My new motto

Don't ya love it? Words to live by, I think!

Chart is by Lizzie Kate, but I changed some of the colors so they would go better in my house. (I'm keeping this one - and I'll probably keep the flip flops one for myself too!)

Why is it that the days off from work are so much shorter than the days at work?

Two more chairs and why I'm home early

Here are the other two chairs. Summer Squash and Moss Green. I love the pink and blue, I'm getting used to the yellow and green. They will do for this summer anyway, then I will decide next summer if they have grown on me enough to leave them alone (I'm sure they will!)
Now - for why I'm home early on a Tuesday. I was just working away this afternoon when the lights went out. I went outside to see if everyone else on the block was out too or if it was just us, but yes, they were out too. Just about the time I got outside, the power came back on so I went back in, pushed the button to start the computer again and was on my way to turn on the other computer when the power went out again. So, back out the front door I went and this is what I saw



All of downtown is without power. Some people were saying it was a transformer and a few others said it was the substation but either way, it looks like it is going to take a bit for the power to come back on so we locked up and came home. For one thing, we can't do anything without power - and it is pretty dang dark in there w/o lights and for another - w/o air conditioning it gets pretty hot pretty fast! No sense in sitting around in the dark sweating when there is nothing we could do! I did call home to make sure my power was on before I headed this way! Maybe I can get a few things done so I can actually sit down and stitch before 9:00 tonight!

Housework and flip flops

I've been working on Housework never killed anyone. . . and Flip Flop Days. I might just finish Housework by the end of the day. Then I really need to get out the Red Thread project and try to finish up June - before June is finished!

Hope you are having a great weekend!

Two and two

Two down

Sweet Pea & Aqua


Two to go - they will be
Moss Green and Summer Squash

two tags an award and more 'maters

I'm a little behind but I have a couple of tags to respond to. First there is the one from Brenda.
This tag was a series of questions.
What were you doing 10 years ago?
Much the same thing as I am doing now (minus blogging!) I lived in the same house - although that was about the time we started the major renovations so it was - okay it still is - a mess! I had the same job although the store has since sold to a different owner. I still do the same thing and work the same 3 days a week. My most important job was taking care of these guys. The oldest had just graduated from high school

and now we are less than a year from the youngest graduating from college!

How does that happen?

Five things on your to-do list.
1. Finish this house - yes, I'm rolling on the floor laughing too
2. Learn more about gardening - I'm having fun with that this year
3. Get organized - yep still laughing
4. Lose 50lbs - I know, laughing so hard it hurts.
5. Enjoy my grown children. I love seeing the mature young men they have grown into.

Five snacks you enjoy.
1. Chocolate
2. Cheesecake
3. Popcorn - extra butter
4. Cheesecake ice cream from the Marble Slab
5. more chocolate

Things you would do if you were a millionaire
Anything I dang well pleased!

Places you have lived.
Arkansas
Texas

Okay - now for Nancy's tag

1. Link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post these rules on your blog.
3. Post 6 unimportant things about yourself.
4. Tag people at the end of your entry.

I've linked back, posted the rules and now for 6 unimportant things about myself.

1. I deal cards left handed (I'm right handed)
2. I hate to dress up. If my jeans don't have holes in them, I'm good.
3. I hate to pack.
4. I have a pet peeve about my middle child's name - it is Timothy - not Tim. I am the only person this bothers!
5. I wasn't named after anyone so as not to hurt any one's feelings, but both my brother and sister were named after our parents.
6. I am a bit of a pack rat - and yet I hate clutter. No wonder I am so screwed up!

Now the award:



Brenda passed this along to me.
This is what was posted on her blog in regards to the award.
The origin of the Arte y Pico Award: "This prize has arisen from the daily visits that I dedicate to many blogs which nourish me and enrich me with creativity. In them I see dedication, creativity, care, comradeship, but mainly, ART, much art. I want to share this prize with all those bloggers that entertain me day to day and to share this prize with those who enrich me every day.

Thanks to both Brenda and Nancy. I'm not going to pass any of these along. Since I am so slow at responding I've seen both tags and the award on many blogs already - but if you want to participate in the tags - feel free!

And now for more 'maters! Hubby and I went out and picked daddy's garden last night - this is what we came home with.

got a few peas, but not enough to show. I'll have to pull a bag out from the freezer to have enough to cook a 'mess'.

I hope all those links work.

Hope you are having a wonderful week!

'maters

Daddy picked tomatoes last week and sent these to our house.

Hubby put them all in this bowl and took a picture. (he did pretty good being as he hasn't used my camera before!) When I got up the next morning there was one tomato on the floor - I guess it decided the bowl was a little over-crowded! Of course the bowl isn't still full - I think hubby has been eating tomatoes for breakfast!

Daddy has picked several times since then and he says they need to be picked again tomorrow. I think he wants us to pick them this time. He said there should be peas ready too (just enough for a 'mess' - not enough to put up) so I guess after work tomorrow I'll be picking peas and 'maters. Oh my! I'm not really a 'city girl' but I'm not a 'country girl' either. I don't care for picking peas. Not crazy about shelling them either, but I would rather shell than pick!

I meant to respond to a comment the other day. Annemarie said she doesn't know how I do it all - well, I don't! I also don't work full-time, sorry if I gave that impression. I work Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday - I have for the last 11 years. I don't know how people who do work full-time get anything done at all. I can't keep up with just 3 days/week!

drumroll please

Since I am tech-not-savvy, I do things the old fashioned way. I printed out all the comments on my 200th post

Cut them apart and folded them all the same - in half three times - and put them in this basket

Yes - those are my neon orange/pink toenails. I'm showing them just for you Kathy! (honestly - that polish looked pink in the salon, but get out in the sun and neon orange it is!)


Then I picked a winner - annemarie! Email me your mailing info and I will get the fob in the mail to you one day this week.

Thanks to everyone who posted on post 200 - now please don't wait until another give-away to post again!

Next month will be my one year blogaversary - I'm thinking on a giveaway for that occasion. I want to have time to stitch something, but don't hold me to that!

Finished Stitches

Here are the last two things I have finished.


Necessities Sampler by Little House Needleworks


Stash Keep by Homespun Elegance. I just realized I forgot to put the safety pin and button on - they were inside the tin.
I'm still stitching on Flip Flop Days - really a fun stitch. I also started Housework, but I've only got two letters stitched so far so nothing to show there. I think I'll keep at those two for the weekend and then get back to the Red Thread - and I need to pick an ornament for the next mailing on that exchange.
Other than that - I've got 4 metal lawn chairs to sand and paint. I'm not sure how many layers of paint are under that dark green but I'm sure there are a lot! I'm not planning on sanding them completely, just enough to get them where they can be primed and painted again! I've got 4 different colors picked to paint them with. This may take a while since it is so blasted hot here I'll only be able to get in a little time in the evenings when it cools off a bit.
Don't forget I'll pick a name on Sunday afternoon from the comments on my 200th post for the frog fob - if you haven't left a comment there, there is still time!
Have a great weekend.

The Bee Whisperer

Tuesday evening when I came home from work hubby was out looking at a limb that had fallen from the tree on the corner (happens often) then I saw him looking at the water meters (there is one for our house and one for the gas company behind us) by the time I got to the edge of the house, I could see what he was looking at - bees! They were coming in and out of the gas company's meter. Bunches of them - I didn't get any closer. He called the city to report it and last night around 7:00 this guy knocked on the door. Thankfully he wasn't dressed like this when I looked up to see who was there.

Hubby showed him where they were and he suited up and went to work. This was the best I could do for pictures - the flash doesn't reach that far and this is what I got w/o the flash. This chickie wasn't about to get any closer just for a picture! (I never left the front porch) He was there for quite a while and I did look up (from my stitching chair - I can see out the front door) just as he pulled the hive out but I didn't go back out and take another picture - I'm sure it was too dark by then anyway. Then he vacuumed out the stragglers but he said there may still be a few that weren't in the hole at the time so be careful. Not to worry Mr. Bee Whisperer - I'll be keeping my distance!

Kathy - sorry to disappoint, but I just can't make myself put a picture of my short fat toes here. Nope. Can't do it.

Stitching pictures tomorrow!

If you haven't already read and commented on post #200, be sure to scroll back and make a comment there to get your name in the hat for the frog fob!

Daylillies in bloom

I planted daylillies a few weeks ago and have been waiting for them to bloom. There was one bloom while I was gone on my stitching get-away - hubby took a cell phone pic, but I don't have it where I can load it here.

This is what they looked like Monday afternoon

and this is Tuesday morning! And there are still buds to bloom. They just don't last long enough.

The morning glories are growing - see the little vine sticking out the top?

and here is my hydrangea. I've never had one before so I'm waiting for a bloom. This looks like a tiny bud to me, but then as I said, I'm a rookie with all this gardening stuff. I've been watching this for the past few days - no change yet!

Be sure to scroll back to the last post and leave a comment to have your name in the hat for the frog fob and green scissors. Of course I love to get comments on all my posts, but I'll only pull comments off #200 for this drawing.

Have a great day!

200th post - free frog fob

Thanks for the comments on the weekend get-away post. We did have a lot of fun! Several people asked me to identify the people in the picture so I have edited that post to add the names.

This is my 200th post! To celebrate, I'm going to give away this frog fob and the green scissors. (the needle threader will also be included)


Leave a comment on this post and I will draw a name on Sunday afternoon. If you don't have a blog, please be sure to leave contact information.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

What fun!

We are back! We had a wonderful time this weekend - and hope to make it at least an annual event! Twice a year would be even better!


This is where we stayed. The Yellow House B&B. Isn't it just too cute. I love yellow houses!
Our hostess (and host) was super. She had an afternoon snack for us both days (homemade - pound cake and the best brownies!) The breakfast both days was wonderful.


There are 4 guest rooms and we had them all so we weren't disturbing anyone else when we took over the 'common room' for stitching. We all settled in, made our nests and left them until we had to pick up and leave this morning.


We went into town yesterday afternoon for a little shopping then headed back for more stitching.


edited to add names.
Back l-r. Laurie, Sandra, Robyn & Kim
middle l-r. Me, Sarah, Wacine & Kim
front - Sherry

It would have been so nice to have another day - I don't think anyone was ready to come home but here is a group pic just before we all loaded up and headed home.
Now of course I have tons of things to catch up on. I've unloaded my suitcase and started laundry. Need to bake a cake. Have to get out and water - nothing was watered while I was gone so everything is wilting! Lots of blog posts and emails to catch up on too.
Next post will be #200! I hope to make it tomorrow - but it could be Tuesday.

My stitching bag is packed

My suitcase - not so much! I do have everything out and ready to pack - except for the things I have to use this morning and they will go in as used (make-up, etc)

Here are the two projects I'm taking with me.


Flip Flop Days - Just Another Button Company - aren't those buttons just too cute!


and Housework Never Killed Anyone by Lizzie Kate. I did change the purples in this one to blues. Now - don't expect to see a whole lot stitched on either of these when I get back. I've done these stitching weekends before and I know I don't make a lot of stitching progress - too much going on around me! It's all about the companionship and spending time with friends so I don't worry about how much I actually get stitched.

Linda - the fabric for the Red Thread project is Vintage Country Mocha Belfast.

You know how things look one color in a store and so different once you get outside - well the same thing happens with nail polish! I got my third ever pedicure yesterday (in preparation for my trip!) and what I thought was a bright pink looks closer to neon orange out in the sun. I told her I wanted something fun! I guess it's a good thing I declined the decals - I think I might be a little too old for neon orange and decals! LOL

Well - the girls will be here in 2 hours so I better get packing!

Have a great weekend!

The Red Thread

Here is an updated picture of my Red Thread project.


I finished the May square just under the wire and started the June square. You can see I haven't made it too far on June, but I'm sure I'll be able to get it (and that section of the border) stitched by the end of the month.


Here is a shot of the whole thing so far - when I finish the June square, I'll be halfway done! I'm having fun with it and know exactly where I plan to hang it.

48 hours from now, I'll be in Salado with my stitching girlfriends! Yippee! Have the projects I plan to take picked and kitted - I'll show you what they are tomorrow.

Hope you are having a great day!

flowers

In an effort to be a more frequent blogger, I'm posting plant pictures and no stitching pictures today. I did stitch a little more on the red thread project. In two nights I managed to get the outside of the June square stitched. Pitiful. I will get a picture of it up before the end of the week. I won't stitch on it tonight as we have moved our stitch night to tonight so we will have Wednesday night and Thursday to get ourselves ready for our weekend. I'll take something smaller to work on tonight. Red Thread isn't a great portable project. Anywho - here are some flower (less) pictures from last night.


My hydrangea seems to be much happier since I moved it. It has some new leaves coming out - will have to wait to see if I get any blooms!


I just know this daylily will bloom while I am away for the weekend! Since I will have my camera with me, hubby has been instructed to make ds#2 bring the other digital camera home and get a picture if it blooms while I'm gone!


My morning glories are getting bigger every day. I can't wait to see if I actually get flowers! This growing things can get kind of addicting.
Off to work with me!

I've been a bad blogger

I like to blog at least every couple of days - if not every day. I see I haven't been here since last Wednesday. May just wasn't a great month for me - June didn't start out with a bang either. (if you are just here for stitching content - scroll down - I am going to vent a bit first, but there will be a stitching picture before I'm done)

I know I have said here before that I have migraines. I probably had been having them long before they were diagnosed as such but I didn't know that was what they were (I have common migraines - no aura) until I started researching and looking back. They were not anything compared to what I have now. This ordeal started with a severe headache on Feb. 6, 2006. Yes, I remember the date. I've had a headache ever since that day. It varies in intensity but it never goes away completely. I've had the list of tests - MRI (otherwise know as the tunnel of terror - I'm claustrophobic, and it is much worse after that incident) Sleep study, blood work, etc. Everything checks out okay and yet I still have the ever-present headache. For the most part, I try to ignore it when it isn't too bad and just go on with what I have to do. The last 4 weeks have been really bad headache weeks. I've had several of the ones that max out meds and I still end up in bed. (like yesterday) My neuro comes highly recommended as far as migraine treatment and we have been through I don't know how many daily preventative meds that haven't worked. I'm starting to feel defective. I know she is doing everything she knows to do but how long can it go on before we have exhausted all possibilities and then what? I know I am just frustrated at the moment and it always helps to vent a little when one is frustrated. (and note, I think the problem is with me, not the dr!) My next appointment is in two weeks. When I just have one or two bad days in a week - or if I'm really lucky and make a week with no bad days - I don't get so depressed about it, but when the just keep coming it gets old! It is hard to be productive - even if the meds finally kick in, I am usually just exhausted after one. Anyway - I don't really like to talk about this much here, but it is a big part of who I have been the past 2+ years. my hubby tries to be understanding - I know he gets frustrated too. I'm sure I can be quite the bitch after several bad days in a row. It is a one day at a time thing - sometimes one hour at a time. Today I've managed with the 'middle of the road' meds which is better than having to go for the big guns, but I'm ready for a few days of no meds. If anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear them. (you can email me) So, this is a lot of the reason I've not been a good blogger lately. Besides not being up to posting, I haven't accomplished a lot to have anything to post about!

So - since I don't have any stitching updates to show - I'll show the last ornament I sent for the exchange. It arrived last week but I haven't posted since she let me know it got there. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out - might have to stitch this one for myself one day.


It is 'Christmas Tree' by Scandinavian Stitches and was in the 2007 JXS ornie issue. I haven't picked the ornament I'm going to stitch for the July mailing yet - thought I would wait until I got back from my girls weekend to work on that. I did get a few stitches in on the Red Thread project last night but not as much as I would like. I've decided on what I'm going to take (stitching wise) for the weekend and as soon as I get all the pieces and parts together, I'll post about those.

I did make it to Tyler last week and stopped by Margo's booth at the antique mall. I picked up this fork chandie for my front flower bed.

I need to get a close-up so you can see it better.

I thought I would have hit my 200th post by now but it just happened. As it is, it will probably not happen until I get back from my weekend getaway but I will have something for a giveaway when I hit 200. I'm only about 6 weeks away from my one year anniversary and I'll try to think of a giveaway for that too. (I know what I'm doing for #200 - but I'll tell you about that when we get there!)

Well, that's all folks. Guess I should see about getting some kind of dinner together for my guys.