take me away (edited)

I am really sick and tired of being sick and tired. All the sickos, including myself, are driving me bonkers!!! I can't take anymore. In the last 3 weeks I've been to the doctor 4 times (technically 5) and not just for myself. Three weeks ago on the 2nd, Cameron was at the doctor for his 15-month checkup and while there received his immunizations and a flu shot ~ all else well. Later that week on the 5th, I needed to see the doctor because I was very ill. However, I made an appointment for 2:45 that afternoon, but I felt so terrible that I came up with the idea of going to my doctor's walk-in clinic in the morning to be seen faster. I was turned away and we had to get back into the car and return home. I kept my appointment for 2:45 and saw the doctor...finally!

Meanwhile Jose was getting over a mild cough he had from Thanksgiving, but otherwise he was well. DH was fine at this point and Mom was taking care of my kids, me and my home while I was bed-ridden. After a couple days I was able to function, Mom was relieved and I was feeling hopeful. Then on the 11th (my birthday) I still wasn't at my full potential and Cameron had developed a little cough that needed attention. It was that gagging type cough. So off we went to see his doctor again for the second time in less than 10 days. Found out he had a little ear infection so she prescribed an antibiotic for that and a steroidal cough suppressant.

In the evening of the 11th, DH was feeling rather terrible and running a fever. He wasn't looking too hot either. This was also the evening of his company's Christmas dinner at a nice restaurant called Maggiano's - great Italian food, btw! But DH was insistent we go and off we went to dinner. I was still coughing up a storm from my illness-can't even laugh without going into a coughing frenzy. DH barely ate and he felt ill the whole time. Friday came and DH still went to work, but was weak, achy and feverish; and according to him he had to be at work for an install at an important client's office. It had to be done by him. He managed to get off work early and as soon as he got home went to bed. Saturday came and he refused to go to the walk-in clinic even though he was running a 102 degree temperature. He was in pain, nauseous, coughing profusely, couldn't sleep, couldn't eat and on and on and on. He kept me up and is still keeping me up...so his Cameron.

Over the weekend, come to find out that my mother is really ill with bronchitis - thanks to me and my wonderful boys! I feel so guilty because she's ill. If it weren't for her coming here, she more than likely wouldn't have caught the crud from us. The weekend has been exhausting. Yesterday, was my 5th trip to the doctor. I drove DH to the doctor where he was tested for flu and strep. Thankfully both negative results. However, his fever is difficult to control and the doctor diagnosed him with a sinus infection and bronchitis. We talked "guns" with the doctor (let's leave please), got our prescription and off to Walgreen's we went.

Here we are and Mama is clinically insane. I'm tired of ALL the coughing. We're all coughing! Jose has a little party going on in his nose so he's all nas-ly and congested. I'm still coughing and have been getting my little friends...headaches. Chris is coughing something terrible and he's been home for 2 days now from work. It isn't just a cough either. It's the gagging, spit up cough that is loud and hard. He's also a terrible patient. He doesn't listen. Doesn't do what he should do to get better. Men!!! And then there is poor Mr. Cameron who still has his little cough (I need to call the doctor about this today), but his cough is nasty. He coughs, gags, then vomits. Yeah, I've been literally catching vomit in my hands, paper towels, napkins, you name it, I'm doing it. Last night Cameron threw up twice at dinner because of coughing. And then there is the other stuff I'm dealing with too ~ you know, "crap." And I'm tired of keeping track and looking at all the medicine laying around the house.

Ohhhhhhhhhh......I'm at my wits end with all this sickness. I'm frustrated because I can't visit my mom nor help my mom in the way she helped me. I've got all these sickos, including myself, to take care of. Boy, I need a vacation!!!

Yep, I need a vacation. Cameron just pushed the table that has our tree on it away from the wall....Cameron, look out!!! OMG! Calgon...take me away!

my heart is content and inspired

I just got my January 2009 Just Cross Stitch magazine in the mail on Friday afternoon. I’ve been meaning to mention a couple things.

First, I love the design by The Sampler Girl entitled Persuasion! It’s absolutely adorable. I so much love and appreciate how Tanya has brought a timeless novel to us and especially to the people (like me) that aren’t familiar with the writings of Jane Austen, so that I may get a glimpse of treasured writings and authors. My favorite part, however, is the verse: “she tried to be calm and leave things to take their course”. There are times I have an immense amount of anxiety bottled up and, lack for a better word, I tend to “freak” out from time-to-time. I don't like this about myself. I have a tendency to over react and it’s just because I worry so about everything. I think the root of the problem is a lack of control or not being able to control all things around me. The verse from Persuasion reminds me of the Serenity Prayer. It goes...

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change…
Courage to change the things I can…
And Wisdom to know the difference…

In the early Fall, my mother gave me a silver cuff bracelet with the Serenity Prayer inscribed within it. I think it goes without saying that the verse in the Persuasion piece really speaks volumes to me. This is something I still need to learn for myself and for my own well-being. It’s a constant reminder that I need “to be calm and leave things to take their course.” I am so glad this design was chosen for the JCS. I think this may be my favorite design of Tanya's yet…and there are so many that I love, but this one speaks to me personally. I feel it “belongs” to me.

Thank you, Tanya, for a wonderful reproduction of Jane Austen!

Secondly, in this same JCS issue there is an article about designer Tracy Riffle from Hands To Work Designs, which I also love. The article is entitled 'Designing in Faded Glory'. This article was fascinating to me because it really dove into the designer herself. I love getting to know the designer. It's interesting to learn where they find their inspiration and where those ideas derive. I can identify with Tracy's way of designing. She stumbles on her designs not by way of brainstorming and planning, but by images, sounds and connection to the world around her. I am this same way. When it comes to my daily-dealings I need schedule and planning, but when it dwells on the side of creativity I do much better flying by the seat of my pants. I admire this same principle in Tracy, and I look forward to seeing many new creations from her.

"pillow" talk

I finally can show off my most recent Stacy Nash piece called Christmas Partridge Pinkeep Pillow. My mother and I just had our birthdays and instead of buying my mother a present I decided to hand-make her gift. Now that she is the proud owner, I can post photos of it on my blog. The original date on this SN piece is the 25th but I wanted to personalize this pillow for mom so I changed the date to her birthday; the 10th. I am really pleased with the results and I think she is too! Happy Birthday, Mom!

Christmas Partridge Pinkeep Pillow
Design by: Stacy Nash
Fabric: 28 ct Champagne Linen
Floss: DMC
Additional Info: Fabric is aged front and back using coffee and distressing solution. After sewing and stuffing, I added free-hand cross stitches over the seams for a primitive feel.

counting down

I am counting down the days... And not for Christmas! On January 23rd, Mom and I are headed to historical St. Augustine, Florida for a weekend-by-the-beach class taught by legendary designer Susan Greening Davis of "Still Stitching with Susan." I cannot wait!!! Not only is this my one and only opportunity for a vacation away from ALL my boys, but it's a time to build more wonderful memories with my mom and to be taught by a spectacular human being, Susan herself, along with her forever-friends Sally Criswell and Pat Embree. Pat is the owner of my LNS. She does all the cooking and offers goodies from her shop as well. She's such a good friend, and Sally is a hoot.

Learning from Susan is one everyone should experience. When conversing with Susan it feels as if you've known her a century. She makes the learning process comfortable, fun and easy. I always feel so welcome and at home in her presence. I would love to have her as my neighbor. I have no fear of questions because Lord knows I have many. LOL Since St. Augustine is notorious for pirates, what's more appropriate than to see 20 or so stitchers dressed or singing like pirates. :0) It's quite a scene. There's always 'booty' to be had during class, auctions and other fun games and activities. It's just so much fun and the beach is right outside the window. Unfortunately, the class is SOLD OUT, but there's always next year so grab a seat for 2010.

Sunday afternoon is the last session with Susan and afterwards mom and I are heading to downtown St. Augustine for some must-do site seeing and shopping. We'll probably meet up with our friends from Nashville, Susan and Sally (two totally different Susan & Sally ladies) for a quick bite. Two years ago mom and I were in St. Augustine. We visited the St. Augustine Lighthouse, which is haunted might I add, and then ventured to the Fountain of Youth where I bought myself a little bottle of the Fountain of Youth water and then rubbed it on my hips as soon as I got home. LOL

friday morning delight

Here was our view this morning. Snow rarely happens this early in Nashville. I was shocked! School was called off as well so I have both boys today. Tonight me, the parents and kids are going to Goten, a Japanese restaurant, to celebrate my mother's birthday and my own. We've all been fighting some sort of battle this week and it's been difficult to arrange a meeting. My DH won't be joining us because he's too ill, but I'm going to bring home salmon and sushi for him for whenever he can get some food down. Mom and me still have to exchange birthday gifts. I can't wait to give her my gift! I'm so excited about it. I can't wait to have sushi too! Yum Yum!!!

See the 2 birds playing around in the snow. Those two were flying all over the place this morning; chasing each other ~ having the best time. They happened to be in the shot when I took it.

the latest...

I can't believe it has been one full week and a day since my last post. I've been so so sick since the 4th. I went to the doctor on Friday with a high fever, shivering with chills, headache, body aches and pains, and chest pain when I breathed in deep. The Doc did a flu test and it was negative. He believed that this was the start of pneumonia and started me on medication to treat it as such. I progressively got worse as the day went on and the into the next. I was so weak that I wasn't able to stitch or read; couldn't even watch TV and didn't eat. My poor mother doted on me and came to my home and nursed me back to a more functional self. She became "me" literally. She took care of my kids and my home. God Bless her! I was in bed for 2 days and on the 3rd I couldn't tolerate being in my bed anymore so I moved to the recliner. Here I am a week later and still have the crud. Only now I have a terrible cough with chest discomfort (with production), horse sounding, and minor headaches. And I'm still getting run down. I've had pneumonia before; twice and it took weeks getting over. I'm much older now with lots more responsibilities. I just don't want a relapse.

Cameron has changed so much in the last week (I've been sick not gone but he's different nonetheless). He was so concerned for me when I was ill. It's funny how young children respond when mama is sick. But Cameron was great considering Mama was out for the count. Unfortunately, I had to take him to the Doc's office today. He's coughing, but no fever, nothing like that. But he does have an ear infection so we have meds to administer.

Jose is getting over his cough from weeks ago. Maybe he's the culprit in spreading this germ around. Nah...I'm just kidding! He has no school tomorrow because of snow. Can you believe it!?!? It never snows in Nashville around this time and all of a sudden, out of the blue, it snows this evening. It's amazing! He'll be pretty ecstatic tomorrow morning when he wakes because Metro didn't call school out until after he went to sleep. I put a little "no school. love mama" note next to his bed. He'll like that.

Yee~Haw...I get to sleep in tomorrow because there is no school which means Cameron won't be up when the alarm sounds because Daddy won't be up at his usual time because no one has school. Ahhh snow! I knew it had a better purpose than to get in my way. lol

Now onto DH. He's getting sick now too we need to call the Pope for this. He hasn't been sick in 8 years. You heard that right...8 big ones. He's running a fever, a little congested and achy. He had some leftover antibiotic from a sore ear so he's been taking that for 2 days. Hopefully, it'll do the trick. Tomorrow he has a huge computer install at a very big client and CANNOT take off work. If I were him, I'd take off, but then his work ethic is more stable than mine. When I'm sick I stay home. When DH is sick, he doesn't care. He still treks on. If his mother were alive she'd say "Suck it up!" and he would do just that.

Thursday, the day I started feeling cruddy, me and Cameron met up with Mom at Joann's. What a heavenly place! I haven't been there since going with Aunt Pam which was at least 2 years ago. In fact, its been so long I really can't recall the exact number of years. It's been too long. Me, Mom and Cameron spent a lot of time looking around. We probably looked in every department. We were there for 2 hours and at first Cameron wasn't too patient, but after some Cheerios and juice (I'm so prepared), he was off to a better start. I picked out some fat quarters of fabric. I don't know what it is about fat quarters I love. I'm drawn to them in some alluring way. I think if you click on the photo it'll enlarge ~ maybe get a better look at the fabs.

Got all this at Joann's. Look at my little cardinal pincushion. Me and Mom both got one. We just couldn't pass him up. Also found these cute little plush, folk art trees and those primitive type hearts had to come home with me too. The heart on the right reminds me of an old pillowcase. The basket was a must too, but I have no idea what I'll use it for. It was half off and can't beat that. It was a steal! We got lots and lots of stuff at Joann's. Actually, too much money was spent. After our Joann's shopping spree we headed to Rafferty's Restaurant and had a great little lunch. Cameron was such a remarkable little eater, as he usually is. He was definitely ready to chow down and he even learned to eat (oops, color) with a crayon.

I think this is all she wrote...for now! :0) Happy Birthday to me and my Mom!!!

Nighty-night!

...couple things

FIRST; I just have to share this! Tuesday morning was Cameron's day to have shots. Naturally, he cried and mama squirmed! But before the shots I had him undressed except for his diaper and socks. He's growing like a little bean and looking good ~ ears look good, no illness, teeth are in good shape, eating well, nothing bad to report. While waiting for the doctor to enter I put his shirt back on so he wouldn't be too cold. The Doc comes in and does her examination. The doctor is about to leave and we're having a little Q&A. All the while Cameron is tossing his belongings out of his stroller onto the floor, handing me his jacket and climbing in, half naked, ready to go. It was so funny!

By the time the doctor closed the door Cameron was in position to leave.

I did not take pictures of Cameron getting his shots. He had 2 shots in each leg. He needed his flu shot too. I felt so bad as any mother would. I hate these times. He was so upset and almost offended that the nurse would do such a thing. He gives you this look and then I feel responsible for his pain. Once we got into the car he calmed down. He fell asleep instantly ~ we didn't even make it out of the parking lot and he was out like a light. He was so exhausted that he remained sleeping while I got him out of the car, past the dogs, into the house and laid him on the floor in the living room. The only reason I put him here was that when he's upset like he was it's best to keep him real close because Mr. Cameron isn't a happy camper, if you know what I mean. Here he is all tuckered out from his shots.

And he did wake up with his feelings hurt so Mama made him some of his favorite things: ham, cheese, rice and apple juice (no different than a hot pocket). I never do this, but I pushed his highchair into the living room so he could eat his lunch watching Elmo. Boy, did I make this child's dream come true. No more tears for Cameron for the afternoon. He was so happy and forgot all about those stinkin' shots.

SECOND; I have taught myself to embroider. If my Grandmother were here today she'd be so proud of me. Her mouth would be opened, in a deer caught in head lights sort of way, and she would say, "she can sew!" I borrowed the Reader's Digest Complete Book of Embroidery from my Mom about a week ago. My objective is to know how to doodle stitch. I thought I would start out simple and work my way up. I've started with a stamp pattern. It's of a colonial girl. I'm using weaver's cloth. I choose a beige weaver's cloth and DMC #221. I intend on coffee staining afterwards and probably just framing the piece unless I come up with some other alternative.

I taught myself the stem stitch, herringbone stitch, colonial knot, buttonhole stitch and half stitch. I know these stitches already, but I've never done them in a sewing motion; only a stick-stab on linen and Aida, never weaver's cloth. The only thing I used the weaver's cloth for is needle punch. I am really excited about this! I love learning new things and when it's self-taught I'm even more enthused. I decided to use a stamp pattern as a guide and once that's accomplished and I learn my own technique of sewing, I will eliminate the stamping and will stitch free-hand embroidery. I have chosen to stick with primitive embroidery and I really only want to do stem and back stitching to keep with the primitive style. I hope to one day embroider little aprons on prim/grungy dolls and cloth fabrics with primitive motifs. I just can't wait until my horizons have broadened. Here is my doodling cloth from today and my stamped colonial girl. I'm starting on her tonight.

This book is amazing, by the way. It's a very thorough teacher! Mom may not get it back. (j/k)

pomegranate fabric

For the first time I hand-dyed a piece of 28 count linen with a pomegranate. I am pretty happy with the results. The whole process kind of felt like cooking which I actually don't like to do, but this was fun. I had a good time and waiting around wasn't such a bad thing. lol Anyway, if anyone is interested in using pomegranate to dye fabric here are the instructions. I have to give credit, though, where credit is due. I got this unique idea from Nancy. She's a very clever lady so check out Nancy's Blog. Thanks again, Nancy, for the idea and inspiration!

Process For Hand-Dyeing Fabric Using Pomegranate

First rule of thumb...there is no rule! There is no right or wrong way to dye the linen.

I used gloves when “shucking” the seeds out of the fruit, but that’s because I was afraid the juice may stain my fingers, but this is totally up to you. After awhile I took the gloves off and had no problems. However, still consider the surface you’re using to dye your fabric no matter what stain you’re using.

A. Cut 1 pomegranate and remove seeds and keep skin (I didn’t use the skin, but you definitely can).

B. Fill a 3-quart pot a little more than halfway with water. Bring to a boil and then add the seeds and skin (skin not required) and allow boiling to continue for 10 minutes.

C. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely. I left the seeds in the water while cooling, but that is because I didn’t know to take them out before cooling. However, I do not think this matters as it didn’t make or break my dyeing process. Use your discretion. It’s your linen! After the water is cooled, remove the seeds (and skin). I squeezed whatever juice was left from the seeds but you don’t have to do this.

D. Dunk your linen in the cooled pomegranate water. Depending on how dark you want your linen determines the length of time you allow it to sit. I allowed the linen 5 minutes with an occasional stirring method with tongs.

E. After the first 5 minutes I dunked the linen in a mixture of cold water and about 2-3 teaspoons of white vinegar. And I sloshed that around a bit. Just use enough water that it’ll cover the majority of the linen. See if the linen is your desired color. If not, proceed to letter “F”. If it is, jump to letter “G”.

F. Put the linen back into the cold pomegranate water and let the linen sit for another 5 minutes, but check it at least once for coloring depth. After 5 minutes, rinse in the cool water and vinegar.

G. Hang linen to dry then press with hot iron.

As Nancy says, 'a picture really doesn't do the piece any justice, does it?'. She is so right in her assessment. It is difficult to tell from the photo, but it does present a hand-dyed appearance. It really looks nice.

...a Twilight fan

I am a BIG Twilight fan...so far. I just recently started reading this only because I noticed all the rave on the blogs, and I saw the trailer to the movie (WOW!!). I want to very much see the movie, but not until I have read the entire book. For me, if I see the movie first then I'll never read, or finish in this case, the book because I received the gist of the story in just a mere 2 hours. So, I really want to read this book. I don't get chance to read that often and wished I had way more time to dive into reading. I love being taken away by a story. It's good for the soul and mind, I believe. I'm almost done with Chapter 4 ~ so far so good. I read a little before I fall asleep AFTER I have stitched. :-D

15-month check up

This may be quite some day and I'm going to remain optimistic. Cameron is getting his 15-month vaccinations this morning. We have to leave by 9:00. I hate this part of being a Mama. I hate hearing and seeing my baby in pain. It's all I can do to stop myself from crying, but if I do then he'll be fearful even more. I must remain strong for his sake. I always give him Motrin before he gets his shots so he's a little more comfortable ~ the pediatrician says it is okay to do that so I'm willing to try anything to make it easier on Cameron. I am hoping he will feel okay this afternoon, but we may have a day of aches and pains and crankiness.

I am hoping, if all goes well with Cameron, I will dye my linen with the pomegranate I prepared yesterday. I'm following close instructions and crossing my fingers that the linen will be exactly how I imagined it.

Wish us luck!