Stepping back

Well friends, I am going to be offline for the rest of the week. I just need time to step back and think about things for a while. So much is going on in my life, I am feeling overwhelmed.

• Mom is holding steady. Things aren't as good as she was hoping, and they held off on her treatment for 10 days because she is so tired. I anticipate going home soon, if only for the fact that I want to spend time with her and don't want to get a middle of the night call saying I need to come home that minute. Last minute flights off of this rock aren't cheap.

• Connor has decided that he no longer enjoys sleeping through the night and has been getting up every 2 hours for the past few days. Joy. We were spoiled since he had been sleeping through the night starting at about 7 weeks old. I honestly don't know what the deal is, if it is teething or what, but I am so pooped. Our day today started at 4:30 am since he wouldn't go back to sleep.

• The cats have decided that they no longer enjoy living in the lap of luxury and being strictly indoor cats. So, they both live outdoors now. At night they would tear open a screen to get out and roam around. I am tired of being stressed out wondering where they are and having the screens ruined. I know it sounds harsh, but I don't want indoor/outdoor cats. Either one or the other. We are responsible pet owners, so they are both spayed and both still have their claws front and back. We just feel that it is the best route to take in this situation. Of course I am sad and a little scared for them, but the only other option is to close all of the windows in the house at night and that is so not happening.

• Other random stuff going on right now is really giving my brain a good workout. Family grumblings in the Mainland, wondering what will be on our list to choose from next month in regards to where we are going next year, etc.
  

I have so much on my plate right now that the overwhelmed feeling is coming back. I promise to post next week with lots of pictures of crafty stuff that I have been working on, including a couple of PIF's. Yay.

In the meantime, if you like to read (I know there are quite a few of you), this is a neat bookworm networking site: GoodReads . If you want to be my friend, this is my profile. Jenn, I hope that you will check it out.

Also, for a neat-o finishing idea, check out this stitcher's book...it even gives the instructions. Wow!

And finally, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Aunt Tamie and Carol. Hope that you ladies have a wonderful day!

See the clouds?

Lately I have felt like I have the little hand-drawn stormy cloud over my head. A combination of reasons really. Homesickness, concern about Mom, being a new Mama, kinda missing being in the workforce and missing the Nursing profession, etc. I have been keeping up with my blog reading via Google Reader. Sorry I don't comment much, but when something really hits a chord with me, I will comment. Like the post that Melanie wrote. Man, did that ever hit home. I totally identified with what she said and where she was coming from.

So, that is where I am at. Things are looking better. Some of the stress has lifted.

DH's new LT & CWO have reported in, so we have been going to parties and we had a party at our house on Saturday. A good time was had by all.

We are still doing lots and lots of gardening and housey stuff. I found this pot tucked away in the bushes and thought that the tiny sprouts of leaves looked interesting (they were less than 1" tall at the time). So, I set it in the sun and gave it a drink every day, and this is the gorgeous result:
Lady is standing guard to the left and you can kind of see the Heliconia patch in the far background. The Heliconias are starting to bloom and they need serious work...

Mom sent me a care package a couple of weeks ago and in it was this gorgeous yarn.
Lion Brand hand painted wool yarn. Regularly priced at $14 each and she got them for $3 something each. What a steal! Now just trying to think of what to make. I was thinking scarf, but not everyone likes wool scarves and Lord knows, I don't need a scarf here in Saipan. Anyone want me to make them a wool scarf? I knit and crochet, your choice.

We finally got our hammock hung up on the porch. It hasn't been up since we lived in Louisiana. It is the thread kind, so it is super comfy and doesn't leave big rope marks on you. I can see many days out there with a book and a glass of iced tea....now I just need the baby to learn to take naps during the day.

And, I finally have a finish to share! Yay me! I started this last month during the Trilogy (or any designer of) SAL on the STO group...I am only a week late with getting it finished. This was a Bent Creek Zipper kit that I bought when I met Kim in Green Bay. I really love the Bent Creek kits. Have you seen the new one, the Big Zipper? Mama Mia, that is one for the Christmas present wish list for sure. Stitched on 18 ct. Natural Linen with DMC Perle Floss.

If you are interested in reading Saipan blogs, Angelo has created a Master Listing of all of us. Way to put insomnia to good use!

Peace!

SBQ

Today's SBQ was suggested Juls and is:

If you could only stitch one more piece what would it be and why?

Funny that this is the question this week since I saved a piece of fabric from the craft room packing fiasco and the other stuff I had kitted for Mother's Tree and set about gridding the fabric. But now I have decided that I might not want to do it over one on 32 count. Why? Because I would go crazy and I am afraid. So, I am mulling it over some more.


The answer for me would be "Mother's Tree" by Lavender and Lace. I have traced back 9 generations of Mothers (with Gram S.'s help) and have them all graphed out. It is destined to be an heirloom once I actually get it done.

I blogged about the hunt for mothers here.

Has everyone seen the Freebie Gallery Blog that Carol created??? What an awesome database of stitched freebies, many with the links to where the chart can be downloaded. Get a cup of tea and have a little sit down for a bit. Thank you so much, Carol!

Also, there is a new freebie out from C.E.C., be sure to check it out, way too cute!

Peace.

I'd like to know...

Why the makers of 7-UP feel it is necessary to try to pull the wool over our eyes? They claim that 7-UP is "100% Natural" now. What is so natural about high fructose corn syrup?
I call bull s^%$ on that one. Doesn't matter though, I still love you, 7-UP.
**********

I finsihed my little Bent Creek Zippie kit the other night.
Bent Creek's "Ladybird" Zippie
I am going to start a little something for a pal that was inspired by a recent post. Should be quick to do. : )

**********

I am so touched that a very sweet stitcher is letting me use her "Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler". I now have it in my hot little hands and am looking forward to stitching it soon. Thank you to everyone that gave me info on where to find it!

**********

We signed the rental agreement this last week on the new house. Yay! We will be moving on May 31. Should be interesting since we don't get the new house until May 31 and we have to be out of our house by June 1. Wow.

*********

I have more diaper dye on it's way to me! It doesn't seem to bother Connor's skin at all...you have to rinse the diapers continuously and then you wash them to get rid of all of the dye. I got the dyes in the craft department of the store that shall not be named. I think that each package was $1.94 and one packet does 3 Premium Indian cotton diapers.

Diaper Love

Ya'll are prolly bored to death hearing about how much I love using cloth diapers. Well, the love got a little sweeter while we were at home...I took the freaky diaper obsession one step farther...I bought packages of Dylon Permanent Fabric Dye and we dyed diapers.

Didn't they turn out AWESOME?!?!

We used lime, purple, burnt orange, poppy and turquoise. I am now kicking myself that I didn't grab a pack of yellow. I bet the colors would be more vibrant if we weren't using unbleached cotton diapers. I think that I will ask Mom to pick up some more, because we have lots more diapers that are too plain!

And I finally have been stitching! Yes, I actually do stitch. *collective gasp* I know, I know. Instead of yammering on about it, here is a WIP photo.

It's just a little Zippie kit from Bent Creek. "Ladybird" is the English term for Ladybug...hmmm, the things that you learn from cross stitch.

Tonight we are going to go sign a lease agreement on a new house for our last year here. You can see the ocean from the roof! And it is in a more private area...plus the kitchen is newly remodeled and it even has an outdoor kitchen. Yay us!

Peace.

On the hunt

I decided this week that I HAVE to have the Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler. So, I have been searching all of my favorite online stores to find one and can you believe that I can't find any? Of course you do, you are all smart stitchers that bought every last copy while it was available. I do realize that they are a limited printing and once they are all sold, that is the end of the story...but I thought for sure that there would be one squirreled away in a shop somewhere.

When this came out (was it last year?), I didn't think much of it. And that is making me wonder if I shouldn't snap up the Companion piece that was released while the shops still have it. The Companion doesn't totally grab me and I wonder if it would grow on me after a while.

Anyone have any leads for me? I looked at Wyndham Needleworks, Elegant Needle, Emli's, DSL, 123Stitch, Handcrafts Online...

Peace.

Lots of Stash and a stitching question

So, I have been spoiled by Jenn recently. She sent me another package with a new book in it (which I started yesterday) and 4 Lizzie Kate charts. Thank you so much, Jenn! I have a few ideas in mind on how to repay your generosity...stay tuned.

Lizzie Kate 12 Blessings of Christmas Flip It's Charity & Joy

Lizzie Kate Flip It Bits January & February

While we were at home, I got a chance to stop by the LNS "Needle & I" in Rockford, IL.

4 My Boys A Cabin, A Moose and A Fish, Hitch Your Wagon to a Star and Comfort & Joy

And, we went to a LNS in Green Bay "The Stitching Bee" when we met Kim and her DH. Lots of LHN models on display. And, they have HOHRH on display that was done over one on 40 ct. silk gauze. This thing was incredible!!! I wish I would have taken a picture of it. I would have gone blind doing it on something that small. Bent Creek Zipper Kit Sand Man

JCS Magazine

LHN Home of a Needleworker

4 My Boys Cluck & Doodle, Americana Blooms, and My Very Bestest Friend

Since I have new stash to put away, I have been trying to organize. I bought more page protectors while at home and have been putting things away.

This has led me to the realization that I have TONS of freebie charts. More than I will ever stitch even if I live to be 762 years old. Then I had an idea...anyone interested in a freebie pass-along? The idea is that I will gather all the freebies that I will never stitch or I have duplicates of (how did that happen?) and send them to one stitcher that wants them. Then that person can go through them, take what they want (or make copies), and add any that they no longer want and pass the packet along to another person...and it would keep going. Any takers? I just hate to see these go into the recycling bin.

Also, I have 2 of these:

Prairie Schooler Christmas Village, book 79 OOP. One recently sold on Ebay for $20 without shipping. Anyone interested in it for $20 including shipping?

My email address is mhighfill@gmail.com if you are interested in the PS book or the freebie pass-along.

Peace.

Umm, yeah...

So, I took all of these neat pictures of the bananas, papayas and flowers growing in our yard...but Blogger is being a serious PIA and having issues uploading the photos. Guess everyone will have to wait until later.

We got some great stuff in the mail today...I won't post a pic of one of the presents yet since I am emailing the sender next...will do in the next post, but let me just say that I was very surprised and thrilled with what she sent!

We also got another tin of cookies from Granny. She sent me some of my favorites...spritz cookies. I like the cream cheese spritz the best, but these are just as great. I was really hoping that it was some of her famous double layer rice krispie treats, but believe you me I won't turn these down anytime soon!

And an update on the biscornu. I am done with the front stitching, and started the backstitch border after this pic was snapped. I wonder how Carolyn is doing with hers?

************

We had our 38 week appointment this week. I was very impressed with the Midwife (actually an American Nurse Practitioner) that we saw since Dr. R. is on vacay. I asked her to give us an estimate of how big the baby is and after mushing the heck out of my tummy, she said that if I were to have it now, it would be approximately 6 pounds, 8 ounces. But, she also added that every week, the baby puts on another 1/2 to 1 pound...so it is possible that I could have a ginormous baby. *Please come soon, please come soon*

She asked us if we knew what the gender was. As she was checking for the fetal heart rate. I said, "No, it is a surprise". She got a grin on her face and said, "I kinda have a hunch as to what it is." I asked her, "Based on the heartrate?" She smiled and said "Yeah". Now, the heartrate is usually in the 140's & 150's when we go in. Statistically (from what I have read), baby girls have a fetal heart rate over 140 while baby boys have a fetal heart rate of less than 140. But there are always exceptions. Go team pink!!! She didn't say either way, but I am going to ask next week.

I go back next week for the 39 week eval. I am seeing her again and with any luck, she will be on call when I go into labor.

She asked us about our plans for birth control after the baby is born, so I told her what I had been thinking. No birth control pills because Mom has metastatic breast cancer and Gram had breast cancer and I will be 30 next year...don't need to up my risk any more than it already is. She brought up the IUD...can I just say that this little thing kinda gives me the creeps? I think that we might just stick with what we initially planned. I don't think that I really want a little plastic "T" wound with copper and 2 pieces of fishing line on the bottom end embedding itself into my body.

**********

Had a chat with Mom the other day. She is doing okay. She stopped her Chemo treatments and went for a second opinion at the Cancer Treatment Center of America. She has since started treatments with them. And the cancer has spread to more of her skeleton. It is in a rib, on the skull, in her left femur (long leg bone), sacrum, and left hip along with her spine.

She really loves the CTCA. I mean really loves it. Just raves about the programs, doctors, support staff, food, etc. And there is a Center that is only about an hour from her house so she just spends the night.

Our convo was going along really great until she said:

Mom: "So, how are you feeling?"

Me: "I feel great, I have been truly blessed. My only complaint is I can't get comfortable to sleep."

Mom: "How much weight have you gained so far?"

Me: "24 pounds"

Mom: "Well, you need to try to curb it from here out...I only gained 19 pounds when I had you. But, then again, you are built a little bigger than me and you started out a little heavier than me."

Me: "Um, yeah." *thinking to self: you also smoked and were 19 years old. I am almost 30.*

WTF?!?! Try to CURB it? Seriously? Okay, let me go on a diet now while I am pregnant. Yeah. Right on that.

Mother/daughter relationships...gotta love them!

**************

Here is the Lizzie*Kate new Flip it series for 2007...this is absolutely adorable. Loves it! Kim reports that she already has hers on order. Pffffftttttttt.

Peace

Life is good

DH has been home for the past couple of days since they are now on holiday rotation. I really enjoy spending time together. I will admit, he does spoil me. The other day, we had my favorite breakfast, Eggs Benedict. And he knows exactly how I like the eggs...poached hard. No liquid chicken for me, thanks! We also had sliced pears and orange juice. What a way to start the day!

On Tuesday, we did end up going and buying the new dining room set. For those on Saipan, FYI...Monika's Furniture Gallerie is moving to Guam at the end of the month. Due to the economy from what I understand. And unfortunately, there won't be a big sale...they are going to load up a container and ship whatever they have in stock.

So, this is the dining room set. The only drawback is that it doesn't have a leaf to expand it, but it will eventually go in the kitchen once we buy a house back in the States in 1 1/2 years. It is Teak and we think that we got it for a pretty reasonable price. Now, I just have to make cushions for the chairs with removable covers. Because I am too cheap to buy some.

(You can see our "Christmas Tree" in the corner...that's as good as it is getting here at the House of Grinch. Dad made it for us a few years ago.)

Yesterday, we got a bunch of packages in the mail from MIL & FIL. We knew that she had ordered these things, it is so much more fun when you see them in person! They sent the Exersaucer, the mobile (it plays Bach, Beethoven & Mozart), and a set of soft blocks by Baby Einstein along with the food mill that we wanted. We plan on making our own baby food and this will be great for when we go to China next year.

I started working on my Biscornu that I am doing with Carolyn. I totally forgot that we had agreed to start this week! I have serious pregnancy brain lately. All I think about 90% of the time is the baby and baby related stuff. Oops! So, I started it last night. We bought our kits from Mary Kathryn's shop. She also gives very good finishing instructions. The kit comes with the chart, 2 pieces of Jobelan and a skien of Dinky Dyes silk in your color choice ( I chose "Mystic Pools" ). I have never stitched with Dinky Dyes and although they are nice and smooth, I feel like they are too fragile. Guess I will stick with regular DMC after this. The frog came to visit me today, grr. So, I spent time ripping out part of it, but otherwise it is going well. I betcha Carolyn is ahead of me though, lol. I am so slow!

Today I made a ring sling for the baby. I only had 2 yards of fabric, and I think that for the next one, I will use 3 or 3 1/2 yards of fabric. I would also like to do one in a silk dupioni fabric someday...maybe for the baptism...? The instructions that I followed looked at were found on this site. I got the rings from this site that specifically makes & sells rings for slings. If you plan on making a sling, please don't get the rings from the craft store...they are not strong enough.
Doesn't Bella Baby look thrilled to pieces to be slinged? I hope that our baby doesn't give me as much attitude.

Tomorrow we have a holiday party to go to and I am looking forward to it. Last night we had DH's boss over for dinner, it was a nice time. DH & I made ham balls (can I just say *YUM!*), cheesy hashbrown casserole and green bean casserole. (Note to Stels...notice that it is "normal food"?) We also gave him a couple loaves of banana bread and a bunch of soft ginger cookies to take home. The cookies are like biscuits and soo good with a cup of tea.

That's all that is going on here.

BTW, Angelo...I will get to it soon. : )

Peace

SBQ & Went to the Beach

This week's SBQ was suggested by Carol and is:

Do you have any good internet links to tutorials for your favorite finishing techniques that you would like to share?

I usually just go with ideas and a "vision" of what the finished item should look like...but I did buy Summer Truswell's Ultimate Big Book of Finishing last year. She used to have the tutorial online *for free*, but I guess that it got so popular that she realized that she could make money off of it from idiots people like me. It does have some great ideas in it and I think that if you are at a total loss, it is a good deal. I do like how it is spiral bound, so it lays open flat.

Other than that, I just kinda wing it. I like seeing pictures of other finishes and figuring out how to do them based on a picture.

********************

The weather was nice this weekend...scattered showers, but what can you do? We decided to take the dog to the beach. Because she loves it we think that it is good for her to get out of the house & yard every now and then. Aren't we nice? She doesn't particularly love swimming, she does however love to ride in the car. If you leave the car door open in the garage, she will get in and just sit there. If you haven't caught on yet...Lady is not so smart. But she is a good dog and will be great with our kids.

DH also took my new camera for a test run and since I don't have any flattering pictures of this pregnancy yet (only ones I take in front of a full length mirror to track the belly growth), he wanted to get some shots of me. I guess that this is as good as it gets.

This is a local fisherman, he was walking the beach when we first arrived. I think that they just look for good spots where they think the fish are and throw their nets out and hope for the best. I don't know. We use fishing poles at home. And I have yet to actually catch a fish using a pole, so maybe a net is a better deal.

This one might be my favorite:

Of course, I had to take some of DH & the dog.

And these are the hermit crabs that I just love to watch. They are everywhere on the beach and on the rocks.



****************

I finished "November Twirls" snapper from Bent Creek. I started it a couple of days ago. It is part of my 50 project challenge. Now on to December. I want to be caught up through January when the baby comes. I already have February, March & April done so I can take a break then. I stitched this on some kind of ivory 28 ct evenweave that I won in a lot off of ebay. My plan is to take the ones that aren't finished yet (Oct, Nov, Apr) and stitch them into a pillow case and then just make one form and slip it into the coordinating case for the month. That way I don't have 12 pillows sitting on the shelf taking up valuable room.

I have also started to crochet again. I am obsessed with baby hats. Why? I dunno. I have 2 skiens of baby yarn and don't want it sitting around so I have been making all sizes of hats...mostly preemie and newborn though. Believe me, I have enough hats for the baby treehugger already in it's dresser, so these along with the scarf (and any other ones I finish up) are going into a flat rate box and going to The Baby Project. I put a couple of the hats on onions just so you could see how small they are. I know that babies come in all sizes. Hopefully they can use these for someone that really needs them. Or someone that has a doll with a cold nugget.

*******

I noticed that BlogRolling has taken a vacation again, so I have been trying to keep up with GoogleReader. Sometimes I forget though. Whoops.

*******

My Granny sent us a tin of home made cookies that she baked with my Aunt J and the girls. Oh Mylanta, were they ever good! She sent spritz cookies and I ate them first. Sad to say that they are almost all gone : ( But, I did talk to Granny yesterday and asked for some of her double layer rice krispie treats. She makes a batch of red (more like pink) and green (like mint color) and then in between them she puts melted butterscotch chips and peanut butter...holy cow they are deelish. I miss those alot. I think that she will send me some in the next couple of weeks. Granny rocks!

*********

Not much else going on here. Can I just say that not "doing" Christmas has been so freaking stress free? No cards to mail, trees to put up, last minute shopping to do, worrying about going over budget or if the recipient will even like what is picked out for them...I might be able to get used to this.

We are seriously considering buying a new dining room table though. One of the furniture stores here is relocating to Guam at the end of the month so we went in and looked around and found a nice Teak set that we like. I think that we might go back today and take a closer look at it now that we have talked about it more. I will for sure post pictures if we decide to go for it. It really is pretty.

Peace

Nothing Special

Well, my Christmas stitching is done. Since we aren't doing "gifts" this year at the House of Grinch, the family is just getting the usual ornament.

They are now winging their way across the Pacific. I hope that they make it in time for Christmas so that they can be on the trees for the actual day.


The ornaments are all from different JCS Ornament Special Issue magazines. I don't have my list in front of me right now.


*******************


I am not in the best mood lately.


Mostly because I am so frustrated with the mail system here. There is no home delivery on island so everyone goes to the post office. Well, the little branch that we go to seems to have some kind of impediment with getting our packages to us in a timely manner. When packages come in, they write on the package what box it is for and what date it comes in and then they are supposed to put a slip in the box to let you know you have a package.

I had ordered my sling rings a few weeks ago and was waiting on them...DH brought the package home on 12-7 and they had written on it that it was there on 12-2.

Mom ordered something for us off of ebay (organic sage) and the tracking shows that it was delivered on 12-4...do I have it in my hot little hands? Nope.

Wonder where my new camera is that was shipped 2 weeks ago yesterday?

DH is going to have to do some investigating and see if he can figure out what is going on.


**********************


Friday was "Constitution Day" here on Saipan. There are more holidays here than I have ever seen. DH only worked a half day, so that afternoon we went to a barbecue. It was with a bunch of locals that DH knows through work and their families. I have to say that they are just the nicest people. We spent Easter with them as well. I made my Chocolate Chip Coconut (fresh) Oatmeal cookies that morning and took a gallon ziplock of them for the party as well as 2 gallons of homemade caramel corn. The cookies disappeared in a flash. I think that the caramel corn was put away for later. That's okay though because we still had 2 gallons here at the house. I say "had" because it is the past tense. Not so much anymore. The baby craves it, I think. I know one thing, I will never buy store bought caramel corn again!

************************


And for more crazy pet adventures...presenting Bella Baby in a diaper cover....

Not only do we torture love our kitties by putting them in baby clothes, we also go around waking them up during the day because they think that night time is for tearing the house apart. I think that they have a conspiratorial gleam in their eyes.

Viva La Revolution!!

That's it from me, not feeling exceptionally chatty lately. Too much going on in my head.



Peace