Finally Stitching

I did get to work on my Eagle Exemplary last night. DD had to attend a meeting for groups whose volunteers work the concession stands at football games. (And that would be because she was chosen as women's crew team captain - yeah!)

I just sat in the back of the room and finished stitching my eagle. Now to decide whether it's on to the flags or up to the alphabet?

A side note of the issue of patience and stitching.
Those of us adults who love to start things and rarely finish things, might look at whether they have signs of ADD or ADHD. I'm not saying everyone who starts but doesn't finish their projects has a problem. I just know I do. And I've compensated all my life for it without being aware of it.

Live From New York

Peachy. Now to be subjected to four days worth of the Republican National Convention. And its accompanying protestors.

Yes. We should just turn the idiot box off. That would probably lower my blood pressure.

Last night we watched Bowling For Columbine. Did not try to plan this ironic juxtaposition. It was just up in our queu on Netflix. (I see Michael Moore was inside the convention center last night gathering much attention to himself.)

But watching this film brought back some memories for me. We lived in Colorado Springs in 1999. And though Michael Moore makes it seem like Rocky Flats Arsenal, the Air Force Academy, and NORAD are all within minutes of each other, I know better. I used to be able to sit in my backyard and watch the sun set over Cheyenne Mt (home of NORAD.) I was fortunate to be able to take a tour of this amazingly unique facility. It took me 20-30 minutes to travel north to the Air Force Academy, and another hour from there to Rocky Flats.

Today I read on message boards pleas from mothers whose children are being bullied in their and remember - "We Are Columbine." I guess we are a long way from being a "kinder, gentler nation." (note - check out what Nancy Reagen thought of that line http://www.patriotist.com/jaarch/ja20030728.htm)

Why do we insist on torturing each other as children? and even as adults? Why can't we all just get along?

Was Going to Stitch

I was going to sit in the living room and stitch, but I turned the room over to the teenagers. They only have a few days of "freedom" remaining, then the house will belong to me and cats again during the day. Yeah!

Stitching Bloggers QOTW

Do you feel cross stitching requires patience?

No.

But I feel it teaches patience.

It doesn't take any patience at all for me to pick out a new project, gather up the required supplies, and begin to stitch. And it doesn't take patience to keep stitching on that piece. It takes perseverance.

When someone looks at your work and says you must have a lot of patience, I think they're trying to say you have an ability to stick with something to the end.

Depressing

I just followed a link to forbes.com that was supposed to be a list of affordable places to live.

If affordable includes median house prices over $300,000, I would like to know how we are ever going to be able to buy a house once hubby retires from the Army.

On a side note, their "front porch" communities included Punta Gorda, FL. I guess once people post stuff on the 'net, they never think that maybe they should update things after major natural disasters...

But anyway, now I'm majorly depressed. I know where we'd like to live. And I know where we can't possibly afford to live. And those lists overlap by quite a bit.

Other People's Blogs

I still have not managed to insert all the links to all the blogs I read in my template. If you don't see yours linked here, forgive me. I've had my template wiped out twice and had to start over from the beginning. Now I'm smart enough to copy my template and save it elsewhere. But I've been incredibly slow at recreating everything.

Not whining or anything, but some of you have fallen woefully behind on blogging. I'm sure this means you're living an exciting life this summer. Anyway I hope it means you're living an exciting life.

Yesterday

Ah. It was our 20th anniversary. We did not exchange presents or anything - our present was our trip to San Diego earlier this month. I did get DH a picture frame for a photo of us on the rocks at La Jolla. And he did write me a note. He's always pretty proud of his ability to express the mushy stuff in writing. And he should be.

We went out for dinner and took the teenagers with us. Because we chose a German restaurant, we started reminscing about our 3 years in Germany (both kids born there), and that carried over to coming home and digging out the slides and the projector. We haven't looked at these in more than 2 years. Lots of laughter and beautiful sights.

Sheepish Designs

I was just perusing their website to see if they had a pic of my current projects, Sheepish Designs Eagle, 106 Exemplary. Not there. Someone needs to do some updating...

But I did notice that I have several of their patterns, including 2 that I've kitted up in times past.

I started this design with the eagle in the middle. Normally I am an upper right hand corner starter. Especially with samplers. I was on a plane when I started this project and just didn't feel like counting my way to the top right. Once I get the eagle done, I plan on working my way to the top right though. See, I can be flexible. LOL

Large Picnic

Had a large gathering of students, faculty and families at our house yesterday. The weather was finally wonderfully cooperative. Food was excellent and good time had by all.

But of course between cleaning and cooking and the Olympics, I did not put a stitch in all weekend.

Stitching Question of the Week 8/23

What would you most like your favourite designer to design next?

This presupposes a favorite designer.

Not a good question for me. :-(

UGH!

It started raining last night about 6:00 p.m. and we've had wave after wave of thunderstorms moving through all night. Let's call this another summer Saturday without summer weather. I had to get up at 1:oo a.m. to shut the bedroom windows as it was rainy in, then I spent the rest of the night tossing about for lack of fresh air.

The current batch of showers just moved through and now it's rather foggy outside. I think this afternoon calls for a trip to the movies...

Laurel Burch

While leaving a terrific breakfast place in San Diego, we walked into a little shop next door that had a tremendous selection of Laurel Burch fabric. Found another place selling her stuff in Bazaar del Mundo in Old Town. Apparently she's become quite popular with quilters.

Bought MIL a gift that we'll save till Xmas.

I didn't buy anything for myself though there was some angel cat fabric that I adored. Because I didn't know what to do with it, I declined to purchase it. (mantra repeat here: I've already got enough stuff to last several lifetimes.)

I already own some of her rubber stamps which I believe no one owns a license to produce any more.

Air Travel with Scissors

I'm not stupid but apparently I am forgetful.

I had my good scissors in my checked luggage while flying west. But forgot to put them back into my checked luggage while flying east. Bye-bye, scissors. I walked to the gate mentally whacking myself in the forehead big time. They were a lovely pair of Italian gold scissors with a very sharp pointy tip as I bought them for cutting hardanger work. And you can bet I'll be replacing them soon. (Even though I've got many other pairs...)

No problems with Clover Cutter flying with me.

San Diego Shops

I managed to drive to three different "needlework" shops in SD. The first turned out to be knitting and needlepoint. Normally I would have been able to shop for fibers at least, but it seems the shop is moving more in the knitting direction, so it was a total waste of time. Second shop featured a wonderful older couple and shop that is in a time warp. They had stuff in there that I used to order for a shop I worked at in 1988. They were lovely and friendly and I did pick up a couple of bargain pieces of linen.

Third shop - finally satisfied my shopping desires. Place was quiet when I walked in, but right behind me things really picked up. It was a joy to see that many people shopping in a cross stitch store! I didn't do much monetary damage because I'm trying to stitch from my stash. But I couldn't resist on Bent Creek kit that was half price and did purchase some GAST.

Stitching Bloggers' Question of the Week

If you were to stitch something to be passed on to future generations of your family as an heirloom, what would it be and why?

So far my two heirloom pieces that are completed and framed are my Newburyport Sampler and a Heart's Content piece, "After Sorrow." I stitched these mostly in tandem, one rather large and one rather small.

The Newburyport (follow link down while admiring Page Dorsey's other works) was stitched as part of the Internet Sampler Band that was being run by Ellen Chester of With My Needle. Took me 18 months to finish it. I did make a few changes, the biggest being changing the words to a verse from "Tis a Gift to be Simple." I can easily see one of my children giving this to one of their grandchildren in the far distant future.

The Heart's Content piece - well, I used to stitch this on Sunday mornings while DH would be rehearsing with the choir. How I loved the light in that church in Colorado Springs. Our interim minister offered to buy it from me, but I told her we didn't pay her enough. I figured if someone paid me $800 I might be persuaded to stitch it again...

Stitcher's Question Catch Up

What would your stitching confession be?

That's easy.
I'm a floss licker.

I use a sponge on what I consider heirloom pieces, but usually I'm a licker.

Too Much Catching Up to Do

We had an amazing time in San Diego. I would agree to move there on a moment's notice.

I've got lots to post, but no real time right now.

Suffice it to say, the food was great, the sights magnificent, and I'm exhausted.

What To Take With Me

Ah the joys of deciding which project to take with to California. (wonky thing - won't let me use the enter button to skip a line so bear with me.) I've kitted up a Blackbird Designs piece that was in JCS mag last year and another similiar style sampler and I've got a Shepherd's Bush kit from several years ago. DH came home yesterday and I was sitting going through possible linen choices and he looked at me like I was nuts. What does he think? I'm going to sit through every boring presentation with him at this conference? No freaking way. So it's off to finish laundry and packing. See you all next week.

California Here We Come!

Okay. So it's just for a visit.

But we did totally enjoy the four years we lived in California and it feels good to be going back for a week.

DH and I leave on Friday for San Diego. I've been looking over his schedule and see I've got time to kill. This should be lots of fun.

Stitching Blogger's Question of the Week

If you could only finish one of the pieces in your stash as it is at the moment, what would it be and why?

Right now I'd have to say finish Celtic Christmas. Because she's becoming an axe hanging over my head. LOL

People ask me if she's done yet. LOL
I'd like to be able to answer yes.

But not enough to actually sit down and finish her. LOL

It all comes back to the eyes. I'm having some difficulty working any chart right now where I need to refer back and forth between the chart and the stitching with frequency. Maybe I should pick up a piece of Assissi work....

yesterday

I didn't get online at all yesterday. Took kids for the school sports physicals, then we went shopping. I bribed my DS to get him to come along by offering to buy him Swedish Meatballs at IKEA.

Bought some new chair pads for the kitchen. Within 10 seconds of placing the first one on and pushing in the chair, the cat was in the chair. He's darn good. Bought a galvanized steel bucket and tub (have plans for these later in the month.) Bought a frame and Japanese style watercolor of a black and white cat. I needed something cheap for over our bed. Looks nice.

Also picked up a cheap copy of Needlecrafts for Dummies at Borders. This was the book I chose to get in order to save 25% off a CD that DD wanted. So it actually cost me $2.99. Now why would I possibly want this book? I'm definitely no dummy when it comes to needlework. But there are two patterns in there that Iwant. And the beginner's type info may be useful next time I teach a friend.

Now on to the question of the week...