January is starting off with a Bang!

As I mentioned earlier, DS/21 came in town for a couple of weeks following Christmas. We got to see him a few times which was great! He had to rely on us and his friends to get around because the military said it was too high risk to drive his motorcycle home. He was disappointed, but managed to see some of his friends and family before flying back to Colorado today. Unfortunately, during his trip, he misplaced his cell phone twice, so he had more "down time" than he had planned, and to top it off, he lost his wallet! Here's a photo of my son-in-law, DS/21, and DS/10 the night we took him out for dinner.
Here's a photo of my son and me. Notice the cut and bump above his right eye. Yep! He got that while he was here, too! I'm just so thankful he got to come home for a visit. I was sad to have to tell him goodbye again. We have no idea when he'll be allowed to return home for a visit.





Today, while he was flying back, I was having minor surgery to remove a cyst on my wrist. I now have a huge wrap on my hand, but I can remove it Saturday. I don't think I will be cross stitching until I remove the wrap. It's bulky and besides, I'm on pain meds, so handling a needle may not be the best idea!!

I also got the results from my MRI on my neck. (2 bulging disc and 1 herniated disc in my neck). No wonder I'm in pain! I got some meds and will have a shot (in my neck) for pain relief in a few weeks. Hopefully, that will buy some time to watch and see if it will get any better (or worse).

That's all for now....it's a little tricky trying to type with this "extra padding" on my hand!

We love Christmas!

Our family had a good Christmas this year. I prepared dinner on Christmas Eve and we ate so much that almost no one ate the desserts!
We opened gifts and played Uno (the card game). Later that night, we watched National Treasure 1 on dvd, before seeing the NT2 on Christmas day. We really enjoyed the movie and I recommend it as a family movie.

Here's a photo of our tree. I couldn't get the lighting right, but it's must prettier in real life.
Oh well.

We have a very eclectic collection of ornaments; everything from handmade to very fragile figurines. Some are pretty, while others are just plain odd. One in particular is a "pigpen". It's a ballpoint pen with a tiny pink pig on the side of it! All I know is my DH has had it since before we were married. I won't bore you with a photo of that one.

Every year I have bought each child an ornament. When DD/26 was married last year, she was given her ornaments for her tree. Now, we have our ornaments, plus 2 sons' ornaments on the tree. Here's one of two jesters I gave DS/21 a couple of years ago. The face is very detailed and the fabrics are velvets. Another ornament that my aunt gave me this year is 3 snowmen holding an American flag.Here's the first nutcracker DS/10 got for Christmas. He loves nutcrackers, just like his older brother.

Every one of my children has enjoyed making the cloved oranges. They make the whole kitchen smell great!

I didn't put out my Dicken's Village this year. There wasn't enough time. I miss it not being out. Maybe next year!

DS/21 (the soldier), will be home for a visit tomorrow!!! WooHoo!! It has been 10 1/2 months since he's been home.

I have enjoyed reading and seeing all the Christmas decorations, crafts, sewing, and ideas on your blogs. What a treat it has been this season to have so many blogging friends that are creative!

Here are some of my favorites for you to check out:

RuthAnn at Warm Pie, Happy Home
Hillary at Wee Wonderfuls
Andrea at The Craft Room
Katrina at A Kiwi Stitching

3 Years and Still Blogging

Today is my 3 year blog anniversary. It's hard to believe I have stuck with it, though I have been inconsistent in my posts. I'll try to improve on that. I love all your comments and I especially enjoy all your stitching, sewing, quilting and scrapbooking blogs. They make me very happy. I get so inspired. Now, if I could just find time to stitch up something new to share!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my blogging buddies!

We actually celebrated last night, so today we are recuperating. I hardly took any photos, but here's a couple...
The photo above is my mom and daughter. My daughter works for an orthodontist, so she has braces (a job perk) for the 2nd time. Here's another of the 3 amigos...how many guys does it take to carve a turkey?We had a big meal, played a few rounds of Uno (card game), then watched Deal-or-No-Deal on TV. We began at 5 and everyone left around 10pm. Today is leftover day. Yeah!!!

Unfortunately, DS/21 wasn't able to come home from Ft. Carson, so that was tough. I did get to talk to him by phone though. He's hoping to come home after Christmas. (We haven't seen him since February.) He's the one in the foreground.

New Job!!!!

I have started my new job and I love it so far. It's contract labor, which is what I've done since I left a full-time job (executive assistant to VP). I am using a micro-cassette transcriber to transcribe tapes, scanning photos and maps, etc., and other "clerical" tasks. The great thing is that I do all this from home!!! It took quite a while to find this type of independent contracting work, but the hunt has finally ended. This has the potential to turn into full-time hours, which is also a plus.

How many of you know someone who uses a Dictaphone or other micro-cassette transcriber? I'm just curious because I love using one, but apparently there are newer ways to transcribe (like digitally or by speech recognition software). Let me know if you do this kind of work or use another method.

I am still in the process of rearranging my sewing studio/office, but I will find time to catch up on some stitching very soon. I need to stitch to relax and give my mind (and ears) a rest.

I'm Also Trying to Win A Red IPod Nano

I found this contest today, too! It's worth a try, right. You can find out about it at Its Right Now.

Win A Pink Dyson!

I found out about a contest to win a $400 Pink Dyson! You can see the information about it if you click on the Pink Dyson in my sidebar. Out of each PINK DYSON VACCUUM CLEANER that is sold, Dyson donates $40 to help Breast Cancer Research. Not only is this vaccuum for a great cause but it also does a great job of keeping your home clean.

The contest is ending soon, but I'm giving it a shot. I would love to have one. You should take a chance.

You Light Up My Life

While you may be another year older, you are still the light of my life. In other words, you're still a hottie. Yeah, you're Hooooooottt! Happy Birthday to my Rockstar.
(photo from appearance on television show Live at 9)

A Small Finish and A Few Deals

While the boys were on a camping trip, I finally did the finishing on the ornament "Jesus, Author of Faith". I bought 1 yard of the 4mm rope trim ($1.34) at Hancock Fabrics. So, now I'm dancing a wee little happy dance.

Recently, I went to an estate sale and walked out with one small item. It's an old double digit numbers stamp ($1.00).
I just need to clean it. I am sure I can use it for scrapbooking or something, right?





Look, what a deal I found at a yard sale...almost new hot rollers ($4.00)!!! Now, I can retire my 20+year old set.

The dr. told me I have a couple of bulging disc in my neck, so I will be doing pt soon. Oh what fun...

16 Years of Marriage & A Pain in the Neck

DH and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary the 11th of this month. We had an awesome dinner at Bonefish Grill. I just love that restaurant!

I haven't crossed a stitch lately. I've been having some neck problems. A CT scan showed my cervical spine was a mess, so I have an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon tomorrow. I've got to get my neck "straightened out" so I can get back to cross stitching!

Good news, hopefully, on the job-hunting front. I am beginning a contract labor job soon with a company that conducts studies for hotel investors. I am looking forward to a paycheck. Maybe I can get a new lamp for stitching after a paycheck or two. If you have any suggestions on a lamp, let me know.

Bunco was a hit!

Well, this past Tuesday, our Bunco (aka Bunko) was at my house. Everyone had a good time, though we only played with 2 tables (total of 8 players) instead of 3 tables (total of 12 players). Music can really make or break a gathering, as I discovered that evening. I put the T.V. on XM Radio (channel 804 in our area). This channel, called "70's at 7" played 70's music continuously. Everyone loved it. I'll have to remember that for next time. Every time I looked around, several of the ladies were groovin' to the music. They even started rolling the dice to the beat. It was a hoot!

DH is doing well in his class, with all A's so far. He's a rock star AND a computer geek! Imagine that!

Now, if I could just find a J-O-B. Between Hotjobs, Craigslist, the local newspapers, private business career pages, Beyond.com, and others, it's just confusing to sort out. Surely, one will turn up soon.

I know...No Blogging Lately...My Bad

This has been an eventful past few weeks for our family, so the blog has been neglected. My bad.
DH thought it would be a good idea for me to take a continuing education class to learn web design. After I did the research and we discussed the options, he decided he would take a class on web design. Who knows, after he finishes this class, which counts as 3 college credits, he may go for a degree. We'll see. He also joined another band, Tuesday Sun.

In the meantime, DS/10 has started a new school. He likes it so far. Since school starts at 7:15 a.m., he has more time in the afternoon that he did last year. His soccer season has started, he joined Awanas at church on Wednesday nights, and Scouts meet on Mondays. It's a busy schedule!

I've been busy with the usual. I'm also looking for a job. I will probably be taking some classes in the next year, also. (Oh yes, we attended a wedding and I attended a funeral since I last blogged). The photo is from the wedding we attended.

Next Tuesday is my turn to have the Bunco group at my house, so the next few days will be filled with house/yard cleaning.

I haven't cross stitched at all the last few weeks, but I plan to get back on track! I have been keeping up with my blogroll visits, though, and I am very inspired.

I have lost 12 lbs. Go me! It's not much, but it's better than gaining 12...right?! Now if I could just lose the rest of extra lbs., that would be awesome!

I love the UPS Man!

UPS delivered my Arccivo that I won on Donna Downey's blog!!! It's even one of my favorite colors (honeydew). It matches the wall color of my sewing/scrapbooking studio!


Here's what the Arccivo looks like on the inside...Thanks to Donna Downey and Arccivo!! I can't wait to use it!

A Tiny Happy Dance

I finished stitching the "Jesus: Author of Faith" ornament I'd started last fall. Until a few days ago, it had been a UFO (unfinished object). Now I just need to press it and sew it into an ornament. The fabric is plain white 14 count Aida, which I'm trying to use up.

The design is from the Cross Country Stitching Magazine, Dec. 1992. Here is the list of DMC colors used.

Since I've gotten used to stitching over 2, I prefer linen or evenweave fabrics to the Aida. I think that's what took me so long to pick this one back up.

Harry Potter Freebie!

This past weekend, we visited my aunt & uncle, who live on the lake at Pickwick Lake. DS/10 was given the latest Harry Potter book by his Aunt Linda. Boy, did she score some serious points! He was very excited. (He is on book #4 right now.) We all enjoyed the time spent with family. It was nice to just relax.

Here's a freebie, Hedwig's Four Patch, for all you Harry Potter fans. If I decide to stitch this, I'll change the owl to white, as some other stitchers have done. The gallery of this design is here. Check out the designer's site, The Sampler Girl.

I'm almost finished with a UFO that had put aside for quite some time. I'll share it as soon as I finish the backstitching.

I'm sitting on pins and needles waiting for my Arcchivo that is on it's way. I can't wait to use it!!

I won an Arccivo!!!!!

(photo credit to: Donna Downey)

I am so excited a won an Arccivo!!! All you scrapbookers will love this new product! For months, my homepage has been Donna Downey's blog, Simply Me, because it's so inspiring. She is still giving away 1 Arccivo a day to the 14th commenter, so check it out. She also has a video of it on her blog that explains how to use it. What's even more cool, she is appearing on QVC on my birthday, Aug. 14th, 9pm-12am EST, to demo and sell them. If you don't win one, you can still buy one on QVC below retail!!

I don't know what color I'll be getting yet, but I'll post a photo of it when it arrives.

St. Louis City Museum

Here's some of our trip to City Museum in St. Louis, MO. I highly recommend it if you have child or if you are young at heart! Enjoy!

Cool Slideshows!

Long Time No Blog

I'm still busy dragging out all our belongings! What a process! We painted our master bedroom and recarpeted. Boy, does it look better! We also hung 2" blinds in the windows and trashed the old ones (the old ones were 16 years old). We are hoping to sell our home soon so this is only the beginning. We still have to tile 2 bathrooms, paint them, and maybe replace a tub.

Per Doctor's orders, DH is having to stick to a no sugar, bread, rice or potatoes diet. You would be amazed at the food that has sugar. It has been quite an education to learn what he can eat. In 2 weeks, he lost 8 lbs! I told him I would follow the same diet which can't hurt (especially if the result is losing a few lbs.!) We shall see....

Scout Camping trip to Kia Kima

DH and DS/10 went on a camping trip to Kia Kima in Arkansas a couple of weeks ago. They had a blast! DS is th 4th one from the right. The raccoons got into their snack foods and ate most of it up. DS shot a bb gun and got 2 bull's eyes.

He shot a sling shot and hit 2 cans, went on hikes, crossed a monkey bridge,

and did arts and crafts.
When they returned home, boy, were they dirty and dusty! They had a great time, but were glad to get back home.

We have Too much stuff!

I've been cleaning out closets and it is amazing what can accumulate over 16 years in one house! A yellow and green polka dot purse, a gold fake leather purse (eww!) and red felt hat with a feather are just a few of the items that have got to go. We are having a yard sale next weekend, so we are still rummaging through the clutter. "One man's junk is another man's treasure"....right? I hope so, because we definitely have a lot of junk to sell and donate! I think it would be way more productive to have an unbiased person go through the stuff with me. I know I'd probably get rid of even more. I am learning (and it's about time), that we all actually need very little stuff. I haven't put aside one item for the sale that I've regretted. The deeper I go into the clutter abyss, the more I want to let go of the stuff that isn't useful or has a sad or negative memory attached to it.

Today, in observance of Memorial Day, DS/10 participated, with his scout troop, in a parade and placing flags on 47,000 soldiers' graves at National Cemetery. He's 2nd from the left in the back row. He did this last year, but it takes on a whole new meaning this year, since his brother is in the army now.