Fourth Finish For 2009

These little guys have been finished for quite awhile now but with everything that has been going on, this is the first moment I've had to post pictures. So...I present to you Photobooth Snowmen by Bent Creek -

I absolutely LOVE this pattern! The snowmen are so cute and their antics are comical. I did not add the snow in the background though because I felt it really didn't add anything. I love them just the way they are :o)

Thanks to Nancy's generosity, she saved the project by sending me a skein of GAST Roasted Marshmallow! This was for the 'dirty' coloured snowman and as you can see, it was a really good variegated skein. Maybe I should get a personal shopper more often ;o) You were a lifesaver girl and I haven't forgotten about you!

Awhile back, I received the most amazing surprise in the mail -

This lovely birdie came from Ranae as a thank you for The Victoria Sampler giveaway that she won on my Blog. It was completely unexpected but what a thoughtful gift. I always feel honoured when I receive a piece of stitching from another stitcher. It will truly be cherished :o) Thank you again Ranae and I apologize for taking so long to post a picture.

I want to thank everyone again for all their wonderful support. I am starting to get back on my feet again, although it's still hard to find joy knowing there is a hole in my heart :o( I went grocery shopping today and lo and behold what did I need but Dill Pickles. Sigh.

Brighter Days Ahead

At least I hope so.

Last night as the clouds rolled out to sea, we were gifted with this gorgeous sight -

Not only did we see the whole rainbow, but there were two of them! So beautiful and so bright. Do you know how hard it is to get a picture of the whole thing? LOL!

I want to thank everyone who emailed or left a comment for me regarding Pickles. It truly meant a lot to know there were so many friends out there if I needed a shoulder to cry on. Unfortunately when things go wrong, I tend to alienate myself and huddle into a corner. I have been reading all your Blogs though but I haven't been leaving comments or answering emails. I hope you understand. I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things soon.

I'm still working through the grief. Pickles had been with me for 11 years and was the best of bunnies. I'm not sure if I told you or not, but we adopted Pickles from the SPCA in early spring. Someone had found him and his sister in a dumpster :o( How anyone could do this to an animal, I will never understand. From that day on, I was thankful that Pickles came home with us.

Pickles had his own unique personality and I loved all the quirks he had. He never wanted to see the bottom of his food dish so when he did, he would upset the whole thing and make a total mess. He knew that ticked me off. LOL! Every morning he would do donuts in his cage until he got his carrots. And believe me; he made sure you never forgot. When it came time for his cage to be cleaned, he (somehow!) would fire one round little turd out of his cage. You would hear it hit the floor and immediately know what was required. Pickles was very particular about his litter box too. DH always failed to pat down the shavings and this annoyed Pickles to no end. If I didn't get to them before he did, you would see Pickles compacting them down with his two front paws.

Mom and Dad are visiting this weekend. I asked Dad to build a box to bury Pickles in and what a beautiful box it is. Dad's friend engraved Pickles' name on the top of the box and I choked up when I saw it. My parents will be taking Pickles home with them when they leave. He will be buried with other members of our family from over the years. At least I know he won't be alone and he can run circles in the woods with my other bunny Scooter :o)

Good-bye My Friend

You've gone to a better place but I will still miss you every second, of every minute, of every hour, of every day.

Dill Pickles

1998-2009

It's A Beautiful Day In The Neighbourhood...

Would you like to be my neighbour?

Is that a tease or what! I wonder how many neighbours I would have if you 'could' come over. LOL! I see that I haven't scared anyone away with my twisted sense of humour so either you guys are brave or you're just as crazy as I am ;o)

Yesterday I had to travel to the next town over to change our insurances, vehicle registration and my driver's licence. The insurances were done without a hitch but I sat at the DMV for an hour just so that she could tell me that I had to have DH there with me to change things over >:o(

What is it with the DMV anyway???? Why do they get such a bad rap? Aren't all their agents this friendly? ;o)

Not was all lost though because I found a cute little bookstore and a framing shop that carries 'some' stitching supplies :o) I also did some furniture shopping but that news will all be revealed in another post...

People, People, People!

Oh my, I can't believe that no one guessed what my new WIP was even with a piece of the puzzle right there in front of you! I know I didn't give you much stitching to go by but if your eyes just veered to the right hand side of my Blog, you would have seen the answer ;o) LOL!

So now that I have spilled the beans, here is another progress picture of Growth Rings by Ink Circles -

I don't know what I was thinking. I guess I really didn't take into account just how big this piece really is but I just can't seem to put it down! I just might end up with two large pieces completed for 2009 at this rate.

I'm using Carrie's new silk threads and OMG they are a delight to use! No tangles or fraying and they are so soft. If you haven't tried them yet, I suggest you do. I'm sure you can find something to stitch with them ;o)

I want to take a moment to apologize (profusely!) to those who have given me awards in the past month. I have to admit that I have been very neglectful and now I can't remember what I got and where they even came from :o( I am very humbled that you have thought of my Blog and enjoy reading it :o) I'm sorry and I hope you will accept this apology.

I've had a few people ask me if my Avatar is supposed to be me as a Fishery Officer. Yes, that is true. I'm trying to 'emulate' DH. LOL! The only problem is...they refused to give me a gun. Hmmm...I wonder why. It's not like I wouldn't pass the psychological tests ;o)

Happy Easter Everyone!

Not only do I highly recommend you check the chocolate mini-eggs you're eating but also remember -

Yes, bunnies are highly adorable, cute, cuddly, sweet and lovable but they should not be giving as gifts. They require the care and attention of any pet and eventually they will learn to rule your household ;o)

Pickles Prevails

I want to thank everyone for all their good wishes. Pickles and I really appreciated it. It was nice to know that you were all thinking of us yesterday :o)

Again, Pickles was an angel. I dropped him off at 11 am and then occupied myself for a few hours while I waited for him to be released. When I finally got back (I got lost...twice), he was ready to go and the results were good :o) Dr. C had grinded away a number of sharp points on a right sided molar and there were no lesions on his tongue or cheeks. Pickles was a little groggy having just come out of sedation but he was happy to see his mom. Not so happy for the car ride home though. LOL!

Over the past 24 hours, we've been keeping really good tabs on him and I'd say the problem has been fixed! Being an older bunny, I think it's taking him extra time to 'bounce' back from the stress but he's been eating and drinking, pooping and peeing, and those are all good signs :o) He demands his carrot in the morning so the Old Man is back. LOL! Today I tortured him with a photo session. I hope you will enjoy -

Since I'm still waiting for that much needed GAST thread (I'm hoping it will be here before the weekend Nancy!), I figured I had to start something new ;o) Here's a picture...can you guess what it is?

Tonight, DH and I went to see a movie at the local 'theatre'. Remember, we're in a SMALL town ;o) DH wanted to get there early to make sure we got our seats but he didn't have to worry because we ended up being the first ones there. To top that off, there were no more than twenty people. When DH went to get the popcorn, I told him I'd go find us some seats and joked that he might not be able to find me. He didn't find that amusing. LOL!

On Wednesday nights, this theatre plays "not so mainstream" films and tonight it was One Week -

If you're not familiar with this movie, I highly recommend you find it and rent it. Ben (played by Joshua Jackson) is confronted with his mortality and instead of doing 'the right thing', he buys a vintage motorcycle and travels west across Canada. During this road trip, he meets some interesting people and situations that help him with his inner quest. The movie was filmed in Canada and shows some beautiful parts of our country. I guarantee this film will make you think.

Third Finish For 2009

I apologize for not being around this week. I have no idea where it went! Luckily I can say that I have been busy, although it hasn't been all 'good' busy :o( More on that in a bit.

I was able to put the final touches on one stitching project :o) Here is Dewdrop by Just Nan -

Again, I think he's super adorable. The flower button is a little overwhelming but I'll leave it as is for now.

To be honest, I've never been a huge fan of Just Nan patterns but I really did enjoy stitching this one and I do look forward to stitching Peter Cottontail. Come to think of it, I only have three of her designs and they all have rabbits in them :o) LOL!

Speaking of bunnies, my little pal Pickles has not been doing well this week and I've been beside myself worrying about him :o(

Luckily I've had years of experience with rabbits and after observing his symptoms, I was able to narrow things down by doing some research on the internet. On Saturday morning, I called a local vet and was able to get him in for an appointment. Luck must have been on my side again because the vet that was working was their 'bunny specialist' :o) Dr. C was so good with him and Pickles didn't even growl at her!

First she checked his GI track and that seemed good. That was a huge relief. She left his teeth until the end and that's where my other suspicion lay. She came across one sharp molar on his right side and even showed me on the monitor through her camera scope. Too cool! So it looks like that may be the culprit to Pickles' problem. He's scheduled for a 'procedure' on Tuesday to remove it and then hopefully he'll be back to normal. My boy is 11 years old so I'm a little worried about them putting him under but I must keep positive!

Pickles is being such a super sook that it's almost hilarious. This is my grumpy man who just wants to be petted and doted on. The macho man has disappeared. I might as well enjoy it while it lasts because he'll no doubt revert back to his ways once he's fixed up ;o)

Winter Into Spring

Even with things as busy as they've been, I have been taking a bit of time out to stitch. It took awhile after we moved down but I did it. The night I began one of my latest projects, DH looked at me and commented that I must be comfortable since I finally broke out my stitching :o) LOL! He's right though. It does take time to get that grove going again and being displaced so many times, it interferes with the comfortable rhythm that you eventually settle into.

So before you feel that I'm holding out on you, here is one of my WIP ;o) This is Photobooth Snowmen by Bent Creek -

I love this pattern! It's so cute :o) This is the project that I desperately needed the Roasted Marshmallow GAST for and couldn't find. Thanks to dear Nancy, she is flying a skein up to me as we speak so that's why this one is on hold for the time being. You're a lifesaver girl!

Because this one has been put aside, I just had to start something new... With spring right around the corner, I figured it was time to stitch something with a spring theme and we all know there's nothing more spring like than BUNNIES! At least for me ;o) Here's Dewdrop by Just Nan -

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this pattern! The bunny looks so much like my Pickles it's not even funny. The colors are almost identical :o)

I'm using the recommended 30 count fabric but it almost feels like 25 count. I wonder if it's because the weave in the linen is so lose. Has anyone else found this with the WDW linens? Since I couldn't afford the frame for Dewdrop, I figure I'm going to try looking at Winners when he's completed because they have tons of those lovely little decorative frames for only a fraction of the price. It's a terrible thing to have to do but a girl can only spend so much money on stash, especially when she's not bringing in an income :oS

Mother Nature is showing her bad side today :o( It was almost like torrential rains last night, with waves crashing on the rocks below. It was the first time I contemplated whether living right on the ocean was a good idea or not. I think I'd prefer that my house be back a bit from the water's edge...

Yes, that is right at the edge of the front porch!

Today as I sat on the toilet, with the door open, I was able to enjoy watching the waves rolling in. This is a new concept for me since I have bathroom issues and always have the door closed. DH used to do this in the old outhouse at his parents' place and would tell me about it. I always wondered what the attraction was all about. Now I know! I bet I just gave you TMI. Would you expect any less from me though? ;o)

Stash Savings

Want to see some eye candy? Hey, why not on a Saturday morning. You know you want to ;o)

It seems that no matter where I live, stash seems to follow me. I have no idea how it happens. It's not like I'm doing anything to encourage it ;o)

About a week ago, I got my order from Anita's Little Stitches and I've been rolling in it ever since (thanks to the generosity of Erynne and Anita) -

Fun, fun, fun! I finally got myself some of those floss tag rings so hopefully I'll try my hand at one soon. Have any of you ordered Carrie's new silks? They are y-u-m-m-y!

On the 123 Board, I was the lucky winner of some Six Strand Sweets from Amanda -

Yesterday, DH had the day off so we toured a bit of our new town. I ended up drooling in some of the gift shops, thinking of all the new decorating ideas I'm having for our new house, whenever that is. I even found a hanging sign with a pumpkin!!!! Very country/folk art and hopefully it will still be there when I go back :o)

One shop we went into had a few (and I mean very few) stitching supplies. But hey, stash is stash right? Anyway, they had a bin of discounted patterns for $2 and look what I found -

When I went to pay for it, it was discounted another 25%! So that's my HUGE deal of the year so far. Even DH was impressed :o)

Surf's Up!

As promised, here's an update on our life here in Nova Scotia :o)

On March 10, DH and I packed up my car and a rental minivan (and yes, they were PACKED), said good-bye to my bachelorette pad and headed out on a seven hour drive to our new home. As we crossed the border, I stuck my hand out the window and waved adios to New Brunswick :o)

By the time we found our rental place it was dark but let me tell you, that did not diminish the 'WOW' factor! As DH and I unloaded the cars, we listened to the waves crashing just a few yards away and we watched as a brilliant full moon washed light over the water. Home.

DH took a week off before he started work so it was wonderful to spend the time with him as we explored our new surroundings :o) We are literally right 'on' the beach. I'm amazed that the province lets people build so close to the water. Our rental is located in a much sought out area because of the beautiful sandy beaches. When the tide goes out, you have lots of space to walk and explore -

Brie is absolutely in love with the beach and she just goes crazy when she can get down there and run around like a crazy dog :o) Because we are right on the Atlantic Ocean, the water is cold but I'll be curious to see what she does come summer. She loves digging up shells and even found a small crab one day. I don't think Mr. Crab was too impressed so we let him be. LOL! Thankfully she will never (hopefully) meet our resident seal, Summerville. From time to time you'll see him basking on his rock quite a ways out.

I can definitely tell you that my creative mojo has returned! How could it not in such an inspirational spot as this? I've already taken a few dozen photographs but I'm learning to watermark before I post them. Eventually I hope to start selling my pieces, perhaps locally and on the internet. In the meantime, here's a picture of the Princess posing for the camera -

It seems that we are within the best surfing areas of Nova Scotia. Who would have thought! When I think of surfing, I think Hawaii or Australia. Apparently it's quite popular here. DH is talking about taking up the sport but I'll be happy just to sit on the beach and 'observe'. Cold + water do not mix well for me ;o)

DH started work on March 16 and it's so nice to see him come home at night with a smile on his face :o) He's got a lot of training left to do but he seems happy and in his element. Of course all the toys that he's been given add to the fun. He's just like a kid on Christmas morning! LOL! I'm so jealous that I've even considered going into training myself. I said "considered"! ;o)

I've met a lot of the people that DH is working with/for and they are all super people. It's like one huge family and his office is very family oriented which is nice. Through his training period, DH made a few friends that live close by so in some ways it doesn't feel like we are new here at all. Of course it does help to know a few things in advance -

• The town of Port Mouton is pronounced Port Ma-toon. If you pronounce it the other way, you're automatically targeted as a newbie.
• It's very wise to always make sure you have $4 on you whenever you go through the toll at Cobequid Pass. I doubt very much you'll find $4 worth of change if you dig through your car seats.
• Always use your signal light when changing lanes. The fine here is $150!
• And FINALLY, it is illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving in this province. YES! 'Bout time.

The Graduate

As most of you know, I was lucky enough (thanks to Mom & Dad) to fly out to Regina, Saskatchewan to attend DH's graduation :o) So, EARLY, on Wednesday morning, March 4, I boarded a plane for the first time in twenty years and started my journey west. All in all, it wasn't too bad. Okay, except for the pat down and extra attention to my butt. Also, I have to admit, I think they make planes MUCH smaller than they used to! I might have left fingernail marks in the armrest but I arrived in one piece.

It seemed like forever before DH showed up to meet me. He was all decked out in his uniform when he walked through the doors and it was WOWZERS! Hummana-hummana! Unfortunately there was not enough time to admire it properly as we were on a time schedule :oP Motto learned at Depot...never pass up a meal or a bathroom break. Well, I think I could have passed on lunch from their cafeteria ;o) No wonder DH stopped eating there towards the end of his stay.

Before the church service that evening, I got to meet some of the guys, and gals, that made up the troop. There were 19 altogether and they were being stationed from one end of the country to the other but with the majority here in Nova Scotia. Thursday was graduation and while I was waiting for the ceremony to start, I got to meet some of the other wives :o) It was interesting to hear of their stories and sacrifices that were being made but we all knew in the end that our families would be much better for it.

Alright, are you ready ladies? Are you sure you're going to be able to handle the sight of an extremely handsome man in uniform? Are you absolutely sure? Here we go....

Now...try to tell me that he isn't drop dead gorgeous ;o) LOL!

The whole troop did very well and I felt so proud when I got to see DH accept his badge. A little miffed it took him awhile to show it to me but still proud ;o) During the dinner that evening, I got to meet instructors, facilitators, supervisors and other people within the Department of Fisheries & Oceans. I only have one thing to say...there was not one person that didn't make you feel like family. It was not only a good feeling but a comforting one as well.

Luckily, DH and I were able to return home sitting together on both flights. There was no way he was getting out of my sight by this point :o) On the last leg of our trip we almost had an 'incident'. We were all boarded when the flight attended got on the speaker and stated that the captain wasn't sure he was going to be able to land in Fredericton due to weather and that we might be re-routed to Sydney, Nova Scotia. HUH? Thankfully that man must have heard me swearing underneath my breath because even though the runway was barely cleared of snow, he did manage to get DH and I home safe and sound :o)

You didn't think I was going to end this post without posting a picture of the two of us did you? ;o)

Second Finish For 2009

This piece was finished right under the wire on Tuesday, March 3 but it feels like it was ages ago. Here is Seaside Sweethearts by Lanarte -

As I stated before, this was my second attempt at this project. I had originally started two over two (because I can't read instructions properly!) but the stitches looked so bulky. When I switched to one over two, I was much happier, although very unsure at first. If anyone is considering stitching this piece, I highly recommend you go with what the instructions say and save yourself the grief ;o)

I can tell you one thing; I was biting my nails wondering if it would get done in time for DH's graduation! I stitched some pretty long days towards the end and my elbow paid dearly for it. That darn thing is still not 100% healed and has slowed down my stitching too :o(

DH was extremely happy with it though and even had a confession to make. He HAD looked at my Blog and knew he was getting it! And in all that time I thought I had one over him :oP

We're still not sure whether I'm going to stitch in the signature or not. I find it throws the whole thing off center when framed but DH is not so sure. We'll see when it comes time to track down a framer. I can't wait to have this hanging in our new home :o)

In order to placate Ms. Chiloe, my next post will be about our new life here in Nova Scotia ;o) Now off to catch up on LOTS of Blog reading!!!!

Pickles Picks A Winner!

That's right! LOL! And here we have an action shot just to prove he helped -

Sorry it's a bit blurry. I messed up :oP

I want to thank everyone who entered (and also those who commented!). Since some of you didn't specify whether you wanted your name in the contest or not, I put them in anyway :o) If you are the winner and didn't want to enter, that's okay too because I picked two alternative names just in case! So who's our lucky winner????

As you can see, it's Pickles approved too ;o)

So Long, Farewell

The cars are packed and we're out of here! We've got a beautiful day for our drive to Nova Scotia, although it will be a long one.

This is just a short post to let you all know that I am still here but time has gotten away from me and I apologize :oS I'm leaving the contest open for now so if you want to enter, there's still time. Please leave a comment on the post below though!

I'm not sure when we'll have our phone and internet service hooked up, but as soon as we do, I'll be back to check up on you all, so don't worry if you don't hear from me for a bit :o)