New Year!: Weekend update

New Year!: Weekend update: "It's been a nice weekend so far. I got all my homework done and submitted by last night. We had a very interesting discussion in..."

Weekend update

It's been a nice weekend so far.  I got all my homework done and submitted by last night.  We had a very interesting discussion in my Contemporary Issues in American Education class - Western philosophy vs. Eastern & Native North American ways of knowing:  how do you incorporate all cultures into your classroom?  There were some very interesting ideas, and a few hot buttons pushed.  I'm enjoying this class very much, unlike my Art 101 class.  Why do I need to know what formal elements are in DaVinci's Last Supper? 

Yesterday, we made homemade poptarts.  We took storebought pie crust and cut into heart shapes, put a spoonful of strawberry preserves on half of them and then put the other half on top of each one.  After we baked them, Mariah drizzled glaze and sprinkles on each one.  I didn't think to take a picture and Mariah took them with her when she left to spend the night at Aunt Janice's house last night.  They were very good!

Since Rich and I had the house to ourselves, we went to Subway and each got the foot long sub that we wanted instead of one that Mariah would eat too. Rich got tuna with everything but hot peppers.  I got sweet onion chicken teriyaki with everything but tomatoes and onions.  No one snatched up all our black olives, cucumber and pickles!!  We ate our subs while we watched 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice'.  It was really good, although not what I was expecting.  Afterwards I stitched and Rich watched 'I Love Lucy'. 

I haven't had a lot of time for stitching this week, too much homework and work!  I had an interview with a new temp agency on Friday.  It's here in Manteno so I should get more assignments close to home.  They sent my resume to a company who needs a temp for 8 weeks starting March 1.  It's only about 15 minutes from my house so I'll be home by 5.  Yeah! 

I'm taking today off from homework.  We're going to church this morning, then I'm coming home to cook dinner - baked ham, stuffing muffins and green beans, strawberry cake with chocolate frosting for dessert.  Rich is going to go pick up Mariah while I'm cooking.  Then we're going to play some Bingo with Mariah for awhile and work on her homework in between.  She has a dentist's appointment tomorrow morning so no school, at least until afternoon.

Speaking of dentists, if any of you have kids who are currently in college and thinking of becoming a dentist, tell them to go a step farther and become a PEDIATRIC dentist!  Not a general dentist who works on kid, an actual degreed PEDIATRIC dentist.  Then come to the Chicago south suburbs and they'll make a fortune!  There is only ONE south of the city of Chicago.  Mariah has been to 5 dentists over the last couple of years.  We started out with a simple 1 surface cavity.  Each dentist took xrays, examined her and then said 'she needs a pediatric dentist'.  They wouldn't even clean her teeth because of the autism and ADHD.  So now, that simple cavity that would have taken about a half hour to fill has become a tooth that is painful and infected and either needs to be pulled and a space maintainer put in or a pulpectomy (baby root canal) done.  And before you start saying, 'oh, there's a dental clinic by me that specializes in kids!', doublecheck whether or not they have a PEDIATRIC dentist or just a general dentist who works on kids.  It makes a BIG difference.  Can you tell I was really frustrated???

Ok, that's all for now.  My eggs are done and I'm going to eat breakfast and get ready for church.  Hope everyone else had a great weekend too! 

1st UFO finish

I have my first of 15 UFO's finished! Yeah!  This one is a calendar that I had started to make for a friend for a Christmas present.  Unfortunately, there was a little accident involving a cup of hot chocolate and the bowl of sequins and beads.  I had to order another set from the company (thank you very much, Plaid Corporation!) and put the calendar up for awhile.  Since I knew I wouldn't see her before Christmas, it wasn't really a big deal that it was late.  We're having lunch this Friday so I can give it to her then!

 Now I can start on Judith's ornament for our Round Robin.  I got her package in the mail today and Rich pulled all the threads for me while I was doing homework.

Sunday, Rich & Mariah decided to continue with their baking lessons.  This time they made a banana cream pie and was it ever yummy!

Next week, Mariah & I are starting a new craft project for Easter.  We're going to make Pysanka!  For those of you who don't know what that is, stay tuned.  I'll be posting step by step progress pictures!

Finished another book!

I finished 'Aunt Dimity, Paranormal Detective'.  Next up is 'Aunt Dimity's Good Deed'.  The first book was actually 2 combined into 1 hardcover - 'Aunt Dimity's Death' and 'Aunt Dimity and the Duke'.  I suppose I could count it as 2 books, but what's the fun in that?  I'm really enjoying this series.  It's lighthearted and fun, just what I need to relax at night after a day of stress.

What are you reading?

My new favorite hobby (for today)

Our library has lots of classes.  About once a month they have a One-Stroke Painting class.  The cost is only $5 and includes all your supplies.  In December we did pine trees and snowmen.  Last night, we did roses.  I'm enjoying it very much!  In fact, Kathy teaches the same class over at Country Inn and Suites for $25.  I'm going to start taking that one too to get more practice in.  Here's last night's finishes:

I really like the heart, the frame I'm not sure about.  I was thinking about putting Mariah's picture in it and giving it to my mom for Mother's Day.

I also fnished a second book this week - Barbara Taylor Bradford's 'A Sudden Change of Heart'.  Now I'm listening to Jennifer Chiaverini's 'Cross Country Quilters'.  I've almost finished 'Aunt Dimity, Paranormal Detective' and have 'Aunt Dimity's Good Deed' waiting in my purse. 

It is currently -14 degrees here in Manteno.  That's BEFORE wind chill.  I opted to keep Mariah home from school today.  It's too cold for ME to go out there, let alone her!  So, we're going to stay in where it's warm, watch Toy Story 3, play Operation, and make cupcakes and Philly cheesesteak sandwiches for dinner.  We may even eat the cupcakes before the cheesesteaks!  What are snow days for??

And what are YOU doing today?

1st finish!

Yay, 1 down, 14 to go!!  I finished Stained Glass Chapel this evening. 

Now,I'm going to work on a UFO.  I started one of those felt calendars that you sew all the sequins and beads on.  It was supposed to have been a Christmas present for a friend, but I had to put it aside because of a little accident with the sequins.  By the time I got a new set from the company, I had too much to do before I could finish it.  Since I haven't seen her yet, I figured I'd finish it up this week and then we're meeting for lunch one day next week so I can give it to her!

Hearing loss

Ok, so after Mariah has failed 4 hearing tests (2 at school, 1 at the co op by an audiologist and 1 at the ENT's office by an audiologis), we saw the ENT today to find out what's going on.  According to him, Mariah has significant hearing loss that is from a congenital problem.  Apparently it's something she was born with, not a result of fluid in the ears or scarring.  She has a 30 decibel difference in the right ear from what she should be hearing and what she is actually hearing.  Her left ear is only a 10 decibel difference.  If it stays like this, there's nothing we can do about it.  Tubes in her ears wouldn't do anything and the hearing loss isn't enough for hearing aids.  So, we go back in August to re-test.  If the results are the same, then we do nothing.  If the results have gotten worse, then he will figure the rate at which she's losing her hearing and decide from there.  Prayers would be much appreciated!

Finally!

I got the fabric in the mail today for Sekas' 'Watercolour Apples', my 15th project. Thank you, Liz!!


So, I have now started all 15 of my new projects for this year.  I made some progress on Stained Glass Chapel.  I think it's going to be pretty when it's finished.  I think I'll have it done by next weekend!

2011 Reading Challenge

Yesterday I finished 'The Potluck Club' by Linda Evans Shepherd & Eva Marie Everson.  For anyone who hasn't read it, it was very good, but you might want to get some tissue ready for the last few chapters.  They also put the recipes in the back and some of them look really yummy!

I'm on the last track of the audiobook in the car.  I'll finish it on the way to the dentist and on the way home I'll start the next one,  'The Cross Country Quilters' by Jennifer Chiaverini.  That'll be 3 down, 97 to go!

More starts!

Sorry I haven't posted in the last few days.  Between the sinus infection kicking my butt and work, I've been really tired.  Yesterday, I got a call from the school at 8:30.  Seems Mariah threw up all over her class.  She had a 99.2 fever.  I had to call Rich to go get her and take her home.  Then I got about 20 phone calls during the day - 'Mom, can I have a PBJ sandwich', 'Mom, I want a glass of milk', 'Mom, Daddy won't let me go play in the snow'. 

I've only gotten a few stitches in on each of my last few piece - enough to say they were started!  Here is Bent Creek's 'Snow'

Lavender Wings 'If I Could Be a Snowman'



Lavender Wings 'Jingles, Chuckles, Snowball and Twitch'



'Autumn'


Victoria Sampler's 'White Christmas'

I sat down this morning and looked at 'White Christmas'.  Unfortuately, I forgot to order the #12 Perle Cotton so I'll have to wait to actually stitch on it until I get it.  That's kind of a good thing cause I'm a little intimidated by it.  Lots of specialty stitches, including a band with (gulp) HARDANGER!!  I've always been too scared to do hardanger.  Maybe I'll take it to the Hoosier Stitchers retreat in October and have someone help me with it.  My last start for this project will have to wait a few days.  I had to order the fabric for it.  It came into the shop and now I'm just waiting for it to get here. 

I'm having 2 molars removed today so I'm going to take my Wizzer Stained Glass Chapel with me to work on in the waiting room.  Hopefully, I'll feel like stitching on it this evening!  In any case, other than starting my last project when I get the fabric, I'll work on the Wizzer until it's finished.

2011 Book Challenge

I finished my first book today and started another book in the car.  Here's the list so far:

Author	Title	Date finished
Chiaverini, Jennifer	Round Robin	1/9/2011
Bradford, Barbara Taylor	A Sudden Change of Heart
Chiaverini, Jennifer	Cross Country Quilters
Shepherd, Linda Evans & Everson, Eva Marie	The Potluck Club
Atherton, Nancy

Crazy 15 project SAL - Days 8 & 9

Yesterday I started the Holy Family chart for the Marbek Nativity.  This project has 5 charts total - it is HUGE!  It's shown in a 3 part tryptich frame and is just gorgeous when it's completed.  I decided that before I actually start working full time on this project, I need to get a floor stand and large frame to stitch it with.  Here's a picture of my start:

Today, I worked on Jeremiah Junction's 'Recycle' for Rich.  He is a huge recycler and wanted me to frame this one to hang in the garage. 

Tomorrow, Bent Creek's 'Snow'.  Is it tomorrow yet?

Day 6 & 7

I uploaded the pictures for Day 6 (the 2nd Gingerbread Heart) and Day 7 (Smoky Mountain Christmas).  SMC is going very quickly so far.  The background is all half stitches and mostly the same color so I wizzed right along on it and did an entire column on the chart page.  There are 81 columns on the chart, so if I can average 1 column per day I can get it finished in 3 months.  Hold your breath for that! 

Today I'm working on the Holy Family chart for the Marbek Nativity.  There are 5 charts for this piece.  I think for this year I will probably only get the Holy Family and maybe the Bethlehem Star and Angels chart done by the end of the year.  We'll see.  It's going to be beautiful when it's done, though!

2011 Reading Challenge

Just in case I have any spare time between work, school, Mariah, Rich and housework, I also joined a 2011 Reading Challenge.  My goal is to read 100 books by the end of the year.  Right now, I have 3 started.
1.  Round Robin by Jennifer Chiaverina
2.  The Potluck Club by Linda Evans Shepherd & Eva Marie Everson
3.  Introducing Aunt Dimity, Paranormal Detective by Nancy Atherton
The last one is actually 2 books in 1 - Aunt Dimity's Death & Aunt Dimity and the Duke.  So far, I'm loving all of them!

2011 Stitching challenge

So, a bunch of us insane stitchers started a new challenge for 2011.  For each of the first 15 days of the new year, we have to start a new project.  Then, the goal is to finish all 15 by the end of the year!  Here is my list:

Janlynn Wizzers - Stained Glass Chapel

Mill Hill Simply Seasonal Windowpane January/February

Mill Hill Simply Seasonal Windowpane March/April

Mill Hill Simply Seasonal Windowpane September/October

Sekas - A Gingerbread Heart (stitch twice)

Sekas - A Gingerbread Heart (stitch twice)

Bent Creek - Snow

The Victoria Sampler - White Christmas

Lavender Wings - If I Could Be a Snowman

Marbek - The Nativity

Cross My Heart Inc - Smoky Mountain Christmas

Jeremiah Junction - Recycle

Lavender Wings - Jingles, Chuckles, Snowball & Twitch

Knotted Tree - Autumn Leaves

Sekas - Watercolour Apples

I tweaked my challenge a little.  After the 15th, I will start with the 1st project and stitch on it Monday thru Saturday until it's finished.  On Sundays, I'll work on Stoney Creek's Nature's Home Afghan.  When I finish a project, I will spend 1 week working on a UFO, the first being 'Coffee Angel'.  Then, of course, there are pieces that need to be done for exchanges, RRs, ornaments, etc.  My personal goal is to finish 75 projects for 2011.  My husband's comment?  Good luck with that, babe!

Here are pictures of the projects that I've started so far this year:

I forgot to take a picture of the 2nd Gingerbread Heart that I started last night.  I've got a nasty sinus infection so I stopped at the Walgreens Take Care Clinic after work.  By the time I got home, helped Mariah practice for her spelling test and ate dinner, I was too tired to stitch so I put in 1 thread just to say I started it.  Today I'm working on Smoky Mountain Christmas.  I'll post pictures of both of them tomorrow. 

I caved!

Ok, I give up.  I've started a new blog here on Blogger.  I got lots of complaints from people who couldn't figure out Multiply.  I was having problems putting in pictures, links, etc.  And, so many of my friends have blogs here and the blog won't always let me post a comment.  So, I'm now a Blogger!