Way to go Nicole!!

I know I've been slacking on posting. Just not much to report. Have been keeping busy though with stitching, but couldn't show the pictures because they were Birthday gifts. I've mailed them off already. Each day I try to be crafty in some way. Doesn't always work, but I'm putting forth a GOOD effort to try.

Went out to dinner with my friends Donna and Rachel last night. We had a really nice time catching up. We haven't seen each other since way before the Holidays last year. Our schedules just didn't work out. We discussed about setting a date for each month to get together. Talking about the last Friday of every month. Hope we can stick to it.

I got home a lot later than I thought last night. Was close to 1:00 a.m. before I got in to bed. I had to get up and have my daughter to school this morning by 7:00. She participated in the Polar Bear Plunge which is an invitational, not a bunch of kids jumping into a freezing lake LOL.

Well, I just picked her up from school, it is after 5:00 p.m. If any of you are familiar with the swimming in school, these invitationals are an ALL day affair. I don't usually attend them, but wished I could have today. Nicole called me to tell me they were almost back at the school so I could go get her. I always ask her how she did, and she sounded REALLY happy on the phone.

She got (3) medals!!!!!! I was so excited for her. These invitationals have teams from all different schools, so there are a LOT of kids. There were 72 kids racing in the 50 free style and she came in 10th place out of all of them. AND she even dropped a little time in that race from her previous time. She 5th place in the 100 free and the 200 free relay. Also came in 3rd in the 400 relay. I'm just so tickled for her. It's the last invitational of the year, and what a super way to finish it up. She only has 2 more make up meets to do next week, and the season is over. She hasn't told her coach yet that she isn't going to swim next year. It will be her Junior year and she is talking about taking some AP classes which will keep her very busy. So here Nicole is with her 3 medals when she got home!! Here she is with her team when they won 3rd in the 400 relay. She was the first leg to swim.
And here are all the winners of that heat from 1st-5th place.

Congratulations to all the swimmers!!!

Funfilled productive weekend

I've really enjoyed myself this weekend. A wonderful group I belong to online (An American Primitive Gathering) decided to set a weekend aside each month so we can work on getting some things done, like Christmas gifts, Birthday gifts, things for ourselves, unfinished projects, etc. This was our first weekend. I had set aside 3 projects in mind, and I was able to accomplish them all. Just finished up the last one.

This was my first one. It's all hand sewn. I have never done this style before, but it was enjoyable. I really like hand stitching. I bought some new cotton stuffing, and I just love working with it. Will never go back to polyfill. This pinkeep has a weighted bottom as well. I added crushed walnut shells.

My second project was another pinkeep. A lot smaller, but again very enjoyable. It just kept evolving. I didn't know where I was going with it. Kept adding little details here and there. I am using it for my penny rug needles and cross stitch needles. I have since marked the inside corners with the number needle that is on each side. Again, this one is all hand stitched.

The last one I got done is one of Betty's designs. I have been telling her that I've been saving her designs to do them. I can finally say I did one! Wasn't sure how I was going to finish it off. I ended up making it into a small pillow to hang on my hutch, or in my wool room on my cabinet. Not sure which yet. Betty is one talented lady, and I just love her designs! I ended up aging this piece a little to give it a more worn look, and I have it very lightly stuffed. I broke down and used the sewing machine to stitch this together, and then I hand stitched some x's around the outside edge.

On Friday, I went to my dye group at Joan's. Everyone was able to make it that day, and it was a fun time. We are going to be working on a new project of mock braiding, (hooking our wool to look like a braid). Next month we will be bringing some of our own wool to dye with onion skins, and then we will share it with each other, so when we do use it in our rugs, we will have a piece of everyone in it. I am looking forward to learning this new lesson of hooking.

I also finished a runner I was doing as a challenge with a group on line. I can't show it now, because some of the girls have not seen it yet. But once they have, and it's ok to show it, I will post it then. I just love the way it turned out.

I have the Chambersburg rug hooking group to go to tomorrow, but I'm not sure if I can make it or not. Nicole has swimming lessons in the morning, even though they have the day off from school. I'll have to play it by ear. Maybe I'll just go later. I want to get back to my camp rug, so if I go, I'll be taking that to work on some background. I also want to try and get to the hooking group out in East Berlin. I haven't been there in quite a while. But of course, Nicole has somewhere she has to be. She is going to be a bridesmaid in July and she needs to go for a fitting tomorrow night for the dress. I'm hoping I can just drop her off and they will bring her home. Teenagers! Geez, they can really interrupt your plans LOL.

Well, it's still early enough that I think I'll go upstairs and get my supplies together to make a couple Birthday presents that I need to get done this week and mailed.

I can't wait for next month's retreat to do this again! Will start planning more projects for then.....

Have a great week everyone!

A New President

Today is a day that will be remembered for generations to come. Congratulations to our new President. Even though I did not vote for him, I wish him all the best. It didn't matter who won this election. Whoever it was going to be was going to have a lot to deal with. He will need our prayers daily to lead our country. And it is going to take time... lots of time.
That is what is so wonderful about the USA. We all have a voice, and we all have a choice. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else!
I was busy today helping my mil, and didn't get a chance to see any of it on t.v. But....with the media, I'm sure I'll see lots of it for days to come. I'm curious to hear what he has planned for us and how he plans to implement it.
Hope everyone takes time today to be thankful, and to reflect on how great our nation truly is...

Long weekend...

At least it feels like a long weekend to me. George and Nicole have off today for the holiday. Now I know the rest of the week I'll be confused on which day it is. Always happens lol.

Haven't been feeling all that well. Not sure what the problem is. One minute I feel fine, the next I don't. Didn't get a whole lot accomplished over the weekend, but did manage to get the labels on two rugs, so they are "now" complete! That is always a good feeling.
I also managed to finish up my little bird punchneedle pinkeep that I was working on. I am very pleased with it. I have placed it in my Etsy shop if you are interested.

I went to bed really early last night in hopes that today I will have more energy to get some more stuff done. I still feel very light headed which makes me think it may be sinuses, even though I don't feel stuffed or anything. Maybe the weather? Who the heck knows, but I just want it to go away lol. I do feel rested, so that is a good thing. Perhaps later I will get back to some hooking, and hopefully start another piece for Etsy.

It's snowing out now, which I didn't even know it was supposed to today. Another good reason to stay in and get creative!

Wishing everyone a warm relaxing day.....

On a roll.....

The pomegranate rug has found a home for now in front of our hutch. I finally finished the whipping! I really am happy with the way it turned out! (And just a little plug for my husband George. He built that hutch when our son Craig was around 3. So about 18 years ago.
It was a very productive few days, and I'm pleased with the way things are moving along. I got some hooking done, some punching done and some cleaning done. I spent the entire day today cleaning, doing laundry and just trying to get the house in a decent order. I have just a little more cleaning to do tomorrow and then I can get back to some hooking and stitching. I am not one to "enjoy" cleaning, but I can honestly say that I had a good time today. I am in a throw away mood, so I pitched some stuff, and made a pile to give away too. Also moved a few things around to give one room a different feel. I'm now thinking about making curtains for this room that has the hutch in it. We've been here 8 years and haven't done a darn thing to the room. I always thought I'd wait until we got a loveseat or a chair in here before I make any decisions on curtains. Well, it's time to just make some and get it over with. I just wish I knew what I wanted! The border will also come down, that was here when I moved in and it's just not me, and the room needs to be painted. I've said it every year that I want this room done. Well, I think it's time!
It's going to be very cold the next few days, so being inside and just putzing around is what I want to do. A little of this, and a little of that. Hopefully the next time I post, I'll have a couple pictures of some new things I plan on making.
Enjoy the rest of your week!

Catching up..

Finally catching up on getting things done in the house. Little by little. Have started each morning by trying to organize mind. I think that is the most cluttered! Too many things to do, and no plan on getting any of them done. I've done well the past couple days. Started each day off by doing some exercising. I miss that the most since it is the time I really like to spend with the Lord and just talk with Him about all that is going on and how I need Him to give me the wisdom to handle each day to make good choices. I've also made a commitment with myself to read the bible in a year. I started that off well, and am sticking with it. I was able to finish making some snippet bags (yeah! another accomplishment) for Linda's shop yesterday AND I even put my sewing machine away and cleared off the table. I put the machine back into my wool room where I can't move and had to bring it downstairs just to use LOL. I'll get to that room soon!!! I also started the day before a challenge piece for an online group I belong too.
Each day I am feeling like I am getting something accomplished. Not as "fast" as I'd like to, but I'm getting some things done. As I complete something, it's nice to say "it's done"! And move on to the next. I feel if I can unclutter my mind, I will have a better chance at succeeding. It's like a huge ball of thread all tangled in there. I just kept piling up and piling up in my head what I want to do, what I need to do for now and what I want to do for the future. And you know what?? I got nowhere!! My house is all out of sorts right now, and I need to set better goals for that too. But.... can't do it all in one day. Little bits at a time, and I know I'll be heading forward instead of always feeling like i'm traveling on a dead end road.
Went to Linda's shop last night to do some hooking. Well, I didn't hook. I'm whipping my pomegranate rug. Yes, I finally started that! I got some done, and then the talking took over lol. So it was nice to just sit and chat with Pat and Linda. There were a few other girls there when I arrived, but they left shortly after. I was late in getting there when it started.
This morning, I've already written out some bills, and am in the process of deciding what is next on my to-do list. Again, my mind starts going a mile a minute and then I can't seem to put on the brakes. When that happens, everything is out of order and I feel like I get nothing done. Or if it does get done, i'm in an aggrivated state and it doesn't feel like an accomplishment.
I hear we are expecting some snow later tonight and tomorrow. Conflicting reports on how much, so I'll just wait and look out the window tomorrow to see what the total is lol. Can you ever rely on the weatherman??
I have heard from a few people that my blog was not visible for a bit. Seems something changed when I changed my background. They were seeing code and not everything was there. I have made some changes and am using a background from another site. I'm hoping it is fixed now. Please let me know if anything seems odd on your end, so I can try and fix it.
Off to think through and write down what I'd like to accomplish today, and then GET started...
Wishing you all a creative, productive weekend....

The hooking is completed~

Ooooooh what a feeling!! Just finished pressing it, and will work on the whipping tomorrow. I am more pleased with it now after I made a few adjustments. After I pulled that last loop, I felt like wonder woman and wondered what's my next project lol? Up until this point, it was "am I ever going to finish this"? I have my camp rug to do, but...... I took my old cutter to a shop to sell, and it has my #8 blade on it! All I can say is DUH!! I think I'll start a challenge rug that is being done on one of the ebay groups I belong to. I have all the wool for it, just need to figure out how big I want to make it and transfer it. Yep, I think that is my next step!

I had a chance to take a picture of my son's car after church. I still think it's cute. Although I'm sure he doesn't want to hear that term about HIS car lol. It is sharp though!

Well, I think it's time I head on down to the basement to watch the Eagles and Vikings battle it out in the playoffs. I can hear them down there now. Craig's team is the Vikings and we are Eagles fans. Should be interesting.
Wishing everyone a great week!

Soooo close to being done~

Well, it's been a long road on this rug. I joined a group to try and get this rug done by Oct. 31st of 2008. Didn't make it obviously. Had only the center done by that date. Finally got to sit down and hook the day after Christmas, and really made headway. Worked some more on it today and now I see the light at the end of the tunnel! I'm hoping by tomorrow night that it will be done. I do have church tomorrow, and not sure what is planned for the afternoon, so no promises to myself. But I'm hoping! When I did get to hooking the border, I had just about a whole long side done before I laid it on the floor to step back and look at it. Oh boy, I did not like it. Just wasn't the color I was hoping for. Hard to get a true picture of it with the camera too. But then I showed it to a few people and Linda pointed out that there was no border color in the center. So I put some in a few acorns and leaves, and it really does bring it together more. Again, hard to tell in the picture. I plan on whipping it with the darker center brown in hopes that it will frame it nicely and make it look weighed down, if that makes sense. Not sure of the correct way to say it. I"m hoping that when it's all done, that I can get a better picture of the color.

Didn't do much else today. My son and husband went out looking at a car that my son wanted to get. Actually, this was his second choice of a car. The first one was a bit out of range for a first time loan for him. After a few hours, I knew they were coming home with a new car. Just felt it. And sure enough, near dinner time, they pulled into the drive in his new car! Well, it's a used 2004, but looks brand spanking new. I am very proud of him and what he has accomplished with school and his job. He is going to school now on line to get his bachelors while working full time at the hospital in the IT department. Computers are his thing. I am in awe of those who can really do so much with this "box" lol. He really knows his stuff! The car he got is a Nissan 350Z. A REAL sportscar! When he pulled in, I grabbed my coat to go take a look. Sat down in it, and when I turned around, I said "there's NO back seat" lol. I thought hmm, not a family car. But that's ok, he's just 21, no rush! I'm happy for him that at his age, he is able to achieve what he has, and has saved enough for a good down payment on his new car. He took me for a quick ride in it, and it sure is nice. Before I got out, I had some change in my pocket that I threw on the floor for good luck. Had an old friend who did that when we got a new car, and I guess it just stuck. Craig, wishing you much happiness with your new "toy"!! Enjoy it....
Perhaps tomorrow I'll be able to get a picture of it and post it on here. Well, that's it for tonight. I"m beat and it's almost midnight. Need some shut eye.
Night all....

Wanting a change...

Well, it's the start of a new year. So why not change the blog up a little? Just trying a few new things. Boy, oh boy, you sure can spend a LOT of time on this box just playing around. Not knowing what I'm doing, I was able to figure out most of it. Couldn't get one part, and had to ask my son. Seems like I was doing it right, just was picking the wrong code.
Didn't get to any hooking today. Disappointed in that, but tomorrow is another day. Did however get to go out for an Anniversary dinner with my husband George. I'd say it's long over due. Our anniversary was back in November lol. But.... I was away at camp on that day. And then the holidays approached faster than we could blink. So, having our daughter out tubing with her boyfriend and Craig doing his own thing, we just decided to go. It was a very nice meal and nice and quiet. Considering Monday we are both getting back on track with eating right, it was an even better idea! I may just get a head start and jump on the treadmill tomorrow morning.
I'm starting to think of some ideas on what to make to put in my Etsy shop. I'm really pushing to get a couple things made before the end of the month. Will post here and share them with you too.
I think I'll leave the background the way it is for a while, and then may change it up again. So much to learn.....and not enough hours in the day!
Wishing everyone a great weekend!!