Marvelous Monday Update 8/29/11 (on Tues)

Hard to believe it's the end of August already? With my nose constantly in textbooks, I missed summer. Boo!

GARDENING
My vegetable garden didn't fare so well this year. With all the rain, the tomatoes split, got buggy, and rotted on the vines. Only one cucumber vine grew and I got two cukes off it. The spinach didn't grow at all. Again, Boo!

Despite the weather conditions, my flowers did great. Remember the sunflower seeds I received in an exchange from Betty in NV? They are taller than my neighbor's garage.


I was really excited last week when I saw the heads were finally starting to bloom and bees were helping the pollination. :)


My double knockout roses are blooming for the third time this summer:



THE BROOD
Celete must be getting older. I took her for a walk on the walking path near my house. In times past, she was able to do the whole thing, albeit a bit pooped worn out by the time we got home. This last time, she stopped about 1/3 of the way and had to rest. Three-quarters of the way, I had to carry her because she refused to walk. After a while, I put her down and she walked. Less than a block from home, she refused to walk again. Poor doggie. It wasn't even hot that day. I've decided to leave her home when I walk the path, because I don't want to be carrying the dog!

Here's a pic of her from last week where she was enjoying the cooler temps. She's also sporting her summer 'do.


Charley. What am I going to do with that bird? She has two issues going on, or maybe I have two issues with her. One, she is projectiling poop (Yes, poop!) all over the walls near her cage. I swear she sticks her stinky butt rear end up to the bars of her cage and let's it fly! I clean it up when I find it, but it's staining the paint on the walls. Any bird owners have that problem? Issue #2 is that she lays eggs and tries to sit on them... for weeks. She pushes them around in the bottom of her cage, and tries to shove her body between the bars to get closer. She's quiet during that time, but as soon as I clean her cage she's back to squawking unless I sit within eyesight.

STITCHY STUFF
Several of my readers have asked about the iStitch Stitch-Along (SAL). It's being hosted by Carol at her iStitch blog. Initially, she agreed to let 100 stitchers participate. Then she opened up 25 more spots. They filled up fast! I think I found out about it during the last 25 openings. Every two weeks, she will release another part to the mystery SAL. If participants stitched it according to Carol's instructions, it can be mounted on a box from Hobby Lobby as seen HERE.

Last Friday, Carol sent out Part 2 of SAL. By Saturday night, I had Part 2 stitched! What do you think?


I also started the ornament for HOE's "Words of Christmas" exchange. I finished the stitched part, and am almost done with the beading part. Then assembly and viola! Finished.

I received my HOE Lizzie Kate-themed ornament today! It came from Jayne at Jayne's Stitching Tales... all the way from the UK.

Thank you, Jayne!
It's adorable.

The postman was really good to me today! I also received the sweetest card from Glenna in KS thanking me for the great job I'm doing as coordinator of BFC in the ILCS group. She also included two skeins of floss... How thoughtful *big smile*. Thank you so much, Glenna!



SCHOOL
School is really sucking the life outta me up all my free time. Last week, we had our first quiz -- Luckily, we get to take them twice. The first time I got a "C"... Yikes. The second time I got 100%. Note to self, print the quiz questions and answers out when you take it the first time in case you don't remember how you answered the questions!

I have a 3-page "descriptive essay" on Monetary Policy due this week. (Let's hope it's not quite as descriptive as my last blog post!) Plus 3 chapters of reading (another 90+ pages), written assignments for each chapter, AND online postings.

Next week is midterm already! No re-takes on that bugger.

Until next time,

Thank Goodness It's Friday Update 3/4/11

Whew! What a long, long week it has been... Where do I start?


WORK
Last week, I spent three days in the Green Bay office. It’s a 4.5 hour drive each way. The Monday before I left, they got snow up there. Monday here? Ice. Ugh. Luckily by Tuesday afternoon, weather was fair and roads were good. The hotel was great, service was great, and the food in the restaurant was awesome. I highly recommend the Comfort Suites, if you’re ever there. I received crash course (a day and half) training in some new software the company developed, and this week I was on my own servicing new clients. Things never go as planned when you start a new project! I ended up working extra hours trying (said "trying" not succeeding) to get everything done that needed to get done. Needless to say, it’s been a very, very long and stressful week.


SCHOOL
I’m in my last week of the semester. All the “complaints” and observations I made early in the semester carried through to the end. Whatever. All I care about is that I’m getting a good grade. So far, I’ve been carrying an “A”. Our written paper is due this week. So… In addition to work stress, I’ve also had the stress of trying to get my paper done. Our assignment was to choose a company and analyze their financial statements based on financial ratios assigned by the instructor and answer 19 additional questions he came up with. I chose a company called Robert Half International. I ended up writing 17 pages, did my final editing, and uploaded it to the online classroom today. Whew! It’s worth 20% of our final grade. Even if I really screwed it up, I will still walk away from the class with a “B”. I now have two entire weeks free!! Free, I tell you, free! Oh, and now I only have 3 classes left until I graduate :)


And now for some fun stuff...

CHARLEY
It's been a while since I've shared some photos of Charley and talked about her antics. Since I spent a lot of time this week working on my paper at the dining room table, I opened the door to her cage (which is next to the table) and let her amuse herself by climbing out and up to the top. It cracks me up that she spreads her wings and hovers while looking toward the floor at Celeste. Like she's a predatory bird or something, lol.


Sometimes she's content just sitting on the door of her cage.


It's not quite so fun when she takes flight to the nearby curtain rods and then proceeds to crap on the curtains or the plant below! Bad bird, bad!!


STITCHY STUFF
Much to my surprise, my Geisha Needlebook was featured on the DMC blog (HERE). How exciting is that?!! Thank you to CJ for letting me know. :)

I didn't get to work on Blossom Splendor very much, but I made a little progress. I just wish it would start looking like something!

Marvelous Monday Update 11/8/10

Hard to believe by the end of this week, the month will be half over. Where does the time go?

WORK
Had my last annual review at J1 performed by the "old" company which is no longer in existence. My review went OK (i.e. I still have my job, lol). Everyone seems to think I'm in a good place seeing as I am finishing my degree, and the service line I am in is supposed to be having some "good" changes in the upcoming year that they're hoping will affect me in a good way. J2 is the same, and I plan on staying until I can find something else.


SCHOOL
Had a seminar last week in Chicago for J1, which resulted in a 12 1/2 hour day by the time we all arrived back at the office. Then I rushed off to class because I mistakenly thought the instructor was going to do a review for the midterm exam. Instead, he told us how many of each type of question was on the test. :( I was REALLY tired by the time we got to work on our group project. I just wanted to discuss what we had to, and go home. By the end of class I was going on 18 hours and draggin' butt!

Wish me luck on the exam!


CHARLEY
I think I may have mentioned that Charley loves to sit on the keyboard of my laptop. I nudge her off, she walks around the back and comes around the other side to get back on. LOL She must think she's helping me.

"Hmmm... What's going on here?"
"I think I'll get a closer look!"

STITCHY STUFF
Last night was the first time I've stitched in over a week. Progress on a couple of smalls.

Blessed Be
Quaker Snowman
Remember Froggie? He decided to make a visit and stay awhile. I have frogged more on this project than any I can remember recently. I think it's the fabric. I'm not liking it at all!

I'm almost 3/4 done with this one despite the frogging. I just haven't had a chance to take an updated photo.

Marvelous Monday Update 10/25/10

SCHOOL
It's off to the races! My instructor this semester is the city finance director. He's not very technologically advanced. Five hours of class time included no visual aids... just lecture and discussion. The upside is that he gives us a 15 minute break every hour. Just like all my other in-seat classes, there is a group project that requires a written and oral presentation. We formed our groups. I have two new group partners. The third one has previously been a group member with me in two other classes. Each time we've gotten an "A" on our project so we figure why mess with a good thing!


CHARLEY
Last week Veronica asked about Charley. She's still doing well. Her latest favorite thing to do is fly to the top of the drapes and sit on the curtain rods. Charley flying around the house drives Celeste crazy. For some reason, Charley thinks the dust bunnies on the window trim are "good eats" LOL. Her way of "grooming" me is to taste under my fingernails. Maybe she figures if it tastes like me, it must be me. Who knows? When I give her millet, there is nothing and I mean nothing that will drag her attention away from it until it's gone... gone... gone.



GARDENING
I harvested my last veggies from my pathetic garden. These are the only carrots my garden produced. These were supposed to grow to about 7". See that FAT one?



STITCHY STUFF
Last week, I worked on three (Yes, three!) different projects.

TMQ
Gingerbread House
A New Start: Blessed Be

FLOSS ORGANIZATION CONTEST
With all that went on last week, I forgot to post who the winner of the QOTW contest. I know... I know... How could I?!

Thank you to everyone who participated and shared how their floss was organized. I put all the names in a bowl and drew one. The lucky gal is.......

Julie M
Julie, please send me your address and I'll get a prize out to you.

If you don't know Julie, she blogs about life and stitching over at I'll Cross That Leg When I Get To It. To see how she stores her floss, go HERE.

Since we're talking about giveaways... Cindi at Cindi's Stitching & Stuff is hosting a giveaway. Make a visit over there and while you're at it, check out her progress on LK's Dog Lessons.


FINISHES OF A DIFFERENT SORT
Several months ago, Mel sent me some stitched pieces to make into finishes. Two semesters of school later, here they are (with her permission, of course):


Two pin pillows and one flatfold. Although it's hard to tell from the pic, the green coffee one is the flatfold. And I'm not sure why the fabric looks wrinkly in the photo either because I ironed it before hand. *hmph*

Marvelous Monday Update 9/6/10

Where did August go? Today is a holiday for a lot of us in the U.S. Since I am now considered "part time", I don't reap the benefits of getting full holiday pay anymore. :( So, I worked part of yesterday to make up for the loss. Don't you just love this cartoon?!




CHARLEY
I've had Charley for almost a month now. She knows "lovin" means a pet on the back of the head. She takes flight without flying full force into walls, windows, and such. She doesn't get scared when I pick her up and put her in the cage. Most of the time, I can say "step up" and she will step up on my hand! Whenever I get home from work, she gets so excited that she climbs all over the cage wanting my attention, LOL. She must be getting used to the camera flash/clicking because she doesn't flinch as much.



CELESTE
... is still adjusting to having a bird in.the.house. Birds are what she attempts to catch by jumping in the air while being attached to her cable. Birds are not supposed to be in HER house. Actually, she's been pretty good. The first couple of days after I brought Charley home, she charged the cage like she was being the big, bad dog. The first time Charley took flight changed all that, LOL. While Charley was flying into walls and such, Celeste didn't know what to think and took cover under the dining room table. And, she was whining the entire time.

Last week, I supervised a face-to-face interaction. Charley was sitting on the corner of the dining room table and I had Celeste on my lap. Charley hissed. Celeste got scared and backed off. Incidentally, at night I will often find Celeste sleeping at the base of the table I have Charley's cage sitting on. Go figure!

Remember the horrendous haircut Celeste was given last month? Let me refresh....


Here's what she looks like now:

Now, that's MY dog!

GIVEAWAYS
Shelley from Shelley's Artsy Fartsy Life is hosting a book giveaway. Click over to read about her giveaway, as well as check out her latest stitchy projects.

Bette from Reflections of a Desert Rat is celebrating her birthday this month! To celebrate, she is hosting *another* giveaway on her blog. Go on over and wish her a happy birthday.

Loretta is also celebrating! She's hosting a giveaway to commemorate her 3rd blogversary.


STITCHY STUFF
Since I hadn't worked on TMQ in a while, I decided to get it out. Here's what it currently looks like:

Other WIP pics can be seen HERE.

RAK'd!
I received a wonderful RAK in the mail from Sue V. She sent me not one, but THREE asian-themed stitchy items. Two were charts, and one was a magazine filled with asian charts. I gleefully laughed (OK, maybe that sounds a little weird, lol) to myself because I had *almost* bought that same magazine during the retreat I went to in June. How cool is that?!?

Thank you so much, Sue!

THE BABY - FINALLY!
I am ashamed to say that I wasn't able to see my new niece until she was two weeks old. Two weeks old, already??? I have photos of all my other nieces and nephew when they were only hours old. School and two jobs made it difficult for me to get over there, but I finally did. What a cute (I'm not biased!!) little bundle. She's so tiny compared to my nephew who was the last baby (now 14!) and we lovingly refer to as the Budda Baby, lol. Without further adieu, here she is:

Changed, fed, and content. This is after she pee'd on me! Paybacks are a B*tch, aren't they Auntie Meari? LOL, that's what I get for not coming to see her sooner, eh? Actually, she's still a bit fussy in the pic. See how her face is scrunched up? And boy-oh-boy does it get red when she's not happy!

Baby and Auntie
OK, so I made up for not seeing her right away by spoiling her. I cuddled and held and talked to her the entire 2½ hours I was there. Plus, I brought presents. What kid doesn't like presents?

Proud Papa and Baby
"Can you tell I'm a proud Daddy?" my brother says to me when I first get there. Not "Hello", "How's it going?" LOL Love you too, bro!

Meet Charley

Charley is the newest member of my household. She joins Celeste and a fish who remains nameless. A member of my local freecycle group posted a message stating they were giving away a cockatiel with cage. The owners were told she was a male when they got her a year ago. After she starting laying eggs, they realized HE was a SHE. Then the woman of the house became ‘with child’ and with six people in the apartment, they’ve had to downsize on their birds. Thus, Charley now has a new home.


Charley is a white-faced grey cockatiel, and a member of the parrot family. Cockatiels are closely related to the cockatoo. Average lifespan is 16-25 years. The previous owners thought she was about 2 years old. Cockatiels are extremely social birds and need human interaction. If they are the only bird, they will become attached to their owner.


A friend of mine had a male cockatiel for about 18 years. The stories I’ve heard have been very entertaining. I’ve never owned a bird before so this is new territory for me. I’ve been doing a lot of research, and trying to interact with Charley. I’ve read that females are more aggressive than males and have a tendency to bite – which I have found out, lol. I have also read that they are very smart birds and can be trained not to bite, to do tricks, etc.

The first evening at The Homestead was quite chaotic. Celeste wasn’t sure what to make of the new family member. She paced around the house alternating between whining and woofing. Charley was up in arms being in a new environment. Numerous times, she attempted to bite me. Eventually, she acted like she wanted to come close to me but then would back away. When I walked away from the cage, she’d squawk and again, this was an attempt to get my attention – which I read she should not get if I want to train her not to squawk. That night, all was quiet. Celeste went to sleep, Charley went to sleep, and I went to sleep.

The next day, Celeste was still prancing around the kitchen and woofing, lol. Charley was a little more social. She’d go to the side of the cage I was on and then back away. She even let me rub her head but then tried to bite me, lol.

Fast forward a week:
• Charley no longer tries to bite me.
• She has learned what "lovin" means: a nice rub behind the head and ears. All I have to do is say "lovin?" and she will bow her head to get a rub.
• I can stick my hand in the cage, which the previous owners said they couldn't do without her trying to bite.
• I'm also able to let Charley come out of her cage. If I am sitting next to her cage, she will walk out onto the door and bow her head to get "lovin". Then she'll climb to the top of the cage and walk around.
• If startled, she will try to fly, but she doesn't really know how. She ends up flying into walls and such, which then startles her even more.
• Celeste still tries to "woof" and charge the cage (like she does with birds outside, lol) but for the most part has gotten used to the new member of the household.

A bit of trivia: The Australian government instituted a strict ban on the export of these native birds in 1994, which means cockatiels in the U.S. are from captive bred stock.