Election day
Election day is fast approaching and like many others I will be very happy when it's over. Of course I'd be thrilled if I get the outcome I want, but either way I'll be happy to be rid of the phone calls, t.v. ads, junk mail, etc. Why they think pestering me will make me more likely to vote for them is beyond me. Especially the party I'm a member of--they have me on their mailing list, I contribute to them monthly, so they should know they have my vote. I stay away from politics and current events in this blog because some of my friends and most of my family do not agree with my views, and I want them to be comfortable reading here. I have thought recently about starting a separate blog for those types of conversations however--that way they could avoid reading it and hopefully everyone would be happy ;). I just feel like I'm missing something here as politics and current events are one of my interests, and something that Dave and I talk about all the time. I'd really like to have an outlet where I can put things in writing--sometimes to clarify for me and sometimes to vent LOL ;).
I will have to think about it--maybe the mood will pass once the election is over, but I doubt it ;)
Currently working on: 2006 Mini RR, Story RR, Finishers Too, Ian's Dino Mini RR
Posted by hollyday @ 8:19 AM
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Menu Plan Monday
I'm going to try for a few menus this week anyway, even though Dave still has class and we're getting ready for Ian's party on Saturday ;).
Monday--Chicken Parmesan, rolls, salad
Tuesday--Crab Cakes, rolls, broccoli
Wednesday--Leftovers (Dave's in class)
Thursday--Italian sausage casserole, salad
Friday--Hamburgers
Saturday--Pizza & birthday cake ;)
Sunday--probably dinner out :)
Currently working on: 2006 Mini RR, Story RR, Finishers Too, Ian's Dino Mini
Posted by hollyday @ 8:11 AM
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A gray fall day
Actually I love days like this--they're great for driving and looking at the colors (they seem to pop more against the gray), reading or stitching. But today for some reason I don't feel like doing any of that. I've been sitting around all morning doing nothing, thinking that I should be doing this or that. Maybe I just need a day off and shouldn't fight it. The last couple of weeks have been very busy getting ready for houseguests, volunteering at school, helping a friend, etc. Next week I have to do it all over again, so maybe I should just allow myself to be a bum today ;).
I do have a couple of errands I have to run though--I guess I should go take a shower and get out there eh? ;) Maybe once I do that I'll be motivated to sit down and stitch again--I've taken the last 2 days off to give myself a chance to catch up on other stuff I'd been neglecting. I guess that's it for now--nothing terribly insightful or interesting today--sorry ;)
Currently working on: 2006 Mini RR, Story RR, Finishers Too, Ian's Dino Mini
Posted by hollyday @ 9:33 AM
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Future projects
As promised (although late, for which I do apologize ;), here is a list of projects I really want to start at some point. They are not listed in any particular order:
*Old World Map (Janlynn ? Kit)
*French Heart (SB)
Hunt (SB)
*Geisha (needlepoint Dimensions Gold kit)
Teacup Bellpull (Lorri Birmingham)
Violet Teacup pincushion (Lorri Birmingham)
*Roses & Violets (Gitta)
Garden (Hinzeit)
Home (SB)
Brotherly Love (Brittercup Designs)
Britty Puppies
*College of Magical Knowledge (HAED)
The ones with asteriks are large projects, the rest are small to medium :). I'd like to get at least one large project done before starting one of these large ones, but we'll see ;). For the small ones I'm not as worried, and indeed may start Hunt in January--it's very small but very cute :).
Ideally I'd like to use the STRIP method (can't remember what the acronym stands for LOL ;). That's where you finish 2 projects before starting a new one, so in theory your WIP pile will eventually diminish instead of growing. It's been so long since I started something just for me though that I may spend January starting new projects and then move on to stripping ;). I probably shouldn't use that word--God knows what kind of people will find my blog when they google it ;). Oh well, they'll be bored to tears once they realize this has nothing to do with that and everything to do with cross stitch ROFLMAO!
Currently working on: 2006 Mini RR, Story RR, Finisher's Too, Ian's Dino Mini
Posted by hollyday @ 8:26 AM
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Ramblings of a stressed out stitcher
Okay, so I should know my limits by now, but every time I think I've got it figured out something pops up to screw it all up ;). In Sept. I thought it wouldn't be a problem to join the story RR--band sampler would have it's last mailing that month, mini would be halfway done, so starting story would be easy. And hey, while we're at it let's throw in a Halloween exchange for fun! I've promised myself ever since I started joining swaps almost 5 years ago that I'd do the Halloween one so I figured why not this year? I did the same with band sampler in the spring and I'm so glad I did, so it seemed a good idea to try for 2 new swaps this year ;).
The problem is I'm a slow stitcher and everyday life won't stop so I can focus on stitching LOL ;). For some reason my family still wants clean clothes to wear, a somewhat clean house to come home to and food to eat ;). Not to mention pesky little things popping up like major housecleaning for guests (3 times in 3 weeks so far), people getting sick, husbands working late and on weekends and friends who need help. *Sigh*--don't they know I have stitching to do?! Stopping to take care of these issues severely cuts into my stitching time--what's a girl to do?
Take a deep breath, calm down, talk to the host/s of the swaps. I got the Halloween piece done and mailed a week or so late, and the mini is almost done. I'm seeing if I can get something worked out with the owner of the piece and if so it will allow me to get started on the story RR for this month. The story piece is a pretty simple (but very cute) design, so my hope is it won't take me long to do. After that I'm hoping to get a couple of days to put in on the finishers too piece I have, and then it will be on to my last mini and last story. With any luck by the time December rolls around I'll have the whole month to focus on Ian's dino mini so I can finish it before the end of the year--then at least I'll have accomplished one of my goals from last year LOL ;). I won't have any RR's going into the new year, so that will allow me to start fresh with a new slate and see what happens :).
Currently working on: 2006 Mini RR, Story RR, Finisher's too, Ian's dino mini RR
Posted by hollyday @ 2:32 PM
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Stitching lists
I'm not sure if this will help or not, but I feel like putting it in here so there you are ;)
Active WIPs (large)
Rose of Sharon
Ring Around the Rose Tree
Heart's Content Christmas Tree
*Windemere Angel
Celtic Spring
Active WIPs (medium & small)
*Bloom
Secret Flower Bed
Winter Boxer
Moonlight Garden
Sophie's Roses
3 Pale Eggs
Cloister Garden
Enchanted Cottage
RRs that need finishing
Ian's Dino Mini
House Mini
Seasonal
Bead
*Band Sampler
Inactive WIPs (large)
*Rosebud Lullaby
Sitting Pretty
Alphabet
Convent Herbal Garden
Blackwork Sampler
Spring Fairy Spirit
Inactive WIPs (medium & small)
*Mill Hill Snowman
JN Beach Square
Bee Garden
5 Little Pumpkins
Garden Topiary
UFOs (large & small)
*Roses all Around
Around Britian
Huck Towel
* pieces that are closest to being finished in that category
Now in theory Ian's dino mini should be finished by the end of the year--that is my goal and the plan anyway ;). I know logic says I should take the pieces with asteriks and work on them until they're done, that way I have a feeling of accomplishment and can reward myself. That is the plan at the moment, but it may change ;). I've found if I think I have to finish a piece it quite often puts me off of it and I won't want to work on it at all. So in keeping with my "journey, destination" quote from yesterday, if I feel pressure and decide I don't want to work on a particular piece I won't. After all, maybe I'll finish another one instead ;). And the goal is to have fun and enjoy what I'm doing, right? So tentatively here's what I'll concentrate on next year:
Band Sampler RR
Bloom
Windemere Angel
Rosebud Lullaby
Mill Hill Snowman
The band sampler RR and bloom are both very close to being done which is why I'll do them first ;). The others I will work on in between working on whatever screams my name the loudest. That way I will hopefully satisfy both needs--to finish and to have fun :)
Tomorrow--a list of projects I really want to start ;)
Currently working on: Halloween exchange, 2006 Mini RR, Story RR, Finishers Too, Ian's Dino Mini
Posted by hollyday @ 3:30 PM
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Confessions of a serial starter
Or how I learned to love myself even without lots of finishes ROFL ;).
You know, I carry lots of guilt over everything in my life. Everything from my jobs as a mother and wife to my hobbies, including stitching. I love starting new projects but because I'm so slow I have trouble getting them finished, and that leads to guilt, especially if I want to start something else. My problem is I'm looking at it like a task I have to complete instead of something I enjoy doing. I have to keep repeating the phrase "the joy is as much in the journey as in the destination", but even then I sometimes forget and beat myself up over how many WIPs I have ;). But you know the thing is, what difference does it make if I never get another piece done again? Aside from obligation stitching (gifts, rr's, etc.) nothing has to be finished, so what's the big deal? Of course it doesn't work that way for most things--if I don't finish the laundry my family will go naked ;). If I don't do the shopping there will be nothing to eat. Even with gardening--if I don't pull the weeds and put in a minimum of effort many of the plants will die. But cross stitch? The worst that will happen will be I have a huge box full of projects that give me joy to stitch on.....when I happen to stitch on them :).
With that said, I've been doing my annual end of the year re-evaluation of my stitching and my WIPs. I do want to try to finish some pieces, but I don't want that to be my sole focus. So I typed out all my current "active" and "inactive" WIPs and thought about which would be easiest to finish, which I liked the most, etc., and came up with some ideas on what I'd like to focus on next year. And for the record--"inactive" WIPs are not UFOs LOL ;). They are pieces I still consider WIPs but haven't stitched on in a long time :). I think I will save the list for another day though--it's kind of long...
Currently working on: Halloween Exchange, 2006 Mini RR, Story RR, Finishers Too, Ian's dino mini RR
Posted by hollyday @ 1:55 PM
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Menu Plan Monday
Okay, I'll bite ;). I'm going to try this, although I'm not sure how well it's going to work, especially with Dave having class twice a week for the next 2 months LOL ;). It sure would be nice to make dinner more though, and if I don't plan it it doesn't get done ;).
Monday--leftovers (Dave has class)
Tuesday--nacho casserole
Wednesday--forage (Dave has class)
Thursday--quesadillas, corn
Friday--beef burgundy (crockpot) over noodles, rolls, salad
Saturday--out to dinner (mom is here)
Sunday--leftovers
I guess that's all for now :). Back soon with another post to get my week organized (at least on paper LOL ;)
Currently working on: Halloween exchange, 2006 Mini RR, Story RR, Finishers Too, Ian's Dino Mini
Posted by hollyday @ 12:25 PM
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Why do I blog?
One of my blogging buddies from the board posed this question in her blog and it got me to thinking. Why do I blog? Honestly it started out as a lemming thing LOL ;). Everyone else was doing it so I thought I'd give it a try. I don't think I do it for the same reasons a lot of other people I know blog though. I try to use it occasionally for organization, but that rarely works LOL ;). I'm not trying to hone my writing skills because I don't have any ;). I like the photography aspect of it, but just as I've become more regular with my blogging my husband has lost the d*** digital camera so that kind of throws a wrench in the works there ;). It does help with my stitching though which makes me happy as that's one of the reasons I started it :).
When I began it was a private thing--no one knew I had it. I know since it was published others could see it, but no one I knew was aware of its existence so I wasn't worried about it ;). Once my board friends started doing it I decided to "publish" it in the sense of putting it in my siggie both on the board and in my email, so both board and IRL friends could visit if they liked. I like to use it to try to keep me on track with my stitching--it helps a lot to put things in writing where I can see them. I know I can do this on the board (and I sometimes do), but here I feel I can go into more depth, plus my plans change so often I'm sure they get bored with seeing yet another "stitching plans" post LOL ;). Sometimes I will have thoughts like my 'chapters' entry, and it's nice to have a place to put it in writing where I can refer back to it. And lets face it, we probably all like the fact that people read our musings and love it when they leave comments so we know they read ;).
Like so many others I don't post very personal stuff, either about me or my family. While I am a speck of dust in the blogosphere and I'm sure no one cares what I write other than people I know, you can never be too careful. I would never post about Dave's work, not because it's secret or anything, but with more and more companies these days scouring the internet for myspace and blogs from or related to their employees you can never be too sure.
I guess ultimately then I blog because I enjoy it :). I hope my friends (especially my IRL ones) are able to keep up a bit with my life this way, even if it isn't always facinating reading LOL ;). For my board buddies hopefully they will occasionally get a fuller picture of who I am and where I'm coming from :).
I guess that's all for now--I hope everyone has a spectacular day and weekend :)
Currently working on: 2006 Mini RR, Story RR, Halloween Exchange, Brendan's keychain, Ian's Dino Mini RR
Posted by hollyday @ 7:57 AM
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A gray day
It's funny when they say a gray day can match your mood, because that's how I feel today. A couple of my friends whom I love dearly are upset and that makes me upset. The county is working on the sewer lines outside the house and they have backed up water into my basement! Needless to say I'm not happy about that at all ;). We have major money issues this month--an orthodontic consultation, car insurance and car taxes are all due this week which means there will be very little left over. I'm behind on my stitching obligations which always stresses me out. It's not too bad, I finished 1 RR yesterday and got most of another one done today, but it's the principle of the thing. I haven't made dinner at all this week which I hate, and lets not even talk about the house and garden and what needs to be done there.
*sigh* I'm off to make dinner and after the boys go to bed I'll have some tea and chocolate which hopefully will help ;). Tomorrow is another day...
Currently working on: 2006 Mini RR, Story RR, Halloween exchange, Brendan's keychain, Ian's dino mini RR
Posted by hollyday @ 3:32 PM
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