Stitching in the news….

This story was in one of the Boston newspapers a couple of weeks ago. It’s a story about a stitching studio in Newton, MA that has had an influx of youngsters wanting to sew their own Halloween costumes. I kind of have the impression from the article that this craftiness skipped their parents’ generation. Wouldn’t it be nice that the hand-fiber arts tradition is now passing down to a new, younger generation? Who’s the youngest cross stitcher you know? I can think of Becka, at The Stitching Lion blog, who is about 20 years old. One of Paulette Stewart’s (Plum Street Samplers) daughters designs charts, so I think it’s safe to assume she stitches too. I think she’s also about 20.

11-11-11

In honor of Veteran’s Day, i would like to thank all present and former members of the military, as well as all deceased members, and their families, for their sacrifice on behalf of our country.

It’s been a while since I splurged on this:

I’ve been working on plans for a pizza shop at the Hanover Mall for the past 2 days- it must be subliminal!

The only way to make it perfect would be an icy cold Budweiser, but since my house is a chilly 63 degrees, I’m opting for a fire in the wood stove, and a glass of water.

Plus I have to get up early and shovel horse poop. No liquor for me!

PS:

did anyone hear from Coni Spinster Stitcher today? She was concerned about superstitions about today’s date….

New Blog Alert!

Look at this kiddos! Victoria Motto Samplers aka Nancy, now has a blog! AND…she’s having a stupendous floss giveaway! She has some very creative sampler designs, and she dyes her own floss. I’m jealous of all her talent already!

In other news, today is the last day of NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month), during which our intrepid, but tiresome (and tired) writer is supposed to post every single solitary day for the entire month. To be eligible for some wicked awesome prizes, of course. So awesome, in fact, I don’t even remember what they were. And, let’s face it, I NEVER win nuthin’!  But my gene pool requires me to continue trying.

So, with that being said, you may or may not see me tomorrow. It all depends on if I win some huge prize or something. Maybe I can spend some time stitching….I have a November ornament to finish…

Pets…

I brought Chicken to the vet for her annual check-up & shots. She has a hernia on her bum that the doctor is very concerned about. I have to schedule a consult with another vet who is equipped to do this type of surgery.

Thanksgiving dinner

I also discussed Aslan’s inappropriate peeing, and she convinced me to bring him in for some blood work. Those results show that he may possibly have an infection deep in one of his kidneys. He’s on an antibiotic for 3 weeks, and then he’ll be re-checked. I don’t know how to tell if he’s no longer going to pee in places he shouldn’t. I’m certainly not keen to leave my bedroom door open to try it out! He’s a happy enough little guy, he’s just so skinny, and pees where he shouldn’t! I’ve tried cleaning the litter box more frequently; I suppose I could try getting a 2nd box, but I don’t think cleanliness is the issue with him.

Delilah just weighs as much as a concrete block with fur. That kitty is a TANK under there!

P.S.

ONE MORE DAY!!!

All I really want….

Is some sleep! It’s been 3 weeks in a row of 5:30 am wake-ups, and my body has just about had it. And since I came “home” from barn-sitting for 11 days, it seems I’ve been out doing things every single night.

I’d show my progress on Quaker Halloween, but I don’t have a clear space or good light to take a picture. I still have to find & start my November ornament. I’m thinking another monochromatic from the JCS mag, but done in a complementary variegated green.

My BO brought her Appaloosa World Champion home for the first time. She’s owned him for two years, but he’s been with the trainer in Washington state all this time. He’s very pretty, for an Appaloosa. (You horsey people know what I mean!) Now she’s thinking of buying another 2-year-old- it got 4 first place ribbons at Worlds. She can squeeze another horse in the barn, but it’s become a logistical nightmare I prefer not to have to handle.

This NaBloPoMo thing is getting intimidating: I feel like I’ve already hit the wall on day 5!

Last Day!

last turkey sandwich

last piece of apple pie

last day of NaBloPoMo!

Thirty Days Hath September

so that means I have today and tomorrow to complete NaBloPoMo. YAY!

I made my appetizer for our Stitch & Bitch Xmas party Thursday. A few spares also served as supper. A lot of things I wanted to accomplish over the weekend never happened- including putting up the tree, giving the dog a bath, any stitching at all (aaarrrgggg!!!!).

Random:

1. Why does CVS pharmacy have items on sale in their Sunday flyer, but doesn’t stock those items in the store?

2. What’s the deal with LED Xmas lites anyway? Do they look OK on the tree? Are they worth the extra up front cost?

3. I’m very annoyed with crumbs and dirty glasses.

I rode Axe last night- she was a good girl. Em rode her all last week. She (the Axe) has been enjoying the mud, though. She was covered head to toe on her right side. Which sucks because she hates to be brushed, never mind scrubbed!

Too Easy:

Leftovers….

just a drive-by:

little turkey sandwiches (YUM!) (on my dinner rolls  which didn’t come out good this time- technical difficulties with my timer- I saved them in the nick of time)

So I made a loaf of oatmeal honey bread (YUM!) for better sandwiches, and then the guacamoles had turkey dinner  redux, and I sent them back to Boston with one more meal, and so now I have one really big sandwich-worth’s left. Bye bye 18 pounds of brined goodness…..:^(

SO i had some Brie & crackers for supper (YUM!) I served Brie, smoked Monterey jack, cheddar, and pub cheese yesterday for snacks.

I bought some ham at the supermarket, so I can make ham & cheese toasty sandwiches (YUM!)

Now I can have homemade Mostess cupcakes for dessert! (YUM!)

Did you say you had one sandwich left? I’ll take care of that!

My other cupcake

Happy Thanksgiving!

I wonder how many blog posts around the world will have that title today?

I’m thankful for all my friends and family, live and virtual; you make each day special, and interesting, and informative and downright side-splitting funny. Thanks for all your comments and advice- I’m grateful to be part of this small segment of “It’s a small World Wide Web”.

I’m especially thankful that we have such a dedicated military- fighting, or even just keeping watch, in far-flung places, missing their own families desperately, so that we can eat some turkey and watch some football. Thanks and heart-felt prayers to each and everyone, wherever you are.

(yeah- I wish my turkey would look so good!)

Wonderful Wednesday Wrecipes

The turkey’s resting over on the table, waiting to be carved and you have all the sides that have to be cooked or re-heated and on the table all at once. So you have no more room in your oven to heat stuff up? Today’s recipe is all about convenience, especially if you don’t like your stuffing (dressing- is it a regional thing to call it one or the other, or is there an actual distinction between the two??) cooked inside the bird. The technique is the key here- substitute your favorite stuffing ingredients, just remember it all has to fit your crock pot. Put it together just after the turkey goes in the oven, and it should all be done at the same time.

Slow Cooker Stuffing

• One- 16 oz. package Pepperidge Farm seasoned stuffing (the dry stuff) or use comparable quantity of dried bread cubes
• ¼ to 1/3 lb. Bulk sausage- I use a couple of sweet Italian sausage patties
• 1 stick butter
• 2 stalks celery, washed & chopped to about ½” pieces
• 1 medium onion, chopped to ½” pieces
• 1 tart apple, chopped to ½” pieces
• 1 TBSP poultry seasoning
• 3 TBSP minced fresh parsley
• salt & pepper
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2-3 cups turkey broth (you may not use all, or you may need a bit more)

1. In a large sauté pan, brown sausage and break into bits. Add butter, melt, and add chopped celery, onion and apple. Stir & cook until softened/wilted.
2. Meanwhile, in a very large bowl, toss stuffing mix with poultry seasoning and parsley, salt and pepper.
3. Spoon cooked vegetables over bread and toss to mix well. Pour in enough broth to moisten to degree you prefer, then mix in eggs.
4. Transfer to crock pot that has been sprayed with cooking spray and cover.
5. Cook on High for 1 hour, the reduce heat to Low and cook an additional 4-6 hours (in 4 hours it should be done, but it won’t suffer the additional time). Stir pot contents occasionally, adding more broth as necessary. If you prefer a crispier finish, turn back to High for the last 45 minutes or so.

Makes enough for 8-10 maybe? I’m not sure because it’s usually only 3 of us, and there’s always tons leftover. The Pepp. Farm bag says the whole bag makes 11 servings.

No pictures until tomorrow!

(what- you think I’m gonna make this twice???)

I’m late, I’m late…

there was an accident in front of the supermarket- it took 20 minutes to do a 3 minute drive. I shouldn’t complain- evidently, 2 pedestrians walking together were hit. Their holiday just turned to crap in a basket.

The 2 guacamoles are back and they graciously house cleaned for me when I got home. However, their presence dictated the necessity of preparing dinner. Does everyone agree that the MOST annoying thing about Thanksgiving is having to cook meals on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings leading up to what must be the biggest cooking day of the year? I don’t know about youze guys, but I’m tapped. I’d just as soon throw a bag of pretzels at them & call it a day. But the green beans are par-boiled and the squash is cooked. I had hoped to also make either the dinner rolls or the apple pie, but I’m done for the night. Peeling that squash irritated my fingertips. Tomorrow, there’s always tomorrow…

And another one bites the dust…

…Weekend, that is. I actually feel like I accomplished some things:

cleaned my gutters, dumped 2 bags of salt in my softener system, put up my icicle lights, started house cleaning for the “big” day, took care of the horsie, did some sewing- fixed a blanket for my B.O.’s horse and hemmed 2 pairs of jeans for Em, brought horses in for B.O. on Saturday afternoon, did my Sunday walk…

TV will be scanty tonight because of AMAs; maybe I’ll do some stitching!

I’ve been seeing a lot of new traffic thru my Feejit widget coming from blogger. I used to be able to track back by clicking their blogger dot com link, but for some reason I can’t anymore. I’m wondering if it’s bloggers using the “improved” “Next Blog>” tool, and coming to my blog accidentally? A lot of foreign countries have been stopping by- I’m just curious how they come across little old me, is all.

My back ache issues have indeed resolved themselves. I’ve been doing everything I usually do will no ill effect since last Wednesday- those bags of salt weigh 40 lbs each! I’ll bring it up with my doctor in December.

I’ll have to start with my lists tomorrow for Thanksgiving- what to cook & when, what chores need to be done, yada, yada, yada.

Who Knew?

Blue Snoballs?

It’s Christmas Eve!

Well, not quite, but really:

I figured I’d show you this now, even though I intend to add some gold beads along the traces. It might be weeks before I get to that!

And then back to A Conspiracy of Pumpkins:

And to all a good night!

Damn this NaBloPoMo!

Cripes it’s hard to post something everyday!

Do you ever click on the “Blogs of Note” tab in your blogger dashboard? Today I found this gem:

http://librarytypos.blogspot.com/

And in a totally unrelated development, i present my new eyeglasses:

take THAT NaBloPoMo!

Monday, Monday

la-da, da,da,da,da

Well, that’s how I always heard it!

On  a serious note:  Ladies- have you heard about this: New York Times article on the recommendations to not bother with mammograms and self-examinations in your forties? The news seems to be breaking this evening over the internet, and similar stories are appearing in other papers. This study must have been done by a team of ignorant men! Let’s stop with prostate exams while we’re at it- everyone knows a man will die of old age long before prostate cancer will claim him!

Off my soap box, but I’m just trying to keep you all informed.

Em’s horse was SO dirty today! It took me half an hour to scrub all the mud off her hooves & sheet, at which point I removed the sheet and had to clean her! Her neck and side of her face was covered with dried, caked-on mud, as was her rear leg not covered by the sheet. It was the first time I’ve ever had to sweep the floor before AND after  a ride! She’s a silly girl, but I love her.

In other medical news, my single glass of wine last night did nothing for me, sleep-wise. I went to bed at 10:30 and was painfully awake at 11:40 with my nagging back ache (leftover from barn sitting a couple of weeks ago). And I couldn’t even take pain drugs because of the wine. After trying to find a position that didn’t make me cry(between the dog at my ankles and the cats at my neck), I ended up on the couch in a fetal position with my back pressed flat against the back of the couch. I don’t have a heating pad, so I heated a damp towel and placed that against my lower back. Then Chickie came looking for me and curled up in my sideways lap. Once I get up and move around, my back feels fine- I don’t even have any pain riding. It seems I just can’t lie down- either on my side or flat on my back. Laying on my stomach seems so contrary I’m not even considering that option!

Don’t know if it’s a skeletal issue or muscle spasms. I’m not a run-to-the-doctor person, so I’ll see if it resolves itself. My annual physical is the day before Xmas- I’ll probably end up waiting until then if I can stand it that long.

That’s enough drivel for NaBloPoMo!

Wunnerful, Wunnerful!

Hmmm.. what does it say about me that it’s 5:44 pm on a Sunday evening, and I’ve had my face washed for bed and been in my jammies for 20 minutes already?

Cue the Lawrence Welk soundtrack and pass the Geritol!

My self medicating worked last night- I had 2 glasses of merlot and was in bed by 9:30, and I think i actually slept (dreamless) until 2:15 am. Then I woke and the usual weird Steven King-like movies started. Chickie let me stay in bed until 7:15 or so, and I almost wasn’t tired for once. I’m thinking of having one glass of wine tonight- work night & all.

What I really need to do is get out my stitching and finish that Prairie Schooler!

Another Saturday Night…

I saw this on the evening news about Domino Day 2009 in the Netherlands:

ABC News

Enjoy!

I’m off to consider a couple of glasses of wine vs. OTC sleep drugs for tonight. I’m thinking I’ll enjoy the wine more….But I’m like that.

Fabulous Friday!

SCORE!!:

$25 from eBay. It also has a magnetic easel for charts. I have to figure that out. Now I’m not limited by having my TW “Fruit Bell pull” permanently mounted to the scroll frame that is the only thing that fits in my other floor stand. Now I can use any frame!

Leftover Town Spa linquica pizza! (And see- it’s Friday!!)

Chickie hoping I drop a piece on the floor.