It's been crazy busy here lately and I truly need things to slow down!! I did have a "do nothing Saturday" last weekend and with a few hours here and there the past couple of days I was able to finish another crazy! I'm stoked!! So without further ado, here is a picture of 1797 Ship Sampler from Carriage House Samplings. It was stitched on 40 count straw over two threads using DMC floss. I really love the way it looked when it was finished. Can't wait to get it framed!
I've spent some time with Astrid lately, we went to the ballgame in Washington to see the Orioles and the Nationals duke it out. The Orioles won the previous two nights and I knew it was going to be an interesting game. I saw something that day I hadn't seen before, the National Anthem played on a violin made out of a baseball bat. Check this out!!
The Orioles started out ahead, but when I took my eyes off the game (to sneak some ice cream with Astrid) the Nationals suddenly came from behind. It was up and down, but finally the Nationals won the game. It was a fun day! Next time we'll have to meet at the Orioles ballpark! I didn't realize til later that it was Astrid's wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary you guys, and may you have many many more!
I have to marvel at the relationship my husband has with our cat, Thomas. The love to hate each other, but as with most cats, we are there for his convenience. He was chilly the night this picture was taken. Doesn't it look like they love one another...you should see them MOST of the time. I'm surprised DH has any skin not shredded to bits!
I had a busy day today so I'm headed upstairs to stitch, whatever will I stitch on tonight? I have 3 more days before the next sections of Sweet Flowers and Lavender Blue come out so I had better make my crazy stitching count!! Night!
Hello friends and fellow stitchers! It's a beautiful day today, I'm thankful I'm not at work so I can enjoy the sunshine!! Usually I'm stuck in the back windowless room at the store on beautiful days like today...begging customers to let me carry their framed artwork to the car so I can enjoy a few stolen moments of sunshine.
I've had a busy couple of weeks, mainly running to appointments in between prepping things to be framed at the store. My numb thumb seems to be getting a bit better, I can't remember if I told you all it seems to be from carpal tunnel and arthritis in one of my thumb joints. I wear a wrist splint at night now and that seems to be slowly helping me out, all except for the arthritis. It hasn't prevented me from stitching but it has slowed me down some. Getting old is NOT for sissies! LOL I keep praying that it doesn't get to the point where I can't stitch anymore.
So I have some stitching to show you these days. I finally finished up the required stitching for Lavender Blue. Here's a close up shot of what I worked on recently, and another shot of how it looks all together. The "lacy" part of this design nearly drove me to distraction but I finally finished it up...and now that it's done I like the effect.
Now I'm free to stitch on something I have wanted to do for ages. The 1797 Ship Sampler from Carriage House. I've been asked what I stitched this on, it's 40 count Straw linen stitched over two threads. I have loved this sampler since I saw it hanging on my pal Sonya's wall and knew I eventually had to stitch it. Sadly I have been so busy lately that I haven't had much time to stitch on the "crazies" but hopefully I'll finish up another one before this month is over. Wish me luck!!
I had a lovely surprise last week when these beautiful flowers arrived. The card with them said it was from my "sports fan kids". I love flowers, what a beautiful Mother's Day surprise!
I saw this on facebook today and just had to show it here too. This really is a perfect diagram of how my mind works. I'm tempted to print it out and hand it to my boss so maybe he can get a little insight into how the old thought factory works. Should I?
Off to enjoy this lovely day before the guys get home and the busy-ness begins again. I had a hair appointment this morning, then this afternoon we have eye appointments. The better to see you with my dears! I'll catch you again soon! *Hugs*
I've been a baaaad blogger lately. Too many things going on and I feel like life is spinning out of control. I wonder if things will slow down once summer hits? Hm...looking at my calendar I am afraid it won't...*sigh*. Well it looks like I'll have to blog when I can, and hope that my faithful followers will drop in when they can. I did get a comment on my previous post from Carolyn (thanks for checking up on me Carolyn, your comment made my day!). So in answer to your question, yes, I'm ok.
I remember when my parents friends got together, they used to complain about their health and discussed matters at length. Yes, I feel like I've reached that stage in my life, and I'm NOT liking it! LOL Let's just say it's been just over two years since my cancer diagnosis and I'm still dealing with issues. I am tired and maybe a little discouraged, but as that great lady, Babs, reminds me, this too shall pass. I just wish it would pass a little more quickly!!
So...why the long absence lately? Well, I had a pretty exciting weekend to prepare for! Anyone who has read my blog for any length of time knows that the first weekend in May is St. Michaels weekend! As soon as the weekend ends we begin the countdown for next year. It's an amazing group of ladies that meet up to stitch the weekend away, and I feel so blessed to be part of this funny, uplifting, encouraging, enabling, crazy group of women. Truly my sides ached by the end of the weekend. We don't get to see each other often enough, and I wish I still worked with them. They are more like family to me than my own family, and I love them to pieces!
There happened to be a supermoon the weekend we shared, so of course I HAD to get a picture!!
There is something about this place, it's quiet, peaceful, relaxing and it truly feels like we've been pulled out of the hectic, crazy, fast-paced world we live in and plunked down in a little garden of paradise where time stands still. I only wish it could last a little longer!
I have been crazy busy lately, with my son getting ready to finish up his Junior year of high school, with all the tests, activities, pre-senior events (senior pictures were taken yesterday...YIKES!), baseball activities and spring chores, preparing for summer activities (DS is taking two trips this summer to Florida and a missions trip to Mexico), getting all the driving and schools in for DS to get his license, not to mention I'm back to working a few more hours at the frame shop. It seems overwhelming at times. I haven't had much time to stitch or even relax. I decided this week that I'm going to cut out some extracurricular activities. They told us it would take at least a year after treatment ended, if not two, to get all our strength back, but I'm bullheaded and didn't believe them. LOL Well, I finally realized I'm not super woman, as much as I like to think I am. So...I'm letting the guys pamper me a little more and when I'm tired, I say that I am and I rest. They have been very accommodating at work, and I'm so grateful. And I'm afraid that means that my stitching will slow down and so will my blog entries. I like being a little crazy, it helps get me through this maze I call my life, but I don't want to end up in a padded cell. I hope you'll bear with me.
So here's what I've been able to accomplish in the past week or so. This is the latest installment of Sweet Flowers, that I was able to finish before the deadline. I've been working on Lavender blue, but haven't finished that just yet. Hopefully I will soon as the deadline is getting closer!
I did get the next installment of Dawn of Spring stitched...but the next part will be out soon, hopefully I'll be able to get back on track with that! This is offered in the Friendly Stitcher's Yahoo group and has been a fun stitch so far!
My garden is starting to bloom, and though I only have this one picture, it's a veritable feast for the eyes right now! Hopefully soon I'll have time to take more pictures and show you what's happening outside my windows.
For now, I'll say ta ta, and try to get back soon. The rest of the week is full to the brim with things to do (I hope I find some time to stitch!!) but I'll try to keep you all in the loop. Have a great day!
Hello blogging buddies! I'm wondering if I should introduce myself since it's been ages since I've written a post...do you all remember who I am? In all honesty, I don't think I'm quite the same person I was a few months ago...lots of "stuff" has been going on and let's face it, with the "stuff" you are bound to change. I have a little bit (very little, sadly) of stitching to report, but lots of "life" stuff too...so grab a cuppa, this may be a long post...or not...depends on who needs my attention and when. I still have a wee bit of time before DS gets home, so lets get crackin'!
Let's start with last night. I don't know if Astrid will ever understand how much I needed last night. A friend of hers couldn't attend a concert and had two tickets, so Astrid asked me if I would like to go to Woodbridge, VA and see "Girl's Night Live" with her. I wanted to go, but dreaded the trip...but I rarely turn an invitation down that includes girlfriends and excludes the guys. Don't get me wrong, I love my guys, but spending time with them usually includes a sporting event or a gross and disgusting movie. I love it when I'm allowed to let my feminine side show. LOL So...needless to say we went, saw Anita Renfroe, Laura Story and Mandisa, laughed, sang, boogied and had a good time. Just what I needed to refresh my soul!! Thanks for asking me Astrid...and you're right, next time we MUST invite more girlfriends!! Here are a few shots, my camera doesn't do well from so far away...
Well, I did mention that I spent time with my boys...here we are at Opening Day for the Baltimore Orioles baseball team. It's a tradition that we go every year. It was not long after I had had surgery, so that was a big day for me. Don't let the blue sky and sun-shiney weather fool you, it was pretty darn cold that day!!
If you are wondering why we are hovering around the 8, that was Cal Ripkin Jr.'s number, they have a statue in the courtyard of all the retired numbers, and we always touch the 8 on the way into the ballpark, for luck. It seems to work, because the O's won that day! I love the pic of the ballpark in my glasses, my son has a great eye for good shots. He isn't interested in photography at the moment, but I think he would be great at it, don't you?
Now for the barely there stitching. I don't know if it was the anesthesia or the narcotics afterward, but I have had some pretty "duh" days. Forgetfulness and just feeling blah, it's been hard to wrap my brain around stitching. I've gotten some done, so here is my progress on Friendly Stitcher's Dawn of Spring...
1979 Ship Sampler from Carriage House
And Sweet Flowers from Angie Designer
A few days after surgery, some of my stitching buddies surprised me by coming by to stitch and bringing me some goodies. Alice brought me this beautiful lily...
And Sonya brought me this lovely Easter gift that she stitched. Thank you ladies, you really shouldn't have, but I love both and cherish our friendship so very much! In all honesty, you guys treat me better than family. I love you guys!!
I'm going to leave you with a couple of parting shots... I was on facebook a couple of days ago and the ladies were talking about spring cleaning, so I got just a touch of guilt and decided to clean my bedroom...if you could catch a glimpse of it, even after my day of cleaning, you would think I should be on an episode of hoarders...I seriously need an intervention. I cleaned off the top of my dresser, but then couldn't find my bed...truly it was a mess. I threw a bag on the bed at one point, and Thomas spotted it when my back was turned. It truly was the only spot on my bed with a space big enough for him...I couldn't resist his cuteness...
And last is a tree I pass frequently on a side road near my house. Every time I see it I think of Mouse, don't ask me why, but doesn't it look like a tea pot? I finally had my camera with me today and couldn't resist getting a shot. Hope this gave you a smile today. Have a good one, and I must say, it's great to be back blogging again! *Hugs*
Yesterday we laid Tyler to rest.
I cannot express in words what it was like to see the gymnasium of our church full to the brim with people, people who loved and will miss Tyler. All the seats were full and there were people standing in the back. People spoke of Tyler's wisdom well beyond his 15 short years, his moral compass and his love of Jesus. I hope you don't mind I share some of the stories that were told about this remarkable teen. As my son said as we were leaving, the world needs more Tyler McGinns...and I hope to live like Tyler and love like Jesus in honor of him. Makes my heart swell that in the midst of all the sadness and disappointment that Tyler wasn't healed on this earth, that my son hasn't changed how he feels about God and will continue on the road lit with a holy light.
Tyler's Mom spoke of his love for others, and that he kept saying that he hoped people would come to know Jesus through his illness. I have no doubt that that wish was granted. There was a group on facebook called Pray for Tyler, and there are numerous testimonies of how people came to a decision about their faith through Tyler's struggles. His fight was not in vain. She shared a few stories, how she "stalked" Tyler on facebook...as a mother she wanted to know what he was doing, and she read a conversation that he had with a young lady who was in his class. He plead with her not to give in to a young man that she really liked, not to give away her purity because the guy wasn't being honest with her. He begged her to wait for her future husband because she was worth so much more than what the other guy had in mind. We don't know what she finally decided, but how many 15 yr old kids do you know who cared so deeply about another that he would risk anger and ridicule to spare her soul? He also asked another youth leader to befriend a friend of his who was not a Christian, he said he had known him a long time and never shared the gospel with him and shared that he was afraid he wasn't worthy of heaven because he had neglected this friend's soul. See, Tyler wanted all his friends to follow him to heaven so they could live together in eternity. A teacher shared that he came to her after a test and told her he needed to change an answer on the test. He had panicked in the middle and had looked at someone else's paper. When he had had time to think it over, he wanted to make it right. She thanked him for his honesty and wanted to reward him for his actions so said she wouldn't change the answer, they would overlook it this time. He argued with her until she corrected the test. He didn't want to live with the guilt that he had cheated and wouldn't let it rest until he had made it right. I have my own story of Tyler. While I was going through chemotherapy for breast cancer, I ran into him in the hallway at church one night when I went to pick up my son. He was with a group of kids, but he stopped and let them walk on and asked me how I was feeling. I told him I was doing well, but he touched my arm, looked me in the eyes and told me he was praying for me. I can't tell you how much that surprised me, he was friends with my son, but just the fact that he knew what struggles were happening in my life and that he took the time to pray astounded me. But that's just the kind of person he was.
It was so sad to think that Tyler, although he has a half sister, was the only child living at home. Their whole life for the past few months, has been wrapped up in Tyler and his illness. They were living in a hotel near the hospital to save them time so they didn't have to drive back and forth to their home. They became friends with doctors and nurses who cared for Tyler, who even came into their hospital room and prayed with them for their son. They even came to Tyler's funeral. Now they will be home, in a house full of reminders of their son, with no other distractions. My heart is breaking for them. But during Tyler's illness and during the funeral, Tyler's Mom had only one thing on her mind...to care how others were going to cope with Tyler's death. When my son gave her a hug and offered condolences, she hugged him hard and said "I'm sorry for your loss." SHE was sorry for my son's loss!! It's no wonder Tyler was the way he was, what a wonderful example he had in his parents. Their example makes me want to be a better parent. Tyler's illness and death were not in vain. Tyler's Mom asked his friends to keep in touch with her, she wanted to know when they graduated, what future plans they had, when they married, and had children. What an amazing woman she is! So now they need our prayers for peace and rest and strength.
So even though it is so very sad that Tyler left us all behind at such a young age, it was a celebration of sorts as well. We know that he is in heaven, praising the Lord and singing at the top of his lungs as he did here on earth. It may seem that our prayers were not heard, but he is healed, just not this side of heaven. We prayed that God's will be done, and His will was that Tyler should be with Him in heaven now, his work that he was meant to accomplish on this earth was done. We will miss him, but we will see him again. One of his friends had a dream after he died but before the funeral and shared it with his Mom. She said Tyler came to her and said, "Seek Him, and you will see me again." Hallelujah! Can't wait to give you a hug in heaven, Tyler!
