Chapter 28, being sick sucks eggs!

am so sick of being sick! have had this cold for a week, am running a fever and feel as if I have been hit by a truck. sighs. have not felt up to doing anything this week. I have not embroidered, knit, crocheted, or worked on cleaning the back bedroom. I am going to buy some cold medicine on the way to work today (got paid last night and can finally afford it LOL) so I am hoping to feel back up to par by Sunday. My blue baggie got here from Ms. Judyth. I feel as if she is my "supplier" keeping me well supplied with wonderful fabrics for my crazy quilts, plus she always includes bits and pieces of lace, threads, buttons. She is just the most wonderful person! I can hardly wait to create my blue block so it is ready to mail out. I decided I am going to make two, and do one on my own too. I have been thinking of making a "color study" set of blocks. just to see what I can do, but then, I know they will do more RR and I would really like to keep up with them. I can't wait to get the back room done, Amanda moved and my sewing room set up. I am getting excited about creating again. I think the kids are too, both asked me if they would be able to sew and stuff when I get it set up. I think Nicholas will like working the voyager. have decided to name her Gertie or Ginger. not sure which one yet.

Fish

Chapter 27, a brave step

Well, I did it, I finally took a step and signed up for a crazy quilt color study RR/swap. I am nervous and scared, but excited! I also won two sewing machines on e-bay this weekend! one is an old Kenmore (which will always remind me of my mom) and still runs. It looks like it is from the 70's. the other is an older singer, which looks so pretty. We already paid for the Kenmore and it has been sent, so should be here this week. I hope Anthony pays for the singer today so it can be shipped this week too. We also are moving bedrooms around. Anthony talked to the kids, and Amanda wants to move into the back room, (LOL farthest from us) so I get her room to turn into a sewing room. If all goes well, I will have a sewing room by March 2. (which just thrills me to pieces!) and if I get a sewing room set up, and the dining room cleared up, it means we can finally set up my voyager! so I could start quilting!!!! As of right now, March promises to be a wonderful and exciting month!

Chapter 26, Valentine's day and strange inspiration

Today is Valentine's day. Hearts, flowers, love in the air. I will spend most of it in the car as Anthony and I travel up to get the kids, watch their game, go to mass with them, then bring them home this evening. So we celebrated last night. Last week we got Anthony a new computer chair (all leather, very nice and comfy!) for Valentine's day. Yesterday, I fixed him his favorite dinner, spaghetti and meatballs. He bought me two video games I really wanted, and didn't even know he knew about. I was a happy camper. Then he really surprised me. Just a few weeks ago, Anthony celebrated his 10 year anniversary with his job. (the longest he has ever stayed at one job) they gave him a nice plaque. What I didn't know is they also gave him a catalog and told him to choose the gift he wanted. Well, he didn't choose for him. He used his gift for me, and got me the most beautiful pearl necklace!!!! It has 4 strands of cream freshwater pearls together, and is about 19 inches. It is gorgeous!!! I love pearls, and the only other set I have is the set he got me for our wedding, a single strand of cream pearls. (also absolutely beautiful!) He was worried that I would be upset because they are fresh water. I told him not to worry, i am not a pearl snob, I just love pearls. I can't wait to wear them. Until they they will be hidden in my dresser, taken out and lovingly stroked and admired and hidden away again. But what is truly priceless is the feeling of being loved and desired and cherished as much as he does me. I would not trade my Prince Charming for anyone on earth. And now to the strange inspiration. Aunt Marie has been on my mind a lot lately. So last night I decided to work on a quilt for her. I wanted to embroider each square with a wiener dog. Well guess what, there are not that many wiener dog patterns out there! So I created my own "year of the wiener" for her. I will post as I get them done. I am proud of them! I am going to do them on gingham fabric (pink, blue, yellow and green) and set them with 1930's fabric when they are all done, or so goes the plan right now, but it may change. We shall see. As soon as I find my tracing paper, I am going to trace them over, and then iron and cut the fabric. I hope to start them in March.
Here are pics of my pearls and my pommie. (unfortunately, not together. LOL)

Chapter 25, the slump

I am in a slump. I don't want to read, or crochet, knit, embroider, cross stitch, cook, clean, or anything else. I just want to sleep. I have felt that way for the4 past four days. I don't know why. It worries me. I took Friday off, and am going to sleep all day (at least that's the plan right now) and hopefully that will cure the slump. I know I need to work on my diet. It has been very heavy on meat and carbs (bread, potatoes) and short on veggies and fruit. Have also realized that for the past 5 or 6 days I have lived on coffee and diet coke, almost no water or tea. I am going to bet that has something to do with the slump. I did get up this morning and do 80 steps on the elliptical, which I know doesn't sound like much, but for me was quite a work out. My goal is to do 90 tonight.

Chapter 24, New Ideas, New Beginnings

While reading one of my favorite blogs this morning, I noticed she lists goals for each month. I don't know why I never thought of something like that. So i am going to list February goals on my side bar. They finished the carpeting yesterday. I looks beautiful. I will try and get pics of it tonight and post them this week. I am really amazed at how calm I feel now that we have decided not to try and buy a house. I didn't know it was stressing me out so much. I am glad we are staying here. I do love this house. I is a little wonky, needs a lot of work, but it has personality. It was built in 1929. it is kind of a duplex. we have the left half. but it has a basement and an attic, four bedrooms, well okay, 3 and a half LOL the kitchen, dining room, dog room, and 1 and a half bathrooms. Yes it needs work, but it is all doable. We live in a quiet neighborhood, everyone is polite and friendly. What more could I ask for? Nothing more. This is a good place to be.

Chapter 23, I sometimes forget to count my blessings

Well, we have decided against trying to buy a house right now. In these tough economic times, we should be thankful we have this one, and are able to pay our mortgage. Anthony is going to call around and work on refinancing the house this week. With the carpeting going it, it looks really nice. Anthony is going to talk to Robert about finishing the bathrooms and putting down a new floor in the kitchen. We went to the furniture store last night and bought Anthony a new computer chair (his old one was cracking and got stuck all the time) I had to really talk him into spoiling himself, but he never buys himself anything, and when you consider how much time he spends at the computer, he should have a nice chair. So we got him a really nice leather office chair. We found a small table with two chairs for the kitchen, and a coat tree/bench thingy for the dining room. (I have been ordered to "Keep my crap" off the couch. LOL We have decided to turn the spare room into my sewing room, set up my Voyager in half the dining room, and then use the other have as a dining room. So between now and May, we are hoping to get all this done. I really am a lucky woman. We have a nice home, it is warm and no leaks, we have plenty of food, and our life is good. I don't need all the things others have. I don't need a fancy house, or all the other stuff they collect. I need to be me, and stop worrying about competing against the ex-wife, the other teachers, and the neighbors. So I am going to work at creating a home I will enjoy because it feels and looks good to me, not others. Anthony is just happy when we are together and he gets a hot dinner LOL so he is easy to please.