Not Stitching Again, Rain at Last, Wills & Probate

No Mojo: The PS Santa I need to finish is sitting there in a Ziplock bag with various threads - only some of which are necessary for this design. I THINK about stitching, but I'm once more totally mojoless. Instead I've been avidly reading the Agatha Raisin mystery series and only have the newest of the 22 novels to read. But after Agatha, THEN what will I read? Don't know yet. Maybe I'll get some sewing done.

Rain: Like all of Texas, we've been in moderate to severe drought conditions for the past 18 months. I finally received 4.83" over the last 2-1/2 days. That goes on top of the 1.10" earlier this month making this the rainiest January on record. But I have to wonder how many more weeks and months it will be before we get more.

Mom: My mother died 7 months ago tomorrow. Can it have already been that long? Dad is ready to probate her Will. As the "family attorney" it will be my job to prepare the paperwork and appear in court with him. He may be ready to probate her Will, but I'm not sure that I am. I'll have to put brain on auto-pilot and just do it. If only I didn't have to ...

Teaching in Thailand - Not: After much research, crunching the $$ numbers (especially taking into account the fact that neither my expensive private health insurance - which I would have to keep paying just in case - nor Medicare would pay a cent for medical services rendered or drug purchases outside the US), as much as the idea of living abroad intrigues me (I'd love to actually) and the fact that I probably SHOULD do it, it's a no go. Even if there were no other factors (believe me, there are many), I can't afford it. But keeping an open mind to that end, I've recently been doing a bit of volunteer work with the church sponsored ELS classes, and have discovered that I'm not that interested in being an ESL teacher in the first place.

Volunteer Stuff: In 2011 I logged over 200 volunteer hours, not including prep or travel time. Felt like a lot more. I sure wish I got paid for any of this. January has been a busy month. First I helped with ESL registration (3 days / twice a day / 3 hours per shift). Then the 14th I helped with RACES training in Fort Worth. On the 21st I took an all day formal FEMA Damage Assessment course at the behest and request of the Arlington Office of Emergency Management. The 28th is the all day NWS SKYWARN storm spotter training. Next month is a POD (Point of Distribution) course in conjunction with the Tarrant County Health Department. IF we ever have a large scale emergency or disaster, I'll at least be trained to help - provided I can get my car started.

So now what do I do with the rest of my life?  I've been trying to figure this one out for the past 5 years. I honestly have no answers.

Samplers, Stitches and Techniques

A fascinating article from the Victoria & Albert Museum about how types and complexity of stitches have evolved over the centuries. The site includes a history of samplers going back to the 14th century.

Free Medieval Designs

Just added to Freebie List:

• ^ Designs, Period - by Carol Hanson; originally published in hard back the entire book of over 250 patterns and historical information is now free to copy and save courtesy of the author who describes it as "A Book of Medieval, Renaissance, and Heraldic Patterns for Needlework, with Many Charted from Original Embroidery Pieces of the Period." If for no other reason, as a stitcher who may want to know from whence our craft came, take a look at the designs and read a bit of the history. Current "primitive" designers still utilize many of the exact same motifs already being stitched over 500 years ago. Includes Medieval alphabets. Combine some of the motifs, choose an alphabet and create your own "historical sampler."

Wow, I read a lot of books last year

Between late 2010 and the end of 2011 I read 65 books. I've already finished 3 novels this year! I haven't read this voraciously in ... well, ever. Most are of the "cozy" mystery genre and of various series featuring the same characters, their lives moving forward in each following book. Some were pretty good. Some were generally okay. Others readers may prefer expensive new gadgets to read on, but I find there is something solid and comforting and very tactile about holding a book in your hands. So I'm checking these out from the library in good old-fashion, hard cover form. Of course this means I'm not stitching while I'm reading. And yes, I know I could get many of them in audio form, but I still prefer a good book. How about you?

Some New / Updated Freebie Links

Check out the Freebie Links page for the following:

Appleseed Prim - small primitive designs
Permin - tiny birdhouse (new design every month)
Stickerin MB - fobs, biscornus, ornaments
Jane Greeoff - small crocus
Martha Stewart

ADDED 1/7:

Cosmic Handmade Breast Cancer Freebie
Cosmic Handmade Blog - several small designs, some similar to LHN

A few others. Look for the symbols in front of the link for newest additions.

* * * HAPPY N E W YEAR * * *

Make that HAPPY 2012!

(computer crash ate the original but my best wishes are still the same)

PS Santa progress

I guess there is an advantage for waiting until almost the end of the year to catch up on Continuing Education. Thankfully, there are numerous options available online. One just has to sit down and listen - leaving one's hands free to stitch. So after an all night session:  -----  Well, PHOOEY!!! After the comment from Debbie, I took a longer look and this IS a different red than the other 2 on the same fabric. It looks so close that I couldn't tell under the light over my bed (my stitching spot). Well, I'm not frogging that much stitching!

First Christmas Without Mom

Of course brought aching hearts and many tears. She passed 6 months ago yesterday. My DD, her DH and I attended Christmas Eve services then went to Dad's close-by house to enjoy what's become a traditional lasagna dinner my DD had made. I took a loaf of  tasty Asiago cheese bread that was made even better with butter and garlic salt. The combination was really good with lasagna! Then Dad decided to try it with peanut butter, and declared it yummy as well. Christmas morning it was back to church. Then afterwards to my DD's where she served BBQ brisket and cheese potatoes, my sister brought cole slaw, rolls and wine. Dad brought his French beans and stewed tomatoes mixture along with the traditional family "float" - one that began at least as far back as his mother in the 20's and 30's - likely passed down to her as well. It's similar to Eggnog but without the nog and a billion times better. By request, I took Velveeta (for Rotel dip) and some chips. DD had also made a pumpkin cheesecake of her own concoction and gluten-free chocolate cookies for herself and flourless peanut butter cookies for me, who is allergic to chocolate and most spices and thus couldn't eat the pumpkin cheesecake - though I did try a teeny nibble. It was delicious. As strange as it may seem, as we got in the car to leave I turned to my Dad and said something like, all things considered "It was a good day."  He thought a moment then agreed. We managed warm and cozy despite Mom's keenly and deeply missed absence. Sadly, in our own continuing grief, we keep forgetting my SIL lost his mother only 4 months ago as well. She lived in Florida and I had only met her briefly twice. I hope both mothers were looking down and feeling very proud of us all. A Blessed and Happy Christmas, Mom and Barbara!

Progress on PS 1993 Santa

I made these two on the left into very small ornies to go on the 18" Christmas tree I'd given my DD back in college that I had made other small cross stitch ornies for years ago, only to discover that this year, for the first time in 20, she'd used little store bought ornaments instead.  I gave Dad the Bah Humbug ornie I'd initially intended for myself. Thankfully, he chuckled when he saw it. I'll make myself another. No photos. I didn't like the way they turned out, even pulling one apart and starting over on Christmas Eve, so I'm going to have to come up with a better way to make them.