FINALLY

I can't believe that it's finally here - the week we are going to London - maybe! Last Thursday a volcano erupted in Iceland - Iceland for goodness sakes and it has thrown air travel to all of Europe in a tizzy. Because of the ash/smoke from the volcano, there has been no travel to London or anywhere in Europe for the last 5 days. Some places are finally flying but Heathrow is still closed. We leave in 2 days.

I talked to US Air this morning and if they cancel our flight, we can get a refund. Sarah read on the marathon page that she can defer her entry until 2011. Our hotel we have to cancel by 9 pm on the 23rd. So we are playing a waiting game. If our flight doesn't get cancelled - we are going. We can't thing about 'what if' something happens and we have trouble getting back home. If we think that way, we'll never go. So, we will go and we will have a GREAT time. Maybe the queen will even have tea with us - LOL. I'm excited, I'm scared and I'm worried. But I'm most of those things before a trip.

So, we are playing 'chicken' with the airlines - to see who blinks first!

Wednesda

It's hard to believe that today is going to be 90!! The last couple of days have been absolutely beautiful but it's getting to hot to soon. Who is ready for 90 degree temperatures when a week ago we're wearing our fleece jackets. It's supposed to get down to more seasonal temperatures by the weekend.

I'm not going to get the scissor fob done for Loretta's birthday this week. I'll give it to her partially done and then take it back. Then I have to make another one for Marianne's birthday next week. Then a break until Muffi's birthday at the beginning of June. I have to get working on my birthday pictures for my sisters.

We leave for London 2 weeks from tomorrow. I can't believe it's almost hear and I'm starting to panic. I've never flown over the ocean before or gone that far from home? I still can't believe we are doing this. I really can't wait. Been looking at my LONDON 2010 book and there really is so much to do. I really want to plan everyday - but Sarah's being more relaxed about it. What happened to my normally type A daughter? We are going to follow Rich Steve's itinerary that he has in his book - so i guess we are a little planned. I know one thing I want for myself - a real Padddington Bear. I love teddy bears, as anyone knows who has been in my house.

Hope everyone has a great day.

April Fools

Well, I always mean to post but never seem to find time. Not much new in my neck of the woods. I did finish the stitching for the needle tins I'm making for my stitching group when we go on our stitching retreat in May. I need to put them together now since I get home the weekend before we go. Don't want to wait for all the gluing and putting together until then.

I think spring has finally sprung in my neck of the woods. It's supposed to be beautiful out the next couple of days. I'm done wearing sweaters - at least my winter ones. I'm going to start washing them next week to pack away for next year. If I continue to lose weight - some of them will be too big by then. I can hope. I'm still not a perfect healthy eater - I'm much better. I don't eat bad all the time. Instead of 7 days a week, I only have chips 1 day a week now and it's just the 99 cent size bag. I used to buy the next size up and eat the whole thing in one sitting. Plus cookies and candy.....I feel much better and have more energy. As the saying goes, it's not a diet - it's a life style.

I have start on my next scissor fob for Loretta for her birthday - which is this week. But since I'm not going stitching, I'll give it to her next week. Hopefully tonite I'll start.

Getting my nails done after work, then stop at Wegmans then home. Eat dinner and take out some Easter decorations. I'm have to pick Sarah up from the train at 8:47 - but I'm going to leave early and go the the library. I have some books to pick up. Can't wait to spend the next 3 days with my daughter. We are going to work on the itinerary for our London trip - which is in 21 days.

Random Trivia

1. I am the oldest of 7 children.

2. There are 5 girls & 2 boys.

3. I went to 4 grade schools & 2 high schools.

4. My siblings live in 3 different states

5. We moved 7 times before I graduated from high school.

6. I have 17 nieces/nephews.

7. We had a dog named Pretzel.

8. All 7 of us went to college and graduated.

9. My Dad never made any of us girls cut the grass.

10. I had a car accident senior year and missed the group picture of the class.

Is it just me?

Is it just me or do people just don't dress appropriately? I saw this lady yesterday - and she was at least in her 40's. In shorts so short that they barely showed below her t-shirt! I don't think anyone should wear shorts that short - but not someone who is more mature. I don't want to say old! LOL OK, maybe I'm just an old fuddy duddy.

LONDON

I'm going to London!! I am so excited. I'm going at the end of April with my daughter. We made a plane reservation last night and since we did non-refundable - we are going. She is running the London Marathon and then we are going to spend a week there. It should be alot of fun. I have never been out of the country - well, I've been to Canada and Bermuda - but I don't really consider them 'foreign' countries!! LOL I brought Rick Steves' London 2010 book to read and also one from Frommers (sp?). They give day to day tour ideas so you can see all you want to see.

Started on my gifts for my sisters for our vacation. I started years ago making my sisters something that involved their birthdays or birthday month and giving it to them on our family vacation. It's only every 3 years. This year I'm making Lizzie Kate's snippet 'Birthday Blessings'. And since I have to make 6 by July 3, I thought I should start on them.

Also making needle cases for my friends that go on our spring retreat down at Ocean City, MD. These I have to get started on because our spring retreat is the weekend after I get home from London, so I really need to have them done before I leave. It started as a joke a couple of years ago that we called ourselves the 'fun girls' so last year I made those of us who went, a scissor fob that said 'I'm a Fun Girl' on Charles Crafts fabric in the color grasshopper. It turned out really cute. This year I am making a needle case using an Altoids gum tin. I'm going to try using the same fabric. Will try to remember to take a picture and post. I always forget to do that because usually I post at work during lunch and by the time I get home I forget.

Wednesday

Not a very catchy title - but that's it. I'm so happy it's March because that means the spring is just around the corner. And I can't wait for spring this year. I am sick of wearing winter clothes plus we had sooooo much snow this winter. I saw on the news that in February alone we got 51 inches! Unbelievable. It's been in the 40's the last 3 days and it's amazing how much snow has melted. Which is good because it's ugly looking snow.

Started a new project, it's Happy Birthday but SamSarah. I'm making it into a scissor fob for my friend Connie. We are going on a road trip to a cross stitch store this Saturday. Up to Stitch n' Stuff in Reading and it is her birthday this week. It is a quick stitch and I hope she loves it. I personally love scissor fobs! They go with all the scissors I have too. LOL

Watched LOST last night and have no idea how they are going to tie everything up. But I'm sure they have it all planned out.

It's March

I can't believe I forgot to post on the last day in February. Well, I had 19 posts for the month - out of 28 days - pretty good I think. I think I'll try to continue posting every day in March too. I have enjoyed it.

Sunday was a lazy day. Went to the gym and worked out. As much as I hate getting up and going, I do feel better when I get home. I didn't go as early as usually but got home from the gym about 10:30.

In my cleaning out of my stuff in the basement I found 3 framed pieces of my cross stitch - all it needed was the hanger on the back. I picked up some saw tooth picture hangers on Saturday and hung them up in my bedroom. My one wall in my bedroom has a collage of pictures. It's nice to see my finished stuff up on the wall. I'll try taking a picture of it and post.

My daughter Sarah ran the New Orleans half marathon on Sunday. She did it in her best time ever - 1 hr 51 min. She is such an inspiration to me. I can't wait to go to London with her.

1 day left

Only 1 day left in February. I've enjoyed trying to blog every day. I did pretty well. Almost didn't make it today. Came down to sign on and no Internet. Had to call verizion and he got it working but how does it just stop?

Had a nice morning at the gym and them meet Ann, Sunny & Lynn at Wegmans for coffee. It was an enjoyable morning.

Having fun going thru all my cross stitch stash - so much stash. LOL

It's a sickness

OK, it's a sickness. I have a craft room in my house. Which since I moved in 2.5 years ago, I've just been tossing stuff in there. It is a mess. Since I came home from work early today - it was supposed to snow and be bad - it it didn't. But I had an unexpected afternoon home. So I decided to work in there. I have so much stuff - don't tell anyone. I can not tell you how many:

1) projects I have stitched that just need to be finished, either frames, made into a pillow, etc.

2) charts I've found that I want to stitch.

3) how many floss away bags I have. I found 500 so far. So when the disaster comes - I'm ready with bags to put our floss in.

4) plastic containers to store stuff in. LOL

I'm bound and determined to get this room organized. At least so I can find stuff I knew I brought but right now have no idea where it is. I'm going to try and work in there again this weekend.

Wednesday

Hump day - middle of the week. This week seems to be going fairly fast.

I wrapped up the gifts for my niece and something for my sister and took them to the post office this morning. They are off. I was going to do it tomorrow but since they are calling for more white stuff (snow) I decided to do it today.

Yes, more snow. The stuff we got 2 weeks ago is still hanging around but I have to say the rain we got yesterday did melt alot of it. Depending on who you listen to it could be any where from 6 inches to 18 inches. Of course, I have a doctors appointment tomorrow, this one is in the morning, so we'll wait and see. Since they have my home number, I won't know until I get home if they cancelled it.

Didn't stitch at all last night because I was watching LOST. First you watch last weeks episode with captions and then you watch this weeks. I can't stitch and watch LOST because if I'm looking down, I miss something.

Also watch some of the Olympics. Watched ice skating and it broke my heart watching the girl skate who's mom just died. You know her mom would have wanted her to compete and she is looking down. She did so well.

Rainy Tuesday

I think that about sums up the day. Rain. Only bright spot is that LOST is on tonite but then are so are the Olympics! Think I'll watch LOST and catch the highlights of the Olympics in the morning on the Today show.

I did finally finish the little heart for my nieces daughter. Turned out ok - I don't do curves to well. but it is cute.

Monday

Not a very creative title for a blog but then it is Monday and I'm finding it hard to be creative.

Had a good weekend - not blogging - can't seem to remember to do it over the weekend. My granddaughter Josephine had a sleep over with me on Friday night. She did very well. We had fun. On Saturday morning we got up and meet some friends at Wegmans for coffee. She was adorable. I have a picture of her Ann - I'll have to try and post that later. Then we went down to my cross stitch shop - and she charmed them too. She is such a little cutie.

Sarah also came home for the weekend - so it wasn't so lonely this weekend. The house is so quiet when I'm there alone.

Going to finish my 'great' nieces gift tonite. I don't know what my problem is. I made this little heart with her name on it and I'm just so scared to actually finish it. The stitching has been done for MONTHS and I'm just scared. I'm going to finish it tonite since she is going to be 1 next week. I'm so bad. I also have an afghan for her and i brought 2 little summer outfits - guilt gifts since I'm so late in sending something to her.

TGIF

It's Friday!! Yay. Sarah come home last night and we stayed up watching the men's ice skating. Didn't get to bed until after midnight - boy was it hard getting out of bed this morning.

My little sweetie Josephine is going to spend the night with Grandma. I can't wait. We are going out to dinner and then in the morning we are going to get up, not that I think she'll sleep late, and we are going to run down to my cross stitch store. I have something to return and I need some fabric - I can always use fabric - and I want to show her off. She is such a little doll baby.

Hope to get some stitching down this weekend....

TISSUES THAT KEEP GIVING

Well, a couple of weeks ago I did 2 loads of wash - both with a tissue left in a pocket. I keep finding shirts from loads. I did put them in the dryer some hoping that would take the tissue off - but no. I pull a shirt out and it's on the inside! I keep having to pick up bits and pieces of tissue off my carpet! Serves me right.

Went out to dinner last night with my nephew Michael who is in town visiting Jim and Mary. We all went to Victory Brewing in Downingtown and had a good meal. Josephine was so good and entertaining to everyone around. She said hi to everyone who walked by and smiled at them. She was beyond cute. I can't wait for her to spend the night tomorrow.

No stitching again last night - too busy watching the Olympics. I can't believe these athletics. The women had the downhill last night and I can't believe these women get up after tumbling down the mountain. And the snowboarders - how do you decide you are going to turn yourself upside down? They are all champions in my opinion.

ASH Wednesday

Missed getting ashes today. Oh well. Today is the start of lent. Remember when you were little you always had to give up something. Candy, fighting with your sister...you were supposed to give up something that would be a hardship. I usually still do try to give up something, or to do something. I think I'll give up salty things - chips, pretzels etc & candy. I know, I'm not supposed to be eating that stuff anyway. But I've become a little lax and need to get stricter. I don't eat chips like I use to, I use to get the size above the 99 cent size, and eat the whole thing at lunch. Then have chips again at dinner. I might only have chips once maybe twice a week now. But I still have 40 lbs I want to lose - and it's not just going to fall off. But won't that be nice.

No stitching again last night - to busy watching LOST and I can't stitch and watch LOST at the same time - I can't look down! LOL
Only half of my scissor fob to stitch and then the whitman sampler tin is done.

Half Way

Well, we are half way thru the month of February, and I think I've done pretty well with posting. I'm trying to post every day and I think I've only missed 3 or 4 days so far. Much better than my monthly average. I might continue to see if I can blog every day. It's kinda fun.

We had some snow this morning - just enough to make the roads wet and to make a mess. Nothing much accumulated. But it's supposed to stay cold - mid 30's for the week, so don't think much will melt. I was over at Joanne Fabrics in Downingtown and I swear those mounds of snow will take to May to melt. They have to be 12 feet high.

Haven't stitched much. Busy cleaning. I hate cleaning. If I clean every weekend - then I don't get to go out and play. I should try to do it every other weekend. But lets face it, it's only me. How much dirt can I bring in. But since Sarah is coming home this weekend (yay!) I thought I'd clean top to bottom. Just need to finish up in the bathrooms and dust some.

Missed

Totally missed posting on the weekend. Didn't even check my email over the weekend.

Uneventful weekend. Went to the gym, cleaned and watched the Olympics. How exciting is it to watch these wonderful athletics compete. They are so happy when the win - not matter which country it is - it brings tears to my eyes. They train so hard and 30 seconds on the slope. And it breaks your heart if they fall. These are true athletics.

Did do some stitching over the weekend. Have only half of my scissor fob left to stitch for my whitman tin and then it is done. I'm trying to find stuff in my stash that is 'almost' done and finishing them up.

I have another goal, I need to finish organizing my craft room. I know, I've been in my house 2.5 years, and it's still not done. It is so overwhelming. But I'm determined to get it done. Whenever I have to look for something - I just make a bigger mess - LOL. If I just get it organized - that would stop.

FRIDAY

You'd think I'd remember to blog on days on off work. But I think it's because my routine is so different. Didn't work on Thursday because the roads were so bad from all the recent snow. It was nice to off during the week and to get out of the house. Went to the gym and then the grocery store.
Then I went home and stitched. I am making some progress. I've been working on my whitman tin piece. I have the inside done, now I have to just do the scissor fob. Of course, then I have to assemble it. I think when this is done, I'm going to pull out a basket piece we brought from a shop in Williamsburg. We brought it so we could all stitch it together...but then something comes up and you have to stitch something else to get it done.
I think once that is done, I'm going to work on my Jeannette Douglas 'stitching treasure box' piece. I think I'm a little scared to work on that one - it's so overwhelming - but I need to just be brave and do it.

SNOWY WEDNESDAY

It's snowing again. This our 3rd major storm in 3 months. Now you're probably thinking that's not to bad..but we are getting 20+ inches of snow each time. We just had 26" on Saturday and now we are getting another 20+. We never, ever get snow like this. In fact, we broke the all time record for the most snow in a season, which had been at 65.2".
I did get my hair dyed - it looks really nice, but no one will see me today.
I am getting some stitching done.
I did take a nap....you know stitching can tire you out.
I am sick and tired of watching about the snow. All 3 major channels had it on all day. No soaps!! At least if I get a day off of work during the week, I should be able to watch my soaps.