OMG it is Sunday already...where did the time go!

Yikes, I have been away for quite a while. It has been busy around here, but I think I get a little break of sorts today...at least I have some time to catch up on things around the house.

First I want to share with you the ornament I stitched for Conny in the Netherlands - the last receipient for the Ornament Swap 2011...here is my photo

For Conny, I stitched Snow Buddies by Amy Bruecken of Amy Bruecken Designs. The patter is from the 2011 Special Christmas Issue of Just CrossStitch. I stitched it on 28ct even weave linen which I hand-dyed in blues/greens which made it kind of the perfect fabric to stitch this whimsical pair of snowmen on. I did use all the DMC colors it called for, even the black Memory Thread. Have you ever used this stuff...it is very fun and makes your stitching kind of come to live.

I had to borrow Conny's photo she took and uploaded to the Ornament Swap blog because it made my ornament look better than the photo I took...

I think that I might have to stich one of these for my tree...sometime...when I can find more down time :) But doesn't it look good on Conny's tree!

Well, now that Conny received my ornament, which was the last one for I was a little late getting it in the mail, the Ornament Swap Group comes to an end. Our little group of Six has been doing this for 2 years and our wonderful moderator Angela thought it was time call it done. And we all agreed it was...for it is best to end things on a good note. And this group was awesome! Thank you all...now I just need to get my tree up so I can display all my ornaments I received from these fine ladies this year as well as last.

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Last week, I bid a fond "good bye" to my part-time job - Thursday was my last day in the office. The busy week was filled with a lot of cleaning out file cabinets and store cubes that hadn't been gone through in many years. I took it upon myself to get this task done before walking out the door for the last time. I wanted to make sure that Jenny, my replacement, started really nice a fresh.

Well, I didn't have a lot of time to say good bye to many of my co-workers, for we did have a little issue at the store, which my DH called me up and asked for me to come in to help out. So as soon as I finished up my exit interview with the HR department...and did a little walk around to catch a few "good-byes" I was out the door. Nothing like going from one job to the next without catching one's breath.

Since that moment, I have been working in both our stores - Friday in store #1 and Saturday I went up to store #2. It is one of our busy times of the year!

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Today I shouldn't have to go into either store, unless someone calls out sick. I am planning on catching up with all the laundry and some of the house hold things. The boys and I have talked about having a special holiday meal today in which I have enlisted them to create the menu and help me to cook what they are planing. Since Robert (my oldest son) was out of town for a hockey tournament on Thanksgiving, we decided that we would do a 2nd Thanksgiving meal - turkey, green beans, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pies, homemade rolls, etc.

So, I guess I need to finish up this post and get off this stationary bike so I can get to the grocery store to get all the ingredients for their menu. And...I need to get those sleepy heads...oops, I mean my assistant chefs...out of bed!

Until next time, remember...
Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

A mini happy dance...and the preface to a new chapter in my life

Well, finally...although you will have to pardon the snapshot, still no batteries for the "real" camera so I had to use the phone again...I have a phone photo for you to show the status of Family Sampler.  Last night I put in the last few stitches of the border corners and also took time to sketch out & stitched the capital "D". Yahoo...a mini happy dance I did have :)

I have started to put some thought into how I want to represent my family in the middle section where the tree is. Using the various of combinations of a mom, dad and 2 sons...and a selection of cats & dogs...I think that I figured out how I will stitch us. So stay tuned as my Family Sampler mojo has returned and I am still hoping to get this big project complete before the bells of Jan 1 2012 ring.

I am also counting down the days until my part-time job is over...with a little saddness as I have been there 5.5 years mixed with a little excitement to move on and work more in our stores and help my DH out.  Today at my part-time job is our holiday luncheon at one of the local wineries. This event is a very nice occasion and I look forward to sitting with some of my co-workers I have worked with over the years as well as the young lady who was hired to replace me. Please note, while the word "replace" sounds harsh, I have no hard feelings at all about leaving - continuing on in the job as full-time is just not an option for me. More responsibility, more hours and travelling is just something, given my personal life, would be very difficult to manage...it wouldn't be good for me, my family or the company. And, like I said I am looking forward to the next chapter of my life - more involvement in the stores and continued time with family...aka chaufer to the boys :)

Well, time to sign off but before I do, I would like to share a few of the thoughts that arrived in my inbox this morning from http://www.livinglifefully.com/

The best thing about this very minute is your ability to recognized the possibilities in it. Any fool can count the seeds in an apple. But only God can count the apples in a seed. There is something in every problem that holds potential for something better. Do you want a lifetime of happy righ nows? The little choice this moment to see the beauty in what appears ugly, frustrating, or disgraceful will change everything. ~Barbara Johnson

If you're not happy with who you are, you'll spend precious energy trying to be somebody you're no, and it wil wear you out. Think for a moment. Is there anybody in your life you're comparing yourself to? A beautiful sister? An accomplished brother? A friend who never seems to have problems? Well, may I say with all the love in the world: Quit it. That business o comparing is going to make you sice and unproductive, if it hasn't already. You are you! ~Luci Swindoll

The first thing to do in life is to do with purpose what one proposes to do. ~ Pau Casals

Until next time, my blogging friends, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa