The week in review....

Not much stitching this week, as life was busy and I was lazy! I visited my DD # 1 in Ocean City MD, where she lives and works as a music teacher. It was nice to get away. I actually slept around 12 hours each day. I must either have needed it or just plain lazy! Geez....Up by 7:30 down by 9:00 am! I am getting as bad as the dogs!
A little beach time, pool time and crab cakes. But not much stitching.....

I worked about an hour on the quaker garden by Blackbird Designs, about an hour on Deborah Cockin, and about an hour on Faith Hope and Charity. after a little more work, I will take a picture or two to let you in on the progress.

Back to work tomorrow. Anyone else hating their job too? I have worked 30 years, and I guess my body is saying, "would you retire already??". I just want to be "done".

A couple of dr. appointments, which were just those pesky things you do after 50. The pulmonologist still hasn't bothered to talk to me about my sleep study, nor do I have the CPAP yet. Obviously, he wants to retire too.

Off to stitch.....TTFN.

ARGH! A vent!

I hate dr's offices! I have been waiting for my dr. to "read" the sleep study and "recommend" a CPAP for me so I can no longer have sleep apnea. It's hurry up and then wait. I have called last week, was told, "later on in the week. Well I waited patiently, and see, that went by. Now it is a new week and here I sit.
So this morning I call again...and no luck. Left a message. What is it with these people???!!!!

There .....I needed that.

Satisfying Sunday

Work has consumed my life this past year, but today was officially my first Sunday off. I have to say, it was great. Coffee was taken with toast on the deck at 6 am (Dogs doing their "pee pee" dance)Perfect. Then back to bed for some computer time and darn if I didn't doze off. Again, perfect. Up to do some clean up the kitchen time, vacuuming the pool, and planting flowers. All pretty nice when it was completed. The kitchen looked great for about a minute, but it was clean.
'
Then, I was able to stitch....oh what a wonderful time! I completed a WIP. It is the Quaker Sampler by Threads thru Time. This is an interesting quaker, as it isn't signed at all, nor is it dated. It was found with another sampler done by Caroline Baker, so they are attributing it her.



I also stitched a bit on the Maiden of the Sea, by With My Needle. I had forgotten about it actually until I started going through my stitching basket. So I pulled it out and put in about three strands. But, and I am sure you have done this, I can't find the red thread that I was using for the lighthouse. Sheez....let's hope I can find it...because the half of the lighthouse I have stitched is 1x1! And frogging that....well, it's not pretty.

So I will leave you with some stitching advice. Zip your ziplock baggies, ladies!

Ordinary Me:Q

Ordinary Me: Q : Quaker of course! I love quaker samplers and have finished the mother of the Quakers, Ann Grimshaw.

I have several more completed over the years, but have many, many in the works, kitted or simply waiting their turn to be kitted and stitch!

Queen Stitch: Another Q??? How's that?? It works for me, as I do love the queen stitch, both stitching it as well as how it looks. I haven't stitched anything recently with them, but I understand a class I took in March with Ellen Chester has its share of them. When I get a couple of these WIPs under control...then I will begin that piece. It is gorgeous!

Stitching updates...

Seems as though I haven't been chatting about the stitching lately. I really have been working hard on some things.

1. Deborah Cockin: Worked in Vikki Clayton silks, spinach delight on 34 ct. Legacy Oaten Scone (one of my favorite linens) Close to a finish, but the lettering is over one. That will surely slow me down!


2. Quaker Garden by Blackbird Designs: worked in WDW and GAST, which drive me crazy at times. Love the look, hate the knots!
(Picture forthcoming.....it's 3:30 am and pictures aren't the best at this time of day!)

3. Quaker Mystery Martina Dey: I got behind several weeks ago and now find myself about 7 weeks behind. If I finish Deborah Cockin......perhaps I will find the time to play some catch up. Worked on 32 Belfast with a mystery spool of Vikki Clayton silks.

That picture is a bit old, but not a lot of stitching has occurred since.

4. Elizabeth Raysor: Scarlet Letter I started this about three weeks ago and have used it as my carry along piece. I have made decent progress considering that I haven't given it lots of time. Worked on 35 ct Scarlet Letter linen with AVAS.


So there you have it for the week of stitching. A couple close to the finish line and
a couple with a ways to go. It is supposed to rain here Sunday, so perhaps I can sit and stitch and watch House.

Ordinary Me: P

Politics: Ugh! In reference to work politics, although national politics is wearing me out as well. When working, having to limit what you want to say because the person you are speaking with are friends of the "boss", or some manager or someone that impacts your future. Geesh....am I the only one left in American education that feels it is all bullshit?? I know I am not, but God help you if you speak against the machine. Everyone above me says "whatever is best for the children"....are they kidding???? Ask them about the money spent on their new office furniture, when the old is wonderful and any teacher in a building would feel it was "too good" for them. Ask them about the cell phone they have paid for by the district...ask them. I would love someone who isn't in the system to see what their rationale would be.

And I am not talking about money, necessarily, although that is paramount. I am also talking about the crap they are doing with curriculums, with state testing, with buying new textbooks because "the kids aren't achieving enough"!!! To disagree with these things outloud is political suicide. These people running the systems are not bright either. They are all trying to get ahead, so they agree with the boss at every turn. I pray they aren't so limited to think that what is going on is good!!!!! So why is it I sit in every meeting thinking that things are bullshit....doesn't anyone have common sense any more???

Do you think that ordinary me: R will be RETIREMENT????

Follow up to the sleep study

Last night was spent at the sleep center, trying to break in a CPAP! I can't tell you enough....RUN to have a sleep study if you snore and are always tired!! I haven't felt this good in about three years. While I didn't sleep long or great, the quality of the sleep was terrific. Obviously, I hadn't been getting the restorative sleep needed to feel like a human being.
I will be getting my own CPAP soon! Scary how excited I am about this!

Spent a bit this morning trying to organize some of my stitching things. I found some things I may put on Ebay, as I truly doubt I will stitch them.

Ordinary Me: O

Ordinary: That's me. I am just an ordinary 52 year old woman who wants to retire! I live in an ordinary home, have very ordinary tastes and wants and work in a very ordinary job. I have a couple of extra-ordinary things....my family. THey are exceptional. My oldest daughter is extremely talented in music; a soprano that can play or sing just about anything. My youngest daughter is ADHD, born a premie, has learning disabilities and is about one of the most challenging 17 years olds on the planet.
My husband is a great guy. Period. My dad is the most kind and gentle man on the planet. But me....I am ordinary.

Work in progress: Quaker Garden

This is my Blackbird Designs Quaker Garden WIP. I am putting one strand a day in this until it is done. Stitched on R&R cappicino (30 ct) with Weeks Dye works and GAST.

Ordinary Me: N

Needlework: I am an avid cross stitcher of samplers, a rug hooker, and a quilter. I can't imagine my life without some form of needlework. It amazes me that people see my work and comment that they could never do it. And I don't understand how they couldn't!

I can't remember a time when I wasn't involved in some sort of needlework, started at the age of seven. My grandmother was hounded by a seven year old to buy her a tea towel and embroidery floss. My mother barely could hem a skirt, while my grandmother crocheted, sewed and did embroidery. She understood my compulsion! I finally beat her down and she bought me my first project at our local "five and dime". Remember the old creaky wooden floors?? Remember those long aisles of assortments of "housedresses" and underwear? The sewing section had material already cut for the ladies coming in to buy "calico" for quilts. The tea towel was finished that summer under my grandmother's house. Showing her the finished product, I was so proud. Little did I know that you were supposed to only use two strands of floss.....and you weren't supposed to use knots! Bless her for not humiliating me and telling me that wasn't a possibility. I still have that tea towel stuffed in the back of my linen closet. I have come quite a long way.

Ordinary Me: M

Music: It's a very important part of my life. I have a daughter who is a musician and obviously she inherited my love of music. I love to sing and wish I could play an instrument. I have always wanted to play the cello;maybe when I retire I will take lessons.

Music brings joy to all people and it really is the universal language. I have seen very handicapped children respond to music when they can't respond to language. I have seen grown men (and others) cry at the swelling of a movie score. I have seen awkward teenagers relax when music began playing. Everyone relates to music. How sad that educators don't understand that music is the food that feeds the soul and that without it in schools, education is limited.

Someday, the Pentagon will have to have a bake sale to raise money for weapons and all schools will have ample music programs for children.

SUMMER!!!

Not the season, but school is out! This has truly been the hardest year I have ever spent working. Politics, staff shortages, idiots that make idiotic decisions, unreasonable demands, crazy parents......they all added to make a miserable year. "Only" 8 more years until full retirement, 2 1/2 until early retirement. Hopefully I will be able to hang in there until the money comes in!

On another front, I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea. I go for a second sleep study Sunday evening where they hook you up with a CPAP. I actually am looking forward to it, as this extreme sleepiness and fatigue (and irritability...and depression??) is really getting in the way of life. Hopefully I will be able to tolerate it and my sleep will be restful.

Stitching...well not a lot has been accomplished these last couple weeks. But now, being off school, I might be able to get some things done. I have been working on Deborah Cockin, which is close to being finished, Quaker Garden, Martina Dey's Quaker Mystery and Elizabeth Raysor. Maybe I will take some pictures later and post the progress.

Off to do some other things....enjoy the day!

Ordinary Me: L

L: Laughter: One of my traits is my excellent sense of humor. I am always making jokes out of things, which has served me well over the years. (And gotten me into trouble, too!) I actually was told at one point of my life that I should become a radio jockey, since I had such a quick wit. My sense of humor is often dry and sarcastic, which some don't get. And of course, I am a public school employee....a sense of humor is simply a coping mechanism! Laugh on!

Ordinary Me: K

The Kite Runner: My new favorite book. It is an amazing read. If you haven't read it, please run out and get it. It will be one to re-read over the years.

Ann Grimshaw finish!

Finished her in December and framed in January.


32 ct Navy Bean (because I can't see 40 or 36 ct as well!) and Vikki Clayton Silks (what else??!!) Indigo Ocean. This has to be the most enjoyable stitching I have ever done.






A close up of the frame which is amazing! This picture doesn't do it justice.

Ordinary me: J

JUNE: That is what being a public school employee is all about. June. And don't forget July. Now that I have 30 years experience, I finally get to have those summers "free". It was always "going to graduate school", working summer school or both. Wow...a summer free! (Not that it is....I still see my private practice kids to make ends meet...especially now that gas is so high.)

It has been a long long winter. Trying to get the depression so that I can function again. Now that it is the end of the road for the school year, perhaps I can really return to normal. I have been stitching....finished Ann Grimshaw and Hannah Beeby along with a couple other small things. I will post picture of all the things later, but will leave you with Hannah Beeby, finished in February. I started January 1 and had planned to finish within the month, but it took me a couple of extra weeks.