Where have I been

 This is an old blog I use to have but went missing so I started a new 1.  Now I can't find the new 1 and this 1 is back - only in my life.

Quick update - I'm retired now.  And keep myself busy stitching, watching my grandchildren, at least before COVID hit, doing Disney races, at least before COVID hit, meeting with friends for lunch and stitching, at least before COVID hit.  Sensing a pattern??  Not much goin on right now.  I am stitching a lot and need to work on finishing more.  I wish I could afford to send everything away to be finished but that's not going to happen unless I win the lottery.  Need to buy tickets before I can win.  LOL 

Working on a few things right now.  Lizzie Kate's Things Unseen mystery sampler.  Hands on Designs chaulkful hippity hop bunnies.  And March's word play by With they needle.  

Also been having a pity party for myself.  I'm so tired of this COVID stuff.  I just want things to back to normal, where you can hug someone, go out to lunch and travel.  I know you can travel but I don't want to have to quarantine when I get there.  

I'm going to try and do this more often.  Sometimes I have thoughts that I can't really say out loud.  Nothing bad -

 

Blue Ribbon Designs

Belinda at Blue Ribbon Designs is having a give away. One of the ways to put an entry in, is to post her blog on your blog. I'm doing just that. I LOVE, LOVE her designs. I can't tell you why - they just appeal to me. I also just took a class with her and it was great. I have the projects I want to stitch ready to go AFTER I get my Xmas stitching done.
So, go to her blog - www.blueribbondesings.blogspot.com and follow her.

Fall

Don't even ask where I have been. It is Oct 6th and time is just marching on.

Not much is new in my life. All I seem to do is work, go to the gym, do laundry and clean. Not a very exciting life. I am going to stitching retreat next week with my friend Tracey.

We are going up to Stitcher's Hideaway in Mystic, CT. We are taking a class with Belinda from Blue Ribbon Designs. I love her designs and am very excited. I've never gone to a retreat when there is only 1 designer. Most of the ones I've gone to are with 3 - then you get 3 projects that you bearly get to start. I've stopped going to those. I'm kinda excited to see how this one is run. One of the things I definitely want to do up in Mystic is get pizza at Mystic Pizza. LOL That's right - the place that Julia Roberts worked in in the movie Mystic Pizza.

I'm going to try to be better about posting and maybe even getting some pictures up.

Month

Please tell me where the past month as gone? I can't believe how fast time has gone.

I finished the gifts for my sisters, framed them and they turned out cute. You'd think I would have remembered to take a picture - but no! Since I do most of my blogging from work - hard to post pictures. But they seemed to like them - even the sister whose I screwed up. I cut on the wrong line and had to frame hers in a 4x6 frame instead of a 5x7. It was a little tight but still cute. She just appreciated that I gave her something.

We had our family vacation. We invaded Sea Isle City, NJ and had a blast. There were 2 grandparents, 7 siblings, 4 spouses, 19 nieces/nephews, 2 niece/nephew in-laws, 5 significant others, 2 great grandchildren. Like I said, invade. Not all of us were there at the same time - but most of us were there. It such a good time - and we enjoy each others company. We only do it every 3 years but have been doing it since 1985 - 25 years. The first one was in Boston and we all stayed at my Mom & Dads. We did it over a 2 week period. Some came the week before and some stayed the week after - but we all there for a 4 day period. In the same house. No granted, there were not as many of us but we had a GREAT water fight that year. LOL

Started my 'summer' project. I thought since we went to the beach, I'm going to stitch Country Cottage summer scape. 5 'beach' themed pictures as one. It is so cute!! I have one section stitched and started on the second one last night. Also have to start thinking about Xmas gifts - but it'll sneak up on ya! LOL

Thursday

Yesterday was not a good day - and I don't know why. It was very hot and humid yesterday and I think that just zapped me. When I got in the car, I just did not want to go to they gym. I was just tired. But I did make myself go and i do feel better after I go. I just wish this process would go faster. I've been trying really hard to lose weight, get healthy and get in shape. For anyone who has tried losing weight, sometimes you don't see it. I know my clothes are fitting better and have a pile of clothes that are too big but it's just taking soooo long. Of course, it seemed last night that all the skinny girls were there - just hate them.

Did do some stitching last night. I finished my gifts for my sisters now just have to frame them. I started the Lizzie Kate spring scissor fob. I have so many scissor fobs - I just love them. Think it's a sickness. LOL I have about 3 or 4 to put together. Have to do that. Did take a bunch of stuff down to the shop and had them framed. Connie is going to come over and help me frame the birthday blessings I made for my sisters. Then I have about - I don't know how many - other pieces to get frames for and frame. I determined to get my stuff all the way finished.

More on London later.

Day 4

At this rate, it'll take me forever to talk about my trip. On Monday (day 4) we got up and Sarah was a little tired/sore. We decided on Monday to go to the Tower of London. We took the tube and went one more station than I did on Sunday for the Tower Bridge were I watched Sarah run.

We brought our tickets and you can either walk around by yourself or they have 'guides' to take you on a tour. You just met by the front gate every hour. The Rick Steve's book tells you to go see the jewels first, because that line can get very long. that is the only place there you CAN NOT TAKE PICTURES!! They were absolutely beautiful. I don't know how they did not get headaches with all those jewels on their heads. We saw fancy dishes, silver stuff - bowls, platters, candlestick holders. Very nice. Then we went and took the tour and they tell you interesting stuff - about the falcons- they are there because the 'myth' is that if there are not falcons - the monarchy will fall. They don't want to take any chances.
That place is sooooo old. We don't have anything that old here in the States. We saw traders gate - which is were they brought you in there - where Anne Bolelyn was beheaded (and others). Then we walked around and saw everything else. Saw the torture room - where the rack was. Interesting device!!
Then we walked down to Tower Bridge - coming at if from the opposite direction that I approached it on Sunday. Walked up and stood on it. We didn't take the tower. My daughter has a little fear of heights - and didn't want to go up. Plus off course - there was a charge to do it. We went to the shops and to get our 'souvenirs'. We decided to started a book series for Josephine - Paddington Bear - and to also buy her the bear. I brought myself on too. I love bears - but that's another subject. We got her Paddinton Bear at the Tower of London. I brought a little cross stitch kit for me and my sister Mary. They also have 'shopping' bags for a dollar. So we were 'green' and got one of those.
We ended up eating lunch at a subway - I know, not very local. But it was good.
We did go back to the Tower of London for the ceremony of the keys - it was kinda of scarey - all dark and everything. We didn't see any ghosts but we were looking. They have traditions for everything and they still lock up the tower the way they did 100's of years ago.
Before we went back - we had dinner at a pub. It was different. They don't take your order. You go up to the bar and order it. I had 'fish and chips'. Thought I should try them. It's fried fish - how could it not be good. LOL
Then we walked to the Tower of London and didn't get LOST!! I was very proud of up - we found our way around pretty good. Between our map, and google maps. We were walking down this street and found ruins of a building. Right there in the middle of the block.
We also met up with my son's best friend - Chris. He happened to be in London. So we met him and we were going to have a drink - but couldn't find anything open. Pubs close at like 11. But we walked around and visited. Use to see him all the time when they were going up - I called him 'my other son'. LOL Now I see him in London. True strange.

Day 3

Can't believe it's been almost a month since I posted. Don't know where the time goes - oh yeah - work. LOL

It's hard to remember day by day now, but Day 3 was the marathon. Sarah got up and left the hotel about 7:30. I'm sure very worried about me. See, I was going to get on the tube myself, get myself to Tower Bridge and wait for her to run by. Did I do it, you are thinking to yourself. Yes, I found my own way over to the Tower Bridge - made my way to the fencing and waited for my daughter to come. It was very crowded and lots of people running. It was about mile 12. Finally - she came running by. Blew me a kiss - and kept running. I did take her picture and if you enlarge it enough - you can see the back of her head heading over the Tower Bridge. Made my way back to the tube, stopped by the hotel to go to the bathroom. You have to pay to use the public bathrooms in London. Now it only cost 30 pence - but it was only the 3rd day and wasn't quite sure of my money yet. And the next place I was waiting to see Sarah was right by the hotel - so I just stopped there.
It was mile 24 - and I thought I had missed her but all of a sudden - there she was. There were still ALOT of people on the course. Usually by mile 24, it's thinned out but no, it was still pretty crowded. Didn't think fast enough to take her picture though.
Then I headed over to Buckingham Palace because that is were they finished. I'm sure the Queen was looking out her window thinking - why are thousands of people on my lawn!! LOL We had a plan were to meet and I found her. She was tired and wet and not happy with her time - but she finished. I was so proud of her.
The rest of the day was pretty much a resting day. We went back to the hotel and she rested. We went to dinner at a place called - Slug in the lettuce - yes that was the name. We had a relaxing dinner - lots a marathoners in there. Then we rode the London Eye and saw London by night.