Here today...gone tomorrow...

Hi there blogging buddies!

If you wondered where I've been, my brain is back in Virginia, sitting near this tree, looking out at this view...vegetating...in my dreams...wishing I were back there in the cool mountain air!! LOL

I know it's been ages since I've posted in any yahoo groups, since I posted much about stitching, since I've done any stitching at all. This summer is going by waaaaaaay too fast, and is still promising to be even busier. My friends that live nearby are probably wondering where in the world I've been, and the answer would be....traveling to and from medical appointments and spending time with doctors, dentists, and physical therapists. *sigh* I'm sure you're as tired of hearing about it as I am doing it, but I'm nearly there. I had a very good experience today when I switched Gastroenterologists and had an appointment with one today who was kind, compassionate, explained in detail all that the recent tests were showing, and what my Dad had experienced and why I shouldn't be worried. They still can't understand why I'm anemic, but because they can't find anything drastically wrong, I can relax and just treat the symptoms for now. I'm cool with that! He also explained why I'm feeling exhausted and again, it's nothing to worry about, this too shall pass! How do you spell relief? I spell it D-R-H-E-R-L-O-N-G!! I learned today that he is a teaching Dr at Johns Hopkins Medical Center and that I was lucky indeed to get an appointment with him. That was two appointments today, three to go this week!

Did I happen to mention it's HOT here? I remember a line in a movie..."It's hot....like Africa hot!" With temperatures being broken as the highest temperatures here in Maryland since they began recording temperatures!! The hottest day so far has been 108 F and with the humidity it feels like 123 F. For those of you who use metric...THAT'S HOT!! That means it was 42 C but felt like 50 C!!! I'm so thankful for air conditioning!

Ok, now for fun stuff! STITCHING!! And for the past couple of days, I've been doing a lot of it!! FINALLY!! I've wanted desperately to get back into it but just haven't had time. Anyway...on with the show!

I finally caught up on several SAL's I've been working on.

Sampler Romantique from http://magicaspuntadas.blogspot.com/ parts 9 and 14! According to the designer we are now half way through the project. I've seen some really lovely interpretations using other colors and fabric, so mine seems pale in comparison, but I do love the way it's coming out!



Owl sampler from Oakhaven designs yahoo group...I love the little July owl...so patriotic!



Star Sampler from http://periphaeria.com/tales/ is coming along nicely too...this has been a quick stitch which I've enjoyed!


The Tree of Stitches going on at The Stitch Specialists yahoo group has been a fun one also. I love learning the new stitches, and we are nearing the end now, there are just two forest creatures left to stitch!



Friendly Stitchers yahoo group is also offering a SAL with unique stitches that have been fun to learn also. I've just been doing the stitches, but others have been adding the name of the stitches below them...and now I wish I had done that too. I have been thinking I might restart this in the future and do just that...I'll have to think how I would like to present this one...but here is my attempt at the new stitches.


I started a new SAL a little while ago...I know, call me crazy, but this one intrigued me, and since I've seen others choose different color thread and fabric, I thought I would give it a try. This SAL is called Guimauve et Violette and can be found on this website http://talonsaiguilles.over-blog.fr/ I've switched up the colors and this is not a good picture, but I thought I'd show you how mine is shaping up....again...I'm not sure about the colors.


I did some stitching on my UFO last week, and hope with all my might, that I can keep stitching on it once a week (the next couple of weeks are going to be insane, so I hope I can keep it up!!) It would be awesome to finish this up before the year is out...it's been a challenging piece!



When I finally finished catching up on all my SAL's I started stitching on one of my crazy January challenge pieces. I have only three left, Cirque des Carreaux, pictured below, Tree of Stitches and Sampler Romantique, both pictured above. Since the other two are SAL's I'm at the mercy of the designers, but the Tree of Stitches should be done soon. That will leave two, so I'm feeling hopeful that I'll be able to finish before the year is out. Whew!! I can't wait, because there are quite a few other pieces I'm dying to start....


I also stitched on a biscornu, which I'm also dying to post pictures here because I think it turned out neat...I'll have to wait until I hear from my partner to see if she's received it before I post the picture.

And that, as they say, is that! The next couple of weeks appear to be eaten alive with things going on, so if you don't hear from me for a while, don't panic, I'll be back before long! Thanks for stopping in, and if you have stopped by, please leave a comment, I would love to hear from you!

*Hugs*