St. Joe

There is a 'tradition' or 'old wives tale' or 'prayer'.... What it is, when you're trying to sell a house is that you bury a statue of St. Joe in the backyard, upside down facing the house. Then when you sell the house, you unbury him and put him in a place of honor in your new house. That's supposed to help you sell you house. When we sold our house in South Carolina, I did that and we sold the house within a week. Then I dug up St. Joe and he was in my son's room this whole time.
Well, I buried him again this time, same statue. The house didn't sell as quick, but we did sell. Since all the inspections are done, I dug him up this morning and washed him off and will take him to my new house. Since I buried him, I get to take him.
Thanks St. Joe.

Linen Floss

Working on a cross stitched project that calls for linen floss. Thought I'd try it and brought what the pattern called for. Well, I don't like stitching with linen floss. It tends to shred. Now, I know I cut my floss to long - but with linen floss you really have to keep the lengths short or it's a mess. I'm also not too fond of the 'overdyed' type floss - where it would go from blue to green and then back to blue. I'll finish this project - but change the floss for the next time I stitch it.

Family

Just returned from a family vacation. We do them in my family every 3 years. For the last couple of years we have been going to my Dad's who lives outside of Tampa FL in Reddington Shores. We rent a couple of condos, this time it was 7. Most of us went - 7 siblings, 4 spouses and 14 of the 19 nieces/nephews plus my Dad and Jean. We have a great time just being together. It's amazing how you fall back into the family pecking order.
And the nieces/nephews get along so well - they were talking about the next one in 3 years. This time, my 16 year old nephew got to be in the condo with the 'big' cousins, Joe (28), Dan (24) and an almost cousin-in-law Ryan (26). My sister was a bit worried, but they promised her they would take care of him. After the first day - he had the nickname "KING" - don't know how it happened. As the saying goes 'what happens in tower 1, stays in tower 1' - LOL. The littlest cousin, Kate (6), just wanted to hang out with Jimmy and Mary - Jimmy is the only married cousin. In fact, they were making plans to come visit and stay with Jim & Mary when Kate is 10 and her sister Rachel is 13.
I love my family, I just wished we lived closer together so we could see each other more - but that is what cell phones and emails are for.

It's Mine

Well, it's mine. I've brought a house. OMG!! It passed the home inspection and there are no termites or radon. I can't believe I've done this - right now I am beyond scared!! I've applied and gotten a mortgage - on my own. I should probably start of list of what I have to do. Next thing is to get a mover. I will pack up my stuff - but I'm past the age where I can ask my friends to come help move my stuff - LOL! 45 days - not that I'm counting or anything.

New House

I brought a house. I can't believe it. I went looking at houses last week and took my friend Ann. We looked at one in Windom and then went over to Evian. Even though Windom had it's good points (one being cheaper) I was compromising on things I wanted. I wanted a eat in kitchen, I didn't want to sit at my dining room table all the time. But the big compromise was that the garage didn't open up into the house. That really bothered me. Now, I looked at the Evian development right after we put our house one the market and really liked the area. We walked into this townhouse and by the time we walked into the kitchen, I knew it was a place I could live. It just felt like home. Ann loved it too and said it felt like me. It has a kitchen I can put a little table in, it has a HUGE master bathroom with a soaking tub!! It has a walk in closet in the master bedroom. And most of all, you walk right in from the garage into the hallway.
I went back the next morning to make sure I wasn't dreaming and still loved it, put an offer in and they accepted. Then I took my kids over, and they liked it too. I brought a house on my own, I never thought I'd say those words.
Keep you fingers crossed - the the tests/inspections were done on our house last week and I haven't heard anything yet.
The home inspection on my house is this week - fingers crossed.

Sold the house

The house was on the market for just over 2 months. In real time, it seemed like forever. Now, I'm not a sloppy person but making sure the house is picked up every morning before you leave for work - is a pain. But someone finally bought it and that someone is the person who owned it before us. Can you believe that one - the person we brought it from - brought it back - for more than twice what we paid for it. I think it's weird, but hey if they want the house, they can have it.
You see - we're selling the house because we're getting divorced not because we want to downsize. I've lived in this house longer than any where in MY WHOLE LIFE!! When I were growing up, we moved alot. I went to 3 grade schools and 2 high schools. I've been in this house 21 years and I don't know how I feel. I know it's just a house, that my memories will come with me. And my kids no longer live home and as far as I know, have no plans to move back home (one is married and one lives in NYC). But I thought I'd be in this house forever.
But this is the house where on back of the laundry room door, we marked off their heights - do you think they will notice if the door is missing?
This the house we celebrated birthdays, graduation and a wedding.
This is house I wanted the kids to have so they could show their kids where they lived when they were little.
But I'll move, the memories will come with me. And life goes on.

Where does the time go?

I have no idea where time goes. It's now June 14 - Happy Flag day everyone.
I have 4 of the 6 gifts stitched for my sisters. Just 2 to go. I also have t finish some Christmas ornaments for my sisters. You're thinking - hey she's way ahead for this year. Wrong, these are from 2006 - and if I hadn't stitched '2006' in the ornament, I would have saved for this year. But noooo, I have to stitch the year in it. LOL Want to give them out on vacation too.
I've also just stitched a 'Bless the Graduate' for my niece Chelsea who graduates next Monday from high school. Out of 19 nieces/nephews, she is #12 to graduate from high school - more than half thru.
Leave for vacation in 2 weeks!! We are all descending on my Dad's condo's in Redington shores. It should be a blast. I can't wait.
Only 50 days to my birthday!

Almost June

Who can believe 5 months of the year are gone and it will be June in 1 day. I always think of Memorial Day weekend at the start of summer.
I had a nice Memorial Day weekend - got some stuff done, stitched some, cleaned some. Packed up some more stuff from the house. It's hard to know what to keep since I don't know where (or when at this point) I'll be moving. I took down all my knick-knack shelves (1 in my bedroom, 1 in the family room & 1 in the dining room), most of the pictures above the couch and the baskets I had hanging in the kitchen. Most of those baskets will go to good will and some will be tossed (especially the ones that were above the stove). My house is looking so 'naked' now.
Now the problem is happening is that I go to look for something and it's packed!! Oh well.
I'm working on my gift to my sisters for vacation. I always make them something that involves their birthday or birthday month. This year I found this cute little graph from Sam Sarah that is 5 birthday candles with a heart button on the middle candle. Very cute. I got different colored frames. Now I have to get them stitched and framed and I also have to finish their Christmas ornaments. And since I stitched 2006 on them, I can't use them for next year!! LOL

Dancing with the Stars

Another season of Dancing with the Stars if over. I thought it was perfect that Apollo ended up winning. I think he was more out of his comfort zone that Joey. Why is it we get so involved in these shows? We talk about the - Apollo, Joey like we're personal friends of theirs. Every week thousands of us dial in, sign on to vote for them and hope our favorites are the ones to go.
Well, my favorite won this time. In fact, my favorites always win or is it they become my favorite the longer they are on the show.
Now what do we watch on Monday and Tuesday nights?

OPEN OR SHUT

Do you keep your washer machine lid open or shut when you're done your laundry? I like to keep it open, my thought is that it'll dry out better. My ex-other half likes to put it down. What way do you think is better?

Something new

I just finished something. I cross stitch and finish things into pin cushions, needle books, scissor fobs. Usually for myself or for my good friend Colleen (of Follow the Leader designs). I do alot finishing for her. So, when she told me she gave my name to someone else I was like - 'what?'. Well, I just finished an ornament for Jennifer of Ladybug Lane Designs. I was nervous, I know I do good work but what if she didn't like what I did? But I sent it to her and SHE LOVED IT. Plus the big news is, it's the ornament that will be in the Just Cross Stitched ornament issue coming out this fall. So I can't post a picture or anything - but will once the magazine is out.

Even or Odd

I got gas this morning. Nothing so spectacular about that. But I have this thing when I get gas - the amount has to end in either a 5 or a zero. So, I never have an amount that is $42.37 - it would either have to be $42.35 or I'd go up to $42.40. I don't know when I started doing that. But funny thing is, Sarah was with me once and I said to her - the total has to end in either a 5 or a zero and she was like - duh, of course. So is it generic - these little quirks we have??

Compromise

I'm looking at townhouses and I know I won't get everything I want, but what to compromise on??
Do I get a townhouse without a garage but then where to you put all your 'garage' type stuff, not to mention your car.
Do I get a townhouse that has a garage, but one that doesn't have a door to the house from the garage and you still have to go outside to enter the house - to me that kinda defeats the idea of having a garage.
Do I get a townhouse with a smaller master bath or one with a soaking tub, shower stall and that is big enough that I could hold meeting in there.
Walk in closet versus regular closets for the master bedroom.
Do I get 3 bedrooms or 2 bedrooms and a loft? Or an tiny dining room and an eat in kitchen or just a larger dining room.
One with a finished basement or a regular basement. Laundry upstairs or in the basement?
Do I ignore the wallpaper and figure I can change it and what about the ugly carpet??
Too many choices. I look at a townhouse and I like it at the time but after I leave I pick it apart of all the stuff I don't like.
My sister says when I see one I like, I'll know it. I hope so.

Oscars

Here's Sarah and I accepting our Oscars for Best Daughter and Best Mom. The crowd went wild.

Thought

Why is it that I can put his dishes in the dish washer, but he can't put mine in. It's the little things that get you.

Happy New Years!! I can't believe it 2007 - it doesn't seem that long ago that it was 2000 and everyone was nervous because they didn't know what would happen. A big fat nothing happened!! But now it is 2007 and where does the time go.
Of course, you have to have some resolutions and I have them.
1 - Lose weight
2- Go the gym and exercise
3 - Blog more
4 - Learn how to put pictures on my blog
5 - Finish some projects. I have plenty of stuff done, I just need to get the finished, ie either framed, made into a pillow...etc.
Ok, I think that's enough for now. I know the first 2 are probably on EVERYONE'S list, but I try every year.

14

Just in case anyone had any doubts - Christmas is in 14 days. I'm pretty much ready - today I'm trying concentrate on getting the outside decorated. I also have to get some packages ready to take to UPS and finish up a little gift for Tuesday night. Hope everyone has a productive day.

Less than a month to go

This past weekend was Thanksgiving weekend. It was a nice day and my daughter cooked dinner (with my help). She tried different dishes (she likes to watch the food channel) but everything was good. Only 1 near disaster - the sweet potatoes weren't done until dessert. It was mostly my fault because I brought sweet potatoes that were huge!! And instead of cutting them up to cook - we just put them in whole. OH well, in the scheme of things - all worked out. I have pictures which I will post later.

We also did a traditional shopping on black Friday. We (me and Sarah) always get up and out the door and go to King of Prussia mall. Every year it seems to be getting more crowded. We actually followed someone to there car this year and asked if they were leaving. But it something we've done for years and we enjoy it. Did get alot of shopping done, which is good.

Now I just have to finish the stuff I'm making for gifts. I'm making cross stitch ornaments for my siblings and for some friends. Plus some cute coasters for my kids. Off to work some.

Lesson of the Day

Check your pockets for kleenex BEFORE you wash your clothes. You can't believe the mess it is after you wash, dry and then shake out the clothes to fold. Off to vaccum my bedroom.

VOTE FOR EMMITT

Ok, I'll confess, I'm in love with Emmitt Smith!!! LOL I love watching Dancing with the Stars - I loved it the first season it was on. I think it is fun and you see these 'stars' out of their element. Now, they are not all BIG STARS most of them are so-so stars and this show brings them back into the limelight. When this season started I thought for sure I'd want either Mario Lopez or Joey Lawrence to win. Who thought an old football player with capture my heart - but he has. This is the final week and it is between Mario and Emmitt. Mario if by far the better technical dancer but Emmitt has heart and his smile can make you weak in the knees plus he always looks like he is having a good time. So, vote for Emmitt. You can call if your home tonite or you can go to www.abc.com and to go the Dancing with the Stars site and vote until noon tomorrow (Wednesday). Maybe Emmitt can pull it off - and the under dog can come from behind and win.