Where'd November Go?

“As November dawns,” was the beginning of my last post, and here we are heading into Thanksgiving!!  

Where have I been, and what have I been doing?  What started as bronchitis, that I thought was over, turned into the flu.  I tried to battle it for several days, then went to the doctor.  He prescribed meds, fluids, rest  ~ I do believe the meds make you feel yucky so you don’t want to get out of bed!  So after all this time I am feeling human again, but I’ll be SO glad when all the nauseating (antibiotics?) meds are finished.

We know I was really sick because I didn’t feel like stitching (eating or reading either)!  The new mixer I ordered for myself came, and haven’t even taken her for a test drive!   For almost a week, not a stitch was sewn – and just about that much time from logging on to the computer.  There are SO many messages and blogs to read, but I’ll get through that slowly! 

As usual for the last few years, DS tries to make sure I don't forget - asking, Are we having Thanksgiving at our house this year?  No, he doesn't live here anymore, but I hope he will always think of it as "our" house!!  There's a whole lot to do to get ready since the house is a disaster and I've only bought the turkey, but that will wait until tomorrow.  THEN I'll get to test drive her.

DS Installed Windows 7 while visiting his sick mom, and after some adjustments for connecting to work it seemed to be working fine… Until I started to download pictures!  Ah, uninstall first... then choose the update! 

Remember a while back I won a giveaway from Sarah at her blog?  It was the JBW Alphabet Pumpkin.  I think it was Monday when it arrived, but when I felt like opening any mail was I ever tickled.  She included lovely threads and a beautiful, large piece of linen for the project.  She also sent along one of the most beautiful stitched Christmas cards I have ever received.  There’s a dainty little silver star charm at the top, and the tree is made up of the words Joy, Love, and Peace.  I just LOVE, Love, love it to pieces.  Thank you so much, Sarah, for the giveaway, and for the beautiful card that boosted my healing spirit!

I’m continuing to stitch the NovaLee Christmas Noel SAL, using DMC on Vikki Clayton’s 35ct linen in off white.  Ten parts have been issued, and I’m fairly well caught up.

I don’t think I showed you the finished Baby pillow, did I?  Here it is.

I started a new French project, Point de Croix (Sewing Box) by Fanny and Company, on Friday, November 20.  It’s on 30ct Alabaster linen using DMC variations 4210.

And last, but certainly not least, I want to say thank you to all who have wished me success in the quest to quit smoking.  My last cigarette was on November 13, 2009.  The Chantix really does work.  There are a couple of issues for me – nausea and a little problem going to sleep at bedtime, but I believe I can deal with it for a while more until I’m confident that the habit is totally broken.  I’ve only really thought about lighting up a few times.

I wish you all a lovely time of peace and that we will spend some time in thankfulness during this holiday season.

Thank you for coming by today, and I hope you will come again, soon.

Happy Stitching
Charlene in SC USA

November Arrives

As November dawns, there may begin some angst about the looming holiday season, especially the stitching of gifts.  How many of our WIPs are Christmas related and what do we have in the stash for the holidays?  I really enjoyed the Spinster Stitcher's take on the topic. 

If you think you really need longer than the six weeks or so remaining, I see that the Bride's Tree Blog has openings for members to join. The Bride’s Tree is a German tradition. It is believed that a couple’s Christmas tree needs twelve specific ornaments for happiness in their life journey together.  The intent is to complete an ornament a month, but there’s no pressure here.  I was a member of this group in the past, and did complete the set of 12 Best Wishes Ornaments by Rosewood Manor.  You can see them here  if you like.

I’m continuing to stitch the NovaLee Christmas Noel SAL, using DMC on Vikki Clayton’s 35ct linen in off white with the Let’s Stitch blog group on Friday night.  Eight parts have been issued, and that's what I stitched most of last night.

I also started the Shepherd's Bush Occasional Musings, Baby.  It's on a piece of light teal and I just picked colors from what was sitting around that I liked... 

Started taking Chantix on Sunday, November 1, and have been able to notice a real difference in the desire to smoke.  A typical break would be once every couple of hours at home, but noticed longer intervals. 

I was also able to leave home without a ‘fresh pack’ when there were only a few left in the old pack.  I went back to work Tuesday from the weekend and sick leave Monday, and at mid-afternoon in the day I’ve usually had at least five, and now only had three.  I’m trying to drink more; especially water.

Are there side effects?  The only thing I've been distracted by are a little nausea if I don't eat with the pill, and bothersome restless legs at bedtime.  So here we are on Saturday.  Tomorrow, Nov 8, is the goal date to stop completely.  Throughout the week, I've continued to have roughly five per day.

Thank you so much for stopping by today.  Y'all come back again soon! 

Saving Daylight

Is it as hard for you to believe as it is for me that it’s time to fall back from daylight savings time?  It’s almost November, which means Thanksgiving will be here shortly – then Christmas!  How time just flies these days.

Here’s the update to the NovaLee Christmas Noel that I stitched Friday night with the Let’s Stitch group.

I got a package of charts I’d ordered online in the mail. I just love ‘em, but when in the world will they ever get stitched? So many loves and ideas, so little stitching time…  don’t we all feel that way? 

The other day on Stitch Bitch, Anna asked us to show what’s in our stitching bag. Well, since I’m evidently not as tidy as Anna, I decided to show what is always at my fingertips beside my stitching chair.  Of course there’s the chart, plus these days on 36ct there’s the magnifier glasses, scissors, needles, pins, and threads.  I’ve talked about this before, but the thing that keeps me going is to have a thread organizer – this one is what I use most often – made from a painter’s canvas with foam board on top with a list of the thread colors to stick the needle in when it’s time to switch colors.  Love it.  Don’t have to stop and thread the needle when it’s time to go back to another color.   When it is time to travel, stitch night, for example, I grab one of most of these things and drop them into my tote. Of course, a lot of times something’s missing, but most times it turns out fine!

Well, friends, the time has come for me to ask for your positive thoughts – I’m going to quit smoking; again!  Made up my mind last week, but had to get the doctor to prescribe some ‘help’, and with Chantix you take it for several days before laying them down.  So, Sunday, November 1 I’ll start on the meds, and we’ll see if it works as well as some say.  It’s never easy, but I’ve done it before, and what may help is that I’ve had bronchitis for the last several days which makes me smoke less.  Another “good thing” is that I’ve never smoked inside my house.  If you have success tips to share, please do!

Thank you so much for stopping by today, and I wish you a Spooky and Safe Halloween! 

Charlene in SC USA

Fall Colors

These are the Burning Bushes of late October that are along the front of my yard.  Aren’t they beautiful?

I’ve been stitching on NovaLee’s Christmas Noel sampler since all that frogging from Friday, and it’s coming along nicely.  This is almost through part four.  Part six comes out Thursday, so hopefully I can get caught up on this coming Friday night’s Let’s Stitch!

I've joined a new online group, The Sampler Life.  A nice, friendly, enabling group!  I know, aren't we all enablers?

As I mentioned before, DS and I were going to the Panthers’ game on Sunday!  It was fun, but not the greatest since we lost.  I expected it to be a win, but it was not to be.  Anyway, it was a chilly, windy, cloudy day, but as the sun was setting on Charlotte’s skyline, I got this photo of the buildings and the beautiful sky.  I got a couple of shots of the team, but as you can tell we were in the nosebleed section!  One of the Buffalo fans made it up there with us and kept yelling for oxygen!  I guess their stadium isn’t as steep as ours!

Charlene in SC USA

Friday Night Stitching

It’s been quite a long time since I participated in Friday night’s Let’s Stitch – online group.  The plan is to stitch from 6pm until 12 midnight.  I had to run a couple of errands after work, then cooked dinner (Oyster stew was delicious), so didn’t start until 7:00.  I’m working on the NovaLee Christmas Noel SAL, using DMC on Vikki Clayton’s 36ct linen in off white.  Six parts have been issued, and I had finished part one and started two before last night.  I finished two and began three when I realized at about11:30 my count is off … I forgot to attach my little Frog Inhibitor before I started … and will have to do some frogging, so I stopped.  It’s a drizzly day now, so that’s probably what I’ll be doing in a short while.

Take a look in the left column if you’re interested in give aways – there’s a list of those I’ve seen around on my blog travels.

Looking forward to going to the Carolina Panthers game (Buffalo) tomorrow!  Go Panthers!!

Thanks for stopping by today, and please do come again.  Have a great weekend!

Charlene in SC USA

Christmas Stitch Along

Someone on one of the Yahoo Lists I frequent posted a link to a french website where a Christmas SAL was being offered.  That site is Les Croixxx Et Moi.  Even though in french, you can click on your favorite 'translate' package if you need English.  It is such a pretty design, and there is lots of chatter by those already being finished with part 1.  There are two color selections, and I have chosen to use deeper shades of green and red.  Carole also has other designs available if you're interested.  Have fun.