I would like more hours in my day, please!

It seems like each day ends quicker than the day before, and I just can't get done what I want to finish! For the first 15 years of my oldest daughters life, I was a stay at home mom, and I ventured into the work force in fall of 2004 at our local elementary school as a yard duty. It was perfect, as I was always off work when my kids were off school, and it wasn't a large number of hours. Since that time, I've been searching for my true calling in life (yard dog it is not!), and believe I've found it in the form of personal fitness training. But in the process of getting that off the ground, I've still been working through the school district, elevating my status to lunch lady! All this is great, but I haven't been able to figure out how to incorporate stitching into any of these activities LOL! My dream is probably one shared by many stitchers, to have my own needlework shop, but I know the hours for that are long, and it's not all rosy as it seems in my imagination. So, I'll keep on with the kids, and hopefully get to help others attain their fitness goals - hopefully mom's like myself, faced with ever decreasing personal time to take some time for themselves.

We have a new kitten in the house - actually he joined our family last August. He is the cutest thing, named Earl Grey (we are a family of tea drinkers). He has some quirks, though! He's finicky about the state of his litter box, preferring several very soft and well loved items of my kids to use as his elimination box (luckily only the liquid kind, no solids thank you!). He is fascinated by bubbles in the sink, constantly hopping up on the counter (where cats are not allowed in my house), and he LOVES toilet paper (maybe that is tied to the first item LOL). We are constantly finding shredded rolls around the house, or on the paper holder in the bathrooms. He's a lap cat, happy to find a warm lap to curl up on, and he's very quick to get comfortable. He has tried to grab at the back of my stitching, but is quickly learning that is a no-no. He is helping in the fitness regime of our other two cats, ages 11 and 8, both fairly solid creatures. They have rediscovered the playful sides of their personalities with the help of Earl. He also loves to try to trap anything coming out of the printer, reaching up far into the workings of the paper tray. Meet Earl:

This is my Ming, age 8. Not your typical Siamese, she has no voice (I think someone probably had them cut, we got her as a stray from the Humane Society), she's got a stubby tail, very round body, despite any diet we put her on. But very lovable. She has adopted my middle daughter as her sleeping buddy.

And finally, Desi, age 11. Very vocal, especially when the food bowl is empty, or in the middle of the night when he can't find anyone in the family room, and he starts calling to them! He sleeps in the middle of my chest, even though he really is my daughter's cat.

I want to share my next (hopeful) quilting project. Right after finish painting my middle daughter's bedroom a lovely shade of lavendar (mind you, this took over two years to accomplish, as we started right before our remodel, and then didn't finish it up until this summer), she decided she loves the colors of blue and green, and mom, could we please paint my room those colors? She will need to wait at least until this summer, but in the meantime, I've decided to sew up a few things in these colors. I made the pillow case, and the remaining fabric will go for a quilt. I even have the pattern in mind, something easy and quick. Here are the fabrics:

Well, I'm off for a quick walk before work. Thanks for sharing a little bit of my day!

First finish for 2007

I'm happy to report my first finish for 2007:

1989 Prairie Schooler Annual Santa

I have four different catagories that this finish falls into: first finish of 2007, first UFO finish for the year, a Prairie Schooler Santa finish, and an ornament finish. The last two are two groups I've joined along with for this year. I hope to stitch all of the PS Annual Santa's this year, and hope to stitch at least one ornament a month. Now to finish it into a display item - I'm think either a cube-it or framing it. I think I'll celebrate by starting my Quaker exchange!

Stitching goals 2007

I'm keeping my goals simple this year:

1. Stitch through my basket of UFO's, to stitch as many as I can by year's end. I hope to take pictures of them all at this point, so I can see my progress at the end of 2007. I'll post those pictures here as I get them taken.
2. Stitch ornaments for my tree. I have so many ornaments marked off in the JCS Ornament issues, and I have ordered all three of my kid's names from M Designs. I want to stop wishing to have them stitched, and actually do them.
3. Find ways to display as many of my finished stitchings as possible - framing, cube-it's, banners, pinkeeps, stitching smalls, ornaments, and any other ways I can find.
4. Finish the two RR's I'm in, one is in the middle and one is just starting, and the one starting up helps to fulfill goal #2!

That's it - I like the fact that stitching ornaments helps to fulfill that start-itis that hits regularly, and I really like all of my UFO's, so having them finished and displayed will strengthen my sense of accomplishment and love I have for this art.

New Year's morning

The new year dawned bright, sunny and cool here. It's funny how it's really just another day, but it feels so full of possibilities. I would love to live each day that way. A fresh place to start, every morning, putting behind regrets from the day before. Knowing that I am the person I am at that very moment, someone to be proud of, and that I'm where I'm supposed to be. Take account of all my accomplishments, don't dwell on those things that have not been realized. This is how I would like to look at this year. There are many days where I'm looking forward to what the future will bring, overlooking what is happening in the now. God is working miracles each day, little ones, bit ones - I would love to recognize them.

I want to love my life as it is at this very moment. These are what I would like to promise to myself.

New Years Eve 2006

It's amazing and sobering to contemplate the end of another year. They pass so quickly now as the kids get older and life seems to be so full of busy. Tonight, we will be watching the ball drop, watch the old year slip away and the new one take it's place. I plan to sit in comfy pj's, drink some tea and cider, and enjoy being home.

I don't have any end of the year finishes to celebrate with, but I'm going into 2007 feeling really great about the stitching goals I have set in front of me. This year I plan to finish as many UFO's as I can, stitch as many ornaments as possible, and learn a new thing or two (or three or four). A couple of these are knitting and playing bagpipes. I hope to get some of my scrapbooks finished, and I do have some sewing goals to accomplish, too.

I'll be starting a couple of classes later in January, working towards an advanced certificate to compliment my Personal Training certificate I earned the first half of this year.

My prayer is to listen for the small, still voice of God speaking in my life. He is with me at all times, but I'm am nowhere near as obedient to his callings and plans as I can be. I pray for his strength when I loose my patience, and for his wisdom in seeing the wonderful people he is creating in my children.

Drawn Thread's Mini Teaching Sampler

May peace and joy be with you tonight, as you reflect on all this year has meant to you, and you look ahead to all the coming year will be.

Marry Garry's PEACE Quaker

Merry Christmas, friends

Wishing everyone a very blessed Christmas. May you all have joy and peace, and a little bit of stitching time.

It's the afternoon of Christmas Eve, and I'm just getting ready to head out for a bit of a walk. The presents are pretty much wrapped, just a couple more to do. Chex mix is made for snacking. Tonight we have our evening church service, then it's home for our traditional taco dinner, and then out for a drive to look at lights. Tomorrow will be dinner at my mother-in-law's house, and we're bringing the ham.

Just a little bit about me

I lifted this from Darla at - darn, I don't know how to make those great links where their highlighted name shows, and you click on it to visit their blog!

48 Things You Could NOT Care Less About
1. FIRST NAME? Nancy
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My aunt.
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Tonight, listening to a Christmas song.
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes, mostly.
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Thanksgiving turkey on sourdough with mayo and lettuce.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Most of the time.
7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Just my blog, but I would love to keep one.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? No, although I thought I did for the longest time.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? I hate heights, so a resounding NO.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? I like granola with my yogurt.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Yes.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Definitely.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Baskin Robbins Jamoca Almond Fudge.
14. SHOE SIZE? Seven and a half.
15. RED OR PINK? I love red for Christmas and fall leaves.
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I'd love to be more sure of myself.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Both my mom and dad.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? No necessary to.
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Pink and blue plaid flannel pants, and a comfy red sweatshirt. My Lands End slippers.
20. LAST THING YOU ATE? Salad with chicken, avo and parmesan cheese.
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Miami CSI, but have been really enjoying Mannheim Steamroller and Mercy Me's Christmas songs.
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Purple.
23. FAVORITE SMELL? Sugared spruce candle, fresh pine, baking Chex mix, patchouli.
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My husband.
25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Their smile.
26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON you stole THIS from? Most definitely.
27. FAVORITE DRINK? Fresh sqeezed orange juice.
28. FAVORITE SPORT? Girls fastpitch softball.
29. EYE COLOR? Green.
30. HAT SIZE? Do not like hat hair!
31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Used too, would like to again, but not now.
32. FAVORITE FOOD? Fresh crab meat sandwiches.
33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings
35. SUMMER OR WINTER? Fall.
36. HUGS OR KISSES? Both, but also love chocolate kisses.
37. FAVORITE DESSERT? Ice cream.
38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? No idea.
39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Again, no one to name.
40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Diana Gabaldon's "Voyager".
41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Just a simple grey one.
42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? World Trade Center on DVD.
43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Wind through the pines, my kid's pure giggles.
44. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles.
45. THE FARTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Kenai Peninsula, Alaska.
46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? Being a warm lap for my kitten, raising my kids.
47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Pomona, California.
48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? No one - I read Darla's blog and borrowed it.

More Christmas sharing

I guess I reached my blog's limit of three pictures with the last post, so I'm adding some more here:

I don't have a traditional tree topper - I place these knee-hugger elves at the top. These are from my mom's tree, and I used to play with them every year. So they get a place of honor on the top.

My mom made these wonderful Christmas shadow boxes for each of the girls in the family. I love putting this up each year.

These are some of the Christmas exchanges I've received

I'll end this with a couple of PS designs I've received. The quilt cube is from an exchange earlier this year. The Santa was a gift from a stitcher I met long ago on the old Compuserve crafts forum.

Thank you for spending time with my Christmas decorations. Christmas is just three days away, and my wish for everyone is a very blessed Christmas, and special times spent with family and friends.

Looking like Christmas

Thank you so much for all the kind comments on my last post. I haven't really spent much time here, as I've really been baffled by the posting of pictures, but after spending so much time visiting all the lovely blogs I've found, and being enabled by so many wonderful stitching pictures, I'm trying to make a renewed effort.

I wanted to share some pictures of my Christmas decorations. I love this time of year because I really enjoy revisiting the ornaments and decorations I've collected over the last 25 years. Some belonged to or were made by my mom (who passed away the year we were married). Our Christmas tree is my absolute favorite, and it's where I concentrate most of my energies. Handmade, Hallmark, craft sale, exchanges, they are what make up my tree, and I love when it's lit and the lights are out in the room, and there is such a soft glow. So thank you for taking part in this little tour.

I stitched this Santa from an old CS&CC issue, and added a miniature Hallmark ornament as a toy.

Here is my bench with our stockings, a snowman and Santa, and the Christmas books I've collected over the year. One of them is a story called 'Christmas in California, copyright 1924 and given to my mom and her sister. It's very appropriate, given our California Christmases.

Our Christmas tree (I hope the picture is standing up and not laying on it's side-that might be beyond my current capabilities!)

I'll post more in a separate post.

Christmas ornaments

I've made a promise to myself - for 2007 stitching I will concentrate on my WIP/UFO pile, and I will stitch as many ornaments as I can from the favorites I've chosen from the JCS ornament issues. I've already started one, and I plan to begin with the 1997 issue and work forward. This will give me all the new starts my heart desires, along with finishing up the already started projects that have grown comfortable in my basket.

I stitched this ornament for a Prairie Schooler exchange.


These are PS Olde World Santas (the first leaflet) stitched over one, which I hope to turn into two four-sided ornaments to hang.


I stitched this for an ornament contest/exchange through the Just A Thought message board. It was fun designing the ornament to include the windchimes.

And the homework keeps coming!

The first two classes are done (yeah!), and I've managed A's in both (I'm a bit crazed about grades). I'm in week three of the next two, with one more after this to receive my Personal Fitness Trainer certificate. After that, I have three more classes I plan to take for an advanced certification, and an internship to help get me started. Hopefully this summer I will be able to start working with a local gym.

In the midst of this, I've still been able to stitch, and have finished a few exchanges, one RR, with two others in progress. Stitching is my reward when homework, questions, and quizzes are done. It helps keep me on track (as well as the weekly deadlines). Now, if I could just figure out how to post my pictures here, I would be able to show some of my work.

New Classes

Alright - fast forward 6 weeks (has it really gone by that quickly?!). My first two classes have finished, and I'm waiting on confirmation for the second two which started yesterday. Got my books, my pencil and eraser, and I'm all ready. But, I'm taking advantage of this brief down time to get some stitching done! I can tell my blogging is going to be spotty until this series is done, but that will be for a good reason.

On the stitching front, I've been able to finish two exchanges, I have two more in the middle, and have been able to do a bit of stitching on the two RR's I'm in. Thanks for the stitching tips I received. Stitching has definitely been my weekly reward when I get chapters read, questions answered, and quizzes taken.

Take care, Nancy

What was I thinking?!?

I'm seeing my future stitching time dwindling down to nothing for the next 6 weeks - I've just undertaken some online classes through one of the universities. I'm studying to become a certified personal fitness trainer, and I was not anticipating the homework load that has arrived at my house. I'm now in the same boat my h.s. sophmore is in - lots of homework, very little stitching time. The one reward is that over a fairly short course of time, I will be finished, and will be able to turn this into a new career path for myself - if all goes well, and I'm able to get my old brain to absorb some of this information! Right now, it's Exercise Physiology, and Kinesiology for Trainers (I'm still waiting for that book to arrive, and will have two chapters due by this Sunday!).

I'm sorry to be having this pity party, but I'm feeling just a little overwhelmed at the moment, and I can't take much of a break to calm down with stitching. Once I get caught up, I'll feel much better.

Giving MeMe's a Try

I've never completed one of these, and I found this on Adventures in X-Stitch blog:

The Meme of Fours

Four Jobs I Have Had in My Life
1. Day Care assistant
2. Accounts Receivable
3. Insurance customer service rep!)
4. CCS Model stitcher (actually on payroll with taxes!)

Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over Again
1. American President
2. Stepmom
3. Twister
4. Fly Away Home

Four Places I Have Lived
1, 2, 3 & 4. Cities in So. California-my whole life

Four TV Shows I Love to Watch
1. Sunday Morning
2. CSI (regular, Miami, New York
3. Criminal Minds
4. Clean Sweep

Four Places I Have Been on Vacation
1. Drove to Alaska and Canada
2. Zion and Bryce, Utah
3. Sequoia and Kings Canyon Nat'l Parks
4. A drive to Minnesota-loved S. Dakota!

Four Websites I Visit Daily
1. Legacy Embroiderer's Guild
2. Prairie Schooler
3. Stitching Bloggers
4. New - the Exchange Place

Four of My Favorite Foods
1. Potatoes of all kinds
2. See's dark chocolate
3. Apples
4. Red Bell Peppers and ranch dressing

Four Albums I Can't Live Without
1. Bruce Springsteen: Born in the USA
2. Mercy Me: Almost There
3. Third Day: Offerings II
4. Neil Diamond: Hot August Night

Four Places I'd Rather Be
1. England
2. Ireland
3. Outside of Zion National Park
4. Somewhere in the Midwest

Four Bloggers I Tag
I don't tag.

And from Lake Stitcher's blog (I really need to figure out how to insert a link!)this was fun. Just Google "(your name) needs" and pick your 10 favorite:

Nancy needs another attention grabber
Nancy needs to wake up
Nancy needs to learn the facts
Because Nancy needs alot of support
Nancy needs alot to go her way in order to win, but it's honestly not an unrealistic
scenario
All Nancy needs is to wolf down a 3,000 calorie dessert and bring the silver spoon
back to Miles
Nancy needs a peanut butter sandwich, a box of crayons and some paper to be happy
Nancy needs to allow herself to be known
Nancy needs to sing like we all need to breathe
Nancy needs your hand guiding her through

I wonder what the 3,000 calorie dessert I should choose

Belated Christmas stash

I have a most wonderful mother in law! We went down this weekend to exchange Christmas gifts (the flu hit our household and hers over the holidays, causing the delay), and my present from her was CHS's Houses of Hawks Run Hollow, one of each of the Olde Willow Stitchery's Quaker colors, and a piece of Lakeside Linen in their beautiful pear color. She has been a wonderful supporter of my stitching (even though she can't quite understand the constant acquisition LOL!), and this just made my Christmas! I'm really looking forward to stitching with the new threads.

A New Year - time to give blogging a second chance!

Well, here it is the new year, and having spent plenty of time enjoying other's stitching blogs, I would love to make a commitment to keeping mine up to date with stitching plans and accomplishments. We bought a new digital camera for Christmas, and I've been learning how to upload and order pictures, and am going to work at posting pictures here, as soon as I figure out how to orient them right side up!

I received this pinkeep in a Sampler House exchange - it is currently hanging on my tree (no, I haven't taken it down yet), and will join other exchange pieces in a basket when the tree comes down.






Stitching goals for the year:
1. I hope to finish as many WIP's as possible - these include one very old sampler
started 18 years ago, three older RR's that I need to complete my stitching on,
a Santa I started about 11 years ago, and a mourning sampler I am stitching to
honor my dad.
2. I plan on finishing several stitched ornaments into items that can be hung on my
tree next year.
3. I am currently in two RR's, one will finish in about two months, and I hope to
start one other this year with a Prairie Schooler group.
These are enough for now - this should keep me busy the entire year!

Autumn Exchange

I'm feeling really on top of things - I have my stitching and finishing done for the SBE Autumn Exchange, and need only get some ribbon for closures. I can get it off in the mail after that, and I'll be ahead of time - something I'm working hard on doing well.

So many new designs coming out, it's hard not to rush to the LNS to add to the stash! I'm currently in two RR's, one a House and Garden theme, and the other is Quaker samplers. With all these great groups to take part in, I've found several exchanges to take part in, and I love when something comes in the mail. I've recently added a kit from Just Nan, a special Halloween design to make a triangular ort box. I also finally broke down and ordered the needlebook from Au Fil des Reves, the one that matches their bourse. I'm hoping to start that soon, as I've developed quite an attachment to stitching needlework accessories. I plan to find a wonderful long basket to display all these in.

I've recently been obsessed with collecting as many Prairie Schooler designs that I can find (without breaking the bank!), and have managed to get myself down to needing just one more design to feel I have all the ones I truly want. It's been a quest that hasn't been the best for my pocketbook, but oh well.

As soon as my exchange is mailed, and I figure out where the cable for connecting the camera to the computer has disappeared, I will post a picture of it here (that is if I can make that work!).

Wish List

Not that I need to add to my ever expanding stash (!), but having missed out on an Ebay auction, my wish for a certain Prairie Schooler design, and reading of other's wish lists on their blogs, has led me to create one here. I have spent the last several months picking up PS designs wherever I can (I wish I had loved them as much when they were readily available as I do now), and I'm down to needing just a couple more:
Christmas Trees #82
Animal Alphabet #68

I would also dearly love to have the charts for Shepherd's Bush Fold Alphabets - I have only seen a couple of these stitched, and they are wonderful.

So, it's good to see my wish list to small, but that also means that I have added a fair amount recently!

New Territory

Well, this is a first. I had never thought of creating a blog for myself. I love reading blogs from others, but never felt I had enough to write about. However, I'm enjoying my association with the "Stitching Blogger's Exchange" group on EZ board, and plan to stay with them - so here I am. I'm still trying to work out how to get pictures onto the internet, much less here, so things should be interesting for while!

Once I get comfortable writing about myself, I'll add more!

Nancy K