Finally I finished it

Short and sweet post to share a couple of things....

My finish.......ABCD by La-D-Da and it isn't even a difficult or large stitching piece. This is a Traveling Pattern started by Peggy at Kentucky Sampler. My slow turn around has to do with time, or lack there of. I made a decision to get more physically fit and that meant a committment of going to the gym. Unfortunately, the only time that works for me is before work. This has greatly hindered my usually 5:30 to 6:30 a.m. stitching hour for I am now at the gym by 6 a.m. I know....I must be crazy. Even worse is dragging the hair dryer and work clothes, etc., etc.  It helps if I pack my bag the night before and I did fix up a hair and makeup kit and bought a hair dryer to leave in the locker room.   Those little tricks has made it easier to get me there.  My evenings are so hectic with volunteer work, guild meetings, Board meetings, that I usually pull in the drive at an ungodly hour, plod into the house, collapse on the sofa like a brain dead ummpa loompa. I am sorry I caused Jennifer to be concerned with my slow turn around. So here is it ladies, it is a pretty stitch and a fun stitch.

I used 28 Cashel linen in Antique Ivory with Threadworx #1039 floss.  I am not sure how I am going to finish it.  

   Reading the journal that accompanies the pattern and now writing in it is all part of the fun.   So cool to see where it has been and then to follow it through  the link on Confessions of a Serial Stitcher.  Even cooler to see everyone else's floss and fabric selections.   I hope to get this in the mail on Monday to the next lucky stitcher on the list.  As soon as Jennifer provides the address I will be whisking it away to Nataly.  I will be sure to drop you (Nataly) a note when I do.

I also received a lovely surprise in the mail.....I was selected as a recipeint of a Christmas RAK by Andrea  at  The Craft Room.   It is really darling!  I loved the little beaded trim and turned it over to find the sweetest little charm.   This little ornie will have a place of honor on my tree. 

A bit of progress

I may not have been posting on my own site but have been managing quick 'drive-bys' on all your blogs.   I love all the creativity I am seeing and catching up on everyone's progress.   Hopefully soon I will be able to post more often as well as comment instead of just quick reads.  So anyway.............

This morning I had a special breakfast with my BF Debbie and her grand-daughter Kayla. I've have know Kayla since she was born and I can't believe how quickly she has grown. She has been wanting to go out with her grandmom and me for quite sometime and it has just been a crazy time juggling calendars - mainly mine. We talked about school and Girl Scouts and little sisters and little brothers and boys and dances.  I think the most important thing one can do with their life is to touch the life of a child. I am so very glad we finally got our big girl morning out together. It was a fun breakfast at iHop!

Riding home from breakfast, I pulled over and pulled out my camera. I thought the autumn leaf color had peaked but received a sensory surprise after rounding a bend. The camera and web don't do the array of colors justice. Just love Mother Nature and what she does.....

On the stitching front, I have managed to eek out a few stitches on La-D-Da's ABCD. This is the traveling pattern that I am part of and I certainly am not going to finish as quickly as some others did. I am enjoying it and it is a fast stitch, it is just taking that time to sit and stitch. Since I now go to the gym before work it eliminated my before work stitching hour but 6 lbs lighter and jeans a little more comforable, I guess the trade off is worth it.

This week was a friend from WW (Weight Watchers) is having a birthday and I constructed her a diet friendly cake. Rice cake layers, with a layer of peanut butter cups for the non-dieters, WW candies, Extra gum in Apple Pie and Strawberry Shortcake flavor (really yummy), and sugar-free cookies. Most important, she liked it and we all stayed within our points.

Looking at it just now, I could really go for 1 serving/3 lemon cookies/4 pt. treat.

End of October

I, for one, am glad October is ending.   It has been a busy and sometimes stressful month as my calendar will attest to.   Not much stitching going on.

I  - true to form - have started yet another copy of projects before finishing already WIP's but alas, I resisted through August before I strayed from my resolve and if I rationalize class pieces as not counting than it is not too bad. 

 First up I have been selected to do La-D-D's ABCD in Peg of Kentucky Sampler's Traveling Pattern. It *could* be a fast stitch if I *could* dedicate some serious stitching time. The pattern comes with a journal that the previous stitchers write about their choices of fabric and floss and stitching experience before they pass the pattern and journal to the next person.

 Fun to read what previous stitchers have written but intimidating to me how quickly some have turned around the pattern me.  It will be my focus this week between meetings and obligations. 

 Last weekend my BFF and I were in New Hope PA for four days of R & R. Leisure lunch at the Full Moon Cafe in Lambertville NJ and awesome dinner at the Blue Tortilla the next night and a ghost tour of New Hope.  Peddler's Village was fun and all decorated for Halloween. 

 Two very important aspects - evening and morning beverages.    No hotel coffee pot for us!  Deb brings her own Mr. Coffee on all trips and sets that puppy to start at 6 -6:30 for that first cup of brew.

 So, this weekend, several of us ventured up the Northeast Extension to the Lehigh Valley EGA class with Catherine Theron. What a nice class and we have been looking forward to this for several months. How we crafters don't let a little old nor'easter keep us from our passion. 

 Overnight bags were packed  *just in case* we needed to get a room at the Hampton Inn.   Fortunately Catherine excelerated the class so we could get out of dodge early.   I have to admit, near white out conditions and no plowing and trees across the road of the two-lane, no shoulder turnpike was a bit forboding.  Oh and basically 50 miles between exits too.  All was well for most of the ride since there were virtually no other vehicles except, Peggy Sue - my Pruis, on the road.   Obviously we made it without incident and it only took us about 45 minutes longer than it did to get there.   While the snow was beautiful, it was scary with all the trees down in Bethlehem PA and on the road to Allentown and then the NE Ext to Philadelphia.     

This is  the scissors fob from the class.     It's finished but not finished as we all understand.  Catherine was great and we hope we will be able to bring her to DVHSG next year to teach a companion piece.

So for now, I’m switching out summer and winter clothes in my closest the rest of the day and plan to attack to my mountain of volunteer paperwork.

And most important - I have been keeping up with the exercising and even took a yoga class this week.   Weigh in at Weight Watchers saw a 5 lb loss the first week and a 0.04 lb gain the second week.   Everyone tried to be encouraging the 0.04 was really nothing but I'd sure count it if it were a loss.   Lost count of points and too much alcohol when I was away - I mean 1 or 2 drinks a night is not too much UNLESS you are dieting.   Back on the plan this week and hope to report a minus after this week's weigh in on Wednesday.