Princess Pattern Collector

P is for Procrastinate

2011-08-21T14:39:00.000-07:00

It has been so #%$* hot it isn't funny. We are now at 60+ days at over 100 degrees this summer. And no rain. It is making for a very grouchy Donna (not to mention a grouchy James, a grouchy Mom and a grouchy everyone you come in contact with).
Our air conditioner went out on a Sunday afternoon about 3 or 4 weeks ago. In the few hours that Sunday morning while waiting to find out if they could repair the a/c or not it became unbearable in the house. How in the world do people who don't have central air or even a window unit make it? Luckily it was fixed later that afternoon and even though we spent the night at a local hotel, we returned to a cool house.
We also went on a vacation this summer. James and I met up with my daughter and grandsons to go to Moody Gardens in Galveston. We had a great time, despite the heat. It was my oldest grandson, Trent's 9th birthday. For his birthday I purchased surf lessons. Moody Gardens had a deal with a local surf shop. So Saturday and Sunday morning we went to the beach and watched him learn to surf. He did great! Here are a few vacation pictures:

I have done some small stitching items for babies. As I wrote in my last post (I CANNOT believe it has been 2 months since I posted last) we have had a slew of pregnancies of both current and past employees of my office. I cannot post pics because I have either given them away or they may see them on this blog.
But here is the amazing part: I have started stitching on Aging Artfully. I am working on P for Procrastinate. I think I have this one down pat. I do a great job at procrastinating as you can see from how long it took for me to start working on Aging Artfully again.
Here is a picture of my progress:

Hopefully, this is a good sign of things to come. I know I won't be out and about in this heat, so staying in the a/c and stitching sounds like a good plan.
And I leave you with the words of several songs, which hopefully will bring cooler weather: Dashing through the snow, Oh the weather outside is frightful, so let it snow, let it snow, let it snow, I'm dreaming of a White Christmas, Frosty the snowman...

New baby stitching

2011-06-19T14:22:00.001-07:00

Our office went for 7 years with no babies being added (except grandchildren). We had a number of young women who for various reasons did not have children.
Last December one of our newest additions to the office had an addition of her own. I got to do some stitching for her. But I really wasn't in the "mood" for stitching.
Now I have a large collection of baby items ready to stitch. I have waited for some time for my daughter to have a granddaughter for me. But that didn't happen and I don't think it will.
But when my office mate announced her pregnancy, I, of course, went out and bought more items anyway.
These past couple of months have had 3 new announcements that women who either work in the office or used to work in the office are pregnant. I am close to all 3 and one is even having twins.
And they have all admired and supported my stitching efforts. So of course, I must get busy stitching for them. They are all due somewhere between October and December.
This weekend I started and finished the cutest pair of baby shoes. I cannot show a picture because the person I am giving them to occasionally reads my blog.
While it is not a typical "baby" design, I do think they will love them. I will post a pic as soon as I can.
So here is my question for you: When you find yourself in a stitching "slump" (and we all do at some point), what brings you out of it?
For me, it is usually a new design I must have and must start immediately or if I have a reason, such as a gift or giveaway, to stitch.
It is still hotter than he double toothpicks here. I went to the store and bought sandwich meat, salad stuff, and microwave food for the next week. Heating up the oven or stove for dinner when I come home is the equivalent to losing my mind. The house doesn't cool off after that until the next morning. And I really think I am in the beginning of menopause (which I have thought about for the past 3 years) and I am having hot flashes like crazy. So since I can only take off so many articles of clothing, I try really hard to keep the house as cool as possible. LOL
Hope you are having better weather and are enjoying your summer. Here is to lots of fun stitching and no frogs!
Til next time!

New Lizzie Kate Blog

2011-06-05T11:37:00.001-07:00

I am sure all you Lizzie Kate fans know this but she has a new blog. It is very fun and interesting, including a post about how a pattern goes from design to finished product.
Speaking of Lizzie Kate, you may have been following (a very long time ago) my posts on my thoughts as I stitched The ABC's of Aging Artfully. Well, I am on the letter "P" which stands for Procrastinate. This is something I am very good at as is seen in the fact I haven't stitched on it in FOREVER!
Since the summer heat and drought are here in full force in Texas, I am hoping I can find time to sit my rearend down in my chair under the A/C and stitch and show all of you my progress.
It is so hot here. I mean really, this is the first of June and we have had several days all ready at 100 degrees or more. And no rain, no rain clouds, no cool anything except the Sonic ice tea with lime I have found to be a necessity to get through it all.
I hope most of you are finding better, cooler temperatures where you are and have been stitching up a storm. I miss reading your comments. I do read most of your blogs and even though I may not have commented, I still enjoy keeping up with all of my cyber friends.
Speaking of cyber friends, most of you remember Rene. I have missed her so much this past week. Not sure why, but she has been missed. I know some of you are feeling the same way.
Here is to no frogs heading your way, lots of ice tea and a whole lot of stitching!

The man of my dreams

2011-05-25T13:22:00.000-07:00

Six years ago this Saturday, I married the man of my dreams, the one I waited my whole life for, my hunk of burning love!
This is a picture of us kissing for the first time as husband and wife. Since we got married in a Baptist church and couldn't have a first dance there at the reception, we decided to make our kiss the best. We practiced a "dip kiss".
Problem is, James didn't know I had a real wedding dress and we hadn't practiced with that slippery fabric. So when he went to dip me, I felt him slip a little. But being the man he is, he didn't drop me and the kiss went off without a hitch!
It was wonderful! Six years later I still love him, even more than I did then. Happy anniversary, James!

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T14:47:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter to all!
We had a wonderful family get together today. We went to my sister's house for lunch. My 2 nieces, future nephew in law, sister, BIL, and mom along with our furry family, my sister's dog, Gator, my niece's dog, Macy and of course our own special dog, Honey. My dear husband even had the day off (the first weekend since my birthday in February)and got to share the day with us.
We had so much fun that we forgot to take pictures along the way. Here a few we took just before the fun:

It was a very windy day, but that didn't keep Mom from sitting in the backyard all day!
Thanks to my sis for all the work she did and for having us over. So much fun!
I wish I could show you some stitching but I seem to be back in that slump.
In any event, I wish you sunshine and Easter eggs! Hope you and your family had a good Easter!

A giveaway on Amy's blog!

2011-04-12T18:37:00.000-07:00

A new found friend, Amy, is having a great giveaway for her blogversary. Check out her blog. And oh, yeah, check out her giveaway also!

And I present...

2011-03-25T17:56:00.001-07:00

The first roses of my garden this spring. I have a rather small yellow rose bush that has lots of thorns, but produces a yellow rose with little streaks of peach and light orange. And smells amazing.
And my other rose bush is a giant round bush that produces hundreds of small pink roses that don't have many thorns and don't really have a smell, but look so, so pretty.
Here is the first yellow rose and small pink rose of the season, with many more to come:

I always look so forward to the bluebonnets here in Texas. But we have had so little rain in the past 6 weeks or so, that I have only seen a couple here and there. Hopefully before the season is over, I will find a small patch that I can capture in a picture to last me until next year.
I plan on carrying my stitching to the arboretum or to my yard this weekend and will have a post of my latest on my ABC's (along with some thoughts from me!)
I gave up Facebook for Lent. I was spending WAAAAYYYY too much time on it. I gave it up for several reasons, and while I have missed it, I have also found I spend more time in the yard looking a birds and smelling the warm fresh air and have been going to bed earlier and getting much needed rest. It is amazing how something like Facebook steals precious time from you without you noticing.
When I go back to it, if I go back, I hope I can monitor how much time and energy I use and keep it under control. But for now, I will enjoy roses, family and stitching.
Hope this post brings you sunshine and roses.

A break from ABC's

2011-03-18T18:42:00.000-07:00

I am not really taking a break from ABC's. Rather I am adding a new post not related to it.
Every year, the past 3 years, for my youngest grandson's birthday, we have gone to Grapevine Mills Mall Rainforest Cafe to celebrate. The kids and their mom come here to Waco and then we go up to Grapevine for his birthday.
We always take a picture in front of the Rainforest Cafe sign with James (my DH), the boys and myself. It is my main picture at the top of my blog. I have been amazed at how much it shows the boys' growth over the years.
Last year my youngest (and my tallest) grandson was just under my shoulder, a little higher than breast height on me. This year he comes up to my chin. Same photo each year, but just a little different. Soon he will be taller than me. He is 7 this year. The oldest will turn 9.
They are growing up so fast, esp. when I only see them about 3-4 times a year.
We had such a wonderful time. This year my son in law was able to join us for the first time. We rented a mini van and all rode together. We were all very tired at the end of the day, but it was a lot of fun.
Here are some photos:
James & I

Jen & Chris (acting like they were in love. LOL)

Jen & me (Wearing matching shirts. We got these for Valentine's Day, but have never seen them on each other in person)

Jen, Chris and the boys (acting silly)

And finally, the birthday boy blowing out his candle:

I am sure I will be back to stitching at the end of this weekend and will have more ABC's and insight to go along with it. But for now, I think I will play with some little boys while they are still little.
Hope you have sunshine and daffodils!

M is for Mend Fences

2011-02-27T13:33:00.000-08:00

Once again I have finished a verse on my ABC's of Aging Artfully by Lizzie Kate. And once again I have given thought to what the verse means to me.
Here is the letter M which stands for Mend Fences:

Mend Fences. Hmm. Forgiveness. Letting go of past hurts. Not so easy. Sometimes downright, outright hard.
One thing I have learned in this life is that you must forgive. Trust me when I say this, you must forgive.
Forgiveness, believe it or not, is not for the person or persons that hurt you. It is for you. Spending time, sometimes years, not forgiving just takes it's toll on YOU. Many times the person that hurt you has gone on with their lives, never even thinking about what they did. They are sleeping at night. Enjoying life.
But unforgiveness is eating at you. It can cause depression, bad eating habits, sleepless nights and general unhappiness.
Now I understand that sometimes things happen that cannot be forgotten. Or really, shouldn't be forgotten, such as in abuse cases. I am not asking you to forget.
I am asking you to forgive. Reach in your heart and forgive that person. Write a letter, even if you don't send it. Then let it go.
I had a really good friend. Went to school with this person. Shared lots of good times with her. But one day she betrayed my trust. Or rather threatened to betray my trust. Friendship over. I couldn't forgive her. Never mind she was doing what she thought was right. Never mind we never talked about it. I just stopped talking to her.
Until some 20+ years later I saw her in passing. I then realized she had no idea I was so angry, so unforgiving, or even why I would be. 20+ years of MY LIFE spent not forgiving someone who didn't even have a clue. MY LIFE. At that moment I forgave. And we picked up our friendship. I have enjoyed her. She remembers me when I was young, vivacious, fun! We share laughs about the past and see our children making mistakes we could keep them from if they would only listen.
But 20+ years have passed. I can't imagine where we would be in our friendship if I had just forgave her.
I have seen people who can't forgive. They are not happy people. They are always looking to make sure no one ever hurts them again. They have walls up. They are missing so much happiness.
Mend fences. Something we all need to do. Now where is that emotional hammer and nails? I am sure there is someone I need to forgive...

I is for Ignore Convention

2011-02-22T14:25:00.001-08:00

Here is the next verse in my "ABC's for Aging Artfully". If you have been following this blog, you know that I am stitching this piece by Lizzie Kate and while doing so, giving some input on my thoughts about the verse I am on. Here is a pic of the start of Ignore Convention:

Ignore Convention or better put, Defy Convention. This has taken some thought and some research, including talking to folks who know me.

I think the poem "When I am old I shall wear purple" describes me best.

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in the slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practise a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

I think my whole life I have been "wearing purple". I have always walked a line between what society said I should do and what I wanted to do. Sometimes I crossed that line. Actually many times. But not so far over the line that I was "peculiar". I was just, well, me.
And I think that ignoring convention means also just thinking outside the box. For instance, when I started my Stitching for a Cure blog, I was thinking of a different way to fundraise for Relay For Life and for a way to include other stitchers who wanted a way to participate, but didn't know how. Thinking outside the box turned out to be a great winner for Relay.

Here is a list of some folks who ignored convention and were successful in doing so:

Guy Laliberte - reinvented the circus, making a leap from street entertainer to CEO (Cirque Du Soleil)
Coco Chanel changed the way women dress and re-defined the suntan
Ferruccio Lamborghini transformed his farm machinery company to a become a challenger brand to Ferrari
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greefield's uncompromising idealism meant a $4000 loan was all it took for Ben & Jerry's to become global players
Les Paul made the first usable, saleable electric guitar
Picasso new approach is of course another obvious example.

Countless people defy convention every day,and change the world.
So ignore convention every once in awhile and see if you can change the world in some way. I bet you will at least change your world!
Now where is my big red hat? I have earned it.

E is for Eat Chocolate

2011-02-20T09:35:00.000-08:00

As in my previous post, I am working on the ABC's of Aging Artfully. I will not be stitching in alphabetic order due to the way I have the fabric on my scroll frame. I am on E today.
Ok, this is one I have a little problem with. Because even though a 50 year old menopausal woman is supposed to crave chocolate, I don't. Sweets are not something I crave except on few occasions.
With one really big exception. An exception that I can't have because the restaurant went out of business 10 years ago due to a divorce. Divorce hurts everyone, including restaurant patrons.
There was this little place called The Arizona. And they served a Kaluha chocolate chimichanga with tequilla cream sauce. I am not lying when I say this was a lick your plate kind of desert. It was a dark chocolate in a tortilla, lightly fried, served with this white cream sauce. I am getting goosebumps thinking about it.
I am sure even today I would love it. I have searched Google trying to find something similar, but I am sure it would only disappoint me even if I found it.
Here is the pic of the Eat Chocolate verse start:

On another note, today is the Daytona 500. I can't help but think about Rene. She was such a NASCAR fan. I know she is watching from her spot in heaven, but I would much rather have her here, chatting with her about the race and seeing all her wonderful stitching. Rene we love you.
You all have seen pics of my 70 year old mom. She is also a NASCAR fan. Her favorite driver is Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Her best friend Kristi, who is also her stylist and manicurist, helped her celebrate the 500 in style. She went to the supply store and told them she needed Mountain Dew/Amp Energy green nail polish (Dale's colors).
She painted her nails black and on one hand put a checkered flag and on the other put the letter "A" for Amp Energy and the number 88, Jr.'s number.
The pics are not very good (her little paralyzed hand would not cooperate) but here they are:

Mom knows how to party!
And for all my snow bound friends. It is in the low 80's here in Texas. Even though I have been sick, my dear husband took me for a ride. The daffodils (my favorite flowers) are in bloom. We will have them around for about 3 weeks before they are gone for the year. This is proof that my friend Phil was right-we will have an early spring.
I have photos for you, along with a picture of one of the roadrunners that live at the Arboretum I so dearly love to go to. I hadn't seen the roadrunners for some time and then when I did, I didn't have my camera. But my husband James got a great pic of one of them:

Now that the daffies have burst out with their sunshine yellow color, I know that bluebonnets and red bud trees are just a short time away! I love spring!
Here is to wishing all of you sunshine and chocolate! Keep on stitching!

ABC's of Aging Artfully

2011-02-16T14:11:00.000-08:00

"To know how to grow old is the master work of wisdom, and one of the most difficult chapters in the great art of living." Amiel
Turning 50 has had a great effect on my life. I believe my grandson's comment "that you are halfway to 100" might have had something to do with it. Or it may be the fact that I realize my life is more than half over.
Now granted, the years left in my life are most likely going to be the best years in my life, but still facts are facts. And so is the fact that I spent 18 years growing up and going to school. And another 12 years until I was really an "adult". I think at 30 I realized what being an adult really meant.
I have started stitching again. And I think it is appropriate while I am in this reflective time in my life that I am stitching on Lizzie Kate's "The ABC's of Aging Artfully". I think it pretty much sums up where I am in my life. Joyous, free, silly, and blessed.
As with the "Time for God" piece by Lizzie Kate I stitched a while back, each verse seems to have a special meaning for me.
I will be documenting my stitching on this blog and reflecting on what I am learning about life and myself as I stitch.
I have almost finished stitching the letter "A" which starts "Amaze Yourself". Now I amaze myself all the time. I amaze myself that I am this far in my career with no real college education. I amaze myself that I raised a child on my own. I amaze myself that after 44 years I met and married the man of my dreams. I amaze myself that I have picked up my stitching again!
But what really amazes me is the fact that my sister at the age of 40 something (or 20 plus, plus something)is going back to school. All while raising a 15 year old, having a relationship and working. She has completed her associate's degree with a 4.0 (amazing) and is working on her bachelor's degree. Amazing. Something I wouldn't dream of doing and frankly don't want to do. But she does it. She is doing it. She is showing a whole group of young people that she still has it.
Here is a pic of what I have done so far. It is on 28 count Silkweaver Lugana in "Days Gone By".

So go out there and amaze yourself. I know I will!

What is it?

2011-02-12T18:25:00.000-08:00

Ok, so the whole question is "What is it about birthdays that inspire me so?".
I have always felt my birthday was a national holiday. And meant to be celebrated for weeks. Gifts weren't important. It was about the hoopla and celebration. The confetti and princess crowns. The singing "Happy Birthday" over and over. The talking about it so much that people start running the other way when they see me.
But there is something else. I think it happened when I turned 30. But I really remember my 40th birthday the most. I had my first limo ride and spa day celebration. Changed my hair color and did the whole nine yards, complete with a new outfit.
That really started a tradition. Since then, I have always had a "birthday shirt". And a pedicure and manicure. And even if my birthday always occurs in frozen February, I had a new pair of sandals to wear on my birthday to show off my new pedicure. This year was no exception. It was a record 16 degrees out and I wore sandals. Froze myself nearly to death, but boy my feet looked GOOOOODDD!
Every year, it seems I "make over" myself on my birthday. Not really make over, but kind of "pump it back up". Seems like I reach a point just before my birthday where I slack off on the make up and the hair, well, it just doesn't have a "punch" to it.
This year I did a big change and went blond. Well, not all blond. Red undertones with major blond highlights. I thought with my red face I couldn't do blond, but girls, just let me tell you I can do blond. And do it up right.
I have bought more nail polish and make up and face creams and hair stuff in the past couple of weeks than I have all year long.
Some people throw out the old and bring in the new on New Year's. But I think I do it on my birthday.
Whatever it is, it is really nice to feel pretty again. And spoiled. And fun. And cared for. And well, blond! I think fifty suits me really well.
I have ordered some fabric and will be stitching again really soon. I will post pics as soon as I can.
Now for those of you up north with snow and ice and freezing temps, what I am about to say is not to make you feel more miserable. We even had temps in the teens with wind chills at 0 and snow, ice and sleet in the past two weeks.
But, I have to tell you, the daffodils are in bloom. The green sprigs have been out for a couple of weeks and today I saw 2 yellow blooms. I think in the next week or so they will be out for real. I will post flower pics as they bloom.
I think my buddy Phil is right. We are going to have an early spring!
Here is wishing you sunshine and daffodils!

Let the celebration begin!

2011-01-29T17:36:00.001-08:00

Well it is officially my birthday weekend. You know I believe it is a national holiday. I also believe in celebrating for at least a week, if not more.
My husband started it all off with a beautiful brooch that I had looked at but didn't purchase for myself.

I love brooches and this one just screamed my name. He also bought a pair of earrings I will show later when I show off my new birthday shirt!
Then today I had my hair done. I had found a picture of me about 6 years ago when I had light red hair with highlights. I wanted to go back to that color.
My hairdresser went a little bolder and put quite a bit of strawberry blond highlights, so much so that my hair almost looks blond. It is so pretty! I also bought some new eye make-up and lipstick (you know you only turn 50 once!)
Here is the new me:

After we finished that, my sister's family, Mom, James and I went to a Japanese steakhouse where we watched them play with fire. It was so much fun! Here are some pics of the celebration:

All in all it was a fun day!
I will end this post with a picture of our new addition Honey:

Tuesday a friend of mine and I are having a spa party (facial, pedicure, manicure, the works!). And then on my actual birthday I have a new shirt and sandals to show off the new pedicure (even though it is supposed to be below freezing on that day).
So more celebrating is definitely on the way!

When did this happen (and a new addition)

2011-01-13T19:35:00.001-08:00

Ok, when or rather where, did 49 years go? I cannot possibly be turning 50. I mean, 50? Really? FIFTY!??? But after checking my driver's license and searching in vain for my birth certificate (maybe they didn't have those that long ago!), I am indeed turning 50 on February 2, whether the groundhog sees his shadow or not.
Well, if I must turn 50 I will do it in the princess style I am accustomed to.
At a spa, enjoying a facial, pedicure and manicure, along with a friend (thanks Mom and Brenda for arranging and paying for this!). We are going the evening before my birthday so that I can look fabulous on my birthday. As we all know, I must ROCK this birthday!
In the past I have done things like have a birthday bash blood drive and fundraiser for my birthday. This year I am being selfish. It is all about me. Is that terrible? Am I wrong?
If so, well, I am going to be terrible and wrong. After all, you only turn 50 once (I know, I know, you can say that same thing about every birthday year!). And 50 is special.
Now for the new addition. Many of you helped me get through the loss of my sweet Alex puppy last spring. It was extremely hard.
But I have missed having a dog in the house. So for my birthday, my dear husband was going to get me a dog. But God (and my niece Sabrina) dropped one into my life. Her name is Honey and she is a mini dachshund. She is two years old and the owner had 5 dogs and just couldn't care for them all. James is going to pay for her shots update and getting her spayed. So he is still, in a way, paying for the dog for my birthday.
She is just precious. A lap dog. And even though she has been her less than a week, she is part of the family.
May I present Honey:

The dress came with her. It took her about 20 minutes and it came off. She is not much of a poser, but we will work on that.
On another note, this week the stitching world lost a great teacher and friend. Rest in peace Sweet Rene. You were one of a kind and I am sure heaven is enjoying having you!

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T13:20:00.000-08:00

Let me start with a New Year's video from my family and me!

And if that wasn't enough fun, here are a couple of photos to make your day!

When my dad passed away 14 years ago, we realized we had very few pics of him. Because he was always behind the camera rather than in front. And while we have many, many memories of him, sometimes you just want to remember by seeing a photo.
So I made a vow to never let that happen to my family. And to make sure that my grandsons would remember the fun they had with their great grandmother, Papa James and myself, along with everyone else.
One of the best gifts my DH got me a few years ago was a Flip Video. If you are not familiar with this check out "The Flip" on Google. It is a small video camera that does a nice job, can fit in your pocket and at the end of the day, simply plugs into your computer for a simple download.
I want to wish you and your families a VERY Happy New Year. I pray this next year brings you peace and joy and lots of stitching!
Thank you for being my online friends. Each of you are very precious to me!

Did you have a good Christmas?

2010-12-27T16:38:00.000-08:00

Hope you did! I know I sure did!
I went to my daughter's house on Christmas Eve to share Christmas with them and brought my grandsons back with me for this week to celebrate New Year's Eve with them along with my husband and mother.
Here is a video of my grandsons on Christmas Eve:

My mom, James and I went in and got each one of the kids a big gift. We got my oldest, Trent, a Legos Harry Potter Mansion set and the youngest, Craig, a Big Foot the Monster animated toy.
Here are some before, during and after photos:

They really liked their gifts. We woke up at 7:30am to find the oldest in his room. He had completed 7 of the 10 levels for the Legos Mansion and was on the 3rd instruction book (out of 3!). We asked if he had slept and he assured us he did, but who knows how early he got up!
The Big Foot monster was enjoyed by all. If you haven't seen it, type in "Big Foot the Monster" on Google and watch the video. Then imagine that it is twice as funny because it is!
This year was particularly special to me. My daughter's family got a new house this year and she has her own living area (they live with her husband's family). She has a fireplace and lots of space to decorate.
I brought down ALL of my holiday stitching, from Christmas through Valentine's Day through Easter and on through the Fourth of July, Halloween and Thanksgiving. I also brought a framed sampler I had made for her in 2000 that I had been waiting to have her have in her own home.
You can see some of the stitching in the photos (the little bears and the stockings). She also received all of my stitched ornaments, some of which were made from friends that are no longer with us (and with whom my daughter grew up around).
It was quite fulfilling to pass along my stitching while I am still around to see her enjoy it.
I pray this next year brings all of you plenty of great needles, patterns, fabric and threads and that all little froggies that would get in the way of your stitching stay away.
I wish you happiness and peace and all the good things life has for you.
I thank you for your friendship and support. You all are the best!

Merry Christmas (and I am back!)

2010-12-19T06:02:00.001-08:00

Let me start by saying thank you to Meari! Her little e-mail reminded me I have neglected by blogging friends. Not only have I not kept up to date on blogging I haven't kept up to date on reading your blogs. I promise to do better on both accounts.
Work has been really busy. I have taken on more responsibility and by the time I get off, I just want to lounge in the chair and not do much of anything. Not even stitching, so I have none to show you.
My husband and I did get away (despite hurdling some obstacles) to Austin to a comic book convention. Yes I said comic book convention. My DH collects them and we had planned the trip awhile back.
This was not my first convention with him, but was the best one yet. If you are into people watching, this is the place to people watch. People in costumes, old actors and actresses from television and movies. We met the original Batman and Robin (Adam West and Burt Ward). James had his pic taken with them both and also in the Batmobile. Ghostbusters were there also along with many others.
There was one guy who I think really thought he was Batman was there also. He had a better costume than the original. When he left, he got into a 1969 black Corvette with the Batman logo and all the bells and whistles on the car. Clearly he wasn't married because a wife would say "you spent how much on the costume and car?!!!"
It was really good to get away with my husband.
My grandsons are good and are coming here next week. I will pick them up Christmas Eve and bring them here on Christmas Day to stay a week with us.
I do have a funny story about my youngest, Craig. He had a solo (he is 6) for the Christmas musical. He was supposed to sing the first part of Rudolph and then back off the microphone (and he doesn't need a microphone anyway he is so loud). But he sang and never left the mic. He was dressed in a tux and a top hat. His gestures and singing had the audience in tears. But the best part was the end.
After he finished singing, when the rest of the kids were leaving the stage, he bowed and said "thank you. I will be performing all week. Be sure to try the buffet".
What a hoot!
You might remember (or not it was so long ago) my last post that I had stitched something for a fellow staff member who was expecting a baby. Well she had that sweet baby girl last Sunday. So we have a new addition to our office!
We have kept pretty much low key this holiday. In fact we have already exchanged our gifts to each other. I got a mini notepad from James and James got a digital drawing pad from me. Mom got her favorite button down nightgowns from us and a new television from my sister & her family.
It's hard to keep presents from each other when they come in via Fedex, UPS, etc. I love online ordering. And we don't have a tree to put them under anyway.
James and I did manage to go to the company Christmas party last Sunday. Here is a picture of us:

And with this picture, I will leave you with a wish and a promise. A wish for you to have a very Merry Christmas and a promise that I will keep up with you all more in the coming year. You all are such blessings to me!

First baby gift

2010-10-21T16:22:00.000-07:00

I have started stitching baby gifts for my office friend who is having a little girl around Christmas.
This is a little DMC finished girl bear doll that I found on Ebay. I remember when DMC made these and I wish they still made them. I have a set of Christmas bears that are really cute.
The only problem I had is that you just stitch the bib part of it and it was 18 count. I haven't stitched on 18 count in a very long time and it was challenging to me.
Here is a pic of the finished bear:

This is just one several projects I am going to be working on. I forgot how much fun it is to stitch for a baby again!

And the winner is...

2010-10-07T18:40:00.000-07:00

KAY!
But alas, I don't have an email for you! So if you would shoot me an email at dwooleybooger@yahoo.com, then I can have 123stitch send you your prize!
Thanks for all the nice compliments of my pictures. The butterflies must have been on their way south. Monday morning we had record lows and I haven't seen a handful of the lovely beauties since Sunday. Glad I got the pictures when I could. They will have to last me through the winter until next spring!

Butterflies and a blogversary!

2010-10-03T16:47:00.000-07:00

I didn't stitch this weekend, but rather spent it outside in perfect weather, watching butterflies! Our local arboretum has a butterfly garden and I bet there were 30 of them on one bush alone. I saw so many different colored ones and different sizes. Sometimes they would just take flight together and flutter around. Breathtaking!
Here are some pictures:

I also discovered that on October 6 is my 2nd blogversary! Wow! How time flies by when you are having fun.
I have so enjoyed the online friendships I have formed from this blog and my other, Stitching for a Cure . You all have been a blessing to me.
To celebrate, I am giving away a $20 gift certificate to my favorite ONS, 123 stitch!
You don't have to jump through any hoops to win. Simply post a message on this post and give me a way to contact you if you win! I will be drawing on the morning of Oct. 7th.
Good luck to all and thank you for two great years!

Another finish

2010-09-06T19:36:00.001-07:00

I finished this little piece off this weekend. It is the last Stitching For a Cure project I will do for 2010. I still have to do the binding around the piece and put a bow on it, but the stitching is done.
Again I changed the fabric and the colors for the freebie, C is for Cure from Just Cross Stitch Magazine by Lizzie Kate.
If the fabric and colors look familiar, they should be. I used the same fabric and threads on Lizzie Kate's Chicks Rule.
I just loved the colors and thought they were very appropriate for Relay For Life.
I can now focus on some stitching "just for fun". We have a new recruiter in our office and she is expecting a baby girl at Christmas. I have been really wanting to do some stitching, esp. for a baby girl. And since I think my daughter is through giving me grandchildren, harassing the office staff to have babies has become my new hobby.
I found the cutest patterns to stitch and am going to do a little pair of white lace shoes, a hooded towel, a diaper cover (so cute!) and a little sign that says "Shh! Baby's Sleeping". I really hope since she is new and doesn't know me as well as the others do that she won't think I am a cross stitching stalker!
On another front, the cooler weather (if you can call 94 degrees cooler!) has made my garden go back into full bloom. I have a BUNCH of grape tomatoes and a couple of larger tomatoes on the vine, the peppers (yellow banana and green) are growing like crazy, my basil is just taking off again, the strawberries are in bloom and I have the tiniest little mint leaf starting. And oh yeah, I have this giant "Jack and the beanstalk" bean plant that is taking over everything. It has blooms all over it and I hope it produces some beans.
I even sat outside this morning with my DH and had our coffee in our lawn chairs without dying from a heat stroke. It is so nice. Rain is on it's way tonight and will cool off things even further.
Hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

Finally stitching

2010-08-29T16:05:00.000-07:00

I am finally stitching in my new chair. And as I anticipated, it is a great stitching chair!
Just Cross Stitch Magazine has a freebie pattern by Lizzie Kate called C is for Cure. I stitched it up on Strawberry Milkshake lugana by Silkweaver and changed the colors. I think it is really cute!

I am so looking forward to fall and cooler weather so I can stitch outside again. It has been almost unbearable here. We had 23 days of over 100 degree temps. It just makes you miserable when it is that hot for that long.
We have a new employee in our office that is expecting a little girl around Christmas. I have been waiting to stitch for a baby for so long! I could hardly wait to pull out the baby stitching stuff I have socked away. I hope I don't overwhelm her! Seriously though I have a little cotton baby blanket with 6 1/2 inch by 6 1/2 inch squares in each corner. I bought it for a really good price and it has been just waiting for me to pull it out and stitch on it.
Hope you all are having a good start to the school year and looking forward to the fall season ahead of us!

Just had to share

2010-08-12T13:47:00.000-07:00

Just had to share these two new pictures of my grandsons and daughter. Aren't they just cute as a bug?

Hope everyone is staying cool (HA! If you live where I am, the coolest it gets is 80 degrees and that is at 5am). But think cool thoughts and soon it will be fall.
I finished Time For God and took it to the framers. It is going to the family I spoke about earlier that lost a child and their home to fire. I think they will love it. I will post a pic when I get it back.

What's wrong with this picture? (and also the winner(S) announced!)

2010-08-01T15:43:00.000-07:00

My grandsons, daughter and son in law came to visit this past weekend. Here are some pictures:

These pictures were taken at a local amusement park we have here. I took my daughter there many times from just less than age 1 until she refused to go anymore. In fact, they have some little boats that go around in a circle. When she was a baby I put her in the boat in the back and there were two side by side steering wheels. She had never stood up before so I felt safe. Imagine my surprise, when the boats were going around, she grabbed both steering wheels and pulled herself up for the first time. Scared me to death!
It was fun seeing my GRANDSON enjoy this park now. It is different when you are a grandparent.
They have a train that goes completely around the 1 block park. My grandson and daughter really enjoyed themselves on it.
What is wrong with the picture you might ask?
Well I actually have TWO grandsons. At least I think I do. I barely saw the 8 year old this weekend. When he was in the house he was in my spare room watching TV or on my husband's PS3. But he mostly wasn't in the house. My son in law and husband took him to a video gaming place called Lansharx here. He loves going there with "the guys".
What happened to my little baby? The one that I held and rocked and who later sat on the arm of my chair and told me everything about his life? Eight must be the magic age when they turn away from "little" boy stuff and go on to "big" boy stuff. Granted, when he was here he did tell me a number of times he loved being at my house and he loved me! So that is good.
Right before he left, I made him stand still to take a picture so I could prove he was really here.

While my daughter was here, we decided to make it a "girly" weekend along with the visit from the boys. Friday we got our hair cut and then that night we colored each other's hair. My daughter went a strawberry blond color and it is very pretty. I did my usually reddish brown color but this time I tried something daring! I put a frosting cap on and highlighted my hair. It turned out great. Not very light highlights, just real subtle caramel colors. Next time I will leave the bleach on for a little while longer.
Then on Saturday we went to a nail spa and got "the works". We both got pedicures with a mask, hot wax and hot stones. Then I got a manicure and she got solar nails. Very, very nice.
We then went shopping and I found a couple of blouses that I liked (you know I have lost 39 pounds now! So new blouses were in order!) and I bought a new pair of sandals. She found some sandals and a lot of jewelry!
We had lunch with friends. One of my former co-workers was in town and so we had lunch with her and also my manager from work. We went to Panera Bread and had a blast. Here are a couple of pics:

After we went to the park that evening we topped the day off with facials. So now I feel very pampered!
And now for the moment you all have been waiting for! My grandson chose a name at random and the winner for the LK Scissor kit is: DEBRA! I will send you an e-mail to get your mailing address.
BUT WAIT! I decided it was so hot we needed some sunglasses to keep the sun out of our eyes. And to keep us focused on cooler weather, we need Mrs. Bones to remind us Halloween is on it's way. So we did another drawing for these Mill Hill kits:

The winner for these two kits is: CAROLYN!
And, I decided I would give away the pattern for Time For God (it is gently used) and that goes to JANET of Cross Stitch Bibs!
I will shoot an e-mail to all the winners asking for mailing addresses! Congratulations to all the winners!

Time For God (oh and a giveaway also!)

2010-07-25T16:25:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to announce I am now through with my pity party. And I am stitching again.
Many of you will remember I had been stitching on Time for God by LK. I only lacked a little on it, but I lost my stitching mojo and hadn't worked on it for awhile. Well, I worked on it today and I am almost through. All I need to finish it is the little border at the bottom.
Here is a pic of it:

This has been a very spiritual piece for me. It seemed like during each verse I was stitching, something in my life was occurring that related to that. Such as when I lost my little dog, Alex I was working on the verse "Hard times, Trust God".
And while I was stitching on it, I kept thinking this piece was meant for someone special, but I didn't know who. I debated on friends, on the minister that had married James and I, and on my daughter. And while I know all would appreciate it, I just kept thinking it was meant for someone else.
Last week God spoke to me. There was a family in our area that had a house explosion. They lost their 18 month old son and the father was seriously burned rescuing his sons. Their 3 year old son was also burned in the fire. And the house, well, it was bad. Really bad.
This family lives in Gatesville, the little town that I worked on one of my Relays with. A little town I have fallen in love with.
And while I don't know this family, I have come to know about their lives because we have done a number of blood drives for. Here is a video clip of one of the stories about them.
Gatesville Family
I now know this piece is meant for them. I plan on finishing it and then giving it to the family in the next few weeks. I know it will mean as much to them as it has to me while I have worked on it.
And also last week, I couldn't help but read on many of your blogs that this heat is taking it's toll on you. So I thought it was time for me to do another giveaway.
Since generally Christmastime means cold weather, I decided it would be a Christmas related giveaway.
I am giving this Christmas tree shaped scissor holder to one of you who leave a message on this post. I will draw a name from all the entries on July 31st. Christmas in July! Here is a picture of the kit. By the way, it is a limited edition Lizzie Kate kit that has the bells and stuff with it. All you have to do is provide a couple of strands of DMC. And it could easily be made into an ornament.

So just leave a message with a way for me to contact you (your blog name or email addy) and maybe you will win a little cool in the summer!
PS. Thanks to all of you for your support during my pity party! It is good to see I have friends in the good times and the bad!

A change

2010-07-17T19:14:00.000-07:00

Well, since it is hotter than Hades here in Texas now, I decided my spring background for my blog was a little outdated.
So I searched and I thought this one screamed my name. I wish I had the money to redecorate my house the way I redecorate my blogs. Oh well...
Hotlips had her last bloom yesterday and I meant to get a picture of it, but messed around until it was too late. Now last year she surprised me and popped out more blooms after her initial stalks. We shall see what her highness decides to do this year.
I have been very bored at home. Not bored enough to stitch or clean (LOL) but bored none the less. Since it was raining so much the past few weeks and now has been so hot, I can't sit on my patio and enjoy my back yard. And for the most part, my zucchini have bit the dust and the tomatoes, well let's just say I am highly disappointed. I still have blooms but no tomatoes. And don't even get me talking about the peppers. But we do still have cucumbers.
I think part of the reason I am so bored is that I am still trying to find my way through this "less stress" lifestyle. When I had 3 Relays going at once it was almost like a high feeling. And now, I have to watch how much I do outside of work. My job is extremely stressful. Fun, but stressful. And the roller coaster of high blood pressure, normal blood pressure, high blood pressure, normal blood pressure is driving me crazy.
My dear, sweet husband got me a new chair just after I got out of the hospital. This is the absolute best chair. It is wide enough for me, low enough to the ground that my rear end can sit all the way back in the chair and my feet still be on the ground, it reclines, it rocks, it reclines and rocks, it goes all the way back, almost like laying down and the fabric is fake leather so it doesn't get hot or stick to me.
I have sat in the chair, slept in the chair, rocked in the chair but not stitched in the chair. I did get my stitching out and found that the chair is absolutely fabulous to stitch in, but alas I still did no real stitching.
So what is up with me? I should be enjoying this freedom of all this extra time, but no. I. Am. Not.
My daughter and grand kids are coming on the 30th of this month so I can tell you I will be busy then. And most likely, no most definitely, not bored!
So how is your summer going? Lots of stitching, cold drinks and air conditioning? Or are you too busy with kids and family to stitch?
Definitely check back here to see if I get out of my slump and see new pics of the family. I am sure there will be some!

Hotlips Returns!

2010-06-29T18:13:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken too close up, so it is a little blurred. But I couldn't wait to share that Hotlips has returned for her 3rd year. And is she going strong. I didn't have my camera available to catch her first three blooms this year, so this is her fourth. And she has around 5 more ready to pop out and about 10 more just kind of hanging around.
The blooms only last a day. I love opening my back door to leave to go to work and be greeted by one of her beautiful blooms. Makes the summer heat almost worth it.
So enjoy her while you can.

Only 6 more months!

2010-06-24T17:51:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are struggling with the heat like we are in Texas I have really good news for you! GUESS WHAT I JUST FIGURED OUT!!!

It's Just 6 More Months Until Christmas!
So Chill Out Baby! Frosty is on his way!

We did it. We have a new baby!

2010-06-13T20:28:00.000-07:00

James & I have a new baby. But I must warn you before you go any farther. The outcome of this new little one is not good. She will be sliced and cooked until tender.
Oh no! Tell me it ain't so! But it is.
Because our new baby is a 10 inch zucchini squash! The first real produce from our garden. You remember the garden, don't you? The one James sweated and worked on about a zillion years ago?
A funny thing happened today when I was checking out said garden. We have had a number of blooms on the squash, the cucumbers, the tomatoes and the peppers. We even had a cantelope vine come up from last year that has blooms. And we have had one tomato pop out that has been green for since Memorial Day. But nothing else.
So I am looking at the squash plants for a sign of a yellow squash and I see this green baseball bat thing at the front of the garden. I check it out and it is a HUGE zucchini squash. That solves the question of whether we planted zucchini or yellow squash!
I brought it in and showed James. Photographed it and put it on Facebook. Admired it. James looked for more siblings, but alas there were none.
Here is our beautiful zucchini (before I slice and cook it!)

As a side note, for those of you who have read this blog for awhile now, Hotlips is getting ready to make her first appearance this year. This beautiful reddish orange daylilly is in her 3rd blooming year. There are 3 shoots from the first pot and each have 2 or 3 blooms on them. I will post her debut later when she erupts in all her glory!
Now where is that butcher knife?

A little scare

2010-06-06T20:38:00.001-07:00

On Friday morning I had a little scare. Well, actually it was a great big scare.
I woke up at 4:00am to chest pains. They were in my left shoulder, up my jaw and esp. in the middle of my back. My pulse seemed to race and I was nauseated.
I waited until 7, took a shower and then called my sister, my manager, my husband and then an ambulance. I didn't start crying until I called 911. I know, waiting 3 hours to call seems crazy and it was, but I kept thinking the signs would go away.
When I got into the ambulance my blood pressure was 200/108. Normally I am in the 140/78 range. 200/108 for those of you who don't know is stroke level.
They gave me some nitroglycerin and some aspirin. When I arrived at the hospital, they ran blood work, gave me lots more nitro and then did a CAT scan. It took about 5 hours to get my blood pressure down.
All the tests came back looking ok, but they kept me overnight. My cardiac enzymes were ok through the night.
My primary care doc said they have seen 300 cases since Dec. of a virus (not contagious, environmental) that sort of mimics a heart attack. Chest pains, nausea, light headedness, are all signs of the virus, along with extreme tiredness. He thinks this may be what I have.
But just in case he has me seeing a cardiologist. This all happened on a weekend of course and they don't do extensive testing on weekends.
I have to have nuclear stress test done. I have had one in the past and said I WOULD NEVER do that again. But never say never, because I have now scared myself into agreeing to have one.
Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. This is a very scary time for my family and I.
Oh and by the way, just after I called the ambulance, I put a little stitching project in a bag I took with me. You have to have your priorities in line!
New note: I have an appointment for the stress test on Wednesday, June 16th with a visit to the cardiologist on June 21st.
Since I last posted I had another episode, but not as bad. I went to my doctor to find my blood pressure was up to 208/120. They got it down before I left the office and put me on a blood pressure medicine. He is not sure why all of a sudden my b/p has taken to being this high, but for now I am feeling much, much better. It is amazing what a little pill can do for you.
I want to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. It is what gets me through this rough patch in my life!

Happy 70th Birthday to my Mom & Happy 5th Anniversary to my husband James

2010-05-27T11:30:00.001-07:00

For those of you who don't know, I got married on my Mom's birthday. So on May 28 we have two celebrations in our house!
First off, tomorrow is my sweet Mom's 70th birthday! She is a fiesty 70 year old if I do say so myself. I hope she has the best birthday yet!
Her grand daughter Jennifer and more importantly, her two great grandsons, Trent and Craig are coming to see her this weekend to wish her a happy birthday. She will enjoy that, along with the turkey and dressing I am making on Sunday for Memorial Day (yes turkey and dressing for Memorial Day. Go figure!).
My sister Brenda and my Mom's other grand daughters, Sabrina and Sierra will be over to wish Mom a happy birthday I am sure. Sabrina just finished another year of college and Sierra starts high school this next year. And my sister is almost finished getting her degree and is an honor student. My mom is so proud of them all!
And I made cupcakes for a bake sale, but left her a few on the side.
Second off, it is my 5th anniversary with my hunk of burning love husband, James. I waited 44 years to get married. I was waiting on James.
He is the love of my life, the one I waited all my life for, the man of my dreams. I am spending the best years with him. He holds my heart in his heart.
Thank you James for 5 wonderful years.
So I hope you all have a great Memorial Day weekend. I know I will!

Happy Mothers Day to all!

2010-05-09T11:31:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to all of you out there!
Today we celebrated Mother's Day by James and I taking my mother and his mother out to lunch. It was quite an expedition. We started out going to Golden Corral at 11:00 and when the cars wrapped around the block we knew we weren't going there. Then we went to Cheddars, same song, different verse and ended up at Applebee's.
We had great food, wonderful drinks (I had 2 pomegranate martinis with the last one being simply colored vodka, but really good!) and lots of fun.
I know my mom didn't stop laughing (and she only had rootbeer!) the entire time she was there.
Here are the pictures from the day:
James and his mom, Judy

My Mom, Jan and me

James and I

And finally all of us

I hope all of you have a wonderful rest of your weekend and a glorious week!

A new ring!

2010-05-07T18:35:00.000-07:00

Well, the bad news is, I never found my wedding ring. Makes me sick, but we can't find it.
Good news is, my husband bought me a new wedding ring. We found the perfect one from James Avery. It is a silver heart shaped love knot.
This is significant to me for one, the love knot means our love will always be. And James has always told me "you are my heart". That is why the heart shape is important.
Here is a picture of it. Please ignore my un-manicured hands!

I love my sweet, forgiving husband James with whom I have been married to for 5 years on May 28th!

A question

2010-05-04T19:34:00.000-07:00

I am interested in this scroll frame stand.
I started working on Warm Water Wash. Actually, I put the fabric on the scroll frame and put exactly 6 stitches in it until I realized that my holding a 24 inch scroll frame and stitching wasn't going to work.
So I started looking at scroll frame stands. And I like the look of this one the best. Now I need your help.
Have any of you used this frame stand? If so, do you like it? And I need to hear from my "big" girl friends on this also.
My biggest question is am I going to be able to position this in a way that I can stitch and my stomach doesn't get in the way. There, I put it in words.
I know I am not the only one out there that has this issue. And until I can lose more weight, I still want to stitch!
I would love to be able to take it outside with me when I stitch in my new chair as well as in my living room chair.
So, how about it friends? Have you used this and if so what do you think?

The Garden

2010-04-25T16:18:00.000-07:00

Have I told you all how wonderful my husband James is? Well, let me tell you again.
Today he worked six hours in the sun putting in a small garden for me. He had to rototill the rows, hoe up the grass, bricks, rocks, etc, put in some top soil, plant the plants and then he watered everything down. And in the famous words of my mother (if you knew her you would understand) "I Supervised!".
I am sunburned as red as a tomato. But it was so wonderful to see it taking place.
The pics I am about to show you doesn't do it justice. We have a little scrap of a back yard, but he made the most of it. We have red, yellow and hot banana peppers:

Broccoli, zucchini, cucumbers, grape tomatoes and regular tomatoes and for Craig, carrots:

My daughter gave me a topsy-turvy for Christmas and we planted a grape tomato plant in it:

We moved my Mother's peach colored roses to the other side of the yard with the other rose bushes. And with the wagon of petunias & snapdragons it is quite colorful!

I also have strawberries, mint, lemon thyme, more petunias and of course, hot lips (which isn't blooming yet):

I know everything looks pretty rough right now, but soon I will have a garden full of colorful, fresh vegetables! I can't wait!
James, I love you so much and thank you so much for doing all this for me!

Some stitching, some flowers and a new addition (very long post)

2010-04-18T17:44:00.000-07:00

I know it has been awhile since I posted anything here. Truth is, I went through a grieving period and a period of depression.
I had to put my sweet little dog to sleep Wednesday a week ago. She was 15 and had gotten very sick. It was probably the hardest thing I ever had to deal with, short of my father's death 14 years ago.
Alex the puppy was about 2 or 3 when she came to live with me. Her previous owner had treated her like a queen before his death and when she came to live with me, she made it clear she would accept nothing less. She ruled the house and I loved her dearly.
I miss her more than words can say.
I had not felt much like stitching until today. I finished a verse in my "Time For God" by LK. I think it is appropriate that the verse is "Hard Times, Trust God" for this has been a very hard time. Here is a pic:

I only have one more verse to do and then I will be finished. I haven't decided who will get this piece. My husband and my 5th anniversary will be in May and I am really thinking of giving it to the Pastor that married us. He is a dear family friend. He took me to summer camp when I was a teen, presided over my father's and my grandmother's funeral and then married James and I.
While I have really loved doing this piece, I want to do something a little more colorful before I dive into LK "ABC's of Aging Artfully". Those shades are muted much like these are and I have the need for color.
Here is my next piece. It is a Raise the Roof Design called "Warm Water Wash". It is a wide piece and I am going to have to get some 20" scroll rods to accommodate the design as well as the extra fabric to frame with.
I purchased this on E-Bay and it came with threads, buttons and the patterns and was half the cost of what it was on most ONS. I really love patterns that come with the threads and everything so all I have to do is pick my fabric. Especially when they are GAST or WDW.
Here is a pic of the new project:

This spring has been very good for my flowers. A combination of cold weather to kill the bugs and lots of rain has brought out the best in my roses. My pink rose bush is fuller than full and my yellow rose bush is doing better than ever.
My dear husband, during my grief, helped me plant some petunias and snapdragons in my wagon. Our plan was to rototill the back yard (the grass is a bunch of weeds anyway) and plant a garden. But last weekend all the rototiller had been rented out and this weekend it has rained, rained, rained. So on to next weekend for the garden.
But my husband did purchase this wonderful 2 chair set with an umbrella in celebration of my 20 pound loss with WW. I have now lost 23.4 pounds (I didn't weigh this week yet). I love this set. I can take it with me to Relays and the umbrella will keep the sun out of my eyes when I sit and enjoy my garden.
Here are some pics of my flowers and my new chairs:

And we seem to have a new addition to the neighborhood. My husband has been telling me he has seen a bunny in our yard, as well as around the neighborhood in the early morning hours. And while we sat in our yard Friday morning, he appeared in the area between my house and the neighbors. My husband snapped a photo:

What I have now seen (but don't have a pic of) is that there are at least two bunnies and from the kissing they were doing, I suspect it won't be long until we have more! They are cottontails and when I told my youngest grandson that I thought the Easter bunny forgot to go back home, he told me that he had seen the Easter bunny and he talks. So I needed to talk to this bunny and if he talks back, it is the Easter bunny.
Here bunny, bunny...

Happy Easter and an update on Time For God

2010-04-02T18:49:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter to you all!
I worked some more on Time For God by LK. I have finished another verse. It is the "Quiet Times, Worship God" verse. I thought this was appropriate given that this is Good Friday. I have spent a great deal of my stitching time reflecting on my worship time.
I can't tell you how much I enjoy working on this piece. I think it is because while I am working, I am quietly spending time with God. It is well with my soul when I work on this piece.
I hope all of you have a wonderful and safe Easter weekend. Thank you for reading my blog and sharing your thoughts with me.

A cube finish, an early Mother's Day Gift and of course a drawing!

2010-03-27T18:27:00.000-07:00

I decided to finish off "Chicks Rule" as a cube. This is my first attempt at a cube finish and I am somewhat happy with it. I need to get some round wooden beads to attach to the bottom to make it stand straight. But I do like it. Here is a pic:

This week I also received a gift in the mail from my daughter. I love brooches (to say the least). And I love brooches that are eclectic.
I do not wear any other types of jewelry except my wedding ring unless it is a special occasion and then I might wear a pair of earrings.
But I have wanted a Mother's brooch with the birthstone colors for my daughter and grandchildren. We have searched everywhere and the only ones we could find were very expensive.
My daughter checked on Etsy and there was a woman making Mother's necklaces out of silver wire and colored beads the color of the birthstones. Jen (my DD) contacted the seller and asked if she could make a brooch. The answer was yes and so she ordered one. Since my DD and first grandson are both July birthdays, I have two red beads and then a teal/aqua color one for my second grandson born in March.
I have to tell you I love this pin. It is first of all handmade which I really appreciate and second, you won't find this pin on anyone else. It is just mine.
The picture was difficult to take, but here it is:

I just love it!
Now for the moment you all have been waiting for! The winner of the Lizzie Kate limited edition Spring Fab Fob with scissors!
The winner is...... MEARI! You can thank my oldest grandson for picking your name!
If you will e-mail me your mailing addy I will get it in the mail to you next week!
Congratulations!

Finish on Chicks Rule and my daughter is stitching!

2010-03-20T21:52:00.000-07:00

While my daughter was visiting, she picked up an embroidery kit from Sublime Stitching. It is an old fashioned, iron on pattern company with a new look to it. Really cute patterns, updated to the looks of today, that you can make tea towels, pillowcases, etc.
She got the kit on Thursday and was really excited to get started. She stitched and stitched and finished her first tea towel. I am one proud Mama. She can crochet and knit, both of which I cannot do. But to take up stitching, whew! Just thrills me. Here is picture of her first piece:

And she inspired me to finish a new project. My intention this week was to do 2 verses on my Time for God. I did finish one of the two as I previously talked about in a post.
But getting the new purple fabric and the new Lizzie Kate "Chicks Rule" made me itch to stitch it. And stitch I did! I finished it tonight. And it is so cute. I just love it! Here is a picture of it:

I don't know what I am going to do with it. I might do a folded stand up like she has on the photo or I might do as a hanging flat fold. Have to find some cute fabric for it!
Don't forget to read my post before this for your chance to win a Lizzie Kate of your own!

More vacation pictures, a new project and just for reading to the end of the post, a giveaway!

2010-03-18T19:44:00.001-07:00

Ok, yesterday we went to the zoo! It was great fun! My dear, sweet Mother was exhausted by the end of the day, but I think she wouldn't have missed it for the world. Here is a picture of the entire bunch at the beginning of the zoo trip!

These are a few more at the zoo!

I thought this fish was quite interesting!

This is a picture of my youngest with a statue of the orangutan! Have I told you how much I have looked forward to seeing the orangutans? They are fairly new to our zoo and I have really wanted to see them. Here is a picture of the smallest one. Sometimes I wish I could hang around like this!

And this is a pic of my 2 grandsons on the Komodo Dragon statue!

Today we went to the Rainforest Cafe in Grapevine Mills Mall. This is our second trip there. Last year we went there for my youngest grandson's 5th birthday and he requested we go there this year for his 6th birthday. Wow! He turned 6 today. Unbelievable!
Here is a pic of my husband, the boys and myself. My daughter was taking the picture so she is not in it!

This is the birthday boy blowing out his candles:

And no trip with my youngest would be complete without a train. There was a small train that did trips around the mall for children. Here is the pic with the boys as they were about to take off. All aboard!

Now onto some stitchy news. Have you seen these pieces? They are by Lizzie Kate, my fav designer!
I am doing the Chicks Rule (which is a limited addition) on 28 count lavender Lugana. I think it makes the colors just "pop"!

I really love the ABC's of Aging Gracefully. I am going to do it on my fav Silkweaver color, Days Gone By (the same fabric I am using for Time for God).
Now, you are at the end of the post. Whew! Long, huh? Think you deserve something for reading so much? Well, I have been blessed and Easter is upon us. So I want to bless one of my friends with something.
The Spring Fab Fob is a limited edition by Lizzie Kate. It comes with the pattern, some beads and most importantly these little, tiny blue and pink scissors.
This can be yours:

All you have to do is leave a comment and mention you want to be included in the drawing. I need some way of contacting you (e-mail addy would be lovely). I will draw for the giveaway on Saturday, March 27th. Good luck to all!

An award, some stitching and more pictures!

2010-03-15T13:59:00.001-07:00

I received this award from Meari from "Meari's Musings". I have so enjoyed reading her blog and have learned many neat tricks from her. Thank you Meari for passing the award to me. :) It makes me feel good to know people enjoy my blog.

The rules are simple:
1) Accept the award.
2) Thank the person who gave you the award
3) Add a link to the person who gave you the award.
4) Put the award on your blog.
5) Write 10 things about yourself others might not know about you.
6) Pass the award on to 10 others.

Ten Things You Might Not Know About Me
(And Probably Don't Want To Know)

1. I am not naturally a red head. Really don't know what I am naturally except gray now.
2. Until I was 30, I never held a job longer than a year.
3. If I had my way, I would ride a motorcycle. (Of course, I would have to majorly lose weight)
4. I loved the color purple until I was 42 and now my favorite color is green.
5. I am afraid of snakes. REALLY AFRAID. Like I won't go into the snake house at the zoo afraid.
6. Sea World in San Antonio is my favorite place to go on vacation. I could just stay there all year round.
7. I have seen Six Flags over Texas in Arlington at all different times of the year. In fact, there is a snow cone stand that changes to a hot cocoa stand depending on the time of year.
8. I waited until I was 44 to get married for the first time. And then I married a guy 14 years younger than me!
9. I only care to stitch small projects. My days of doing huge WIP's are done.
10. I hate stitching with white thread. I don't care if it is GAST, WDW or DMC. I hate white thread.

Here are the winners

1. Carolyn at Just One More Stitch...

2. Rene at Rene la Frog's Ramblings
3. Kathy at Kathy's Stitching Comments
4. Marilee at Yarnplayer's Tatting
5. Cindy at Lonestar Stitcher and her Ramblings
6. Penny at Mind Wanderings
7. Janet at Crossed Stitch Bibs
8. Marian at Gumbo and Grits
9. Dani at Blackbelt Stitching Wizard
10. Mary at Frazzled Needle

On the stitching side, I have finished another verse in my "Time for God" piece by Lizzie Kate. I stayed up until 1:30am finishing this verse. First time in a long time I stayed up that late stitching!
The next one is "Quiet Times, Worship God". I am telling you, stitching this piece really makes you reflect on your relationship with God. I hope to have the next verse done before I return to work on Monday. Here is a pic of the completed work so far!

As many of you know, my daughter and grandsons are visiting. Today I went bowling with them and out to eat. My sweet Mother came along to "supervise" us as she put it. Here are a couple of pics of our outing!

I am having a blast on vacation. I hope to have more pictures tomorrow as we are going to the ZOO!

An update

2010-03-07T16:46:00.000-08:00

I have been stitching on my new project. I showed you pics of the fabric, threads and pattern in the post just before this one.
It is called "Time for God" by Lizzie Kate. It is funny how a stitched piece can affect you. The first part of the piece says "Happy Times, Praise God". So I have been praising. The second part says "Difficult Times, Seek God". I have reflected on that part quite a bit this weekend also.
I am making it for my friend Lisa's birthday, which isn't until June. She will appreciate this piece, I am sure.
This picture is terrible. The colors are just absolutely beautiful on the piece itself. I am not sure what is wrong with my camera (or maybe it is me!). I took several shots and they all were slightly blurry.

I stitched quite a bit today, which made both Mom and myself happy. Mom because it means I was in the living room with her and not in my room on the computer. Me, because stitching brings me joy. I sometimes forget that.
I also had to "visit" my sister's dog this weekend while she was away. Gator was happy to see me.
On my way home from visiting with The Gator I stopped by the Arboretum. I looked at the daffys. They must have really split up a lot of the bulbs and transplanted them all over because they were EVERYWHERE! And on the way home, I saw my final sign that spring is definitely here. I saw the little reddish, purplish buds on a red bud tree that is a few blocks from my house. Red bud trees can make me smile even on a bad day. So there you have it folks. I saw a robin last week, daffys are out and now the red buds have burst onto the scene. SPRING! Skip de do la! It is SPRING!
Hope you all have a week that is as beautiful as you all are!

I promised you daffys and daffys I give you!

2010-02-28T14:34:00.000-08:00

Ok, for all of you snow bound, frozen to the bone folks here is some bright sunshine! Even though we had 3 inches of snow last week (unbelievable for Central Texas) the daffodils made it through.
Our arboretum has even more patches of daffys than last year. They are all over the place and many have bloomed. I suspect we will have daffys for at least the next two to three weeks, which makes me SMILE!
So here are the pics I took today. Absorb all the warm, yellow color from them that you can and think sunny thoughts!

Stitchy update

2010-02-27T19:15:00.000-08:00

I have neglected the stitching part of my blog! So I thought I would post some pics of stitchy stuff.
First, my friend Marian and I had a, err, challenge between friends during the Texas/Alabama game. My Longhorns really disappointed me and I sent some fabric to Marian for losing the "challenge".
So imagine my surprise when I open my mail and find a goodie bag from Marian for being a good sport. And what a nice bag it was! Here is a pic:

It had some silk threads, some silk ribbon, lots of needles and my favorite purple ribbon fabric. Just so FUN!
Then for my birthday I received several skeins of threads from my exchange group. Here is a pic of some of them (I have already started using the rest of them!)

And finally here is a pic of my newest project I hope to start on this week. It is called "Make Time for God" by Lizzie Kate. It will be stitched on 28 count Lugana by Silkweaver called "Days Gone By" which has got to be my absolutely favorite fabric and color. It seems to go so well with Sampler Threads and Weeks Dye Works. Those muted shades just pop on this fabric.
And speaking of Weeks, I also have the threads in the pic for the piece. I am going to stitch this for my friend Lisa for her birthday in June. I think she will love it!

Today my husband took us by the Arboretum, which is my favorite place to go. The daffys are in bloom! They made it past the 3 inches of snow we had last week. They had a wedding going on there and I couldn't stop to take pics, but I plan on going by there tomorrow and will take lots of pics for those of you who think spring is never coming. I also saw a red robin on Thursday, so my heart is singing! Spring has sprung in Central Texas! (fingers crossed!).

Wishing for spring

2010-02-21T19:06:00.000-08:00

Oh how I miss color. Yellow daffys (I have seen one so far this year, but it was pathetic), pink & red roses, red robins and most of all RED BUD TREES!
These are the colors of spring for me. And I miss them so much. This winter has been so cold. So miserable. So bleak of color.
I want the yellow sunshine and the blue skies to look up at. I want the green grass (not the brown dry stuff we have now). I want to see the little leaves of all the plants coming alive.
That is the word I am looking for. ALIVE. Birds chirping, squirrels running, children playing. Sound and colors that make us know we are alive.
Is it spring yet?

Who says eating healthy can't taste good?

2010-02-16T19:04:00.000-08:00

I have been venturing out, cooking some lowfat, lower calorie foods. And I have been having a lot of fun finding foods that fill me up and taste good! Even my husband and mother are enjoying the fruits of my labor!
I have decided to share a couple of recipes with you. The first one is called Caramel Apple Pork Chops and they are SOOOOOOO good!
Here is the recipe:
2 Tablespoons Splenda brown sugar blend (half brown sugar and half Splenda)
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 tablespoon lower calorie margarine spread
2 cups peeled and chopped apples (I used two regular sized Galas)
4 (4 oz. each) pork loin center loin chops
Salt & pepper

In a small bowl mix brown sugar blend, cinnamon and nutmeg. Spray a large skillet with non-stick spray. Melt margarine and add sugar mixture and apples. Cook on medium heat until apples are tender and sauce is thickened.
Remove apples and sauce. Season chops with salt and pepper. Place in same pan (don't clean it out beforehand). Cook about 5-6 minutes on medium high on each side or until no longer pink inside. Remove to a platter and pour apples and sauce over.
Enjoy!
Serving size is 1 chop and 1/4 apples and sauce
Calories 246; 12 g fat; 1 g fiber; 6 Weight Watchers points
Pair this with steamed veggies and a salad and you have a wonderful meal!

Sweet Potato Frittata

2 medium sweet potatoes, diced medium size
2 teaspoons olive oil

Toss together and roast in oven 450 degrees for about 30 minutes or until browned and soft

Saute 1 onion, diced, in 1 teaspoon olive oil. Add 1 clove minced garlic. Add 1 bag of baby spinach. Allow spinach to wilt.
Add potatoes, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon thyme, 1 teaspoon (to taste) salt, and pepper to taste.
Whisk 2 whole eggs and 6 egg whites together and pour over vegetable mixture.
Place in a 350 degree oven and cook until set (about 10 minutes). Cut into 1/4's.
About 4 Weight Watchers points for 1/4 frittata.

This is great to reheat the next day.

Tomorrow I am making baked Coconut Shrimp. If it turns out well I will post the recipe then.
Happy eating!

Happy Valentine's Day (and my trip)

2010-02-14T18:10:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day to all!
My dear, sweet, adorable husband and I went to Austin for Valentine's Day. I can truly tell you this was the best Valentine's Day EVER!
We left early and went down 6th Street. This was the day of the Austin marathon and there were a gazillion people there. They even had a live band playing on one of the side streets.
Then we went to my husband's favorite comic book shop. For those of you who don't know, my DH collects comic books (mostly old ones). No trip to Austin is complete without a trip here.

It is a fun store and I love people watching there!
And I saw Austin's Blood Bank. I am in the blood business and just love seeing other donor centers. Here are some pictures:

I just love the way they have parking spaces marked for blood donors with the little hearts by them. And that vehicle! I can't wait to ask our director if we can paint our hospital services vans like that!
Then we went back down 6th Street. For those of you who don't know, 6th Street is downtown Austin and is, err, quite eclectic to say the least!
We were going to the Ritz (putting on the Ritz!) which is one of Alamo Drafthouse's locations in Austin. We tried to get a picture of the theater and us, but it was impossible with all the traffic on the street and such. But here is one of the two of us and as you can see we are quite happy!

At the Alamo we saw the new movie, Wolfman, with Anthony Hopkins. But the Alamo isn't just any theater. It is a dinner theater, with a complete bar and an excellent chef. We rented the balcony suite, which had two leather recliners and tables to put our food on. We were ALL BY OURSELVES! There was another suite halfway across the top of the theater from us, but basically we were in a world all our own. We did the Ultimate Package, which included a bottle of Champagne (yes Champagne in a movie theater!), an appetizer and 2 entrees. I got the salmon with a lime-mango-curry marinade, jalapeno-garlic green beans (fresh) and basamati rice. It was OUTSTANDING! James had a gourmet bacon-cheeseburger and fries and he said it was fantastic. We had potato skins for an appetizer (and yes, for those of you following my weight loss program, I had planned for this! I had 2 skins and used some, but not all of my bonus points for the week).
Once you see a movie in this setting, well, a normal theater just doesn't cut it. I suspect we will be watching DVD's at home for some time!
We had a beautiful day, with the weather much like springtime. That is until we came out of the movie theater! A Northern was blowing through and the temps dropped at least 10 degrees, probably more. The wind was crazy and was crazy all the way home.
I will leave you with this last picture. As always, Keep Austin Strange is most important there. This article was in The Onion, a newspaper. I couldn't help but bust out into laughter!

Click on the picture to read the article headline. Were you someone that contributed to this amazing fact?
Hope I gave you a giggle this Valentine's Day!

I lost somethings (and I am not looking for them or want them back)

2010-02-12T16:49:00.000-08:00

First off, let me tell you how much I appreciate your support these past 2 weeks. It has been amazing.
These past weeks have been filled with options. Do I really want the Rosa's Cantina's 3 taco plate dinner for 35 points (I get 38 a day) or do I want a Wendy's chili and plain potato (9 points)?
Do I really need or want to get on my friend and burn some calories? Yes, I really need to.
Oh good grief, how could I still have 12 points I have to eat by the end of the day? Did I drink all the fluids I am supposed to have and did I eat all my veggies & fruits?
But all in all it has been wonderful. I feel more in control of myself and my life. I feel like I am really doing something for myself that will help me be a better person, a better wife, a better daughter, a better mother and grandmother, a better friend. I feel wonderful!
Thank you to all!
Now for the announcement you have been waiting for! Drum roll please....

6.4 pounds lost and not to be found again! Woo hoo!

On to bigger (rather smaller) and better things!

Thank you for all the support

2010-02-06T19:10:00.000-08:00

Remember in "It's a Wonderful Life" when Clarence says "Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends".
Well, just in case I didn't know it before I know it now. I have friends and so I can't be a failure, in anything I do!
I have had well over 20 private e-mails and 47 messages left on my previous post, not to mention phone calls and hugs I have received. I wasn't sure what would happen when I put my life into a blog post. I am glad I did.
I have been doing the WW points thing for a week now. It is going well. My husband has been my rock. He is doing this with me and is so supportive of me in each step.
My highlight of my week was that I found a place to weigh at. When I went to my doctor's office they didn't weigh me. I just guessed at my weight when I went in. I joined WW online and so I don't go into an actual meeting. The online e-mail support couldn't give me any info whether I could weigh at my local WW office or not. My doctor's office is about 20 minutes away and not open the hours I am off.
So Friday I just popped into the local WW office and talked to the leader and explained my situation. She said I could come there and weigh in. Whew! Who would have thought that I would be ecstatic over being able to weigh!
Bad news is I am about 2 pounds heavier than I thought. Good news is that by next week I will have that taken care of!
The bike (my friend) is getting much easier! I still can't go long on it, but I am improving.
Let me tell you all thank you from the bottom of my heart. You all are my angels here on earth. Thank you for coming along with me on this journey!

Time for a change (rather long post)

2010-02-03T15:17:00.000-08:00

Today is World Cancer Day. It is a day set aside to focus on ways to prevent cancer. Their slogan is "Cancer can be prevented too!".
Everyone knows things like quitting smoking and getting breast exams are ways to prevent cancer.
But did you know that obesity is one of the biggest cancer risks there are? It causes higher breast and colon cancer rates along with skin cancer and other cancers.
For the past year and a half of my life, I have been consumed with helping American Cancer Society Relay For Life. Most of my stitching has been for fundraising. Most of my spare time has been going to meetings, talking about Relay, posting stories about cancer prevention and patients going through treatment. Crying at stories that tear your heart out.
But there is one person I haven't worried about. That is me. You see, I am obese. Morbidly obese (that is a diagnosis on my medical chart). I don't eat healthy. I don't exercise.
I have been overweight most of my life. Not so much when I was young, but pretty much in the past 30 or so years. I would lose weight, gain weight, lose again. I was pretty agile, even for a fat woman.
Six years ago I lost 100 pounds through Weight Watchers, but gained it back. I got married and thought I should cook really big meals. And of course with cooking those meals I also ate.
I have been generally happy all my life, fat or not. I am happy with my looks, happy with my personality.
Until the past year. My weight has taken a toll on me. My knees hurt all the time. I don't go to the doctor as much as I should because of my weight. I mean really, what does the doctor want to do to help me if I don't want to help myself?
My life has taken a turn that I don't like. I can't walk hardly at all without getting out of breath. Fun stuff, like shopping or going on vacation is surrounded by the thought, how far is the door from the parking lot and do they have an electric cart for me to go around in. There is a local museum here I want to take my grandsons to, but I know I can't do it. I have tried. I almost pass out and the pain in my knees are unbearable.
This past Christmas I attended a party at a friend's house. My first thought was "are her chairs going to hold me up? What if I break one?".
A work acquaintance asked me to go on a small trip with some staff. I had to say "no" because I knew I couldn't do all the walking they were going to do.
Going out to restaurants and parties and everything is centered around "how close are the chairs to each other? Is there enough room for me to get around?".
All of this is minor compared to what my weight is doing to me. I am 49 and feel like I am 100. And I am at risk for cancer. A big, fat risk.
I didn't write all this to make you feel sorry for me. I did this to myself and I am not looking for sympathy.
I am looking for a change. It is time that I do something to really prevent cancer. IN ME!
So last Friday I joined Weight Watchers. I am adding vegetables and fruit to my diet. Stopped drinking coffee (Starbucks I hope your stocks don't fall). Am drinking more water.
I went to the doctor and talked with him. He is sending me to a cardiologist before he will release me to join a gym. I go on Feb. 10. But for now, I can walk as long as I take it easy, as well as light exercise.
And I added something to our house. My sister named it Satan, and at times it feels that way. But I think it should be named Friend. My friend is a stationary bike. I can't go too long on it (only a couple of minutes at most).
I think God had a hand in bringing my friend into my house. It was on sale at Wal-Greens. The only one. Someone had bought it online and never opened it. It was not supposed to be returned to the store but the assistant manager didn't know that. They had it for $129 (regular $199). And the manager gave me another 15% off that.
So now everyday I get on my friend and I do something to make me less a cancer risk.
Is this going to be easy? No. Am I probably going to fail at least once? Yes. Am I going to keep trying. Yes. Am I going to need all the support of my friends and family? YES, YES, YES.
So I am asking you to follow me on this journey. Many of you have followed me on the journey with my SFAC project. Follow me now. Encourage me. Scold me. But mostly love me as you always have, fat or not. Be my friend.
Because it is time for a change and I want to be around a long, long time!

WIP (or UFO, whatever you want to call it), a trip and a surprise

2010-01-24T14:07:00.001-08:00

I have been steadily working on my SFAC project for so long that it has consumed my stitching time. I made several of the Christmas ornaments and several of the quilt squares, along with cutting fabric and getting everything ready to go to the quilter.
We have one quilt sent off to sweet Halina, our quilter and the other is just about ready to go.
So, along with the pillows I have and left over ornaments, as well as the quilts, I think we are set for our fundraising for the 3 Relays. Whew!
Now I can do some "just for fun" stitching. I pulled out this WIP (more like a UFO since I have had it for so long). I started stitching this for my director several years ago and then it got put away. It is from the Cricket Collection. The picture isn't great, but I tried and tried to get a good pic.

It is on 28 count Cashel linen which used to be my favorite until I found Lugana. It is with Sampler Threads and a bronze metalic thread (it called for silk, but silk thread and I do not get along!). Hopefully I will finish this before he retires!
Yesterday, my DH took me to Austin. I had to go to Relay University for a training session. On the way back home we drove by 6th Street (no trip to Austin is complete without a trip by 6th Street) and we also ate at my favorite restaurant, Baby Acapulco. They have this amazing chicken soup that I just love.
If you wonder why they say Keep Austin Strange, well this picture says it all:

Did you see it? Go back and zoom in on it. Yes, it says Bat Jewelry on sale! Well, now I know where to go when I am in need of Bat Jewelry!
Mom and I went for a drive to the Arboretum today. I didn't have my camera, but I saw something special. The daffodils are peeking their green sprouts out. I think in about 2 or 3 weeks we will have daffys. If that isn't a sign that the groundhog is not going to see his shadow, I don't know what is!
I have been going through some changes in my life here lately. On Feb. 4th I have a big announcement I am going to make. So check back here then!

Another year, another NATIONAL HOLIDAY!

2010-01-12T17:27:00.000-08:00

Whew! It seems like my birthday was just the other day! And now it is time for another.
Some of you may wonder why I have a groundhog on my blog. Well that is because my birthday is Feb. 2, Groundhog's Day! This year I turn (excuse me while I gather myself to say this) 49! At least it is not 50. At least not yet!
And just like last year I am going to have a giveaway to celebrate!
But this time there is a twist!
Birthday Bash Blood Drive and Fundraiser
Help me collect 49 units of lifesaving blood and help me raise $490 for our Relay For Life Team on my 49th birthday! My birthday is February 2nd! Donate blood at any Carter BloodCare donor center or blood drive and use Sponsor number: SPON048845 or donate at any blood center and shoot me an e-mail to let me know. If you can't donate, then go with someone to donate and let me know!
If you would like to help me raise the $490 for my Relay For Life team, you can easily donate as little as $5 online at: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/donnakarl
Now here is where the fun begins!
Leave me a message stating whether you think ol' Phil will see his shadow or not! I will put all the names in a drawing and draw a name on Feb. 2, 2010. The prize you might ask?
Well, it is just 5 skeins of your choice of Sampler threads AND a 13 by 18 cut of your choice of Expressions fabric (your choice of linen or evenweave, count and color).
And here is the twist:

If you donate blood or take someone to donate or you donate to our Relay For Life team, I will enter your name twice. We are on the honor system about the blood donation. Just leave it in your post or leave me a message at dwooleybooger@yahoo.com and let me know.
Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me... You know how I feel about birthdays! They are National Holidays

My gift from friends (dual post)

2009-12-28T12:36:00.000-08:00

If you read my stitching for a cure blog, then this is a duplicate post.
Aren't these amazing? Well, the story behind is more amazing.
Some of my stitchy friends, 8 of them plus my daughter to be exact, went behind my back and did this project for me.
Why I am deserving of this wonderful gift still eludes me, but it is a true blessing. Even my daughter kept it secret since Oct. 2nd.
6 stitched angels on the quilt, plus a stitched piece in the center plus a pillow with another stitched angel. All in the most beautiful shades of purple and pink.
Mary, Janet, Tara, Carrie, Ethel, Moma Judy, Georgena & Penny had a part in making the beautiful quilt and pillow. My daughter had the job of keeping it quiet from me. Mary did the most WONDERFUL quilting on the quilt. All in all it is spectacular!
Do you know they even set up a special Yahoo group for it? Stitching for Wooleybooger!
I have been very tearful over this gift. It is quite possibly the best gift I have ever received. I know it is the most beautiful one. I can't wait to show it off to my Relay friends and friends at work.
There are not enough words to say thank you. I haven't had a chance to read all the posts on the Yahoo group. I have my grandkids here and they are demanding that I not spend as much time as I want to look at it all. Makes for a difficult situation: pay attention to grandkids or read the posts! LOL.
I have been so blessed with my friendship with all of you. I wish you all were here to share in my joy! But via the net, maybe you can know that you have truly touched my heart. If you are judged by the friends you have, then I will be judged as a very fortunate person, a person who was and is loved very much.
Blessings to all of you! And thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Donna

Merry Christmas

2009-12-21T13:48:00.001-08:00

This holiday season…

Hope

Enjoy!

Laugh

Give Blood

Take a nap

Be thankful

Read a book

Celebrate life

Watch a sunset

Play like a child

Be still and listen

Take deep breaths

Hug someone special

Relive enjoyable moments

Listen to your favorite music

Dance like nobody is watching

Bake cookies (or buy them like I do)

Enjoy time with friends and loved ones

Donna Karl

A little better

2009-12-13T19:36:00.000-08:00

Well, I am a little better. Not much, but better. I have had mood swings like crazy which makes me think I am (God I cannot believe I am going to type these words) "going through the change".
Which would probably be the reason for me not being holly jolly this year. Between snapping at friends and family and bursting into tears, it has been a roller coaster of emotions.
All though I didn't go to my EGA party for the first time in nearly 20 years, I did go to my work party tonight. I took my sweet Mother with me. She never gets to go to parties and was so happy to get out tonight. She even started picking out her outfit on Thursday night and had her stylist paint her nails red with green dots. Very festive.
A good time was had by all. I even won a door prize! We went and looked at Christmas lights afterward. Here are some pics:

This was Mom & me!

My manager Kristin and one of our consultants, Dawn

Another of our consultants, Terry and his wife Patty

Our HR Coordinator, Esmeralda and her fiance, Cesar

And finally, our Director of Operations, Jim & his lovely wife Elda.
My grandsons will come to visit me for a week starting the day after Christmas. Surely that will keep me in a good mood for a week or so. At least that is what everyone around me is keeping their fingers crossed for!
I really pray that each and everyone of you have a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season! You have all been blessings to me.

Bah humbug

2009-12-04T14:43:00.000-08:00

I am in a not so Christmasy mood. I don't know why but I am. And nothing I do seems to change that.
I don't want to see pretty decorated trees, sparkly Christmas lights and Santa. I don't want to go to Christmas parties and exchange gifts.
Every year I REALLY look forward to going to my annual EGA Christmas party with the annual handstitched ornament Chinese gift exchange. I pick out my pattern way in advance of the party and have my ornament wrapped and ready to go at least a month before the party.
This year I have not only NOT MADE one, I am not going to the party at all. Don't wanna. Not interested.
And I was going to my annual company Christmas party this year despite my bah humbug mood until someone changed the plans for the party. Nothing big; just a little tiny itsy bitsy thing. And BOOM! Not going. Can't make me.
I am not even interested in going to see Christmas lights, one of my absolutely favorite things to do. I don't even have a ooh or an aah in me for them.
What is up? Anyone else feeling this way?

A giveaway mention

2009-11-29T09:46:00.000-08:00

Jennifer, at http://feathersinthenest.blogspot.com is having a giveaway. You must go over there right now and see! A beautiful box and 3 pairs of beautiful scissors.
And as a bonus, her blog is fabbie!
Thanks Jennifer for the giveaway!
Donna

Surprise, Surprise!

2009-11-26T18:13:00.000-08:00

Since this is Thanksgiving, I decided to draw not once but twice! LYNN, you are the second winner in my Thanksgiving giveaway! I will send you an e-mail, but you too should go to www.silkweaver.com and pick out the color, fabric and count of Expressions fabric you would like! Happy Thanksgiving!
Donna

And the winner is...

2009-11-26T14:00:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all who left a message on my blog and on my Yahoo groups!
My niece drew a name and RANAE is the winner of a 13x18 piece of Expressions fabric from Silkweaver's.
Ranae, I have sent you a private e-mail from my dwooleybooger address. Please e-mail me with your choice of count, fabric and color and I will in turn send your fabric to you!
Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Happy Thanksgiving and a Give-Away!

2009-11-24T10:52:00.001-08:00

I would like to take this time to wish all of my online friends a very happy and safe Thanksgiving.
I am thankful for much this year: My sweet mother, who lives with me, my dear husband James, my daughter, Jen and her husband Chris, my two grandsons, Trent & Craig, my sister Brenda and her husband and my two nieces, Sabrina & Sierra. I am also thankful for my husband's family who have made me part of their families.
I am thankful for my job and for my co-workers, who I also call my friends. I am thankful to God and to my Church.
There is so much more that I am thankful for that it would take this entire blog to write about. Much has to do with the friends I have found through my Yahoo groups and my two blogs, including my Stitching For A Cure blog.
This past year I have been amazed at how many came forward to help with the SFAC project, most of whom did not really know me. We raised well over $1000 for Relay For Life, which is amazing!
As a thank you to all of you, I want to do a little give away. I figure you all are stitching madly for Christmas and might need a little fabric.
Here is the deal:
Leave me a post with your e-mail contact information. Tell me you want to be entered into the drawing. On Thanksgiving day I will draw a name randomly and notify the winner.
What do you win, you may ask? Well, it is a 13x18 piece of Silkweaver's Expressions fabric, your choice of fabric count and color! If you have never seen Silkweaver's fabrics, you are missing out on some beautiful, hand dyed fabric. You can see the fabric choices and colors at www.silkweaver.com
Happy Thanksgiving to all and good luck!

Lunch with friends and a pic of my honeybuns!

2009-11-20T19:17:00.000-08:00

Today we had a potluck at work. Good friends, who just happen to be co-workers, met to break bread in the office.
The food was great!

The laughter was even better! Here are some of my friends:
Stephanie, who always looks so put together and today had a beautiful cashmere scarf on:

Dawn & Kristin, who are two peas in a pod!

Janet & Deb, who brought most of the laughter to the room. And Deb brought most of the food! The girl can cook!

And then here is a pic of Deb and her son Kirk. I found out SOOOO many secrets about Debra from her son today. It was great!

My boss Jim, who is more like a father to me, and his beautiful prayer warrior wife, Elda. Seriously, when I was in the hospital the last time, I physically felt Elda praying for me!

And then there is Will. Have you seen his pic on America's most wanted? I am sure it probably is there. If so, contact me and we will share the reward. Just kidding Will!

And last but not least, my husband James was not able to be at the lunch, but this picture was so good I just had to share it. He is my honeybuns! Love you James, better than bread and butter!

All in all, a great time was had by everyone and our tummies were full and our smiles were wide!

The family and some stitching

2009-11-15T11:38:00.000-08:00

Today our whole "local" family went out to lunch to celebrate my BIL birthday. Mom, my 2 nieces & one's bf and my sis & BIL and my husband and I. We started at Texas Roadhouse, but they were too full for a table of 8 so we ended up at Logan's. The food was really good and the company was even better. Here is a rare group photo of us all:

One of our local firefighters was killed by his son this past week. It was terribly sad.
My mom has a lifeline button and so when she falls & I can't get her up, the station this firefighter was at is the group that comes and helps her. This particular firefighter was always so nice to Mom and even remembered her name when he would come out.
After his death I spoke to the fire chief about how sad we were at his loss. The local TV station got word of that and asked that Mom & I do an interview for the news.
You can see the interview at KWTX.com and then look on the right side where it says video. We are the one that says "Waco residents remember"
And finally I have started stitching again. I am working on a square for my SFAC project. Here is a picture of the start:

All in all it has been a nice weekend. The weather has been wonderful. Maybe this means the week will get off to a good start. Hope your weekend has been great and your week is even better!

Thank you to all the Veterans

2009-11-11T17:22:00.000-08:00

I want to take a moment to personally say thank you to all the veterans and all the military personnel and their families for the job they do (and have done) in keeping us safe and living in the best country in the world.
My dad was a veteran. He hurt his back in Korea and always walked hunched over as long as I can remember. I had just been born when he returned from overseas in a body cast. He was my hero in many, many ways and his being a veteran was one of them.
My boss Jim served in Vietnam. He was a Navy pilot. That took a toll on his back also. Many days I see him in pain even now for what he did for our country. And unlike the soldiers that return to the US now, he wasn't greeted with parades and people cheering. Like this war now, many people disagreed with us being there. But unlike now, they couldn't support our soldiers without supporting the war. Thank you Jim for all you did for our country!
Our Community Relations Director, Keith served in the military and while I don't know exactly what he did, I am thankful he served and helped keep us safe.
And we have two fine phlebotomists, Billy and Eddriel, who have served recently. Billy is going back in March and it will a big void when he leaves. Thank you to you two for what you have done and what you will do for us.

Another crisis and another outpouring of support

2009-11-07T05:11:00.000-08:00

I have been in blood banking going on 20 years now. I love my job. I love the fact that I am making a difference each day.
But when a crisis happens in our community, it is the outpouring of blood donors to support those victims that gets me through the crisis.
I first witnessed this years ago during the raid on the Branch Davidian compound here close to Waco. When I saw on TV the officers being shot at I immediately called our blood center to see how many units of blood we were shipping to the hospital. And as the scheduling coordinator for staff, I knew my next thing was to mobilize all our collection staff to have them come in on that Sunday to help collect blood for the emergency.
Imagine my surprise when I arrived at the donor center before the doors were even open and saw over 100 people there. They continued coming until the compound burned down, even though they were aware that no one was using blood after the first initial strike.
I saw this happen again and again. The Oklahoma City bombing, when we went to war during Bush, Sr. presidency, after a Class 5 tornado and of course when the Twin Towers were struck.
On Thursday, when the largest military base, Ft. Hood, that is just 45 minutes from here, was attacked by an armed gunman I saw it happen again.
Thursday evening we saw about 120 donors. And again yesterday we saw over 100. We sent out 190 units in the first day. Every one of our blood drives all over our territory are seeing an increase in blood donors. So much so that at this time we are asking folks to wait a couple of weeks to donate more.
Why do these donors come out during these tragedies? I mean, if you look at the big picture, there is a tragedy happening somewhere every minute. Someone needs blood every 3 seconds. It could be a surgery patient, a cancer patient, an accident victim. And the truth of the matter for those big tragedies is that if someone hadn't donated blood BEFORE it happened, there wouldn't be blood to save those lives WHEN it happens.
Here is my thought (and you know I have lots of thoughts!): People need to do something PHYSICAL when a tragedy happens. They can pray, they can cry, they can wring their hands, but for a healing to occur in a community, they have to do something that comes directly from them. Like donating food for a food shortage, donating blood during this time makes them feel a part of them has actually become a part of the victims. And that they have really made a difference.
If you ever witness one of these type blood drives (and I pray that you don't!) you will see the emotions on the faces of the donors. And if you stuck around after the doors close, you will see the emotions on the faces of the staff. And it is at that time a healing begins. Emotional wounds are healed during a blood drive.
The one thing that each blood donation center would like to be able to get across to donors is that they can be a part of a healing everyday. Those patients in the hospital needing lifesaving blood may not have been the victim of a gun welding insane man, but they are victims none the less. Victims of illness, victims of accidents, victims of violence.
And they need you, everyday. When you donate blood, try to imagine your neighbor, your child, your spouse as the one needing that donation. Because you never know who is the face on that blood bag.
As the holidays approach, donations drop. And after an outpouring of support like we have just seen, during the weeks after donations drop.
We need donors. Just not today, but everyday. We need you in the weeks to come.
Give blood. Often. You can make such a difference. You can be a part of healing, a part of something great!

November

2009-11-04T17:53:00.000-08:00

Well, November kicked off with a bang. I have felt really bad for several days. No fever, coughing or runny nose, but plenty of general achiness, sore throat and ear ache.
Feels like the flu, but with no fever or coughing.
But right now, I feel better. Just a sore throat and a slight headache.
I started a new SFAC project. It is always so exciting to start a new project to raise money for cancer patients.
And now I need to start a ornament for an exchange party I have here. But what to do, what to do?!
I guess I will dig through my patterns and fabric and decide. And probably look online and find a new pattern and then rush to get it done. This year I just can't seem to get into the whole "holiday" thing. Usually by now I am planning for Thanksgiving and Christmas. But Thanksgiving is less than a month a way and I don't have a clue what we are doing.
And Christmas? I haven't bought a single present and have no idea what my grandsons even want. All I know is that they will be here the day after Christmas and will stay with us for a week by themselves. I know they want to go bowling and the oldest wants to make a snowflake craft of some sort.
How are you all doing on your holiday plans? Anyone else in this same sort of standstill that I am in?

Happy Halloweenie!

2009-10-30T15:21:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to wish all of you a Happy Halloweenie!
Whether you are trick or treating with little ones or going to an adult party please have a simply marvie time but also be safe out there!
And don't forget for those of us in the States, we get an extra hour of sleep on Sunday due to the clocks rolling back for a hour.
So party til the cows come home. You have an extra hour to catch up on those zzz's!
BOO!
PS: Check out my SFAC blog for a new project! Click on the link on my right sidebar!

A night to remember

2009-10-18T10:06:00.000-07:00

Last night was Relay For Life. If you have been following my Stitching For A Cure blog, go over there and see all the pictures of the tree. Quite spectacular.
Relay is a fundraiser for American Cancer Society.
Every year I go to Relay I get inspired to go back out into my world and make a difference. Since most blood collected is used by cancer patients and I am in the blood "business", cancer touches my life almost daily.
And I am a 23 year cancer survivor.
This year I participated in the survivor lap. I never thought of myself as a survivor since I didn't have to undergo the chemo, radiation, etc. that most patients have to go through. And since it was so long ago, I hardly think about it.
But last night, WOW! There were 450 survivors that made the first lap. Everyone else goes to the sides of the track to cheer them on, give them high 5's and clap.
As I write this I still get chills. The support for those who have fought the battle and won or are still fighting is AMAZING.

This year I had my daughter and two grandsons with me. It was wonderful. We also had a team there.
I danced with my grandsons while there. Here are some pics of Craig & I. It was so much fun to dance with them!

I also had the opportunity to speak before the crowd and to announce the winner of our annual blood drive challenge. This was wonderful! Over a thousand people heard the message that blood donors were needed to help in patients' cancer treatments.

And finally, this is what we gave those in the midst of their battle:

It was a night to remember!

The Boys Are Back In Town

2009-10-10T19:16:00.000-07:00

Have you seen this pattern?

It is by Just Another Button Company and is free with the purchase of the button pack. It can be found at several ONS or at your local shop. Just too cute!
Next Friday is Relay and is the debut of the tree. If you don't know what I am talking about you must be living in outer space because it has consumed me for the past year. Check out my SFAC blog link located on the right side of my blog for my final countdown.
I have committed to another Relay For Life at the end of April. I am going to do a quilt and will be offering up squares on my SFAC blog for anyone who wants to stitch one of nine squares. Check it out in November for details.
As for me, I am holding on. My MIL is doing better, but still has not been able to get any real financial help. SSI is still pending and food stamps said since she worked some last month she is not eligible for emergency food stamps. Crazy. She didn't earn enough before she got sick to hardly make a living and they want to deny her now?
My DD and grandsons are coming next weekend to help me with Relay. I can't wait to see them. I told the oldest I was going to give him lots of wet kisses. He hesitated and I said "how about a big hug instead?" That seemed acceptable to him. He is 7 and the other one is 5. Soon they won't want hugs or kisses at all. They grow up so, so fast!
Hope this fall is finding you all well. Thank you for following my little blog!

Blogversary

2009-09-30T18:08:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it has been a year, but on Oct. 6 I started this blog. Wasn't sure what I would say and if anyone would care to read what I had to say.
Out of this blog has came the biggest volunteer project of my life, Stitching for a Cure.
I have met some wonderful friends along the way. Friends I wouldn't know if it weren't for this blog.
Along the way I learned about Yahoo groups and Facebook. I learned about ways to finish ornies and flatfolds. I learned about Carrie's threads and hand dying your fabrics.
I have shared stories with you and you have laughed and cried with me. I have shared photos of my stitching and my family.
Thank you for being my friend. Thank you for reading my blog. Here is to many, many more years of sharing friendships along the way!

Lunch with the family

2009-09-27T10:51:00.000-07:00

Today my oldest niece came into town. She is out of town finishing her degree. My sis, 2 nieces, Mom & I had lunch out. It was a good time for all and a good time for photos. Mom looked beautiful as always.

I can't believe how fast these girls are growing. The oldest will be 21 in December and the youngest will be 14 in August. Unreal.
For all of you who wished good thoughts to my MIL, I am happy to report she is doing better. She is at home with some help. We are still working on financial stuff for her, but at least she is home. Thanks for all the prayers and good thoughts.

The perils of falling

2009-09-19T19:21:00.001-07:00

My mother in law fell last night. She broke her hip in two places and had to have surgery today to put a rod in it.
She went to answer the door, looked out the peep hole and didn't recognize the person, jumped back and tripped over a fan. I don't know how long she was in the floor before her landlord heard her and broke in the door to get to her.
I think this is everyone who lives alone nightmare. I don't live alone, but I do have a fear of falling and breaking something. My MIL is only 59.
She has no insurance and is going to be out of work for several weeks. She has no savings or a 401K to fall back on.
I worry daily about my own sweet mother falling. And she does, but she has learned over the years how to fall. And she has LifeLine, which calls for help if she falls or any other emergency.
If you are a praying person, I ask for prayers for my MIL. Thanks.

Hot Lips lives on

2009-09-18T14:13:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it. Hot Lips has bloomed again. I saw the beginnings of buds on a really thin stem but thought there was no way it would really bloom again.
And we have had so much rain the past week that any possible hope I felt had been washed away.
But today she bloomed and has another bud waiting to open, possibly tomorrow. The stem is so thin that the bloom just droops way down. And the blossom isn't quite as spectacular as in the summer. But still, it is a beautiful blossom.
I think probably this is the end of her season. I am going to split the plant into two, but I have to wait until I am REALLY sure she is through for the year. Who knows, that might be February!

For the love of stitching and a little baby

2009-09-13T14:16:00.000-07:00

Well Folks, I am stitching again. It seems like ages since I have had the desire to stitch. Perhaps it is all the frantic stitching I did for my Stitching for a Cure project.
Speaking of Stitching for Cure, we are coming down to the home stretch. Check out my blog, Stitching For A Cure tomorrow for some news!
So what got me stitching again? A tiny little baby. One that has already been through more in the 14 days he has been on this earth than most of us would through in a lifetime.
I am stitching a little block that has a flamingo design on it for a quilt that will be given to this little angel. I have a short deadline, so I must get back to stitching. If any of you would like to know more about this little one, go here
I want to thank each of you for your encouragement to me during this stitching hiatus!

New Pictures & my niece's graduation

2009-08-19T16:59:00.000-07:00

Monday night my Mom & I attended my oldest niece's graduation. It is hard to believe she has now been in college for 2 years. Seems like just the other day she was 2 and telling me "I don't yike you, I don't yove you, yeeve me alone Aunt Donna Wooyee". Which would then be followed by me instantly grabbing her and hugging her.
My sister (her mother) was there of course as were members of her father's family. It was good to see them all.
I don't have a picture of the graduate, but here are a couple of pics. One is of my Mom & I and one is of my sister, my Mom & I.

Doesn't Mom look beautiful? I haven't seen her in that dress since my wedding nearly 5 years ago. She wanted to dress nice for her granddaughter's graduation ceremony. And boy did she!
Congratulations Ms. Sabrina! You dun good!

An honorable company

2009-08-15T19:53:00.000-07:00

Ok I know you heard about KFC where they go onto Oprah and offer a free coupon for a free grilled chicken meal. Then they say "whoa" we will go broke if we give all these people who saw this and printed this coupon off a free meal. So they offered something to appease the customers.
But what were they thinking? I mean it was Oprah for freaking sake.
Then the other day Best Buy mistakenly offers a TV for $9.99. Several people actually purchased it through their website. Paid for it. Then, whoops, we made a mistake and we are refunding your money.
These companies leave a bad taste in your mouth. I understand business. And I understand that in this economy to actually make good on that promise is hard. But how many potential customers did they lose by going back on their word.
I didn't print the KFC coupon, but when I drive by there, it is one of the first thoughts I have when I see the place.
Tonight I was shopping on a clothing site for large women called Roaman's. They have the slacks, the jeans and the underwear I like to wear.
I had a promo coupon for free shipping. And my jeans were buy one pair, get the next pair free.
So I thought I would through in a package of underwear. $32.00 for 10 pair. And then I saw it. In red print, BUY ONE PACKAGE, GET ONE FREE.
Wow! 2 pairs of jeans and 2 packages of underwear for the price of one each and free shipping??? I, being the bargain clothes shopper that I am, had hit the mother lode.
But when I moved the underwear to my shopping cart, it wasn't giving it to me for free. Oh no.
So I called them. A nice young man named Steve helped me. I told him my problem. He said they weren't buy one get one free but to hold on for a minute. He came back to the phone and said they were going to honor the price. He took my order and put it on hold.
Monday morning the customer service dept. (after I call them) will take care of fixing the problem.
A company that honors it's promises. That is something. You can bet I will shop with them again. And you can bet I will tell all my large size friends about it, just like I am doing on this blog.
Good customer service. A thing of the past? Maybe not!

Oh Christmas tree...

2009-08-08T16:35:00.000-07:00

It is hotter than Hades here in Texas. Today it was a mere 101 degrees, with a heat index (whatever that is) of 106 degrees. Too hot to go out, too hot to do anything but complain about the heat.
But here I am in my air conditioned house (thanks again Mom & Brenda for fixing it). And I am in my favorite Christmas t-shirt. Yes t-shirt. Here in Texas you can wear a short sleeve t-shirt with penguins and snow flakes and Christmas wreaths on it at Christmas time because we only have one day of winter and that is on January 26th or February 2nd depending on when I have scheduled a pedicure that I have to wear sandals to.
You may also ask why I would be wearing a Christmas shirt in July. Two reasons. One is that the thought of cooler weather makes me think of Christmas and the second is that this is Saturday, the day before laundry day and this is what I have to wear around the house. Really, it is just a comfortable shirt that I enjoy wearing around my house.
But back to Christmas. It dawned on me that this is August. A week into August, nearly half the month has passed. Soon it will be September, then October, then November and THEN! December! And Christmas will be here.
Now actually my favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. It is the start of the "holiday" season and before I get tired of Jingle Bells and a thousand decorated trees. It is a time to reflect on family and giving thanks for what God has given us. Cooler weather is here and there is a Christian group that has a children's festival every year the weekend of Thanksgiving that I love to go to.
So for all of you that are going through the dog days of summer here is a thought:
THERE ARE ONLY 10 MORE PAYDAYS (if you get paid every 2 weeks like me)UNTIL CHRISTMAS!
Have a good weekend. As for me, where is that fan???

New hair

2009-07-31T12:09:00.000-07:00

I told you that the gray streak would be disappearing from the middle of my head. And yesterday it did. Then today my daughter went blond!
So here is a picture of my daughter, Jen and I with our new hair!

This has been a fun week! The boys went to VBS each morning and Jen and I hung out. Then in the afternoons we went out and about, bowling, swimming, movies, all sorts of things!
Tonight is the VBS carnival and then tomorrow they will all be gone. Whew! I will be ready for another vacation to recoup from this vacation!
Just kidding. I will miss the little boogers until their next trip here.

Having fun with family

2009-07-25T17:33:00.001-07:00

I started my vacation at 12:01pm on Friday. My mom went to a Mary Kay party with her hairdressers and my husband was out on the road on Friday night so I had the house all to myself for a couple of hours. First time in I don't know how long!
Then my dd and her husband (and of course my 2 grandsons) arrived at 10:00pm last night. Let the partying begin! We all got to bed around 1:00am and then were up at 7:00am to go to Austin to a Pizza Park.
This place is about one and a half hours from the house. We loaded up two cars with my mom, my dd & her husband, my grandsons, my husband and myself and off we went. The park has just about everything you want to do and more from putt putt, to go carts, to bumper boats and lazor tag and video games.
Here is a pic of the entire family before all the activities:

Now the gray streak that is going down the middle of my head will be going away this week.
My grandsons and DD are here for a week. My DH is also off most of the week. Our plans include the boys going to VBS every morning, and then all of us going to the movies, bowling, the spray park and then those that are brave enough, going on the slip and slide at the house in the evenings.
I don't think I will get much stitching in...

The Toy Society

2009-07-16T18:31:00.000-07:00

I am a member of The Toy Society amongst other things. I say I am a member. I just did my first toy drop yesterday.
If you are not familiar with The Toy Society, here is the link: The Toy Society
Basically you make a toy and then place it out somewhere that someone will pick it up (hopefully a child that will fall in love with it!).
I did a hankie baby. Some of you might remember me asking for a pattern for hankie babies. Well after searching and not being able to make one from the directions, I purchased one on Etsy and then took it apart and made my own.

You place the toy in a ziploc bag with a note from TTS that explains everything along with a tag on the outside of the bag that says "Take me home. I'm Yours".
Then you "drop" the toy off somewhere and pray that someone picks it up.
Mine was picked up within the hour. I had a "spy" watching out for me.
Hopefully the person that picks it up will then send an e-mail to the Society (directions are in the bag) and I will know who got it.
Let me tell you something. This was about the most fun I have had in a lot of years. It was like being a secret Santa in July. My heart was beating and all day I wondered who picked up my toy.
To see what I dropped, go to the blog. It is about the second or third one down.
If you are a crafter, I encourage you to try this. It will make you smile and that my friends is a good thing!

Update on HOT LIPS!

2009-07-15T15:22:00.000-07:00

Well, bless my soul, Hot Lips isn't gone for the summer but rather took a short vacation. I came home today to find a shoot from one pot that has about 5 blooms on it (although still in the beginning stages) and the other pot has a shoot that has a few blooms on it (I can't tell how many yet).
This is such a surprise because last year once the initial blooms died, there were no others!
I will keep you updated when they blossom!

Goodbye Hot Lips

2009-07-08T19:21:00.000-07:00

It is a sad time at the Wooley-Karl house. Hot Lips is gone for another year. She gave me so much joy this year. This was the second year she resided at my house. Last year, there was just one of her, with 3 little offspring.
But this year she divided into two and gave off 21 beautiful offspring.
Who or what is Hot Lips? Why she is the most beautiful day lily you have ever seen! Or in this case, day lilies! Here is she is, on the last day of the season:

I purchased Hot Lips last year and she gave me 3 blooms. But she got so large I divided her into 2 plants and held my breath. I had never raised a day lily so I didn't know what to expect. I kept her in two pots and then about a month ago she sprang to life, giving me a new, bright orange open blossom just about everyday. Sometimes 3 or 4 a day. But day lilies do not last long. I would come out in the morning and there would be a bloom. But by the next morning it would be withered away. I think Hot Lips just was so hot she exploded each day!
This year, I think she will have one pot that will have to be divided, so next year I will hopefully have more blooms.
Goodbye sweet Hot Lips until 2010. See you next year!

Happy 4th of July

2009-07-03T11:27:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July to all! And to all those who are keeping us safe this 4th of July and all their families, THANK YOU!
Please stay safe this holiday. I had a minor accident yesterday while with friends. We were hit from behind and all of us were jarred up quite a bit.
It was due to simply not paying attention. The young woman had a dog with her, talking with her friend that was with her and had her leg propped up on the side of the door.
Throughout the day yesterday and today I have observed many people swerving in their lanes, one even going up on the curb. It was most likely not due to drunk driving, but rather texting and talking on the cell phone and not paying attention.
And because of silly behavior like this and because we know there will be fools out drinking and driving and because of the sheer volume of traffic on the road this holiday weekend, there will more accidents on the road, some quite severe.
During this season, there is a greater need for blood. And because people are out of their routines and because school is out, there is less blood available.
So, if you can donate blood, please do so now. Donate and donate often. You can make a REAL DIFFERENCE!

Got new stash

2009-06-24T17:41:00.001-07:00

I received this package of goodies from my friend Tara in one of my Yahoo groups! It has my favorite 28 count fabric, 4 fat quarters of fabric and several charms, including some cute angels and some ribbons to use on my SFAC project.
I can't thank Tara enough for her generous exchange package. I hope she likes the one I have sent as well!

A Vacation

2009-06-23T20:02:00.000-07:00

My grandsons and daughter are coming to visit me the end of the month. My husband James is also going to be off for the week with me so we have lots of fun planned.
But one of the best things we are going to do just involves my husband, myself and some wild women!
Now before you get any kinky ideas, we are going to see Roller Derby in Austin! Check out this site: http://www.txrd.com
I have been a huge Roller Derby fan since the 1960's when my parents, sister and I would watch them on TV on Saturday nights. Then A&E did a reality show about the Texas Roller Derby girls. Oh my! My favorite team is the Holy Rollers. With names like Miss Conduct & Punky Bruiser, who can go wrong?
My daughter is going to stay home that evening with my mom so we can go down the road to Austin to see them. It is like a dream come true! Ok, to some it might be a nightmare! But I CAN'T WAIT!

Is it really almost July?

2009-06-20T20:56:00.001-07:00

I cannot believe it is almost July and I cannot believe I haven't posted since May 30th. Time has just gotten away from me.Now, on to the stitching world. Several weeks ago I participated in an embellishment exchange with my Yahoo group. This is what I got from Lizzy.

There are some great eyelets that I can use with my Crop-a-dile and some purple ribbon. Then there are these beautiful silver, lacy looking butterfly charms that I can't wait to put to use. Thanks again!
I am also participating in Rene's hardanger online class. Here is the fabric, threads and beads I chose:

The fabric is 28 count and is called Waterlilly. In case you can't see it, the color is this really pretty light green. The threads and beads are ecru. I can't wait to see how it all turns out!
Well hopefully in the next weeks I will work out my issues. In the meantime, keep stitching!

Now what?

2009-05-30T16:13:00.001-07:00

I just started this candle wrap for my SIL's unity candle. Her wedding colors were burgundy and silver.
I called her to chat and to let her know I was working on the wrap. Imagine my surprise when she told me she was in the process of packing to move out. Her fiance had told her this morning that "he didn't want to get married anymore". Her wedding date was June 27th.
What could I say? She, like me, had waited a long time to find the right person. She thought she had found her soul mate, but it was not to be.
So now my question is: NOW WHAT? Now what do I do with this piece of needlework. Maroon (burgandy, actually) and silver are not the most popular colors.
I received the pattern from my friend Sandy who had made a couple of needleroll ornaments for my stitching for a cure project.
Since burgandy is the color for hemangiomas, a type of non-malignant cancer, I highly suspect (that is a phrase my grandmother used all the time. I will have to tell you more about her later) that I am going to make this into a needleroll ornament also.
I have already stitched the biggest part of the reverse double backstitch. It also has some herringbone stitches and your choice of a Rhodes heart or butterfly, along with some beadwork for flowers.
In the center where I was going to put their names, Sandy put the word cure on one and the word hope on the other. I think I will do the same.
This linen band will work nicely for a needleroll I think.
But I am truly sorry it is not going to be used for the purpose it was started for. I had dreams of them celebrating their 10th anniversary by lighting the candle.
I pray God has something even more special in line for my SIL.

Lions, and tigers and bears, oh my!

2009-05-25T07:10:00.000-07:00

We have had so much fun this weekend. First of all we went to the zoo here, which was so lovely. The animals were quite playful. The pictures do not do them justice! For instance, what you can't see in the bear picture is that we were just a pane of glass away from touching that bear's nose. He was in the water, eating an apple! And the tiger was pacing.

This elephant was showing off for us. She would raise her trunk and flair her ears for all the photographers wanting to photograph her.

This baby bison was born just 3 hours before we photographed her. The umbilical cord and placenta were still attached to the mom. She stood up on her wobbly legs and tried to nurse, then had to lay down.
And finally, I told my husband I wanted to see a waterfall before I left this earth. While I may not see one in nature, this zoo had 4 of them and they were absolutely beautiful.
Here is a picture of my two grandkids and me in front of one of them.

We have had a wonderful weekend. Saturday we went bowling. The entire family, DD, DH, SIL and of course the grandkids. It was so much fun. I taught my grandson to "shake his tail feathers" when he threw the ball for good luck. That little bony rear end of his could really move!

And my daughter was amazed how great my grandkids could bowl!

One of the best things we did was to take my mom out with the whole family to our favorite hamburger joint. We wanted to take her to watch us bowl, but it started raining and she got soaked so she had to go home and we had to go without her.
Here is a picture of her with my daughter.

All in all it was the perfect weekend. Just perfect!

Little things

2009-05-17T18:38:00.000-07:00

Little things mean so much. Like a dandelion picked from a field by your grandson for you.
My dear husband James did one of these little things this weekend.
The steering wheel cover on the vehicle I have been driving leaves a black residue on my hands and sometimes my clothes. It is much worse when it gets warm. I suspect it is some kind of adhesive that is oozing from the seams of the cover. This winter it hasn't been a problem, but now that warmer weather is here it seems like every evening when I drive home I have black on me.
I mentioned in passing how it irritated me and that I needed to go and pick up a new steering wheel cover to my husband.
That night when I returned home, there it was. A new steering wheel cover.
I know, I know. It is just a steering wheel cover. Probably only cost a few dollars.
But it meant so much to me. And was just so sweet of him.
Yep. Little things mean so much!

My anniversary

2009-05-13T18:27:00.000-07:00

I will celebrate my 4th anniversary on May 28th. For those of you who don't know, I waited until I was 44 to get married for the first time. Did the whole big shebang. White dress with a 4 foot train, church wedding, my boss giving me away (my dad passed away before I could get married), just everything!
My husband is 14 years younger than me. He is my hunk of burning love!
Seriously, he is the man I waited all my life for and the love of my life. God truly blessed me with him.
I am thankful I have had 4 years with him and pray for many, many more! James, I love you!

These are pictures of the unity candle I had at my wedding. My good friend Lenna stitched this candle wrap for me. It is beautiful.
I am attempting to make one for my sister-in-law who is getting married this June. I pray I could do a job close to as nice as this one is.

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-09T22:33:00.000-07:00

This is Donna's daughter, Jennifer. I have hijacked her blog to wish her a very special Mother's Day! My mom is my best friend and I love her more than words can say! I wanted to hijack this to let her and all her friends know the top ten reasons why I love my mommy!

1. She is just as crafty as I am if not more!
2. She listens to me rant about my kids (and then tells me how it's my fault!)
3. We both love the spa and always know when in doubt hair and makeup is the perfect present!
4. She taught me how to cook.
5. She loved me enough for both a mom and a dad.
6. She is the prettiest lady in the whole wide world.
7. She can make me smile.
8. She cries at all the emotional shows on TV (but still makes fun of me for being the same way).
9. She gave me her beautiful eyes.
10. She gave birth to me and raised me to be the mother I am today so I can celebrate this day too.

I love you mommy! Now you have speakers so turn up your volume and listen to the CD I was going to burn for you, but this works better!

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-09T16:22:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to all! We all had a mother, good, bad or indifferent. I have a lovely mother. Her name is Jan.
Let me tell you about my mother. She and my father married when she was 14 and he was 17 and no she wasn't pregnant. She didn't have me until she was 21.
At the age of 30, yes, 30 she had a massive stroke. Then 6 months later another stroke. They did an angiogram and found out that she had a rare benign tumor on her heart valve. She became the 3rd person in Waco, TX to have open heart surgery to remove the tumor.
But the stroke had done major damage. At that time they didn't have the clot busting drugs they do now. Or the physical therapy techniques. So everything mom lost, was lost for good.
Included was her eyesight in her left eye, the entire right side of her body was paralyzed and most importantly her speech was gone.
She is now 69. She has lived this way for 39 years. At first she could walk with a cane, then a walker. She has fallen so many times she has pretty much broken most of her bones. Her spine is a crumbling mass of tiny fractures.
So now she is in a wheelchair. When she stands to transfer into the bathroom or into her chair or bed, she is completely bent over, like she is reaching to pick up something.
But let me tell you something the stroke did not take. HER SMILE. She smiles all the time. Everyone that sees her can't help but smile. Strangers in the places we go just warm up to her.
She is pretty much confined to home, but Saturday is beauty shop day and we better not miss beauty shop day or all he-- breaks loose. Lord help us if it is raining or icy. The next week will be miserable if she misses beauty shop day. They treat her like she is a celebrity there. They make coffee just for her and even after she is done getting her hair done, they wait for her to finish her coffee.
Today my sister, her daughter and my sister's boyfriend joined us for lunch. This is a picture of my sister & her daughter & Mom & me.
Tell me the truth. Didn't her smile make you smile too?

I am baaaacckkkk!

2009-05-09T14:10:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my mom and sister I am back online with a new computer! I will have lots of pictures to and more updates to post. Right now I just have lots of catching up to do. Thanks so much for the prayers and kind thoughts. It has been stressful, but we are getting through it!

Update from Donna's daughter

2009-05-03T15:54:00.001-07:00

This is Donna's Daughter, Jennifer. Donna had a lightening strike on her house. All 4 of her TVs are out, the water heater is out, the dishwasher is out, the hallway light is out and most importantly her computer is gone. She will not be online until she gets computer access again.

My Saturday and the infamous biscornu

2009-05-02T17:59:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely Saturday. My EGA had our annual May luncheon and despite some minor catering problems, it was wonderful. The food was good and the fellowship even better. I laughed and talked and ate myself into needing a nap afterward. Here are some photos of the luncheon:

And now about the biscornu. I passed out the fabric, threads, etc and instructions for the biscornu at the luncheon.
I had stitched most of the top of the biscornu before my friend Lenna took it over for me in an effort to keep my sanity (I only needed 3 small specialty stitches on the top). She did the backside and put it together.
It shouldn't surprise you that with all the problems I had with it when I was stitching it that I would have problems with taking a picture of it now that it is finished. I took 10 photos, all of which are blurry. Here are two of the best (if you can say best in this situation).

Now, let me give some people their "props". Thanks to Lenna for finishing this for me. You are an angel. Thanks to Mary Ann & Dana for helping me with the supplies for this project. Thanks to Mary for sending me her finished biscornus to show as examples. And thanks to all of you who have encouraged me.
I will be giving this little jewel away at a later date. I still have to teach the class this month and next. Wish me luck!
P.S. You might have noticed I now have a Facebook Badge. I am now on Facebook. Come visit me there if you like. I know NOTHING of Facebook but had many requests to join Facebook so I gave in!

Flowers, bees (or wasps), and water

2009-04-19T18:11:00.000-07:00

My Sunday was lovely. After feeling like crud last week, I think I am finally turning the corner. Today I felt more like "myself" than I have in weeks.
My husband took me to the arboretum and to the lake for a lovely drive. Yesterday was cloudy and rainy most of the day, but today was beautiful.
I know this is supposed to be a stitching blog and I have done a little stitching (I will show later), but lately "spring fever" has caught me and I have loved seeing all the wonderful flowers and taking pictures of everything.
First, here is a lovely peach colored rose. The wasp was enjoying it as much as I.

And then I saw these beautiful tiny purple flowers among these pink roses.

Then we drove by the lake. The water was choppy due to the wind, but there were some boaters and one brave skier (the temp outside was only in the 70's). We also saw this cute family that was fishing. They had a little 2 year old girl that was so precious. She ran up and down the hill with her father in pursuit of her. If you look closely you can see the whole family by the lake fishing.

All in all it was a wonderful day. My husband and I had some quiet time just the two of us, away from everything. I got some fresh air, as well as a fresh perspective on life.
I promise I will have more stitching soon. But spring and those wonderful spring flowers just last a little while, so we have to enjoy them while we can!

A challenge

2009-04-17T19:59:00.000-07:00

For those of you who follow both my blogs, please excuse me but I will have the same message on both blogs.
Most of you know I am working on a project for American Cancer Society. We are stitching Christmas ornaments for a tree that will be raffled off and the money given to American Cancer Society.
My friend Mary and I were talking last night. I have been focused on getting enough ornaments for the tree. But I forgot one very important part of the tree: THE TOPPER!
I am thinking an angel would look great on top.
So here is my question to you: Do you know of a pattern for an angel to go on the top of the tree? Do you have any ideas on how I can make one? I would hate to have a store bought angel on top of this beautifully hand stitched decorated tree.
Any suggestions would be welcome! You can leave me a msg. here or an e-mail at dwooleybooger@yahoo.com
So put your thinking caps on and help me! Thanks.

No Easter Eggs, but lots of flowers

2009-04-11T18:22:00.000-07:00

I want to wish each of you a Happy Easter. My grandkids are not here, so I have no Easter eggs or baskets to show. But I do have lots of flowers.
First, can anyone tell me what this flower is? The past several weeks I have noticed what I thought was a weed taking over our arboretum. It looked like a weed. Then this week these beautiful red flowers popped out of them. They are gorgeous!

I love spring and this spring has proven to be one of the most beautiful. Even the cacti are blooming!

Now I have a confession to make. My dad loved flowers. We have many, many videos of flowers from him. And even when we went to Disney World, we didn't have video of Mickey or Goofy. Nope. We had video of all the beautiful flowers there. I didn't understand it at the time.
But now, I see a little of my dad peeking through. I have come to LOVE flowers. And I LOVE taking pictures of them and boring people with my pictures of flowers.
I even had my DH out in the rain today, picking out a beautiful pink rosebush for me for our yard. He loves me and he loves gardening. I just love looking at the garden and telling him where things should go.
Speaking of rosebushes, here are some red and pink roses I saw at the arboretum today:

Here is a pink rose, very full:

And a pink bud:

And now, how about a full pink rose and a bud, together!

I just love spring! And Easter is the best part of spring!
Now later, when I post about my allergies, remind me of all of these flowers! Achoo!
Have a happy, hoppy Easter!

Panic attack/hissy fit over

2009-04-06T19:24:00.000-07:00

Ok, I am in a better frame of mind today. I think part of the reason I was so frustrated is that I am so freakin' (excuse my language) tired.
My iron level is still really low and all I want to do is sleep. And I am sleeping well at night. But after working all day or even yesterday doing 5 loads of laundry just exhausts me.
James and I have been eating much better and trying to take better care of ourselves. We are eliminating "white" foods, white potatoes, white pasta, white rice. We have switched to brown rice and sweet potatoes when we have them. We have wheat pasta and even wheat, low fat biscuits when I make breakfast on Sunday morning. We have added oats to our diet, oatmeal for breakfast and adding oats in things like turkey meatloaf (made with white meat turkey). While I am not a big bread eater, James eats sandwiches while he is on the road. They are just more convenient to carry when he goes out. He has switched to a 35 calorie bread. I am proud of him.
We have started growing our own vegetables. So far, the lettuce, tarragon, mint (oh my do we have mint), sage and parsley are the only thing that we have been able to harvest. So we supplement with plenty of fresh veggies to make salads with.
I know it is going to take a long time to turn us around, but it is time. I have two grandsons that love me as well as a daughter and son in law that love me also. And I have a mom that is dependent upon me to take care of her. Not to mention, my husband is my life & my love and he needs me.
But mostly I have gotten to a point with my health that I HAVE to take better care of me. My health issues are such that I have to eat better and exercise more to feel better. It won't make me well, but it will make me feel better.
I want to thank all those who left me messages. It is strange. Having people I consider to be friends that I have never met. When I was a teenager I had a pen pal in another state. I never met this person, but for two years we were extremely close (then we found BOYS and drifted apart). Having friends online is like having many, many pen pals! I delight in reading everyone's blogs and messages on my Yahoo groups. I love and applaud for you when things are going well or you finish a piece of needlework! And I have cried many many tears for those of you who have lost friends and families or who have been hurt by others. You are my friends away from home. Thank you for reading this blog and thank you for being here for me.

Allow me to vent

2009-04-05T20:11:00.000-07:00

Lately all of my stitching or at least the biggest portion of it has been to support my Stitching for a Cure project (if you don't know what this is, please check out my other blog, http://stitchingforacure.blogspot.com)
It seems to have taken over my life to a certain extent. I am passionate about this project, but I do spend a great deal of time worrying that I either won't have enough ornaments to make the tree "sellable" or we won't be able to sell enough tickets for the tree to get what I want to get for the American Cancer Society.
The latter of the two I haven't spent quite so much time obsessing over as I have the first one.
We have a little over 29 weeks (nearly 30 weeks) before this project has to be done. My goal is 200 ornaments. Right now we have 30. If I stitch an ornament a week, that will give us 60. But that is 140 ornaments short of the goal.
I realize that November is still a long way away (29 week, 6 days, 1 hour and 45 minutes) and I also realize I have many people who have promised ornaments and who are working on the ornaments.
But it is truly keeping me up at night. Have I bitten off more than I can chew? Is this just a pipe dream of mine? Am I asking too much of my friends, many of whom I have never met in person or even spoken to on the phone?
Am I driving my friends here and everywhere crazy with this obsession? Everyone at work knows about the project and sees every ornament I make. I am using every PR resource I have to help sell this tree.
I will keep on stitching and if we have to do a smaller tree and bring in less money than I hoped for, I will have to live with that.
But I really hope and pray we can pull this off.
I started this project because I wanted to make a difference. God gave me a talent, the talent of stitching. I would like to use that talent to help people. It is a one year commitment. I started in November 2008 and by the end of November 2009, it will be over.
Everyday, I hear about or see or meet someone with cancer. And I get so frustrated. I feel, even though I work in a field where we help cancer patients everyday, so helpless to be able to make a REAL difference. Last year at Relay For Life, I made myself a promise. The promise was that in 2009 this would be my year that I would stand up and try to help.
I guess I need to just stay focused on what I am doing and let everything fall into place. I do know that God's hand is upon this project. I need to let him guide me through it.
Thanks for listening. Thanks for being my friend.
Donna