So many clicks

Ok I use a couple of gadgets to track how many visitors I get, one of these is a beta through Blogger for stats.  Someone must have been refresh happy as it shows 116 hits in one hour!  Dang!  If only that were the case but unfortunately other gadgets are not showing the same thing.  Love playing with Beta stuff :oP

P was very pleased with how well his new glasses were received at school.  Lots of people said he looked good.  Warm fuzzies!

Stiching updates!  Yup, Ive even got pictures :op

Celtic Autumn – I finished the hair (minus beads)

Celtic Banner – Still adding more of the border.  I will be pulling out the green letters and replacing them with a blue color.  I was (and may still) use the green for my initials.  Time will tell if I can fight the urge to do that.

Mother Maya – Still battling that bird motif and I will win!

Pumpkins Three – Still going strong for my first 40ct project.  Im loving my choice of cherry bark on Havana

Still blah

Im still feeling like crud warmed over (now there’s a picture for you) and will be heading off to bed where I will contemplate staying there for a couple of days (and being thankful I can work from home).

I was smart this evening and ordered pizza – cooking just was not in my wants of doing tonight.

Going through the list of blog posts to read I found this one, A pic, a post on the Celtic Lady SAL by Kate.  I never thought of changing the words, and it makes complete sense!  I cant wait to see how she does the changes on Autumn (to Samhain).

I was so moved that I pulled my Autumn out and added some x’s to her.  Well to be truthful she was pulled out this morning but I determined there were too many changes where I was at and not train material.  I dont have an updated pic but will leave an older one, which hasnt changed much.

I also pulled out Mother Maya (Ink Circles) during lunch and started frogging.  I noticed an issue last week and decided not to deal with it then but lunch today was a good time for it.  So, I frogged what I needed to and stitched it back (correctly, triple checked constantly) and I good to go for the next time its pulled out for play time.

A little Autumn

Celtic Autumn that is.  She finally came out to play after who knows how long. The A-U-T was added today and I hope to have all the fiddly-bits around the A completed tonight.  I wanted to finish the word Autumn before I started on her.

I also found I was bad when journaling this project.  All I had was the start date and nothing else!  My research for the journal started cause I wasnt sure if this was 28 or 32 ct.  I was pretty sure I stared this in 28 (holes looked big enough) and thankfully I was able to find the fabric tag.  Journal has been updated with the fabric, threads, beads and color changes noted as Im using a conversion Andie shared.

And now for a pic of the duo of chaos

Snowy Monday

We woke up to more snow falling this morning.  Stopped late morning, sent a bit more as a tease and then stopped for the day.  More is due sometime tomorrow with another break Wed morning.  Christmas will be very interesting this year.  We are used to gathering at the In-laws Christmas eve, Christmas morning at our house with possible visitors.  Gathering for my side happens when it happens.  BIL is a pastor and does a Christmas service so we tend to fit gatherings in as they fit.

The office was officially closed today but some of us who could connect did - yea us!  No news yet if they are closing again tomorrow - may be waiting for what morning brings.

Autumn popped out, trying to get more light I think.  I was able to complete the M and U.

Had to take a break from playing with beads and broke out Celtic Banner.  Finished the top row of Black Forest and working on the second row.  Working my way to start working on the alphabet.

Also made some chocolate chip-oatmeal cookies.  The boys each had a taste, to make sure they passed muster.  They did.

Ive got to get working on finishing the load of ornies tomorrow.  D was sent home today from work and totally threw off my groove today.

I leave you with pics of DL, who buried himself in the snow like it was sand.  Silly kid :o)

Playing with Gold!

After finishing 2 of the 10-odd ornaments I worked on Autumn.  I think she had to cover her eyes (that she still doesnt have yet) to the brightness.  I completed the treasure braid surrounding a number of blocks this evening.  Making sure I have the math right BEFORE coloring them in.  As you may recall, the M block had to be completely demolished as I was too far over (4 whole squares).  The demolition happened a week or so ago as a break from ornaments and christmas stuff.  Seemed right to go back and get some of the braid in.

I completely finished 2 whole ornies!  Yea me!  Bent 2 needles in the process.  One of my faves (sniff) and then one I dont really care about.  I followed Vonna's instructions on creating pin keeps but instead of pins, I stitched ribbon and added a loop for a hanger.  Turned out pretty good.

Well, more ornies will be worked on tomorrow, now that I understand what is really needed.

The long quiet

I have been quiet for most of the week. I was able to accomplish a little stitching this week (weekend actually) Started Boo by Val's Stuff - thats a chart I got last year but never got around to stitching it and I needed to do something for Halloween!


Thanks to a trunk show at A&T (and Tasha) I picked up Midnight Fright by Praiseworthy Stitches. I would have started on that for Halloween this weekend but wouldnt you know! The fabric is too small - had a couple sniffs about that Saturday. With how the pattern is, I need more than the 1.5 inches allowance Ive got for framing.

I was able to pick up the 2008 JCS Ornament issue. Saw it on the counter at A&T and snagged me a copy before going on my usual walk-about the shop.

Now on to other stitchy updates. Now these I have been promising pics on for a while :P

Celtic Autumn

Sunshine House
Tanglewood
Humble Stable

Dad Update

Had a good long visit with Dad Sat. He is sad about having to sell the house but knows its the best thing to do if he wants to heal. We went on a long walk (down the long hallway and a small hallway before heading back). Im so proud with the progress he has made!

Lisa and Mom have picked out the apt and it sounds like we will be moving stuff in starting 10/4 and will hopfuly have the bed for Dad soon after. It may be another week before he is out from Emanuel due to the skin grafts healing.

Thx for visiting :o)

Warhammer Online is out

and we got it installed last night. Silly gaming companies. This was originally to be released last year and even after it went gold it was pushed back. Servers went online at 9pm PT. D and I spent a good amount of time after 9 getting characters created and even played a bit before forcing ourselves to turn the computers off ;o)

I worked a bit more on Celtic Autumn yesterday and completed the M. Nothing else has been worked on. I did take Tanglewood with me to work yest but Autumn jumped out first.

Still working on getting through all 13 disks of Stranger in a Strange Land. Until that is done Ive put a halt on reading other books. One of those things that you just cant put down but in this case Im dealing with someone else reading the book. Nice actually as it slows me down a bit.

No Dad updates today. He is still recuperating after the surgery Tuesday. Going through Physical Therapy and Dialysis.

Thx for visiting ;o)

Open Stitch group night

Late night at LNS so no pictures :( Had a great time, was frustrated by a phone call by my sister about the parents so I went on a shopping spree :P I know, Bad Me, but it was so fun! Getting stuff setup for Celtic banner. Fabric will be 32 ct Waterlily linen, changed the threads for the alphabet from DMC charted to Caron waterlily Storm Cloud, and changed DMC 300, 301 & 400 to another brownish color family - Ack I cannot remember! It is written down but still all at the shop. The fabric has to be ordered so I cant really kit things up til I get that. When I get everything I will share my changes. I may add more while I stitch to make sure certain parts pop as I think they should.

I worked a bit more on Humble Stable but that chart/project is INFESTED with frogs. Every time I pick the darn thing up I see something else that needs to be fixed! May be another 10 years before I get the main family finished *sigh.

Started on the M on Celtic Autumn. I still love stitching this piece, even with all the beading involved. I can easily get in to a groove and move :o)

Im already on disk 4 of Stranger in a Strange Land. Love the person who reads. Im also finding the book much more funny now (at 38) than I did when I first read this (early 20's?) Went by the library and requested Starship Troopers cd as well as Citizen of the Galaxy. Sad that there arent more of his earlier books on CD, let alone many that the library carries.

**Dad update**
Skin Graft surgery was this afternoon. From what Lisa told me, everything went well and the Dr will check the status in about a week. If there are spots here and there having issues but still healing, he will call it good. If there is one or 2 main spots, he may/will go and do more grafting. Dad's PT will start in a couple days. Not sure what it entails other than getting up and walking around. Im sure I will hear more on that from Lisa when it happens.

Thx for visiting :o)

I'd like to buy an N please

Worked on Celtic Autumn tonight and completed the N. Started it while watching this week's True Blood (so far so good on that series) and finished up while watching Dino DNA (something on a discovery channel). Figure 1 1/2 hrs on one letter. No pics tonight. Heading to bed early, trying to keep nasty bugs that are circulating around the office away. Figure getting a good night's rest is a good part of that.

Also finished another book. This one is Night Life by Caitlin Kitterdge. So far in the past 4 days, 3 books have been inhaled by yours truly.

other books include:
One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (book 2 - pretty good)
Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead (ok read)

Books Im in the process of reading:
The Cracked Throne by Joshua Palmatier (good series, starts with Skewered Throne)
Daemons are Forever by Simon R Green (yes another one where the friends of the good guys have JUST THE THING the good guy needs at that time to win. But he writes a fun story)
Darkling by Yasmine Galenorn (still trying to determine if this is a good series or not)

My geek heart just about assploded when I FINALLY got the cd's of Stranger in a Strange land (by Robert Heinlein!!!!) from the library. So far its a good listen (I so grok!)

So as you can see I have a few items that are keeping me from stitching. Trying to read on the ride to and from work but most times the stories keep me and I have to finish them!

Dad Update**
He has been transferred to Emmanuel Hospital in Portland. Scheduled for skin graft surgery tomorrow (the big one). Sad but the kids are not allowed to visit him in the room at this joint. There is a nice garden he can be chaired to. Hope it stays nice long enough for us to use it :o) Im hoping to get someone to sit on the kids sometime this week so I can go over after work to visit. He is at his best in the morning and early afternoon. Evenings are a toss up and he tires quickly. All in all - still good news.

Thx for visiting :o)

Pictures!

I have pictures. Tanglewood and Celtic Autumn. Yup both :o)

Tanglewood: One branch - working on the outline of the knots and it will be complete and on to the next :P

The six top bands of Celtic Autumn are now complete. Beads and all. Now on to either the letters below or the boxes going down the left side. Decisions!

I had planned on stitching more in Autumn tonight but catching up on Fringe. Thank gods for being able to watch full episodes on computers. So far so good. X-files ish. Hope it doesnt turn into Threshold and vanish after 8 episodes with no finish.

Hope you enjoy the pictures

Stitch update

Well you knew it was bound to happen with all the downtime at the hospital when we are booted out of the room :o)

Ive been working on Tanglewood (Ink Circles 2007 JCS ornie preview issue) as I finally received Carrie's thread pack. Boy do those color names make me hungry! Mud Pie, Double Fudge Brownie... Need I say more?

Picture of finished project (no, not mine...yet!)

Pretty aint it?

Below is what I have done so far. Working from the trunk out (as the chart suggests) to show the wonderful variegation of the thread. I wanted to start with the pretty blue at the top but then it would be more counting than I wanted to deal with trying to get to the center of the trunk.
I found a rather large frog that I get to fix tomorrow so I can move on with this project (last loop. Looks like I got excited and added a row to many - oops).

Now for Celtic Autumn and more beading.

Working on the 4th row, got about 1/4-1/3 complete and HAD to break.

I was able to spend all day at A&T Sat for the last open stitch group of the summer. We had a great group of people and it was a wonderful needed break from the hospital. Aunt Martha and cousin Diane were not able to join this week. I will see if I can get them there another time.

Thanks for stopping by

Celtic Autumn Update

Beads and more beads :o) While I didnt have too much trouble with these (other than 5 that were just to small to fit my needle through), just cant sew stitch with beads. I can feel good that I have the first two rows completed

Now for the close-up

On the home front - we received P's school packet and found when he gets to catch the bus in the morning...6:39 AM!!! O M G that is early.

To bring everyone up current, P is going to a magnet middle school (environmental science) and to accommodate all the magnet schools, the school district has staggered the hrs so all magnet schools start at an INSANE time (7:40am). Does explain why the buses for elementary are constantly late. He has decided to get up at 5:30am so he can wake up, get ready, eat breakfast (I wont budge on that) and get to the bus. We still need to get outside clothes for him - hiking books, good water bottle and rain gear - all for school.

Next week sounds like it will be a trial for all of us. Getting the kids to bed, getting up early and just getting moving that early... Well I did want to get walking earlier in the day rather than after work - guess this is enabling me to do that ;o)

Thank you all for stopping by and checking out my little corner of the inter-web

Nice Weekend

We had a good weekend, not much happening, mostly due to DL. WHO was sick again tonight. I feel like a bad mom cause I didnt think when feeding him dinner that maybe his tummy might not be up for it. Sure enough, it told us what it thought about my wonderful stroganoff. Poor kid. As G-ma (aka babysitter) has to take her eldest (My dad) to the dr (and dad isnt feeling to great either) I will be working from home tomorrow. Making sure worksheets are completed and the correct food is eaten. Nothing fancy for the sick kid.

I worked more on Celtic Autumn, have a few more rows of beads done, worked on her for about 5 hrs today and then just got hit with the blahs and just didnt want to stitch on anything (gasp!!). Bead work burn out I guess.

Keep well! and thanks for visiting ;o)

Calm Saturday

While I wasnt able to make it over to A&T for Sat stitch group, I was able to commandeer the office, get comfy in my chair, OWN the remote and stitch all day long.

LHN Neighborhood - I got started on the top house, got a couple windows in, the door is complete and the roof is on. Good thing in case it starts to rain :oP

I started working on Celtic Autumn as the frogs had started to come out and play in the Neighborhood. I thought I could get really moving on the column blocks going down the left side but I still dont have the gold beads, which are heavy in that section. So Im working on the stitching going across the top, see how far I can get ...

Closeup of the bead-work so far

Good news on the home front. DL seems to be getting better. After having a rough start to the morning, he had a long nap (thought he slept through the night) and was able to keep down crackers and toast. Then he fell back asleep watching D play video games. Wish I could say the same for my muscle. Its still pissed off and feels very bruised (weird!). Teaches me for trying to turn my alarm off in the morning!

Stitchy, stashy, Saturday

Had a great time at stitch group this morning. Arrived at A&T to find I had charts! *ohhhh stash*

Also got the chart, fabric and most of the threads and beads for Celtic Autumn. I joined the Celtic Lady blog/Sal, which SAL is starting up again in Sept. I may start during the last week in Aug during PAX - while D is playing what ever game back at the hotel.

28 ct Water Lily Jobelan, Threads DMC, Mill Hill beads

Finally some stitchy updates of what Ive been working on during the past week

LHN Neighborhood

Mine All Mine (X's & O's)
One wing is almost done! Now comes finding the right color to replace the charted for back sitiching. I may use 415 (dk grey) or find another green.

and Sunflower House
It seems that I am flying with the stitches on this WIP. Im able to find a groove and just go.


News on the home front. Final house inspection from the bank happened today. Im hoping to hear good news on Monday (better rate than what we held at last year) and MAYBE the house is worth more now than what we have into it

Celtic Ladies

Well I've gone and joined another online SAL with Celtic Ladies. My ambition is to start and complete Celtic Autumn. I fell in love looking at Andie's blog and her version, isnt she beautiful? Andie sent me the info on the colors/beads she used. While Im not a fan of orange (golds or yellows) the original purple hues of Celtic Autumn just dont do it for me.



Now off to buy stash!!