Pedling as fast as I can!

Hi Folks!

Did you think I fell off the face of the Earth? LOL Nah, I've just been very busy. Seems the more time that passes, the busier I get, I honestly can't keep up with myself, and I keep running until I'm out of energy. Today is my "crash" day! LOL I've honestly had something going on every day for weeks now and I'm getting tired.

So...news...I've decided not to go to Alabama. As soon as I had decided I would think about it, I made up my mind to get to the gym and start building up my strength. I was able to go 4 days last week, but only once this week (though I hope to go tonight if it's not too hot). There's a heat wave going on, with promises of beating the record temperature for the day. I'm staying out of the heat...and realized if I'm hot here, I'm going to ROAST in Alabama! So...I'm so sorry to those of you who are going, and I know another trip is planned for the fall, maybe then I'll be able to go. I'll be praying for you!

I have to admit, my Doctor has been trying to get me to exercise for years now (but I'm stubborn AND lazy! not to mention BUSY!) but after this cancer scare I've decided I'm going to make myself go. Wouldn't you know...I actually FEEL good after I've been to the gym!?! The endorphins are kicking in, my mood has improved, I feel stronger and more alert. Don't you HATE it when the Doctors are right? I can't wait to see her and let her know what I've been up to! LOL The only thing is....I am STILL gaining weight!?!?!?! How can this be? Honestly my diet has not changed!! I'm blaming the Tamoxifen (a medication I have to take for the next 5 years!) DH tells me that muscle weighs more than fat...let's hope eventually I'll start to lose...my Doctor won't believe me if I tell her I'm going to the gym 4 times a week if I don't lose weight to prove it! Pictures, I'll have to take pictures so she'll believe me. LOL

On the stitching front, I have a few things to show you. I have finished Snowflake Serenade! This was stitched on 32 Ct. Lambswool over two threads using the fibers they recommended. It's a Country Cottage Needleworks pattern and I really enjoyed stitching it. It was number 12 for the Crazy January Challenge. 3 more to go!


I started (hm...that's not quite the correct phrase) let's see...I picked up another UFO I had hanging around. This one was offered on a website quite some time ago and she has begun selling her designs now. I don't even think the parts are offered on her site anymore and if I remember correctly you had to be a member of a google group. It's called Le Marquoir de Sophie. I'll have to look back in my notes to see what fabric it's stitched on, and what DMC floss I'm using...I'll have that for you next time I post. It is stitched over one thread. She gave the pattern with her initials, but I wanted my own, so one of the initials was already there, and I designed the other two. That is why it became a UFO, because I've searched the internet high and low for alphabets that were similar and then thought I might design my own...then threw up my hands in frustration. I'm back working on it now, so I need your honest opinions about the lettering. There are more letters to come, so let me know what you think!


The June installments of two of my SALs have been released, and I finished them up last night and this morning. I know the Romantique Sampler will be coming out soon and wanted to clear my path so I can concentrate on finishing that up quickly. I LOVE the pattern, but it seems that it takes nearly the whole month to finish each part that she releases. Anyway...here is the Star Sampler offered here http://periphaeria.com/tales/. I'm stitching it on 40 ct Flax over 2 linen threads and using Anchor floss, 45 and 1084. This has been a fast stitch, and I just LOVE the colors!


The other SAL is being offered on the Oakhaven Yahoo group and is a collection of owls that I find so adorable. This is stitched on 28 ct fabric (I forget the name) over two linen threads using the DMC floss she recommends. This looks better in person, from this picture it looks like my latest owl has that "deer caught in the headlights" look to it! LOL


I've tried to work on all the crazies, but since I'm down to the last three, and two of them are SALs, I have more time to work on Cirque des Carreaux from Ink Circles. This is stitched on 32 ct. Maritime white over one linen thread using Carries Creations silk threads called Epiphany. I love how this is coming out! If you click on this photo you will get a closer look at what it looks like. This little section represents nearly the first page of 6!! I have a LOT of stitching left to do!


You'll think I'm crazy, but I have a case of startitis. I kitted up a couple of projects that I just feel the need to start, and when I have something stitched, I'll give you a peek! I just bought the materials Monday, so keep watching this space, you'll see them soon!

We are trying to plan a vacation. We haven't had one in a few years due to many reasons, my illness, my Dad's illness, and just a whole bunch of different things...and we decided this year we are going to DO SOMETHING, and get the heck out of Dodge for a while. So...we were looking to make sure our passports were up-to-date and we stumbled across our documents from long ago. I had such a hoot over the pictures that I thought I would share them with you! The first is my first passport photo from 1988. Can you BELIEVE that hair do? ROTFL!!! That was a perm I had done because I hated my straight hair...but gee whiz...I think it added 3 inches to my height (make that 5 inches!!) LOL


The next is when we lived in Germany back in 2000. This was taken off my international driver's license. LOL It was when I was in between hair dressers, I really needed a haircut then!! It's hard to believe I was 40 in this picture!!


I met up with Astrid last week and took a little lesson in making cards. Thanks again for all your help Astrid! I don't think I'll ever be as creative as many of my stitching pals but there is something special about receiving a hand made card! I really enjoyed my day with Astrid, we'll have to get together again soon! It will be hard now that our kids are out of school but hopefully we'll get back into a routine when school starts in the fall. These are the only ones we had time to make that day...



My backyard is in full bloom now, so I'll share a little of the color that has invaded my backyard and my house (I've been enjoying these sweet smelling blossoms indoors, and they make my house smell sooooo gooooood!) You've seen pictures of the goldfinches...and I finally caught a picture of this purple finch (at least that's what I think it is). He is very shy, and every time I ran for the camera he would fly off before I could get his picture. FINALLY, I caught him when his back was turned! LOL I love watching them and listening to them sing in the morning.




Well, I think that's all the news that's fit to print. I hope I get a chance later this week to catch up on e-mails. I haven't been online in about a week, I can only imagine what's waiting in my inbox. Have a great day! *Hugs*