Happy March!

The time to relax is when you don't have time for it.

~ Sydney J. Harris

I guess you could say the same for just about anything...

the time to exercise is when you don't have time for it,

the time to stitch is when you don't have time for it...

the time to visit a relative is when you don't have time for it...

...because time Marches on and you might regret missing out

Since returning home from Quebec, it seems like I just haven't taken the time to get much done except work at our store and run the boys to hockey (yes, it is still going on). And, in addition to being busy, I have been fighting a very bad cold...which I finally took time out of my day on Tuesday and went to the doctor. I got some antibiotics and feel much better now, more human and more like myself!

But between not feeling well and going-going-going...I have found it more pleasant to sleep in thus throwing my morning exercise routine out the window. But it is time to get back on to the saddle (the saddle of my stationary bike and maybe even into the tennis shoes of my running). When I don't take the time for this activity, I don't feel 100%...and if I don't find the time to plop my big @$% on the stationary bike, I don't get to update my blog or catch up on everyone elses (for I blog while spinning...a little multitasking goes a long way!). No Spin...No Posting...Not a Happy Camper.

I have, believe it or not, taken out Family Sampler last week and worked on it. I am working on the middle section where the family is stitched. So far I have a dog and a cat stitched and am working on the husband/dad figure. I will try and get a photo of it up soon. Nice to have made time to take this out and reunite my hand with needle and thread!

Well, I am going out of town again. Leaving this morning for South Carolina. Right before I left for Quebec, I found out that my 93 year old grandmother suffered something like a stroke - her best friend drove to her house and found her laying in the middle of the TV room unconscious. Well, it has been several weeks since that occurred and my grandmother is in a rehab facility relearning how to speak, eat with her left hand and walk with the help of a walker. Her right side has been somewhat paralyzed and the event also affected her speech. She is doing fairly well at this time, but I guess one has to consider her age. When the event occurred, my uncle who lives in NC drove down to be with her and to make sure that she was getting good care. Being in the medical field, he was able to understand exactly what happened to her and relayed the information back to family and friends of my grandmother through daily emails. Since his departure, my parents have travelled from MN to SC and are there right now.

With the Quebec hockey tournament and Valentine's day behind me and a strong gut feeling to get to SC to see grandma, I purchased a ticket last weekend and will be flying out there this morning. It will be wonderful to see her and be with my parents, too.  I have been wanting to get out to visit her and wanting to take the boys out there...but there never seemed time to do it. Well, the boys might not be going with me this weekend, but I am grateful to be getting there myself! And I am glad that I didn't wait any longer to see grandma.

While I will be taking my iPad with me, I am not sure that I will have internet connection...so I will be absent another period of time. But please be patient with me!!!

Thank you for stopping by and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa 

Yes, I am still here

It has been a long time since my last post as I have been in and out of town as well as busy with Valentine's Day business in *The Stores*.  So, time for a little catching up...don't you think?

First up...Quebec Canada
On February 9th I departed the San Francisco airport with my younger son, Matthew, and his hockey team for Quebec for the Quebec International PeeWee Hockey Tournament. As previously written, this tournament is one of the largest youth hockey tournaments in the world. Over 300 teams, from 16 countries, participate in a 10 day tournament.

The San Jose Jr. Sharks PW99AAA hockey team - sitting in the San Francisco Airport, waiting for everyone to check in their luggage and hockey equiptment before heading down secuity and the gate.

Our flight took off at 8am and after 5 hours in the first leg of our journey, we arrived in Toronto Canada. After going through Canadian customs, we had enough time to catch a quick bite of food before loading onto the next plane that would take us to Quebec.

Sitting at the gate waiting for our Quebec flight. Matthew is sitting in the middle (he has the Jr. Sharks grey shirt on), on the left is his coach and on the right is one of his teammate. Below, at his feet is the rest of his team, sitting on the floor eating and playing computer games.

The flight from Toronto to Quebec is a little over an hour. Once in Quebec and our luggage was collected, we all boarded the tournament vans which brought us over to the Pepsi Colisee where the boys would meet the families that they would be staying with for the next 10 days.

Matthew...his billete dad: Benoit...and his teammate: Cam

Once Matthew and his teammate, Cam, departed with their new Quebec family, I left with the rest of the hockey families to check into our hotel. Matthew's billete family has two children - a 3 year old boy and a 9 month old girl. During the weekend, Matthew told me that it was fun playing with 3 year old Maxime, but..."he only speaks French." However, friendship and love seem to breakdown language barriers pretty quickly! Both Matthew and Cam had a wonderful time with their billet family during the 10 days. They were treated like princes!

During their 10 days in Quebec, the boys played a lot of hockey. Their 2 tournament games didn't go very well, loosing both, they were eliminated from the tournament pretty quickly. However, the coaches set up a lot of exhibition games which kept them pretty busy and on the ice. There were only 2 days they weren't on the ice - the first one being Monday, Feb. 13 when they went to a huge snow tubing park...which is always a highlight for the team that go to this tournament. And the only other day they were off the ice was Sunday, Feb. 19 when they were getting packed up to depart the next day. If interested in reading a little more about some of their experience in Quebec, we started a blog to jounalize their experience (unfortunately, I didn't get a chance yet to finish it). You can visit this blog by going to: http://www.pw99aaa.blogspot.com/

The last night in Quebec, my son and his roommate had to come to the hotel and stay with us (I was rooming with Matthew's teammate's mother). Their billete family had to go back to work on Monday, Feb. 20th early so it was best for them to come to the hotel. I am glad that it happened this way, for it gave Matthew and I some mother-son time. Three years ago, when Robert (my older son) went to Quebec, this same thing happened and I treasured this time we had together for it just put a nice ending on the whole experience so I was glad to have this with Matthew. So, Sunday evening - the last evening in Quebec - we walked to one of my favorite restaurants in the Old City called Portofino. We had a very nice meal and Matthew filled me in on his wonderful experience he had at his billete family's house, playing in the tournament, hanging out with his teammates, going to the snow park, etc. He was just glowing with happiness as he told me all his stories. After we finished out meal, I took him to my favorite place in the city. Located below the Chateau Frontnac is Petite Champlain, a little cobble stone street with building that date back to the 1600's-1700's. Many of these buildings are now art galleries, shops and restaurants. But with all the holiday lights and the snow it reminds me of something out of a Charles Dickson's novel. It was a wonderful way to end this trip with my son Matthew.

My side of the Quebec Experience
I was in Quebec Feb. 9-12 and then again Feb. 16-20. In between I had to fly home to help DH with Valentine's Day business at *The Stores*.  My side of Quebec was like having 2 "girl" weekends...or should I say "hockeymom" weekends. Throughout the day we would attend the hockey games our boys played and then in the evening we would enjoy the many wonderful restaurants Old Quebec City had to offer as well as ending up in the hotel bar until midnight or 1am. It has been a very long time since I have had time like this...and I don't think that I have ever really had a girl weekend out. It was fun.

The first weekend up there, there were 4 of us hockey moms that hung out together and the second it was just down to 2. But we definitely had fun none-the-less!

Valentine's Day
Well, like I mentioned I came home Sunday, Feb. 12 and stayed until the 16th in order to help out at *The Stores*. It was definitely crazy and I didn't get much sleep. For I worked immediately when I got home on Sunday, Feb. 12. DH picked me up from the airport and I went directly to the store to dip strawberries and apples in chocolate. I finished up around 6am only to go home to shower so I could go up to our other store and work allday. After a full day at Store #2, I headed back to Store #1 to dip more strawberries in chocolate until 2:30am when I just couldn't function any more. Home I went to get 3 hours of sleep so that I could work in the stores on Valentine's Day. I won't bore you with the rest of the details, but lets just say it was a very long and stress ful day!

Well, back home now. Quebec and Valentine's Day is behind me! Life looks like it was be somewhat a little calmer. I hope.

It is time I need to sign off in order to get the house up and going. So, until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often

 (I hope I will be able to soon!)

Lisa

Ready to go...

I'm up and going this morning in the wee hours of a new day. Up at 2am in order to get in a good spin on my stationary bike before heading off to the airport.

Monday I made contact with Matthew's host family in Quebec and they sound wonderful. I know he is going to have a great time there! And I am looking forward to my time there as well. Yesterday I didn't have to go into the store and was able to focus on getting ready to go...well, somewhat...

I received a phone call from my mother regarding my 93 year old grandmother. It sounds like she had some type of stroke sometime Monday evening or Tuesday. She was found lying on the floor by her best friend on Wednesday morning. My grandmother lives in South Carolina by herself (grandpa passes away a little over 2 years ago) but has a plethora of friends! She was taken to the hospital by an ambulance. My uncle who lives in North Carolina immediately drove down there. He is the only closest relative, the rest of us are scattered thought the US.

Anyway while trying to focus on packing and organizing things at home for DH and Robert while I am away, I felt like a huge black cloud was hanging over my head. My mother updated me throughout the day, giving me updates on grandmas prognosis. This help immensely especially since things weren't as bad as they could have been.

I found out she experienced a "bleeder" on the left lower side of her head, which is something that could happened to anyone not just the elderly. And it kind of sounded like a "bleeder" could be better than a clot, for the body can work to heel itself in this situation. Anyway, it has affected her speech and right side, but by the evening she was talking a little and starting to move her right foot. Which was the good news I received yesterday evening before going to bed. My prayers and positive thoughts continue for my grandmother!

My grandmother is like a second mother to me! Growing up in Kansas, we use to go to their house when they lived in St. Louis, MO a lot. We were together for all the important holidays...Thanksgiving at our house, Christmas at theirs. When we moved to Minnesota, grandma and grandpa would drive up every June when grandpa had to go to the toy fair (he worked for Kenner Toys, which is now Mattel. Pretty cool having a grandpa who was a toy salesman when I was a kid!). After the toy fair was over, they would take me and my sisters back to their house and my parents would fly down to get us a week later. When I went to college, I attended one in St. Louis. I stayed in the dorms, but found myself at my grandparents house many times for a wonderful home cooked meal and free laundry service ;). My grandparents moved to South Carolina 20 or so years ago.

Grandma has always been a sounding board for me. I share so many of my thoughts and feelings with her...and she is not shy to share her thoughts too! She has always reminded me of both Dr. Ruth and Betty White! Spunky women who are not afraid to say how they feel!

Dear God...please watch over grandma, she still has some living to do!

Well, it is time to go and get Matthew around for breakfast before we leave for the airport.

Take care my friends! Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often,
Lisa

Never a dull moment

Ahhhh...in two days I leave for Quebec Canada with Matthew (my younger son) and his hockey team. They are participation in the Quebec International PeeWee tournament. Sunday he received his assigned family he will be staying with and the teammate who he is paired up as his roommate. Matthew is rooming with the teammate he was hoping for, so all is great! I contacted the Quebec family last night and they sound great; having a couple of younger kids in the house I think Matthew and his teammate will enjoy. They will spending time from dinner thru breakfast at the Qubec family's house and in the morning be dropped off in the Colisee where they will meet up with their coaches and remaining teammates. Daily activities change and will consist of either practices, hockey exhibition games, official tournament games or other things like playing at a snow park, shopping at a great hockey store or doing some homework at a study hall.

I am looking forward to my side of the trip. For while I will also join in some of the team activities, I will be staying with a girl friend in the Old City of Quebec. So while the boys hang with their Quebec families, I will be hanging with some of my fellow hockey moms. A nice break before I have to come back on the 12th of February to work in the stores for Valentine's Day.

I am sure I have disappointed many of you who might be looking for more of a stitching blog. It has been very difficult lately to really find time to sit and stitch. I do feel the ache for the needle and hopping to make time on the long flight to Canada on Thursday. Or other down times throughout the weekend.

Well, it is time for me to sign off. Thank you for visiting and sticking with me through thick and thin. Take care and remember...

Live, love, laugh and stitch always,
Lisa

I am still here...

just have been so busy that I haven't made time to sit (period) and when I do sit, I really don't sit very long. For I either feel the need to get up and do something - like keep up with laundry or other house hold tasks. OR, the majority of the time my body tends to go from an upright position on the couch to more of a horizontal one.

I have been putting in a lot of hours working in one of our stores, which lately has been not only covering the employee who has been out on vacation for the last few weeks (she always takes off the last 2 weeks in January to celebrate Chinese New Year); but I have also been dealing with covering several other employees who have been sick, late or just not showing up. Something that my DH and I will need to take care of quickly as we are gearing up for Valentine's day...and there will be a lot of fruit to cut and strawberries to dip!

Today, everyone is back working and I actually have the day off. Probably have the next few days off, which will be good because I will be leaving in 9 days for Quebec Canada with my younger son, Matthew. His hockey team will be attending the Quebec Internation PeeWee Tournament. It is one of the largest, most famous tournaments for this age group. In fact, this is the 54th year of the tournament and many well know hockey players participated in this tournament when they were 12 years old...like Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosbey, Guy Leflur...just to name a few. The neat thing about this tournament is that the kids are paired up with one of their teammates and they actually stay at a house of a Quebec family for the 11 days they are there (so any parents attending stay at a hotel sans their kids). My older son, Robert, participated in this tournament 3 years ago and it was amazing. Still a huge highlight of his life, so far :)

Anyway, between getting ready for Valentine's Day at our stores and the big Quebec trip, life continues to be crazy here!

I did find sometime to work on Santa 2009 over the weekend. Hoping to stitch a few more X's and get a status photo up so I can show you some progress. I know a lot of you are defecting from my followers' list...I know that I haven't checked in and showed much stitching lately...but for those of you who are still here, please know that I appreciate you so much!!!!!

Anyway, had a few moments today, so I thought I would update and check in with some of you. Hope all is doing well! Take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Weekend of catch up...

I know my posts are somewhat sporatic and there hasn't been much stitching - it has been a challenge to get into a new routine...so I appreciate those who are sticking with me.

I suppose the part-time job outside of the home I use to have (keywords: "outside the home") allows for more ease to put together a routine than working for one's own "family" business and with one's own spouse. Just when you think you have some sort of regular schedule allowing for some sort of routine, an employee calls out and you have to fill in; or your spouse decides that there is some project or task that needs to be accomplished, which requires a total schedule overhaul. Then there is the boys' schedule - school, school projects and hockey...

Somehow, things get done but, of course at some cost. This weekend, I did manage to find time to get caught up on many house hold tasks, some hockey team manger projects as well as found some "me" time to get in some good spins on my stationary bike as well as create some "X's" on Santa 2009 (not enough to really show a status photo, but hopefully soon).  But again there were some costs to getting caught up...like missing out on some of my son's hockey games. He didn't mind and they were exhibition ones with some teams that aren't as good as his team (Robert's team won their games this weekend 6-3 and 8-0) I guess sometimes one needs to make choices in order to keep up with life?!?!

Well, as I mentioned, the thread and needle found its way into my hand last night. I did make some X's in Santa 2009. Felt good to sit and stitch. Little by Little...

Hey, have you heard of the new Stitching social network? It is http://www.stitchtalk.com/ . It is like facebook, but dedicated to "a sewing community"...needlework, embroidery, quilting, crocheting, cross stitch, knitting and so on. Check it out, it is wonder...and great community of people with similar interests!

Today is the Chinese New Year...the year of the Dragon! So, Happy New Year to all!

Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Small Talk on Tuesday - Here, Present and Now

My Prairie Schooler Santa 2009 is coming a long. His red jacket is now complete and I have started to work on his green sack of presents. This weekend, while ALL the boys were away at their respective hockey tournaments (Robert in Atlanta...my DH & Matthew in Texas), I enjoyed some time to myself again. In between the time I needed to be in one store or the other, I did manage to have time to plop my ever growing bottom on the couch.

Friday and Saturday evening, I only managed to find time to do nothing but lay in front of the television and tune the world out. That always feels good, doesn't it. To be able to lay ones head down and just "be"?

On Sunday, since the store closes early, I was home around 2pm. Early enough to get in my couch potato nap out of the way in the afternoon - while enjoying the parade of stars on the Golden Globe's red carpet. That meant, in the evening while the Golden Globe Award show was on, I would be clear-headed enough to enjoy stitching while watching.

It is always fun to watch the stars parade in fancy dresses and bling, as well as see what movies and tv shows have been deemed worth watching...for I don't get too much time to take in a movie or watch too much tv. However, now I have my list of movies I would like to try and find time for (yeah, right...between all the hockey coming up and the last big tournaments and preparation for Valentine's Day at the store...well, a girl can always make her lists...and if I can't see the movies in the theater, there is always rentals :)).

Well, ALL the boys are back home now. My DH & Matthew arrived back home first, which gave me some time to get all their dirty clothes clean and listen to stores of their weekend. It was nice that they were able to combine a hockey trip to Texas with some family visits. The in-laws (mother, father, brothers and sisters) all live in the Kansas/Texas area and it sounded like they all came down to visit and see DH & Matthew. It has been awhile since all of them have been together. Robert (older son) got home late...so I haven't had any time to really catch up with him.

Before I ramble on too much more, I will conclude this post. Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

Thoughts for Tuesday...

On Arturo Toscanini's eightieth birthday, someone asked his son, Walter, what his father ranked as his most important achievement. The son replied, "For him there can be no such thing. Whatever he happens to be doing at the moment is the biggest thing in his life--whether it is conducting a symphony or peeling an orange."

~Ardis Whitman

What we are talking about is learning to live in the present moment, in the now. When you aren't distracted by your own negative thinking, when you don't allow yourself to get lost in moments that are gone or yet to come, you are left with this moment. This moment--now--truly is the only moment you have. It is beautiful and special. Life is simply a series of such moments to be experienced one right after another. If you attend to the moment you are in and stay connected to your soul and remain happy, you will find that your heart is filled with positive feelings.

~Sydney Banks

Do we need to make a special effort to enjoy the beauty of the blue sky?
Do we have to practice to be able to enjoy it? No, we just enjoy it.
Each second, each minute of our lives can be like this.
Wherever we are, any time, we have the capacity to enjoy the sunshine,
the presence of each other, even the sensation of our breathing.
We don't need to go to China to enjoy the blue sky.
We don't have to travel into the future to enjoy our breathing.
We can be in touch with these things right now.
~Thich Nhat Hanh

You'll have to meet the new addition to our family...

Thank you all for Robert's birthday wishes and your lovely comments - I am definitely a proud mother. He told me this morning at breakfast that he had a nice birthday. He found a couple of surprises yesterday when he got home from school.

First, as per his request for his birthday dinner, I brought home his favorite Tamales from a place near our 2nd store in Brentwood, CA. It is called Tamale Lovers and they make homemade/hand rolled tamales. His favorite is the Pablano Tamale and the mild Chicken Tamale.

Second, was a total surprise for him. He has been talking about getting an aquarium and saving up his holiday money he received to get a starter kit. So, I decided to take a little trip to the fish store and this is what I brough home...

I thought it would be fun to get him a little Beta fish in the ol' glass fish bowl to start out with and then, when things settle down a little, he can go out and purchase whatever aquarium he wants. He definitely was surprised and excited.

So that is the new addition to our family...and his name is "FISH". That is the name the birthday boy came up with (go figure...).

I suppose we do call our dog, "POOCH" (although his real name is Bruno)...if we had a hamster, we probably would name him "HAMSTER"...and according to Matthew (younger son) if we had a pet donkey his name would be "JACK ASS".  Not much I can say about that comment :)

Anyway, when I got home from closing our store I had one more treat for him...

Phish food ice cream...seemed like the perfect birthday dessert ;) and fitting for the occasion.

Hope the week is going well for you...time to sign off and get my day going. Take care and remember,

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

16 years ago....

It is hard to believe that 16 years ago I packed my bag and headed to the hospital. Just the day before, after an ultrasound, the doctor told me that I would be a mother of a baby that would be anywhere between 8 pounds and 12 pounds. January 11 at 7am in the morning I checked in and was given a shot, for it was time for you to enter the world.

After 15 or so hours of labor - at 11:36pm - you were born...all 9 pounds and 2 oz...all 21 inches. We called you Robert Samuel. Robert after your daddy's uncle and Samuel came from my grandfather's middle name.

You went every where with us, for you were such an easy baby...you would go into work with me and nap on the office floor on a little bed made of blankets...you would go to fancy restaurants with Daddy & I, sitting in your little car seat on the table.

But being outdoors, exploring the world...running around and playing outside...is something that you love to.

So much so, that you have taken that love and joined the varsity track team which you lettered in last year...your freshman year.

But your passion...is hockey. At the age of 3, you tied your first pair of hockey skates have haven't looked back.

You have traveled all over the US and around Canada playing the sport you love while balancing your education, keeping up your grades to high levels.

Robert...we are proud of you! You are a hard worker, always giving at least 110% or more. You have a large heart and care about others. You love life and it shows!

Happy 16th Birthday!

PS...Robert, thank you for tolerating the Birthday breakfast tradition of the birthday hat photo.



Santa 2009 Status - Phone Photo (not great quality)


Yesterday, with DH taking care of all the hockey responsibilities and, me, hanging out at the house "on-call" with any store issues...I took the opportunity to sit my fanny down on the couch and stitch. I was able to make some pretty good progress on Santa; but with those little teenie-tiny stitches I did have to take a few breaks. Some breaks were to call into the stores, some were to switch the laundry from the washer to the drier, and some breaks were just to curl up and nap.

It was nice to have a slow Saturday and just enjoy "being". Got to enjoy them when I can :)

Hope you are finding moments of "Just Being" this weekend. Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Thursday's Check in

Hello friends, it has been a few days since I have last checked in; just trying to get back into the groove with the boys back in school after the winter break as well as deal with their hockey schedule and find my "full-time" role in *The Business*. No new routine has formed yet...I am sure it will take a while to figure things out.

In the meantime, I have found a few spare minutes when I was able to pick up the thread & needle. So, as mentioned in my last posting, I have not been working on Family Sampler laterly...

so what am I putting X's in, you ask?

Do you remember my special little package that I received from my dear friend CindyMae in November?

Here is a snap as a reminder...

One of the items was the Prairie Schooler Santa 2009 stitched and finished as a pillow

Well, in our household, a Santa with hockey skates & stick & puck is well thought of - so, since Cindy also included the pattern for this jolly hockey guy I wanted to make a couple of ornaments for the boys. I started stitching one the middle of December, but with all the holiday craziness I didn't get it done for this year's Christmas tree...so I am hoping to have it for the 2012 tree.

Anyway, here is where I am on the first one (with 2 boys, you know I need to stitch 2)...

I am stitching it one-over-one on 28ct evenweave (I think) - yikes it is tiny! I am hoping to finish the first one up by the end of the month (seems to be a realistic goal). Stay tuned, for I will post another update.

That is all I have for now, my blogging friends. I hope the first 5 days of 2012 are going well for you. Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Getting into the swing of the New Year and my new chapter

Above...the offical

Welcome to 2012 - may the New Year be fruity and sweet!

Yesterday I needed to go into Store #1 for we did have 1 order for pick up on New Year's Day and I wanted to make sure that the customer received the finest, freshest arrangement for his New Year's Day celebration! I love the edible numbers, don't you think that they add something special to the arrangement?

We were only opened from 10am-1pm, so after creating that wonderful bouquet, I continued to do some clean up of our store - some post-holiday cleaning. Taking down the holiday decor and posters and putting up some of the everyday things and pre-Valentines (yes, my friends us retailers do think ahead to get you all to start planning for the next holiday...infact some places have already put out the Cadbury eggs and Easter isn't until April).

Once the store was closed, I headed back home and to the couch. I enjoyed my last hours of bachlorette-hood for all the boys got home in the evening. I picked up Robert from the airport around 6pm and my DH & Matthew drove into the driveway around 8:30pm. No more peace and quiet...no more empty laundry basket :)

Tomorrow the winter vacation ends for the boys and they go back to school and I start the next chapter of my life - post part-time job. DH and I will figure a schedule out for me to work more in the stores on a daily basis and what my role will be. While I did work in our business while working my part-time job, this will be different. I will have more of a role, but still it will give me more time to get things done at home and be the hockey taxi-driver.

Well...time to go make the best of today - to make it the most Awesomest day :)

Take care my friends...until next time, remember..

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year my dear blogging friends!
I hope that all of you were able to greet the new year with fun and festivity. My New Year celebration was quiet, but restful! My older son has been up in Canada since Monday (he gets home this evening) and my DH & younger son are in Los Angeles for a hockey tournament (they too get home tonight)...so I have had the whole house to myself for the last several days. Aside from working in Store#1, I have been home lounging in front of the TV. Kind of sweet, something I haven't done for ages

I have been surfing through many of your blogs over the last few days and have read everyone's stitching goals. You all have some amazing projects you are working on and I look forward to watch them throughout the year!

My goals??? Last year I was very over ambitious, listing 5 BAPs and only starting one: the Family Sampler. I think, given my busy lifestyle, I am not going to make an "official" list stitching goals. For me, it is somewhat depressing to log into my blog and see my unobtainable goals daily. This year, my focus will be to finish Family Sampler and then when complete I will post the finish and celebrate. And if I stray to other projects, it will be ok and when those are complete I will list those. My 2012 stitching list will contain finishes versus things I dream to complete - something that might be more positive for me.

Stitching is a huge part of my life, even when my hand doesn't hold a needle, I think of stitching and the colors of floss. Sometimes I look out the window of my room, the irridesent blueness of the sky or the vivid green of the hills bring thoughts of particular DMC #'s to mind. Do you ever think that way?

When stressed or experiencing those sleepless nights, stitching seems to create a calming and relaxing feeling. A threaded needle, making x's, is very meditative (is that even a word?) for me. I would be lost without this hobby...and without all the friends I have found while blogging about it (and my crazy life).

May 2012 bring you much health, happiness, friendship, love and laughs! Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

OMG...what a holiday

I am here and feel more like a human being finally. The week of Christmas was crazy, crazy busy. More than what is considered "normal" for me.  Having 2 stores this year definitely took a toll on my DH and myself this holiday season. Last week I was basically up at our 2nd store, supervising our wonderful employees. Our 2nd store is about a 40 minute drive from our house. The beginning of the week was pretty managable...but as soon as Thursday came...well, I didn't get much sleep between that day and the night of Christmas eve.

Friday I was up at store #2 at 5am and didn't leave there until 7pm only to go to store #1 to help DH with delivery route organizing for Christmas Eve deliveries. I finally went home around 9:30pm and was in bed by 10pm for a nap. I, then, woke up at 2am on Christmas Eve to dip strawberries and apples in chocolate at store #1 from 2:30-5:30am and then drove up to store #2 to get ready for business up there (I was at store #2 from 6:15am-6:30pm). By Christmas Eve I was toast!

Christmas Day...with 2 teenage boys, present opening didn't start until after 8am. It is amazing how things have changed...no little pitter patters at 6am...no more 2 little boys with sleep in their eyes due to excitement induced insomnia the night before. No more little toys or things to put together under the Christmas tree. The boys received clothing, gift cards and money - definitely things that they needed. After the wrappings were tossed aside and breakfast served, the rest of the day we just vegged.

Well, I take that back...while working in the stores, I wasn't able to get anything done I needed to do for the upcoming tournament Robert and his hockey team were leaving for on Monday, Dec. 26. So during Sunday, I got everything around for that tournament which meant not much time for rest. I also had to catch up on the laundry and assist Robert in his packing. So my rest was delayed until Monday after Robert's plane left and after I took Matthew down to his hockey practice (which was at 9:45am, something I didn't remember until at that time...so he was 30 minutes late to his practice).  By 1pm on Monday I plopped on the couch and didn't move!

Yesterday was the first day that I felt like myself - I feel caught up and clear headed. Last night I even pulled out my stitching and put some X's into a project...not Family Sampler, but something else I started a few weeks ago and didn't get much time to finish. I will post a photo soon.

Anyway...I am back!

Hope everyones holiday was great. Until the next time, take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

And so it is feeling a little more like Christmas

It felt good to be home yesterday - didn't have to work at either store and was able to do some catching up around the house. As planned, the boys and I created a very nice family holiday meal which we all sat down to and enjoyed after my DH got home from the store. It was like the Thanksgiving we missed out on due to Robert being away on a hockey tournament and the Christmas meal that I probably will not have the energy to make next weekend due to working all week in the stores. We enjoyed turkey, mashed potatoes & gravey, stuffing, homemade rolls (a recipe I received from my mother-in-law but they never rise like hers do), homemade pumpkin pie with homemade crust and fresh steamed green beans. A very filling late lunch...but definitely made it easy to take an early evening nap :)

While making the bread and pie doughs, the boys helped out by bringing in the 20 year old artificial Christmas tree from the garage and putting it together. If you have an artificial tree, you know that they look scrawny before you "fluff" it all out. While the boys were totally aware of this, they had to make some snide remarks and compared it to Charlie Brown's sad tree...

The boys were funny, commenting about our poor tree and kept me entertained as I kneaded the bread dough. Yes, the tree is old for my DH and I purchased that tree for our first Christmas as husband and wife...20 year ago. The poor tree is almost an antique. They got the tree all assembled and strung the white lights around it without any arguing. Once done, Matthew (my younger son) went back out into the garage to get the bucket of ornaments. He separated out the ones he received over the years from those that belong to Robert so that they both would be able to hang their special ornaments.

Just like the tree of Charlie Brown and the gang...

Our tree, with a little love, was converted from the sad scrawny bush to something full and lovely (although there definitely are some places on the tree that could use some additional ornaments...just noticed that in the photos)...

The boys, even though they are much taller than I am now, decorated the bottom saving the top for my special ornaments from the ladies of the Ornament Swap group. Once done with the pies and the rolls, I gathered up my special 10 ornaments and placed them up on top..

Now it definitely feels more like Christmas and the holiday season! Hopefully, Santa finds time to go shopping...ugh.

Well, until next time...take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often

Lisa

OMG it is Sunday already...where did the time go!

Yikes, I have been away for quite a while. It has been busy around here, but I think I get a little break of sorts today...at least I have some time to catch up on things around the house.

First I want to share with you the ornament I stitched for Conny in the Netherlands - the last receipient for the Ornament Swap 2011...here is my photo

For Conny, I stitched Snow Buddies by Amy Bruecken of Amy Bruecken Designs. The patter is from the 2011 Special Christmas Issue of Just CrossStitch. I stitched it on 28ct even weave linen which I hand-dyed in blues/greens which made it kind of the perfect fabric to stitch this whimsical pair of snowmen on. I did use all the DMC colors it called for, even the black Memory Thread. Have you ever used this stuff...it is very fun and makes your stitching kind of come to live.

I had to borrow Conny's photo she took and uploaded to the Ornament Swap blog because it made my ornament look better than the photo I took...

I think that I might have to stich one of these for my tree...sometime...when I can find more down time :) But doesn't it look good on Conny's tree!

Well, now that Conny received my ornament, which was the last one for I was a little late getting it in the mail, the Ornament Swap Group comes to an end. Our little group of Six has been doing this for 2 years and our wonderful moderator Angela thought it was time call it done. And we all agreed it was...for it is best to end things on a good note. And this group was awesome! Thank you all...now I just need to get my tree up so I can display all my ornaments I received from these fine ladies this year as well as last.

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Last week, I bid a fond "good bye" to my part-time job - Thursday was my last day in the office. The busy week was filled with a lot of cleaning out file cabinets and store cubes that hadn't been gone through in many years. I took it upon myself to get this task done before walking out the door for the last time. I wanted to make sure that Jenny, my replacement, started really nice a fresh.

Well, I didn't have a lot of time to say good bye to many of my co-workers, for we did have a little issue at the store, which my DH called me up and asked for me to come in to help out. So as soon as I finished up my exit interview with the HR department...and did a little walk around to catch a few "good-byes" I was out the door. Nothing like going from one job to the next without catching one's breath.

Since that moment, I have been working in both our stores - Friday in store #1 and Saturday I went up to store #2. It is one of our busy times of the year!

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Today I shouldn't have to go into either store, unless someone calls out sick. I am planning on catching up with all the laundry and some of the house hold things. The boys and I have talked about having a special holiday meal today in which I have enlisted them to create the menu and help me to cook what they are planing. Since Robert (my oldest son) was out of town for a hockey tournament on Thanksgiving, we decided that we would do a 2nd Thanksgiving meal - turkey, green beans, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pies, homemade rolls, etc.

So, I guess I need to finish up this post and get off this stationary bike so I can get to the grocery store to get all the ingredients for their menu. And...I need to get those sleepy heads...oops, I mean my assistant chefs...out of bed!

Until next time, remember...
Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Mid-December and the tree still isn't up

I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning. ~ J.B. Priestley

I am up and going this morning; getting in my morning spin while trying to catch up on some things - emails, blog reading and posting, facebook, the morning news. Morning time is "me" time...it is the where I find my quiet time to reflect and plan - to regroup and get ready for the rest of the day. It is the time where I don't have to answer to anyone, to listen to anyone else's thoughts or feelings - it is just me here.

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Thank you all for your nice comments...Matthew (younger son) and I had a great time down in LA over the weekend. Although, his hockey team didn't fare well down there. They lost both of their games...2-13 and 0-8. The team down there that we played does have some good talent, but basically they play as a team and have really good skating & passing skills. But since the outcome was expected, no one really came home depressed or upset. Aside from the hockey games, Matthew and I just use the weekend to get some R&R. The drive down and back home went very smoothly without any problems. We got home Sunday evening at 4:30pm - adequate time to get all the laundry done from our travels as well as the laundry that DH and Robert (older son) left waiting for me :)

It is hard to believe that it is mid-December and our Christmas tree isn't up yet. In fact, it is just hard to get into the holiday mood with everything going on right now - it isn't bad things that are going on, just a lot of busy activity.

Three more days are left at my part-time job. My cubical is pretty bare right now. Today and tomorrow I am helping my replacement move all the "stuff" in...what use to be my area...to a storage closet. While transporting all the boxes and things, I will continue to go through things to help determine if it is something to keep or something to trash. I think Jenny, my replacement, will be in good shape when I leave.

The boys are finishing up their last week of school before their winter vacation. I think that they are looking for a little break. During the vacation, both will continue to have hockey activities, but will not have to balance the school work.

My DH and I worked on the stores' schedules for next week. It looks like it definitely will be busy. Like we did for Thanksgiving, DH will stay at store #1 which is the busier of the stores and I will go up to store #2 to help out and supervise up there. Without the part-time job, I will be spending more time in the business.

Before the bulk of the holiday business hits, I think that I will try and plan a family meal on Saturday and a time we can put up the tree too. That sounds like a good idea, don't you think?

Anyway...time to sign off and thank you all again for your visits and comments. Take care my blogging friend and, until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often

Lisa

'Tis Friday...yahoo!

It is Friday - Yahoo! Always a nice thing to hear. I have the day to myself, but have to pack things up for a road trip. I am going to Los Angeles with Matthew for a hockey weekend. We are leaving after he gets out of school and will head on down. LA is about 6-7 hours south of here and not a bad drive as long as we don't get stuck in traffic. We should miss the LA traffic by the time we get down in that area...I hope.

Well, one more week of my part-time job - last day is Dec. 15. Yesterday, I spent most of my time at the office going through file cabinets and shelves, making the decision on what should be kept and what needed to be trashed. It seems that once I am gone that area that I have resided in will totally be torn up and rearranged. So while I am feeling a little sad that this chapter is coming to an end, especially since my cubicle is looking pretty bare...with all the cubes around me getting cleaned out and torn down it really is kind of depressing.  Oh, well I guess while all GOOD things come to an end, more GOOD things are to come for me and for the company as they continue to grow...and have a really good person hired to replace me!

Yesterday, I received a surprise at work...my boss, who works/lives in the UK and will not be able to see me off next week, sent me a little going away gift...

A new needlework bag and matching needle/scissor holder - a going away gift from my boss, Rachel

Rachel found the perfect gift - a needlwork bag and a matching needle/scissors case. Isn't great! Of course I took it home and filled it up immediately with ALL my stitching projects: Family Sampler, Mary Wigham WIP, and a few other little projects that I am planning to start one of these days. Let's just say it is stuffed already :)

Thank you so much Rachel!

 I love it and will always remember my experience at Hexcel and our working relationship.

 It has been such a wonderful experience - I have learned a lot about the company and the industry while working with some amazing people!

Thank you for all your support!

Speaking of stitching...the other evening I worked on my Family Sampler and have started to stitch the characters that make up my family...starting with our 90 pound mutt. As soon as I finish the pooch I will definitely post a status photo.

Oh, I have to show you something...

Do you know what that is? It is a 1/2 of sweet onion in a ziploc plactic bag. I used 1/2 of it last week when I grilled burgers, for my DH loves raw onions on his cheese burger. After dinner I put the other 1/2 in the bag and over the weekend it started to grow. We are thinking of planting it in dirt and see what happens. Interesting, huh?

And speaking of experiments...have any of you heard of the tv show MythBusters? It is a show on the Discovery Channel. While I had never heard of it, my sons have watch an episode of two and told me that in each episode they do different experiements to bust different myths - most experiments have something to do with explosives. Well, due to an unfortunate situation I found out that Myth Busters shot most of their episodes less than a mile away from our house at the local county police rifle range and the local army base. This week the show was going to see what kind of cannon ball - either steel or stone - would actually penatrate the wall of a castle that would have been built back in the middle ages.

Well, the cannon misfired...the cannonball traveled down the hill they were on...into a neighbors front door...bounced up the stairs and out the back wall..traveled across a busy street and landed in another neighbors minivan.

The exit hole of the cannon ball.

Please know that no one was hurt!!! Of course the neighborhood was in a buzz...between all the emergency services that afternoon - cops, firetrucks - as well as helicopters and, of course, tv camera crews. It is probably the most exciting thing that has gone on in our sleepy little city.

That is about all the news from here, my blogging friends. It is time for me to wrap up this post so that I can get things around, run to the grocery store to make sure that there is food in the house for my DH and DS Robert who will be here over the weekend...so until next time, take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

A mini happy dance...and the preface to a new chapter in my life

Well, finally...although you will have to pardon the snapshot, still no batteries for the "real" camera so I had to use the phone again...I have a phone photo for you to show the status of Family Sampler.  Last night I put in the last few stitches of the border corners and also took time to sketch out & stitched the capital "D". Yahoo...a mini happy dance I did have :)

I have started to put some thought into how I want to represent my family in the middle section where the tree is. Using the various of combinations of a mom, dad and 2 sons...and a selection of cats & dogs...I think that I figured out how I will stitch us. So stay tuned as my Family Sampler mojo has returned and I am still hoping to get this big project complete before the bells of Jan 1 2012 ring.

I am also counting down the days until my part-time job is over...with a little saddness as I have been there 5.5 years mixed with a little excitement to move on and work more in our stores and help my DH out.  Today at my part-time job is our holiday luncheon at one of the local wineries. This event is a very nice occasion and I look forward to sitting with some of my co-workers I have worked with over the years as well as the young lady who was hired to replace me. Please note, while the word "replace" sounds harsh, I have no hard feelings at all about leaving - continuing on in the job as full-time is just not an option for me. More responsibility, more hours and travelling is just something, given my personal life, would be very difficult to manage...it wouldn't be good for me, my family or the company. And, like I said I am looking forward to the next chapter of my life - more involvement in the stores and continued time with family...aka chaufer to the boys :)

Well, time to sign off but before I do, I would like to share a few of the thoughts that arrived in my inbox this morning from http://www.livinglifefully.com/

The best thing about this very minute is your ability to recognized the possibilities in it. Any fool can count the seeds in an apple. But only God can count the apples in a seed. There is something in every problem that holds potential for something better. Do you want a lifetime of happy righ nows? The little choice this moment to see the beauty in what appears ugly, frustrating, or disgraceful will change everything. ~Barbara Johnson

If you're not happy with who you are, you'll spend precious energy trying to be somebody you're no, and it wil wear you out. Think for a moment. Is there anybody in your life you're comparing yourself to? A beautiful sister? An accomplished brother? A friend who never seems to have problems? Well, may I say with all the love in the world: Quit it. That business o comparing is going to make you sice and unproductive, if it hasn't already. You are you! ~Luci Swindoll

The first thing to do in life is to do with purpose what one proposes to do. ~ Pau Casals

Until next time, my blogging friends, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

A little package arrived, from a dear stitching friend!!

Yesterday a little package was sitting on my doorstep. I wasn't expecting anything, although some of our relatives have started their Christmas shopping a little early. However, this package was from my dear stitching friend - CindyMae. Totally unexpected, I of course couldn't wait to tear into the package...even through we were 1/2 our the door for a hockey game.

Rip...Rip...Tear...Tear...YAHOO! HOW COOL!...sob, sob..OMG, I can't believe that anyone would do this for me...

In the package was a pillow, with the Prairie Schooler Santa 2009 stitched AND the pattern...and a beautiful door hanger that reads: "Stitching Friends Forever."

Can you find any holiday stitching pattern that would be more perfect for my life than a Santa with a hockey stick, a couple of hockey pucks and ice skates?  Like, this is so ME...so my LIFE...and hopefully Santa takes the hint that the boys could always use a new pair of skates, a stick or even the puck for their stockings. And if that isn't enough, she threw in the pattern as well. Which, is awesome because after I showed my boys the pillow, they immediately said that would make a neat ornament for me. So, I guess I need to get my supplies together and stitch some skating Santas for the boys.

And the other stitched "door hanger" - Stitching Friends Forever, I think really sums up the friendship I have with Cindy. Through the blogging community of stitchers our paths crossed. A new and upcoming stitching designer, she needed people to help her out and stitch some of her designs so that she would have some models...I volunteered. And we have kept in contact throughout.

Cindy, thank you so much! I love my package. The pillow I have placed on my bed and the door hanger on my bedroom doorknob. You have truely spoiled me :) My life has been richer since you have come into it years ago and even through we live thousands of miles appart and have never met, you are a very special friend!

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Yesterday's two hockey games, which Matthew and his team played, were pretty good. We knew going into them that his team would be challenged. Matthew played well and the team was not totally shut out...but they did loose both games with a score of 1-10 and 2-8. It could have been worse, for the opposing team, who is from Southern California, does a lot to recruit players from all over California as well as the US.

Today, my DH just left with both boys at 6:30am. Matthew has another game, an exhibition game against an older team from our club and Robert has an early morning practice with his team. Then later today, Robert will be playing in a hockey game as a member of his high school hockey team. This is the first game for this team and the first high school hockey game for his school. High school hockey is just getting organized in California (so, if you are keeping track, Robert is on two hockey teams - his high school team and his club team). 

Well, Robert will get to play in that High School game if he gets his homework done...Matthew has informed us that his homework is done for the weekend and he is ready for school tomorrow...fingers are crossed that we will not have any homework surprises at bedtime tonight!

That is about it my blogging friends. I am trying to get all my "to dos" crossed off my list before the boys come home from hockey: exercise, blog posting, catch up with relatives, grocery shopping, folding the laundry and prep a family lunch. So I better keep going to knock the things off. Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa