It is Friday! YAHOO! It is Friday! YAHOO!

I feel like I need to do a Happy Dance to celebrate the beginning of Fridayand the start to the weekend...and I just need to find a way to get out from under this dark cloud that has been hanging over my head for about a month.So, to create my own happiness I do have a few things planned for today.

 My Happy Activity List for Today

First, I have premade a noodle casserole for my older son to take to school, because they are having a "heritage tasting day" - so this morning I will need to throw it in the oven to bake for an hour before he leaves.

Second, my younger son's class is having a "Halloween Spooky Story" Breakfast - where they will read their spooky stories out loud. They have been writing these stories for about a week. Yesterday, my younger son stayed afterschool to help set up the room in theater-styles and added some Halloween decorations. I have not assisted him in his writing of this story, so I will be totally surprised when I hear it!

Third, Fridays are my day off from my part-time job, so when I get home I will be able to stitch (and do a few household chores) and relax. I am getting closer to being done with my L*K Exchange (nothing like waiting to the last minute, but I will be able to get it in the mail by the duedate).

Fourth, afterschool today the boys and I will decorate and carve our pumpkin that we purchased yesterday. My older son picked it out. I will make sure to have some pictures of it!

Well...just thought I would do a quick post as you all were so sweet with your comments earlier in the week after the parkinglot incident. Just as a quick update...while I know that you can never be sure what a sick mind will do, I am hoping that DH and I have been quick to react regarding all of our charge cards and such. Just trying to keep positive thoughts going with that regard. Anyway, thank you all again for your love and support!

Remember....Live, Love, Laugh (something that I need to work on) and Stitch often! Lisa

Unveiling of "Trick or Treat" and sharing a lesson to all who carry purses

"Trick or Treat"

Designer: Ursula Michael

The Cross-Stitcher Magazine - October 2009 issue - Page 34-36

Fabric: Belfast Linen 32ct, Toasted Almond

Thread: DMC and Krenik Braid #8 (used listed colors)

Started: September 9, 2009 -  Finished: October 24, 2009

It is completed. The last few letters: "T, R, and E" were also fun to stitch. Especially the spider webbing around the "E" which was stitched with Krenik Braid #8 - confetti. I tried to manipulate the thread as I stitched so that the different confetti colors could show up as certain times...so sometimes the metallic blue would sparkle, sometimes the yellow and there is a little red/pink in there as well. Here are the last 3 letters up close.

So, now I have to get my butt going on exchanges and model stitching...however, if the little procedure I had about 2 weeks ago didn't throw me off...I was involved in a little incident yesterday afternoon which really did. After work yesterday, I needed to run a few errands before picking up the boys from school. First was a quick trip to Party City (a party store) to get some Halloween party goods for a party at work and some for a party that Matthew (younger son) is having on Friday morning. Then, still having 30 minutes before I had to be at the school, I needed to pick up a few groceries. I pulled out my driver's license and my major credit card and hopped out of my car (locking it behind me). I wasn't in the grocery store but 20-25 minutes (especially since I had to be somewhere)...walking out, wheeling my shopping cart, I started to walk to my car and noticed that something was not right...the back side window (on the driver's side) looked like it had a huge spider web or something. As I continued to walk toward the car, my knees and hands started to shake and I got a really sick feeling in the pit of my stomach...my car window had been shattered. And immediately I knew that some jack@-- broke into my car and took my purse.

When I do these quick "in and out" trips to the store, I do have a bad habit of taking what I need out of my purse and putting it on the backseat floor. Unfortunately, someone was watching and saw me walk out of my car without my purse, waited for me to enter the store and then approached the car. In fact, when I parked the car and got out, I did catch a guy across from me acting strangely and got a unsettled feeling...but because I was on a mission to get what I needed quickly and get to the schools, I paid no attention and went about my business only to come out and find "the mess".

And what a mess it is - thank goodness that I had my driver's license and our major credit card in my possession. However, there were a few other cards and my check book in my purse...nothing else that I can think of except for some female things, that I don't think that this JA would find useful. So all afternoon, DH (who came home early) and I worked on canceling and closing everything. I think that we got it all done, but it is going to take some time to transition all of those automatic payments and things to all the new accounts.

Ugh! What a mess. However, the car can be fixed and the credit stuff can be fix - they are all "things"...I am thankful that nothing happened to me (I have to find a bright side some where, right?).

Well, time to get and get somethings done. Take care!

Lisa

A Sunday Snippet

I am bettween a hockey practice and a hockey game - home getting my exercise in and reading my blogs - so I thought I would also take this opportunity to post. Yesterday morning I did have a Happy Dance - I finished "Trick or Treat"!!!! I am so excited...but ashamed (whip me with a strand of Krenik #8 braid) because I haven't taken the opportunity to take a picture of it. So, I definitely owe you all that - and will try to do that by tomorrow. 
Yesterday, while we were without early morning hockey - it was busy! I utilized the morning to get things done that we just haven't had an opportunity to do...like, get the boys haircut...make sure that Matthew got to the library to get the book on our "hold" shelf...go to Jo-Ann Fabrics in order to get the perfect backing to Trick or Treat (I think that I am going to make it into a pillow). So by the time all our errands were run, it was time for lunch and then time to head to Matthew's hockey game (he had a 4:00pm game - unfortunately they lost 4-0...oh, well - we are still playing exhibition games).
Today - Sunday - both boys had an early morning practice: 6:15am for Robert (older son) and 7:00am for Matthew (younger son)...and then this afternoon, Robert has an exhibition game.

Yes...it is a crazy life we lead, but I wouldn't change anything!

Thank you for visiting and I will see you back here tomorrow and be able to greet you with a photo of "Trick or Treat".

Have a great Sunday and remember...Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often! Lisa

Tea for 2...and a finish to show you!

I have this little "app" on my yahoo inbox (or somewhere) that tells me when someone's birthday is coming up. I get emails about 2 weeks before the event and the again about 4 days before. I don't know if this is something that I signed up for or if it just happens, but anyway...I found out that it was my neighbor's birthday today. I know that she loves tea because she helped me plan and host a tea party a couple of years ago for Matthew's (younger son) 3rd grade class (he is in 5th grade now). I did all the "room mom/party planning" stuff and she did a presentation on teas. So, when I found out that it was her birthday, I pulled a Lizzie Kate tea pattern out of my stash, found some chocolate color linen ivmy stash and then started going through my thread stash (thus, not following the color key and really didn't complete the entire pattern) and found a great matching button...in my stash...and created this quick finish. To totally finish her gift, I backed it with some autumn looking fabric (which looked like it had tea leaves on it)...which I also had in my stash, and then attached it to the top of a nice square glass container (which I did have to purchase at Michael's yesterday) .

I added a little twine and beads around the glass jar, some of the charms say "Live, Love, Laugh" and the other says "Dare to Dream"...and then I filled it with all sorts of teas (from my tea stash of course). I hope that she likes it...we haven't exchanged or acknowledged eachother's birthdays before - only the kids a couple of times. But over the six years we have lived here, she and I have come to rely on eachother - either by watching eachother's house when the other travels or helping out with the kids.

Just wanted to do a little "show and tell" hope your week is going well and Happy Wednesday - we are 1/2 way to the weekend!

Remember....Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often! Lisa

A win... A list...some weather...and much appreciation

Good morning (or afternoon) dear friends, I hope that Tuesday finds you well. I was able to get in my early start - on the bike spinning, catching up on my Farmville on FB, reading and commenting on dear friend blogs and updating mine. Sounds like a good productive morning.

Yesterday I got an email from Edgar from Blacksheep's Bit of the Web. I really enjoy reading his blog because of the treasure hunts (aka Estate Sales) he goes on all over San Fran - he really should be a tour guide, for I haven't been to many of the places he mentions...when we go to San Fran, we typically play "tourist" and only make it from Pier 1 (Ferry Building) to Pier 41 (Fisherman's Wharf). I think that we need to get out and explore a little. Well...back to the reason for the email...I WON the Sail Away give-a-way! I watched/read Edgar's stitching progress of this design and then when he posted that he was going to pass it on - I entered the drawing. I am glad that I exercised will power when I was at NiaH on Sunday - because I saw the kit there and thought about it.

And now for my stitching "to do" list (more for my acknowledgment - but sometimes it is better to make it public in order to commit):

1. Finish Trick or Treat - so that I can actually enjoy it a little before the Halloween decorations have to come down
2. Lizzie Kate Exchange - mail date: November 1
3. CindyMae Quaker Christmas Ornaments models - due October 29
4. Personal Orn Exchange (Heather) - November 15
5. Personal Orn Exhange (Angela) - November 24

Boy...we had another bad rain storm, right in time for "going home traffic". Or for me, it was "driving to the hockey rink traffic". From home to San Jose typically takes 35-45 minutes depending on the level of traffic - but yesterday it took 1hour and 15 minutes. Robert (older son) was able to finish an English paper in the car, take a 30 minute nap and change into his hockey gear in the back seat. Thank goodness that we left at 4 - for we did make it and Robert stepped on the ice just as the clinic was starting. However, when considering all the time it too us to get to the rink (1 hour 15 min) and the time that it took us to get home (another hour and 15 minutes)...the clinic was only an hour long. Doesn't seem like a really good investment in time (or gas) does it? And on top of all that, Robert still had homework to do when he got home; which he finished up at 10pm.

Thank you all for being here, your supports and comments. I couldn't believe when I saw that I had 10 comments on my last post, I think that was the most I have ever received since I have been blogging. Thank you all so much, it really does mean a lot! Well, I have to leave you right now - I hope that you have a wonderful Tuesday and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh

and 

Stitch Often!

Lisa

Trick or Treat - update

Trick or Treat

Smell my feet

Give me something good to eat

I am sorry...not a pleasant way to start Sunday morning. I thought I would post a photo of the status of "TorT". Doing one letter at a time, including the back stitching, really makes the project go quickly. After taking the photo last night before I went to bed, I got a little of the E (in trEat) started. This continues to be a really fun stitch - with bring colors and a whimisical feel. The glow in the dark Krenik is really cool too! Last night, I let is sit in the light for a few minutes and then took in my sons' rooms (when I went to tell them good-night) and when I turned off the light, anywhere the GitD thread was used, it actually glowed. "That's cool, mom!" Matthew (youngest) yelled.

Here is a close up of "K" and Witchy Poo (do you remember H.R. Pufinstuf and Jimmie & his magical flute named Freddy? - I know, this dates me).The letter "K" contains some of the confetti Krienk #8 braid. I am also finding this fun to us and if I manipulate it as I stitch, sometime flecks of blue stick out and sometime it is the yellow that stands out.

And here is a close up of the "A" and the "T". The pattern in the magazine does have an error...on the top of the "A" there were a few symbols for the electric blue color - but I just followed my gut feeling, as well as the color picture that accompanied the pattern. A little electric blue would have not looked correct on the candy corn "A" (I love candy corns...did you know that they now make them in chocolate flavors?)! I am not totally happy with the witch's cat - his eyes look droopy. The glow-in-the-dark Krenik didn't cross perfectly on the right eye, but I assume since he is stuck being a witch's cat, he might not be too happy. For I have heard that some witch's cats are not treated very well...so maybe he is somewhat sad. The squares in the "T" are satin stitched instead of crossed - and I like the way it turned out adding a little "extra-special-something" for that letter. I almost wish that I would have satin stitched the white squares in the "I"...oh, well.

I believe that I will be done with this very soon. Today I will be taking Matthew (younger son) to his hockey practice this morning...which just happens to be located somewhat near my LNS...Needle in a Haystack. So, I might just have to run over there after practice and after lunch. I really don't need anything (do we really ever need anything?) but it is hard to be that close and not go (for NiaH is about 35 miles or so from where I live). 

As far as the "little procedure" I had on Friday morning...it went well and I seem to be recoving pretty well. Thank you very much for the very kind comments left on Fridays entry. It means a lot to me. As I have said manytimes, I am still very overwhelmed how close we all seem to get by just blogging. I have found myself reaching out to many of you more so than some of my close friends...interesting, huh?

Well...I will leave you now and hope you have a wonderful Sunday! 

Remember to Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

 

It is Friday already!

Thank goodness it is Friday! This week feels like it has flown by...which I am glad. I am going in for a little medical procedure, which I have been waiting to get done. Nothing serious mind you; just something I need to get done. Going in early this morning and will be home before lunch...and then just rest the remaining of the day. We do not have a lot of activities during the weekend, just some hockey (go figure) - however it is easily managable by DH, so I can just lay low the remainder of the weekend.

I have been working on Trick-or-Treat a little this week - but found out that it was my neighbor's birthday next week, so I put that down to quickly stitch a little Lizzie Kate design. I will put some photos up of that and the status of Trick or Treat probably on Sunday.

Well...just thought I would quickly check in. Take care and remember...Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!
Lisa

An afternoon "day trip" before hockey game

With DH and Robert (older son) in Colorado this week, Matthew (younger son) and I are enjoying our weekend together. But it isn't without any hockey - for he had one game yesterday and one this afternoon. Yesterday's game was in Santa Rosa, California (which is about an hour and a half from where we live) and didn't start until 6:30pm. However, Santa Rosa was the home of Charles Schultz, the cartoonist of Snoopy & the Peanuts - so we decided to leave right after lunch and visit the Charles Schultz museum and the gift shop before needing to be at the rink. And, the rink is right by the museum - for Schultz loved hockey and skating and built the rink. It is very cute.

Anyway, first we went to the museum. On the top floor of the museum, it has one room which is set up as the office of Charles Schultz showing photos of his family, his books and his desk where he sat and drew all the cartoons. Another room on the top floor covered the story of his life from when he was born until his death. On the bottom floor, they have a rotating display of Peanut cartoons, which they display in certain themes - currently they were highlighting sports and music, both were important to Schultz and he used these theme in Peanut cartoons. Like Schoder played the piano...Charlie Brown and the gang played baseball a lot...Snoopy and Woodstock played hockey on the birdbath, and so on.

Outside in the courtyard of the museum, they have several status of peanut characters, like Linus, Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Woodstock. In fact there are characters all over the museum grounds and the grounds of the skating rink. Here is Matthew with Woodstock and another photo with him and Snoopy.

While we were at the museum, Matthew and I worked on some activities which they handed out to us when we entered in the museum. The activities was a cross word puzzle, a maze and a hidden picture puzzle. In order to finish some of the activities we had to visit a few of the different statues in the court yard because they offered some hints to the puzzle (for example the Linus sculpture actually had the finished crossword puzzle on the back - so, I guess it wasn't quite a hint as it was actually the answer). So, with a little "cheating" we were able to finish the puzzles and Matthew got a Peanuts pencil case as a prize.

Before leaving the museum, we enjoyed "The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" for they were showing it in their little theater. There is just something about the Peanuts cartoons that bring back memories from my childhood. I remember watching these holiday cartoons...sitting around the TV with my sisters and parents...the Dolly Madison commercials. Now, after watching "The Great Pumpkin" it feels like Halloween.

Well, after the visit to the museum, it was time to get the hockey gear out of the car and get a good snack for Matthew before warm ups and the hockey game.

Snoopy Home Ice - The Redwood Empire Ice Rink is very cute and has a lot of history associated with it as it pertains to Charles Schultz. But instead of blogging about it, I attached the link so if you are interested in visiting it and/or reading about it, you can. Matthew and his team finally got ready for the game - which they ended up winning 12 to 3, and Matthew even scored a couple of goals. This was a preseason game, as Northern California use the first couple of weekends to determine where to place all the youth hockey teams (designating them either as "A" or "B" in order to set up the season games, making sure that the competitiveness is pretty equal between the teams).

The game ended around 8pm and we didn't get back home until 10pm. It is a long drive in the dark; but it was a fun afternoon. In the meantime, Robert (older son) - they lost their 2 games yesterday (so they have won 2 and lost 2). They are playing their last game as I type this entry and due to their 2 losses, will not be playing in the championship...so DH and Robert might find an earlier flight out of Colorado and get back home earlier tonight. This afternoon...Matthew has another game, but at least it is on their home rink, which is somewhat near our house. It is going to be a challenging game, so we really don't expect the team to win this one.

Well...I will end this post now. I have doing some model stitching for CindyMae; hoping to finish the 3 of 5 ornaments so that I can pick up my Trick or Treat to work on this week. We are suppose to be having some storms coming in here on Tuesday - which means lots of rain...which really means good stitching weather.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend! Remember - Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often! Lisa

A True Hockey Mom

When a hockey mom can't be at a game in person, what does she do? Purchase the a "live" game on line, wip out her latest cross stitch and watch. Robert's team won their first game this morning 6-1. They are playing their second game of the day and it is the beginning of the 2nd period (fyi...there are 3 periods in hockey). The score is 0-0. Well, got to get back to the game and to my stitching.

Hope everyone's Friday evening is going well!

Remember...Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often (especially infront of a hockey game if possible)

Lisa

Edited @ 8:30pm (pacific time)...Robert's team won their game this evening, beating Team AZ 95s 3-0. This was their 2nd win of the day, for the beat the Utah Chadder's 6-1. Two wins today...tomorrow they have another 2 games to play...Go Jr. Sharks!

Show and Tell..."yes" we have some photos

Well, as promised, here is a photo of "Trick or Treat" - I am all the way to the "k".

And here are some close ups of the detail. I love the way the letters and the little characters look when they are outlined (backstitched) in black. It really makes the design "pop".

My favorite letter so far is the C...the 'man in the moon'.

So - there you go...I kept my promise :)

Now, another quick show and tell. Throughout the month of September Cameo held a daily give-a-way, kind of a great opportunity for her to do some stash cleaning and some of us to increase our stash. Today I received my package of all the winnings I won. It was like Christmas.

So that is my "Show and Tell" for you today.

Hope your Wednesday is going well...got to go finish folding laundry before the boys get home.

Lisa

A Mid-Week Update

Up and going early this morning, which is a good thing as I did manage to sleep in yesterday morning. I am not a coffee drinker, so unless I can get up and get in a good spin in the morning before life starts, I feel like toast...so that is about how my day went yesterday. While I got a lot of stitching in over the weekend, I really haven't touched a needle Monday or Tuesday (and I do owe you a photo of Trick or Treat).

The last two days are a blur. Both evenings Robert (older son) had hockey practice, which always takes time to organize the family's evening to accomodate that activity, especially when I need to drive down to the rink. He has practice tonight as well, but thank goodness for carpools....I do not have to drive to San Jose!!! Anyway, all this practicing this week leads up to another tournament for him and his team. Tomorrow evening DH and Robert are leaving for Colorado (I get to stay home this time - yahoo!) and they will be gone until Sunday evening. Having this time at home with Matthew (younger son) is always welcomed. This year, with both boys in travel hockey again, DH and I will probably do more alternating the travel. Last year, as team manager of Robert's team, there seemed more need for me to travel - but this year, things are a little more laid back with more of the families stepping up to help out. Also, DH said that he would be ok doing the "check in" stuff required at tournaments. So, that frees me up to spend time with Matthew more this year and give DH the opportunity to travel with Robert and see him play. Now if we can just find a time when DH and I get to travel and leave the boys behind.

Well...don't want to bore you anymore. I will try to get a picture of Trick or Treat posted this afternoon to show you the status of it. Boy...when the back stitching is done things really come alive!

Take care...and until next time remember: Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often! Lisa

Saturday's Stitching Update, Stash Weakness and a Salute to Friendship

I thought I would start our today's post with a update on my progress on "Trick-or-Treat". It is coming along as I am working on the "C" which is a man-in-the-moon. As soon as I get that done, I will go back and back stitch the I an the C before moving on to the K. Since Halloween is (somewhat) around the corner, I am hoping to get a lot of work done on this over the weekend. However, I might have to make a trip into my "not so" LNS because the Krenik Glow in the Dark seems to be running low already and I would hate to run out before it is done. I did run to another needlework store that is local. It is called 2 the Point. This shop specializeds in Needle point - but they do have a wonderful selection of threads. When I need to satisfy my craving for color and thread, I drive down to this store and just walk around the perimeter of the store looking at all the thread. Unfortunately I experienced low will power yesterday during my visit - for while I was only going there to look for some glow in the dark Krenik, I happed to spy:

1. A new magnetic accessory keeper by a company called Namaste. The outside has sort of a soft leather/vinyl feel. There is a little snap on the outside...and on the inside, there is a suade like covering over magnet. So it holds needles, scissors and any other accessories you might have. I chose the color eggplant (kind of a purply color). (note: the scissors and other accessories I already had in my stash...didn't go that crazy

2. Sampler Threads from The Gentle Art - a couple new colors: Grasshopped and Mistletoe...but then I felt the need to pick up a few other colors that would be good for Christmas ornaments.

It was a nice little fix to my stash craving, but I still need the glow-in-the dark color for Trick-or-Treat, for they were out of it.

It has been a crazy week, so I am glad that it is the weekend. But as DH mentioned last night - we always get a stunned chuckle from friends and family when we tell them that we actually wake up earlier on the weekends then we do on the weekdays. For the last couple of weekends, Robert (older son) has had practices on the weekends either starting at 6:15am or 8:00am. Which means that we need to get up at 4:30 in the morning (that is when I make the waffles or pancakes, good thing to fill the belly before practice) for breakfast and packing the hockey gear up; then DH & son have to leave around 5 to be down at the rink by 5:45am. At least with an early practice, we will have the rest of the day to do something. However, Robert does have a backpack filled with homework, which he will need to work on today because tomorrow is another practice (followed by off-ice workout and another ice time - thus he will not get back home until 2:30). And my younger son, Matthew...well he has practice but not until Sunday night. But he is in desperate need for tennis shoes, so I guess a trip to the shoe shop is on my agenda for sometime this weekend.

As I said, it was a crazy week. Actually life has been a little strange lately. Not only have I been busy with work, supporting the kids' school work and dealing with hockey stuff...but there has been some personal things going on which just make one grateful for what you have and the love/support of family and friends. So, I am going to close this post with a couple of writings - and remember...Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often! Lisa

Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible
comfort of feeling safe with a person;
having neither to weigh thoughts nor
measure words, but to pour them
all out, chaff and grain together,
knowing that a faithful hand will take
and sift them, keep what is worth
keeping, and then, with
the breath of kindness,
blow the rest away.

George Eliot

The most I can do for my friends is simply to be their friend.  I have no
wealth to bestow upon them.  If they know that I am happy in loving them,
they will want no other reward.  Is not friendship divine in this?

Henry David Thoreau