Joy, Joy, Happy, Happy

Just like the old country song "I'm the Happiest Girl in the USA". I received the best medicine anyone could ask for....my baby came home to live again. He decided since he and his sister weren't getting along his place was back here helping his Dad take care of me.

Now for the Happy part ... Tracy went out and got me a new mode of transportation! He got me a type of wheelchair. It's called a transport chair and is similar to a wheelchair. It doesn't have the large back wheels you use to move so it needs someone to push but works well for us. This leads to the next part of the post....

A Date....

We were finally able to get out of the apt for a date! It was wonderful to be out and feel like a human again. Our date started at the LNS where I was a really good girl and only got a really cool magnifier that clips on to my Q-Snaps. With my diabetes getting worse I was having real problems seeing to stitch on both 28 and 32 count fabric, well the new toy sure takes care of the problem and now I have no problems seeing the holes in the 32 count. Tracy just had to enable me with the Mill Hill kits (and I couldn't say no). I got 2 of the new tree kits and hope to start them real soon so he will have them to hang on the tree this year.

From there we headed to the Belliago to see the Fall display. I took lots of pictures and below are just a few of the many (click on pic for a larger view)

As you enter the lobby and look behind the check-in desk you see this as part of the display.

Entrance to the conservatory. The crooked tree was designed by a British man and is a wire base wrapped with willlow branches. There are several of these and no two are alike.

The glass house is the center of the display and is full of many different types and colors of orchids. I could have spent hours in there as I love orchids.

Part of one side of the display

Got to love the purple ones

The other side of the display

These were some of my favorites. I have never seen anything like them

You can't have Fall without a Scarecrow and this is a BIG one

Every year they have the Tree Man who speaks and I look forward to seeing him. This year it's the smaller of the Men but I love him either big or small

and he is protecting his own Pumpkin patch

We then headed to our favorite place to end our "Date", Fremont Street where we decided we wanted to go for dinner. We arrived a little early for dinner so decided to play for a bit. Poor "Lucky Bastard" lost his title to me who is now known as "Lucky Bitch". He lost his gambling allowance while I was the big winner for a change. After a nice steak dinner we headed for home, very tired but feeling so good.

Still don't have a stitchy update to share but with my stitching mojo slowly returning I should have something to share very soon, maybe by the end of the weekend.

Until Next Time....Have a Great weekend with lots of stitching time

Stitching and Health Updates

It's been way too long since last I updated my blog and I do promise I will try to do better.



Let's start with a wonderful Get Well RAK I received from Wanda J, a member of my ILCS group.



Wanda stitched this adorable frog card for me and included the cutest kit from China. If you click on the picture you can see it better and this is something you don't want to miss. It sure made me feel better and put a BIG smile on my face.



Stitching Finishes.....



Before I went into the hospital I finished these two ornaments by LHN. I love this series and will start another one real soon.

Merry Skater

Stitched on 32 count Linen with DMC

I changed the color of the fabric called for. This color looked icy to me, more like what a skater would be on. What looks like would be a companion to this is in the JCS Ornament issue so of course I will have to stitch him on the same fabric.

"Fa La La"

Stitched on 32 count fabric

with DMC and Crescent Colours

This is my second attempt at this one. I had started it on a fabric I wasn't happy with and while stitching found several errors that was going to require massive frogging. I decided to restart on different fabric and it went much smoother the second time. No Frogging this time.

Now if you don't want to read about my latest medical problem that put me in the hospital you can skip the rest of this entry.

Health Update.....

Well I didn't take my own advise and waited to long to see the doctor and again ended up in the hospital for 6 days this time but thankfully not in ICU. It all started several weeks before with my feet and legs swelling until they looked like elephant feet and legs. Being the idiot I am I just thought it was from the heat or a reaction to my meds so I just tried to elevate my feet in hopes they would go down. It was no use they just stayed swollen. Next came some shortness of breath. It became very difficult to take a deep breath. Again I thought it would just go away but no such luck. This started on Monday and by late Wed night, early Thurs morning I was really having problems and Tracy insisted we call 911. The medics arrived very quickly with an ambulance right behind. The first thing the medics said was it look and sounded like CHF (Congestive Heart Failure). I questioned how could it be my heart when I had no chest pain other than the pain trying to take a deep breath. Off to the hospital again in the ambulance. They did all kinds of tests in the ER and the doctor came it and said it looked like I would be staying with them for several days and agreed with the medics, it was CHF. They feel it was caused as a complication of the diabetes and so now I'm on several heart meds, a diuretic, and a long acting insulin that I have to inject every morning. I'm still having episodes of not being able to catch my breath but if just relax and breath thru it, it doesn't last long. My blood sugar has now stabilized and is in the lower end of the normal level. All in all I'm getting stronger every day and am determined to go to the doctor at the first time of trouble.

Tracy and I finally had a "Date Night" and I will Blog with LOTS of pictures as soon as I can get them download.

Until Next Time....Happy Stitching

Wonderful Wednesday

Wednesday didn't start out too good. I got up feeling kinda crapy and was having my own private "Pity Party" when Kelly YM'd me. I was able to vent to her and soon I was feeling much better. It's amazing what just talking to a friend weather it be in person, on the phone or thru cyberspace can do to raise your spirits but what really made my day came in the mail....

"Halloween Pumpkin" Biscornu Kit

A feel better RAK from Shelley! To say I was shocked would be a understatement. Thank You so much Shelley, I think it will take surgery to get the smile off my face.

Stitching Update....

"Peppermint Twist" by LHN

Stitched on 28 count Natural Cashel Linen with

DMC and Cresent Colors

This was my weekend project and I finished it early Monday morning. If I ever stitch it again (and I like it enough to do again) I think I will change the red to a brighter one.

"Frosty Flakes" by LHN

This is my current WIP and the last of the monthly ornaments from my stash. I wasn't happy with all the colors in the model so I have changed some to suit myself. So far I'm really happy with the changes and unless you held the stitching next to the model you really can't tell the difference.

I have ordered the latest of the LHN ornaments of the month and can't wait for it to arrive. It is so cute and I think my favorite so far.

Other Stuff....

It's said you can't teach old dogs new tricks and believe me I'm proof of that LOL. While I LOVE my new notebook I have a problem with the touch pad. While I could move the cursor around and click on things I just couldn't do all I wanted to do. Tracy was sensing my frustration and as usual took care of it. He came home from the store with a wireless mouse for me and now I'm in love with it. It's not purple but very close and goes well with the color of the Toy.

In my last entry I hinted I had some exciting news I would share soon. Well here it is....I'm going to be a Granny again! We won't know until next month if it's a girl or boy but I really don't care as long as it is healthy and Manda continues to have no problems. We are thinking PINK since it would be nice for Maddie to have a Lil Sis to grow up with.

I'm sure I have bored you to tears by now so I will close and get to stitching

Until Next Time....Happy Stitching

Short Update

This was a much better week in the hot desert. Got in LOTS of stitching time (and some nice chats with Kelly on YM). I finished stitching the last two LHN Monthly ornaments I had and the two I ordered arrived in the mail.

"The Merry Skater" by LHN

Stitched on 28 count Dove Gray Cashel

with DMC and Mill Hill beads

I changed the color of the fabric used from a natural color to the Dove Gray.

"FaLaLa" by LHN

Stitched on 32 count Linen with

DMC and Crescent Colours

I totally restarted this project instead of doing all the frogging on the previous one I had started. Again I made several changes to suit myself. I used the CC's for the green branches and the girls dresses. I left off the beads, I just didn't like the way they looked and felt they really didn't add to the design. The stitching went much smoother this time and I'm very happy I restarted it.

I am now working on "Peppermint Twist" and then will stitch "Frosty Flakes" which I will probably change some of the colors since I'm not sure I like the ones used.

That's it for this update. Stay tuned for some really exciting family news in the upcoming days.

Until Next Time....Happy Stitching and have a Great Weekend

A Blob!

Last weekend I felt like a BIG BLOB just sitting in my stitching chair. Didn't matter what I picked up to stitch I just couldn't get into it. On Saturday (Virtual Stitching Day on ILCS) I really wanted to get some work done on Victoria Samplers "Friends in Stitches" that Mel L sent me as a Get Well RAK. All I managed to do was make a working copy of the chart, separate the threads and get them in their baggies with labels, prep the fabric and stitch part of the first band and finish the second band. It is such a special project I didn't want to really mess it up so I put it away.

By Monday I felt more like myself and decided it was time to get some of the LHN ornaments done before more are released and I get further behind with them (the next release is on their website and is the best yet).

The week turned out to be much better than the weekend and I had 2 finishes, yes I did finish 2 more ornaments (at least the stitching on them) and I couldn't be happier with them.

"Gingerbread Tree" by LHN from

JCS 2010 Ornament Preview Issue

Stitched on 32 count Belfast Lt Tan by Silkweavers

with DMC

"Winter Sheep" by LHN

Stitched on 32 count Linen

with DMC and button by Just Another Button Company

I'm still having some health issues that have made me homebound so no trip to the LNS for the next ornaments but thanks to the Internet I should have them sometime next week. What would we do without our online shops?

Better get back to stitching so maybe I'll have another finish before the end of the weekend. Hope everyone has a great weekend with lots of time for stitching.

Until Next Time....Happy Stitching

My New Toy

For several months, actually about a year and a half, we have talked about getting a laptop computer. Since we have a fairly new desktop I just couldn't justify the expense until now. I found this DELL INSPIRON mini on sale at a great price.

I think one of the final deciding factors was my stay in the hospital. I could have stayed in touch if I had a laptop and then when I got home I would have been able to keep up better.

So here it is (and yes it is purple LOL).....

It's very basic, no bells and whistles except for the web cam and built in WiFi but will be great for reading emails and surfing the web at my stitching chair. It is really little 10.1" wide by 8" deep but since my hands are really small it's a great fit for me.

I have to Thank my sweetie for spoiling me even more!

Until Next Time....Have a Great weekend with lots of stitching time

Two more Finishes

As you can see I'm still working on the Little House Needleworks ornaments of the month.

Last finish for July....

"Pear Tree" by Little House Needleworks

Stitched on 32 count Linen

with DMC and Mill Hill Beads

First Finish for Aug....

"Snowy Pines" by Little House Needleworks

Stitched on 28 count Raw/Natural Cashel

with DMC and Mill Hill Beads

I have really enjoyed stitching these ornaments and look forward to getting the latest releases (I feel a trip to the LNS coming soon). Since I have more finishes I have to have new starts too. I have started the LHN ornament "Gingerbread Tree" from the JCS Ornie Preview issue. Have a good start on it but not enough for a pic yet.

The weather has cooled a little, only 5 degrees hotter than Hates now LOL. Tracy wants to go out again this week so we'll see what he comes up with this week.

Until Next Time....Happy Stitching

Date Night

Tracy and I decided to brave the heat for our monthly Date Night and boy are we glad we did. What a fun time we had. We have wanted to try this restaurant for a long while but just hadn't made it there until now. I grew up on the North coast of California where fresh seafood was something we took for granted, who would have thought I could find a taste of home in the desert of Nevada. (Sorry the pics are a little dark but I took them as we were leaving and the sun was almost down)

Not only was the food wonderful it was a really, really fun place with great service. They used newspaper for place mats, no little whimpy dinner napkins, there was a much needed roll of paper towels, and even bibs to keep the melted butter off your shirt.

The decor was so much fun too look at and there was something different in every nook and cranny. The Shrimp boat was at our booth and the shark was hanging in the next dinning area. The whole place was lit with strings and strings of Christmas lights. We were surprised when there was a change in the music, a multi colored disco type ball started spinning and the the waitresses and waiters started dancing a conga line. So much fun to clap along with them and watch them circle the restaurant. There was also a lady doing balloon figures for the kids. These weren't your normal balloon figures, I watched for about 5 minutes as she did a mermaid for a little girl. It was truly amazing as she used different colored balloons, a red for long hair, pink for the face and body and of course green for the tail. At that point I wanted to be a little girl again so I could have a mermaid too.

What a fun place that we will be returning to again real soon! I really paid for the good time today with swollen feet and legs but Tracy made me sit all day with my feet up and they are almost back to normal tonight.

Until next time....Happy Stitching and have a Great weekend

A Stitching Update and stuff

It's still 10 degrees hotter than Hades here in the desert Southwest. I can't wait for the cooler weather of Fall but don't think it's ever going to get here. Tracy and I are going to brave the heat tonight for "Date Night". There is a seafood restaurant we've never been to we want to try and maybe even a stop off at Starbucks for a Frappicino (date night is not complete without a visit to Starbucks).

With all this heat I've become a shut-in with lots of sleeping and stitching. Last week I finished two ornaments and started another.

Finishes....

"Partridge in a Pear Tree" by Glory Bee

from the 2010 JCS Ornament Preview Issue

stitched on 32 count Linen with DMC

This was a quick one to stitch and lots of fun to do. It's small, only a little over 2x2". I hope they have a cute companion for it in the ornament issue due out later this year.

"Red House in Winter" by LHN

stitched on 28 ct Creme Cashel with

DMC and Crescent Colours

I love the housed done by LHN and this is one of my favorites. I probably should have used a darker fabric so the white would have shown up better but I do like it as is. I have all but the last two releases and still need to stitch most of them. I hope to get caught up with them by mid-Aug but don't hold me to that date LOL

WIP....

"Pear Tree" by LHN

Of course with a finish I get a new start! This is the second in the series of Ornaments of the Month and I LOVE it! If we aren't out too late tonight I should have it finished by the weekend and then on the next one. I still need to get to the LNS for some beads and buttons and also for the charts I don't have yet.

Time to get close to the a/c again before I melt.

Until Next Time.....Happy Stitching and hope you are keeping cool

Long Awaited Happy Dance

I have two finishes to share with you....

"No Frog Zone"

Stitched on 32 count Linen with DMC

This is the adorable chart that Graceann sent me. It had no color picture with it so I wasn't sure just how it was going to look but I think it came out really cute. As soon as I get to JoAnn's for some batting I'm going to make it into a "no sew" cube to sit on my desk.

And now for the biggie.....

This evening I finally finished "A Quaker Christmas" WOO HOO

"A Quaker Christmas" by By Gone Stitches

Stitched on 36 count Lambswool Linen with

Crescent Colours. Stitched 1 over 2

Started 12/23/09 finished 7/18/10

I can't wait for the weather to cool off so I can get it to the framers. Since this is for my sweet Tracy I'd love to have it framed by his birthday next month.

My next big project will be "Friends in Stitches" that Mel sent me. Just need to separate the threads and then I can get to work on it. I may do a few more smalls too.

Going to keep this short so I can get back to stitching so.....

Until Next Time......Happy Stitching

Get Well and Thank You Gifts

I forgot to add these to my previous post but then they deserve a post of their own. I received 3 wonderful gifts in the mail.

"Friends" by Victoria Sampler

Mel L sent me this wonderful chart and the threads to stitch it are on their way to me. With my limited time on the computer I had not even seen it's release and when I went to the LNS for the fabric they hadn't gotten it yet. I was so excited to receive such a wonder get well gift it really did make me feel like a million dollars, not just the beautiful chart but to know that so many were thinking of me while I was ill.

As a thank you gift RaeAnn sent me this adorable chart. It has everything needed to stitch the design including threads and fabric. I had lent her a chart and this was included when she returned it.

From Graceann I got the cutest froggie chart. It doesn't have a picture of the finished project so you will have to wait a couple of weeks to see it.

Thank you so much ladies for remembering me, you have really touched my heart.

Until Next Time....Happy Stitching

Finally a Update

I can't believe it's been over a month since last I posted to my blog. With great improvements to my health issues I should get back to regular postings (or I hope so). My blood glucose leveling off and the back issues much improved I'm almost back to normal. I'm still sleeping alot but I think that is because the heat just wipes me out....is it almost Winter?

WIP's....


I am so excited about AQC. Pages 1-5 are now done as well as part of page 6. Not much more to go on it before the finish. I had set a couple of goals that were not met so I just decided it will be done when it's done. You can click on the picture to see more detail.



During our Virtual Stitch In on Sat July 3 I not only worked on AQC but pulled Winter Wingding out of the WIP basket. I did change things up a little and stitched the snowflake with Petite Treasures instead of regular floss. With any luck this will be done sometime this winter but I'm not holding my breath. I did work on a couple of other pieces but didn't scan them yet and since one is a gift I can't share it yet.

I love the LHN monthly ornaments and have all the ones released so far but am so far behind on stitching them. I did do more on FaLaLa and then discovered a BIG goof that needs frogging. I'm not sure if I frog it or just start over.

Finish....

I did finish the stitching on Needle and Thread by LHN but have not attached it to the mattress for a finish. This was really fun to stitch even when the frogs attacked.

Good Ol Summertime....

As you can see Maddie likes the summer much more than her Granny. She is a real water baby and loves getting wet. Her favorite is getting in the pool and playing with her Dad and Brothers.

I hear my pillow calling so I better head off for some sleep.

Until Next Time (which won't be a month away)....Happy Stitching and keep cool

Goodby May, I won't miss you

I am so happy May is finally over with all my illness. Between a week of getting sicker, another 5 days in the hospital and a week and a half at home getting stronger most of the month was wasted or I don't really remember it.

Wednesday was my follow up appointment with the doctor who was recommended by the hospital and I really do like him. He is patient and lisiened to all my problems not just the ones that put me in the hospital. He was very happy with my blood sugar, except for a couple of bumps in the road it has leveled off into the normal limits with the meds. Also he told me to NEVER take Ibuprofen, Aspirin or anything like that for pain. He did give me some low level pain killers and they are like a gift from the gods. Finally I have got up the last two mornings with no back pain and feeling really good for a change. I will be going for x-rays of my back to see if there is a problem other than just old age hehehe.

Stitching......

When I got home from the hospital I really wanted to get back into doing some stitching BUT my arms and hands were really, really sore from all the blood tests and the IV's which made it really difficult to hold my Q-Snaps and I was still having some vision problems from the diabetes. Soooo this is what I worked on for a couple of days between naps.

"Wild Thing - Frog" kit by Mill Hill

I thought working on the 14 count aida would be easier to see and since I'm doing it in hand easier to hold. I still don't like working on aida but since I love this frog and I didn't have a linen in a color that would work I'll bite the bullet and finish it on the aida.

As soon as I started feeling a little stronger and my vision cleared up I went back to my rotation and spent some time on.....

"Needle and Thread" by LHN

I was able to finish the wording and then the bed. It was then that I found I had miscounted on the moon so had to frog part of it. I really want this finished and will probably work on it tomorrow when we have our virtual stitch in on my ILCS group.

"AQC" - by ByGone Stitches

I'm finally getting close to a finish on this. Pages 1, 2, 4, & 5 are finished and parts of 3 & 6 are done too. I really wanted to have this finished by now but losing almost 3 weeks of stitching in May really put me behind. My new goal for a finish is the 4th of July.

"Summer" ornie from "Welcome All Seasons" by LK

Stitched on pale pink evenweave with DMC, Crescent Colours

Mill Hill Beads and buttons from Just Another Button Company

Back of ornament

We had a Summer ornament exchange in my ILCS group and this is the orni I stitched for Lyn. Since it arrived at it's new home I can share it with you. It was a really fun stitch and I just may have to do it again for myself.

Well that's enough rambling for now and I hope you weren't bored to tears.

Until Next Time....Happy Stitching and have a great weekend!

Home from Hospital

I want to Thank everyone for their well wishes and prayers while I was in the hospital. A VERY special thanks to some very special ladies who sent me the flowers, THANK YOU Shelley, Kelly, Evalina, Nancy R, Pam in IL, Pat in NM, Carolyn in NC, Debra and Marion. They really brightened my return home.

Without going into all the graphic details this is what happened to me and let it be a lesson to everyone not to wait to go to the doctor when something is not right with your health.

On Tues I started to feel a little dizzy and weak but I just ignored it. Wed it was a little worse but again I thought it would pass. On Thurs (this is the yuky part of the story)I started to have bloody diriaha and couldn't walk from the living room to the bedroom without holding on to something, later that night I got so dizzy I almost fell on my way to bed. Friday was pretty much the same. Saturday I was even weaker but the diriahria had almost stopped. Sunday was D-day for me. I was so weak I could not walk with Tracy holding me. By evening I was having trouble breathing and that scared me enough to call for a ambulance.

At the hospital ER they did all the blood work and poked and jabbed at me and when the results came back the Doctor told Tracy I was in critical condition as I had lost 2/3 of my blood volume and would be admitted to the ICU for further tests to find the source of the bleed and to received a blood transfusion.

Over the next 3 days I was scoped from every opening in my body except my ears, had to drink some really nasty stuff to have x-rays done. I received 6 units of blood. I spent 4 days and nights in ICU then my last night I got to go to a regular room where I was finally allowed out of bed and more than 3 steps away from the bedside. By Friday morning I was well enough to come home.

On top of the GI Bleed (if that wasn't enough) my diabetes went way out of control so now I have to check my blood sugar 3 times a day and have insulin to take along with oral medication when it gets too high.

I'm still a little weak but getting stronger each day and finally feel like stitching again. I'm also being very good about changing my diet and lifestyle. I will start doing more exercise and get my body in better shape and hopefully put back on a little of the weight I lost.

Now you know the whole story I hope you learn from my ordeal and go to the doctor at the first sign something is wrong. If I had I would have spared Tracy a lot of worry.

Until Next Time .... Happy stitching

A Finish, A WIP, A Start

Stitching was off and on last week. Some days I got a lot done and others not a stitch....a very strange week for me.

A Finish....

"Women who behave..." by Sue Hillis Designs

Stitched on 28 count "Tea" Linen with DMC

On Wednesday Nancy R and I got together at our LNS for a day of stitching, shopping and chatting. I was a VERY good girl and came home with only 2 new charts...."A Quaker Halloween Sampler" and the latest LHN Ornament of the month. I took "Behave" with me to stitch on and managed to get all but the backstitching done. I finished it up on Friday and now I need to find the perfect frame for it and get it off in the mail to my DD.

I also finished stitching a ornament for a Summer exchange and am in the process of putting it together. Can't share the picture until it arrives at it's new home.

A WIP....

"AQC"

I trying real hard to get back into my "rotation" so I can get this finished before the end of June. Page 4 only has a few more stitches to be finished then on to finish page 3, 5 and 6. I will not start on Quaker Halloween until this is done, or at least that's what I keep telling myself.

Another Start....

"Needle and Thread" by Little House Needleworks

This project has been calling to me to start for a while now and since I also have the cute little mattress with it's pillow for the finish I decided to go ahead with it. It's going really well and should be finished by the end of next week.

Friday was our usual date night. Since Tracy had his regular check up with the heart doctor it was the perfect time for our date. After a earl dinner we headed for our favorite hang out, Fremont St. Tracy now has a new nick name (excuse the language) but now I call him "Lucky Bastard". He wanted to play the slots and of course I couldn't say No. It didn't matter what machine I picked to play he sat down next to me.....I lost and he won! He would give me the machine he was playing (and won on) and what happens.....I lose. Again he came home with more money in his pocket than he left home with....The Lucky Bastard (I'm lucky too, I have him).

On Saturday I met with Kathy from OC of our ILCS group for lunch. This was the second time we have gotten together (she was here last Fall) and it was like we had just seen each other last week. We had a delightful lunch and a great time chatting.

I'm still getting my stash organized (a never ending task) and have made some progress. Maybe by the end of the year I'll have it all done hehehe.

Until Next Time....Happy Stitching