eclipse...(slight spoiler)

I am disappointed in Eclipse. It wasn't as good as Twilight and maybe a little better than New Moon. The only thing that kept me reading was the wishful thinking that something "major" was going to happen between Edward and Bella. I wasn't interested in the Indian legends and only partly interested in Jasper's story, although I enjoy anything Cullens-style. I read this book in two days and not because it was thoroughly enjoyable, but because I was waiting to read Edward and Bella taking their relationship to the next level ~ and you know what I mean by 'next level'. My disappoint is because it never happened in the way that I thought it would, but I was pleased at their commitment to each other in the end.

I hate that Bella has "other" feelings; that is completely heart-breaking to me (in Edward's defense). Although I'm not surprised by her in this sense, I can't help by fall harder and harder for Edward. He IS the perfect boyfriend! There are some small steamy parts that I really enjoyed and wished had gone further. It's nice to have seen the movie Twilight and have a face to put with Edward's character - it allows reading these books all the more 'tasty.' Lastly, someone needs to put a muzzle on that dog - he's quite annoying to me now. I have a feeling I'm not going to like him in Breaking Dawn.

I'm going to start reading Breaking Dawn today so wish me luck that my wishes come true! Talk soon.

new moon...(slight spoiling)

I finished reading New Moon last night. Well actually 2:00 a.m. this morning. I picked the book up Sunday afternoon and couldn't put it down, not for long. I decided to finish it and I've started on Eclipse as of this morning. (I'm on chapter 2.)

Once Alice returned to Forks that was it ~ I knew Edward would appear soon. The ONLY thing that disappointed me about this book is the lack of "Edward-ness". I always kept reading ahead (I hate when I do this) to see if he'd pop his lovely self into the story, but to no avail. I wasn't happy that he did not physically appear until the last part of the book. However, I was beside myself when he returned and I kept waiting for that long-waited kiss they needed to have. I just kept wishing that this vampire-human thing would get out of the way so they could "get on with it." I was so satisfied when he promised that "he" would indeed bite her. I hope he keeps this promise. That made me happy and now I am fulfilled. Ahhhh!!!! Exhale!!!!!

I don't know what is going to happen with this love triangle thing, but I hope Bella makes up her mind. Is she stupid??? Go with Edward - you can own a dog any day!

seahorse & winter love progress

I want to share a few progress photos of Seahorse Scissors & Fob and Winter Love…if you can call them “progress.” I suppose more x's stitched into a project (no matter how many) constitutes progress. It's been a little slow the last couple days on the stitching front but here they are.

[once was]

[is]
Winter Love
SamSarah Designs
JCS Ornament Issue 2007

[once was]

[is]
Seahorse Scissors & Fob
The Heart’s Content

I managed to get a little more red into Winter Love and the Seahorse has more shape to his head now, with a hint of pink added to the tail. The seahorse is stitched 1-over-1 on 29 ct so it has detail to it and the colors spring out. It looks like artwork as opposed to needlework. It's nice! Today I've been working on Traveling Stitcher by LHN and the colors are lovely. I'm not a huge fan of pink, but the Ladybug pink from Crescent Colours is so pretty and soft. I'm havin' fun with it.

Gotta split! We’re having a friend over for dinner this evening and we’re preparing the meal now to be ready around 6:00. Plus, I want to continue stitching on my Traveling Stitcher too.

Talk soon!

fanks!!!

Awww shucks! I feel so important guys. I want to thank all of you who have emailed me personally and/or left a comment on my "toto?" post. It's nice to feel a concern for and I especially appreciate your concern for the welfare of my children. Thanks for your friendship and stitching companionship! It is much endured in my heart.

Happy Stitching!

[I want to call my cousin, Kari, in Ohio sometime today. She used to be a weather enthusiast (and still might be) and I know she'll want to hear my story first hand. ]

toto???

In my previous post today I mentioned that we were to have extreme thunderstorms with the possibility of tornado and boy did we ever! Me and the boys got home just in time before the "crud" really hit the fan. It was before 5:00 CST and the weather was intensifying. According to the radar, the storm was heading in a northeast direction ~ we were right in the path. Unfortunately, the majority of homes in Middle Tennessee (and maybe other regions) don't have basements. Middle TN sits on rock so if you want to dig you have to blast your way through using dynamite. Anyway, lightening was intense, the rain was pounding, the thunder crashing and every 5 minutes seemed to get worse.

Cameron and Jose were standing at the front door and I at the dining table. It was pretty loud and all of a sudden it got extremely quiet ~ a very strange kind of calm came over the house. I yelled for both the boys to be quiet so I could hear something, anything, but I didn't. From where I was sitting I could see the TV and out the front of the house. The tornado sirens began to scream and scream loud - even Cameron stopped to observe the noise. The weather lady, Lisa Patton, demanded with urgency for people in our area to "take cover." I immediately went to the front door where the boys were and all of a sudden a white wall of water and wind dropped from the sky and was racing to our left. Jose and I shouted, "OMG!!! CLOSE THE DOOR!!!" There was a loud howling noise and tremendous lightening. We couldn't even see out of our house - nothing but a white sheet. We went into the interior of our house, which is merely a hall and just kind of stood there.

Within one minute things settled down. It wasn't until about 20 minutes later did we watch on the news that a tornado had touched down on the street behind our house which is Murfreesboro Pike. It tore up the McDonald's, Advanced Auto Parts and other various structures. The storm tore down light poles and knocked out all the power to this area behind us. Big trees were down, but not on our stretch of road. The UPS guy shows up at our house to deliver a package (those guys are amazing!) and rushes to the house and I meet him on the covered porch. He asked if we were okay and if we still had power. Yes! Yes! He just came from the street behind us and adjacent to us and said 'no power up there, really large trees are down and the main road (Murfreesboro Pike), well, there is something really wrong up there.' He left.

We focused on the TV again and already the news crews were out on M'boro Pike and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Not total devastation, but enough to make the weather people say that a tornado touched down on Murfreesboro Pike. O--M--G!!!! Tell me she didn't just say that a tornado touched down behind my house??? Tell me this isn't so??? Sure enough! Me and my boys had just witnessed the outer bands of a tornado impeding towards the ground. It basically surfaced in our front yard. One second nothing was there and the next this white racing wall of white began hitting our front door. This same storm hit a town a little further south of Nashville called Franklin (Historic Battle of Franklin during the Civil War) and touched down. It also started a fire at a nursing home. Then it came our way and touched down. Then proceeded on its original path and touched down in a town a little further northeast from us called Donelson near the Nashville International Airport.

We are expected to get more thunderstorms either tonight or in the morning I think. I'll be watching the news at 10:00 tonight - you can count on that! I'm glad we're safe and sound. I've never seen anything like this and even though I'm not completely comfortable saying "it was a tornado," that is what it was and I don't want to see that again. Whether it was the outer bands, the eye of the storm, the squall line or the tail, a tornado is a tornado...and my husband better be home next time this happens (praying to God it doesn't).

Thanks for listening!

fun freebies finished

I cannot believe it’s April already ~ AHHH!!! Where is the year going??? Spring has sprung here in Nashville. We’re finally having more normal weather ~ the 60’s to 70’s. This evening will be unpleasant though. We are going to have severe and high risk thunderstorms with the possibility of tornados. This is the second time in a week. It’s terrifying and we still have a few more months of this type of weather and it’s only going to get worse.

I can finally post another finish and another one on the way to be finish-finished. I stitched up primitivebetty’s freebie called Tulip Time. It’s so springy and cheery. I made a couple adjustments via color choices and I added initials. My dear mom needs some cheering up and I wanted to give her a little gift from my heart to hers. She so deserves special treatment and I’m honored to be the one to dish it out. She stopped by my house this afternoon and brought lunch for us and Cameron. She had no idea I had a wee tiny surprise for her. She loved it, by the way! She even shed some tiny little tears (I love you, Mom!).

I stitched this on 28 ct White Monaco and used my mom’s favorite colors of yellow, gold and mauve. I made two bunnies brown and two a soft black. I had fun with this and had it stitched in two days. I finished it off with two big black buttons from my own lot, fabric from my stash, and the lacey material is actually from my late-Grandmother’s stash. Can you keep a secret? The lace isn’t lace (nodding my head) ~ it is hem binding. (HeeHee) I made it into a wall hanging by inserting ½ inch thick natural batting, so now my mom has something cheery from me to hang in her stitching room.

I’ve completed my punchneedle carrot. The pattern is from one of my punchneedle books by Cheryl Haynes and daughter Sarah Haynes Knoerr called Punchneedle Embroidery and Wool Work. The pattern originally was created to be made with wool felt, but I don’t create with felt (at least not yet I don’t) and I changed it to my liking. It’s punched with DMC and WDW’s Carrot (how appropriate, ugh?). This was fast and easy. Next on the agenda is to secure the edges with tacky glue, cut to size, stuff with fluff, and lay in a basket for Easter. I have a cute little bunny waiting for his carrot too. :D I’ll post photos once I’m done assembling it.

Now I have two more days open for projects: Tuesday and Wednesday. Oh the possibilities are endless!

I’m on such a Twilight kick (can’t you tell? – see sidebar of Edward Cullen). I’m half way through New Moon. I’ve never had mood swings like this over a book. One minute I’m depressed. The next I’m hopeful. Then in an instant I feel reassured that Edward will suddenly jump back into Forks, but then devastated by his no-show. O—M—G!!! He needs to show his beautiful self or I’m going to die (screw Bella!). I’m livin’ the nightmare here. Anyway, Jacob is becoming more likeable. At first I wasn’t pleased with them getting close, but there is something down inside me that is relieved Bella has “something,” but I am still not happy with the development.

My favorite part so far is when Edward whispers demands to Bella when she is seen by Laurent. Lordy! I was frightened for her and I actually thought for a split second (a girl can only hope and dream – ugh!) that Edward would fly in and save “his” damsel in distress. Man, this book is getting good now! It’s been slow moving since it started, but I can’t put it down now. I stayed up until 3:00 am last night reading. I can almost feel Bella’s pain and her pit of despair. It’s excruciating to read. I know…you don’t have to tell me I’m crazy. I’m fully well aware of this fact.

Gotta run and pick Jose up from school. Happy stitching!