It Never Fails

Yesterday, Mom and Dad arrived for a long afternoon of sorting and packing. The 'majority' of my model horse collection got packed up, along with most of my framed needlework. I finally decided that I would trust Mom with my Quiltmaker (not to mention my Stargazer) ;o) I know there will be insurance on all of our stuff but to me, those items are irreplaceable. I definitely DO NOT want to stitch the Quiltmaker a 'third' time. LOL! Maybe I should have mentioned to my parents that our pictures might be taking an extended holiday with them as well...

The house is really beginning to look like it's losing its personality. Our belongings are pretty much packed away now so there are just boxes upon boxes among pieces of furniture. I have less than two weeks left to have everything ready for the movers to take over and overall, I'm pretty pleased with my progress. I've had some great help from both sides of the family though :o) Remember Sweetie...YOU OWE ME BIG TIME! Do I see a pretty blue box in my future????

It never fails though. No matter how hard you try, you can never predict what to pack and what not to pack. I thought I was being so careful, trying to think ahead of time of things that I might need in the future but today I ran into my first problem. And in retrospect it was something so simple too! Can you guess? Pliers. Yup, a measly pair of pliers (maybe I should ask Santa for this). And what did I need them for? Finishing my last stitching ornament. LOL! And since this piece is for my secret ornament exchange, I can't share any details :o( I certainly have you wondering though, don't I? ;o)

As of later today, that ornament will be completed. The stitching that is. The finishing will be done later this week when I get my hands on a pair of pliers. So that means that I will have achieved the number of ornament sized pieces for this year! The only things left on my list are one small and one medium stitched piece. I have one month left. Well, not quite when you factor in moving, DH coming home, Christmas and our possible trip. I still see it as a challenge though! I have the two pieces in mind and I know I have all the supplies. How many days can one go without sleep? Is it possible to teach a dog to stitch? ;o)

She's...HOME!

That's right! Stargazer arrived last night :o) Here's a picture of my beautiful girl -

I did get glass put on her so I'm having a hard time getting a really good picture. Plus the fact that it's dark and dreary out again today :o( The frame is silver with a tint of gold but it looks more gold in the picture. I know I made the right decision not to include a mat. She just looks stunning as is and she's going to fit in nicely with my other two lovely ladies :o)

If you're ever in Moncton, New Brunswick, look up Elite Framing Gallery because he is awesome! This is the second piece that he's framed for me and I'm extremely happy with his work. This was just a simple project for him. He's does custom mats and some of them are incredible!

I want to say Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers. I hope you have a wonderful holiday with friends and family :o)

Yes Brie, There Is A Santa Claus

It's that time of year and luckily I didn't forget again :oS You see, Brie has been going to see Santa every year (minus one) since she was born. Unfortunately last year it slipped by and before I knew it, 'I' was the one in the 'dog house'. LOL! I enjoy going to these visits as well because all the money raised goes to help our local SPCA.

Sunday morning I got up, grabbed Brie and into the tub she went for a bath. I didn't want poor Santa to pass out from her notorious body odour ;o) I went through her wardrobe and picked out a cute snowman hanky to put around her neck. Surprisingly, when I told her we were going to see Santa, the car ride didn't seem so bad. Why did I end up with such a smart dog????

My biggest concern about the visit was whether she would poop or pee on Santa :oS Since her surgery, this can be a little unpredictable when she's excited. Thankfully, all went well and these are the shots we got -

As you can see, she was given an added decoration around her neck. I was a little perturbed but I'm happy with the results. Since Brie was such a good girl, we went through the garden center to the ice cream counter and I bought her a little treat :o)

Unfortunately we didn't manage to get out of there without her peeing on the floor but that was partly my fault. And plus, with all those dogs, what do you expect! I was proud of her none the less :o) Little one had such a big day that she slept most of that afternoon. I wonder what she asked Santa to bring her for Christmas...

Junk Genie

Yes, there actually is such a thing! On Friday, I had the Junk Genie come out to the house and work its magic :o) It really was as easy as wiggling your nose, albeit I had done 'a lot' of work beforehand to get things ready. When they arrived, all I had to do was sit back and point to what needed to go.

I never expected an actual garbage truck so I was worried that the old bathroom fixtures, mainly the tub, wouldn't be taken and it would mean one more thing for me to get rid of. I asked the guy if they could take it and I was surprised when he said yes. I asked him if he was sure because it was a 'steel' tub. Yup, no problem! Have you ever seen a steel tub being compacted by a garbage truck???? Cool :o)

So now the barn is empty. The tarp building is empty. The chicken coop is empty. And the garage and basement are free of most unwanted items. I feel like such a free woman now. LOL!

Yesterday I had the opportunity to have a 'girl's day' with Katie and Faith Ann and it was fantastic! Not to mention, it was much needed too ;o) When I finally got there mid-afternoon, the girls were already into their work. Katie was stitching a pattern by Dragon Dreams and Faith Ann was playing with her scrapbooking stash. Her Cricut is quite a machine.

We munched on a delicious Chex mix and had Faith Ann's famous strawberry lemonade drink. For supper, we ordered out and enjoyed some yummy Chinese food from one of the local restaurants. By the end of the meal, our guts were busting so the girls decided it was time to introduce me to the Outdoor Challenge game for Wii. The mat was placed on the floor and I was told all I had to do was run on the spot and jump whenever I came across an obstacle. If it were possible for a game character to 'crawl' across the finish line, mine would have. And I was on the 'beginner's' level! I definitely won't be accompanying Faith Ann on any of her marathon runs. ROFL!

After supper, I showed Katie how to make a pinkeep. Hopefully she will post a picture of her finish because I never brought my camera :oS She did an awesome job! I really wish I could have taken a picture of all the stuff that she brought with her! She even had a suitcase!!!! LOL! There was a lot of procrastination on Faith Ann's part but she finally picked up her stitching only to frog out what she stitched on Wednesday night :o( She did manage to get quite a few Christmas tags done so I guess you can say that she did some work ;o)

My ornament progressed nicely and I'd say just one more day and the stitching part will be complete. The 'idea' I have in my mind is to find some red and white peppermint fabric for the backing but I have no clue whether that exists or not :oS Me thinks I might have to come up with a plan 'B'...

Before I close, I just want to thank everyone who stops by my Blog. Whether you leave a comment or not, it makes me happy to know that I can bring a smile to someone's face from time to time :o) There have been a lot of new readers and I feel so bad that I cannot read your Blogs at the moment, but please know that I LOVE reading your comments! Things are going to be very hectic for me until the start of the new year so that is why I cannot reciprocate at this time. I don't want anyone to think that they are being ignored :o)

S & M

Be honest, how many of you raised your eyebrows when you saw this title? ;o) It just so happened that two of the dirtiest words in my vocabulary came up this past week. Ugh!

Snow - yes, that is a dirty word in my books ;o) We had our very first snow flurries this past Wednesday. I really shouldn't complain since we've been so lucky thus far but I refuse to let it snow before I move! LOL! Whether I will be that lucky remains to be seen. Today, I finalized the moving date for December 12. That's when the movers come in and do their thing and I'll be off to my bachelor pad ;o)

Just because it hasn't snowed doesn't mean that it hasn't been ccccold! This was the week that temperatures took a big U-Turn. Our mild temps said farewell and Jack Frost took over. My thumbs have already been frozen more times than I can count. The frost will definitely be starting to settle into the ground now, making way for...snow :o(

Ma'am - that word seems harmless enough doesn't it? Well, not in my books, especially when it's referring to me! I was in Canadian Tire this past week. I was just on my way out the Exit at the same time as this guy. I'd say he must have been in his late teens. Anyway, he stopped to allow me through first and said "You first ma'am." Huh? Did I hear him right? Yup. I looked around to make sure he was talking to me. No one else there. Me a ma'am???? GG!

I got in the car and my head was just reeling. I couldn't believe it! Holy crap, I'm only 37 and I'm being called a ma'am? Isn't that word reserved for someone like my mother or grandmother? Do I really look that old? Please tell me I don't look older than my age. Did you know that the actor, Daniel Craig (James Bond), is the same age as me? If I didn't tell you that, how old would you think he was? Myself I thought late forties. Now granted he is a good looking man but PLEASE don't tell me that I look that old at 37 :oS Ahhhhhhhhhh!

I am happy to report that Stargazer will be traveling down to Moncton tomorrow for her frame fitting :o) The frame I picked out is so gorgeous! Expensive too but we won't talk about that... Hopefully she'll be ready to come home by next week. Even though she'll just go into storage, I'm happy to know that she'll be finally complete and one day soon I'll be able to just gaze at her myself.

Now that Tot is done and hidden away where I can't see her, I can concentrate on a few little projects that must get done. Unfortunately they are secret ones so I won't be able to share pictures for awhile :o( This will be a nice change of pace for me and one I'm looking forward to. Should I mention that one does require a few beads? Bah! I'm sure it won't push me over the edge ;o)

Ninth Finish For 2008

Hallelujah!
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah!
Ha-lle-lu-jah!!!!

She's done! DONE! DONE! DONE!

DONE!

Can you hear all that shouting? Well, that would be me because Tot is DONE!!!! Tout fini :o)

So...without further ado, may I present Halloween Fairy (Tot) by Nora Corbett -

I cannot tell you 'how' happy I am to finally have her finished. Whew! And I probably couldn't have done it without you guys pushing me to do so. You all deserve a HUGE thank you :o)

I made a few changes with Tot but nothing that is seriously noticeable. I really didn't like the light coloured thread for the backstitching on her hands so mine is dark and her thumbs harder to see but that's okay with me. I also used just one strand of Kreinik throughout. Now, Tot will go into hiding for a bit because my eyes need a break ;o)

I was supposed to go see my Gram today but seeing that everything was going against me since the alarm went off, I decided to put it off until tomorrow. I'm a little excited because I'm going to be bringing a little friend with me. Moncton has one of 'the' best framers around here so Stargazer is going in for an estimate and possibly a frame :o) Fingers crossed that it will be in my price range.

Things here are progressing nicely. As I already stated in my November 4 post, I do have an apartment for December 1. I know some of you were wondering if the 'kids' will be able to come with me :o) Yes and no. Brie will come to live with me but Duncan and Pickles will be going down to my in-laws. I was going to keep Pickles with me as well but due to my lack of space, he'll be on an extended vacation.

I've called around and now have enough quotes from moving companies. All I need to do now is make a decision of which one to go with. My plan is to pack most of the items myself but they'll be packing all breakables. I'm aiming to have them here the second week of December. So between now and then, I have to pick up some boxes and pack my share, as well as arrange for a dumpster in order to 'dispense' of the 'junk'. LOL!

As far as I know, my email address will remain the same until we move out of province. DH set me up with a cell phone before he left so that will take over as my main phone line. In a few weeks, I'm going to the post office to rent a PO Box therefore my address and phone number will be changing. I will be having my mail forwarded though so hopefully that will pick up any stragglers left behind :o)

How organized does that make me sound? LOL! One thing I do know, it's going to be a very busy two weeks in December :oS

Pumpkin's Top Ten Christmas Picks From Think Geek

It's that time of year again when people are flocking to the malls in groves with Christmas lists clutched in their hands. They walk along with a look of stupor on their faces; in their own little worlds. Don't you wish you could just skip the crowds and let someone else handle things? Well look no more because I, Pumpkin, am here to help you this holiday season :o)

If you're like most people, you've got that one person on your list that just has it all and every year it's the same thing...you're climbing the walls trying to find them the perfect gift. Unique is usually the way to go and believe me, I've picked some unique items for you to check out. LOL! So let the countdown begin...

10 - I figure that the majority of people will never venture into space in their lifetime so why not bring the outer space experience to them with Astronaut Ice Cream! It comes in three flavours; Neapolitan, Mint Chocolate Chip and Chocolate Chocolate Chip. Try it and pretend you're an astronaut, even if it's only for 15 minutes. I can't guarantee how good it is but I 'can' guarantee that it won't melt ;o)

9 - You know, I don't think people give fish enough credit when it comes to having them as pets. They really are intelligent, just under educated, so why not expand your fish's education with the Fish Training School Kit :o) Who knows, maybe this might turn into a booming business some day. LOL!

8 - Are you one of those people who love to annoy others? If yes, then this is the perfect gift for you! The Electronic Drum Kit Shirt can be taken anywhere; the doctor's office, on the bus, waiting in annoying line-ups. And you don't have to be musically inclined! Just tap away to the beat of your own drum ;o)

7 - Okay, I had to add this next one because I have issues with room temperature drinks. I like my drinks COLD! The colder, the better :o) With the USB LED Beverage Cooler, all you have to do is plug it into your computer and voila...a cold drink right within reach. Also note that it's the perfect size for those little sample liquor bottles ;o)

6 - If you're like me and love useless gadgets, you're going to love the R-C Desktop Forklift! How fun would it be to play with this during those slow excruciating hours at work :o) Want to rearrange your desk? Let this little guy do it for you!

5 - Having a bad day? Stressed about something? Dealing with useless twits all day long? Then the Dead Fred Pen Holder would be just perfect for you. Jab Fred multiple times and feel all those tense muscles starting to relax, while knowing that you've let go of that anger but no one was seriously hurt ;o)

4 - How many times have you gone into the fridge to extract a container of food, only to find some mysterious goo that once might have been spaghetti sauce? With the Atomic Food Containers, you won't have this problem anymore! These containers can date themselves. The downside? You're no longer able to watch fuzzy stuff grow. LOL!

3 - Do you have trouble saving your change? I know I do! That's why I highly recommend the Bomb Bank. Stop feeding it the coins and this bomb will explode your savings all over the place. Now who wants to clean up a mess like that? ;o)

2 - I'm sure anyone would find this next gift useful. The Animated Driving LED Emoticon lets other drivers know how you feel. The only problem I can see is that mine would constantly be on the pissed off mode. Yea, I seriously need to get one of these....

And you 'know' that I've saved the best for last ;o)

1 - I apologize now because this may seem a little crude to some but I think it's HILARIOUS! The number one pick wins by a landslide and is awarded to...the Humping USB Dog!!!! Plug this little rascal into your computer and just watch him go. There is no need to say more ;o)

What The Hell Was I Thinking?

After Stargazer was completed, didn't I state that I was sick and tired of beading? Didn't I also say that I absolutely HATED working with that blankity-blank invisible thread? Then WHY did I ever consider stitching Tot in the first place???? Stupid, stupid, stupid.

You know that love/hate relationship that I've mentioned before, well...I'm definitely in the 'hate' stage with her. I know I'm SO close to being done but all I see right now are beads, beads, beads! I just want her DONE! I know if I put her down, I'll never pick her back up again. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

By looking at the amount of time I have left this year, I don't think I'm going to meet my goals that I set out in January :o( Grrrr! It was so achievable too! Of course I didn't really figure that my life would be turned upside down for half of 2008 :oS I truly don't need more stash. What I 'really' need is a pair of extra hands. Do you think if I ask Santa, he'll find some for me? ;o)

Edited - ***Please visit Chiloe's Blog for a great contest she's holding!***

Going Cold Turkey

I've done a lot of stash organizing over the past few weeks and I've come to the following conclusion...I'm going on a Stash Diet. Yes, you heard that right! As of November 1, I have gone cold turkey and I expect to last until my birthday in June. Is this really doable you ask? I think it might be and here's why I think so...

The Canadian dollar...well...it sucks right now :o( Even with great sales, it's not cost effective to order anything from the US. We've been really lucky over the past year or so but all good things eventually come to an end. Maybe someday it will return to the great state it was. At least gas is down to $0.879 per litre :o)

I'm almost afraid to say this but after going through my stash, I think I have reached S.A.B.L.E., or very close to it. Okay, pick your jaws up off the floor ;o) But if you saw what I just went through, you might even agree with me. LOL! I know there will be tons of new stuff coming out but shouldn't the stash already acquired be used first?

Of course, there are a 'few' exceptions ;o) As we all know, it doesn't matter how many skeins of DMC you have, there will always be one color that you don't have. So occasional skeins of floss are allowed. Magazines. Since these only last for a few months at a time, they qualify for the 'exception clause'. That doesn't mean that I'm going to buy every cross stitch magazine that comes out, just those that hold enough interest to make it worthwhile.

And finally, on Friday I received my final package from Drema :o) This was put in just under the wire on October 30. LOL! Look at all the goodies -

So there you have it! I'm taking on the challenge :o) Anyone else on the Stash Diet or want to be? Maybe we can sponsor each other, keep each other in check. LOL!

On Friday, I also received another little package in the mail and this was a total surprise! Suzanne made the following pumpkin fob for me -

Isn't it adorable!!!! If this was your first one Suz then I'd say there are many more to be made in your future :o) Thank you SO much!

I'm sorry that the pictures aren't that great but it's been so dark and dreary here lately. That and the fact that my photography mojo has been non-existent :o( I am happy to report that I have been working on Tot and I should hopefully have a finish to show you very soon ;o)

The Bachelorette

Well, as of December 1 I will be and I've got my own bachelor pad to prove it ;o) LOL! Today I found myself a place to stay throughout the winter. It's small but at least it's furnished. I thought a lot about my situation and the only thing that made sense was to find something that was furnished and then that way, I can get everything packed away, besides what I need of course.

Anyway, the room is cute and quaint :o) I've got a queen size bed, couch, television, a table with two chairs, a little kitchen area (with stove, fridge and microwave) and a separate bathroom. It may sound like there's lots of room but believe me, there's not! I had hoped to bring along most of my stash but I don't think that's going to happen. I'm really going to have to plan and strategize. But guess what! I will FINALLY have high speed internet!!!! WOOHOO!!!!

So now that I have that out of the way, my next step is to get someone in here to give me an estimate on how much it will cost to pack and store all this junk, err I mean...stuff ;o) WHY do we accumulate so much stuff over our lifetime???? Why? We have already purged approximately three car loads of it to anti-poverty and there is 'still' more. This might be a good way to clean house though ;o)

I'm quite proud of myself because I've been organizing my stash and now it's a little more 'user friendly'. I spent about a month going through all the freebies that I had on the computer and CDs and put them into one huge database. It was an incredible amount of work but it will be so much easier to find things. I also took all the freebies that are not in the database and organized them into a binder. I used another binder to store all the patterns that I have already stitched. This created more room in my existing pattern drawers :o)

I bought a couple of totes and one holds my afghans and the other my other completed projects. Hopefully this will keep them safe and clean. I'm still nervous about packing up my framed stitching but hopefully one of the moving companies will have had experience with that. If worse comes to worse, my parents have offered to store them for me. Come to think of it, that might not be a good idea because I might not get my Quiltmaker back from my mother...

There You Have It

Yup, that's right! That's what the real estate sign looks like on our front lawn :o) The house is S-O-L-D. Everything has gone through; water test, inspection and financing so it's official. DH and I are very happy with our realtor, for a number of reasons, one being that we got the price that we had hoped for :o) The buyers are actually the first people that came to see the place. Hopefully they will enjoy their new home.

The reality that I will be leaving this place has hit harder than I thought it would. As much as I have loathed looking at an empty barn and pasture for the past four years, I do have a lot of wonderful memories that were created here. This is where my childhood dream began but it is also where it ended :o( This chapter in my life will finally be closed; something I have been avoiding since the horses left. I'm hoping this is the break that has been needed for so long.

My next problem...I have to be out of here by December 30 so now I have to find another place to live :oS I think I mentioned before that I was going to move in with my parents but after a lot of thought, I have decided against it. Why? Well, let's just say that I'm not the easiest person to live with ;o) DH, Duncan, Brie and Pickles can attest to that. LOL! I have to say that apartment hunting is not as fun as I thought it was going to be. I did some calling around this morning and so far I think I only have three prospects.

It's officially been a week since DH left but let me tell you, it feels like a month :o( I was actually doing really well at the beginning but then I think the reality of it all finally hit. I'm a bit overwhelmed with everything that's going on right now. Although my Gram is still in the hospital, I am happy to report that she is more like herself than she was a week ago. I went with Mom and Dad on Saturday to see her and it was SO good to see her smile and her eyes light up :o) She still looks very frail. We're pretty sure that she will not be returning to her home as it looks like she will need assisted care. It's so hard watching someone you love disappearing before your very eyes. The last time I was in that hospital was when my grandfather died back in 1980.

I want to thank everyone for their kind comments that were filled with support :o) As I read each one, it made me smile. It's good to know that there are still wonderful people out there, people who know how to show compassion and who always have a hug for a friend in need. You ladies are truly the best!

Happy Halloween!

Where Does It End?

WARNING!

The following post contains some pretty strong opinions and a few nasty words ;o)

BASTURD! BASTURD! BASTURD! BASTURD! BAS-TURD!

I can honestly say that I do not get any free rides in my life. I'm not necessarily looking for them but why? Why do things always have to be SO difficult???? Did I have a jinx placed on me? Was there never any lucky horseshoe shoved up my ass? I CAN tell you one thing...I'm ripping MAD! >:o(

If you remember back to my July 28 post, I told you that LTD had dropped me so I went to my employer to ask if I could come back to a part-time position instead of my original full-time one, due to my disabilities, and I presented them with a gradual part-time back to work schedule and a list of accommodations (both signed by my doctor and OT). At first they agreed but a few weeks later they changed their minds. They told me if I wanted to come back, I had to resign from my full-time position and reapply for a part-time position, IF one was available. Since I refused to do this and my employer refused to let me come back to work, I filed a complaint with Human Rights.

A letter was sent to my employer and they had until September 23, 2008 to respond as to whether they wanted to mediate (negotiate) or not. They did respond within this time so I thought things were finally going my way. A few weeks went by so I called Human Rights to see what was going on. They were trying to line up legal councel along with my employer's contact out in British Columbia. Fine. I waited another few weeks and then called again. Again, I got the same story.

So today, I get a phone call from Human Rights. My case worker stated that it was proving to be too difficult to set this conference call up and that she would do the mediation on my behalf. We talked about what I wanted and came up with this - lost wages dating back to July 7, 2008, a part-time job with the accommodations that were originally asked for and some special entitlement in which mine ranged from $1,500-5,000. I wasn't expecting this and I won't tell you what I asked for but I think I was fair in the amount. Overall, I don't think what I asked for was beyond reason.

When I got off the phone, I started thinking about the possibility that my employer wouldn't take me back so I called my case worker to inquire about severance pay and left a message. Not ten minutes later, she calls me back to say that my employer's contact has refused everything that I asked for. He stated that he 'misunderstood' what this mediation process was. WTF???? Can this idiot not read???? I have a copy of the letter that they received and I understand it perfectly. Has he not heard the word 'negotiation' before???? What did he think this was anyway?

On top of that, he had the BALLS to say that I refused an Independent Medical Exam. I say WTF...AGAIN! I have done nothing but jump through hoops for LTD AND my employer ever since this whole dog and pony circus act started. PLEASE tell me, HOW did this f-ing idiot get his job???? This is just ANOTHER example of the people I am dealing with.

My blood is boiling and that anger that I was trying to suppress has now come up from the depths again. I really want this whole thing to be over with. I truly do. But I'm getting screwed. This is NOT right! Everyone that I've had to tell this story to (EI, the independent doctor, my doctor, lawyers) all look at me with their mouths open and hanging to the ground because they don't understand. At least I'm not the only one.

So what do I do now? I wait. Now it goes to stage two where they will investigate both sides of the complaint. I wonder if Idgit Boy will understand this next part. And no, I still haven't heard back about the job that I applied for with the provincial government :o(

The Next Stage...A New Frontier

Yesterday I found myself losing two of the most important people in my life :o( My heart felt so empty. It was not a good day.

Before the crack of dawn, I drove DH to Moncton so he could catch his bus to Sydney. Even as I write this, he is beginning his new training and I couldn't be more proud of him :o) It was hard seeing him go but I don't think the bulk of it has sunk in yet. When I went to bed last night, I took out one of DH's sweatshirts and wrapped it up with me. A sad picture I know. For once in my life, Christmas cannot come soon enough.

Over the last year, I've slowly been introduced to being by myself but this will really be the test and one I'm not sure I can do but I'm willing to try. I have a lot on my plate but Wonder Woman I am not :oS Cooking? What the hell is that? I do have great plans to explore that realm but so far, two donuts from Tim Horton's doesn't really qualify ;o)

While in Moncton, I took the opportunity to go visit my Gram but it wasn't the kind of visit I was hoping for :o( Gram has severe osteoporosis and over the years, her spine has curled in so that her back is hunched. This has created pressure on her inner organs and a lot of pain as a result.

Last week she called the ambulance because she was in so much pain. For Gram to do this, it had to be extremely severe because this woman is a rock and stubborn to boot. She was in her late fifties when my grandfather died and she's been on her own ever since. I've always looked up to Gram because of the type of woman she is, plus she's always been there for me :o)

Dad told me because of all the pain medication she was on (she was on FOUR kinds), it was best to see her in the morning so I arrived shortly after 10:30 am. My aunt was just getting Gram dressed. I took Brie into the living room to wait. The person that entered the room didn't look anything like my Gram :o( She was so pale and her eyes were almost dead. It looked like the life had been zapped right out of her. She did recognize me and Brie though and was very happy to see us :o)

We carried on a bit of conversation but then she started to fall asleep while she was talking. Her voice was starting to slur and by the time I left, she was hallucinating. Very difficult to watch. I just wanted to hug her and not let go. Mom just called awhile ago to let me know that Gram is now back in the hospital :o( I'm not sure where things are going from here but it sure is lonely dealing with this myself.

My heart was filled with warmth though when two unexpected packages arrived here late last week :o) First off, dear (but VERY bad) Chiloe sent me this Lanarte kit -

I just about fell off my chair when I opened it! I have been eyeing this kit for awhile now and could not believe my eyes when I had it in my hot little hands. I can't thank you enough my friend and I have no idea what I did to deserve such a RAOK. I will be getting you back ;o)

I had a head's up on the second package but I had no idea of the contents. There was a shriek of joy when I found this -

Nursy stitched up this gorgeous pumpkin towel and just so you know, her stitching is beautiful! There is no way that towel is being used but it will have a place of honour in my stitching room :o) She also enclosed two Watership Down bookmark kits. I guess someone is reading my Blog. LOL! Thank you so much for thinking of me dear friend.

So I guess you are all waiting and wondering who the winners are :o) I hope everyone had a fun time at the Pumpkin Day festivities. I was a little disappointed in the pumpkin carving contest and as far as I can tell, there were only two entrants (Lori-Ann and Rachael) :o( I thought you guys would be more creative! Because it was based on creativity, the winner is....LORI-ANN! A grab bag will be making its way to you shortly :o) Don't worry Rachael; you have a much deserved thank you coming your way...

There were 31 entrants for the other grab bag and since that outnumbered my brilliant Scrabble lottery technique, I had to use Random.org. For the life of me, I cannot figure out how to get a picture of the screen to show you so you'll just have to take my word for it. Drum roll please......the winner is.......HARMIEN! Congrats!

If there is anyone out there that requested a copy of my free charts and did not receive them, please email me with your contact information. My email address can be found in my profile. Finally, I want to send a HUGE thank you out to everyone who stopped by and I hope you'll come back next year and celebrate with me again :o)

It's Pumpkin Day!!!!

Don't worry Lili, you didn't miss it ;o) To be honest, I was a little worried that I would have to postpone it as things here are a royal mess but I have prevailed and the show will go on! I hope everyone is ready to have some fun :o)

As you probably already know, a pumpkin is really a squash. Pumpkins are rich in Vitamin A and potassium and also high in fibre. So guess what? They are good for you :o) Although, when you start adding in the sugar, cream, eggs or milk...that piece of pumpkin pie or that jar of pumpkin jam might not be all that nutritious after all. But hey, this is Pumpkin Day and you can eat whatever you want!

Pumpkins are a huge part of this time of year, especially on Halloween. We love carving up these plump vegetables :o) So...the first contest of the day is to show off your very own Jack-O-Lanterns! If you've already carved out your pumpkin for Halloween, take a picture of it and post it to your Blog. Leave a comment on "this post only" with a link to your entry. If you don't have an 'actual' Jack-O-Lantern, be creative and make one! Who says it has to be made from a real pumpkin. If you want to practice, try out your ideas here or here. All entries will be judged and the winner will receive a surprise grab bag so make sure I have your contact information as well :o)

It wouldn't be a party without games now would it???? Take a stroll into the game area and try The Pumpkin Battle or Bashing Pumpkins. A little violent for pumpkins I know but believe me, no pumpkins will be hurt during these games ;o)

Did you know that the world's largest pumpkin pie, as of October 2005, stands at 2,020 pounds after baking? I guess asking for 'just a sliver' would be like asking for 63 9" pies. At least! LOL!

Today I have a VERY special gift for ALL of you :o) Since it's Pumpkin Day and also Breast Cancer Awareness Month (both of which are dear to me), I thought that this next thing would be perfect...I have designed a Limited Edition cross stitch pattern for you! I know I couldn't believe it myself. LOL! With the help of a dear, dear friend, I actually have the finished models to show you -

Rachael, the bionic stitcher, stitched and finished both pieces for me in time for today's festivities! Thank you SO much girl, you did an awesome job :o) In order to obtain this pattern (it has two versions), please leave a comment on "this post only", along with your contact information and I will email the pattern to you. As I stated, this is a Limited Edition pattern so it will only be available until Monday, October 27, 2008 and then it's gone!

And finally, I have one more grab bag to give away :o) All you have to do for this one is to leave a comment on "this post only", along with your contact information and your name will be automatically placed into the hat. Since I am unsure as to my schedule for the rest of the week, the winners will be announced on Monday, October 27, 2008. I thank you for your patience and...

HAVE A HAPPY PUMPKIN DAY!!!!

Eighth Finish For 2008

I can't believe that I pulled off another finish in one month :o) Woohoo! I was doing a little happy dance last night when I finished-finished my finish. I really love this one and I knew I was going to stitch it when I found the material for the backing. The two were just perfect for each other.

Here is Night Owl by The Prairie Schooler -

Don't those eyes just give you the creeps? LOL! I used the recommended fabric and threads except that I switched 3371 for 310 so it would match the fabric. The material I used for the back is the one in the pictures. Isn't it cool?

I made this little guy into a pinkeep -

Do you know how hard it is to find black headed pins???? Luckily I didn't need too many. And I'm so pleased with my bow as well :o)

This is the section of fabric I used for the back of the pinkeep -

I love, love, love it! I'm really in a Halloween mood. I just wish I had more October so I could stitch a few more Halloween projects. I will now be returning to Tot but there is no way she'll be done by the end of the month :o(

Things have been absolutely hectic here and I'm SO behind in emails and reading Blogs so please don't think that I've disappeared. I will, eventually, get caught up with everyone :o) Tomorrow DH and I are meeting with the realtor so the house is going to officially go on the market! We're done all our renovations so I'll have to post some new pictures for you. I'm really happy with the way things have turned out but I'm glad we will be moving.

Please don't forget to sign up for the breast cancer wall hanging RR. The post is below. You can add more than one name and I will ship overseas :o) I really want to thank those that have signed up already and I will be in touch after Pumpkin Day with all the details.

Btw, before I go, here's a little enabling -

Isn't it cute! It's a new thread pack by Crescent Colours especially for Breast Cancer Awareness Month :o)

All Points Bulletin

If you are one of my readers or a Blogger that would like to participate in a quick but meaningful RR, then you've come to the right place :o)

DH and I came home on Saturday evening after an exhausting day of working when I found a plastic bag hanging from our front door. Inside contained a RR project that I had started back about THREE years ago! I had asked a friend of mine to do the sewing bit and with life getting in the way, we just never hooked up. Thanks to my wonderful stitching channel, the project got delivered :o) Thanks Katie!

Some of you may have already seen this poem. It's called What Cancer Cannot Do and it's a freebie by Gloria & Pat -

I stitched it on 18 count white Davos. I had found some beautiful pink ribbon fabric and I got my friend to sew the poem into a wall hanging -

Wait, it doesn't stop there! As you can see, there is quite a wide border around the poem but there IS a method to my madness ;o) The wall hanging is not completely closed up so it allows you to continue stitching on it. Ahhhh...do you see where I'm going with this? As you can see in this picture, I have added my name above the poem -

To those who would like to participate in this RR, you would be backstitching 'your' name or the name of someone you know that has been touched by cancer. Hey, you can always do both too! These names will go around the poem. I have calculated enough room for three rows. Those that fought breast cancer will have their name backstitched in dark pink (like mine) while the others, friends and family, will be using the lighter green.

Wait, there's more! Along with the RR piece, there will be a journal that will accompany it :o) In this journal the participants can write whatever they wish. Maybe you have a beautiful memory of a loved one that has passed away from breast cancer and you want to write it down. Perhaps you want to write out your own fears with regards to this awful disease. Tell a story about where this book has been and where it's going to. The book is a blank canvas and you are the artist. Create what 'you' want to create :o)

This is going to be a very special piece for me in the end. It will be a joint project that I will be honoured to display in my home :o) I have a lovely hanger from which it will hang from. So if you are interested in participating, please leave a comment on 'this post only' and instructions on how to get a hold of you via email. PLEASE do not leave your mailing address. I'll leave this RR open until Pumpkin Day and then afterwards I will create a mailing list.

I'm in need of your help so spread the word! I'm SO excited to start this rolling and what better way than to have your friends by your side :o)

Sweet Stuff & Stash

The past few days have been filled with goodies and that can never be a bad thing :o) Yesterday, Mom and Dad stopped by to drop of my jam supply. Along with the usual strawberry and raspberry, she included a jar of pumpkin jam. This was a new recipe that she found in a magazine so she wasn't sure how it would turn out.

If you want to see my expression, check out Mom's Blog ;o) Let me put it this way, if you like marmalade jam, you're going to LOVE this! As you can see, I already get my sweet stash from Mom but now she's stepped it up a notch. So far I've tried it on bagels but I'm wondering what it would be like on ice cream...

Today was STASH DAY! The postman was very kind and dropped off two things -

During The Online Needlework Show, I put my name in with My Mark Designs for one of their door prizes and guess what? I won! The funny thing is I won a pattern from them at the spring show as well. I couldn't help myself this time and just HAD to get her new pattern, Equal Rights ;o) A snowman, er snowwoman, with boobs! ROFL!

On top of that, my order from Wasatch Needle Craft arrived! I just couldn't resist the new pink ribbon pattern by The Cat's Whiskers - Love, Laugh, Survive & Thrive. And once I bought that, I just HAD to include the Pink Snips by Kelmscott Designs :o) These are just adorable. This was the first time I ordered from this ONS and I wouldn't hesitate to deal with them again.

Before I go, I just want to wish all my Canadian friends a turkey filled Thanksgiving Day weekend. I hope my American friends enjoy their extra day off Columbus Day weekend and for the rest of my friends around the world, enjoy your weekend to the fullest :o)

Feeling Halloweenie

I don't know what it is lately but I've been in the Halloween mood. Maybe it's that autumn smell in the air or the coloured leaves swirling around on the ground. Maybe it's all the cool costumes in the stores or the fact that I'm stitching two Halloween pieces. Maybe it's watching the flocks of Canada geese flying south or all the piles of pumpkins in front of the grocery stores. Whatever it is, it's really got me going :o)

I never used to like Halloween because that's when my grandfather passed away. I was in Grade 4 and I can remember my parents coming and picking me up at school. We were having our class Halloween party and I was dressed up in my costume. This was my first experience with loss so as we drove to Moncton, I watched the Trick or Treaters going from house to house and I couldn't understand why I had to give that up :o(

I'm not really one for dressing up and going to Halloween parties anyway but in the past few years, I've found that I have been enjoying everything that leads up to the day. I love strolling the isles in the stores and looking at all the different decorations. As you can probably guess, I'm a sucker for pumpkins ;o) I was in Wal-Mart the other day and came across Halloween costumes for dogs. Well, didn't I find the hot dog costume I've always wanted to get for Brie -

If money wasn't tight right now, I would have bought it just to tick off a certain DH ;o)

One sure sign that I'm in the Halloween mood is when I break out the horror movies! I know a lot of people are not huge fans of such a movie genre but I love them :o) Okay, let me put it this way, I love them if 1) its daylight or 2) there's someone else with me. I do have a wimpy side. LOL! Yesterday I broke out Halloween H2O. Did you know that the mask that Michael Myers wears is actually the face of William Shatner, only painted white? That's scary enough right there!!!!

To answer Suzanne's question, and there may be others that are wondering, yes, we do celebrate Halloween here in Canada and it is on October 31. So what's up with my counter then? No, it's not incorrect. I can count, up to 31 anyway ;oP On October 21, I will be celebrating Pumpkin Day!

Yes, it's an actual day and hey, since I'm known as Pumpkin I figure I might as well take over that day as my own :oD So, on October 21, I highly suggest you stop by my Blog for some Pumpkin Day party fun!

Seventh Finish For 2008

Hear ye! Hear ye! Come and join me for the Grand Opening because The Needlework Shop is officially open for business -

Didn't the landscapers do a fantastic job? I was really lucky because just as they were finishing, I was able to locate someone to put the sign up as well ;o)

Things must have really been in my favour because the interior decorator had a last minute cancellation and she was able to fit me in sooner than expected. The shop has honey oak flooring throughout, with beautiful coloured area rugs. When you walk in the door, your eyes might spot the seating area in the middle of the room. I made sure I had one there so anyone can come in and stitch anytime they want to :o) There are two comfortable sofas and two chairs with ottomans so you can put your feet up and rest awhile. This is a NRA shop (no rushing allowed) so leave your husbands at home. LOL!

The fibers, embellishments and accessories are all on the first floor. You're surrounded by loads of color and bling -

As you sit and stitch, or even if you're just browsing around, your eyes will see plenty of eye candy because the walls are adorned with stitched models. After coming here, you'll never have another moment when you ask yourself, "What am I going to stitch next?" LOL!

The second floor is dedicated solely to fabric, and lots of it -

I put in a huge cutting table in the middle of the room. The fabrics line the walls and are arranged by count AND by color so there appears to be a rainbow all around you :o) The selection is easy to see and you can't help but touch the linens. In amongst all the stitching fabric you're going to spot something new. I've added special fabric for finishing those flat folds, pin keeps and stand ups. They coordinate perfectly with the stitching fabric so there's no need to drive around town with little color samples in your purse ;o)

Before you leave, make sure that you've tried out our selection of teas and don't forget to grab a few business cards to give out to friends and family!