My Small Changes - Week 18

This is so silly and so self-indulgent!  But this week I plan to work on my hands and nails each week.  I think I will make it part of my Sunday evening ritual.    There will be no photo of the condition of my hands for sure.   Between working with fabric and working with soil, the moisture is robbed from my hands.   Not only that, my fingers and fingernails are stained for the entire summer from working in the garden.   Wear gloves you say.....it's not the same.   I need to feel the dirt on my hands.   I always think about the trick of dragging you nails over a bar of soap BEFORE starting your garden work AFTER  I have finished and I am using the power of the hose to jet clean under my nails. 

Not only that, I use my hands at work, DUH, we all do!  But seriously, I notarize documents for people, I take minutes, I process petty cash for people so I am putting my hands on the table top for all to see.   Last summer I had my nails done at the salon and I loved the look and the feel.   What I didn't like was having to go every 14 days and the $22 each time.   The original cheapskate, I hate to pay for something I can do myself.   However, that's the problem, I don't do my nails myself.   Now, I don't need to have super shiney red lacquered nails but a little moisturizer and cuticle oil certainly can't hurt.  There may be a few nights when I lather up my hands and sleep with some cotton soaks on my hands to get this kick started.  It sure is a good thing Mr. Wonderful goes to  bed before me or else I would get that all too familiar shake of the head from him.

My Small Changes - Week 17

This week my small change it to learn to quit when I am ahead.     Hmmmm, brings up thoughts that I might have put my foot in my mouth or something.   Not quite to dramatic.   I seem to get involved in things and rarely include cleanup time when I am finished.   This creates the domino effect and puts me behind the 8 ball on the next task.

When in the yard working, I keep pulling weeds, trimming beds forgetting that I need a half hour to pick up those weed piles and put those tools away properly.   In the morning before I head for the shower, it is just one more row of stitches before I start to get ready for work.   Once I start, I realize it is not just showering and dressing, it is packing lunch and do dishes before I head out the door.

I need to better learn (better enforce!) the best stopping point.  No more......just one more stitch.  (Boo!)  (Disclaimer - photo is a webshot and not from my yard)

My Small Changes - Week 16

Touch it once and handle it!  I can't count the times I pick up something and more it from here to there only to pick it up and handle it again later.   I am making extra work for myself.  

When I am extremely overwhelmed at work and my desk looks like a front end loader dumper a billion pieces of paper on my desk and I need to make sense of it, I pick up each paper and handle it start to finish.   Usually in an hours time I can clean and sort my desk to the order I prefer.  Some things get sorted and sub-sorted but at least like things are together.  And it makes it not so overwhelming.   It makes the job manageable and I don't fear I have forgotten something...perhaps something important! 

So, why I ask myself, don't I do this at home?   It would work great with the junk mail.   I carry it in and look through it to see if there is something important.  Put it down.   Move it to the other side of the kitchen counter.   Pick it up and move it again when I cook dinner.  Stack it up in yet another place to take the time to review it on the weekend.   I mean what is up with that?   I have been doing the same thing with the laundry.   Wash it, dry it, fold it, leave it in the basket!  Move the basket, dig through the basket, hide the basket.  Just think how easy it would be to put everything away right away.

I don't know when this bad habit started.   This is not the way I used to do things.   Somewhere along the way when we all go so busy things started to but put off until I had time later.   This bad habit of mine stops this week for I will Touch It Once and Handle It!!!!

My Small Changes - Week 15

Well folks, it is not because I don't have a list of things that I still want to add to my small changes but I do need to reflect and check my status of all the Small Changes I posted that I wanted to make.

Let's see -
Week 1 - Eliminate Sodas - I have only had 3, maybe 4 in 3 months!
Week 2 - Watch what I eat - Although I have been, it has not resulted in any weight loss.   I think I eat the wrong things. 
Week 3 - Take my rx's and vitamins regularly - Rx's is happening, not so good with the vitamins since I am not suppose to take them when I take my rx.   I will work on this.
Week 4 - Learn to say No - I just did again this week!  I told the Manager of HR I did not want to teach a class to other employees on Word 2007.  Trouble is I don't think he believed me!  I need to tell him NO firmer.
Week 5 - Review - that's what I'm doing now!
Week 6 - Log into my online banking regularly - doing it!
Week 7 - Drink more water - doing it!  I buy citrus fruit and put a slice in my water from a different fruit each day.  My fav is pink grapefruit.  
Week 8 - Put labels on my posts - doing it!
Week 9 - Sit and eat breakfast - doing it!
Week 10 - Take a deep breath before speaking - Doing it! Wow, now that I hesitate before replying I actually come up with some intelligent answers.
Week 11 - Update my filing system - Well I am thinking about it.   Seems to be the wrong time of the year.   I want to be outside!
Week 12 - Read the paper each morning - when I can find it!  When I can't I take 5 minutes to read my current book.
Week 13 - Cross things off that to-do list - Really trying to get this done.   Working on some long lost WIP's that I hope to be able to take off the list soon as well as some household projects.
Week 14 - Floss daily - I can't believe I am doing this.   How quickly this one became a habit. Takes no time at all.
Week 15 - See Week 5!

Week 14 - My Small Changes

Now this is a disgusting one and a boring one!  I plan to floss more regularly!  Yuck, of al the things I could change!!??!!     lol  I don't mind flossing and am the dutiful patient that flosses in few weeks prior to and immediately after my dental appointment.  After that, it is few and far between.  I guess it is the poster on the wall that I had to look at while I was sitting in the chair waiting for the hygenist at my last appointment.   The ugliness and pain of gum disease.  Ugh! Why not prevent it?   I have also heard that flossing can ward off many illnesses by ridding the bacteria that could ultimately cause illness, etc.   I won't say I don't have the time:  top of the morning/top teeth - bottom of the day/bottom teeth.  What will it take.....an extra minute of my time..........

Week 13 - My Small Changes

The Queen of Unfinished Projects so aptly decribes my path.    Although not a revelation...me thinks it is time to do something about it.     I kind of got a real wake up call when I putting away my new purchases from last week and even though I know I have a STABLE Stash I was almost - I say almost - horrified at the sh$$load of STUFF!   This is even after weeding it out.   I kind of made a pledge to myself not to start anything new - key word start; no mention of not purchasing.    I have noted before that if there is such thing as a crafters ADD, I have it!  I start many a project with whole hearted zeal and somewhere along the line I become bored and start something new.   This is not limited to stitching.    Ha!  if only.   Let's see I had, just had to paint the bathroom last August.  I am happy to say I completed it, sewed the curtains and installed the crown molding.   But did I caulk the molding......well I started to.....and the bedroom I painted in February - walls and ceilings finished but look at the baseboard!  Seems I got to the corner where the paint cans and sawhorse were and I stopped. 

In spring, I have a heart to heart with myself and walk from room to room making a list of what needs to be fixed, patched, touched up, etc.  Well it is now time and my list is long.   To that end, I have two cross stitch finishes this week and a cross stitch resurrection!   I finished the stitching on the Dinah name tag from the Nan Tyson Euler class months ago, but I never 'finished'.  So this week I did.  I started to add the little picot edging but I was doing such an uneven job I knew it best to frog and move on, lest this project remain on the unfinished list.    Next I finished Bent Creek's Americana Blue.   I mixed it up a bit since the pattern called for dated it and the year in the chart was 2000.   This is the second in a series of three that I have completed so the framing will be waiting until all three are done.   Given my current mission, who knows when that will be....since I am not STARTING anything new until I FINISH a few more.     Granted, some of the items in my WIP pile are non-doers!  They are things someone else started that I don't have my heart in; they are class projects to complete; a wedding sampler for a couple who broke their engagement....I mean how can I finish that?

So in this quest to tie up the loose ends, I came across this beauty.   All I can tell you is that it is a Sunset design  and I know I was stitching on it 15 years ago!   I still like the design.   Although the fabric is stained I plan to stitch away and hope to tea stain it when complete.  It is in my current works basket along with my Between the Sheets Sampler.    This is where I am going to dedicate my time!

Another finishing project......I was in the monthly Shepherd's Bush several years ago.   Once I completed each month......I did nothing with them put them in my finishing basket.  And there they have sat with their respective fabrics.   My plan is to finish up in the next couple of weeks April, May and June in little fanfolds for my desk at work.  Seems I have stored away April so well I can't even find it!  Join me in completing projects! 
Be part of the WIP Project.
1. Post here info about your finishes and I will have a given away on May 1st.  
2. Not necessary to link to my site but you can.
3. Not necessary to be a follower but you can.
4. Post a reply to this post about a project you've have in the pile for a least a year that finally finished it.
5. Your name will be added one time for each older project you finish between now and May 1st.
6. Be sure to include your contact information.   
I will have to provide an update of what the give a way will be since the idea just popped into my head this second!   There I go again, starting something anew when I have a pile to still do!  Just think how good you will feel to get one of those items done/completed/finished!

And then there is the TUSAL!  How can I not even complete that challenge!!!!  At the rate I am adding to the mug, I may need to transfer for a different container.  Now to catch up on all the lovely posts and emails.   I have been lax this week on emails and postings so I have my work cut out for me.   

So for this week, I vow to finish two things on my list before I start anything new and hopefully I will be able to post a lot of finished over the next month and be able to start something new.   I always start something new on our retreat in May so that is my goal!

My Small Changes - Week 12

This week my small change is to read the local paper daily.   The paper, which non-resident friends have called only good for fish wrap, is only 10 to 12 pages long and 3 of those are real estate and car sales.   But I need to read it to keep up on local events, local sales and heaven forbid the obituaries to see if a loved one of a friend may have passed.   

I used to read the paper more religiously when the kids were younger to make sure I knew about upcoming events,  knew the school lunch menu, saw the game scores and event the occasionally name of your kid in print. 

I have to thank all of you who have commented on My Small Changes and other posts.   Blogging has become a great outlet and way to chronicle my life and I really enjoy it.   My Small Changes started because there was not just one thing I needed to change as a New Year's Resolution and there you have it.   I  am amazed at how my other's identify and have chimed in, .....hey yeah, me too, I need to do that.......Reading the paper each morning with fit right in with my stopping to eat breakfast each morning!  
 
Again, not a big change or a big deal but it wouldn't be a small change if it were. 

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by.

Week 11 - My Small Changes

I consider myself pretty 'with it' considering others I know my age.   I mean, I blog, I have a Facebook account, I have a Twitter account, I pay my bills online, I shop online, have a Paypal account, I buy on eBay, visit Craigslist, I backup my systems, I've eaten tofu for Pete's sake!   My filing system, however,  has not evolved with me.    It is still in the 90's.   In this age of more and more electronic files and fewer paper files, I need to do something.    About 10 years ago my husband took over the bill paying to my great relief.   I hate to say it but we are in better financial straights than we were when I did it but there are contributing factors.   a. better salaries; b. kids out of college; c. kids out of the house!  And he has the whole electronic filing system down.   It is me that needs to catch up.    shhh! we can't tell him that.

So look at my current system(ssss).  This is the filing cabinet that I hope to downsize to.  

I have a file cabinet which still houses interims reports from grammer school and my baby is almost 30!    (Maybe I should give them to him at his upcoming birthday!)  Look at the valuable space this is taking up in my craft room!

I have every tax return, just recently shredded the paystubs from my first job in 1973....those paystubs that were banded by year and stored away with my husband's from 1973 til (almost) current.  Fortunately for us, his company went electronic a few years ago.    I recently heard on TV on a tax tip the time frame for keeping files.  I need to destroy this time capsule I am keeping.   Not only do I have EVERYTHING from day one, I have it stored in 3 or 4 places. 

Trust me, this antique trunk holds all the tax returns,  my father's final tax returns and my mother's estate papers. 

One plastic file under my desk; another plastic file in my walk in closet!  Wouldn't it be nice if something were to happen to my husband and I that my kids would not have to play huckle-buckle bean stalk and go on a scavenger hunt to find things... ..and then they probably wouldn't find things til years later!And this is the stack 'o stuff on the shelf in my closet waiting to be filed. 

I have been sorting and purging closets and cabinets in my efforts to downsize as a pre-emptive strike prior  to  any thoughts of moving so why not my filing system?   I know I have owner's manuals to items that have gone the wayside.   So this week my small change is to be pro-active on cleaning and consolidating my filing.   This is going to involve much more than a week.   I need to make the start this week, one file, one folder at a time.   What a pile of shredding I will create.   It may require me taking an entire lunchtime at the company shredder!

On to stitchie stuff......not a whole lot of stitching time this week.   Stayed a few nights late at work because I am involved with the corporate annual report (saw the proto type Friday - it is awesome!!  We are going totally electronic to be green and I will post the link when done.  It is so pretty!!!)  I am doing no more than creating the schedule, coordinating the schedule and maintaining the schedule to keep everything on time.  Not to worry, I am not belittling that task.   Days of meetings, seriously Thursday was 8:30 - 12:30, Lunch meeting 12:30 - 2 and meeting 3 - 5.....so how do you get your normal tasks done without staying a few extra hours.   And I had two days like that this week!!!!!  It's all good.  We all know we have those push times. 

And then there is the additional office I have taken on with my volunteer organization.   In addition to being the webmaster/secretary/membership chair, I am now the treasurer as well!  You know these volunteer organizations...there are never enough bodies to go around and we all wear multiple hats.   Long ago I learned that there are givers and takers in this world and that you can pretty much go through every situation and easily identify which line people fall into.....I know which line I end up in!   It is a good thing to give back and I am proud that my children all fall into that same line.

But to continue on the stitching......progress made on my Nan Tyson Euler piece and a couple of observations.    The progress part is the lettering in the center is now complete, I have extended the borders up the side to meet the band's progress and I learned I really dislike the stepped herringbone.   It is not a fast stitch.   Also, I have decided, even though the colors of the silks are beautilful and the feel is awesome, I am not a big fan of the *quick* change of the colors.  Literally, one stitch is light green and the next jumps right to dark green.    Personally I like the subtle varigation better but to each his own......like I say....it's all good. 

We had our monthly guild meeting yesterday and again it was no disappointment.   These ladies are awesome.   Awesomely friendly, awesomely talented.   We had a speaker in and although it takes from the stitching time the knowledge you gain is well worth it.  We are planning our annual retreat to Ocean City, Maryland and I can't wait.  It is 3 days of nothing but good food, good friends, good stitching, and good shopping in Salty Yarns - which adjoins the hotel, and it is on the boardwalk!   What could be a better?

Week 10 - My Small Changes

hhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmm, what to pick.   Believe it or not there is still a list of small changes I would like to make, I could make, I need to make so what will it be............

For my small change this week, I think I will try to take a deep breath before opening my mouth.   No big deal you may think but I have a habit over barrelling ahead with words spewing from my lips out of the fear I won't get my two cents in.     I do this at work especially when I feel I need to tell my side of the equation, when I need to jump on a situation where the people in my department are being taken advantage of, when I need to defend a decision I made for my department or when confronted with irrational behaviors and expections of others. 

I need to learn to take a deep breath.  I need to let others complete their say.   Or more important I need to think about what I may say before I erupt into a blurting of words....or at least appear to be thinking about what they are saying.   Maybe the pause will emphasize my point.   Maybe the pause will add drama but that is definitely not my motivation.   I hope my deep breath will show others I am receptive to their point; that I won't appear as one who goes off the handle; that I will show maturity in my position; and allow me time to evaluate all sides.   I will contemplate; I will let things sink in;  I will appear brilliant (cough) in my answers and responses.   

Hey!  I bet this method will work wonders with my kids when I delay a response even half a second.....I wonder what dancing they will do when Mom doesn't just jump on every whim.......the possibilities are endless. 

Week 9 - My Small Changes

This week my small change is to eat breakfast every day.   It is not just to eat something for breakfast but to have breakfast.  We have all heard the benefits of eating breakfast and I do each breakfast each morning.......hmmm, sometimes it is toast with jelly in the car, somethings instant oatmeal thinned to a drinkable consistency in the car, sometimes a breakfast bar in the car, sometimes a bagel with cream cheese in the car......get the picture.    I arrive at work 50 to 60 minutes early everyday.......so what will be the big deal to arrive 40 to 50 minutes early each day?    I plan to sit at the table in my kitchen, eat my breakfast, drink my juice and cup of coffee # 3 or 4 and just have a general calm before the storm of the commute and the fire drill of the day.    I know when I used to walk 2 miles each morning.....on the days I walked I had a better day.   It set the pace for the day.  So here's to me and my Cherrios!

Week 8 - My Small Changes

So maybe it sounds like no big deal but this week my small change will be to make sure to include labels with all my postings. Silly right? Well not when you are looking for something. I have been negligent in the past to do this and have spend the past week going back over 3 years of posts, labeling and refining existing labels.  And I am not done yet.  No bid deal, but then it wouldn't be a small change if it were.

Week Seven - My small changes

Looking back at my small changes so far this year, my twist on a New Year's Resolution......some changes are for mental health and less stress in my life, some changes are for streamlining workloads, some are for hopes at better health.   So my change this week is to pledge to drink more water.   Silly you may think but my normal total fluid intake for the day is usually 3 or 4 cups of coffee.   Not good for the body functions!   Water does so much for your body on a cellular level, to keep you regular (sorry to go there), to keep your skins clear, and more......in fact I just heard on the news as they were looking at Valentine's Day to do, water healths maintain good breath, as opposed to bad breath!  Who knew?

I do have a finish to share.    I am not sure what I am going to do with it.  

My choices are to stitch this up in a mattress pad finish, or I have been longing to make a floss tag, or, the more likely choice will be to frame it with the others in the series and hang them in my red,white & blue powder room.  Not sure if I will add any buttons to this or not.   It was nice to have something I could pick up and complete quickly.  I like that instant gratification.    This was a nice little purchase from Salty Yarns last May.  Charts and fabric for all three in a neat little package.  Just the right size for a quick pickup and finish.    Even though I could work on my etui top, I am starting the second in the series, the alphabet.

Small changes

My small change this week is to vow to log into my bank account(s) every Sunday morning to bring my checkbook(s) up to date.   I haven't had a good track record on keeping the register up to date the last few years.   Fortunately I have not had any catastrophes or overdrafts.   Thing is, about 12 years ago in a fit of  I-can't-do-it-all arguement with my husband, I turned all the finances over to him.   I still maintain my own checkbook through my credit union, buy the groceries, pay my car payment, pay the taxes, take care of Christmas and birthdays and weddings, etc.   Then I have my checkbook from when I was in high school that is my 'play' money.   This is where my money for my craft excursions is saved; I put all my rebates into this account; I use it for my vacations with friends, etc. so I am not touching household money.   With the advent of being able to check everything electronically, I haven't balanced a statement in years.   Once a month or so I log in and make sure everything looks A-OK.............that just makes it a long process to enter all those gas stations stops and grocery store pickups.   So I decided in order to make my life easier and less stressful, a few well spent minutes each Sunday morning were better than a half hour or more every 4 to 6 weeks.   Not only the longer time it takes when I do it so seldom, I am often scratching my head trying to figure out what the mumbo jumbo abbreviated bank description really is.  I faced it long ago, I often don't remember what I had for lunch yesterday so how do I expect to remember a checkbook withdraw weeks later!

So with that resolution, I am off to dig out my car from the 18 inches of snow that is sitting on top of it.
It's a Prius! not an SUV!     Next we have the snow on the roof over the dining room that drifted against the second floor windows.  (See post under "Now this is snowboud" for the interior view of those windows.)

Mr. Wonderful kind of dug his truck out a bit yesterday in case he was called into work.

Then we have the all important path to the man cave where all the beer is stored!  There are priorities!!!

Mr. Wonderful also had to dig a little kitty cat path so Baby-Kat could get out from under the pool deck!

And last, Baby-Kat all recovered and in for the night (last night!)

Off to shovel and then in to log into work to get some things caught up, a big dinner into the over and maybe some baking and then it will be Stitchie Time!   I am about 100 stitches away from completing the final side of my etui! and I am doing the happy dance.....or maybe it should be as Balkey used to say, the Mesposian Dance of Joy.   I would put out my back and my hip and lord knows what other body parts doing that dance.

Time to review and reaffirm my small changes to date.

I am still on board with all of my changes.....although not being 100 % true.   

When traveling things get all de-bobbed.  

• I have been drinking soda more than I hoped I would be.  
• I have not written anything in my food diary all week......I have thought about it but that is not the same at all.   I know this method works.  Look at Weight Watchers all over the world.   I am happy to report I have noticed a 5-lb weight loss since I started!
• Hmmm,...........as for the medications and vitamins,  well I have been religous about the rx's but the vitamins I have let slide but.............considering it has been a poor diet while I traveled here and since I have been here....it is all the more reason to take my vitameanies!
• maybe the best.............I have said NO!  I did, I really did say....
• No, I will be out of town and you will need to get someone else to handle that...
• No, I have to prepare for my trip, I am sorry I can't come to your home party.   
• No, I do not have time to help prepare for your event, I am leaving Wednesday morning for Boston.

And guess what............that world did not collapse around me because I didn't do it all.   No one thought less of me for putting up the boundaries.

So, this week, I will review and re-energize myself towards my small changes. 

Week Four - My Small Change

OK - here it is....and if you know me, this is HUGE.......I will attempt to say NO!    Saying "No, I can't do that" always carried the omen that I was inadequate.   Growing up in an alcoholic household you didn't want anyone to notice you for not doing something.  At the same time you were the over achiever who was always trying to please because again you wanted no adverse attention....... Somehow I got it twisted in my head that I was a failure if I did not produce.   No pointing fingers at my childhood or placing blame my parents ....remember I twisted it in my head all by myself.  It is just the reality of who I am today.   I am not feeling sorry for myself.....but rather am trying to have a better self-awareness and use that knowledge to make a small change.  To continue as I have and think it will change all by itself ......is.......as they say, the definition of insanity.  (To conitnue to do the same thing and expect a different  outcome is insanity.)  I need a catalyst and this week, it will be to say "No" at least once.  Or maybe it is I need to overcome the urge to say "Yes" to anything that comes my way.  Same difference.

I fall into the same pitfall with my family, with friends and at work.....turn myself inside out to be everything to everyone so no one can point at me and say....."you didn't do 'whatever'...."  Others say I overextend myself .   I really don't feel I overextend myself, I just do more than most.   I do alot and it may be an overextension.......because no one sees the cartwheels I sometimes do behind the scenes to complete a task.   I can remember overhearing a friend say once.......'give it to her to do, she won't mind.' And when assigned whatever the task, I rose to the occasion.   It is just like any committee or at work, you give it to the busy person.   It is fair, no, but up to this point I have given permission to those that bring tasks to my doorstep.  Point is you teach people how to treat you and my method of taking it all on has not earned me respect but rather the perception that no matter what the job, what the cost, she'll will get it done.    I am the doormat!

No more.  It is time to teach people how to treat me and my first step is to say "NO!, I can't do that."   There are GIVERS and TAKERS in this world and I know which line I am in and I can live with that.

So on my quest to make small changes, I will attempt to say "No" this week at least once.  It will not mean that the world around me will collapse.   Moreover, it doesn't by any means indicate I am a failure because I choose to say No.  But rather it is setting of the parameters of the load to be given to me............there needs to be time left for me and not the unending list of what I have become obligated to others.   

This week I will make the small change to say No instead of jumping to attention and feeling I have to be the one to fix everything.

I have updated my previous posted with pix.  Enjoy!

My Year of changes - Week Four

(EDITED/now with photos)
There are a whole bunch on the list and I have not decided which one to concentrate on this week for my small change.....I am have put some thought on which to choose......

Stitchey Stuff - WaHoo!  A finish.   A real finish.    Stitching and finishing complete.   What a fun project. 

And a little side trip to a Bent Creek patriotic.......this is a 3 motif set and I have misplaced the other two!!

I need to make up for the lost time on yesterday.   The 50 hour week plus after work activities really caught up to me.   I did finish my Huck Embroidery and then actually did the finishing!   I was doing a lot of computer work yesterday as well updating forms that I need to upload to a website I maintain for a community group and did a tiny bit of general picking up but really not a ton of accomplishment for a whole day.  Could have been the non-stop Lifetime movies I was veg-ing on.   I was in bed, asleep, at 9:15 last night and slept til 5:30 this morning!    I have not had that much sleep in years and now feel re-charged and ready to tackle that to-do list.

So, I am off to Walmart and the grocery store to get ready to the week ahead.   I will debate my choices and make a decision of my Week 4 change of the week.    These choices are sometimes based on the events of the last week and this week was full of potential.   My decision will be based on my premise that to continue to do the same thing and expect a different outcome is (one) definition of insanity!  Therefore, I will continue my small changes in order to have my different outcome and to try to eliminate some of the insanity in my life.............stay tuned.

Week Three and What Will It Be?

Stitchie Stuff - I learned to do Huck Embroidery this week!  Way cool!  I already looked in my new Nordic Needle Catalog and they carry the fabric.  Huck Embroidery is Swedish and was popular in the 40's and 50's.  The special fabric has threads that 'float' and you lay you floss under them without pearcing the fabric.   Talk about a neat back. 

And what a quick stitch. I need to look online for some books and add them to my Wish List.

So if I was busy doing Huck, then maybe I didn't cross stitch too much......not so!  I am pleased with my progress but I know I need to put in my "fast key".   The "fast key" is something my eldest used to say when she was little.   If she was poking along and we would tell her to hurry up, she would say "wait a minute, I need to turn my fast key" and would proceed to pretend to take a key out of her pocket and place it in a pretend keyhole in her tummy and turn it.   Of course that was followed by her zooming all around!  So, 30 years later, we refer to the 'fast key' when we need to speed up!   I am sure this is not a unique thing but wow, just writing about it I can see her at 4 years old doing it!  Where did those years go??!!??!!!

Health and Happiness Things went well this week that is until Thursday.    Funny thing is as the week started, my calendar was empty.  As the week progressed, my evenings filled up.   The ladies from my Board came over on Wednesday for dinner and to work on our final report for our grant.  We had a change of our Treasurer during this last year and some check register's were lost. This made it difficult to figure out our actual expenses for the purpose of the grant.  Thankfully each event has a re-cap sheet and we were able to grab numbers.  The new Treasurer is using Quicken so when we need to pull numbers to next year's application and this year's final report, we will be set!  I do find it rewarding to help people and 'my ladies' as I call them, are 25 years my senior!  I can only hope to be as active and vibrant as they are when I am in my 70's!

So anyway, what happended Thursday.   Well it's like this.   I take various vitamins and a thyroid replacement hormone each morning.   7 pills - Women's One-a-day, fish oil, flax see oil, Vitamin C, etc.  Often, I grab the pills, throw them in my pocketbook and pledge to take them at work.  Some weeks I end of with 21 pills in my pocketbook.   Get the picture.  The past couple of weeks I have been really religious about taking my thyroid as soon as I get up and the others with breakfast.  Then Thursday came.    Wednesday I carried the pills to work never taking them.  Thursday I carried them to work and took them sometime around noon.   Friday I carried them to work and took early on.  Thursday and Friday I was a little more agitated than I have been.  Not bitchy or mean just I knew things were irritating more than they had earlier in the week.  Definitely not much patience!  Wednesday and Thursday I didnt' sleep well.   Could this be related?   Doesn't matter if  there is no scientific relationship, I believe it made the difference.      Look Sunday is empty!  

Oops!   Where's Friday?    This is the neatest giveway from a BC/BS healthfair.   The 'days' slips apart.  Makes it great to pop off the Friday/Saturday/Sunday when you travel.    Friday must be in the bottom of my work tote!  Oh no!

And more happiness.....my daughter had her offer on her house accepted.   Settlement is something like the 21st.  Her sister and I are making the trip to the Boston area on the 28th to help her move into her new place.  We are so excited and so proud.   She has done this all by herself.   I mean literally. Shopped, toured, made the deal and got the mortgage.   It is not like I could do to open houses with her when she is 350 miles away.   It was kind of bittersweet to think this means she is never moving back to Jersey.....   I just feel so bad when she is so far away and sick or so far away and we can't do the fun girls day out.  But alas, she is a career woman and she listened well.   I told my children not to settle for south Jersey.  There was so much more out there.  And two have followed that advice with the third wanting to move.

And yet more happiness.....I was asked to join a private stitchers group.   Five ladies meet every other week rotating whose house they meet at.   This is an invitation only group and I am so excited to be included.  The last few years I have grown lax about decorating my house for the different seasons.....I think the silk forsythia stayed in the large crock I place them in until August.   I will have to be on top of that if I am having visitors regularly.   Face it ladies, we do decorate for ourselves but we decorate for others to see too.

My change of the Week  - It should be obvious after my rambling above....This week I will add to my growing list of pledges to  make sure that each and every day I take my pills at the same time, the right time.    Funny thing, the aggitation and crankiness I was experiencing, I have experienced before but never found a corelation.  Maybe there isn't one this time either I am not going to chance it!  I have dealt with thyroid issues for over 30 years, you'd think I'd be more observate and figured this out a long time ago.  I liked the positive mood I was experiencing, I liked the general sense of well being, and I like to sleep good at night!  

Work   I only stayed one night late this week and that was until 8 pm!  Who would think a secretary would have so much work?   It was a week of meetings! and work still needs to be done.   Plus I had to go to PA to look at new copiers for the Company.   Why me?   because I am a high volume user I guess.   And I find out that the joking remark to my boss about being in charge of the Annual Report is not a joke.   For the most part it is a scheduling and coordination thing making sure items are circulated and approved and submitted on time.  Remembering we can rate a man on how he handles kids, dogs and tangled Christmas lights, I plan to take me time and be thorough and on top of things as I untangle the string of Annual Report tasks! 

House  I am painting the small bedroom upstairs on this 3 day weekend.   I always seem to plan a project like this on a 3 day weekend.  On Saturday I took all the furniture out, removed everything from the walls and patched holes.   There was a 3 inch wallpaper board that I got for $1.99 a roll from Walmart and what a bugger to get it off. 

Today, I hope to breeze through the room.   Forturnately the ceilings are low and I don't even need a ladder to paint them.   By end of the day on Monday I plan for everything to be back in place and all the shelves, etc. hung.   I have a really pretty blue pastel plaid polished cotton that I want to make curtains out of.   It is all the more special because it was my mother's.  I found some blue in the blanket chest and will use it to line the curtains.   When I am finished, this will be my sewing room so as I put things back in there, I want to fold my fabrics to display in the cabinet with glass doors.  I also have an antique drying rack that I want Mr. Wonderful to put up so I am display fabric on it.   I don't think I will be able to do all that AND sand and polish the floor........I need to know my limits because I have a stack of reviews I need to do Monday before returning to work on Tuesday and starting the week right will be the foundation for another positive week!

now to stitch for an hour before I get the paint and rollers out.....

Reply to Blu - My initial quick search resulted in not much on the internet and seems only one series of books on Huck Embroidery.   I think mostly pillow cases, tea towels and tableclothes were stitched this way.   I can see it looking really cute on a little girl's pinafore.   My project is a needle case.  Thanks for stopping by and commenting!!

Mid-Week Status

Health/Happiness My positive spirit continues.   I can't begin to explain how much easier work is with the right attitude.   No more of that why me, why not others point of view.   The reality that you get more work than the next sucks and I am tired of it bringing me down.   I refuse to get sucked up into worrying that I come in before them and leave after them.  It doesn't matter.   I can sleep at night.  I am respected and the blow hards who are too busy spouting their accomplishments and opinions are tolerated.  Fair - no; reality - yes; and the new me doesn't care.  And seriously if you have all that time to tell everyone what you are doing, then really what are you doing?

I am continue to maintain my Food Diary and have had soda only once.   I am not going to beat myself up for it or make excuses for the slip up.   It was a conscious decision - I was thirsty and really wanted a glass.   Unlike previous attempts to diet I have crossed that day off and moved to the next - a new day.   Besides, I am not dieting, I am trying to change my lifestyle.    I have managed to continue on the treadmill as well and that pleases me.   On days I don't get on the treadmill I am doing exercises with little handweights or with the elastic band.   Am I ever going to have a body builders physique?  No, nor do I want one.   I just want to continue to increase my activity level.  Again I am going for the realistic approach.

The best part of yesterday was stopping at my son's on the way home.   I got to see my little Gavers.   He was sanding away on his little Pinewood Derby car for Cub Scouts.  My son and DinL went to IKEA and I wanted to see their new curtains.   Struggling young homeowners who are underemployed don't have a lot of extra $$$ to furnish and decorate.   For under $150 they got curtains, sheers, coffee table, lamps and an end table.   Maybe more.   As a new little homemaker my DinL was feeling good about how the living room is coming together. 

Stitchie Stuff - I have been able to get in an hour or so each morning on my etui.   I am pleased with my progress.  Although the week started out with a clear agenda for the evenings, it has quickly filled up.  Therefore any stitching time when I finally hit the couch has been limited.   I do get my project out, however I  find myself waking hours later all contorted like a pretzel with not a stitch taken.  

I am really enjoying side four.   Funny thing is I have botched up the pattern so bad!  However, when I blogged that only Ellen Chester and I would know, I got a lovely post from Ellen herself telling me to basically go for it!   WOW the pressure is off.   Side four is truly a creation of mine!

Of course my total lack of being able to do one thing at a time has me working on both side four and the top at the same time.

That's it for Hump Day for me......another Grant Meeting tonight which is a dinner meeting at my house....quick run through and pick up around the house before I am off to work. 

Have a great day everyone and stay WARM!

I can't even wait til tomorrow

Change of the week - the resolution I want to make this week is to keep a food diary.    yeah, yeah, yeah.  I mentioned before but that was prior to my idea of my adding a new resolution each week.   I need to make these small changes in my life that will have a big impact.   So, food diary it is.   If you ever have participated in weight watchers you know this works.   I don't want all the trappings of weighing, measuring,counting points....I want to start with being aware of when and how much I eat.   I have often sat down on the couch with a half dozen cookies and a cup of coffee and the next thing I know I am looking around and thinking where did those cookies go?    Most times I eat, I am not even hungry.   I eat because it is there.   Like a person in a trance I ate the cookies but I did not even remember nor enjoy or savoy them.  No, it was more like I looked at the cat and thought.....did you eat them Baby Kat because I don't remember!   Rather than be like a robot and shovel the food in, I am hoping that if I write it down before I eat it will trigger me to think about what I am eating; to enjoy what I am eating; to savor what I am eating; and perhaps not eat as much when I look back at all I have eaten.   It is also making me make conscious decisions about what I am eating.    I really didn't want to have to look back on my list and see that I was weak and had eaten brownies at work so by thinking before eating, I didn't need to add them to the list.  I want to ask myself that question.....am I really hungry?  or better yet, tell myself "nothing tastes as good as thin feels"!  There will be no way for me to say "I don't know where these extra pounds came from!"  I just am trying to be more aware of what I am eating.   Hey is works for millions who attend weight watchers meetings!

Stitchie Stuff  Too little stitching the last few days for me.  We had our DVHSG Meeting this morning and it was a good time.   It was the annual clean out your stash and sell it meeting.   I came home with the following for $20.00: 

Just Nan - Icy Hill

Just Nan - Christmas Wallet

Sisters and Best Friends - Fruit Salad Sampler

Earths Threads - Lambs Garden
Rosewood Manor - Rosewood Manor Sampler
Rosewood Manor - Best Wishes Ornaments
Barrick Samplers - A Quaker Alphabet
Barrick Samplers - Multiplication Table
Cricket Collection - Christmas Letters Leaflet
Told in the Garden - Garden Berries Leaflet
Little House Needleworks - Something Old, Something New

Giulia Punti Antichi - English Sampler Pillow
Fancy That  - Christmas Ornaments Leaflet
Fancy That Leaflet came with 18 miniature cookie cutters - the real reason I picked it!

10% of the proceeds go to the Guild.   Some of us get new stuff.  Stuff of get rid of some things.  All the patterns I pulled from stash returned home with me!

Stitchie Progress - Busy week and I didn't get much time to stitch......hope to make up for it on Sunday after
brunch with my sister for birthday!

Happiness and Health - I have been trying to stay on track with the exercise and staying more active.   Today, for instance, I didn't sit down until I sat to check my email and blog posts at 7:30.   I had my meeting as I mentioned before.  I took down all the Christmas decorations, packed them up and took them to the garage.   I have the trees left that I need Mr. Wonderful to help me with.  I went with my DinL to the local state park and let the dogs run.   (Not to worry, we haven't let Gavers run on the ice.....this is a low spot where the rainwater collected and then froze like a pond.)  The only problem with that is that they are on the leash so Troy, the german shepherd, had the pleasure of pulling me around for an hour.   I didn't make the treadmill but I think it was a fair exchange.   I was a good day. 

Exercising this week has been difficult - Monday dinner with a friend, Tuesday worked late, Wednesday Board Meeting, Thursday hair appointing, Friday my son, DinL and grandson showed up for dinner and game night.   I have kept up with the stretches in the morning and have started a very good morning routine that I don't want to mess is up with tring to get the treadmill in before work and not after work.   We shall see.