Unfortunately it won't be started right away because I'm missing three of the four specialty thread colors. Figures! :o( This kit is a limited edition of 500, with the profits donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, so therefore it falls under the Charity/Donations exemption ;o)

Twelve Down...38 More To Go!

It looks like I'm on a pink ribbon crusade! LOL! Another one crossed off the list :o) This is I Can Survive! (Pink Ribbon Swirls) by Count Your Blessings -

They were on the same chart so I figured why not stitch them at the same time! I really like the effect of this one and I hope to convince Dad to make me a round frame for it :o) We will see how charming I can be, lol!

Eleven Down...39 More To Go!

Seeing that I just had my mammogram, I thought this was quite appropriate at the moment :o) This is I Can Survive! (Whimsical Girl) by Count Your Blessings -

See what I mean? ;o) I want to thank those who left such wonderful and supportive comments on my Blog since yesterday. It really means a lot! I am dealing with things at my own rate. I'm trying to calm my nerves and reassure myself that it is just scar tissue. DH and I have agreed that he will come with me in August and hopefully we'll avoid this whole thing next time.

This is the second time that I have stitched I Can Survive! (Whimsical Girl). I made the first one into a pillow tuck and sent it down to a wonderful friend/fellow survivor who lives in the US. I plan on doing the same with mine when I get a chance to sit down and sew.

It has turned out to be a good weekend for stitching. We got hit with a good snowstorm on Friday and it left us with about 4-5 inches of snow. Today was a beautiful sunny day and quite warm so hopefully that sun will melt the snow fast and get it out of here! LOL!

Poor DH is down with a cold :o( I've been good at staying away from him so hopefully, knock on wood; I will avoid the whole thing. He is quite pitiful when he's sick but he deserves to be since he has to deal with me like that for 365 days of the year ;o)

Freshly Squeezed

Yup, "the girls" went in for their annual mammogram today. If they had been a couple of oranges, there would have been a pitcher full of juice at the end of my appointment! LOL! Men have NO idea how lucky they are. Although it looks like I have another good mammogram, it wasn't without stress let me tell you :o(

I was so excited when I got to the hospital because there was no waiting and that's something in itself! I should have known better though. When I got to the waiting area for the mammogram, the lady ahead of me informed me that she had been there for three hours. Great! Well, that's not exactly the word I said in my head ;o) She was right though. After they finished squeezing, squishing and squashing "the girls" it was going on the third hour. By this time I was already in a stressful state from being called back into the room three times for more pictures.

Once the last pictures were taken, I was told I had to go for an ultrasound. What? This wasn't scheduled. The stress level rose even higher. When the doctor came in the room to do the procedure she asked if I had felt the lump. WHAT? The stress level officially went through the roof! Thankfully after a bit of talking I came to realize the "mass" she was referring to. This area has been a bit of a concern the past couple of years but they keep assuring me it's just scar tissue from the two surgeries. This time the "mass" looked even denser so I have to go back in six months for another mammogram. So much for year of peace. Sigh!

So now "the girls" are home and we're settled in for the big storm tonight. I picked up some movies on the way home so we're good to go! Hopefully we don't get too much snow but I'd rather March come in like a lion than go out like one :o)

5-5-5

Gee, that sounds like the warranty coverage that I have on my car ;o) LOL! I'm a bit late in doing this. Jamie tagged me last week and I'm just getting around to posting this now. Eek!

Okay, here's how it works. For the first part, I will ask my oh so wonderful followers, er...I mean readers, to either email me or post in the comment's section questions that they want to know about me. One question per person, with a maximum of five questions in total. I will follow up on these questions and answer them in future posts :o)

For the second part, I am to list five things about me that I have not revealed in my Blog so far. This ought to be good...

1 ~ Back in 1991, I was Second Princess in the Miss Fredericton Pageant. Yes, it's true :o) The judges found me quite charming! ROFL! People might find this very odd because one, I'm definitely not a girly girl, two, I'm quite shy and three, I'm FAR from charming. I'd rather dig around in horse poop than wear a dress, the last thing I want in a crowd is to have the focus on me and people find me very stuck up until they get to know me. I found the experience quite liberating though and it definitely made me overcome my fear of public speaking so all was not lost ;o)

2 ~ Like Jamie, I've always wanted to write a children's book. I have lots of ideas running around in my head but I just haven't gotten them out yet. I took a children's literature course back in university and LOVED it! I can't look at enough children's books when we go to the bookstore :o) I'd like to write anything really and I'm not sure why I didn't go into Journalism way back when. It all comes down to dumb choices.

3 ~ The first car I ever had was a chocolate brown Chevy Citation. Did I mention it was chocolate brown on the inside too???? I named that car Guido :o) I can't tell you how many times I locked my keys inside or left the lights on and my battery dead. That car got swore at "a lot".

4 ~ I have a great love for water, especially the ocean, but I hate being in it or have it on my face. I'm not a great swimmer even after years of classes. I do have a genuine fear of water but I'm not sure if it stems from almost drowning when I was a child or the fact that I've watched too many Friday The 13th or Jaws movies ;o) If I can't see the bottom, it freaks me out! Pools are okay but again, I hate being "in" the water. I still shower every day, for those of you wondering ;o) My face has to be out of the water though and I have to have a towel handy in case water gets in my eyes. Yes, I have issues. LOL!

5 ~ I've had fourteen different kinds of pets. Yes, I'm an animal lover :o) Over the years I've known dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, chinchillas, a hedgehog, sugar gliders, a lovebird, a hamster, fish, ducks, chickens, geese and a turtle. Oh, and I did bring home a seagull once but Mom wouldn't let me keep him :o(

Finally, I have to tag five other souls :o) Here you go Katie, Faith Ann, Shannon, Karen and Kim! Have fun!

Ten Down...40 More To Go!

Finally! Part 1 of my Marquoir Sampler is complete!

This took longer than expected. The color placement took a little more thought in this section so I spent a bit of extra time stitching and then frogging :o( Factor in a couple of bad stitching weeks and now I feel very unorganized and behind. I have no idea why. There's no time limit on this challenge. I guess I just know from years of experience how long a project will usually take me and seeing that this one was so simple, it should have been completed about a week ago.

I'm quite happy with the way it's turning out although I'm still skeptical that it looks too Christmassy. Those are the colors of my living room though. Maybe once I have it framed it will look more like what I have pictured in my head :o) Here is a picture of Part 1 and 2 together -

Do you keep track of the time it takes you to stitch a project? I used to try and keep track of the hours I spent but it just never worked out. It was too hard to take into account breaks or interruptions. Basically, I was taking too much time trying to record things rather than stitching so that idea went out the window very quickly ;o) Now I have foolproof way of keeping track of things and it's much easier. I have been doing this for the past two years and so far so good!

I buy one of those small calendar booklets that will allow you to write a few things down under each date. It's small enough that I can carry it in with my stitching. Whatever I decide to stitch on that day, I mark the name of the piece, along with the initials of the designer, under the appropriate date. This not only allows me to see approximately how long it takes me to stitch a piece but how many days a week I get my stitching in :o) When a project is 100% complete, I will mark the word "completed" after it. If a project is made into an ornament I will mark the word "finished" after it. Faith Ann liked the idea so much that she started with it this year so my method of madness must be somewhat acceptable ;o)

For A Great Cause

Tonight was Stitch Night and we had a wonderful surprise waiting for us when we got there :o) A good friend of mine is a cross-stitch designer and her company goes by the name of Fiddlestitch Cottage. If you haven't been to her website, I strongly encourage you to do so! Tracy has just designed and released a new pattern called Hope Tea -

It truly is adorable but that is not the best part. If you buy the pattern directly from her, 100% of the revenue from her sales will go to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation! How awesome is that! As some of you may know from reading my Blog, I am a breast cancer survivor myself. Tracy's mother is also a survivor and one of 33 years! So as you can see, this project is near and dear to our hearts so I am more than happy to promote this for her ;o) If you are interested, or know of someone who might be, please contact Tracy. It's a small cost for the pattern but it will go towards big things so help me get the word out!

Now you may be wondering why I have bought a new pattern seeing that I am on The 50 Project Challenge. Since this is a very special item, it falls under the Charity/Donations Exception. Shannon can back me up on this ;o) I've already pulled the threads and now I need to search through two drawers of fabric to find something that will suit it because believe it or not, with all that fabric I don't think I have a piece of 28 count white Jobelan!

The rest of the evening did not disappoint either. It was so good to be back with the girls :o) We had a good turnout and there were so many lovely projects. Angela brought her Two By Two afghan by Sue Hillis and it's just stunning! I have seen this project completed before and even after seeing it a second time I'm still just as blown away. Faith Ann brought her Gingerbread afghan and all I can say is that she had better hide it when it's done, otherwise I'm going to take it ;o) Her Christmas Village is really coming along nicely as well. Katie was working on her Summer Dragons by Dragon Dreams and she'll be done in no time. There is no way I'm going to be able to catch up with her on this project challenge if she keeps this up! So far my plans of sabotage have not worked. LOL!

I was pleasantly surprised with a gift this evening. Faye gave me a doggy scrapbook just for Brie! She will now have her own picture album :o) I can't wait to start filling all those cute pages!

As I have said before, laughter is the best medicine and there was plenty there tonight :o) It was so wonderful to unwind and not think about all the stresses, even if it was only for three hours. I can't tell you how wonderful these women are. There is no shortage of kindness and each one is willing to open their hearts. They are my link to sanity and my breath of fresh air. I am truly lucky to have these women in my life :o)

How To Properly Eat A Cadbury Easter Cream Egg

As you may have noticed, I have been keeping track of my Cream Egg intake since the first of the year. These little gems usually pop up shortly after Christmas and last all the way until Easter. They are my big weakness. In case you didn't know, there is a proper way to eat these delicious eggs and I'm going to give you a short tutorial on how to do so :o)

First, upon finding the eggs, you must inspect the wrapper carefully. What you are looking for is any indication that the egg has broken or that some of the inner contents have leaked out (this will show as a sticky substance). Once satisfied with the perfection of your egg, you want to carefully take off the wrapper. I usually take mine all the way off but you might want to take it about three-quarters of the way off depending on your preference.

Next, bite off the very top of the egg, taking great care to only break off the chocolate tip. You should be able to see the creamy filling at this point. Now, carefully chew away the chocolate sides, going about halfway down the egg or until the filling starts to go over the sides.

This is by far the best part! With your tongue, gently scoop out the creamy filling, taking care not to break the chocolate sides. You might only be able to get about two scoops but don't worry :o) If that is the case, chew away more of the chocolate sides, taking the egg down to about a quarter from the bottom. This will allow you to finish scooping out the filling until it's all gone. Yum!

The last step is to just pop the remaining chocolate into your mouth and savor it. Ahhhh! Now wasn't that good? Once you eat about two or three of these eggs, you'll get the hang of it ;o)

I know from past conversations that Karen is also a big fan of these heavenly eggs and so much so, that she has posted her tally on her Blog as well :o) So I want to know who else is a closet Easter Cream Egg lover! Don't be shy show yourself!

I'm almost afraid to see what my final count will be by the time Easter comes around :oS What really worries me as well is when MacDonald's come out with their Easter Cream Egg Flurries! Now those are not too bad but really, nothing can compare to the Cream Egg itself ;o)

Nine Down...41 More To Go!

I loved this pattern as soon as I saw it! I have Shannon to blame for this ;o) This is a heart freebie by Sticken-Und-Staunen -

I used my one and only skein of Dragon Floss (Hugs With Stitches) on a piece of Ginny's Iris by Sassy's Fabrics. I just LOVE the effect! My plan is to make this into an ornament for our spring retreat exchange. I think I'll have to stitch another one for myself though :o) I had picked up some lovely Easter fabric yesterday but when I got it home, it didn't match :o( Oh well. It's got bunnies on it so I'm sure I'll find something to make with it.

I've had a few enquiries on this freebie! I guess I should have mentioned that it was featured on the Caron website. Check it out there :o) Thanks for the wonderful comments everyone!

This past week was not a good one for stitching as my rotation got mixed up. My plan was to move Oak Island to Wednesday and Thursday but so far only Wednesday worked out. I did make some good progress though. I hope to get at least one day this weekend to work on it further. I'm back to stitching on my Marquoir Sampler as well.

I do have a bit of positive news to share with you. I was in contact with my lawyer yesterday and LTD has stated that they want me to see another doctor. Although this does not thrill me to be jumping through more hoops, at least their appeal decision has not ended with a "No" yet. My employer has been notified and I will still have my job until the end of the month but hopefully until the end of the appeal procedure. This has relieved some pressure :o)

I talked to my Dad yesterday and they are still enjoying their time down in Florida. Dad was out playing horseshoes with the boys :o) They really like the area they are in and have already booked a month and a half for next year. Dad wondered why they hadn't done this before. Silly man! I hope they are "enjoying" the warmer weather while we are still digging out of our last snowstorm. LOL!

A Special Wish

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

I'm sorry I can't celebrate today with you but I hope you have a wonderful day :o)

Happy Valentine's Day

I Love You Sweetie!

Eight Down...42 More To Go!

It's a few days later than expected but he's finally done :o) This is Morning Dragon by Dragon Dreams -

I'm SO pleased with the fabric that I picked for him. If you don't remember me saying, it's called Pumpkin Patch (funny, I know) by Sugar Maple Fabrics. It makes such a wonderful contrast to the Merlin (by SMF) that I stitched Evening Dragon on. Pumpkin Patch is a mixture of greens, yellows and oranges and reminds me of the light of day. Merlin is a combination of purples, pinks and greens, kind of like dusk. I now have Morning and Evening Dragon complete :o)

I had promised a progress picture of Oak Island so here it is -

It's a little hard to tell but there has been a lot of stitching done since the last picture I posted. Today I will dig it out again and see how far I can get this week. Adding this WIP to my rotation has been a wonderful idea and is working out very well. Once Oak Island is completed, I will replace it with another large WIP that I have set aside.

Back in December, I finished my third PIF gift but never got around to posting it! Nancy has received it so now I can share a picture of her -

Nancy told me her favorite colors were red and purple so I immediately knew I was going to stitch the Red Hat Snowlady by The Stitchworks Ltd. :o)

Ice Ice Baby

DH and I are home and it's back to the grind again :o( It's amazing what a little rest and relaxation will do but it's also amazing what happens when the stress and hectic lifestyle is put back in place. Reality is no fun. All I'm going to say is that a wonderful weekend ended on a bad note for DH. No matter what happens, you are still number one to me :o)

As you probably already noted, I did take my computer with me to the ocean :o) It's sad how these things become your third arm. I didn't spend all weekend on it though and to be honest, I didn't do much stitching either. There was a lot of just sitting, reading, napping and just plain relaxing. The quietness there might drive some people mad but DH and I relish it. I think the reason we have the television on so much at home is so that we can drown out the noise around us.

I ended up leaving home without any books to read. It's quite rare when I don't have one on the go. Luckily I managed to find the first two Harry Potter books at DH's parents :o) I've seen the movies but I've never read any of the books. Looks like I'm good for a few weeks!

DH did a lot of hiking while at the ocean and he managed to do all of the photography as well. Usually that is my domain but he has proven to be a good adversary ;o) Here are some of his pictures -

I think they are truly amazing and I'm only sorry I did not venture out into the cold to experience the sights myself.

Down By The Bay

The Passamoquoddy Bay that is :o) As predicted, this time away has been exactly what DH and I needed. Time seems to stop down here. There's no rush to get anything done and there is no set schedule. The television becomes a thing of the past and serenity takes hold. I'm more than happy to stay here and the itch to wander or travel is gone.

This area is rich with history. If you look out over the bluff, you see a piece of land that juts out into the ocean. This is the tip of Oven Head -

Up until a few years ago it remained a vacant piece of land but now one of the wealthiest families in Canada spend their summers there. When DH's parents first bought their property, I did some digging and came across a local gentleman that was able to share some of the history of Oven Head with me.

If you were to walk out to the Oven Head point, you would come across a tiny family cemetery enclosed by a small fence. Upon further inspection you would see that the gravestones date back to the mid 1800's and bare the Fisher name.

Over a hundred years ago, in the little town of St. Andrews, a 17-year-old naval officer by the name of William Henry (alias Lt. Bray) met and married a 17-year-old girl named Mary Kelly. Together they had a daughter, Martha Ann, who was born on May 26, 1792. When William returned home after a year at sea he finally confessed that he could not return to his home in England with his wife and daughter because he was the son of the King and it was not permitted that he marry a commoner without the King's consent.

Around the same time another woman, Rebecca Vernon, was being disowned by her family for marrying a British soldier by the name of John Fisher. On February 29, 1784 they had a son, George Albert. Unfortunately in 1787 John Fisher did not return home and it is believed that he was lost at sea during a voyage. Some time later, Rebecca married again, this time to James Stewart, and together they raised her son George. They settled and received one of the first land grants on Passamoquoddy Bay.

In 1819, George Fisher and Martha Henry's paths crossed and they married. Together they had seven children. Both are now buried on Oven Head. Because of the times and the lack of medical knowledge, quite a few of the Fisher children died within a matter of years. In the case of Carrie Fisher, George and Martha's granddaughter, she was to die in childbirth. In 1895, Carrie met a man in St. Andrews and her pregnancy was a result of this affair. Being a scandal at the time, Carrie requested to be buried alone, out on the tip of Oven Head. But with the winds and waves, her casket soon became exposed and Carrie's father moved her inland to the family cemetery. Back in the 1980's, the movie Children Of A Lesser God was shot there although the beach may not have been recognizable because it was bulldozed and painted for the film.

How did Oven Head get its name? As the tide pushes itself out, more and more beach area is exposed below the 100-foot cliffs located on Oven Head. There in the rock walls are several cave like hollows. Over time, the cycle of tidal movements has caused the rocks in these cliffs to disintegrate, therefore creating these many depressions. It is said that people in the early days likened the caves to a woman's oven and soon it was nicknamed Old Woman's Oven.

So there you go, a little bit of trivia for you on this peaceful Saturday night :o)

Road Trip!

We’re going to THE OCEAN! DH and I are going away this weekend! WOOHOO! We are exchanging houses with his parents so that means rest and relaxation for us :o) Their house has an ocean front and it’s nothing short of pure bliss. Ahhhhhhh! Last year I spent quite a bit of time there, while house sitting and it has become my retreat from this hectic and stressful time. There is nothing that I love more than the music of the ocean. It’s so calming to smell the sweet salty air and listen to the waves hit the beach and the calls of the seagulls. Can you tell that I’m really looking forward to this? :o)

I’ve already got my stitching packed and ready to go :o) I’m going to take my Marquoir Sampler and the current little project that I’m doing and that is almost done. I will hopefully have a picture by the first of the week. Last night I finished up with Oak Island for the week and I’m very pleased with the progress I have made. I have the full left side of the pattern complete! I would say that the right side is about 75% complete but I’m not sure just how long it’s going to take me to finish it. I’m aiming for the end of March so we’ll see :o)

I’m not sure if I’ll take my computer with me so you might not hear from me again until the first of the week. Have a great weekend everyone!

Deep Freeze

I can definitely say, without a doubt, that we are in the deep freeze of winter now. Boy, it was C-O-L-D out this morning! I checked the thermometer, mind you this wasn’t until 8:30 am, and it was -30 C (that's -20-F). Brrrrrrrrrr! If it were possible, I’m sure penguins would have gathered in our backyard. LOL! I love the sound that snow makes when it’s this cold. I think that’s the only thing I like about this bone chilling weather.

They say the coldest temperature on record for North America was a low of -64 C (-83 F)! It was back in 1947 in Snag, Yukon. Yikes! That’s almost unimaginable. Is it even possible to function in such a cold temperature?

When I was a teenager, I used to keep my bedroom so warm that my parents kept the door closed at all times. We had radiant heat in the ceiling and a wood furnace that ran pretty much continually. I kept the thermostat to the maximum temperature. To add to that, I had a waterbed that was heated and I had flannel sheets. Needless to say, it was a pretty toasty room and I liked it that way. Now I almost cringe to think about the electricity bills that my parents paid :oS

A few years ago I went through my first menopause and let me tell you it changed the whole chemistry of my body. I went from being cold all the time to being HOT all the time. The mythical hot flashes are in fact real, trust me ;o) I used to laugh at Mom when her glasses would fog up during one of these episodes but now I can definitely sympathize. They are not fun! I can’t tell you how embarrassing it is to be in public and have your ears turn fire engine red in a matter of seconds. LOL! For two or three years I wore t-shirts in the middle of winter and loved the idea of running outside in one when one of my hot flashes took over. I’m sure that any snow that was in a two foot meter radius around me melted from the heat of my body :o)

Now I find that I have cold and hot days. Sometimes it cuts right to the bone and other times, I just can’t cool down. I know it’s going to be a cold week here but really we shouldn’t complain. We only have less than two months of winter left and plus, it could be worse...remember it could be -64 C ;o)

Seven Down...43 More To Go!

Last night I completed Part 2 of my Marquoir Sampler -

Now I'm getting a better idea of how it's going to look. I'm still a little unsure as it looks a bit Christmassy but those are the colors in my living room. I've gone too far to turn back now ;o) I think I will tackle Part 1 next.

This past week I worked on Oak Island on Tuesday and Thursday as promised and I've almost got the right half of the design completed. Maybe by the end of this coming week I'll take a progress picture. I did try to take a picture of it in the dark but the glow in the dark thread was not vibrant enough for the digital camera to pick up on :o( If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. I'm not even sure if it is possible to take a picture of it glowing like that.

Well, I survived Friday! I managed to get through it in one piece although I was in bad shape that evening. It's amazing what mental anguish can do to one's self. I want to thank everyone who sent good wishes and support my way. They were GREATLY appreciated :o) Now I just have to get through my annual mammogram and hopefully I will be home free for another year!

Mom and Dad called on Friday night to let us know that they were okay. They are touring Florida with the RV. I read about the tornado on Friday and I had a bit of anxiety (okay, a lot!) until I found out it was in central Florida and Mom and Dad were in the southern part of the state. Whew! What devastation though :o( They are having a great time and I'm so glad they are, although I am very jealous about the warmer weather ;o)

This weekend was pretty low key. Katie dropped by on Saturday afternoon for a quick stitching session while Alex was at a birthday party. It was SO nice to have a stitching partner :o) DH and I caught up on all of our shows that I tapped last week and we had another rip roaring game of Scrabble. Unfortunately I did not win this time but I think DH cheats any chance he gets ;o)

The F Word

FEBRUARY! There, I said it. I hate this month.

Today is my anniversary. It's been seven years since just one sentence changed my life forever. It's been seven years since I've been cancer free. Now you would think that I should be happy over this "achievement" but every year I dread this date. I've tried to change my attitude many times but it has never worked. Usually I just hide on this day, feeling sorry for myself. I figure if I have to try and forget about it for 364 days of the year, I deserve one day of self-pity. A few years ago I met another young survivor and I was surprised to find out that she felt the same way about her anniversary date. She was smart though and took that day as a day for herself, going out to eat at her favorite restaurant, getting a spa treatment and then indulging in some shopping therapy. While that does sound VERY appealing, I just can't get myself to that point yet.

I've been told on many occasions that over time things will get better, easier. I'm sorry but that is just not the case. I've had seven years to test this theory and it hasn't worked yet. To me, cancer is like the plague and I fear every day that it will return at some point. I also live with the "battle scars" and it's hard to look at them and not think about what brought them to be. Would I like to forget? Sure! Who wouldn't, given the choice? Have I ever wondered what my life would have been like without cancer? Never. I've never gone down that road and I don't think it's wise to. Do I ever think about the future? Yes, but I can never bring about a picture of the distant future when DH and I are older. What does that mean? Honestly, I don't know.

They say that cancer cannot rob you of your hope but I disagree. Many of my hopes were crushed with this awful disease. Dreams too. Dreams are easier to get over though as some just may not be realistic (that's why they are called dreams) but hopes are close to your heart and something we should all have to survive. So in reality, each year when my anniversary comes up, I'm not only reminded of that dreadful day seven years ago but also of some of the hopes that have been lost or that will never be.

So, how will I spend today? Unfortunately work would not grant me this day off so I will be among people but in a fairly miserable mood I imagine. I've never spent this day with people before, besides DH that is. Maybe this is what I need. I don't know. Who's going to want to hang out with an emotionally unstable female? It's not like I'm going to share my grief with anyone at work though. If I have a meltdown, it should be interesting to say the least, and maybe then work will listen to me next time when I request a day off ;o)